Gimme! Gimme! John leaps up and tries to grab the flying ally. 

Man, would dad be proud of what I have here! Look at this! it can fly, it can fight, it apparently has it’s own language. What powers it, what’s it made of? Who knows!

(Athletics to grab:8)

While Johnathan jumps on the modron, Percival tries to examine it and learn more about this creature.

Arcana: 7

Investigation: 23

Johnathan successfully grabs up the mondron, as he does Perci gives it the once over. Arcanically, you know nothing about this creature. ((OOG Jon Snow...lol)) Yet, you can tell that it is a very complex machine. Not unlike Warforged, if not more mechanical. 

"Bee-he hooo, yeep plip plip!" It exclaims, and then POOF, it is gone. Returned to its home plane. 

Nooo! Come on! I was going to see what was in it, see if I could power it, see if I could.... Kash! Summon it back! John says as he tumbles to the ground after grabbing it.

"From what I could gather, it was a sentient kind of machine. Sort of like a Warforged or a distant relative to them."

Isuzu as the battle comes to an end does whatever she can to assist the ship's crew with the injured as well as cleanup and repairs...

Kashkaval looks at Johnathon and shrugs "I have no idea where it came from, nor do I know how to make it come back....." then he'll look at his right hand, point it off in to the sky away from anything important and launch a fire bolt in to the air and look around to see if another modron appears.  When it doesn't he'll look back at Johnathon and shrug again.

Sylrie climbs his way down the mast and joins the others on the deck, his eyes dart to each of his companions, looking over their wounds while he favors his own, "Have we made sure everyone below deck is ok?" 

Kashkaval will head below deck to the galley to check on Master Killingsworth and Arya

Over the next couple of hours, the crew of the Vexation will clean and repair the deck. After a briefing from the LT, she will ask that you assist the crew where you can. The injuries at the end of the day were minor, though some of them needed advanced healing. Down below deck is where the most damage took place, outside of the damage done on the port side of the ship. Master Killingsworth and Arya are in good shape, though their kitchen is a mess. 

The crew will enjoy speaking of the battle, the fear of the combat and the heroics of Greywind. Isuzu will be given attention she is not used to and more than likely does not welcome. Sarge and Master Rigaby will lead the engineering teams fixing the holes below deck and the damage that was done to the railings on the port side of the ship. The mages will help where they can, mending can only do so much. 

The next two days of the journey will go by uneventful. training will be had on the deck of the ship, the kitchens will train those who wish to not blow up the stove with their magics, and the LT will keep to herself. Staying in quarters most of the time, going over maps and notes. She will train in the morning with Sarge and Master Rigaby. She will even pop in on the kitchen and laugh at the sight of Kash in an apron. 

The fourth day becomes the fourth evening, most of you have gotten your sea legs under you. The Vexation is trawling close to the shoreline, it's said you should be in Cree in two days. (The day after tomorrow.)

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Part One: Into Cree

Chapter One: The Start of the End

11 Lharvion 993 YK

The sun is setting in the west, you can see it disappearing over the horizon over the cliffs that is the Aundarian lands called the Eldeen Reaches. The air is warm, the wind brings with it the heat from the southern lands slightly cooled as it blows over Lake Galifar. The crew opens the veils of the lanterns on the deck and below deck. The Everburning torches casting dim light as the sun is still not tucked in for its nightly slumber. Across the stern of the ship, swimming in front and alongside the ship is a large pod of dolphins. They are singing to each other loudly as the traverse with the ship. The lakes clear blue water can be seen for many meters down, showing a lakebed floor that is far away though reflecting itself as if it was closer. 

The Captain has called for half-sails ever since the attack two (2) days back. There are also extra patrols along the rails of the ship, checking the waters and the skies for any threat to the ship. 

Below deck LT and Sarge are going over equipment and maps in your quarters. They've been busy all day checking, double0checking, triple-checking all the gear. She seems to be on edge, though she hasn't shown any other outward sign for concern. Sarge is just happy to stay busy. 

The sun will set in the next hour, but the moon closest to Eberron, Zarantyr; is close and shining brightly. as is Aryth and Lharvion. ((OOG Lightning magic is amplified under Zarantyr. Divination magic is amplified under Lharvion. Shadow magic is amplified under Aryth. This is of course because they are in their waxing of all three moons, they will be conterminous soon with the sky soon. Becoming full and maximizing magic in the world.)) 

What would everyone like to be doing during this leg of the voyage? 

Isuzu will continue to keep herself as busy as possible during this period helping out around the ship preferably performing duties or odd jobs that allow her to keep a low profile, work alone or off to herself and away from others where possible, at least away from larger groups of people so would wish to avoid assignments in areas of the ship where people tend to congregate and socialize like the kitchen/mess.

So Isuzu will look to volunteer for the dirty/messy unpopular jobs on the ship that most are usually reluctant to perform. Duties which are usually assigned as a form of punishment should do the trick!

Kora

Immediately after the fight:

Kora will volunteer her strength for any tasks that need it, but does not want to get in the way of a well-oiled crew. She will spend some time checking on the horses, after the fight and the rocking of the ship, she was fearful for their safety. She will have asked Johnathon for his help.

As the trip progresses:

As the days stretch on, she will fall into a routine of exercise and discipline, rising early, training with Master Rigaby and his soldiers, eating with the unit and/or the sailors, and spending early evenings in meditation on the foredeck, where she can feel the wind, turning in early for bed. In her training with Master Rigaby, she is practicing calling on Shali to infuse her fighting spirit for more effective sword work. She would not do that in drills or with other sparring partners.

She will be easy to make friends with, she'll dice and jest with the crew, compete if there are competitions (arm wrestling!), but be careful to praise the sailors and the Vexation. She is well aware of that while they are all soldiers of Aundair, the different forces have their own loyalties, too. The unit, and the horses, are guests on the ship.

During her evening meditations, she will paint her face with oils, let her hair loose, and sit quietly with her eyes closed. Anyone who watches or comes close, will see her lips moving, and might catch a flicker of something large and ghostly sharing space with her. She is not upset if interrupted, and when she is done, she will clean her face and often retire to her hammock, hair still unbound.

Kora with Isuzu

As the trip continues, Kora will let Isuzu be. She senses (with her new Insight skill, thank you 3rd level!) that she has taken a wrong step here, but is unsure how to fix it, so will let it lie. She will, of course, be friendly and helpful, "Good morning, Isuzu," and enjoy the company of the quiet little woman, but she'll not try to draw her out, or make excessive overtures of friendship. If Isuzu approaches her, let's RP that bidness, but otherwise, they will live on the ship together, comfortably, but separately.

After the fight, Percival chats with the crew of the Vexation, but he will downplay his contributions to the battle, stating that he is only one part of Greywind company and that he's still not as good with a sword as the Sergeant at Arms back at base. After that he'll retire to his quarters, and think about everything that happened today, from the battle to Kash calling up the machine creature.  Over the next few days, he'll engage in some light conversation with Kash and the mages on board, mainly inquiring as to whether that sort of thing with the modron is something that happens regularly.

At some point, he stumbles upon Kora performing her evening meditations, but Percival silently waits for her to finish before asking her any questions about what's going on.

Kora and Percival

Finally, after many minutes in quiet conversation with herself, eyes closed, the young woman lifts her head and runs her fingers through her hair where the wind has tangled it. She stretches and shifts, noticing Percival.

"Oh, hey, Percival. Isn't this a beautiful spot? I hope I did not keep you from enjoying the night coming on. I've found it is out of the crew's way, but one can still enjoy the wind and the waves." She seems quiet, calm, stretchy. She pulls her boots back on.

OOC > This is when I wish the forum had sub-threads, so we could go off on this conversation without making other players work around it.

"Oh no, you're not keeping me from enjoying anything. I just saw you meditating and for a second it looked there was something there with you. I'm curious about it, but I didn't want to interrupt your meditation. If you don't mind my asking, what do you do when you meditate? Do you try to commune with a god, get in touch with nature, or is it more focused inward?"

Kora and Percival

”I am Kalashtar, do you know what that is? We are a people who bond with dreaming spirits, called Quori. The women of my lineage bond with Shali,” and she says the name a little fiercely. “A spirit of a... martial nature, we call it ‘facing the shadow.’”

She pauses, as if to take the temperature of how he is receiving this. Then she goes on, looking out at the early night sky, “I mark my face,” she indicates the purple marks she has not yet cleaned off, “and sit in quiet to commune with her. She does not speak to me, as such, but I can feel her presence, and others have said they see... well, something, sometimes.”

She pulls a cloth off her belt, and slowly wipes at the paint on her face. “I see her when I sleep, and she speaks to me then, but it is important that I be able to feel her when I am awake, to... well, to work together.”

She shrugs. “I would answer your questions, if you have them. We Kalashtar are not many, it would be no surprise had you not met one before.”

She will also ask of him, looking at him with interest, “I have noticed you speaking with the mages, do you have an inclination towards magic? You are a skilled swordsman, and I have seen what magic and blades can do together. It would be a formidable match.”

Johnathon looks sad about the loss of the flying robot man. When the day starts, he casts Detects Magic and walks over to Rigaby, enchanting his club again. So, we never got that practice in, did we? You want to practice now, or later, because i’m Excited to get this day started.

Quote from Mingofaust >>

Kora with Isuzu

"Good morning, Isuzu," and enjoy the company of the quiet little woman, but she'll not try to draw her out, or make excessive overtures of friendship. If Isuzu approaches her, let's RP that bidness, but otherwise, they will live on the ship together, comfortably, but separately.

Isuzu pauses only for a fraction of a moment to give Kora a polite formal bow and return the Kalashtar's greeting, "good morning Kora," spoken in a clear neutral tone as she continues on her way. Isuzu walks past Kora heading to her volunteer work detail. The Reaper makes no move to approach Kora or to stop and engage in idle chit-chat, her demeanor is one of respectful indifference that she shows everyone.

Percival and Kora

"I only have a few questions for you. You say that your spirit is of a martial nature and that she helps you when the two of you are together. How so? And from the way you speak, it sounds like others have seen things from Shali but you haven't. Do you know any Kalashtar who have had these visions? You don't have to tell me what they've seen if you don't want to. I don't know much about the Kalashtar people, so I don't know if I'm broaching a sensitive subject."

He rests one of his hands on the hilt of his sword. "I've always been a bit of a bookworm, to be honest. Back home we had a sizable library where I read about a number of subjects, including the arcane. After the battle, I felt different somehow. Like I could convert the things I read about in books and use it in real life. I don't think that I have the same degree of arcane power that Kashkaval or the other mages do, but I think that it should be enough to amplify what I do with my sword."