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Thesaurasaurus
Feb 15, 2010

"Send in Boxbot!"

OOC Thread

Underworld, Isle of Stygia, Western Coast



The world is upside-down.

Creation's Underworld is an afterimage of stable reality, the world's reflection in a blackened mirror. It is a place that should not be, dreamt into being by the nightmares of dead titans. It is the realm of the dead, where restless souls are inexorably drawn by their lingering regrets, unfinished business, or simple reluctance to move on.

The ten not-quite-dead souls drawn to the gypsum sands of Stygia's shore may or may not harbor lingering regrets, but all of them proved, at one point, reluctant to move on.

And their business is decidedly unfinished.

The ocean is an unfathomably vast expanse of liquid obsidian, marred only by two shapes of matte black floating a hundred yards from the shore. On the beach, a small party of ghosts and a handful of living humans await you, along with a dozen head of cattle, a motley assortment of grave goods, a pile of hell money, and a single sacred tree from the eastern forests of the living world.

A storm gathers on the horizon, flickering bolts of of lightning visible as brief flashes of violet incandescence. The sky above, lit by a moon of spectral crimson, begins to weep, the first few oily, black droplets of unliving hunger falling on the shore, leeching away what meager Essence the ground holds.

Here begins your voyage.

Cast:

Team 1:
Mighty Dicktron as Wandering Rainbow, Midnight Caste
mistaya as Never Within Reach, Day Caste
A_Raving_Loon as Spawn of the Devouring Wyrm, Moonshadow Caste
Bardlebee as The Last Forsaken Poem, Moonshadow Caste
Krysmphoenix as The Everlasting Butterfly of the Decadent Garden, Daybreak Caste
vdate as Last Mercy Given, Midnight Caste

Team 2:
MadcapViking as Daughter of Onyx and Silver, Day Caste
PrinnySquadron as Drowned Maiden of the Unending Abyss, Day Caste
oldmidgetwillow as Watcher at the Gates of Sorrow, Daybreak Caste
MiltonSlavemasta as Last Damnation of Atlantis, Dusk Caste
Bouquet as The Waves, Ceaseless and Unending, Devour the Shore, Midnight Caste
Plutonis as Blighted Jackal Face Master, Moonshadow Caste

As-Yet Unaffiliated:
Nessus as The Eightfold Entrepreneur, Bridger of the Gaps Between Death and Consummation
Transient People as Relic

Table of Contents

Prologue: Not Dead Yet, Motherf*ckers
  • Part 1: Should you choose to accept it (or else)...
  • Part 2: Hostile work environment!
  • Part 3: Welcome aboard the Thousand-Facet Jewel!
  • Part 4: ...and now they're all TALKING for some reason
  • Part 5: :smith:
Intermission 1: Cabin Fever
Chapter 1: Organic Produce
Intermission 2: Dead To Rights

Welcome to Exalted 2.5 Double Feature: All My Draculadies & Black Liquid Sorrow! You're all together now, so this is the time for socializing with the others and doing a bit of RP to establish characterization and dynamics, then we'll get this show on the road sea.

quote:

Awards:

XP
Posting: 162 XP
Gratuity: 20 XP
Awesomeness: 28 XP
Quests: 110 XP
-------------------
Total: 320 XP before Individual Awards and Excellency Rebates

Individual Awards:
Group: Manse 5 (Petrayan Summit, Gem of the Firebird)
Ceaseless: One 3-dot Artifact upgrade of your choice for the Revelation
Wyrm: 3 XP for cartography/vehicle/weapons documentation effortposting on Loon's part
Wyrm: Liege 5 (Mask of Winters)
Wyrm: Enemy 4 (Silver Prince)
Damnation: 3 XP for Encyclopedia Draculadica
Damnation: Liege 5 (Mask of Winters)
Jackal: 3 XP for Dracuwiki
Jackal: Enemy 4 (Silver Prince)
Never: 5 XP for Chibi-Cast
Never: Manse 3 (Gladestalker Stone)
Never: Liege 1 (The Lover)
Excellency Rebates :siren: SERIOUSLY READ THIS POST IF YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY :siren:

Thesaurasaurus fucked around with this message at 00:02 on Sep 4, 2017

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A_Raving_Loon
Dec 12, 2008

Subtle
Quick to Anger
Spawn of the Devouring Wyrm

There you are.

Thought the fog of ages come and gone could hide you, hmm? Not without reason, it nearly did, but you underestimated the tenacity of your own memory. Oh, that slim forward profile and low silhouette may have passed for humble once, let you fade into the background of an age of wonders but those days are gone. Your swift wheels and blushing sails shone true in tales of tales of dreams. From your birth in the old Solar order of battle, to alleged fall in the records of the Great Revolt, then made immortal in the epic of the western war.

Now you are here. Your tale is mine.

They once called you Envoy of Eternal Peace. No more is that your name - It is your mission.

Here begins your final saga.

A hidebound tome slams shut in time with a crack of thunder. Its first page is freshly inked in blood. The herald of a sound, to some, feared more than any storm. "Crew," two dozen humans swiftly break from the assembled mass. Each is sharply dressed alike in red and black. They cascade into formation around the banner of Winter Navy, flying from the shoulders of a deathknight. They part as her hand sweeps to sea and locks unerring on the shadow floating beyond. "take a good, hard look at the Storm-Mother-loving ship where you shall serve your final days."

They look well.

"Number Eight, prepare supplies for transfer. Number Twelve, ready the inaugural sacrifices. Number Twenty-Three, chilled Tengese wine." The crew scatters in a well-ordered panic. When each is scrambling to their task the breeze turns slightly to the north, She shifts her stance. "Number four. Stay where I can see you."

The sailor sprints to stay in view as Wyrm slowly turns to face her fellow knights. "Ladies, and Skeleton," the wine arrives in hand, in time to toast, "To the sea."

mistaya
Oct 18, 2006

Cat of Wealth and Taste

Never Within Reach

The woman in white leather sits crosslegged on the beach, palms resting on her knees. A light gust of wind circles around her, lifting her long black hair in gentle waves. She opens her eyes and leans forwards to scoop up a small handful of gypsum sand.

The grains run through her fingers, and are blown away by the wind. Life, memory, favor- all of these things are transient and easily lost. The Whispers are pleased with this ritual of letting go, but Never only smiles. She knows that letting go of what was lost only makes room for new aquisitions.

She waits until her hands are empty before standing and brushing off her clothing. The ship awaits, and her fellow Abyssals are already gathered. She touches the round glass that sits on her left eye and gazes at the Envoy. Everything seems to be in order, and she is already aching to depart.

Never lifts the offered wine glass. "To the sea." she says. There is little sincerity in the gesture. For her, land and sea are equally worthless. Her domain is the Air. But that will wait, for now. She drains the cup and calls for another.

PrinnySquadron
Dec 8, 2009

Drowned Maiden of the Unending Abyss

Maiden drummed her fingers on the hilt of her sword, impatiently . The prospect of spending Oblivion-knows-how-long on this boat for an unspecified(so far) mission put her nerves slightly on edge.Vagueness had always irritated her. That, and not knowing what you were getting yourself into had been the death of many an aspiring assassin.

Admittedly, attempting to assassinate your captain in the middle of a fight wasn't much smarter. You live and learn. Or die and learn in this case, she mused.

She pushed these thoughts to the back of her mind and raised her glass, grin returning.

"To The sea!"

Bouquet
Jul 14, 2001

The Waves, Ceaseless and Unending, Devour the Shore

Ceaseless stares at the storm on the horizon, trying to calculate if it might impact the upcoming voyage. After a time, he shrugs and turns his gaze to the Imminent Revelation, assuring himself that the ship was riding evenly and nothing had gone amiss overnight. The ship had handled herself well on her shakedown cruise, but Ceaseless is sure that greater challenges than capturing lightly armed Realm merchantmen and fleeing Realm naval forces await them on this voyage. He licks his painfully cracked lips at the memory of the Peleps captain's blood hot in his mouth and finds his attention drifting longingly to the cattle lowing confusedly on the strand.

Spawn of the Devouring Wyrm reaches some decision and scatters her crew to frantic obedience. Ceaseless notes the sailor heading toward the wine and makes his way over to the small cluster of Deathknights around the other ship's captain. He accepts his wine and raises his glass high.

"To the Sea!" As he drains his wine with a gulp, the proud engineer continues silently to himself with a smirk: "May your ancient little tugboat serve you well. I know our beautiful lady will do everything we ask of her."

Bouquet fucked around with this message at 19:32 on Nov 11, 2012

Bardlebee
Feb 24, 2009

Im Blind.
The Last Forsaken Poem

Poem is silent while listening to the waves silently crash against the nypsum sands. She stands there with a disappointed look on her face for she did not want to go on that dumb boat. There was no one to talk to but the same drat people every time, though it was quite the interest to her to go to new lands. This is why she was here. Poem stood there swishing her drink around, cross-armed and dressed in her normal brilliantly dark red satin clothing. Her jet black hair danced in the coast breeze. She kept an eye on Never Within Reach, an interesting name for a person that was rather easily in reach of her.

As the boat approached she stayed silent still, her monotone expression broke with a tiny smile as she raised her glassed and murmured "Here here" as a courtesy.

MiltonSlavemasta
Feb 12, 2009

And the cats in the cradle and the silver spoon
Little boy blue and the man on the moon
"When you coming home, dad?"
"I don't know when
We'll get together then son you know we'll have a good time then."
Last Damnation of Atlantis

Damnation is bored. Utterly bored. He strokes his moustache and stares off into the horizon through a spyglass, hoping his ship can finally arrive. It's been too long since he's ridden the waves, plundering ships, taking their things, and leaving their inhabitants to rot. Fighting Thorns was really rather droll. He raises his glass and joins in the toast, shouting "To the Sea!" in hearty Seatongue, but then gives the glass a dirty look afterwards. "Oughtn't have any glasses like these where we're going. Oughtn't have too much time for sipping wine like a ninny, either." The glass is dropped and crushed underfoot nonchalantly.

A fierce grin arises as the ship appears on the Horizon. "Ladies, Gentlemen, we're in for a grand old time."

MiltonSlavemasta fucked around with this message at 09:51 on Apr 15, 2013

OldMidgetWillow
Aug 12, 2004
perhaps after dinner i will order some more monuments and tall, phallic structures be built in my honor
Watcher at the Gates of Sorrow

An old man in a black duster has been nonchalantly walking around the hydrofoil-bedecked ship, attempting (unsuccessfully) to conceal his appreciation. After a few circuits and a few pats on a reanimated manta's head, the grizzled old sailor strides over to the others and takes a glass. He spits and takes a swig.

"She'll do; barely, but she'll do. To the sea, then."

mdct
Sep 2, 2011

Tingle tingle kooloo limpah.
These are my magic words.

Don't steal them.
Wandering Rainbow

The skeleton in warm pink and cloudy blue sat by a little sandcastle decorated in shells. It's a sloppy affair, little more than a couple of speckled mounds, but it was pretty fun regardless. There'd not been much to do to pass the time in wait, so you do what you have available, right?

The world ahead looked awfully dark and dreary and dank and other things that started with D. Let's just hope that dull isn't one of them, because at the very least we can brighten what's to come. Probably. With a little effort, in any case. I mean, that's an awfully oppressive atmosphere. It's kind of harshing my vibes.

Rainbow up until now had ignored the hustle and bustle behind them, but deigned to finally notice what was going on when they were passed a glass of wine and everyone else toasted in that weird ocean language. Not wanting to look unenthused, Rainbow called out a string of gibberish that vaguely sounded like what the others said.

"Forward and shrimp!"

Krysmphoenix
Jul 29, 2010
The Everlasting Butterfly of the Decadent Garden

"To the sea!" Butterfly shouted cheerfully as she raised her glass up, drank from it, and then placed it on top of her zombie-manservant's head. The zombie stood carefully still, holding up an umbrella to shield her from the oily ran from the delightfully dreadful sky above. And if her enchantments to keep the body from decaying and getting too dead managed to keep up, the glass could be perfectly balanced on it's head unless the wind picked up. She even found a nice suit for the poor thing to wear just for this occasion.

"So," she said, gazing out to the Envoy of Eternal Peace, "when can we get on the ship? I want to look around it already."

Thesaurasaurus
Feb 15, 2010

"Send in Boxbot!"

Blood and Sand

At Wyrm's bidding, Crewman Number Twelve makes all haste to the ghostly priest and his celebrants and gives them the signal to begin. The nephwrack unfurls a scroll of silk-and-silver brocade and reads aloud in a low, funereal chant as the tree is ritually anointed, then chopped to kindling and set alight.

The goods and riches are heaped upon the pyre, then the cattle are brought forward, one by one, and their throats slit and their blood poured upon the flame; judging by their indifference to the butchering of their fellows, that sacrificial blood is laced with staggering quantities of the finest opium. Finally, as the last of the flames gutters and dies, the ashes are gathered and partitioned into thirds. One portion is scattered over the waves; the other two are poured into cloth sacks and given to the crews' Midnight Castes to consecrate their respective vessels.

A small fleet of rowboats awaits you, ready to ferry you and your crews to the ships.

The Imminent Revelation of Oblivion

The Revelation, formerly the Just Intercession of the Righteous, was in a far greater state of disrepair than her sister when the Bodhisattva disinterred her from her sunken grave. Accordingly, significantly more of the ship has been overhauled and replaced with necrotech, from the reanimate giant ray whose wings serve as a hydrofoil to roc-bone hulls to the secondary sails woven from the ectoplasmic "flesh" of ghosts. Nevertheless, for all the extensive work that went into her, there are some rather obvious and disappointing omissions from the retrofit; the lack of Essence-propulsion, in particular, is a glaring flaw in the design.

Oh, well. You'll just have to make do with your obscene amount of firepower.

As a patrol clipper, the ship's interior is more cozy than cramped. Amenities are rather sparse, but the armories and laboratories are fully-stocked with weapons, tools, and *ahem* raw materials. Inside the captain's quarters is a desk carved from solid ebony, its drawers firmly locked; no keyhole is in evidence.

Watcher: There's some form of sorcery sealing the drawers, but that's all you can tell. Naturally, there are no instructions.

The Envoy of Eternal PeaceStorm Mother Fucker?

One thing that immediately becomes apparent as you step below decks is that your group definitely drew the long straw. Nearly any material comfort a lady could desire is stocked aboard, courtesy of the Lover Clad in the Raiment of Tears. The ship itself has supersaturated Soulsteel panels emitting a steady stream of horror and despair, perfect for creating that atmosphere of home-away-from-home. Its cabins are lavishly furnished; its lounge looks absurdly comfortable; its bar promises the ruination of any liver, Exalted or otherwise.

Tucked away next to the spacious cargo hold (and rather tellingly, directly below the infirmary) is a necromantic workshop with every tool one could conceivably need for practicing the least circle of the black arts. Up on the bridge, Captain Wyrm finds a leather-backed chair mounted on a 360-degree pivot. It is a chair befitting one who stands above the very gods themselves, its texture and substance such that Venus herself would weep to know such pleasure. It is unquestionably Wyrm's, the best seat for the best officer, and none shall deny her.

And oh, yes, you suppose that immense console covered in buttons and levers might be important too.

A soulsteel panel is labelled as the point of activation. The captain places her thumb valiantly on the terminal and feeds it a single mote of her own Essence.

An optical array flickers to life, a spectral image fading into visibility before her.



"And a most earnest greeting to you, my captain. I am certain that I can provide anything you might require; I am - or was - a man of considerable, ah, resourcefulness."

Of all the rum joints in all the underworld, he had to turn up on yours.

MiltonSlavemasta
Feb 12, 2009

And the cats in the cradle and the silver spoon
Little boy blue and the man on the moon
"When you coming home, dad?"
"I don't know when
We'll get together then son you know we'll have a good time then."
Last Damnation of Atlantis

The former pirate eyes the Envoy of Eternal Peace with a tinge of jealousy, but after inspecting the Imminent Revelation of Oblivion, finds it more than suitable for his purposes. "A slight one, but weapons capable of firing at all angels. Speed, too; The most important thing for us. Creation will empty their bowels at the sight of one of our boarding parties." He spots Watcher in the captain's quarters and buries his impulse of envy, thinking "The next one. The First Age Battleship. We will take it back, and it will be mine."

Striding below decks, he opens a door at the end of the hallway to look for provisions and finds an entire cupboard full of rum. "Good times, Ladies and Gentlemen. Good times indeed." He takes a bottle and makes his way back to the upper deck, eyeing the ethereal sails. Suddenly reminded why he wasn't chosen to be captain, he pops open the bottle of rum and looks sheepishly at Watcher. "Sir, do you know, er, how do turn this on?"

MiltonSlavemasta fucked around with this message at 05:17 on Nov 12, 2012

A_Raving_Loon
Dec 12, 2008

Subtle
Quick to Anger
Captain Spawn of Wyrms

Sunken deeply into the ample substance of the captain's chair, Wyrm looks quite at peace. Gods, whatever they skinned to wrap this thing must be extinct. If even one still roamed the air itself would hunt it down to claim its hide. And she would sooner plunge it through the mouth of the Abyss than let another know its touch.

The Crew knows well to keep the proper distance, at all times no less than three, no more than five keep watch over their leader's reprieve. Ever wary of what may come. A languid sweep of her hand returned the ship's inhabiting spirit to life. Her eyes barely crack open to take in its flickering visage. She enjoys the sensation of shifting closer more than what she's moved to see. "You'd best be." Says a lion to a mouse, "I am a woman of considerable demands."

Slowly at first, as though greatly pained, one hand coils. The crew stand rapt with alarm. Tap. Tap. Tap. One finger, another, back twice to the first. A rest. A raise. They dare not disappoint. Her hand slams down. Light erupts from bitter memories of old wounds, pouring over ever surface as they infest the ship with undying essence. A symphony of mechanisms grind and slam to their stations.

Her blood, her ship, her crew, now sing as one.

Committing 5 to wake the beast.

A_Raving_Loon fucked around with this message at 05:43 on Nov 12, 2012

Bouquet
Jul 14, 2001

The Waves, Ceaseless and Unending, Devour the Shore

Ceaseless carefully takes the sack of ashes and climbs aboard one of the waiting rowboats. Impatience to be truly underway rises fiercely but he pushes it down. Now is not the time to take any chances.

Once aboard the Revelation, Ceaseless carries out his portion of the consecration ritual.

"Let us carry Your overwhelming anger and yearning for Oblivion in our hearts, that we may give Creation and Your enemies the death they so richly deserve," he ends, after a period of less understandable language and esoteric actions.

Ceaseless finds Watcher.

"We're ready, Captain."

mdct
Sep 2, 2011

Tingle tingle kooloo limpah.
These are my magic words.

Don't steal them.
Wandering Rainbow

The skeleton inspects the SS Storm Motherfucker carefully, from stern to bow. Everything is satisfactory, until...

"Wait. What? That figurehead looks nothing like me. If I knew it was going to be this inaccurate, I wouldn't have bothered modeling for it. Curse the sculptors!"

The figurehead is, of course, a skeleton.

PrinnySquadron
Dec 8, 2009

Drowned Maiden of the Unending Abyss

"Well, 'least we got enough weapons to make anyone near us sorry." Maiden sounded amused as she inspected the weapons on board the ship.

"O' Course it don't mean poo poo if we're the last one's there and the fun's over already"

MadcapViking
Jan 6, 2006
Single malt Pork Baron
Imminent Revelation of Oblivion - Daughter of Onyx and Silver

Onyx sits in the crow's nest of the Imminent Revelation of Oblivion. The name alone explained why the Bishop had assigned her here. Names and meaning, preach truth to Creation through the verse of the blade, blah blah blah. The former Envoy of Eternal Peace had a bar, apparently. The Revelation had enough weapons to level a small town.

...Needless to say, given the choice, she'd take the bar. At least there was meat in storage on this one? Whatever. They were going to SEE THINGS. And not have to kill them immediately! (Unless they were Guild. gently caress those guys. Seriously.)

She swings down through the rigging onto the deck to check on Conquering Black Shadow, and to greet the rest of her crew. Fiddling with the bindings holding it in place on the deck, she grins at her fellow Day caste. "If you're that worried, we could always have our own little strike force on the Black Shadow, here."

Onyx straightens up, satisfied that her bike isn't going anywhere until she wants it to. Grabbing the rum from Atlantis, she takes a long pull before handing it back. "So. What are we doing tonight, Cap'n? Something fun, I hope."

Onyx is turning out to be surprisingly bubbly! Let's go and murder the hell out of some Guild scum.

PrinnySquadron
Dec 8, 2009

Imminent Revelation of Oblivion- Drowned Maiden of the Unending Abyss

Maiden's grin widened. "Sounds a hell of a lot better than fuckin' waiting until they're done firing at each other."

She stretched. Goddamn, she hated the waiting part.

"Just tell me where the rum is kept and I'll be fine. This journey is going to be a looong one."

mistaya
Oct 18, 2006

Cat of Wealth and Taste

Never Within Reach, Envoy of Eternal Peace- Top of the Mainmast

Never's first priority on board ship was to take in the view, and she was scarcely aboard before she was halfway up the rigging. The stormspray blew her hood back and let her raven hair fly and she bypassed the crow's nest utterly to stand atop the highest point, on her toes. She spread her arms and just breathed.

A view like this, the wind behind her and the ocean ahead, and she could forget all her troubles. She wobbled slightly (perhaps the fourth glass of wine was one too many?) and slid down into the crow's nest, laughing.

"Now, what are you up to, enemies mine?" she purrs, peering through the monocle at the Revelation. With a project as overt as this, it was best to make sure no one on the other team was planning anything... untowards. It was likely that the Abyssals were at the very least competing for something, if not outright set against each other. Not that anyone would tell them that.

Spying on Boat Specs: Per/Sail = 2 sux
Looking for Secrets: Per/Larc = 2 sux

mistaya fucked around with this message at 03:01 on Nov 13, 2012

OldMidgetWillow
Aug 12, 2004
perhaps after dinner i will order some more monuments and tall, phallic structures be built in my honor
Imminent Revelation of Oblivion, Watcher at the Gates of Sorrow

The Waves finds his captain staring intently at a desk in his quarters. At first, Watcher merely waves off his engineer, too engrossed in hypothesizing who put the desk there and for what purpose; repeated promptings make him snap out of it and stand.

"To Oblivion with it; I suppose we should do this right. I'll be up in a second." The grizzled old seaman roots around in the closet and finds the most ostentatious hat there. Grabbing a bottle of grog on the way out of his quarters, he completely ignores Daughter's question and strides onto the main deck and yells out in a loud, almost hoarse voice, "Cut the lines! Raise the sails! TIME TO MAKE CREATION FEAR US!"

He throws the grog sharply onto the deck, shattering the bottle and making the liquor spray everywhere; the mantas somewhat disturbingly have a taste for it and lurch the boat around slightly to guzzle as much grog as they can before it leaks off the ship entirely.

Watcher loks back at Daughter with a slight smile. "Does that answer your question?"

MadcapViking
Jan 6, 2006
Single malt Pork Baron
Imminent Revelation of Oblivion - Daughter of Onyx and Silver

The red-headed Deathknight returns a razor-edged grin and an ironic salute.

"Perfectly, Cap'n. Just so long as we don't run out of rum in the meantime."

Thesaurasaurus
Feb 15, 2010

"Send in Boxbot!"

Through the Looking Glass

The crystal lens turns cloudy and opaque, then filters back to...not transparency, but a clear view of somewhere else. Never's gaze sweeps back and forth across each deck of the Imminent Revelation in turn, scouring it for schemes and secrets.

Alas, the crew of the other ship seems to be remarkably behind on their scheming quota. They've taken stock of the Revelation's armaments and seaworthiness, and made an impressive start on the rum stores, but otherwise merely seem eager to get going. As for secrets...

The ship has the usual complement of smuggler's compartments, along with a number of unopened crates in the hold; peering inside reveals that they contain the flags of nearly every nation and organization that does business in the West. Beyond that, the only signs of secrecy are the captain's quarters, which proves impenetrable to your scrying, and a number of tiny, sealed compartments in each of the Deathknights' cabins, likewise proofed against invasion of privacy. Your monocle flashes a HUD and offers the helpful tidbit that each seal appears to be keyed to one specific Exaltation, and can be opened (or resealed) by the bearers of those respective Exaltations by displaying their caste marks.

Unable to find anything else of interest, your perspective returns to that of your own body. Well, that was largely a waste of...

...wait.

Looking down from the mast, both ships' Essence profiles show a flickering afterimage of themselves, and it's not just double-vision from six glasses of wine. Faint, black-and-silver threads run through each of the ghost images, so thin they might have been mistaken for cobwebs if they weren't so pervasive, converging on the Envoy's bridge and the captain's quarters of the Revelation.

You've found something interesting, but damned if you can tell what it is.

Toot Toot, all aboard the Murder Boats!

A shudder sweeps through the Envoy as Wyrm's anima bleeds through each and every one of its systems. She can feel them as they come online: the deathly essence of the Soulsteel paneling tingles her skin; the wind in the sails is her own breath; the pulse of the drive core, the very beating of her heart. Watcher's experience is less visceral, but no less personal, as his ship groooans in answer to his command. The necromantic composite whispers in his head, a thousand voices asking a single question:

<Orders, Captain?>

-----



"Oh, but I am sure that I will prove more than adequate for supplying anything you might require. We are not so different, you and I - both of us, capable individuals in our own rights, most treacherously slain before our times, given second chances by our most esteemed patrons.

"Ah, but you did not wake me so that I could talk about myself! Where are my manners?" A constellation of ghostly lights appears between the two of you on the projected image. "These are the coordinates for the shadowland where we are to cross over into Creation. This, lamentably, is the extent of the information that I have been instructed to share at this juncture - " His eyes flick left, then right as the spirit makes sure that none of the crew are close enough to overhear. " - but I am very much a believer in the importance of mutual cooperation.

"My navigational data indicates that your destination in Creation is the island of Petraya, in the Neck. Why? I cannot say - it seems I am not fully in the confidence of our masters. It is said, however, that since the Empress took her, ah, sabbatical, the Immaculates have taken an increasing interest in the so-called 'heresies' of the islanders. The name of Brother Cleansing Tide, in particular, is on the lips of many. Often screamed, in fact, at their executions."

Oh look, the very beginnings of a plot arc.

Also, MadcapViking's post brings the thread to 20 replies. Everyone have 3 XP!

Bardlebee
Feb 24, 2009

Im Blind.
The Last Forsaken Poem, Envoy of Eternal Peace - The Quarters

Forsaken kept silent as she climbed onto the ship once more. Like Never she didn't suspect the other ship was on her side, though she had no reason to not trust them, that is just how one must live when working with others in these areas. Poem's interests veered elsewhere below deck and into the quarters, quickly she tried to find the best location to have her few items and the best bed. If there was a best there is. Spending most of her time in the quarters she hoped to relax, thoughts of the crew members not doing their job and her having to come down on them with her fury fluttered through her mind. Poem smiled and lied down relaxing.

Bouquet
Jul 14, 2001

The Waves, Ceaseless and Unending, Devour the Shore, Imminent Revelation of Oblivion

Ceaseless, heading towards the cabins, feels the surge of essence run through the ship as the captain takes command. It's a glorious feeling, one he himself had experienced a time or two during the ship's construction/overhaul. For now, the engineer is willing to let the Captain be the Captain. The old man is a much better sailor than he, after all.

Ceaseless enters the cabin assigned to him. He had volunteered for the one closest to his workshop; it might save him a complaint or two from the others about the occasionally necessary foul odors. The Midnight caste removes a few small valuable materials and personal effects and opens his safe to place them inside.

Krysmphoenix
Jul 29, 2010
The Everlasting Butterfly of the Decadent Garden Envoy of Eternal Peace

Butterfly's face fell as she saw the AI the ship used. Oh, it was just some boring old man. Island sounded interesting, maybe she could store up some bodies and pets. Always good to have plenty of pets around. She'd need to get things ready though.

"Well, unless you need me to put some wind in our sails, I'll be in the lab, arranging things the way I like them. If anyone else has a say, do it now before I completely take it over."

MiltonSlavemasta
Feb 12, 2009

And the cats in the cradle and the silver spoon
Little boy blue and the man on the moon
"When you coming home, dad?"
"I don't know when
We'll get together then son you know we'll have a good time then."
Imminent Revelation of Oblivion - Last Damnation of Atlantis

"Oh, so that's how you start the ship." Damnation grumbles as Watcher takes the helm. He hears the voice of the image and feels better, for while he's never personally had anything against the Immaculate Order, they're with the snobbish upright Realm and most certainly have nice things for the taking. Spitting tobacco over the edge, the Dusk caste strides down to his cabin and waits for some action.

MiltonSlavemasta fucked around with this message at 06:48 on Nov 15, 2012

PrinnySquadron
Dec 8, 2009

Imminent Revelation of Oblivion- Drowned Maiden of the Unending Abyss

Having already had quite a bit to drink, Maiden stored her belongings her cabin. It wasn't much, mostly mementos of previous jobs; a decorative (and worthless; thing was blunter than anything) knife from a wealthy official, some necklaces, rings. Nothing terribly important, but she felt it was important to her at least.

She noted with interest the surge of essence signaling the beginning of their journey.

A_Raving_Loon
Dec 12, 2008

Subtle
Quick to Anger
Captain Spawn of Wyrms, of the Undying Sail Ship Envoy of Eternal Peace

Log of Wyrms - 9th Of Ascending Bone - Year, In Memoria 5684

Having received the first commandments of her mission, and having made my essence appropriately omnipresent in her halls, our voyage begins. May it end only at my own hand.

By command, courier, and creative maneuvers, I have assembled from the knights of my ship the first general meeting of our senior staff.


She sits, nearly sprawls, at the head of the table. Crew stand ready along each wall, a sharp attentiveness known only to those who live or die on the whims of the mad. Behind her, dancing lights converge into an image of the western isles. The spirit has spoken what is known and may be said of their destination.

Be it because the ship's residing spirit has stopped making noise, the claiming of another exquisite seat of power, or just another chance to hear herself speak, Wyrm sounds pleased. "Ladies, Skeleton."

"What awaits us on our journey - over the next wave, beyond the horizon, to each corner of each direction of heaven and earth - we will face it, as one. So long as there remains one star to sail her by, this ship shall drive on to her destiny. Under my command." The walls resonate as her caste mark gently weeps.

"However," The ship settles. "The world itself does not stand on the bold vision, strength of spirit, and statuesque beauty of a single pillar. If we would call ourselves its enemies, we must share that strength. On matters of the ship, the sea, and their use in battle my word is law. On others..."

She begins to look about the table, settling first on the well-dressed assemblage of bones. Their inescapable grin and open posture don't quite mask their confusion. With a slight tip of her head, Wyrm speaks suddenly and fluidly in the finest dialect of the world's central nobility. "Wandering Rainbow, from the moment you arrived you have unceasingly amused. No other here so purely represents the essence of our greater mission, of the spread of final peace. I would name you Fleet Ambassador, and differ to you on matters of diplomacy and morale."

Those first 3 exp? Linguistics 3 - High Realm

She rolls back into seatongue as her eyes catch the nervous shifting of a self-appointed watcher. "Never Within Reach, you are Never Off Alert and your foes Never Beyond Sight. Such vigilance will Never Go Unwanted. I would name you Head of Fleet Security, free to combat our enemies above, below, and beyond the veil as you see fit - they do not the same to us."

Wyrm lingers longer than most would call polite on the vision of her next officer, being as they are alike in... presence. "Last Forsaken Poem, words would not suffice. I would name you quartermaster, unquestioned in matter of logistics, supply, and expense." She lingers longer than polite before completing the circle.

She visibly regrets not saving that for last, "Butterfly, Surgeon-Engineer. Whatever you do, keep it clean." Wyrm points out one of her crew. "Those are off limits."

Welp, let's get to sailing, ladies. (and bones)

A_Raving_Loon fucked around with this message at 18:08 on Nov 15, 2012

mistaya
Oct 18, 2006

Cat of Wealth and Taste

Never Within Reach Envoy of Eternal Peace- The Bridge

Never bows her head when her name is called, well pleased with the designation. She considers bringing up the strange webbing she noticed in her earlier observation but decides against it. Too many ears here. Not enough certainty.

The Day caste considers her shipmates with care and settles on Butterfly as both the Exalt who is most likely to know what it is she's seen, and the least likely to have any plans involving herself. And her stitched fingers seem adept at putting together both flesh and mechanical things. All good qualities, and perhaps a relationship worth building.

The new Head of Security (or Spymaster General, as she was already thinking of herself,) steps forward and gives Wyrms a smart salute. "I've already done a preliminary scan of our rival vessel, Captain. The Revelation is adequate but by no means as impressive as our Envoy... and the crew seems to prefer idleness to action." She smirks to herself. A good spy knows that everyone prefers idleness to action, you find that out within three minutes of observing people who are unaware of it.

She clears her throat and continues. "Her guns are her best feature and the one star that outshines ours. Otherwise we're faster, stronger, and have a good deal better amenities. End of Report." She steps back, feeling rather smug.

OldMidgetWillow
Aug 12, 2004
perhaps after dinner i will order some more monuments and tall, phallic structures be built in my honor
Watcher at the Gates of Sorrow Imminent Revelation of Oblivion--Bridge

"Nope."

And with that, the captain concentrates for a moment, tapping the deathly currents below. Soon they are edging past the Envoy, and Watcher chuckles a bit at the thought. No need for the fancy stuff. She'll do nicely.

The captain, seeing the rest of his crew disappear to their quarters, gives an enterprising skeleton the helm and trudges off to his own; before he leaves the deck, though, he concentrates again. Visions of gaunt fish and skeletal hulks of other ships fill his mind; no point being unprepared.

Watcher retires to his room once again and begins to puzzle anew at the desk. His anima blazes, whispering dark secrets about the desk to him.

Speedin', Seein', and Seein'. Caste power should help with the second seein'.

OldMidgetWillow fucked around with this message at 08:13 on Nov 15, 2012

mdct
Sep 2, 2011

Tingle tingle kooloo limpah.
These are my magic words.

Don't steal them.
Wandering Rainbow Envoy of Eternal Peace - Rainbow's Office

"Do I get my own office?"

Later, when all is said and done with and the rest have settled into their roles and the good ship was on its way out to sea, Wandering Rainbow sat in their new office chair (safely and obviously quite inferior to Spawn of the Devouring Wyrm's, of course, but still quite comfortable,) with their hands crossed and the grin of awaiting a customer on their face. When all you can do is grin, eventually you get pretty good at conveying with what you've got.

The office was outfitted with a desk inlaid with fine green leather, upon which a small framed portrait of Rainbow sits and a small desk lamp. There are no pens yet and no paperwork to write. But far more important than the desk is the comfortable inclined couch directly next to it. It's long and almost more like a bed than a couch, with a raised end to rest your head on.

Wandering Rainbow was always good at getting on with people, you see, and had ideas about how to help others become more comfortable with it themselves. For the inevitable parties later on that happen when you get to know Rainbow. If you're in need of an outlet, the couch is always here.

MadcapViking
Jan 6, 2006
Single malt Pork Baron
Imminent Revelation of Oblivion - Daughter of Onyx and Silver

As the rest of the crew head to their quarters, Onyx heads back up the rigging to the crow's nest. She liked it up there; even if it was just endless sea all around, it was paradise compared to being kept in a training dungeon. She relished the stinging salt-spray wind of Ascending Bone, though some of the chill of Descending Blood still remained.

Eyes forward, lips curved in a sensuous smile, the Day Caste remained content to bear witness, for now. After all... It was a good day to be dead.

MadcapViking fucked around with this message at 14:14 on Nov 16, 2012

Krysmphoenix
Jul 29, 2010
The Everlasting Butterfly of the Decadent Garden Envoy of Eternal Peace
(Sheet updated with random crap. No EXP spent yet.)

"Of course I'll keep it clean. I don't want my pets decaying from unsanitary conditions. I have to keep my pets alive and fresh after all." She looked behind her, looking at the crew members. "Those are your pets, I won't touch them without your permission. Will that be all then?"

Thesaurasaurus
Feb 15, 2010

"Send in Boxbot!"

Burn After Reading

Ghostly voices whisper to Watcher, the words of long-dead sages echoing in his ears. Ethereal skeins of Essence pulse like veins in the captain's vision, their arrangement hinting at their function.

5 sux on base roll, +3 sux for anima power and -1 sux for retry.

The top drawer is like the safes, keyed to your anima. It opens with a touch, revealing an assortment of charts and documents, telling you much of what the spirit told Wyrm: your destination is the isle of Petraya, and a heavy Immaculate presence has been established there following the Empress' disappearance.

Beyond that, there are details on the Immaculate mission on the island, along with two clear instructions. You are to stop the monks from further harming the network of ancestor cults embedded in Petraya's population of Cyanin tribals, and take Brother Cleansing Tide alive for interrogation. Curious; why couldn't you just kill him and question his ghost?

The middle drawer is set to open when you reach your destination, presumably to reveal further instructions and keep anyone from spoiling the plan ahead of schedule. The spellwork is sloppy, however; it's triggered by proximity to Petraya, as measured by the ship's navigational system. Tricking the meager MI would be simple enough...

The bottom drawer is solidly locked with what appears to be Labyrinth-circle magic, and if your guess is right (it is), its seal is remotely controlled, and not by you. The fact that a number of faint, black-and-silver lines radiate from this locked drawer and spread like a fungus throughout the ship's Essence profile is not at all comforting, given this information.

The good news is that the ebony desk will make an excellent place to store anything you want secured or hidden; between the concealing magics on the room itself and the fact that the wood has been enchanted to the point that it could withstand a hit from the ship's main gun, it makes an excellent strongbox.

Oh, and it's really a lovely desk, too.

The other Deathknights likewise find things of interest already stashed in their personal safes.

Never Within Reach

Inside your compartment is a sheaf of papers, a sketch, and a map. The sketch is a familiar and unwelcome face, a certain coyote-totem Lunar. Along with his own face are a number of likenesses of forms he's stolen and, at long last, a name to put with your pursuer: Implacable Guileful Hunter. The map lists all recent sightings of the No-Moon in chronological order; his last confirmed sighting was in the southern Wavecrest Archipelago. The distances entailed make his involvement in your current venture unlikely, but given his shapeshifting abilities and extensive network of contacts, that's prone to change on a moment's notice.

Naturally, this would be more useful if you knew what your current venture was, bu- wait a minute. There's something else in the safe: a black diamond, pulsating with a soft, inner light. You know what this is. You've seen one before when the Lover used it on you.

A memory crystal.

The Last Forsaken Poem

A scroll of tanned human skin, bound by a black velvet ribbon, has been placed delicately atop a heavy ledger in your safe. The writing on the scroll is unmistakably the lacy, elegant brushwork of the Lover herself.

Bardlebee, could you get on IRC? The contents of the scroll are something I'd rather PM you than hide behind a spoiler block.

Daughter of Onyx and Silver

The instructions in your safe are as clear as they are delightful. It appears that the Bishop feels his philosophy is not spreading through the elites of society quickly enough, and he places at least some of the blame for that on the material comforts afforded by the Guild. In light of this, you are to direct your efforts towards utterly demolishing your former employer, until the West is purged of their materialist nonsense.

Granted, the preeminent economic power in the West is the Denzik Merchant Association, not the Guild, but hey, who are you to gainsay the boss?

Spawn of the Devouring Wyrm

Your private chest holds only two items, the first of which is a lengthy document framed in glass. It's a letter of marque, declaring you, Spawn of the Devouring Wyrm, a privateer in the service of the Mask of Winters. The list of valid targets for your reaving, on close reading, appears to comprise all of the West, save Skullstone. At the bottom is scrawled a note that reads only: "Good hunting."

Underneath that is a scrap of paper, its edges blackened and burnt. On it, written in a different hand, a single word.

"Olkeida?"

The Drowned Maiden of the Unending Abyss

Your assignment, detailed in a folder hidden in your lockbox, proves to be twofold. First and foremost, your instructions are to ensure that the Bodhisattva's investment in these vessels is not compromised; in particular, the document warns you to be wary of the four Exalts in the Lover's service. Secondly, it appears the Silver Prince is concerned about both the Lintha and Skullstone's PR. Your job is to deal with both problems at once by clearing the seas of these murderous demon-pirates to win the trust and regard of other western states...and to prevent any complications from arising when he launches his own fleets.

Wandering Rainbow

When you finally settle in after making sure that everything is set for Good Times, your chest turns out to hold remarkably little in the way of instructions. Your job is to maintain crew morale, lead religious services, and recruit as many converts as possible. And if you can't recruit them with words, you can probably 'recruit' them with your anima.

Last Damnation of Atlantis

Your safe contains only a single sheet of parchment, on which is the face of an old enemy. He may have a new name for himself and his ship, but to you, he'll always be that sanctimonious bastard, Captain Stewart Johnson of the Siren's Heartbreak. Written below the portrait are three words:

"Watch your back."

The Waves, Ceaseless and Unending, Devour the Shore

Your safe holds a number of manuals for diagnostics and repairs on the Revelation's systems, but otherwise contains little of note. Or so it seems until a book on using tissue grafts to replace damaged portions of the ship turns out to be far thicker than its table of contents would suggest. Intermingled with the pages that belong in the manual are schematics for an Essence Drive. Even the most cursory glance tells you that this is something big.

The device requires a significant quantity of all five principle colors of jade to build; 'luckily' for you, you'll be heading to a locale with heavy Immaculate presence. If you're reading these specifications correctly (you are), the output from this would both drastically increase the ship's speed and have power left over to divert to the weapons systems.

Beyond that, it's safe to assume that the Lover intends for you to spread her own particular brand of nihilism: get people to party so hard that all life's pleasures pale in comparison, driving them to despair and, ultimately, Oblivion.

The Everlasting Butterfly of the Decadent Garden

A locker-sized strongbox in the lab opens at your touch, yielding tools, supplies, technical documents...and a sealed scroll. The words are in a neat, lacy penmanship, expressing approval at your success with your...flock. Although Deathknights are generally given considerable latitude in their duties, there's a strong suggestion that your liege would be pleased if you could replicate your earlier achievement on a larger scale.

Everyone

Just to make sure this is clear, these instructions are very broad guidelines. For the most part, the bosses are going to be far too busy to keep a close watch on you, and their bosses don't care what you do so long as you're killing things, so you can play this as sandboxy as you'd like.

That said, these are all plot hooks I've taken the time to develop, so I may be mildly annoyed if you ignore
all of them.

And as apology for my lateness, everyone have 2 XP on the house!

MiltonSlavemasta
Feb 12, 2009

And the cats in the cradle and the silver spoon
Little boy blue and the man on the moon
"When you coming home, dad?"
"I don't know when
We'll get together then son you know we'll have a good time then."
Last Damnation of Atlantis - Personal Area

Damnation has long, spindly fingers. He easily grasps the entire parchment in one hand and balls it up, shaking with rage. The man did not need to be reminded that the do-oneself-proud glorymonger who never had the balls to get blood on his own sword, who took credit for Damnation's work, Damnation's plunder, survived the attempt on his life was still sailing what ought to be Damnation's ship.

His caste mark burns from raw emotion and the fearsome dusk caste grins, displaying a wide set of white teeth in-between his goatee. He gently smooths out the parchment, making it as flat as possible. Taking a pushpin from some cartography set lying around, he attaches the note to the wall for everyone to see. Then, removing his quill, he signs the note

Damnation's Reply posted:

Real pirates call it your aft, Stewie. But you ought to be watching your fore.
-Damnation

mistaya
Oct 18, 2006

Cat of Wealth and Taste

Never Within Reach Envoy- Personal Quarters

"Implacable... oh give me a break." Never actually laughs. Her own name is quite simple compared to most of the others... but that's by choice. She is not a woman of many words. "Too bad your name doesn't say anything about being a successful Hunter."

The sight of the memory stone catches her eye and she studies it for a full minute, quivering like a taut bowstring before her shaking fingers reach out to lift it up. "Is this how it's going to be then, my Lady? You evil bitch." But despite her harsh words she's alive with excitement as she peers into the crystal.

"Fine then. Show me."

mistaya fucked around with this message at 10:57 on Nov 17, 2012

Thesaurasaurus
Feb 15, 2010

"Send in Boxbot!"

I Forgot to Remember to Forget

Never's cabin grows hazy and dim as the vision unfolds in a confused whorl of sound and scent and color.

Harsh, bright sunlight shines down from the clear, blue sky above, and the ground under Passions Wayward Reaching's feet crackles and crunches as she walks up the slope. The volcanic soil is rich with obsidian, and lush, green vegetation sprouts from every purchase it can find on the mountainside. The living essence of the world around her is both entrancing and somehow offensive at the same time.

In short order, she makes her way to a narrow promontory overlooking the sea. Out in the water, some short distance from the shore, six stony spires jut up from the water like the points of a crown. Passions stoops low and begins digging a hollow into the loose soil. Inside, she places a gem like the one she holds now and covers it with dirt, then pulls another from her pocket. This one looks very much like the one in her hand at this very moment.

She has no idea why she's doing this – she hid that memory away long ago, just as she now hides this one. But in her heart, she knows this is part of the single most important thing she will ever do.

On a boat, far out of sight of land, Passions stores the memory of this outing in the crystal, wiping it from her own mind. The vision dissolves into murky gray. Back in the Underworld, she hands the gem over to a specter with instructions to ensure that it finds its way back to her, then pulls the memory of the conversation from her head and, in a daze, begins the long journey back to the Vale of Dust and Shadows to give her report to the Lover...

Bouquet
Jul 14, 2001

The Waves, Ceaseless and Unending, Devour the Shore, Imminent Revelation of Oblivion

Ceaseless studies the plans intensely for a day or two before getting to work belowdecks. He doesn't have the crucial materials, of course, but many of the components and tools for the engine can be prepared in advance. The engineer had the feeling that if the materials were acquired, the captain and crew would be impatient for it to be completed and less than forgiving of the explanations about how long it was going to take. Every hour he could shave off the construction and installation time in advance would be welcome and give their enemies less time to react.

Krysmphoenix
Jul 29, 2010
The Everlasting Butterfly of the Decadent Garden Envoy of Eternal Peace -- Workshop/Infirmary/Zombie Petting Zoo
(Spent 3xp for Followers 1, worth 10 zombies and their maintenance.)

Butterfly looked down at the note, feeling the lamentful prayers of those in the place she once called home. As she left, she told them that if they begged for mercy, she might return to spare them from their agony of the blight and famine. She of course, had little intention to do so, but their prayers as they begged for mercy gave her power, and she could feel it flowing through her. And the Lady wanted more?
Why, she would need help for that first.

She spent some time examining the bodies in supply on the ship. Most were identical and featureless, so ultimately she picked them out at random. With the bodies kept in her lab and away from interference from the crew, she began chanting the words to bring them to life. Her anima flared from power invested in the spell, wrapping herself in a cloak of butterflies made of shadows. In her hand a dark lightning crackled, as butterflies of the same lightning substance rose out and flew to the corpses around her. One by one the lightning flowed into the corpses and brought them to life, breaking out of their containers to stand before their new master.

Fifteen in all, Butterfly examined her new pets. "Indeed...you all shall do nicely." Although she felt another matching set to go with this one would work better. The spell had taken too much out of her to bring another fifteen right away. "Now, who wants some tea?"

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MadcapViking
Jan 6, 2006
Single malt Pork Baron
Daughter of Onyx and Silver - Private Quarters

Onyx's quarters were relatively small, but comfortable and well-appointed. Nothing compared to the opulence of the Envoy of Eternal Peace, but that would likely change. Her orders had put her in a fine mood, though she did wonder why the Denzik Merchant Association was left clear. Maybe they weren't as bad as the Guild?

Hrmph. Clearly, she needed to find out more. It was entirely possible that the DMA was just another guise for the same monster. If so, then, well. Surely the Bishop wouldn't care if both were disrupted.

No one ever got punished for being too zealous, right? Just maybe warned. Or maybe rewarded! A decent larder full of fresh meat wouldn't be too much to ask, would it? And maybe a handsome young sailor for dessert? Or a pretty young maid?

...Gods below, she was hungry. She wandered to the ship's quartermaster to find out what, exactly, they had (beyond rum). Especially if it went well with rum.

Shipsplorin', then going topside to keep watch for anything potentially vulnerable.

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