Viridos, Chapter 1

[Saphen]

Ash of the Heartwood

We have no choice they thought at once as Ash covered the Halfkin's face in palm leaves again. The undertaker stood up, lifting the body in his arms as he walked towards the tree. Before he knew it he found Cora sitting on his shoulder, she had slipped out when he hurt himself, her eyes full of concern as he went about his work.

"This isn't your fault," she started as Ash pressed the first body against the tree in a standing position. One hand holding her shoulder and the other her waist as he slowly phased her into the wood. His arms vanishing for a moment before he released her. Unlike his previous job he did not put her directly into the Heartwood but instead left her in the layers of sapwood, still wet and sticky with life fluids. When his hands came out they were covered in sap, he felt it's warmth, stared at it for long moments before he turned to get the next body.
Thirteen bodies were placed into the tree in this fashion and they were as diverse as they could be. Nocturnes, ForestKins, HalfKins of all types, Humans, Anima, Avian, and surprisingly even a Draken. As he was pressing the last body in he suddenly felt something a bit odd against the shoulder he held. He stopped phasing it for a moment and opened up the leaves being careful not to touch the body itself. It was an eagle, beautiful in it's slumber with white feathers covering most of it's frame. Splashes of brown and black were sprinkled in the ocean of white, giving the bird the appearance of a forest at the end of winter. The eyes on the beast were still open, black marbles in direct contrast to yellow beak and white coat. Ash shifted his gaze to the human it belonged to, black eyes as well...this was some type of death he couldn't fathom.

"It's his Aux..." he said softly and Cora's wooden hands covered her mouth in horror. It had not departed back to Ilium as it should have upon death. Ash hastily covered the body, his brow starting to furrow in anger as he firmly but gently pushed the body the rest of the way into the sap wood.

"They can't stay like this!" he growled stomping his hooves as he walked to the back of the tree, the one area of the trunk he hadn't set a body into.

"You had no idea Ash. Please for the sake of the heart we share you have to calm down."

The skin around his cheeks began to glow as parts of his face became living ember. "Look at my hands Cora!" he said lifting them up in air to show the sap that dripped off his arms. "They are trapped Cora, lost in this half death that no living creature deserves! This tree does not deserve the suffering it has to endure to fix this!" She stared at him silently and it was that look, the one of genuine fear, that caused him to feel their heart racing in his chest. Looking down at his hands he saw the sap had been burnt away, his arms glowing from the heat welling underneath.

He closed his eyes for a moment, letting his body bask in the glow of sunlight to strengthen his resolve and to ease their stressed heart.

"I know you are right Cora...but we must save them...We need to purify them," Cora recited the last words with him as they turned together to look at the tree. She slipped off his shoulder and landed on the ground, her body growing even before her hooves touched earth. She stood a couple of feet shorter than him at her zenith before turning around and without resistance entering the tree.

Ash followed her, his phasing was slower because he could manipulate this world in ways that his Aux could not, she could not move the wood the way he could so it also didn't stop her from entering either. When he finally reached the heartwood she was waiting for him, her smooth branch like hands cupping his cheeks as she whispered to him.

"We are ready."

Her wooden chest glowed bright, a red light pulsating as his chest glowed in tandem. His brow furrowed in pain as his skin began to feel like an inferno, the inner fire was consuming him from the inside out. The advent was extremely painful not only physically but for his Aux to watch emotionally. She felt his pain and even before she could think about wiping away his tears they became steam. She couldn't do that anyways...he could feel her through his nerve endings, through their bond, but she couldn't touch him in the way another Crux could. At the same time she was protected from his immolation and at the height of his pain she leaned up and kissed him.
He felt her love against his lips, her promises of relief pouring into his soul before his eyes were forced open. They were pure white and for a moment he kissed her back before he lost all control of thought and function.

He looked up into the sky, a strange gray snow was falling onto his body and littering the ground around him. It stood out in direct contrast to the charred ground beneath him and the soot that covered his legs and chest. Cora drew his attention as her body was left completely unmarked, uncovered, and untouched by the events that had transpired. The last glimmer of orange light vanished from his finger tips and it was the tears that ran down her face that told him the truth.

The tree and the travelers were all gone, their bodies returning to the earth to bring new life. All that was left was Ash and dust. He collapsed on the newly dried earth, his body had consumed the tree from the inside out and if not for the wet earth around them there could have been a forest fire.

Cora knelt down beside him, the gentle feeling of her hand running down his skin allowed him to step out of the cage known as torment.

He just sat there and cried...​

 

[Requiem]

Malachi, darkgreen

The Outsider had been in dock for quite some time. It's name plate replaced for The Blackjack's. Curiously nobody ever questioned it. Those who had pointed out the similarities were referenced to the concept that Malachi felt that the Pirate who owned the Outsider, despite their nature, had an excellent sense of style, and he adopted it for himself. The money had been flowing in well enough, but he had begun to grow restless. Of course, there had been some rumours going around about the Navy going for some big prize. He'd never been much for attacking the navy really, it usually just wasn't worth it, but depending on what it might be, he figured this one could be.

He'd need some help though. Thankfully, he'd noticed The Silver Shadow was in harbour. The Captain of the vessel would be nice to talk to. That was in fact where he was presently. Leaning against the railing as the man he was waiting for passed by, Malachi smiled, "Hello, Ozzimus."

It was such a simple thing, but he knew that it would catch Oz's attention. "Having fun are we out here today?" He asked rhetorically, pushing himself away from the railing to approach the younger half-nocturne. It had been quite some time since the two had last spoken, and they'd separated on less than amiable terms. Still, he doubted that things would turn violent, they hadn't left on that bad of terms.

 

[Desaecula]

"Banshee's breathe, anyone but you, today." Ozzimus growled, gesturing Malachi that he wasn't stopping his pace for him. He'd have to fall in line or leave the conversation at an end then and there. ozzimus pulled his hood tight over his smooth hair. The silver-plate on his headband hidden from the sun's rays.

"What on earth and sea Do you want? I've already cleaned up that mess my crew caused you last season. Don't suppose YOU know where my Shipment from the salt shores is, DO you?" he turned around then, hands on his hips. "The Carnivalii is a day late." He announced.

 

[Seth Bloodmoon]

Clasping his hands behind his back, Valyrin cast his gaze towards the boarding ramp, taking note of each unfamiliar face that came on board. For now he was content to remain distant, overseeing his crew. There was at least one man that seemed hesitant about boarding. This brought a hint of an amused smile to the half-Kin's lips. Hopefully the man wouldn't suffer too much if he was struck by seasickness.

A moment later he was drawn from his thoughts as Commander Rhys, his second in command, came to stand at his side. The tall, musclar human was frowning, "Are you sure I can't just take an hour or two, Captain?" Clearly the man was still a little put off with the fact he would not be able to spend some time with his family due to this expedition of Ironblood's.

Valyrin sighed quietly at the man's request, which he'd love to grant, "I wish I could say yes, my friend, but you know if I make an exception for you then other members of the crew will expect the same. While I know you would return promptly, I cannot say the same for most of the others. We don't have the time to hunt down and drag back those who would stray too long." Surely many of the men would 'lose track of time' at the various taverns and other places that provided entertainment.

Reluctantly, Rhys nodded his understanding, falling into silence as he came to terms with the situation at hand.

Valyrin was sure Rhys would perform his duties well despite the situation. He was one of the few men the half-Kin trusted implicitly. They had been fast friends for as long as he could remember. Fortune had been on his side when he had been able to get Rhys posted on the Sea Wraith as his second.

As Rhys excused himself, Valyrin swept his gaze over the deck of the frigate he'd been Captain of for the last five years. During that time many would be pirates and privateers had met crushing defeats, their ships scuttled and their crews executed without mercy, at his command. Unless, of course, he had implicit orders not to. It was the only fate they deserved for daring to harass Viridosian ships as far as he was concerned. There were those, in the Green Kingdom, that disagreed with his ruthlessness. He considered them fools, even if he never openly called them such. At the very least they seemed to understand his kind was needed.

 

[Bahiyya]

Sevoret Umilas

A day had long passed since Sevoret's receiving word that she was being requested for a journey to be remembered. She had heard such from High Alchemist Lady Ironblood herself. Such had occurred when Sevoret returned from Hosia to Riven. Apparently Ironblood had been gathering a group for a voyage of pursuit. It was what is being pursued that ever remained unknown to dear Sevoret. But despite this simple fact and her failure to be completely in the know of the situation, Sevoret merely nodded, giving words of affirmation that went like, "Such an honor would it be to join in this expedition."

And that's how Sevoret found herself packing various pieces of clothing and her weapons of choice--being twin daggers and a bow and arrows--, setting out for Hosia once again. Not to sell her many taxidermy products, but for a more adventurous, and probably dangerous purpose. She knew it would take her up to at least 4 to 5 days time, so she had decided to set out early in advance.

Now, she had all but finally reached Hosia, her body gracefully, yet swiftly maneuvering around the many people and creatures that clog Hosia's pathways as she held the strap of her woven bag tightly. Sevoret had to make it to the dock, where the Sea Wraith, the Green Realm navy, and Lady Ironblood should be awaiting. And, considering she knew that the Viridos navy had only just completed a voyage, something tells her that the navy members are anything but enthusiastic to be at sea once again.

"I feel this to be a fairly dangerous and eventful journey, but one must have faith and hope," Sevoret's Aux, Nahsahr, thought amongst Sevoret's psyche. His voice, thick with tranquility, somewhat eased Sevoret and her slightly nervous demeanor. Nahsahr pressed his head towards the Crux's stomach, his head protruding. His paws stepped out, Nahsahr's body beginning to separate from the designated Crux. The leopard flanked Sevoret, walking by her side with an almost confident, yet humble air about him. He distanced himself from her merely to walk around passersby.

Sevoret threw a corner of her large, yet thin, dark green shawl over her shoulder. It draped her gracefully to the knee as she bounded on her woven, brown sandals. "We are nearing," Nahsahr said, picking up his pace only to step in front of her, his tail curling and swaying. And indeed, the two were. Sevoret can just see the dock straight ahead, the beautiful and detailed Sea Wraith awaiting, it's very presence giving off a confident aura.

"And so finally we have arrived," Sevoret said quietly, as if she were deep in thought.

When they reach the boarding ramp, a crew member passes by, saying, "Make way!" And she was quick to duck as the man, who was carrying--or rather, attempting to carry--three crates. However, the crew member's movement was much too hasty. This resulted in the topmost crate falling off of the others. But, Sevoret managed to catch the crate before it made contact with the ground. She stood to her height, placing the crate back on top of the other two, seeing as the crew member had realized his mistake and stopped himself. When he thanked her, she smiled and he started up the dock again, Sevor following behind, Nahsahr already aboard.

 

[Kooriryu]

Kozoul, Viridosi witch & Riven bee keeper

The steady thrumming of buzzing bounced around in the high vaulted walls of the inner hive of Riven, its waxen halls gleamed delicately in the morning light shining in shafts into the nest, the worker bees crisscrossing in the open spaces in a very intricately orchestrated flow of traffic as they went about their duties.

Kozoul, willowy-bodied and thin-limbed was standing next to one of the openings worker bees were flitting in and out of looking completely like a barren twig overburdened by boundary-less butterfly cocoons. However, the 'cocoons' were the multitudes of satchels, pouches, purses, totes, a rucksack or two and a knapsack swung over her back. They were brimming with odds and ends that those in the know would probably report Kozoul to the authorities for suspicious looks. A bee the size of a moderately tough-looking street dog bumbled its way to Kozoul, a bag that clinked not unlike it was stuffed with jars also stuffed with royal jelly into her arms. The Queen wouldn't mind just a few grams of her precious jelly especially if their absence would be filled within a matter of minutes.

The forest kin-elf hybrid touched the bee's antennae in what could be seen as a child's clapping game, as the dog-sized bee lumbered off Kozoul hopped quickly onto an even bigger bee and flew off into the morning mist.

Travel from Riven to Hosia was cautious a little hair-raising even, the witchling was sure Lady Ironblood and her crew wouldn't leave the dock so soon but leaving the Riven Tree wouldn't have been easy to explain. After bidding her bee brethren farewell at the mid-point of the journey and catching the rest the way on a large jewel beetle, Kozoul finally looked upon the glittering coast of Hosia. She heard tales of other ports of call not smelling so sweetly but it was either due to the work of her kin purifying the land or just the plants themselves making use of what was around them but she found the sea air pleasant. From the sky, Kozoul scanned the docked ships looking for Lady Ironblood's telltale cinnabar cloak, clutching her numerous bags closely as she gently tapped the beetle's right antennae for the descent upon spotting the high alchemist. Knocking on the chitinous hide of her transport in a peculiar melody, the gigantic insect hovered towards the main mast of the Sea Wraith. Each consecutive knock on the exoskeleton brought Kozoul closer to the deck and once she was sure should she could make the jump, the half-kin leapt and landed on the bowsprit. The crew of the Sea Wraith didn't seem too bothered by Kozoul's presence nor by her arrival, they wouldn't easily be taken aback would they?

I'm sure they've seen much stranger outside of the Green Realm... even if our homelands bear some very, very strange things. Clearing her throat modestly, Kozoul wove her way through the bustling of the deckhands zoning in on the flare of cinnabar color and the presence of her fellow Kin at the boarding planks.

"Lady Ironblood—" Kozoul was cut off as a man barreled toward her carrying three large crates causing her to swerve in an ungainly manner, her bags clanging, clattering and jingling its contents, "— I'm assuming we're almost all accounted for then." it wasn't so much as a question rather than an observation. She was sure they were bordering on being nuisances having all gathered in one spot on deck.

 

[Requiem]

Malachi, darkgreen

Malachi let out a quiet laugh at the reaction he'd received as he followed along beside Ozzimus. It was always a good time for him when he got to cause a little grief. When t "I'm afraid not, I've been docked for the last few weeks." He informed his soon-to-be comrade. "Seems like the world's fallin' apart at the seams, little by little. That's not what I came over here for though. There're some things goin' on soon that could be quite profitable, for the both of us if you're interested." He continued, quickly, not giving Ozzimus a chance to reply. "I have it on good authority that The Sea Wraith will be taking off on a little voyage soon. Supposed to be picking up some kind of valuable artifact or another. They might need a hand moving it if you get my meaning." That was the bait. An alluring target with a mysterious cargo. The payoff from such a thing might even buy him a new ship, if the Carnivalii never showed up again. Otherwise, well, what kind of a pirate turned down cold metal?

He'd have used his own ship, but he wasn't quite fond of having anyone recognise it. It stuck out a little, and they had to change the rigging and sails when they went pirating which took time that he simply didn't have. So he found an alternative way aboard, an alternative way to acquire what he was after. The trouble was, he knew he'd need help. That was why he needed Ozzimus.

Everything had been set up ahead of time. He had a very close contact who had informed him of the situation. Someone he knew was most reliable. Everything had already been seen to. Papers had been forged, a uniform acquired, and of course, a general change of appearance for himself. All that was left to do was wait for the poor bastards to fall sick for him to come in as a replacement. His task remained in convincing Ozzimus that it was worth the risk. "Storms've been taking their toll on ships lately, wouldn't be too much of a surprise if The Sea Wraith were another unexpected one sent down to meet the gods at the bottom of the sea." He remarked casually, pulling the line, making the bait seem more interesting. The phrase might seem a little out of place, but not too serious, simply because it was true. Malachi expected that a freak storm was in fact likely the reason The Carnivalii hadn't arrived yet. There were only so many pirates out on the sea after all.

Suddenly Aleria tugged Malachi's ear lightly, drawing his attention, "People approaching, we'd best be leaving" She urged him quietly.

Malachi smiled and nodded, "Well Ozzimus, the choice is up to you, I've got a ticket to see this object myself, first class. Certainly wouldn't mind some assistance though." He told the Captain "Anyway, I must be off, things to do and all that. You know how it is." Finished, he gave a slight, formal bow, and turned to make his way off the ship. Now he just had to hope that the man took the bait, and came after them guns a'blazin after they got what they were after. He didn't have time to wait to find out.

His contact had been quite clear on what a tight schedule they were on. They'd been quite insistent on his partaking. If his contact hadn't been his own father, he'd probably have been suspicious. As it was, he was still suspicious, but only because he hadn't quite figured out what his father had to gain from it. If he knew the old man's angle, he would have been a lot more at ease. Until then though, he would play the old man's game, try to find a way to come out on top if he could.

He donned his disguise, dyed his hair, cleared off his beard, and threw on the uniform. He looked like a completely different person. After that all he had to do was change who he was into who he needed to be. A task which he found the disguise made considerably easier. An actor with his props as it were. With the papers in hand, and word that a couple of poor crew members had fallen ill and needed emergency replacements, he was ready. Malachi joined up with the other replacements and made his way aboard, drawing no attention to himself. He settled his things (Which weren't much), and waited for orders.

 

[Thomas McTavish]

E'rdaan, darkgreen

​

Now, where was it again? I remember something about twenty-seven second print through the trees, starting from the west edge of... now what was the town's name again? Ah, well, I know we had the right one. Oh! There it is.

Carefully, E'rdaan broke off a bit of stem from the plant he had been trying to find and collected the toxic sap that bled out from the plant's wound. The crystal vial quickly filled with the light blue sap of the plat, the name of which evaded E'rdaan. Once that vial was full, he broke another stem, and filled another vial. His client would be pleased. Poison such as this would be put to good use, however the merchant he sold it to decided to use it. It would likely be sold to a healer to be made into more antidote for poison. Though the name escaped him, the plant had been used in many cures for ailments, poisons, and as antivenin.

It would be just a short while before he was able to give one of the vials to the merchant and collect the agreed payment. Then maybe he could go see what all the ruckus in Hosia was about. Something about the return from the expedition? Or something along those lines. He needed to work on his memory. A lot.

 

[Desaecula]

"W-wait, Malachi!" He hissed in an urgent whisper as the man departed. Having intently listened all along to the plan the Captain of the sliver shadow was left staring like an idiot out into the crowd. his hands shifted up to the edges of his robe. The Aux encircling his shoulders and head shifting to comfort him. Whispers in it's movements over his hair told him to be calm. To think hard on this, but not too long, lest the opportunity slip from his fingers.

"Wisdom, WHispersilk..." he mumbled, walking amongst the crowd oncemore. Through the marketplace and out onto the higher elevated streets on the north side of the cove he walked. a loaf of spiced bread, fresh and warm with cinnamon, cardammom and black pepper cradled beneath his arm as he sat on a wooden bench shaped from a living tree ages and ages hence.

"Thought I'd FInd ye here." Came the gruff voice of Mustard.

"You ditched the cook didn't you?" Ozz said, leaning back, his hood covering his face from view a little less from the action.

"Nah. he's back aboard loading up the new foodstuffs. I gots us a good deal on those big redskinned potatoes. turns out the blokes brother owed me a favor." He chuckled sitting down next to His captain.

Ozzimus broke a handful of the bread off, and offered it to him, taking some for himself while the two shared a conversation. At the end of it, with the tingle and burn of spice on their tongues, Mustard shook his head.

"You nocturnes and your mysterious bullocks... Just do it Ozz. You know well as i do The Carnivalii Ain't not comin' back now. The boys will get restless without he promise o' gold and riches..." he trailed off

"RIght then..." the captain sighed, standing up. "We're off then. Gather the crew, We're leaving on the next horizon after the SEA WRAITH. ANyone who asks, tell them We're going after the 'Carnivalii'..." He turned, his cloak billowing and leaving a snare of shadow in it's wake for but a moment.

"We'll go eastward till dusk, And come starfall we'll follow up the trail of the SEA WRAITH, speed past her with the open sea winds and come up against them before they make land again."

With that Ozzimus Lorados Boarded the Silver shadow, Awaiting his time.

 

[Asmodeus]

"Cor! Bleedin' hell, Mister. You gonna 'ang around all day? This ain't a dry dock, y'know!"

Captain Valyrin glanced to one side as he stood on the deck. There was no one there.

"Cam on, Sir! I'm late for me supper. Ah need the pennies, honest ah do!"

Captain Valyrin turned and squinted at the shore. There was no one there.

"Down here, Mister! Oi!"

Captain Valyrin leaned over the quarter-deck railing to see a head bobbing out of the water. It was small, androgynous and draped in a heavy blue cloak. There was a flash of red light from its headband.

"Ah'm yer 'Obbler, Sir," shouted Sprig. "Here ta lead you out ta safe waters. Lots'a rocks and plant roots, y'see. We got more mud than usual on thah riverbed. It's causing 'avoc with thah big ships like wot you got. Me brother, Twiglet, says its cos o' thah fishing them Kaustir lot are doing. Messes with thah quantities, you see? Yer basic sediment ta fluid ratio is getting all disturbed and such like..."

Captain Valyrin looked away as the little fairy babbled. Hobblers were annoying. Especially Water Fey ones trying to earn pennies by leading ships out to sea.

"So anyway, are you leavin' or what? Oi! OI! YOU! OI! GET A BLEEDIN' MOVE-ON!" Sprig continued shouting at the people on the ship.

 

[Tegan]

"Kozoul of the Hive, I was beginning to worry—"

Her words were drowned out by the Captain's whistle. There was a pause amongst the assembled expeditioners before the Sea Wraith erupted around them. They were jostled from all around as the crewmen hurried to their duties, shouting to one another in some strange seafaring tongue. A raccoon anima landed on Khaanan's head, before launching himself up again to join his crewmates skittering high up the main 'n 'mizzenmasts. The winged Aux of the sailors clamored around the crow's nest.

The sailors on the main deck took little notice to Aela as they hefted the crates of supplies. The innkeeper whirled to dodge a hulking draken, taking cover inside one of the empty barrels, Olane slipping in behind her.

There was a strong Westerly wind that day; perhaps it was Ilium's blessing upon the crew of the Sea Wraith. The ship's masts unfurled one by one, blown taut by the wind. The Sea Wraith was leaving no sooner than she had docked, following the blue and red glow of Sprig beneath the waves.

Together, Ash and Cora huddled on the forest floor, weeping and shaking. Not from the exertion of their task but from what they had seen...

Something within the thirteen half'lifes fought against the Heartwood's purifying heat, refusing to release Aux or Crux from their mortal coils. As one, their pale faces turned to look upon Ash. Black ichor dripped from thirteen grinning mouths, from their eyes.

runrunrunrunrunrunrunrunrunrunrunrunrunrunrunrunrunrunrunrunrunrunrunrunrunrunrunrunrunrunrunrunrunrunrunrunrunrunrunrunrunrunrunrunrunrunrunrunrunrunrunrunrunrunrunrunrunrunrunrunrunrunrunrunrunrunrunrunrunrunrunrunrunrunrun
runrunrunrunrunrunrunrunrunrunrunrunrunrunrunrunrunrunrunrunrunrunrunrunrunrunrunrunrunrunrun
run









run so he can catch you




Their jaws opened wide, dozens of black tentacles extending towards him. In his mind's eye, Ash could see his face, before the flames consumed everything.

They sailed to the Northwest, hugging the coast. The days passed quickly for the Sea Wraith did not allow for idle passengers. Every moment for the expedition party was spent in preparation for countering the monolith's corruption, and more dangerous, navigating through the poisoned forest. In the heat and humidity, through the metronome rocking of the sea, they toiled.

On the third night the twin moons coupled amongst a sea of stars above them, below, the waters of the Prosperos were calm. Captain Valyrin stood alone on the forecastle, a telescope held to his right eye. The creak of the wood stairs and the shift of her robes signaled Ironblood's approach. "Thank you for joining me, Lady."

"What is it that you wanted to show me, Captain?" She approached when Valyrin beckoned her to stand next to him. He placed the telescope in her hands, despite her quizzical look, and pointed somewhere Westward. "There is the shore you seek. We would need to anchor the Sea Wraith here and take the cockboat to shore." By the humorless arch of his lips, Ironblood knew that there was some complication.

"You have not yet given the order to drop anchor." Ironblood turned to peer out into the distance, the shore ahead illuminated by the moonlight—No, it was something else. The Captain nodded, gently took hold of her hands to guide the telescope up. Ironblood's heart hitched by what she saw through the lense. The water surrounding the shore glowed bright with some bioluminescence.

"Fisherman's Bane." She lowered the telescope, her brow knit with frustration. Captain Valyrin continued as he took his telescope back. "The water along this stretch of shore has been turned to acid from the plants blossoming in the shallows. We would have to continue further North and double back on the land to reach your monolith." By the tone of his voice, Ironblood knew that this was an option that the captain was unwilling to take.

But she would not give up so easily. Ironblood tilted her face upward to better meet his gaze. "Then that is what we must do, Captain Valyrin." The wind began to pick up around them, blowing from the East, sending her tawny hair free of its tie.
Valyrin continued despite the building gale, his voice low and stern. "The waters past this point are unprotected. I will not endanger my crew, Lady."

There was a great commotion from the crow's nest. "KILLING CLOUD OFF THE STARBOARD BOW!"

It was the stuff of nightmare for every sailor, a black cloud of toxic spores, carried by the coastal winds. Anyone who inhaled the spores would be dead in a matter of minutes. The Captain wasted no time in rushing forward, the commands coming from his lips before he knew he was shouting them.

"Seal every crevasses of this ship! Do not let a single spore get inside!" Valyrin's Aux, Zephyr, soared over around the ship, relaying his orders. "All persons on this ship will don a face mask!" Even before he gave the last order, the sailors were already breaking open the chests that contained the masks. Each one made of unblemished hide, the mouth fitted with a metal canister which contained a damp sponge to filter the air. The eyes were covered by a translucent insect exoskeleton.

Lady Ironblood rushed past Captain Valyrin, into the chaos below. He called after her. "Put on a mask you bloody fool!" But she was gone. Ilium guide her. Ilium guide them all, for even the finest of sailors never escaped a killing cloud without some casualties.
"I hope your healers and purifiers are as skilled as you say, Lady." His words were muted by the howl of the raging winds.

 

[Falcon]

Ayanne Marshden, green

"Patah!" Ayanne cursed when the information about the killing spore cloud radiated through the ship and down into the bunk room where she was sitting quietly out of the way, "Antorin mya iamu patah! Iamu spore clouds! Now?" But regardless of the language coming out of her mouth Ayanne had raced for a container containing the masks, helping a crewman to get it open, and then passing them around to the people present.

That done she grabbed what she could of the remaining masks and set out as fast as her feet could carry her, healer's bag securely over one shoulder, to the other areas of the ship, passing out mask to those without, and on occasion grabbing several people and tightening their mask down because they had been sloppy in putting them on. She let the chaos carry her where it would, helping as she could, checking the crew masks. There was a moment, a brief moment where she saw Lady Iornblood rush by, maskless.

Ayanne spun on her heels, rushing after the High Alchemist, somehow managing to get to her side and press the last remaining of the spare masks she had grabbed to the woman's face.
"What are you a iamu elay?" she practically shouted through her own mask at the woman who was supposed to be leading the entire expedition. "We're no iamu hatari without you, Boss lady. You want this mission to succeed you stay antorin kai, alive! I shouldn't have to babysit your iamu keta."

A moment later Ayanne had rounded on another sailor who was running across the deck. "Oi! Oi, Antorin mya iamu patah! Antorin you think you're doing? Tighten your iamu mask straps!"

 

[Bahiyya]

Sevoret Umilas

Since the Sea Wraith had left the dock behind, the crew members had been working like busy bees, some a little calmer than others. Others seemed more hasty, cursing their profanities every now and again. The captain of the ship was in constant watch of the Prosperous, making certain that his ship's pathway was a safe one.

However, the fact of life is simply that with long journeys come perils....

At first glance, Sevoret knew not what it was. She had seen it in the distance, but growing closer. A cloud of black, that looked to promise fatal danger. It was gaining in proximity with the Sea Wraith. This made an uneasy feeling settle at the very pit of her stomach. Nahsahr stood beside as he usually did, his tail curled. "Danger approaches, Sevor," Nahsahr stated, a nervous tone lacing his voice. Nahsahr turned to face her side before making a small leap, hence re-joining the Aux and Crux.

Sevoret turned away hurriedly in attempts to speak with the captain and Ironblood.

"KILLING CLOUD OFF THE STARBOARD BOW!" a crew member exclaimed, grasping the attention of Captain Valyrin and Lady Ironblood. And so a poisonous cloud it was.

Captain Valyrin rushed out orders to his crew, and his crew members listened dutifully. They handed out masks, handing Sevoret one as well. The girl Sevoret had seen near the boarding ramp before the Sea Wraith's departure rushed about, making certain that everyone either had a mask or had it on correctly. Sevoret quickly put hers on, making certain that it was on accurately and tight.

The black cloud was getting deathly close.

 

[Wanderfool]

Aela had been holding onto whatever luck she managed to hoard throughout the years as she darted between navymen and company to sift through crates and barrels. None of which were outright marked "Viso's", making things even more complicated as she continued to conspicuously look. Aela was surprised that no one had really taken a notice to her, as they normally would have tried to boot her off the boat by now because of her obviously citizen appearance. Apparently no one was exactly worried about security, not that they needed it of course. Aela was just looking for a shipment that she had been needing desperately for a month now, no harm no foul.

Brow knit together she whipped her head around looking for her devious Aux, "Olane... Olane!" She whispered violently while peering over a tower of crates back at the rear of the ship. Before she could prepare herself, the air became tense and the boat was alive. Nearly being pushed overboard by a massive draken, Aela flattened herself against the slippery wooden railing while a few assorted creatures pushed past her, one with bright green hair and another completely covered in scales who she recognized as the Draken from earlier, doubled back forcing Aela forward once more. Yelping as she tripped forward, she crawled around looking for a place to hide for the moment so she could get off this ship. No shipment, no matter how expensive, was worth this much trouble. Finding a barrel on its side, she slipped inside her agile and small frame able to fit in the space comfortably. Olane finally pawed his way into the barrel curling up in Aela's lap as the very irritated Crux wrinkled her nose at him.

- - - 3 Days Into the Voyage - - -​

"Olane. I despise your very existence right now." The brightly colored aux looked up at her with a blank expression. With a tiny paw he tapped the wood of the ship, "Your crate is on this boat, I know it is and so do you or you would not have wasted the time coming aboard." He sneezed and climbed his way to the railing of the boat. "You can use a little adventure anyways. Broaden your horizons." Aela mocked the Aux and cracked her neck as she looked around. The crew was still livelier then ever as Hostia disappeared into the horizon. "Do not lecture me Lane." She said simply as she looked up the ship's main deck where a tall man stood whom she assumed was the captain. "No matter the way you spin it, we are going to either be in serious trouble or put to work until they port once more."

As she said the words she realized that it may very well not be the case at all as she had been squatting on the boat for quite some time and no one seemed to mind her. Not that she had made any attempt to be friendly or make any acquaintances, having already on the second day into the voyage wiped quite a few sailor's memories of her. Now they tended to just move about her like she was just another one of the crates on the deck. Aela tended to like it more that way than the other alternative then being known at any given point in time. She had spent most of the first night moving about below deck looking for an imaginary shipment that she now knew did not exist.

"What is that?" Olane spoke up with his blank androgynous voice as he pointed a claw off in the distance. Looking up from the reflection of the toxic Prosperos waters, she sighted a black cloud. A large black cloud with deathly spores that can stop a full grown's man heart in a matter of but a few seconds. "KILLING CLOUD OFF THE STARBOARD BOW!" Aela's heart dropped into her stomach in that moment, the first ship she had ever been on having countless casualties due to the black clouds. It was the worse possible occurrence for a captain and his crew. "All persons on this ship will don a face mask!" The assumed captain's voice thundered over the deck, reaching even the furthermost points of the Sea Wraith.

Aela spotted a woman handing out masks, more like tossing them at people all the while cursing in her own dialect, so she slipped into a throng of sailors reaching out for the masks and grabbed one for herself. Taking a moment to admire the mask she tapped the lens of the mask with a finger and smiled appreciatively. Could she possibly sell this fine item after the excursion was up? Aela was always ready to do business, that was her trade. And in the days to come that would be more and more rare, Aela's father had told her to always know what she was doing, and to do it well. The woman was a merchant through and through, and a damn good one at that.

Aela pushed past a sailor and stood off to the side, the red material of her scarf hiding any skin that may have been showing. While she had been standing there, the woman from earlier was chasing down a lady dressed in Cinnabar who looked and carried herself with some importance. She was without a mask. It was strange how the woman carried herself, with a cool kind of confidence that still held a restlessness deep in her core. Whomever she was, Aela found herself interested in her affairs. "OI! MAKE YOURSELF USEFUL WOULD YA?" A empty crate was thrust into Aela's arms as an elf with thick ropey arms roared at her. Blinking she turned around and shoved the crate into a crack in the ship's wood as directed. This was going to be a long, very drawn out excursion. Maybe she could somehow nab a few more masks for her trouble.

 

[Kooriryu]

Kozoul, Viridosi witch & Riven bee keeper

The witchling had spent the better part of the journey cooped up in the brackish-smelling holdings the Sea Wraith had provided her. The time was filled by checking her assortment of items were accounted for periodically. Illium watch over that none get these become possession of those ill-willed. Although few would know the most potent measurements and mixtures, much less the proper incantations to activate its magical properties. A majority of them would induce diarrhea without magical tampering and even then... Kozoul laughed inwardly at the most likely outcome should one of the crew feel a pilfering itch in their hands and decided to relieve their hands with her bottles and jars.

The days melded together and flowed past the half-kin, reluctance to leave her things unattended and the dimly lit quarters had mussed with her biological clock, something her forest kin heritage took great pains to remind Kozoul of. So it was at the growing cacophony that reached the holdings that Kozoul pried herself away from her tiny room to poke her head above deck.

Her heart skipped a beat.

Then it skipped another.

The pit of her stomach turned in on itself and grew sour. Though they were on the sea, a cloud of black anything was never a good omen. In fact, being on the sea and seeing a black cloud was most certainly a bad omen. Kozoul scrambled on deck straining to make sense of the chaotic scuffling, coupled with what she could discern between the general screaming, 'spores', 'face masks' and 'death'— though the latter wasn't said outright but all the words were euphemisms for it anyway. Being lightly-built Kozoul soon found herself being bounced around deck by the Sea Wraith's burly crew, in trying to gain some direction she let herself be sifted through brawn and sinew. She had no bearings of where on the ship she was but as long as she kept trying to move forward then she wou— a cloth-like item hit Kozoul square in the face with such force it cupped around her.

It was a face mask, and Kozoul hurriedly secured it around her face. The cold sweat of fear gleaming on the crew members rubbed off on Kozoul in the most unseemly of places as they brushed her aside again and again. She had to see what was going on! Eventually, Kozoul was sieved off against the rails and what she saw chilled her. Toxic spores riding on the wind, traveling all too eagerly to meet them.

For a moment, Kozoul's mind went blank from sheer panic.

Quickly, quickly what did Hagmother Drala teach you?! Assess and act! The witchling already crossed off an engulfing wave, flame's embrace, and the wind funnel. All three could have dire and unpredictable consequences on this spore cloud she was dangerously unfamiliar with. Wind was never as big a factor in the forest due to the large trees breaking even the slimmest of breezes into mere touches upon one's cheek.

"Assess... assess assess assess...!" Kozoul whispered harshly to herself, Lady Ironblood! A high alchemist from Edelon, what's more an envoy of the Jade Prophet coupled with her could most likely come up with a solution or at the very least have the composure to keep Kozoul herself from fraying around the edges. The half kin would have to get up higher to see over the chests of the ship's crew. Looking about her surroundings, Kozoul reached out to one of the ropes dangling above her and with the natural intuition of one who spent their living being amongst vines and branches hoisted herself up onto one of the barrels lining the deck.

The witchling saw that she had ended up near the main mast, of course she'd find herself in the middle as it were. Her eyes feverishly darted around and around turning her head bow forward and aft searching for the telltale flash of cinnabar.

"Lady!"

 

[Saphen]

Ash of the Heartwood

The sun had vanished, Ash didn't notice as he sat on the tomb of the departed. His eyes staring intently at the ground, his face covered in soot save the trails of clean skin that were created by his tears. Cora sat next to him, her eyes fixated on his face as she waited for him to move.

"Did yo-"
"Yes"​

Cora replied knowing what he meant before he could finish. It was as real as the steady beat of their heart, the thumping of it's fear growing louder in his mind as he relived the words again and again.

run so he can catch you

run so he can catch you​

run so he can catch you​

Something was coming and if anyone knew about the futility of evasion it was Ash. Death came for all and there wasn't a place you could hide in all the known world where it couldn't find you. Cora smiled, she knew the look of resolve on his face and as he stumbled to his feet. She watched him with admiration, the doubt fading from his mind as she spoke.

"You ar-"
"Yes"
​

Ash replied knowing what she meant before she could finish. This was no small task set before them but it had to be done. There were thirteen lives that vanished in an instant but that was not the part one should be sad about. Those who die get to rejoin Ilium, this is the honor all livings things receive in the end be them thieves or saints. But to be left in a state of half life, now that was truly evil. Unable to control your actions and yet not having the peace that came with shedding this mortal shell.

Ash closed his eyes, he forced himself to remember everything that had happened during their rebirth. All thirteen had turned to look at him, tentacles reaching for him at once. There was a face, he knew not who it belonged to but he did know that this was the creature that controlled them.

His brow furrowed as he tried to etch the monster's face into his memory.

run so he can catch you​

Sweat beaded down his skin, his hands shaking before balling them into fists, staring into his inner most thoughts.

run so he can catch you​

"Ash..." Cora said gently as she stood up in front of him, looking nervously at his chest. The red glow of their heart was starting to grow brighter.

run so he can catch you​

He let out a small groan of pain as he studied the face, strange limbs protruding from it's head, tentacles where it's mouth should be, a skull like visage...or was it his actual face?

run so he can catch you​

"ASH!" Cora screamed and suddenly his eyes were open staring at his aux in confusion. "Your hands..." she whispered, he looked down to see that he had pierced flesh. Sap welled from his palms, the wounds caused by his nails stung slightly but he ignored the pain.
"Don't be concerned about me Cora," he said to her gently, a smile of reassurance forming on his face. Ash walked away from the burial site for a moment. His eyes searching the ground before finding a large and flat piece of bark. Returning to the black earth he scooped up some of the ashes, the tree skin slowly closed around the pile creating a wooden pouch.

"We are going to see the Jade Prophet," they said at once and then they were gone. The soft patter of hooves echoed through the woods as he rushed towards town. Ash had to warn him about the creature that was circumventing death.

 

[Boss Frost]

It had been a pretty good voyage, at least in his account. The actual cook of the ship had been baffled and a little insulted that another cook had been called upon: but a few shares of rum and the fact that it was a few less people to cook for personally sweetened the deal for the chef and allowed Konkon to retain what he considered a rather cushy job. Sure, there was a lot of cleaning involved... and he had to wear a line of ties over his tail to prevent fur from getting in the food... but pretty decent nonetheless!

He had been fishing off the starboard side: or had been. After one or two, the fish seemed to become sparse... sickly, even. He stopped catching them to commit to looking down into the waters, trying to find the cause, assuming some ludicrous apex predator out in the ocean's waters. He couldn't see the bottom, and no amount of booze would make his nervousness go away because of it. He eavesdrops on a nearby conversation...

"Fisherman's Bane." Konkon inhales through his teeth at that. He raises his hand to shake his fist at the unwelcoming sea, "Yeh 'eartless no-good element! Keepin' the fish from the fishermen's a crime o' the nat'rul order!" He punctuates this sentiment with a swig of his rum, wiping his muzzle off on a sleeve. His ears were backward, displeased. The sea's response came as a surprise to him: "KILLING CLOUD OFF THE STARBOARD BOW!"
"...AH DIDN' MEAN IT!" He shouted over the side of the ship... as something caught his eye. He squinted, leaning so far off the side of the ship that he nearly fell in. "AHH!" He turns around, grasping for his fishing pole, wrestling to get it after he found out what it was. He leaps up, hooking his leg onto the side of the ship and leaning out to cast the line... it whizzed into the water - he attempted to ignore the shouts of sailors attempting to get him to put on a mask, "Captain's orders!", and resisted the stronger men attempting to pull him back into the ship. "C'mon! 'Mere!"

"Nuh! Not yet!" He shouted, gritting his teeth as his line coiled around his target. He pulled back on his fishing pole... causing a LURCH that the five-foot-tall fox couldn't possibly have been the cause of. Pulled back onto the deck by sailors, he continued to reel in the line as they forced a mask to his face: he writhed and struggled as this happened, before YANKING the fishing pole back, hopefully pulling his catch up onto the ship...

 

[Asmodeus]

"WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!!!"

Sprig came rocketing out of the roiling water, his cloak snagged on the end of Konkon's fishing line. He collided with the deck railing then plunged back into the sea, before a second heave from the Drunken Fox left him dangling in mid-air. Upside down. Covered in sea weed.

"YOU BLEEDIN' 'OOLIGANS! I'VE BEEN SCREAMING FOR DAYS, I 'AVE! WHA'S WRONG WITH YA? BLOODY DEAF, THA'S WOT YOU ARE!"

The hobbler fairy twizzled this way and that on the hook, buffeted by the wind as Konkon struggled to hold him. When Sprig caught sight of the masked fox he continued yelling.

"Got caught on the anchor rope, din't I? Three bladdy days screamin' me tits off! And for what? Not so much as an 'ow's yer father? from any o' yer! A Clupper Fish bit me toe! Had to eat it!"

The four foot fey took a swing at Konkon... which is hard to do when dangling on a fishing line. "Bleedin' navy men, in't ya? Ain't got a care in the world! Ah'm gonna complain, I am! Gonna write a letter to the Jade Prophet! That'll learn ya! I can write good, I can! Me brother Twiglet taught me fifteen letters o' the alphabet! Yer in trouble now, all o' yer buggers!"

The wind shifted direction, once, twice. The killing spores drew closer. As Sprig twirled on the line his sight snapped to the massive cloud that was drawing, like a shadowed cape, across the eastern skies.

"MUUUUUUUUUUUM!"

He spun himself around to yell at Konkon.

"PUT ME BACK IN THE SEA! PUT ME BACK!"

 

[Seth Bloodmoon]

Whatever blessing Illium had given the Sea Wraith on the day it had left port seemed to have dried up. At least that was Valyrin's opinion as the howling wind drowned out the sound of his words. As the easterly winds carried the black cloud of death ever closer to the ship he moved down from the forecastle down to the main deck, promptly accepting a mask that was handed to him, though he didn't notice who exactly had handed it over.

The mask wasn't immediately donned, though, as Valyrin paused to shout more orders as needed while members of the crew scrambled back up the rigging after procuring their masks and putting them on. Zephyr continued circling the ship, repeating his orders for those who might not have heard them over the gale. After looking about for a moment or two, he spotted the cinnabar clad Ironblood, who was being handed a mask by a woman that had boarded for the expedition. well, that was one less worry at least.

Moving once again, Valyrin worked his way towards the quarterdeck but paused once again as he noticed one hell of a strange sight. One of the new addtions, an anima named Konkon if memory served him right, that was brought on as a second chef was fishing at a time like this!? Members of the crew were dealing with him though, and the half-Kin had more important things to see to. Thus he ended up missing just what the had managed to catch as he continued to the helm.

Upon reaching his destination, he gave a grim nod to the helmsman and Rhys. Rhys simply pointed to the mask on his face then to Valyrin's face. Chargined, Valyrin smirked a bit then promptly strapped his mask on, making sure all of the straps were properly secured, then, "We shall see everyone safely through this bloody mess," maybe, just maybe, they could avoid casualties. Though such was doubtful.

Casting his gaze towards the dark cloud of deadly spores, Valyrin extended his left arm so that Zephyr could perch there. He needed his Aux close just in case he needed to use one of his advents. He would need to wait till the right moment, though, otherwise it would be a complete waste and perhaps do more harm than good. With the healers and purifiers the Lady Ironblood had summoned for this expedition, and Ilium's guidance, such a moment would come.

 

[ChojiYume]

Buhn grunted with the effort of holding her own weight, sweat trickling from her brow. She bit her lip, why did she always get into situations like this? She was a peaceful person, most of the time. Ilium help her, she sighed with that thought. Trying to pull herself up she bit her lip harder, drawing blood, the pain in her wrist felt wrong. She looked at Maiin and then back at the branch which she had lots of chance to not make it to. She took a deep breath and started edging towards it.

"My Buhnwanah, please be careful." Maiin meant well, Buhn knew that, but that didn't stop her from throwing a glare at the floating tattoo. She grunted as she scooched another inch or two over. This was going to be slow and painful as hell. She wouldn't be surprised if she wouldn't be able to do any tattoo's till the scratches healed on her finger tips. She had luckily used her left hand, which was her non-dominant hand, to catch herself. Though being ambidextrous had it's perks when it came to injuries like this anyways.

"It's time's like these I wish you could help." She rasped as she moved another few inches over, slowly sidling over towards the branch. Her hand slipped and her heart almost stopped as she quickly scrabbled for a better hand hold. "My Buhnwanah!" She was shaking, not only from fear, but from the effort. She stopped to take a breather. Her luck felt like it was running out. She had to keep going, she couldn't give up, she looked down the branch she was hanging on, maybe she could get a foot hold.

Buhn found what she'd been looking for with her foot, she pushed up and again found a hold. She bit her lip and grunted as she pulled herself up and scrambled onto the branch-way huffing and puffing. She laid on her back, and sighed, Maiin hovering over her worriedly. "Next time, Maiin, don't mention anything. It when things get pointed out that I screw up." She gasped for air, this was horrid. She feared to even look at her hands, she did not want to scream, not today, even if it was just out of frustration. She would get through this day, and hopefully without any more events such as the one she just had.