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Fishing for a Fight

Scene details

  • Start date: June 12, 2025, 5:16 p.m.
  • End date: June 26, 2025, 8:21 p.m.
  • Location: Zel'rik Archipelago - Isle of Blessed Winds
  • Participants: Ivo Galvan, Laineth, Tulip

Setting: The motley crew composed of Ivo, Tulip, Roseline, Roseline's pirate crew, and an utterly incapacitated Reize arrive after fleeing Rosia at a small fishing village on the western edge of the Zel'rik Archipelago. There, our heroes get to know each other better in the ideal manner, by randomly brawling, and learn teamwork in the ideal manner, by saving Ivo from himself.

Log


 The Romancing SaGa zips along the crests of ocean waves as though it were a gull buoyed effortlessly by gusts of wind. The magitech engines, topped up with aetheric essences, hum pleasantly to drive our heroes onward at speeds impossible by oar or sail, representing the pride of once-secret Cosmpolitan science.
 "Naturally, the SaGa was a toy built on a nobleman's whim," Ivo is saying, one hand idly on the tiller as he casually addresses his new companions. Their blithe pilot shows little strain from their frantic battle with the Shadowguard not long before and less concern for Reize clinging to the handrail, hurling his guts out despite the relatively smooth ride. "Last I saw, the other such prototypes are the playthings of a local gang ferrying contraband in and out of the Warrens. One would think that Cosmopolis would assemble a navy of such vessels, but... well, let's say that its hierarchy serves more as cover for the escapades of the fortunate and the subterfuge of those less so than as a means to rally any concerted action."
 Ivo gives the impression of someone who gets up to more than a few escapades himself, and thus knows what he's talking about, at least in this instance. Shielding his eyes from the blazing sun with his free hand, he looks back in the direction whence they came, no land visible any longer, and then sweeps his gaze among their now especially motley crew.
 "We should be in the clear," he continues, back on a more relevant topic, "and our friends in Rosia will hopefully talk down the Shadowguard enough that Reize and I can return. But we haven't prepared supplies for such a sizable contingent." Roseline's whole crew is packed in for the ride, after all. "We should stop at a promising island to gather supplies before continuing on. Perhaps we could gather some restorative herbs for Reize while we're at it."
 Oh, he *did* notice Reize's plight.

  • Character: Laineth
  • 2 months, 2 weeks ago



  'Heroes'.... right.

  Maybe not in Roseline's case. And especially not her crew. Speaking of her, she's presently leaned back against a guard rail, arms crossed and fingers tapping against her bicep in an agitated manner. She can vaguely hear Ivo blathering about something. Cosmopolis this, SaGa that, escapades something... she's not really listening. Sorry Ivo.

  It was supposed to be a simple resupply and a meeting. They didn't go out of their way to rouse any trouble, so why the heck did the friggen Shadowguard come out in force for *them* specifically? Most of these ports can't even tell when competent pirate crew sail in. They know to keep the obvious pirate nonsense on the downlow and put up a front as either merchant vessels or ship for hire sorts of deals to carry goods.

  Those bastards come out of the woodwork specifically for them.

  Then there's the matter of that distant explosion... The redhead brings a hand to her chin and mouth, rubbing slowly in a thoughtful manner as she works through the variables at play. They definitely didn't cause any sort of explosion. The whole crew was accounted for at the port when it happened. Which can only mean... "...They used us as scapegoats." She muses aloud, after turning things over in her mind again and again.

  But for what? ...Hell if she knows the inner workings and machinations at play in the vampire court though.

  • Character: Tulip
  • 2 months, 2 weeks ago

  "Soooo..you guys get up to this kind of thing a lot, huh? I mean, you've got an escape boat, friends who can talk down the law and everything!" Tulip says as she offers Ivo a scrutinizing and rather suspicious look. "And all the gangs with these things too!" she tacks on at the end. Not that she can talk regarding being of interest to law enforcement. Given her nature it's not the first time she's gotten into a scrape with them.
  The lapine girl scratches her cheek awkwardly as she glances around at the assembled crew. "Uh. Speaking of supplies, I didn't exactly eat anything before all that stuff went down, yeah? So how much have you actually got?" Then she hooks her thumb towards Reize, looking him over with a shake of her head. "That's pretty sad. Can I get his share, since he's just going to puke it back up again anyway?"

Ivo Galvan rolls 1d20>=10.
Comment: Foresight check on re: what sort of supplies are available
Roll(s): 14. Total result is 14. This is a success (by 4).


 "Sure," Ivo lightly replies to Tulip's last question. "That makes sense." He flashes her a bright smile. He seems confident that Reize won't hear. "We were recently stranded on a deserted island--" Unless you count a few wind elementals and a lot of big marmots. "--so I stocked up on long-lasting supplies. If you lift up that hatch--" Nodding to an inconspicuous compartment embedded in the deck. "--you'll find smoked fish, dried squid and mangoes, and snake jerky." The latter being an Oradian specialty, one presumes. "In the main cabin, you'll find a big silver vat: that's our Water Reconstituter Mk II that turns powdered water aether back into water. It should come out of the tap when you turn it unless it needs a charge."
 He radiates competence.
 "Let me know if the Reconstituter seems like it needs more energy," he adds. "Just..." Ivo lowers his voice a little. "...please don't ask about the Mk I."
 Without elaborating, he looks from the bunnykin to the pirate princess, who seems deep in contemplation, understandably so.
 "When Reize and I are able to return to Rosia," he supplies, seemingly sure that this will be the case in the near future, "I'll endeavor to sort out what they knew and when, and to what extent what accords was a conspiracy against you or mere bad luck. I'm quite sure I know who the culprits behind that explosion were and that you had nothing to do with it... but as to if the Shadowguard were genuinely confused or being opportunistic, I couldn't say." Ivo seems less cynical, but then, he has not lived as a perpetual outlaw. "In any event, we'll support you."
 His smile widens, as though in anticipation of an obvious question.
 "After all," he says, "I want to see this pirate utopia of yours."
 Nova Luria: the new city of the winds, named in honor of the beastkin nation that was destroyed by the ancient Eurenan empire long ago, in a seeming pledge to harbor those outcast from repressive societies. Ivo has heard the rumors and suspected that, if this place existed, the isle on which the Star Chasers had been stranded was close. But now, not only is its existence confirmed, he will get to see it. Granted, as something of a quasi-hostage, for reasons he still does not understand, but it is an exciting prospect nonetheless.
 "Oh, that looks promising."
 Glancing to the horizon, a yellow dot has grown to a sandy little island festooned with swaying palms.
 "We should be safe from pursuit for at least a few hours," Ivo remarks. "Shall we stop, collect ourselves, and ensure we have all we need for the rest of the journey? I expect my fearless leader could use a breather."
 He does not move the tiller to guide the vessel toward the island, though, seemingly waiting to hear the others' say-so. This is an odd assemblage of strangers with an even odder power dynamic right now, and while Ivo seems comfortable, he is also subtly showing caution.

  • Character: Laineth
  • 2 months, 2 weeks ago



  Roseline stares at Tulip as she asks about food. ...Heh. Suppose people do need to eat, regardless of things like conspiracies and whatnot. There are a lot of them here though. She can forego food for a while longer than most, but her crew aren't so... constitutionally gifted. But it seems like they won't have to have some sort of dramatic reenactment of Animal Farm. There's an island on the horizon.

  Her gaze turns to Ivo as he speaks to her. He is correct in that she was going to ask him why the hell would he go out of his way to help them, when he follows it up with his desire to see her homeland. "..." She crosses her arms and sighs. "Pirate utopia, huh...? Is that what they're calling it?" She rolls her eyes, but doesn't comment further. Whether or not he sets foot on that land depends on the business they have yet to see to. Their conversation was rudely interrupted by explosions and Shadowguards and whatnot after all.

  But that can wait. For now.

  ROseline looks off into the distance at the island. "Looks as good a option as any." She says, a wry smirk forming on her face. "My crew and I can get off there and see about finding a ship." They've got contacts all over at various ports. Whether or not there's a spare ship to go around is a different story though.

  Sigh.... her poor, poor baby... How's she going to face her mom and tell her about how she lost her ship so disgracefully? "What a damn headache." She grumbles, pinching the bridge of her nose.

  • Character: Tulip
  • 2 months, 2 weeks ago

  "Great! I mean snake's a little weird, but I guess if you were stranded you didn't have all that much of a selection, yeah?" Tulip says on her way over to that hatch, tugging it open and rooting her way through it before tugging out a piece of that jerky she was just so dubious of. After taking a quick sniff she takes a bite, shrugs, and starts chomping down the rest of it."

  "Mhh mphh mrphr mgheel?" she 'says' through a mouthful of food and a finger pointed Roseline's way. A few seconds and a swallow later and she reiterates, "So what's your deal? You their boss or something?" The look she's giving the other girl is analyzing. Speculating. It's a little concerning.

  "If you're their boss you must be tougher than they are, yeah?" Yeah, there she goes. Flashing Roseline a grin that shows off a prominent set of lapine incisors she keeps going. "When we make land you wanna throw down? We could do it right here, but uh...it's not like there's much room here. We'd probably break something, or someone'll get knocked overboard, some some crap like that."

  That sounds like the words of someone with experience in these matters.

Ivo Galvan rolls 1d20>=10.
Comment: Zel'rik Archipelago Travel Check: how lucky are we vis-a-vis finding friendlies or a possible vessel vs. face-eating monsters on this particular island?
Roll(s): 16. Total result is 16. This is a success (by 6).


 As Ivo gently guides the SaGa towards the distant island, its contours come into view: a pier, blessedly, and what looks to be a modest fishing village, likely a stopping point for vessels traversing the eastern coastline of the Western Continent between Verdios, Oradia, and Hagos. Our protagonists have traversed the ocean waters in record time but remain on the far western fringes of the Zel'rik Archipelago. The further east they travel, the more that wayfarers have to fear from pirates or, perhaps worse still, the Korotean navy that hunts said pirates. Here, a general openness to travelers, and whatever money they have to spend, can still be expected.
 "If you wish to return home as swiftly as possible, you're welcome to travel with us," Ivo says lightly, glancing at the frustrated-seeming young woman, as though he is about to ask why she's in such a rush to split from them. But then Tulip gives her a reason to split, so he clamps his mouth shut and just listens, reducing speed to a slow cruise as they approach the dock.
 Fisherfolk do not stir from their daily duties but a couple travelers garbed as merchants look curiously at the SaGa as they arrive. The pier is broad and a little rustic boardwalk, more of a dusty path that circles the sandy coast, looks like a perfect fighting game stage-- er, pleasant spot for a stroll. It's possible that Roseline might be able to negotiate passage with someone, but there may not be a ship to spare, unless there's one hidden away in a cove somewhere.
 Granted, even on the far reaches of a pirate network, that might well be the case.

  • Character: Laineth
  • 2 months, 2 weeks ago



  Roseline's gaze wearily turns towards Tulip again. One can almost feel the exhaustion emanating from her. "...Yes, I am the boss." She doesn't ask 'what of it?', because the rabbit lady has made it very clear what is what. "...Is fighting the only thing you think about?"

  Now that she gives it some thought... Most of what the redhead has seen of this girl has been fighting. She was picking a fight with her crew at the port back at Rosia. She jumped into the fray and fought the Shadowguard even though she could have walked away. She jumped into the fight against that captain woman on the rooftops. And now she's trying to challenge her to a fight.

  Lovely.

  But of course, the idiots have to chime in. "Wuz dis? That little pipsqueak's challengin' our boss lady?' 'Hah! That's gonna be a riot!' 'Place yer bets! Let's get that moolah rollin' in!' 'Give 'er hell!' 'Don't go bullyin' little babies now, boss! Ahahahaha!'

  With every comment, one can almost see anger veins forming on Roseline's forehead, until...

  "Would you absolute dumbasses shut your traps already!?"

  Welp.

  • Character: Tulip
  • 2 months, 2 weeks ago

  "Not all I think of! I'm not some kinda one trick pony!" says the girl who thus far has absolutely been a one trick pony. She's about to say something else when the crew pipes up, their words drawing a worrying smile to the girl's face as she turns to them. "You assholes wanna get through the day without me rearranging your faces, you should listen to your boss." she says as she takes a stop towards them...then stops herself. Sure, smacking the crew around would probably draw Roseline into the fight. But it would hardly be a test of her vs the redhead if there's a bunch mooks joining in.

  With a snort from her nose she turns to lean over the edge of the boat and eyes the approaching land. "Looks pretty, uh." Tulip mutters while gazing over the little settlement with a dubious expression on her face. "This place is gonna be pretty boring, ain't it?"

  That's a little worrying. A bored Tulip, on an island with a bunch of people she's already interested in fighting. It's a bit of a recipe for trouble. Well, more trouble.

Ivo Galvan rolls 1d20>=6.
Comment: Does Tulip's reputation precede her, even on this peaceful isle?
Roll(s): 19. Total result is 19. This is a success (by 13).


 Ivo, who had been chattering so freely before, keeps his mouth shut as he smoothly guides the SaGa into port, such as it is. Once the vessel is safely settled by the pier, he tosses out a cable to secure it, which by some mild magitech design wraps of its own accord around a metal cleat. As he does so, he flashes another smile to the dubious Tulip, as sunny as the sky above.
 "We won't be long!" he exclaims. "I'll just gather as much in the way of fresh supplies as we can carry and pick up some herbs for my friend here. We wouldn't want anyone to succumb to Sea Madness."
 Though that's just a fable, of course.
 "Help yourself to the snacks in the meantime!"
 Ivo, seeming to think that Tulip might be bribable with food and thereby quell her battle lust, vaults off of the side of the ship and alights upon the deck, blue cloak whirling, to saunter over to the closest merchant to negotiate. As he does, a little human boy upon the pier, holding his mother's hand, stares pointedly at Tulip before slowly pointing.
 "Mommy!" he cries. "Can I pet that bunny!?"
 "Shhhhh!" his mom shushes him.
 There are not too many idle folk upon the pier, but those who are seem to be picking up on the boisterous chatter of the pirates egging on Roseline and Tulip.
 "Is there a fight?" one young man calls. "Who's taking bets?"
 "All-in on the redhead," a woman confidently replies.
 "Mommy! Can I bet on that bunny!?"
 "Shhhhhhhhhhh!"

  • Character: Laineth
  • 2 months, 1 week ago



  Roseline heaaaaaaaaaves a sigh.

  She really hates useless fighting. Such a waste of energy to no cause. If there's going to be violence, then there better be a good reason for it. 'Bored bunny wants to throw hands' is not a good reason. She really can't put herself into this moment and hype herself up at all. But it doesn't look like this is going to go away. It's not like she's a pacifist or anything. Hardly. She's willing to bad things and hurt people as long as its necessary. She's not a 'good person', she woud say. Not by a long shot.

  Wasting energy just sucks. Tsk tsk.

  Roseline grumbles, rubbing the side of her neck as onlookers pick up on her crew's jeering commentary, and bets start making the rounds. "Godsdamnit." She growls as she glares at no one in particular, just sweeping her gaze across the general area. Then she looks at Tulip.

  "Fine, whatever. Just one round. Then you can go shove off and find something else to do. Got it?"

  She says that as she marches down to ramp to an open enough area, and onlookers, along with her crew members, loosely follow to form a growing audience. "Any rules of engagement?" The redhead asks, just to make sure.

  • Character: Tulip
  • 2 months, 1 week ago

  Tulip's mouth curls into a rather joyous grin as Roseline accepts her challenge. The rabbit's hands shove down into her pockets as she sets off after the other girl, fumbling a moment before her hands come out equipped with those ever so useful brass knuckles she seems so fond of.

  "Sure sure. Whatever way it goes, one of us probably ain't gonna be up for a second round anyway." she says with a flippant wave of her hand before she takes her position on the opposite side of their impromptu arena.

  There's the crack of fingers as she pushes each fist into the opposite palm, followed by similar sounds as the bunnygirl stretches out legs and arms both. "Rules, rules...eh, no killing anyone I guess? No hurting too bad either. You got anyone who can heal you? I'm no good at doing it to other people myself." she says in reply, scratching her cheek a moment before turning to address Ivo. "Hey, can you handle the betting? That way we can take a cut and make a little money no matter who wins."

Ivo Galvan rolls 1d20+3>10.
Comment: Playing the bookie (bonus to improvizational shenanigans)
Roll(s): 2. Total result is 5. This is a failure (by 5).


 Ivo, smoothly haggling with a thoroughly charmed elderly woman, slips a packet of dried herbs to ease Reize's seasickness within an inner pocket of his cloak as he turns to witness Roseline accepting Tulip's boisterous challenge. Grinning lopsidedly, he takes in the sights and sounds of the gathering crowd. It's a motley mix of bored residents, curious sailors, and rowdy pirates courtesy of Roseline's own crew. He has no interest in random violence himself, lacking a Warrior's Fighting Spirit or whatever, but at this point, he's encountered this sort of phenomenon frequently enough that he knows it can be a bonding experience. Though Roseline understandably seems as though she wants to acquire her own vessel as soon as possible and Tulip seems like a total wild card, Ivo has the sense that sticking together on the SaGa would be the most interesting prospect.
 And he does like things to be as interesting as possible.
 "Of course," he confidently replies to Tulip. "Leave it to me."
 Radiating poise and a showman's presence, Ivo strolls amongst the crowd with a whirl of his cloak, spreading his arms wide and offering a winning smile.
 "Taking all bets!" he calls. "The odds are..." Ivo glances first to Roseline, then to Tulip, then back again. "2 to 1 in favor of the redhead!"
 "What!?" a man yells. "The bunnykin's obviously stronger!"
 "Ah," Ivo replies, waving his finger back and forth. "But she also would be inspired by being underestimated, don't you think?"
 "So you're trying to manipulate the outcome to help her!" a young woman cries. Ivo blinks, abruptly looking disconcerted. "This guy's on the beastkin's side! Don't trust him!"
 "I wouldn't say--"
 "Waaaaahhh! I want to bet on the bunnyyyyy!"
 "W-w-well, there's no need to cry--"
 The hubbub only increases in volume.

  • Character: Laineth
  • 2 months, 1 week ago



  ...Look at that smooth dude over there, handling the bets with no problems whatsoever.

  ...Okay, maybe there's a few problems. Roseline's brow twitches at all the hubbub. But she tunes it out, keeping her focus on Tulip.

  "Uh huh... Right. Don't worry about me." She says, in regards to healing. She must have something up her sleeve. Maybe. She doesn't seem all that combat ready. She hasn't taken a stance, summoned up any power, pulled out a weapon, nothing. She just stands there, arms loosely at her side as she coolly gazes at the bunnykin.

  One of her crewmembers steps up and speaks. "Alright! Lets get this party started!" He raises an arm high, holding it there for a stark moment....

  ...and then he swipes it down, shouting "Begin!"

  • Character: Tulip
  • 2 months, 1 week ago

  "So we're good to go?" Tulip says while flashing Roseline a smile. It's not even an intimidating smile. Instead it seems genuinely friendly, the smile of someone who's found someone to have a good time with!

  As the crewmember steps up Tulip drops into a loose stance, brass knuckles gripped securely in her hands. The instant his arm comes down Tulip is in motion, charging directly at the redhead in a furious charge. It doesn't look as though there's particularly much thought or tactics there, just a rush to get in nice and close!

Ivo Galvan rolls 1d20>10.
Comment: Calming down the crowd (no bonus this time)
Roll(s): 15. Total result is 15. This is a success (by 5).


 Ivo would like to watch the results of this first clash, as while he may not be in the habit of combat spectation, he is curious about the abilities of his new, however temporary, companions. But first things first.
 "Waaaaaahhh!"
 As the bunny-loving child's wails drown out even the ongoing argument over the proper betting ratio, the Cosmopolitan thinks fast and then, patting his cloak all over, finally withdraws a small object wrapped in paper.
 "Behold!" he exclaims. "The Child Silencer Mk III!"
 He extends it to the crying child who, sniffling, unwraps the paper to reveal a lollipop, which they soon pop into their mouth. After a moment, they furrow their brow, as though perplexed by the flavor, yet don't stop, maintaining the speculative expression of a sommelier straining to identify unusual tasting notes.
 "1.5-to-1 in favor of the redhead, and that's final!" he calls. "Take it or leave it!"
 Albeit with some grumbling, the majority of the crowd seems to prefer to take it, as no one has stepped up to seize the initiative to rival Ivo's offer yet. First mover advantage!
 But does that advantage apply to Tulip? That's the real question.

  • Character: Laineth
  • 2 months, 1 week ago



  Ah yes, the Child Silencer MKIII... ...Were the MK I and II also lollipops? Questions for later. Or never.

  The match begins and Tulip immediately charges in once the signal is given. Roseline had suspected that Tulip would begin with an immediate attempt to close the distance, but she really thought that maybe there would be something different than what she's seen... Nope.

  She raises an arm, palm outstretched. By the time the bunnykin was midway to the redhead, a green glow forms in the pirate girl's hand, and then there's a sudden burst as wind power kicks up a gust. That gust sends several whirling orbs of wind aether hurtling towards Tulip in multiples arcs.

  Two orbs jets directly forward, one aimed for her abdomen, the other for her face. Another orb curves and comes in for her side from a low angle curve, and the other hurtles into the air and descends as it aims to come down on her head. Totaling four wind orbs overall.

  • Character: Tulip
  • 2 months, 1 week ago

  Two from dead ahead, one from the side and one from above. The latter two the bunnykin chooses to try and outrun as she continues her charge forwards, seeming unconcerned that she's running directly into two more of those wind orbs! With a smile on her face she just takes them on directly as aether is channeled into her hands, the right flashing out at the top orb while her left rams towards the lower!

  Destruction aether it seems, as when her fists crash into their targets the orbs seem to lose cohesion and scatter. Hopefully harmlessly.

Ivo Galvan rolls 1d20>10.
Comment: Maintaining crowd control
Roll(s): 6. Total result is 6. This is a failure (by 4).


 Ivo is momentarily distracted as he sees first the manifestation of wind and then a startling spellbreaking technique. His mind is racing. Roseline seems familiar with the Isle of Blessed Winds and its wind elemental inhabitants, and she possesses the powers of wind herself, quite potently, it seems. Is this just a coincidence? And for Tulip to be able to unravel a spell like that by applying inner aether to the task... is she some sort of savant?
 "See! This is what I was talking about!" a man is yelling. "This is why the odds should have been in the favor of the rabbit!"
 "Fine!" a woman responds. "I'm taking my *own* bets!"
 "No," Ivo calls, startled, "wait, wait--"
 It's really not clear how much money they're getting out of this.

  • Character: Laineth
  • 2 months, 1 week ago



  Roseline watches as Tulip deals with the minor barrage of wind orbs, punching the two in front of her with some sort of disruptive aether and causing them to destablize and disperse. Each dispersal creates a minor gust of wind as the wind aether particles scatter, but it's harmless for the most part.

  "Hmmm...."

  The redhead hums to herself as she observes. That's a pretty straightforward move, so she doesn't speculate a ton. Looks like the bunnykin coated her fists with aether and punched the spells to disrupt their makeup. Essentially breaking them. ...Hm. Interesting. What's her limit though? There's still two more behind her. They haven't given up.

  Haven been outrun initially, the two wind orbs now hurtle towards Tulip's back, threatening to make impact and explode into powerful bursts of air if they make contact.

  Meanwhile, Roseline decides to change up her methods at the front. She gathers wind aether into her hand and it extends, forming into a nondescript blade that she swings outwards, causing a blade of air to fire out... at Tulip's feet to try and disrupt her straight line charge. What will she do now?

  ...All that yammering about bets and whatnot in the background is just noise to her. She doesn't yet pay it any mind. And her crewmates are raucously laughing as Ivo tries to reel the situation in. Yep. No help at all.

  • Character: Tulip
  • 2 months, 1 week ago

  With that duo of wind orbs still pursuing from behind Tulip just keeps on going in the one direction that seems relatively safe. Forwards! Trying to stay ahead of them she just keeps on charging!

  Though it's not a strategy she can just keep on going with, thanks to Roseline's next attack. There's a grunt from the bunnykin as she the spell comes out and just like she did with her fists moments before more aether is channeled into one of her feet...and she SLAMS it right down onto that air blade, seeking to disrupt it just like before!

  She's closing in. Getting worryingly close, really. She's really quite fast for someone with such short legs!

Ivo Galvan rolls 1d20>10.
Comment: Outdoing the competition (Ivo is fighting his own battle!)
Roll(s): 4. Total result is 4. This is a failure (by 6).


 "Reduced fee on bets for a limited time only!" Ivo calls, gaze sweeping the bustling crowd as bettors decide with whom to place their bets. "Double-or-nothing is free! I--"
 The wind of Roseline's attacks, scattered by Tulip's initial strikes, whips by, sending Ivo's cloak aflutter, slapping into a shouting man's face. Otherwise, no collateral damage seems to be done--
 "My herbs! My herbs!"
 The old woman with whom Ivo had been haggling before cries out as the breeze sweeps away a lightweight package of dried plants, sending them rolling like a tumbleweed towards the ocean. Ivo hesitates briefly and then, gritting his teeth, goes running after it, abandoning the bettors for now. Gallantry before all.
 Well, assuming he makes it in time.

  • Character: Laineth
  • 2 months, 1 week ago



  Ah sheesh.... this damn rabbit just keeps on coming. Sigh. Fine. Suppose there's no ranging her out in this situation when she just disperses her spells. Such as when that wind blade is scattered by being stepped on before it can make contact with the ground and explode.

  In that case, then she'll just play Tulip's game.

  Roseline clenches a hand into a fist and lowers her stance a bit to balance her center of gravity. Wind aether gathers into her arm and travels along to her fist, growing in intensity. Then, one the bunnykin is basically nearly in her face, she throws a right hook towards her face.

  Is this what people wanted to see?

  • Character: Tulip
  • 2 months, 1 week ago

  While Roseline takes a stance, experience clues the rabbitkin in on what's about to come her way. In response she plants her feet firmly to take a low stance of her own. It's pretty easy for her to take a low stance too, given her height.

  Usually you might expect someone to dodge or perhaps block a fist coming towards their face. Certainly, that would be the smart thing to do.

  Not everybody has the privilege of being intelligent.

  With that wind enhanced fist flying, Tulip takes it head on! Quite literally! Just as before with her fists and her foot she gathers aether in her forehead this time, and with a raucous laugh she SMASHES her head right into Roseline's fist to intercept that right hook.

  She'll probably be fine. Can't get brain damage if you don't have much of a brain to start with.

Ivo Galvan rolls 1d20+2>10.
Comment: The REAL battle: does Ivo get the herbs!?
Roll(s): 4. Total result is 6. This is a failure (by 4).


 Ivo dashes towards the herbs as they roll to the edge of the dock, precariously close to the ocean waves. He leaps. He dives!
 He goes right off the edge.
 A couple people, given that most are watching the fight, lean to peer and see what has happened, if only because they did not hear a splash. Ivo's blue cloak has caught on one of the metal cleats to which ships are secured, such that he dangles there, the bundle of herbs just barely in his grip. But he does not have any obvious way of climbing back up from his current position.
 Well, he'll be fine.



  ......

  Roseline expected that any normal fighter would dodge an attack like that. Or lift an arm to defense. Anything other than SMASHING her forehead right into her fist! "What the hell is WRONG with you, you maniac!?" Roseline hisses at the impact. Thankfully, her arm was reinforced by magic, so her arm didn't shatter or anything, but she definitely felt a ripple run up from her fist and through her arm.

  "Normal people dodge, you know? Or block? I swear!" Yes, Roseline. Normal people do that. Not fight maniacs.

  However, at that point, there are some gasps in the crowd of onlookers that catch her attention. "Eh? What's going on over there?" She murmurs aloud to Tulip. People are staring off at the dock's edge. Additionally, that caped guy, Ivo, is missing.

  One of her crewmembers catches her attention and jerks a thumb over towards the dock. "...Don't tell me..."

  Urge to facepalm... rising...

  "Let's put this on hold. I think our... plucky helmsman fell off the dock."

  • Character: Tulip
  • 2 months ago

  "Uh? I did block, though. You didn't get my face, did you?" Tulip says with genuine confusion in her words, her bruised brow furrowed. Like Roseline the rabbit reinforced herself..and it's probably quite a good thing that she did, too.

  The last thing she needs is a brain injury.

  "Whatever! Let's get back to..eh?" she says cheerily as she takes up her stance again, seeming to have already shaken off the daze from the impact. Then she turns, peering at (roughly) where Ivo fell. "...you think he can swim? He can swim, right? He was on a boat, so she should totally be able to swim."

  She'd really love to keep the fight going, but without someone to actually pilot the boat she's going to be stranded here!

  "Think you can do some stuff with that wind thing you do?"

Ivo Galvan rolls 1d20>=10.
Comment: So, how dry are these dried herbs at this point, given Ivo's efforts?
Roll(s): 16. Total result is 16. This is a success (by 6).


 Ivo's gallantry has resulted in what one might generously deem a mixed success. It does not seem that the party will be making any money off of betting on Roseline and Tulip's fight, even were it to continue, and their helmsman has plummeted off of the side of the pier without any obvious way of climbing back up himself. But his impressively light-weight and reinforced cloak, prepared for Oradian jungle adventures and improved after their experience stranded on a tropical isle, is holding up under his body weight and is pinned upon his body well enough that it is not choking him. Moreover, though the waves crash and splash, Ivo has managed to tuck the bundle of dried herbs he had been chasing well enough against his body that it has not dampened, let alone been lost.
 "As anticipated," he says to himself, likely underheard over the din of the sea, "more or less."
 But has he anticipated himself a way *out* of this predicament? Perhaps he had a similar idea to Tulip. Or maybe, this time, he just threw himself into action. He has spent a long time around Reize at this point, after all.



  Roseline pinches her brow. For the love of-

  "Any self respecting helmsman should be able to swim." She says to Tulip as she starts for the dock's end. Forget this fight. She ignores the boos as the crowd realizes the whole thing has fallen apart in the end.

  The redhead stops the edge of the docks with her arms crossed, and peers over the edge...

  "Having fun down there?" She asks Ivo, who is barely hanging on. Looks like he could be a moment away from having a swim in the ocean.

  Let it not be said that Roseline doesn't occasionally do a good deed.

  Lifting a hand, she summons a current of wind around the cape clad man. It wraps around him, and then he's lifted away from his precarious foothold, up into the air and over the dock.

  Then he's dropped unceremoniously.

  • Character: Tulip
  • 2 months ago

  Tulip shoves her hands in her pockets as she strolls after Roseline, sighing in dissatisfaction along the way. She stops next to the other girl, leaning over to observe the situation.

  The bunnygirl is nowhere near as helpful as Roseline. Rather than offer a hand she's just sniggering, then burying her mouth into her palm to stifle it! "Look at him! Just hanging there! How did you even pull that off anyway?" she asks before watching as Roseline lifts him out of his less than ideal situation.

  Once he's back on dry land she squats down next to him, looking down with a curious expression. "Pretty impressed that thing held up though. Like, what's it made out of? Is it special or something?" she asks, pinch a corner of his cloak between two fingers and giving an experimental pull.

Ivo Galvan rolls 1d20>=10.
Comment: Overall crowd attitude (+ from gallantry, - from no fight)
Roll(s): 18. Total result is 18. This is a success (by 8).


 Ivo experiences a land of contrasts, but at least he's experiencing land. He is gently plucked from his dangling perch by Roseline's expertly guided winds only to be dropped, without a hint of gentleness, back onto the pier. Disoriented and focused on keeping his grip on the dried herbs, for which he has sacrificed so much, he ends up landing in a three-point stance on the dock, his cloak flaring out behind him dramatically.
 A smattering of applause emerges from the booing crowd, creating its own absurd land of contrasts, before the onlookers see the old woman bustling with perhaps surprising spryness over to take the herbs back from Ivo.
 "Thank you, brave young man," she says, "on behalf of our town for your thoughtfulness. As Mayor, allow me to present you with the key to the city."
 Ivo, so baffled as to be completely impassive, exchanges the bundle of herbs for what looks to be an old, small, rusty key.
 "It's not a very big city," the apparent Mayor adds, as though to explain.
 "Hey, they helped out the Mayor!" a woman from the crowd, previously antagonistic, calls out. "They're alright!" It seems that in the commotion of the fight, many had not noticed the old woman in trouble. "Hip, hip, hooray!"
 Suddenly the crowd is all cheering and clapping. Ivo looks first to Roseline, the otherwise fast-talking Cosmopolitan for once making no attempt to imply that he anticipated any of this, and then to Tulip, who is tugging at his cloak.
 "I develop a Schematic for it during a period of tropical seclusion, when I was especially inspired," he explains, finally talking again, as though he just needed an excuse to not acknowledge any of what's happening. "I'm proud of it, though it doesn't compare to our greatest creations during that time, such as the vacuum aether gem and, of course, the Shadowcat Bikini Set."

> For more information on Schematics, open the Crafting Window. To check the current status of Shadowcat Bikini Set development, refer to Crafting -> Schematics -> Fan-Service.

 "Thank you," he finally says to Roseline as the crowd begins to disperse. Roseline's crew will find the local merchants especially generous with discounts now, making it all the easier to resupply the SaGa, though they may struggle to find alternative seaworthy vessels available in this small fishing village. "I must ask: it's no coincidence that you are so gifted with wind magic and that the Isle of Blessed Winds is populated with wind elementals, is it? I learned from some elementals there that their chief, Gale, fused with a mortal some time ago. Was that you? Or...?"
 He subtly fidgets with the key in his hand, hoping not to offend, but figuring that now, before they travel any further, is the right time to ask.

> The party has acquired Key to the Fishing Village.
> An optional side quest has been added: "Find the Lock."



  ...What the heck?

  More than a little disoriented by the sudden shift from disappointment to cheers, Roseline glances at Ivo, and then looks at Tulip. As if silently asking if any of this is real. But apparently it is. Well... it's not the weirdest thing that's ever happened. She crosses her arms, watching as the crown disperses and as her crew goes and gets down to business with the resupply. She'll learn later that there aren't any spare vessels to go around. Tsk.

  She looks back at Ivo and Tulip as the former explains about his cloak. ...And other things. "Shadowcat Bikini set...?" She rolls her eyes. "You can have that one." She says, referring to Tulip without a second thought. There's an amused smirk on her face as she says that.

  But then comes the inquiry regarding her powers and the Isle of Blessed Winds. Roseline is silent for a moment, then she sighs. "No, that's not me. The one you're talking about is my mom." Suppose that it wouldn't be too bad to say this much at least.

  • Character: Tulip
  • 2 months ago

  "What's got them so happy? We didn't even finish the fight!" Tulip mutters as she scans her eyes across the cheering islanders, scratching her cheek as she thinks about it. After a handful of seconds she gives up with a shrug.

  "Uh? I'm not a cat, though." Tulip replies to Roseline's suggestion, reaching up to tap at one of those rabbity ears of hers. "See? I'm a rabbit and stuff!" she says, flashing the redhead a smile

  Not to mention that she's probably a fair bit more...shall we say streamlined than what that bikini set is probably intended for.

  Her mouth moves silently at all this talk of spirits and fusion, looking from Roseline to Ivo and back again. "So like, is this wind thingy your dad or something?" she asks eventually, after she's had time to contemplate just what is meant by 'fused'.

Ivo Galvan rolls 1d20-3>=10.
Comment: Could Tulip inspire a new Schematic? ("streamlined" penalty)
Roll(s): 18. Total result is 15. This is a success (by 5).


 Ivo idly shifts his gaze to Tulip at Roseline's arch suggestion, the bemusement passing from his features to left only a mild disinterest. After some long moments, however, his eyebrows lift slightly, his lips pursing. He should think expansively, not just in line with his own tastes, after all, if he is to produce more great works for the sake of the party.
 "Could a rabbit theme evoke its own unique traits...?"
 A new line of research opens.

> Ivo may now research the "Bunnygirl" set of Schematics. Increase his affinity with Tulip in order to unlock new equipment.
> Warning: some Schematics, if developed, may also decrease this affinity.

 "Your mother," Ivo murmurs, reaching up to cup his chin thoughtfully. His own shopping done, their cobbled-together crew should be able to gather the rest of the supplies necessary to take them the rest of the way to Nova Luria together. "Then this elemental power can be passed down... but that means..."
 He glances to Tulip.
 "That would be *quite* the novel phenomenon," Ivo lightly chimes in, surely communicating in a way that the bunnykin can easily grasp. "I expect that Gale, late chief of the Blessed Isle's elementals, sacrificed himself when he fused with Roseline's mother. But such pacts are rare for a reason: they are notoriously harmful. Your mother is impressive to have endured..."
 And, he presumes given Roseline's station, risen to a position of leadership. Things are starting to click into place.
 "That's why you want the Tempestquell," he says, "the ancient beastkin relic that controls the winds and which we found sunken beneath the waves, with which we banished the Infernex that so tormented the surrounding sea creatures. Its power to regulate the wind would be helpful to your people in... several respects."
 It could protect Nova Luria from naval invasion, thereby allowing it to reveal itself more broadly, and it might be able to protect Roseline's mother from any aetheric deterioration.
 "I'll go with you willingly," Ivo abruptly asserts, "and explain to your mother everything that I know. But we still have much to learn about the Tempestquell." He glances between his two new party members. "There's a secret society of beastkin called the Beastkeepers, about whom we learned during our tropical vacation. They may have secreted away the ancient knowledge on the relic's more subtle uses. If Nova Luria is anything like its namesake, and serves as a sanctum for beastkin fleeing persecution, then... we might learn more about them there, too."



  Roseline is completely oblivious to the fact that her snide little comment got the gears turning in Ivo's head. ...Meanwhile, as Tulip takes it literally, she sighs and shrugs her shoulders. "Right right. A bikini would be too much for you. Nevermind. Let's get back on track."

  As Ivo susses out what she's here for, and then says that he's willing to go.... go along with it, the redhead is left blinking. "........" She blinks slowly a few more times before eventually finding the words to speak up with. "Has anyone ever told you that you're way too trusting?"

  Not that she's deceiving him, but it should be said regardless. She glances back at Tulip and shake her head while jerking a thumb at Ivo. "Like he said, Gale sacificed himself when he fused with my mom. I have a normal father." She looks down at a lifted hand and speaks wryly. "Though it did turn out that my mother's... unnatural affinity for wind passed down to me too." Stronger than normal, but not so strong that it would cause her to deteriorate like her mom is.

  Speaking of which...

  "Frankly, I just wanted to get the artifact and go home with it. All of this extra stuff is..." She trails off, rubbing the side of her head. It's not exactly much in the room for making demands here. Ivo has the artifact... and the ship. Given that none of her men have come to report the availability of a seaworthy vessel... It seems like they're going to be stuck with the SaGa for now.

  "Fine. I guess there isn't any better options around here. Time is of the essence anyway."

  • Character: Tulip
  • 2 months ago

  Tulip stares long and hard at Ivo as the gears in his brain start to turn. Eventually he says that incriminating line about a rabbit theme, and her eyes narrow! "Just what're you thinking, huh?" she grumbles with her arms crossed across her chest.

  Then the pair of them are explaining the mechanics of this fusion thing that's got her so confused, her head tilting this way and that like a curious dog as they speak. "Uh...if you were born with it, wouldn't that make it natural? I mean like, with your mom it wasn't, but with you it totally is, right?" the rabbit says to Roseline with a confident nod of her head.

  "Uh. Speaking of getting outta here...can I tag along? Only, if I don't I'll probably be stuck here a while. These guys don't seem like they're up for much fun, and it'd probably take a while to convince them to drop me off somewhere else so like, I'd be pretty stuck, right?" she says as she takes a lingering look at the little town.

  Then, scratching her chin, something seems to occur to her.

  "Beastkeepers? Never heard of 'em." ...well, they are a /secret/ society. "I probably would have if they were real, what with my family and all that junk." she says with a flippant wave of her hand.


 "I am thinking," Ivo archly says to Tulip, "about science."
 It's an open question if that's more worrying coming from Fabroxo or coming from him, at this point.
 "I'm sure there's some brawling to be had in Nova Luria," he confidently says about a place he has not only never visited, but only recently confirmed actually exists. "If it's a pirate utopia, surely it's a boisterous place."
 It might be funny for Roseline to hear her home referred to as a 'utopia,' given that it is all too real of a city for her, depending on how much exposure she's had to outsiders at this point.
 "So at the very least, I'm sure you can join until..."
 Ivo, entirely ready to bring Tulip along on their adventures just because he thinks it would be funny, is already walking back to the SaGa when he trails off and glances back at the bunnykin brawler.
 "...who is your family?"
 Hardly even noticing he has done so, Ivo slips the little key he got from the Mayor into the depths of his cloak. Well, surely this random object won't turn out to be relevant in the third act.



  Roseline reaches a hand up and toys with the winged earring on her right ear. Something she tends to do when idle. "Heh... 'Utopia'." It's just a city. A city filled with beastkin and humans. And also pirates. A lot of pirates. So many pirates.

  "I'm not going to say no. If it's me than we can get in without a ton of trouble at the very least." She shrugs. "But you're on your own if you go and pick a fight with the wrong person." And there are a lot of 'wrong people' at Nova Luria. One way or another. Not in the lawless sense, but more like...... hmm.... well, they'll see, if they really are making this journey.

  Roseline turns away, checking on the crew, who have been lugging supplies to the SaGa while all this talk was going on. These guys may be hecklers and goons, but they move like a well oiled machine when it comes to ships.

  • Character: Tulip
  • 2 months ago

  "Huh? Oh, they're the Greatflowers." Tulip says dismissively to Ivo, as though it hardly matters at all. "Not that important, they don't know much so it's not like they can help us or anything."

  They almost certainly know plenty. She just didn't try to learn it.

  "Huh...so what, are like the boss there or something?" she says at Roseline as the other beastkin turns away, hurrying along after her with a cheerful skip in her step. "Wrong people huh? Sounds pretty interesting! Think they'll be up for some fun? Hey! D'you wanna keep going sometime?" she goes on at the poor girl.

  She's going to be a pain, isn't she?

Ivo Galvan rolls 1d20>=15.
Comment: Beastkin lore check (difficult)
Roll(s): 12. Total result is 12. This is a failure (by 3).


 Ivo, beginning to ascend to the deck of the SaGa and prepare for their departure, stops short at Tulip's words.
 "The Greatflowers?"
 He looks over his shoulder at her, staring for a moment.
 "Never heard of them."
 Well, if she says they aren't important or won't be able to help, he has no reason to doubt her. The history of the beastkin golden age and the noble families of its four great cities has been lost to myth, especially among the records of humanity. Well, surely Tulip's backstory won't turn out to be relevant in the third act.
 The second act, however...