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Post by HeianWood on Nov 1, 2022 13:53:42 GMT -5
Heian was preparing Bastion for another set off to Crescent Isle. This time not to sight see. The place got taken over by harpies and now merchants avoided it nearly as much as Dragons Cradle. A couple of shipwrecks around an island became harpy nests, and due to frequent mists circling around it, burning them down was not really an option. Heian would have to board each one of them and remove bird ladies manually.
He hoped some other adventurers would join him, the message was quite loud and he was not the only one willing to break the blockade. Working on his own was not nearly as time efficient as he would wish it was. They were ready to set off, but Heian didn't spot anyone looking ready to fight. So he left the deck and started to search in the port. Obviously starting from tavern.
Heian approached the counter and ordered a cup of mead. Upon turning around, with a cup already in his hand, he looked around, instantly spotting a familiar face. Looking ready to sail together once again. -Hey, Ger, want to visit Crescent Isle again? Last time the man saved his ship, hopefully this time he won't have to. Neverthless, he was a good person to have around.
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Post by Ser Gerhart Stanislav on Nov 1, 2022 18:09:27 GMT -5
Gerhart had certainly kept himself busy between jobs, there was a lot he could do now that was new, but the slow gathering of skills was why he started this adventure. So far, his fights with Shaa and Zarius had taught him a lot, plus the last few adventures with Heian. After the last one he decided to stick it out near Crescent Isle for a bit longer and see what he could learn and just take the time to get to know the area.
He had also worked a few basic jobs here and there just to familiarize himself with locals and some of the favored spots of the area. Inside of the tavern he was laying out the skins of a few monsters he had helped to track and take care of. Heian likely spots that big stupid grin across his face first, a defining trait of Gerhart.
When he does finally spot the captain, Gerhart breaks from his group and strides over to Heian to immediately grab his hand for a shake. "You see the postings about the harpies too? I figured I might spot you here when I saw that job go up. Seems pretty perfect."
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Post by HeianWood on Nov 5, 2022 12:23:32 GMT -5
Heian smiled back to Ger while shaking his hand. They really should meet more often, even if just to drink something together from time to time. -Welcome back aboard in that case. Together we will get rid of those birds with ease - he spotted the skins lying nearby - A busy day I see? They sat down, with Heian soon ordering a second round of drinks. His not demonic inside voice warned him about ordering too much alco, but this time he ignored it. Ger was a friend and first couple days will be peaceful. Wasted captain shouldn't be an obstacle.
After just a couple rounds his head was already heavy, but Heian had practise in hiding his mind state. So for the outside world he still appeared rather sober. Meanwhile Wood, as the one with stronger "head", only got brisked by all the alco. Heian had no idea how much he would have to drink for incub to faint. At least he kept his games inside. -So, did you think about my offer? - against all odds his voice remained straight. Murmur and the rest of the crew still remembered Gerhart. Since they last met stories about him grew, even pouring into the very tavern they were in. Despite enderien being desolated creatures, his band also were sailors. And so everywhere Heian travelled, every second tavern had its own version of the story.
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Post by Ser Gerhart Stanislav on Nov 5, 2022 18:58:38 GMT -5
"Ah this is nothing special, just a couple of small beasties they needed tacking care of." He gives a soft laugh as they take a seat to have a few drinks and at least catch up a bit.
Gerhart was careful not to drink too much, seeing if they had a job in the morning he didn't want to be hung over or slow the crew down at all. He kicked his boots up onto the table and leaned back.
"They still want me to join eh? That is a really kind offer." He grinned from ear to ear. "I want to say yes, but I know I couldn't spend that much time at sea. Running a few jobs here and there is easy enough, even if we sail into the worst storm I think possible." Another light laugh. "But I have family here...well on land at least back in Moonglade that I have to take care of....I'd hate if something happened to me out at see and they never find out what happened. I couldn't do that too them....not at least until I've earned enough to get us a home."
He's surpringsly quiet a moment before chippering back up, "But look at me bringing the mood down, we got harpies to hunt in the morning, keep an eye on the job ahead!"
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Post by HeianWood on Nov 6, 2022 12:37:18 GMT -5
Heian nodded, he understood.
-And what if I said I could help with that? He smiled and moved closer to Ger. -It's not yet finished, and you're the first to hear about it, but I'm working on a certain project, a hobby if you will. Details have to stay with me for now, but I ensure you the place will be safe. Your family should fit in easily
Heian leaned back and smiled again. -We will see once it's ready, now let's go hunting They paid for their drinks and left the tavern. Bastion Remnant looked fresh once again, all repairs necessary after their last adventure finished long ago and red sides clean enough to reflect sun rays.
When they walked aboard, Murmur, as was his habit, appeared behind them out of nowhere. -(Did he agree?) -For now Ger is still a mercenary Heian knew his crew well enough to notice that the old enderian was touched by the news. Murmur bowed and walked away, quickly surrounded by others. -Watch them get dissapointed once you finally join - Wood smiled jokingly - a legend one can talk to quickly loses its light -In Ger's case it would only grow - Heian riposted - We are basically ready to set off, unless you still have something to do hier
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Post by Ser Gerhart Stanislav on Nov 6, 2022 14:18:03 GMT -5
"I appreciate it, but I wanna do this little bit myself. Don't want any strings attached or anything, I trust you wouldn't do anything unkind Heian." He grins as he takes a drink of ale. "Just want to be able to say I did something like that on my own."
Gerhart certainly brightened up even more if possible as they left, happy to get back out onto the sea again. Thankfully it hadn't been so long that he hadn't lost his sea legs, the gently rocking of the ship at port easy enough to manage at least. He stretched his arms and back as everyone gathered around and the crew was getting ready to set sail once more.
"I'm all set to go. I can't think of anything else I forgot to do, but I'm sure I'll remember as soon as we are out in the middle of the ocean." Gerhart smiled and shook a few hands with crew members to welcome himself back onto the ship.
Once more, Gerhart was more than happy to do some work to help get the ship ready and off to sail again. Idle hands never really suited him, so keeping busy helped him from feeling restless.
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Post by HeianWood on Nov 7, 2022 9:04:47 GMT -5
Heian nodded once again. They really were on the same line. -I understand and the offer remains open as long as you need. I see you were missing mast holding - Gerhart's figure straightened, evidently excited to be on the sea again. Heian knew this feeling, salt tasting wind blowing in your hair and the sails, wood creaking beneath your legs... and it only grew intense when you knew that you built the vessel you're standing on yourself. There were times he wanted to toss everything aside and just soar on the waves until the end of time.
Hearing another comment, he chuckled and pulled out an orange. -Let us set sail then - he waved at Lurch by the helm, with an orange occupied hand. The crew and Gerhart got to work, doing everything a ship needs to set off. Heian meanwhile approached the frontal figure and sat in a recess by the tree's roots, piercing orange's skin with his claw and sucking out sour juice. After just about ten minutes they left the port.
Within two days they could see the Crescent Isle outline in the distance. They were surrounded by fog, not able to see much around, so Heian ordered to slow down. While Bastion could easily survive a collision with some shipwreck, they would run aground. Even before spotting the first wreck, they heard a high pitched screech, similar to bat one. -The fog should cover us for a while, especially that we turned off the lights. But first burning shipwreck will draw attention of harpies and we should split up for one of us to protect Bastion
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Post by Ser Gerhart Stanislav on Nov 9, 2022 21:10:34 GMT -5
"That obvious huh?" He laughed gently at Heian's comment before getting to work. At the core of it, he just liked being busy. Sitting still never came easy to him, there was always something to do for his family and it wasn't going to get done by just sitting around. There were no handouts as his dad like to tell him, if you wanted something you had to take it.
By the time the ship is off and sailing he does finally stop and take a break. He leans against the railing with a stretch, his body was really feeling being back to this kind of work again.
As the ship did travel the waters, most of his off time was spent fishing off the side of the boat. He was good at lifting and moving things, but when it came to the finer daily points of sailing he was happy to learn so long as he wasn't getting in everyone's way. At lunch on the first day, he managed to hook something big as he strained trying to pull it in. After what seemed like an hours long struggle they manage to pull in a swordfish, a fitting meal for a seabound adventure.
When the fog comes rolling in, Gerhart is all business knowing how dangerous fogs can be. The screech has his ears perked up, seemingly scanning for the direction of where it came from.
"Everybody thinks a fog gives you a nice cover, but it also hides whatever else is out there.....I hate fogs."
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Post by HeianWood on Nov 10, 2022 4:40:15 GMT -5
Gerhart was right. The fog would cause as many problems, if not more, as it gave advantages. Heian was used to knowing what's inside such clouds, and now he suddenly felt vulnerable. He suppressed that feeling and focused on the shipwreck. -I will go first. Try not to set Bastion on fire during my abscense He chuckled and dissapeared in the fog.
The ships were farther from each other than he thought, and he nearly took a bath while trying to get from one to another. He caught up to railing with one hand and, after a while of hanging, managed to pull himself upwards. Huge parts of the wreck were covered in a white substance, barely visible in the fog cloud. Those weren't spider webs, judging by the smell. But, as Heian accidentally stepped in one, he realized they were just as sticky. As silently as he could, he scanned the ship, going along the railing.
It was a small fregate, someone not generous with words would call it a brig, and mast count would only support his opinion, due to one being broken. There was a giant hole by the beak, with a smell of rot overtaking the air around it, probably the source of ship's demise. After finding the stairs to lower deck, he mentally prepared himself to face even more unpleasant smells. That was not needed, harpies actually were taking care of their nests. A bunch of them were asleep down there, mainly young ones. Heian wondered how they bred, if all of them were female.
As he finished all younglings, he looked around in search of something valuable, before burning down the ship. Upon not finding anything, he got back to Bastion. -Alright, to the next wreck As his ship got farther, Heian took a sip of holy water. With some smoke escaping his mouth, he released a cone of green fire, spreading it across the wreck's lengh. -It will only get harder from now on - his voice was hoarse from the burning in his throat.
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Post by Ser Gerhart Stanislav on Nov 22, 2022 19:55:31 GMT -5
"No promises, anything to win at the end of the day right?" He gives a soft laugh as Heian heads out into the fog to investigate. Gerhart draws his blades and gives them an idle spin, taking in a slow breath. As he stands in the middle of the boat, he tries to hone in his sense, pick out the different sounds among the waves and the wind.
It's not easy as everything starts to blend together, but he can pick out just how empty it sounds and that's almost more concerning. There isn't much he could do until Heian got back from his scouting, but he wanted to at least try and make sure no one was caught off guard.
His shoulders visibly relax as he picks up on the sound of Heian coming back onto the ship, slowly releasing that breath he had taken in. There was the slightest look of disappointment as they would be making another trip, he could hear the tenseness in the captain's throat.
"Let me hed out and scout the next few, take yourself a break. I may be young and dumb, but....well I got nothing else. Just better if something happens to me and not the captain, y'know?" He grins widely as tthe ship starts to lurch forward once more.
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Post by HeianWood on Nov 23, 2022 12:22:22 GMT -5
Hearing the comment Heian laughed. -Being old doesn't mean you are any smarter. Take Wood as an example. Well over 1000 years and still often acting like a child
-You're just a bad parent Heian shook off the incub and turned back to Ger. -If you want you can go next, but I doubt those old bones will get much rest As they were talking, something exploded behind receding Bastion. The wreck they just burned had explosives on board, good thing Heian didn't ignite it while he was inside like he primarly planned. -Da, not much rest
They heard first distant squawks. The nest was under attack and the flock would soon find them.
Further hiding couldn't do them any good, it would take just one harpy to reveal their position and with such a low visibility they had no way of resisting. -Reignite the lamps! Multiple red lanterns lighten up all along the rigging, pushing the wall of mist a good 30 feet from the ship. Those things could make the deck seem bright like during day even during new moon. All cannons were moved onto top deck to make aiming at flying targets easier. No ship could threaten they hier.
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Post by Ser Gerhart Stanislav on Nov 23, 2022 22:28:43 GMT -5
"Well....that's less than ideal." He picks up on the call of the harpy, heading towards the bow of the ship to see if he could get an eye on it. It's at a moment like this he curses himself for not learning at least a little bit of marksmanship. His swordplay was pretty good, not to toot his own horn or anything, but so far he's met a lot of problems that could be solved if he didn't have to wait until things were within sword distance.
"Maybe we let ourselves get caught...stop skulking around in the fog and give them the chance to pick us off....let that one find us and call the others. We've proven we can handle some harpies and this time Bastion is all up and ready. Few cannon fires and they should scurry off, maybe hit their nest again too." He grinned back towards Heian. It was a gamble of a plan and might bite them in the ass, but Gerhart never liked having to be the one to sit and wait.
He spins his daggers as he draws them from their sheaths, the little flourish to show he's ready to fight if that's the call. "It'll be a lot faster to check through for survivors if the threat is gone."
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Post by HeianWood on Nov 25, 2022 15:29:46 GMT -5
Heian pulled out his crossbow, now fixed after the last harpy encounter, and looked around the deck. He realized just how primitive these cannons looked like, surely they couldn't hit a harpy mid flight. They would have to somehow make them stay in place for a couple seconds. Or shoot when they're just a couple meters away. -That's the only option I see. They have a one big target, while we have to take multiple small ones He then gave orders to the crew: aim for stationary or close targets.
First harpies approached. A flock of five, from the beak. Their first shots would be free, as harpies probably never experienced cannons, so Heian ordered the two frontal minis to shoot. Like expected, two enemies broke out of the group into the sea under the weight of cannonballs. Another one got hit with Heian's bolt, then second, but the last made its way to the ship. He left the one up to Gerhart, his crossbow would be more useful against next waves.
Another wreck was in "sight", not much more than a shadow. Lighting it up surely would help with visibility. Heian approached a flamethrower to cover the crewmember maintaining it. Looting the shipwreck would not be vise currently, neither would be burning it down himself. They needed all anti airborne force they could get.
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Post by Ser Gerhart Stanislav on Nov 25, 2022 15:54:20 GMT -5
“Rather it be us that are made the target than anyone else, we have more of a fighting chance than merchants or regular folk.”
Knowing how harpies fight made this encounter much, much easier, especially as there is only one to take care of this time. Wild swipes and talon strikes are easily parried as Gerhart lands one stab to the heart. He shifts the creatures body off the side of the boat and back into the water.
Gerhart clangs his knives together, hoping the sound reverberates over the sound of the sea and ocean. “HEY HARPIES, COME ON WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?” He was ready for another swarm to come towards him…besides not much else he could do anyways. Why did he have to think swords were so cool? That was very stupid of him to not leave himself any options.
In the back of his mind, there’s a gnawing worry about how coordinated this effort is. It’s not like harpies to form a blockade of sorts or being organized enough they didn’t scatter after a few adventurers come mucking about. Why now? Lots of questions that can’t be answered right now, but something to think about.
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Post by HeianWood on Nov 25, 2022 16:30:25 GMT -5
And there was another wreck down. Hopefully they won't miss any nests in that mist. They would never know until another harpy report reaches them in case one remained. Another flock broke out of that shipwreck, but instead of attacking it dissapeared in the milk around them. Was it a good or a bad sign? They got to catch some breath, but they could get choked later by a bigger assault.
The next hour was ominously calm. No harpies, no wrecks to burn down. They would as well be in the middle of nowhere, all sounds bouncing back to them, amplified.
-Stay and alert me if any harpies show up. I'll go and try to locate ourselves in that mist - Ger couldn't do much on his own against harpies, but with cannon support he should be good. Heian descended into his cabin in search for a map. He then spent half an hour trying to calculate their current position based of their speed, including both stops, and turns. He ended up with three possible positions, all close to where another shipwreck was estimated to be.
With a plan in mind, he got back to main deck, just to see Ger and the crew fighting with harpies.
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