[Quest] The Black Obelisk: Act II of Darkling Tides

[Lyam]

This ship was really full of surprises. Seeing the other gathering around the captain of the expedition, Lyam came near the group but remained in the background. He was just near enough to hear the questions and answers, what was finally the essential. He remained pokerfaced during Trente’s speech but immediately thought the man was thinking too much and not acting enough. And his manners… well Lyam did not really find them appropriate. Neither was Ndale’s behaviour but Lyam would rather laugh about that because Ndale was more a weird bird than a bad girl. He listened to the rest without much attention but gazed at Nai’shee instead, feeling something was wrong for her. He felt some… fear? It was highly understandable but obviously the other girl of the crew had not chosen to reassure Nai’shee about her fears. Lyam would have wanted to say something to make her feel better but he had really no skill in rhetoric so he remained mute. However, if he had remained calm so far, he now wondered whether he would be able to do what he felt he had to. For few days now, he felt really obliging toward the young girl, in a way he did not really like. For sure he was used to do many things without having proper reasons but this time it was different and he had the straight impression he had no more control on it. And he did not like it at all.

[Ndale Soromund]

The tone the woman—Yuna had used reminded her of Mi’tavi and she immediately pressed her lips together and straightened. Trying to become attentive out of habit. Trying too hard to focus she missed what the others were saying save for the last bits. “The colored stones not caused storm?” she cocked her head as her words were drown out by her next thought. Having only mumbled the phrase as she listened to Saeriel finish speaking. Blinking rapidly she spoke slowly. “They might not…make storm but they…not—not help. Could they make more storms?” As she spoke she raised her gaze to Yunas, her eyes finally passing over all who sat in their little boat. They would all be searching for something. But they did not know what they searched for. It was a familiar feeling to Ndale and not all together pleasant. She found herself frowning slightly before addressing the whole group this time, her thoughts slipping out without her consent as usual. “We look to see if there is hole for missing piece then? Maybe pieces not together? If storm not caused by them then maybe stolen piece not there. Good start point, yes?” Again she found her gaze wandering to the Konti woman in charge. Whereas only a few minutes ago she had felt disinterested now she was curious. Why was everyone really on this boat? Surely there was ulterior motives somewhere. But where? Her frown shifted into a smile and she stared out to the rapidly approaching stone. What fun this would be!

[Trente]

Trente's expression remained stoney and distant as the others spoke. He wasn't above speculation, but he didn't think entering the Obelisk with fear rapping their hearts was a good idea. No doubt Yuna knew this, but he understood her lack of support. In truth, they seemed to know nothing about these spires, or what they meant. Trente ignored his own warnings on the manner, and gave a slight smile to Ndale.

"I agree, that is a good place to start." He liked to see somebody focused on the task at hand, not purely fearful of what might happened. His eyes searched those around him as he continued, wondering if any might be this thief who had the shard. The only good candidate seemed to be the boyish Lyam, who seemed all together incompetent. His light hearted nature won a dismissive expression from Trente as he spoke to the women.

"Thank you for being forthcoming with us, Yuna. We shouldn't be surprised that there is little information on the stone itself. We all wouldn't be here to investigate if there were. However," he looked casually, not in the least untrusting or prying toward Yuna, and repeated with clarity his question before. "Are we all sure that we know nothing about this relic? What it was like before it was stolen, what drove the University to guard it so, well." The well was contradictory, as he remembered exactly how 'well' the relic was guarded. Not at all well enough.

He listened to the response, then gave a last statement. "I wouldn't fear." He glanced at Nai'shee when he said this, his eyes confident. "We all weathered the storm itself, I wouldn't expect the aftermath to be any worse. Our prompt action in the matter should remedy any unforeseeable complication that procrastination might have caused. We are on the right track, we should release assumptions, and keep aware of facts. Have trust in our commander to guide us and ourselves to be of assistance." His voice was sure and strong, but as he finished he couldn't help a slight smile to Nai'shee. He knew she found it funny, the way he spoke, and played the lecturer in all things.

Trente knew he was no professor, and no leader. Though, he still felt the need to share if thoughts as much as any other. He wondered what Nai'shee thought of his fashion in delivering them. The smiles faded, and he looked out over the water alertly, running over paranoid theories in the privacy of his own mind, despite his own advice.

[Nai'shee]

Nai'shee listened to conversations, too busy with her own thoughts to give a opinion. The first answer she got didn't explain her much, but she nodded to woman, grateful for getting opinion on her theory. She didn't even notice Lyam observing her for some reason. She agreed with Trente and Ndale about the starting point, that was probably the goal University had for this mission, but she still didn't know how to feel. She feared, but fear never stopped her from doing something. Sometimes something stupid. But she was curious, what could they find there? She realized Yuna's response to Trente will probably explain her thing or two, so she listened carefully. She felt a glance of Trente's eyes when he spoke. She couldn't help but staring at him sarcastically when he said 'We all weathered the storm itself', but she still hoped she won't make him laugh and that nobody will notice. She gave him a tiny smile when he finished his speech. He always has to do it, doesn't he? "Well said, but I doubt any of us survived the storm in small boat in the ocean. If something happened water would swallow us right here. But it's not what I fear. I fear of what's behind all of this. If somebody stole the piece he reunited it on purpose, I dare to say he or she probably knew the consequences. I don't doubt godly power being mixed with the event and if this really caused the storm, there could be some cult working on destroying the world or obtaining some power. But I guess it isn't what we should focus on currently."

[Paragon]

Yuna's eyes flitted between her passengers again. Perhaps she shouldn't have judged them so quickly - they had more intellect than she would have given them credit for. They seemed more curious about the obelisks than wanting to mess about. "I do not think the fragment has been reunited with the obelisk. And I also don't believe it was what caused the storm. We had warnings from the White Isle. The Konti who came straight from Mura spoke of a beast rattling its cage, of divine powers. I think the storm merely made the obelisks rise up from wherever they had been buried." She looked towards them, the boat lilting along its slow journey. She shuddered. It was a small shake - the others wouldn't catch it - but she felt the fear claw inside her. She was a Konti. She was more aware of her surroundings than most, aware of the voices, the premonitions. She feared the consequences of these relics and their sudden appearance. Lost in her reverie, she nearly fell over when the boat shook. Her heart beat furiously. Something had hit the side of the boat. All eyes went to the water, but whatever had struck it had vanished beneath the waves again. Yuna folded her arms. Perhaps it had been nothing. Perhaps just a knock from an errant stone or shell, or something equally minor. And then there was another slam into the side of the boat. They were under seige.

[Saeriel]

Spring, Day 13, 512 AV Saeriel listened to Yuna when she spoke and was intrigued that the warnings coincided with her own theory. Saeriel was in thought when the boat shook and she nearly lost her footing. As the boat shook again Saeriel moved towards the side of the boat, getting a decent hold on the side of the boat so she could at least try to prevent herself from falling in, sword drawn as she peered into the water attempting to find whatever it was that was hitting the boat.....and whether it was natural or magical because that could be relatively important.

[Ndale Soromund]

OOCParagon, I realize this is a really short reply but I wasn't sure how things are going to play out. But if you would like something more detailed I can adjust it ^-^ Ndale listened to the humans continue to bounce ideas will the pillars seemed to not get any closer. Still she could not seem to formulate any response. Her mind still whirling around the fun it would be and what they would find. But her thoughts still after the first bump and her eyes snapped to the water. Water was not easy for her to see through, the reflection and colors tended to mix into an odd colored gray during certain times of the day. But when she felt nothing immediately after her gaze had returned to the people on board until yet another smack to the side of the boat sent them stumbling, this one harsher than the last. And this time she felt herself let out a small squeak akin to a panicked squawk from her bird form. She felt her insides stutter slightly and she wasted no time in shifting around, bumping into the beside her lightly. Ndale could not decide whether she wished to see what attacked them and a deep sense of self-preservation considering recent events. When she heard the voice ask what plagued all their minds she only realized it was her speaking, her voice rising and lowering in pitch to match her mixture of fear and excitement. “What is in water?!”

[Nai'shee]

Even after first hit Nai'shee's eyes got fixated to the water. She wasn't sure what hit them, but it didn't seem like a rock to her. After second hit she was sure, she heard Ndale's panic, but instead of replying she decided to hold tightly before she could do anything else. Her eyes sought for a weapon and immediately stopped at Trente's sword. When the thing attacked her first reflex was to assume those were forces of an intelligent race, due to her previous thoughts, but she knew it was silly and such a powerful hit must be animal's. "Everybody, calm down!", this was addressed to Ndale, but she guessed Yuna wasn't experienced sailor or fighter and swimming won't help them much here because whatever is this thing it's intending to eat them. "We need to think properly, we can't panic now! Somebody must stop that thing, but I guess there's no volunteer to jump into water and fight it. We have Trente's sword. Any useful magic skills, Gnosis'?" Last words were mostly meant to the only girl she didn't know. She didn't know much about Trente and Lyam either and she didn't see Ndale for some time, but she was sure they didn't earn Gnosis nor raised their skills too much in meantime, but you never know. She felt extremely awkward talking, she never tried to be a leader because her lack of skill and now she was speaking like she did that for whole life. She wondered if her speech had any sense at all. It was logical, but her self-esteem was low when she was useless herself and the only thing she could do at this kind of situation is jumping straight into water and probably getting killed, so that was last resort.

[Lyam]

Lyam did not really notice the first hit on the boat, too deeply lost in his thoughts. But then Ndale panicked, shouted and tried to see what indeed had hit them. He couldn’t help but thinking Ndale’s behaviour was certainly the best way to make everyone panic and to put one’s self in danger. Whatever it was on the water, it was certainly bigger than them all, and not really peaceful. He had barely time to open his mouth that Nai’shee had already taken things in her hands. Lyam stared at her with some admiration. He did not know she was the stuff of leaders. However, what she said was not really… relevant to him. He made two or three steps and suddenly put his hand on her shoulder to catch her attention. “Before wanting to attack, let’s try to know what’s in the water and how we can avoid being wounded by it. Except if someone has some bows and arrows.” His voice was quite low, but he didn’t mind. He was more talking to Nai’shee than to the others. “By the way, we would certainly have better to gather in the middle of the boat, so that nobody could fall or be caught by the… stuff in the water.” The boy did not seem to be worried about his life, and for sure he wasn’t. However, he clearly wondered how he could protect Nai’shee from this mysterious attack. But why had his kelvic side chosen this particular girl? She was always in troubles.

[Trente]

Trente's reaction was akin to most, a jolting in his stomach and fear summoning for an increased heart rate. He knew without a doubt this wasn't going to be good, his eyes, however, did not rest on the water's around them. Instead he watched the small figure of the other team's boat become engulfed in what seemed to be a tiny, and utterly spontaneous wave. Then, the faintest sounds of yells. They were organized, whatever they were. He had the distinct feeling it wasn't a playful pod of wales. No, he knew the look of troubled waters. And these were them.

And, in his usual fashion his mind snapped, without hesitation to the quickest and easiest solution. The Konti teetered dangerously, standing at the bow of the ship. He calculated about two moment, to draw his rapier, plunge it into her, then raise his foot to push her in. It would give water creature was assaulting them the meat it needed while the rest moved on unmolested.

Shame filled him. How could he think such a thing? He silently chided himself for the thought no other would ever know. He fancied himself an exemplary citizen of Zeltiva, and he could even think of undoing a Konti of all people. Foreigners, yes, but their city ran of foreigners. And, the Konti were the ones that saved Zeltiva, and presumably the world, from utter destruction at the hands of whatever gods had dictated the storm's rising. He pushed the idea aside. They would find another way to survive, somehow.

His mouth opened, but then Nai'shee's voice surrounded them all. He would have advised to keep rowing, but an uncontested leadership was better in times of panic. There might not be time for debate, so he nodded sternly, reaching for his sword and beginning to rise, before stopping and allowing himself to lower back down unarmed. He had no desire to lose him weapon if they were to fall into the water, and he had no desire to be bumped into another of the crew with a weapon drawn. Not when they had no clue if his weapon would help against this ghostly assault or not.

Instead he looked around the boat and quietly took in what Nai'shee had to say, then gave a short laugh. "I can't say I'm volunteering to jump in, no." She was strong, and knew how to focus during combat. He liked this side of her, thought he had seen it before, which summoned up a new response in him. "Nai'shee." He said, as softly at Lyam spoke. "Don't over exert yourself." Then he smiled, he was serious, but he thought it almost laughable how his words actually sounded as they came out. So tender, and authoritative. A women like Nai'shee would use her skills as she willed, and nobody could argue this, or persuade her otherwise. He hoped he would be there to save her this time.