Sounsyy Mirke gave the Midlander, #16, a severe look as he offered his briefing. Two units of similar purpose, neither trusting the other, yet forced together for a common goal. What was yet unclear to Sounsyy was just which unit was in control of this situation. The Midlander's steely calm unnerved her. It took a well principled man to stare down the barrel of death without flinching. Sounsyy respected him more for that, but trusted him less. When the Midlander was done, the Captain moved forward completely into the light to stand just behind P'welro's flank.
The Miqo'te Captain looked rather haggard. Her light brown hair unkempt and tied up in a loose knot on her head. Her eyes were sunken into her head and though only Ryanti might note the difference, the ring finger of her left hand was missing. Perhaps recent? Perhaps it had been gone before, but Ryanti had not noted it? Though her gauntlets did well to obscure the actual injury from direct sight. She spoke slowly, and carefully picked her words, keeping her Lominsan accent from her speech as best as she could manage. All the while, her eyes were locked with the Midlander.
"We are not in a position to refuse the mission. We are the Thalassocratic Navy's 3rd Squadron, 8th Levy Tactical Unit. We do not refuse the Admiral's wishes. That said, my duty requires that I go beyond orders fer the safety of my crew and my nation. This may be yer mission, but it is my ship, and whilst on it, ye'll follow my orders or ye can sink into the Indigo brine without yer wet suits as far as I'm concerned."
Sounsyy folded her arms and gave a short whistle. The three lancers withdrew their spears almost in unison, putting away their weapons before cautiously approaching the two numbered Miqo'te and Lalafell. The three musketeers kept their guns trained on their respective targets, and Fhruhsunn remained immobile behind the group on the gangplank.
"Search them," the Captain said. The three lancers began patting down the two Miqo'te and Lalafell, invasively searching every possible nook or hiding place, relieving each of Sixteen's company of their weaponry. Though they left the black box in Ryanti's possession. The Sea Wolf lancer searching Ryanti knew better than to draw too near to the precious item, lest her actions be misinterpreted.
"Yeh will be disarmed," Sounsyy continued, "Any weapons on yer person will be stored in the armory with yer suits and odd rifles. This is non-negotiable. Yeh have my word yer equipment will not be touched nor tampered with by my crew. Apart from pistols, my crew is also unarmed while about their duties. Yeh may reclaim yer possessions when we reach the rendezvous point. Furthermore, yeh will be accompanied at all times by one of my crew. At no point are yeh to wander the vessel alone."
Sounsyy turned her attention to the female Miqo'te, #85, before continuing, "Crew quarters are on the gundeck, down this hall," she said, motioning in the direction P'welro had before, "The majority of my crew sleeps in the bunk bay, with private quarters fer First Mate and Helmsmen, but there is an extra room fer the four of yeh to sleep in. The door will be locked and guarded while yeh sleep. Lass, if ye prefer to sleep separate from yer male companions, yeh may take the room across the hall. It belongs to one of my helmsmen, Marjanie - she has the night watch and will not be needing it at that time."
Once the three lancers had finished their task of disarming the four and disposing of their armaments inside the crate, Fhruhsunn unfolded his arms and moved past the group. He took a knee at the foot of the crate, his knees making a small cracking noise. With some effort he lifted the crate and hoisted it, long ways over his shoulder, and made his way down the hallway to the armory without so much of a word, though his heavy breathing through his nose could be heard as he lugged the heavy crate to its new home. The lancers went about raising the gangplank behind the group and sealed the hull with a heavy iron beam.
Sounsyy gave another short whistle, and the three musketeers went at ease, retracting their pistols. The two beside P'welro moved off to light the lamps throughout the ship, creating a more well lit atmosphere for the group.
As if the illumination were a signal, the sound of a busy crew could suddenly be heard throughout the ship. Over a dozen sets of feet going about their business and making ready as if the last few minutes of silence had not happened at all. An Elezen woman with long, braided black hair appeared from the hallway Fhruhsunn had disappeared down. She was the very same Elezen who had been standing upon the gunwale, watching Fhruhsunn. The long barreled musket still held loosely in her hands as she padded across the wood towards her Captain. Her black, leather armor showed off her lithe figure and polished silverfish scales adorning her armor's shoulders and breast glimmered in the lamplight. She gave Sounsyy a sharp, Storm salute before speaking.
"Final preparations have been made, Captain."
"Good Marjanie," Sounsyy said to the Elezen - her 2nd Helmsmen - in a much softer voice, "Weigh anchor and take us north into the Merlthor. With any luck the Roehmerl can fly by night on the southerlies."
"Pray for fair winds and following seas," Marjanie replied with another quick salute, disappearing back the way she had come. The three lancers still present chanted, "Fair winds and following seas!" in reply before they too dispersed about their duties elsewhere.
The Midlander's unit was now alone in the gangway with Sounsyy and P'welro. There was a brief moment without words, the sounds of crewmen hard at work the only sound echoing about the wooden halls. Sounsyy moved closer to the Midlander, regarding each of his group severely in turn. Her eyes only briefly flashed towards Ryanti. At long last she spoke.
"P'welro will give yeh lot the grand tour and show yeh to yer accommodations. Midlander, Sixteen-was-it? Come with me and bring the box. I will not risk the lives of my crew over a mysterious sundry, no matter how important yeh say it is. I would know what my people are laying down their lives fer. Make no mistake, Midlander, we do not take this assignment lightly. Garlemald patrols Eorzea's coasts as far south as O'Ghomoro and the Merlthor. And once we pass into the Indigo Deep, Garlemald will be only one of many worries. The Sahagin and the Sea are just as formidable of enemies."
Sounsyy looked to P'welro, "Yeh have command until we are done."
P'welro nodded then turned to the other three numbered crew, "Alrigh, yeh three wit meh. As I were sayin' previous, this way is to the Mess n' Hold," she began as she started moving down the hallway which would open into a long, open room full of bunked cots, a few of which were occupied by sleeping crew members. P'welro continued her tour in a low voice, "This here's the bunk bay, where crew sleeps in shifts. Y'see the doors at the end of the hall? Thas the priv'it quarters. Yers will be that closest one," she said pointing, "Through this door's the armory, where yer essentials is bein' safekept. Yeh can see fer yerself if yeh like? Or I can tuck yeh in now iffin yeh rather?"
Sounsyy nodded to Sixteen and motioned for him to follow her down an opposite route to the Captain's cabin above deck. It was a short walk, and when they were both safely within her cabin, she locked the door behind her so that no one would enter by mistake, promising complete privacy for the Midlander and the Captain. Sounsyy reignited the solitary candle upon her desk, casting a flickering light about the room. Sounsyy then took the candle in hand and lit the two lanterns above either side of the door.
It was a rather small cabin, plainly decorated for the most part. At its center rested a large desk and comfortable enough looking chair. The fabric on the arms of the chair was worn as if the arms experienced more wear than the rest of the upholstery. Apart from the scented candle, the desk was occupied only by a damaged Kobold's helm - a trophy Sounsyy had claimed in the Kobold Wars. Behind the chair, at the back of the cabin was a wall of glass panes from floor to ceiling. Though at this time of night, and with the lanterns lit, naught could be seen from without except darkness. Both side walls were decorated with ornate drapes. Though most of the tapestries were made of less-than-fine cloth, they each appeared to be from varying origins about the world, keepsakes from distant lands.
On the port wall, below a section where the tapestries parted was a small vanity mirror and chest of drawers. If the chest contained any sundries at all, they were all tucked away from sight. The opposite, starboard wall possessed no additional furniture, adorned only by the tapestries. Finally, against the entrance on one side of the door sat a smallish armoire, its wood matching that of her desk and vanity. A wine rack occupied the opposite side of the door. Only a few bottles adorned the furnishing. There was no bed or cot to be seen inside the cabin. If Sounsyy slept here, it was not immediately evident where.
When Sounsyy had finished lighting the room, she returned the candle to its proper resting place on her desk. She slowly made her way over to her vanity and grabbed hold of the short tripod stool sitting in front of the chest of drawers and brought it around in front of her desk. She held the stool out for the Midlander to take should he desire to sit. She said nothing to him, just kept her eyes attentively upon the man and waited for him to reveal the contents of the box and of the mission.
The Miqo'te Captain looked rather haggard. Her light brown hair unkempt and tied up in a loose knot on her head. Her eyes were sunken into her head and though only Ryanti might note the difference, the ring finger of her left hand was missing. Perhaps recent? Perhaps it had been gone before, but Ryanti had not noted it? Though her gauntlets did well to obscure the actual injury from direct sight. She spoke slowly, and carefully picked her words, keeping her Lominsan accent from her speech as best as she could manage. All the while, her eyes were locked with the Midlander.
"We are not in a position to refuse the mission. We are the Thalassocratic Navy's 3rd Squadron, 8th Levy Tactical Unit. We do not refuse the Admiral's wishes. That said, my duty requires that I go beyond orders fer the safety of my crew and my nation. This may be yer mission, but it is my ship, and whilst on it, ye'll follow my orders or ye can sink into the Indigo brine without yer wet suits as far as I'm concerned."
Sounsyy folded her arms and gave a short whistle. The three lancers withdrew their spears almost in unison, putting away their weapons before cautiously approaching the two numbered Miqo'te and Lalafell. The three musketeers kept their guns trained on their respective targets, and Fhruhsunn remained immobile behind the group on the gangplank.
"Search them," the Captain said. The three lancers began patting down the two Miqo'te and Lalafell, invasively searching every possible nook or hiding place, relieving each of Sixteen's company of their weaponry. Though they left the black box in Ryanti's possession. The Sea Wolf lancer searching Ryanti knew better than to draw too near to the precious item, lest her actions be misinterpreted.
"Yeh will be disarmed," Sounsyy continued, "Any weapons on yer person will be stored in the armory with yer suits and odd rifles. This is non-negotiable. Yeh have my word yer equipment will not be touched nor tampered with by my crew. Apart from pistols, my crew is also unarmed while about their duties. Yeh may reclaim yer possessions when we reach the rendezvous point. Furthermore, yeh will be accompanied at all times by one of my crew. At no point are yeh to wander the vessel alone."
Sounsyy turned her attention to the female Miqo'te, #85, before continuing, "Crew quarters are on the gundeck, down this hall," she said, motioning in the direction P'welro had before, "The majority of my crew sleeps in the bunk bay, with private quarters fer First Mate and Helmsmen, but there is an extra room fer the four of yeh to sleep in. The door will be locked and guarded while yeh sleep. Lass, if ye prefer to sleep separate from yer male companions, yeh may take the room across the hall. It belongs to one of my helmsmen, Marjanie - she has the night watch and will not be needing it at that time."
Once the three lancers had finished their task of disarming the four and disposing of their armaments inside the crate, Fhruhsunn unfolded his arms and moved past the group. He took a knee at the foot of the crate, his knees making a small cracking noise. With some effort he lifted the crate and hoisted it, long ways over his shoulder, and made his way down the hallway to the armory without so much of a word, though his heavy breathing through his nose could be heard as he lugged the heavy crate to its new home. The lancers went about raising the gangplank behind the group and sealed the hull with a heavy iron beam.
Sounsyy gave another short whistle, and the three musketeers went at ease, retracting their pistols. The two beside P'welro moved off to light the lamps throughout the ship, creating a more well lit atmosphere for the group.
As if the illumination were a signal, the sound of a busy crew could suddenly be heard throughout the ship. Over a dozen sets of feet going about their business and making ready as if the last few minutes of silence had not happened at all. An Elezen woman with long, braided black hair appeared from the hallway Fhruhsunn had disappeared down. She was the very same Elezen who had been standing upon the gunwale, watching Fhruhsunn. The long barreled musket still held loosely in her hands as she padded across the wood towards her Captain. Her black, leather armor showed off her lithe figure and polished silverfish scales adorning her armor's shoulders and breast glimmered in the lamplight. She gave Sounsyy a sharp, Storm salute before speaking.
"Final preparations have been made, Captain."
"Good Marjanie," Sounsyy said to the Elezen - her 2nd Helmsmen - in a much softer voice, "Weigh anchor and take us north into the Merlthor. With any luck the Roehmerl can fly by night on the southerlies."
"Pray for fair winds and following seas," Marjanie replied with another quick salute, disappearing back the way she had come. The three lancers still present chanted, "Fair winds and following seas!" in reply before they too dispersed about their duties elsewhere.
The Midlander's unit was now alone in the gangway with Sounsyy and P'welro. There was a brief moment without words, the sounds of crewmen hard at work the only sound echoing about the wooden halls. Sounsyy moved closer to the Midlander, regarding each of his group severely in turn. Her eyes only briefly flashed towards Ryanti. At long last she spoke.
"P'welro will give yeh lot the grand tour and show yeh to yer accommodations. Midlander, Sixteen-was-it? Come with me and bring the box. I will not risk the lives of my crew over a mysterious sundry, no matter how important yeh say it is. I would know what my people are laying down their lives fer. Make no mistake, Midlander, we do not take this assignment lightly. Garlemald patrols Eorzea's coasts as far south as O'Ghomoro and the Merlthor. And once we pass into the Indigo Deep, Garlemald will be only one of many worries. The Sahagin and the Sea are just as formidable of enemies."
Sounsyy looked to P'welro, "Yeh have command until we are done."
P'welro nodded then turned to the other three numbered crew, "Alrigh, yeh three wit meh. As I were sayin' previous, this way is to the Mess n' Hold," she began as she started moving down the hallway which would open into a long, open room full of bunked cots, a few of which were occupied by sleeping crew members. P'welro continued her tour in a low voice, "This here's the bunk bay, where crew sleeps in shifts. Y'see the doors at the end of the hall? Thas the priv'it quarters. Yers will be that closest one," she said pointing, "Through this door's the armory, where yer essentials is bein' safekept. Yeh can see fer yerself if yeh like? Or I can tuck yeh in now iffin yeh rather?"
Sounsyy nodded to Sixteen and motioned for him to follow her down an opposite route to the Captain's cabin above deck. It was a short walk, and when they were both safely within her cabin, she locked the door behind her so that no one would enter by mistake, promising complete privacy for the Midlander and the Captain. Sounsyy reignited the solitary candle upon her desk, casting a flickering light about the room. Sounsyy then took the candle in hand and lit the two lanterns above either side of the door.
It was a rather small cabin, plainly decorated for the most part. At its center rested a large desk and comfortable enough looking chair. The fabric on the arms of the chair was worn as if the arms experienced more wear than the rest of the upholstery. Apart from the scented candle, the desk was occupied only by a damaged Kobold's helm - a trophy Sounsyy had claimed in the Kobold Wars. Behind the chair, at the back of the cabin was a wall of glass panes from floor to ceiling. Though at this time of night, and with the lanterns lit, naught could be seen from without except darkness. Both side walls were decorated with ornate drapes. Though most of the tapestries were made of less-than-fine cloth, they each appeared to be from varying origins about the world, keepsakes from distant lands.
On the port wall, below a section where the tapestries parted was a small vanity mirror and chest of drawers. If the chest contained any sundries at all, they were all tucked away from sight. The opposite, starboard wall possessed no additional furniture, adorned only by the tapestries. Finally, against the entrance on one side of the door sat a smallish armoire, its wood matching that of her desk and vanity. A wine rack occupied the opposite side of the door. Only a few bottles adorned the furnishing. There was no bed or cot to be seen inside the cabin. If Sounsyy slept here, it was not immediately evident where.
When Sounsyy had finished lighting the room, she returned the candle to its proper resting place on her desk. She slowly made her way over to her vanity and grabbed hold of the short tripod stool sitting in front of the chest of drawers and brought it around in front of her desk. She held the stool out for the Midlander to take should he desire to sit. She said nothing to him, just kept her eyes attentively upon the man and waited for him to reveal the contents of the box and of the mission.
