Sounsyy shifted into wakefulness in her armchair after only a few hours of sleep. There were dark circles under her eyes and her body felt stiff from the exertion of the day before. Something had woken her, some noise from without. She waited for it to repeat and in after a time another gentle knock rapped on her door. She pulled herself up using the back of her chair and moved across the floor to open the door for her usual morning visitors, P'welro and Marjanie.
They both offered their morning reports while Sounsyy dressed in the same clothes she wore the night before. Marjanie gave a brief account of expected weather as well as a tally of the number of Sahagin she had marked circling the ship that morning. "They are anxious, waiting for our move. I suspect if we chose to leave now it may provoke them."
"Good thing we aren't leaving."
P'welro offered her status of the crew, who all were cleared to return to duty and who were still confined to the infirmary. Fortunately, the list of those still bound to the infirmary was shorter than the day before and better news - Eighty-five was beginning to rouse.
"I'm sure she'd like to see you," P'welro offered afterwards. Sounsyy nodded and moved over to her vanity and began sorting through the drawers.
"You should eat Captain," Marjanie said calmly, but Sounsyy just nodded and affirmed that she would in short order. After the two women were relieved, they returned to their duties about the ship, having already eaten and dressed for the day. Marjanie returned to her position at the helm and P'welro to the main mast to begin prepping the sails for the coming rain. Sounsyy sat motionless at her vanity for a while after the two had left, staring at her reflection. The gold flecks of paint around her eyes from yesterdays battle were all but chipped off, leaving only the dark circles under her eyes accentuated. Her hair was a loose mess.
She felt a sudden cool chill filter into her room, unnaturally so even for a morning on the Indigo Deep. Outside she could hear the sounds of a different morning, five years before.
Can you breathe? Is it tight? A woman's voice echoed in her ears. A sad smile curled about the edges of Sounsyy's lips. "I wish yeh were here," she whispered aloud to the memory, "I'm sorry I didn't write."
Sounsyy looked at herself in the mirror, her fatigued face merely staring back. For but the briefest of moments, Sounsyy thought she saw the shadow of her old friend move behind her. Her soft voice admonishing her for the state she let herself be in. It reminded her of Eighty-five's own attempt. So Sounsyy began.
Breakfast was already past being in full swing when Sounsyy carefully descended the steps into the Mess. Her stomach growled unbidden when the pleasant aromas of Susuroon's cooking met her nose. She was glad he had recovered so soon and seemed to be in good spirits when he came into her line of sight. Ryanti and the Sharlayan crew were already below and had eaten. A few of the crew looked up as the captain plodded past in her small glade boots and loose-fitting undershirt. But while her clothing looked as haggard as the captain normally did, she had taken the time to style her hair in a classic Ishgardian braid. Her hair was tight, neat, with only a hair or two out of place across her entire head.
She sat in her usual seat at the closest end of the counter and waited to be presented with breakfast. She took a quick glance down the counter to where Ryanti was making a hand signal at her, but only gave him a quick nod in return. Her focus returned to her food shortly after. Sounsyy leaned across the counter towards the Qiqirn and the two exchanged a few whispered words before she sat back in her stool.
She had nearly wolfed down the bowl of food when the announcement was shouted across the hall that Eighty-five was awake. Sounsyy cleaned her face with a cloth and left behind the group that moved its way to the Infirmary. It was a rather large crowd that tried to fit into a small room and Cwaenlona ended up shooing most away to keep the peace. The Captain and Ryanti moved to the front with Jada. Sounsyy gave a small smile at the young Miqo'te.
"You look like a ship's captain now," Sounsyy said gently to her. Eighty-five still looked weak. She manged a small, "You're wearing... my shite," which made Sounsyy laugh a little. "I tried puttin' on Forty-three's instead, but it didn't fit."
Then Cwaenlona came and dispatched the rest of the group to give Eighty-five rest. She was alive and they would get more time with her. But the captain seemed to have doubts that she'd make it back on this ship. She lingered for a moment, watching the young girl and Jada. Then Eighty-five breathed out her confession. Sounsyy stiffened, but Eighty-five was beginning to doze softly again. Sounsyy turned her gaze to Jada and regarded the woman for a moment.
"It's time to gear up," she whispered. Jada nodded and stood, moving her way past the captain and moving quickly to the armory, Sounsyy hot on her heels. As much as she wanted to, she did not look back over her shoulder at the wounded girl. The two Miqo'te took hold of one end of the large Sharlayan crate each and hoisted it out onto the deck. The Sharlayans were waiting for them out on deck and the small crew were gathered in assembly. P'welro had taken the helm while Marjanie sat on the gunwale opposite them. Forty-three and Sixteen were laying out their gear on the deck and Sounsyy and Ryanti stripped down to smallclothes and stepped into their suits.
Marjanie eased herself off the gunwale, keenly watching the two dress like a hawk. Ryanti dressed quickly. Sounsyy took her time. When the captain had pulled the suit up over her shoulders and began buckling herself into the suit, Marjanie began her briefing.
"According to our charts, the drop site provided to us by the Sharlayans lies one-hundred, twenty six malms to the north and west of Vylbrand's coast. Below us lies the edge of a deep sea shelf. Beyond this point, the sands drop off into the Deep to depths unknown. The shelf itself lies an estimated thirteen-hundred fathoms below."
There was a general murmur amongst those of the Roehmerl's crew. This was clearly a concerning number. Sounsyy bit her lip and continued fastening her suit in place so it fit about her snugly.
"That's six-hundred, fifty yalms down for those unfamiliar with the measurement," she gave Ryanti a look. Sounsyy wondered if that was somewhere in his mess of notes he left lying on the infimary cot. Marjanie continued, "That's where the suits come into play. The Ironworks designed the carbon fibers of the suit to withstand the crushing pressure of the deep sea, while using the very same pressure of the waters trying to rush into the suit to filter air aspect from the sea into the filtration device. You're not the only smart one aboard this ship, Seventy-seven."
Sounsyy smirked and knelt down to begin packing supplies into a small, single strap backpack made of similar materials as the suit. She looked up at Ryanti's surprised face saying, "Bet yer wishin' yeh had a suit fer her now?"
"My mother was an accomplished marine biologist before she became an Ironworks engineer. Some of her smarts passed on, even if I followed a very different path," Marjanie explained, "She postulated that before the Age of Endless Frost or even the following Great Flood, that Eorzea was a much different shaped continent. She believed that there may be dozens of lost cities beneath the Five Seas, though we lacked the technologies to find them. The suits you're wearing appear to be based on her original design, Atmospheric Dive Suits, she called them. Let's hope they work. The pressure at those depths can easily pop a cork into a bottle of champagne."
Sounsyy visibly winced. She had packed her bag full of necessary supplies. Rations, the canteen of clean water, first aid supplies, torchlight, ammunition, the Sharlayan goggles, and whatever else could fit beside the disassembled Sharlayan rifle. Ryanti would have to pack whatever else her pack would not allow. Sounsyy stood and examined herself. Every buckle, belt, and gauge seemed to be in place, but she had Sixteen double check for her.
"On the topic, pressure will increase every ten yalms, reducing the amount of air your lungs can hold at any given time. The suit works to reduce the amount of pressure your body actually feels, but you'll still need to pace your descent as slowly as you can. If you feel lightheaded, swim upwards several yalms and recover. Your body must needs adjust to the pressure even with the suit. And lastly, you've each been given a linkpearl that will relay messages between each other and to Sixteen or myself aboard the Roehmerl. Should..."
Marjanie trailed off some, as if hesitating to continue. Sounsyy met her gaze with a hard stare and the Elezen nodded solemnly.
"...Should communication be severed between the divers and the Roehmerl, you will have no more than three suns to return to the surface. Captain Mirke has ordered we meet the Sharlayan rendezvous, regardless of your fates. If the Roehmerl comes under attack and communication with the divers is not restored, we've been ordered to flee to safe waters and deliver the injured Sharlayans to their vessel awaiting us in the southern Bloodbrine."
Sounsyy could feel all eyes on her. She was ready, though the collective gaze of all those present on deck made her feel heavy. The wetsuit hugged her form tightly, accentuating every shift in her muscles. The breathing mask hung loosely near her collarbone and her diving goggles pressed into her forehead. She was hardly recognizable as the captain in the foreign gear. Though she had strapped her shortsword in a sheath, resting horizontally above her tail. Everything else of import was stuffed into her small backpack, which she tucked her braided head under and slung it over her torso, making sure it was strapped tightly to her.
She stepped forwards to Marjanie, relieving her to return to the helm with a nod. Sounsyy turned to face those on deck and gave each one a good look as if it might be the last. She looked up and gazed upon the Lominsan red sails that stood out against the dark grey sky. The soft drizzle made the sails look like blood. P'welro moved through the small crowd until she was standing besides Ryanti.
"Last preparations were made this mornin' cap'n. Quartermasser helped meh unhook the anchor so'z yeh could 'ave the cable."
"Good," Sounsyy said, "And yer captain while I'm below. Yeh know what to do."
"Aye, cap'n. Fair winds."
Sounsyy gave her a Storm salute and echoed with her crew, "...and following seas."
She turned and made her way to the starboard side of the bow where Jada was waiting for her. Over the gunwale at the bow, the anchor cable had been lowered into the Deep. Sounsyy could only make out the cable going so far down before it disappeared into darkness. The captain breathed in deep, her sides flexing beneath the suit. It still felt really tight.
"It only goes straight down eighty fathoms. Can hold onto it while you're getting used to the dive. After that, it's up to the fishbacks to guide you down I guess."
The thought did not instill the least bit of comfort. Sounsyy looked over her shoulder as Ryanti joined her on the forecastle. She nodded to him that she was ready and they both made their way over to the edge of the ship. Jada stepped forward and placed a comforting peck on Sounsyy's cheek as she made to move.
"Come back. Both of you."
Sounsyy didn't want to look at the water below her. For the first time in her life, the sea did not look comforting to her. Perhaps because she had never willingly gone beneath it. Or perhaps because it was full of fishbacks and faery tales and Garlean body parts? She tried to shake these thoughts as she dug the yellow linkpearl into her ear and pulled the suit's breathing mask and diving goggles over her face.
Eighty-five's pale face whispering, I never dreamed of nothin’, Captain. It really never was my suit, was the last thing Sounsyy thought as she plunged into the icy blackness below.
They both offered their morning reports while Sounsyy dressed in the same clothes she wore the night before. Marjanie gave a brief account of expected weather as well as a tally of the number of Sahagin she had marked circling the ship that morning. "They are anxious, waiting for our move. I suspect if we chose to leave now it may provoke them."
"Good thing we aren't leaving."
P'welro offered her status of the crew, who all were cleared to return to duty and who were still confined to the infirmary. Fortunately, the list of those still bound to the infirmary was shorter than the day before and better news - Eighty-five was beginning to rouse.
"I'm sure she'd like to see you," P'welro offered afterwards. Sounsyy nodded and moved over to her vanity and began sorting through the drawers.
"You should eat Captain," Marjanie said calmly, but Sounsyy just nodded and affirmed that she would in short order. After the two women were relieved, they returned to their duties about the ship, having already eaten and dressed for the day. Marjanie returned to her position at the helm and P'welro to the main mast to begin prepping the sails for the coming rain. Sounsyy sat motionless at her vanity for a while after the two had left, staring at her reflection. The gold flecks of paint around her eyes from yesterdays battle were all but chipped off, leaving only the dark circles under her eyes accentuated. Her hair was a loose mess.
She felt a sudden cool chill filter into her room, unnaturally so even for a morning on the Indigo Deep. Outside she could hear the sounds of a different morning, five years before.
Can you breathe? Is it tight? A woman's voice echoed in her ears. A sad smile curled about the edges of Sounsyy's lips. "I wish yeh were here," she whispered aloud to the memory, "I'm sorry I didn't write."
Sounsyy looked at herself in the mirror, her fatigued face merely staring back. For but the briefest of moments, Sounsyy thought she saw the shadow of her old friend move behind her. Her soft voice admonishing her for the state she let herself be in. It reminded her of Eighty-five's own attempt. So Sounsyy began.
Breakfast was already past being in full swing when Sounsyy carefully descended the steps into the Mess. Her stomach growled unbidden when the pleasant aromas of Susuroon's cooking met her nose. She was glad he had recovered so soon and seemed to be in good spirits when he came into her line of sight. Ryanti and the Sharlayan crew were already below and had eaten. A few of the crew looked up as the captain plodded past in her small glade boots and loose-fitting undershirt. But while her clothing looked as haggard as the captain normally did, she had taken the time to style her hair in a classic Ishgardian braid. Her hair was tight, neat, with only a hair or two out of place across her entire head.
She sat in her usual seat at the closest end of the counter and waited to be presented with breakfast. She took a quick glance down the counter to where Ryanti was making a hand signal at her, but only gave him a quick nod in return. Her focus returned to her food shortly after. Sounsyy leaned across the counter towards the Qiqirn and the two exchanged a few whispered words before she sat back in her stool.
She had nearly wolfed down the bowl of food when the announcement was shouted across the hall that Eighty-five was awake. Sounsyy cleaned her face with a cloth and left behind the group that moved its way to the Infirmary. It was a rather large crowd that tried to fit into a small room and Cwaenlona ended up shooing most away to keep the peace. The Captain and Ryanti moved to the front with Jada. Sounsyy gave a small smile at the young Miqo'te.
"You look like a ship's captain now," Sounsyy said gently to her. Eighty-five still looked weak. She manged a small, "You're wearing... my shite," which made Sounsyy laugh a little. "I tried puttin' on Forty-three's instead, but it didn't fit."
Then Cwaenlona came and dispatched the rest of the group to give Eighty-five rest. She was alive and they would get more time with her. But the captain seemed to have doubts that she'd make it back on this ship. She lingered for a moment, watching the young girl and Jada. Then Eighty-five breathed out her confession. Sounsyy stiffened, but Eighty-five was beginning to doze softly again. Sounsyy turned her gaze to Jada and regarded the woman for a moment.
"It's time to gear up," she whispered. Jada nodded and stood, moving her way past the captain and moving quickly to the armory, Sounsyy hot on her heels. As much as she wanted to, she did not look back over her shoulder at the wounded girl. The two Miqo'te took hold of one end of the large Sharlayan crate each and hoisted it out onto the deck. The Sharlayans were waiting for them out on deck and the small crew were gathered in assembly. P'welro had taken the helm while Marjanie sat on the gunwale opposite them. Forty-three and Sixteen were laying out their gear on the deck and Sounsyy and Ryanti stripped down to smallclothes and stepped into their suits.
Marjanie eased herself off the gunwale, keenly watching the two dress like a hawk. Ryanti dressed quickly. Sounsyy took her time. When the captain had pulled the suit up over her shoulders and began buckling herself into the suit, Marjanie began her briefing.
"According to our charts, the drop site provided to us by the Sharlayans lies one-hundred, twenty six malms to the north and west of Vylbrand's coast. Below us lies the edge of a deep sea shelf. Beyond this point, the sands drop off into the Deep to depths unknown. The shelf itself lies an estimated thirteen-hundred fathoms below."
There was a general murmur amongst those of the Roehmerl's crew. This was clearly a concerning number. Sounsyy bit her lip and continued fastening her suit in place so it fit about her snugly.
"That's six-hundred, fifty yalms down for those unfamiliar with the measurement," she gave Ryanti a look. Sounsyy wondered if that was somewhere in his mess of notes he left lying on the infimary cot. Marjanie continued, "That's where the suits come into play. The Ironworks designed the carbon fibers of the suit to withstand the crushing pressure of the deep sea, while using the very same pressure of the waters trying to rush into the suit to filter air aspect from the sea into the filtration device. You're not the only smart one aboard this ship, Seventy-seven."
Sounsyy smirked and knelt down to begin packing supplies into a small, single strap backpack made of similar materials as the suit. She looked up at Ryanti's surprised face saying, "Bet yer wishin' yeh had a suit fer her now?"
"My mother was an accomplished marine biologist before she became an Ironworks engineer. Some of her smarts passed on, even if I followed a very different path," Marjanie explained, "She postulated that before the Age of Endless Frost or even the following Great Flood, that Eorzea was a much different shaped continent. She believed that there may be dozens of lost cities beneath the Five Seas, though we lacked the technologies to find them. The suits you're wearing appear to be based on her original design, Atmospheric Dive Suits, she called them. Let's hope they work. The pressure at those depths can easily pop a cork into a bottle of champagne."
Sounsyy visibly winced. She had packed her bag full of necessary supplies. Rations, the canteen of clean water, first aid supplies, torchlight, ammunition, the Sharlayan goggles, and whatever else could fit beside the disassembled Sharlayan rifle. Ryanti would have to pack whatever else her pack would not allow. Sounsyy stood and examined herself. Every buckle, belt, and gauge seemed to be in place, but she had Sixteen double check for her.
"On the topic, pressure will increase every ten yalms, reducing the amount of air your lungs can hold at any given time. The suit works to reduce the amount of pressure your body actually feels, but you'll still need to pace your descent as slowly as you can. If you feel lightheaded, swim upwards several yalms and recover. Your body must needs adjust to the pressure even with the suit. And lastly, you've each been given a linkpearl that will relay messages between each other and to Sixteen or myself aboard the Roehmerl. Should..."
Marjanie trailed off some, as if hesitating to continue. Sounsyy met her gaze with a hard stare and the Elezen nodded solemnly.
"...Should communication be severed between the divers and the Roehmerl, you will have no more than three suns to return to the surface. Captain Mirke has ordered we meet the Sharlayan rendezvous, regardless of your fates. If the Roehmerl comes under attack and communication with the divers is not restored, we've been ordered to flee to safe waters and deliver the injured Sharlayans to their vessel awaiting us in the southern Bloodbrine."
Sounsyy could feel all eyes on her. She was ready, though the collective gaze of all those present on deck made her feel heavy. The wetsuit hugged her form tightly, accentuating every shift in her muscles. The breathing mask hung loosely near her collarbone and her diving goggles pressed into her forehead. She was hardly recognizable as the captain in the foreign gear. Though she had strapped her shortsword in a sheath, resting horizontally above her tail. Everything else of import was stuffed into her small backpack, which she tucked her braided head under and slung it over her torso, making sure it was strapped tightly to her.
She stepped forwards to Marjanie, relieving her to return to the helm with a nod. Sounsyy turned to face those on deck and gave each one a good look as if it might be the last. She looked up and gazed upon the Lominsan red sails that stood out against the dark grey sky. The soft drizzle made the sails look like blood. P'welro moved through the small crowd until she was standing besides Ryanti.
"Last preparations were made this mornin' cap'n. Quartermasser helped meh unhook the anchor so'z yeh could 'ave the cable."
"Good," Sounsyy said, "And yer captain while I'm below. Yeh know what to do."
"Aye, cap'n. Fair winds."
Sounsyy gave her a Storm salute and echoed with her crew, "...and following seas."
She turned and made her way to the starboard side of the bow where Jada was waiting for her. Over the gunwale at the bow, the anchor cable had been lowered into the Deep. Sounsyy could only make out the cable going so far down before it disappeared into darkness. The captain breathed in deep, her sides flexing beneath the suit. It still felt really tight.
"It only goes straight down eighty fathoms. Can hold onto it while you're getting used to the dive. After that, it's up to the fishbacks to guide you down I guess."
The thought did not instill the least bit of comfort. Sounsyy looked over her shoulder as Ryanti joined her on the forecastle. She nodded to him that she was ready and they both made their way over to the edge of the ship. Jada stepped forward and placed a comforting peck on Sounsyy's cheek as she made to move.
"Come back. Both of you."
Sounsyy didn't want to look at the water below her. For the first time in her life, the sea did not look comforting to her. Perhaps because she had never willingly gone beneath it. Or perhaps because it was full of fishbacks and faery tales and Garlean body parts? She tried to shake these thoughts as she dug the yellow linkpearl into her ear and pulled the suit's breathing mask and diving goggles over her face.
Eighty-five's pale face whispering, I never dreamed of nothin’, Captain. It really never was my suit, was the last thing Sounsyy thought as she plunged into the icy blackness below.