Chapter 37
Where last we left our companions they were sat in a set of three corracles about to ride up a whirling river of magically manipulated water that they themselves are responsible for. Raziel and Vazkor are in one, Thaylorn and Penny another and Kier and Talen the third. The Nu Mou have just given them all a gentle shove to get going and their corracles are rising up... picking up speed and heading upward along those interlinked circles of water toward the gigantic geyser of water that is still exploding out of the central peak. It's going to be one heck of a ride and there is no turning back now as their boats continue to pick up speed!
Talen settles into the corracle, and hangs onto the sides as the boats begin to climb. "Eugh... is it possible to be both seasick and airsick at the same time. Erp..." The viera looks a little green around the gills. "Hey Kier... I can see our house from here!"
Vazkor peers at the water rushing below the little boat he's in for a few moments, before he looks up at that gigantic geyser next... And quietly decides to set each hand on the edges of the corracle, fingers digging in as he holds on for what's to come. A mix of both worry and excitement crossing the swashbuckler's face, his innate dislike of water coming together with his otherwise thrill seeking nature, sorta grinning as he looks at Raziel, "... Well, see you on the other side."
Penny settles herself comfortably in the boat she's in as it's pushed off, along for the proverbial ride. The increasing speed doesn't seem to bother her in the least, and it's already proven that she's ok on boats in general, but that whole 'vertical' thing... That she seems uncertain about, eyeing the physics-defying cascade-into-the-sky. She keeps a firm hold of the boat's bulwark, just in case, even as Thaylorn advises so aloud, while keeping, for her part, silent and eyes forward.
Raziel's legs tighten under the bench he's seated on and after a brief glance is cast at the others and up then he looks back to Vazkor, "well.. That doesn't sound at all ominous." Despite saying that though he reaches down and grips the egde of the seat, looking to all the world like he's calm and collected while Vazkor is able to see just how tightly he's holding on and how tight his wings are pulled in against his back.
Kier offers Talen a faint grunt in reply to his enthiusiastic words and Dust mewls and slides under a seat in their corracle as the three boats turn and with a whoosh of spray ride over from the outer ring to the middle! Seconds later they are racing around the inner ring coming up on the arching jet of water that is powering the Geyser! And then.. then they are flying up that jet of beautiful water, sculpted and held by the wind and aimed square at the roaring side of that gigantic Geyser! ) [Spoofed By: Silvante]
Luckily enough Thaylorn isn't one to get ill from spinning sort of things, with how interested he is in the paths of water though it's unlikely that he'd even have time to be ill! The Imp continues looking like this is the best thing ever as their boat comes ever nearer to the central geyser. When the small craft is on the final jet towards it he let's his fingers dig into the wood as he closes his eyes!
Talen has crawled to the bottom of the boat at this point, no longer able to look anywhere except down. "Uuuuuhg. Let me know when the ride's over... I want to get off." he groans. "Boats, why'd it have to be boats?"
Vazkor continees to hold on tightly, his dark knuckles almost white and his fingers nearly cracking the wood as he watches the craft he's in starting to be sucked up that giant geyser, finding the experience relatively unpleasant, yet unable to close his eyes for some reason, and just trying to let it all happen. The man muttering some things under his breath in his native Rozarrian that could perhaps be translated as a prayer of somesort.
Penny seems to adjust well enough to the ride, though the sharp turns and such make her head spin a little, her grip on the sides doing more than just keeping her in her seat now, with the quick changes of direction, also serving to help keep her upright against momentum. Eyes narrowed against spraying water, she keeps her eyes firmly on the central jet, until the boats are actually riding it.
Raziel doesn't say a word or make a sound. He merely stares ahead at the one solid point amid the crazy spinning world, which is Vazkor. His jaw is clenched though and every muscle is tight as he holds on for dear life, privately wishing he could have just flown through this rather than being seated in the boat along with everyone else. As the ride up the jet and right towarsd the side of the geyser he hunches down, pulling everything in as small as he can while his mongoose, which is still hiding within his pouch is curled up and doing it's best not to get sick everywhere.
Faster and faster they go... the boats picking up speed! They are going to smack into the side of the geyser and been blasted to pieces surely! And then it happens all three Corracles hit the geyser in quick succession. There is a spray of water everywhere drenching everyone. Dust hisses in disapproval and then... coasting along the corracles bob gently on the waves of a huge ocean! The sky is clear and beautiful, the ocean waters sparkling blue and the light fluffy clouds over head cast a gentle shadow over patches of the ocean from time to time but otherwise all is calm and serene upon the ocean blue!
The sudden change of momentum from quick as the boats enter the geyser to gentle movement and deluge of water causes the Imp reopen his eyes to the sight of the grand ocean that is now spread out around them. WIth an audible gasp he stands up in his boat to get a better view of their surroundings. "Now this is a much better view!" He offers to the others, uncarring about being pretty much soaked as he makes sure all the others managed to make it too.
Talen groans again, though this time it's probably audible to those around. Two ears peek above the gunnels, quickly followed by the rest of the viera's face. "Oh..." he says, looking around at the ocean. "How ni..." Whatever he was about to say is lost in the sounds of him being very, very sick.
Vazkor closes his eyes the moment he's drenched in water, his fuzzy ears dropping flat to his head... Slowly cracking one eye open again though as his tense body suddenly notices the lack of movement from the boat, he blinks as he stares around the empty ocean... Raising a brow questioningly at Raziel next, and about to speak up, before he's interrupted by the sound of someone being sick. The man looking around at the other boats.
Penny hangs on tighter as the boats approach the rushing water, closing her eyes and bracing against the impact just seconds before the drenching passage and... The sudden transition from pitching chaos to calm and quiet actually does more to upset her equilibrium than the entire crazy ride up to this point, the abrupt lack of inertia and momentum making her reel and sway a bit as she opens her eyes, shaking her head a bit before she steadies herself with a soft gasp. Steadied and with bearings restored, she takes a look around, until Thaylorn stands in the boat, looking to him as the motion makes it rock a little, commenting to herself or anyone who can hear, "That wasn't so bad, actually..."
Raziel's eyes flick closed a moment before they hit the geyser and then he finds himself rocking forward s their momentum suddenly changes. Quickly looking around he exhales a breath and just is about to speak when he hears the sound of someone being sick and suddenly he's calling out, "not in the water, not in the water!" Shaking his head then he looks at Vazkor then checks on EM who, despite not getting sick, immediately bites his hand hard. "Ow.. right, don't blame you." Shaking his head then the mage straightens, "Asside from Talen is everyone alright?"
Raziel's concern over Talen being sick doesn't really have any immediate effect, the water gets messy but it is constantly moving. The waves are placid and the little corracles all seem to be drifting in the same direction for now beneath the beautiful sunshine and as far as the eye can see in all directions there is... ocean. Endless, eternal ocean!
Thaylorn lets out a deep, happy sounding sigh as he takes in the scent of the ocean "Oh quite wonderful I believe!" The Imp chimes in response to Raziel's question as he looks to the sky and back down to the waters with a smile still "You know, swimming is probably much better than riding in boats and all." He murmurs, reaching a hand down to feel the spirit realm's water.
Talen gags and coughs... and then gasps in surprise. "N.. no, stay out of the water. Can't you see it?" The viera seems to be tracking something in the water. "I... I think we have an uninvited guest." He points at a spot vaguely under the trio of boats. "See, there, it's black and white-ish!"
Vazkor looks around the ocean some more, but doesn't seem very impressed... The man just glancing up at the sky and horizon next, and idly commenting towards Raziel, "Wonder how far we are from land..." But then he blinks at Talen's comment, and looks back at the water, frowning as he tries to spot what the Viera saw as well, his hand instantly slipping towards one of his sheathed swords.
Penny gives Thaylorn a dubious look, "Maybe for you... I'm not getting out of the boat without being in sight, at the absolute minimum, of land, 'cause taking a swim in the vast and trackless ocean isn't exactly my idea of a good time. Bottomless depths below, and no respite in sight? I mean, come on... Not keen on loosing my belongings to the deep, either. Unless you can give a compelling reason to the contrary, that is." And then there's Talen's revelation, causing the mouse to make sure she's equally distant from both sides of the little boat, sitting dead center in her seat. She does *not* look over the side for herself, certainly not. "And then there's the beasts or whatever that lurk in the depths... Big black and white ones, I hear tell. Had better be a *damn* compelling reason to leave the safety of these little boats, yes."
Raziel tilts his head towards Thaylorn while shaking his head a little bit, "I don't know how well I'd swim with the wings... last time I hadn't gotten them back yet. Though I expect I'll have to find out." The man murmurs quietly while looking around, "somewhere there's someplace called the Lonely Tor, but I have no idea which way it is.." His voice cuts off though at Talen's statement and he looks down quickly before nodding to Penny and looking for something to row with, "I'm with her.. lets move it.."
Reaching for oars or not the party have no chance to trey and move the boats as something leaps out of the water! it is man shaped.. sort of, except it has a very long tail with fins on it. Four arms and a large beak like muzzle filled with teeth, it also has a very large ball of watery energy filled with something dark and pulsating at its core in its hands! It doesn't get the chance to throw it at the party however as Kier's viera spear slams into one of its arms and with a howl it drops it! However it then seizes the spear and pulls it free and throws it back at Kier who has to dive out of the boat to avoid being skwered by his own weapon! As the woodsman goes SPLASH the beast roars and using its tail to keep itself above the water starts to close in on the party as the three corracles start to drift apart....
"Something in the water?" The Imp questions of Talen, certainly not expecting hostilities so soon upon entering his own spirit realm. Although with the strange beast bursting out of the water his thoughts quickly change. Kier's quick rebuttle gets a nod of appreciation before the man is forced to dive into the ocean. He's not quite sure how well Kier can swim, so the Imp merely dives over the side of the boat after him without much thought to what else might be down there.
Talen looks over at Raziel, "The Lonely Tor is east. Sort of. From here, anyways." Not that it means anything with nothing to start from but the vast expanse of water. He is taken by surprise by the sudden flying arrival of the creature, having lost track of it momentarily. Grunting, the viera stands and follows the creature as it speeds towards them. Setting himself in a low crouch, a gout of fire speeds away from Talen's outstretched palm. Just before impact though, a wave of water rises up, diminishing the flame just before it impacts with the creature, though the flames do leave a sear across the creature's chest.
Vazkor quickly pushes himself up as the creature bursts out of the water, causing the boat to wobble, though he quickle sets his feet apart, locking them in against the sides of the craft and finding his balance... The man's eyes tracking the beast's progress, his expression one of silent concentration, even as he smoothly slides out the two swords at his sides, revealing the cobald blue blades of his enchanted Cutlass and Katana, electricity visibly arcing along them. And he growls then, "Try not to let it get near and knock anyone into the water!" Adressing the group's casters and ranged fighters, even as he waits for the inevitable to happen anyway.
Penny yelps as the creature erupts from the calm waters, surprised by it's sudden appearance, and then things happen so fast! Kier's spear flashing by, then flashing back again, and Kier himself going over the side of the boat he's in, followed by Thaylorn from her own! Doing her best to calm the rocking of her boat, amidst curses quite unseemly from a maiden such as herself until the fact that she is, in fact, a soldier of sorts, she gets up from her seat, standing in the center of the boat for the best balance and drawing her hand axe in her right hand and her cinqueda in her left, with no mind to the drifting of her boat at the moment in the face of being a potential target, and the subsequent need to be ready to defend herself and her current mode of transportation from attack.
Raziel holds steady as Vazkor leaps up and for a moment the man mutters, "please don't be a guardian.. if so please be here to test us." He nods to Vazkor and then states simply, "brace yourself." Before he leaps upwards and snaps his wings out, intent on gaining enough height that he can cast and at the same time not interfere with the swordsman. As his wings snap out suddenly balls of lightning start to ark over his wings and he calls out, "Kier keep away from him," while weaving the energies of the spell together and then hurling it at the serpent man. The large lightning ball crackles dangerously as it arcs towards their attacker, though just as with Talen's page a wave rises up and provides some shielding to the male, though still the crackle of lightning can be seen over it's chest and arms.
The beast screeeches in pain as first a fire ball and then lightning slams into him. He twists and dives back down into the water. It cuts under the boat makig a bee-line for Kier who is trying to climb back into his boat which is when Thaylorn comes up beneath the man and lifts him back up into the boat he was sharing with Penny along with a small wavbe of water! Thay is then able to dive out of the way as claws and snapping jaws try to get him. This does mean however the beast is underwater as is Thaylorn but it is within range of Penny's weapons though Vazkor's corracle has drifted a good seven feet away now and Talen's boat is drifting off in another direction all together.
Thaylorn hopes it was worth it diving into the water to get Kier back up as he propels himself through the water to avoid the creature's slashing claws and fangs. He's not about to go toe to toe with a creature like that, though, and darts back through the water towards his boat with the intent of boarding it once again. When his head pops out of the water again he calls out "What's the plan here!" Not wanting to use water magic as it might push the boats apart further if he's not careful.
Talen ponders the changing situation, seeming relieved as Kier is helped back into his boat. The viera notes the creature's position, and is lost in thought for a few moments. Then twin jets of frost errupt from his hands, forming a chunk of ice under his boat. As the mini-iceberg forms, Talen steps out of his boat onto the ice, carefully expanding the berg towards the closest boat.
Vazkor takes note of his boat drifting away some... Though most his focus is on the creature, the man following its path through the water, those swords still out, though currently useless, the swashbuckler having no real ranged capability at the moment... Though of course he has other tricks he can try, and with that, he braces himself in the boat again. Waiting for the creature to emerge once more before he sucks in a deep breath, his chest expanding... And then he loudly bellows. Waving his swords around a bit as he lets out a loud warcry, directed at the creature, meant to distract the creature and maybe put some fear into it [Warcry]
Penny keeps her eyes on the creature as the spells cause it some grief, loosing track of it once it dives back below the surface. The splash of Kier being pushed up into her boat draws her attention, though, and she catches sight of the creature as it makes a grab for Thaylorn just below the surface! She lunges! Well, more like falls to one knee and leans over the side of the boat next to where Kier was pushed aboard with a silent prayer that the boat doesn't capsize itself under her, but all the same, she thrusts down into the water at the creature with her cinqueda, attempting to wound it!
Raziel's head snaps towards Talen and he ponders for a brief moment before nodding, "watch it Vazkor.." He flies higher and as he does motes of ice start to spin around him and meld together as they grow larger and larger. Whilt this happens additional ones begin to form over his wings and they freeze entirely the gold feathers slowing and then stopping as the man begins to plummet. The ice motes draw in and encase him fully for a few moments then suddenly his wings spread and shards of ice shatter out around him, spearing into the ocean and then forming an ice sheet of comparable size to Talen's while his feathers bear him aloft once again.
Penny's boat and Talen's are soon linked by a three foot wide strip of ice which aids her in her strike as she slams her swords down into the water! The beast screams and lashes up at Penny, scoring its claws down her armoured arm and then Raziel's ice spell hits which links up Vazkor's boat with Penny's along another strip of ice. None of the boats are in the water now they are all held up and listing slightly atop the connected floe of ice. The beast growls in Penny's face, rearing back as if to strike at her again and then Vazkor's screaming cry makes it flinch. It dart's a look at him and shoves off from the gunwhale of Penny's boat and dives down... vanishing swiftly into the depths as the corracles and their new ice floes bob along on the current. The fight... for now at least is over, the creature driven back.
Thaylorn manages to climb back up into the boat as it's lifted out of the water by the growing ice, finally ready to get to the fighting just as the others are able to drive the beast back off to the depths. Leaning over the Imp merely looks down into the water beyond the ice flows "Not the sort of welcoming party I'd have expected here..." He mutters, somewhat downcast all of a sudden.
Talen continues to thicken the ice under and around the boats, only ceasing when the effort begins to tire him. "Hopefully that creature is gone for good. But this ice should at least give us an advantage." The viera looks over at the imp and shrugs, "I don't think that was a natural inhabitant of this ocean... that was pure evil, malevolence itself. Don't let it drag down your emotions." He looks around, "We need to head east. Do we want to use the ice here to sail that way, or should we set off in our boats again? Me, I'm partial to sailing this iceberg."
Vazkor quickly hops out of the boat, skidding on the ice below his feet as he makes his way towards where the creature submerged itself again, for a few moments not quite sure the threat really passed... Peering down into the water though, his swords still out, he after letting a few long heartbeats pass, seems satisfied, and retreats away from the edge of the ice again... Looking around at everyone as he goes, and commenting, "I think Ultimecia somehow managed to have that thing wait for us."
Penny glares right back at the creature as it growls in her face, training taking over in the face of danger before the creature pushes off and dives out of sight. At which point, she releases a deep breath and kinda sags a little against the boat's gunwale for a few seconds, letting the adrenaline ebb. After a moment of calm breathing, she sits up again, sheathing her weapons and checking the scratches left on her vambrace by the creature, tsking and hrming to herself over the scratches in the metal, "I'm not a sailor, makes no nevermind to me which we do; so long as we aren't swimming, I'll be happy." She offers no speculation on the creature's purpose or origin, herself, knowing little of the matter all told.
Raziel alights back on the boat which he and Vazkor were in before and he looks down as well before sending a look towards Thaylorn, "not really a warm welcome, no." His eyes flick to Talen then and he considers before he reaches over and taps the ice, "I say we float it for as long as we can, but we need something to give us momentum. Thaylorn can you help there with some water magic? I can call a breeze, but it not very helpful unless we have sails." His eyes move to Vazkor then before he nods quietly, "I'd be willing to bet money on it." Looking to Penny then the man smirks a little before murmuring, "this perhaps was not suited to your discomforts. This quest."
The ice berg is drifting along, slowly drifting north westerly which isn't the way they want to go. But for now the danger is over, they have a rather nice ice-berg. It's quite thick, over seven feet all told thanks to Raziel's bolstering of Talen's original spell. It took a bit longer to work but the ice berg seems to be sturdy enough and its put you all together. Kier frowns at the water and shakes his head as he tries to dry off. "Have I told anyone how unsettling the spirit world is?"
"Aye, I can help push us along." Thaylorn remarks towards Raziel with a faint smile before glancing towards Vazkor "You think it was her's, though? I wouldn't think something like that would be allowed to survive here. Especially if she forced her way here, I'm not sure." He shrugs slightly and glances behind their iceberg before hmming thoughtfully and offering almost as an afterthought "Hey Raziel, we should avoid flying at all here, for the best." He seems to concur with the no swimming thing for the time as he pushes the water behind the iceberg away propelling their makeshift boat towards the east.
Talen chuckles, moving to slap Kier on the shoulder, "You're not the first to notice, nor will you be the last, big-brother. However, Ultimecia, the one who is also chasing the zodiac, likely sent that creature to attack us. To delay us, likely. So that she can catch up." He looks around and ponder, "If we could make a sail, and use some of the paddles, we could get a rudder set up... that would help along with the wind and water spells."
Vazkor nods some at Raziel, but then he shrugs at Thaylorn, "If this is a spirit realm, why would something that evil be here? Unless the spirits don't want us here..." The man pausing to look around some again, casting his gaze across the horizon all around the iceberg, before he shrugs and just lets out a breath. Soon deciding to sheath his swords again for now, and dropping to sit down on the ice, getting ready for the trip.
Penny smiles and shrugs to Raziel, "I wouldn't go quite that far, really. I like swimming and such, it's just... Swimming in a pool or close to shore, or even in a pond or lake, is a *whole* lot different than swimming in a seemingly bottomless body of water with no land in sight. I mean, you look down, and you know there is absolutely nothing under your feet for lord-only-knows how many leagues? That's just..." She shudders a little, "Spooky. Unnerving." She seems comfortable enough, in the boat upon the ice, draped casually over the near-side gunwale now, chin propped up in one hand. Content, the mouse templar pulls her helm off, enjoying the little headwind as the mini-berg is pushed east by Thaylorn's water skills, "All told, I'd say that the trip so far hasn't been all that bad, leaving aside high-speed airship crashes and getting lost in a rainforest a time or two."
Raziel considers Thaylorn's advice then he nods to him before glancing to Talen, "I don't believe we have enough cloth for a sail.. so for now we will have to deal with paddles and water magics alone." Tepping over behind Vazkor the man drops the bag with the angry mongoose into his lap before walking to the back with Thaylorn a quick smirk given Penny over his shoulder.
With Thaylorn at the helm the ice berg begins to move, it is a bit slow at first but the imp soon finds a current going in the direction they want which makes it a bit easier to pick up speed! Sailing away they are off on the high seas of the Eternal Ocean!
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