NationStates Jolt Archive

Lorathin fell asleep in the chair at Karasu's comment.

"About anything? Well, us two were in the guest room..." Maverion's eyes went distant as he tried to remember. "And there was a fight in the garden... There was a large creature with wings. I was trying to find something...in a library... I think we found it and were leaving when people suddenly appeared and started attacking us... I tried to hold them back, but I couldn't..."

His breathing started to become labored as some of the less savory memories of his moments of death started coming back to him.

***

The image of Rimoru in Inzikai's mind got off the bed and stepped back, merging into the spot where the real Teralynn stood.

"Perhaps I should help with the ship work," she said. "The sooner we get back with the book, the better."

"Sarik, I do not know if you know the father of my child. But I will never see him again. Our son will never know him... and I love and miss him so much. I am just in emotional pain and feel alone with this pregnancy. I love his father, and I am heartbroken that I will never see him again." Karasu replied.

Inzikai shot both Teralynn and Rothargot an angry glance but otherwise, turned around on his bed. "Fine...do so immediately."

***********************************************************

Rimoru stroked Maverion's cheeks again. "Okay, Mavey, okay... don't think anymore of it," she whispered, kissing him lightly on the cheek.

"If you returned it, then I would have a reason to tell you." Koryl countered. "And nothing to lose by doing so."


"I suppose so," Kalzog replied as he got up from the kitchen stool. "I guess I'll have to keep it then."

With that, Kalzog stretched lazily before walking to the Library.

"Yes, my Lord Inzikai," Teralynn said before proceeding outside.

Whew, saved this time. But now Inzikai would be expecting more in the future, and she had to make preparations for that.

When they exited the cabin and closed the door, Teralynn asked, "So, what needs to be done?"

Mentally, she said to Rothargot, Since I am to receive new powers, I should learn how to use them correctly. Will you mentor me in those? I will basically be following you around and do whatever you do until I have learned to use these powers without unduly harming myself or others.

Hopefully, by the time this apprenticeship would be over, she would be strong enough that she could stand up to Inzikai. Or, at the very least, important enough to Valtrox's cause that the god would stop Inzikai should he try to do anything to her.

***

Maverion closed his eyes and tried to calm his breathing and heartrate.

Unnoticed by Mave because of his closed eyes, the light coming in from the window was blocked out as the flying carpet floated outside, looking as if it were peering in, despite its lack of sensory organs.

"Just a small object on the boat I was hoping you could tell me about," Rothargot lied as he walked away from the door with Teralynn.

Rothargot stared at Teralynn for several minutes. I have never mentored before, but if you so wish it, I shall comply, Rothargot thought back.

***********************************************************

Rimoru was slightly startled to notice a familiar rug blocking out the sunlight. That was what Teralynn rode on... she thought to herself. I'd best not tell Mave just yet...

"Is there anything you need, Mavey," Rimoru asked quietly.

"Sarik, I do not know if you know the father of my child. But I will never see him again. Our son will never know him... and I love and miss him so much. I am just in emotional pain and feel alone with this pregnancy. I love his father, and I am heartbroken that I will never see him again." Karasu replied.


Sarik put a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Karasu, you are not alone in this. I will do what I can to help you, as I'm sure the others will as well. I'm sure the Patriarch will even help you raise your child if you ask."

Sarik smiled at Karasu, hoping to lighten her mood and hopefully give her some more confidence.

"Thank you Sarik. You are so sweet. It is just that I miss Relthor so much." Karasu continued.

"Sarik, I want you to have Lorathin check you out. I am very concerned about you, and I want you well. I am sorry to keep harping about this, but... I know how much you are hurting.

"Try as much to hide it, but I know kindness is your forte and very important to you, just as it is to the Patriarch. The sooner you are well, the better." Karasu looked at him sympathetically.

"I am here for you to talk to any time. Please do not try to deal with this alone. There is no shame in this. It is something you cannot control. Please talk to me when you need an ear." She smiled at Sarik.

"Also, if you want me to look through the books on the boat, I will, provided no one needs me for anything ship-related."

Karasu smiled at Sarik.

"Thank you, Karasu. That will help me greatly..." Sarik replied in response to her help with the books, smiling widely. "It will be a fine way to pass our time..."

"I do not know Relthor enough to tell you I'm positive he will come back, but he doesn't seem the character that will leave your child to yourself," he said reassuredly.

"As for getting a test, I suppose I will, if Lorathin is ever awake on the boat," he chuckled quietly.

"I do hope I get a chance to go through the books... all the Karasus." She chuckled.

"Sarik, can you tell me a bit about the city or land we are going to?" Karasu asked.

"I live on a cliff that is actually no part of any domain or country. I am not exactly familiar with all the areas. Pretty bizarre for as much as I travel."
Karasu stated.

"I'm not really sure where we're heading. I'm hoping to stop Inzikai before he can reach where ever he's going, which I assume would be Cultish Territory...Come, I'll tell you as we go to the ship," Sarik said as he found Harlin, Minos, and Shara.

"Get to the docks east of here as soon as possible, Karasu and I will be there preparing the ship," Sarik said to the trio.

Sarik walked to the stables, to a group of guards. "May I borrow a horse, to the docks? "

"Of course, Sir Sarik. Rimoru told us you may need some," the guard said, pointing to the horses. "Pick any you want, however you are not allowed to carry them on the ship."

"I understand," Sarik nodded as he scanned the horses.

"You know Sarik? I despise Inzi. He really is an ass." Karasu told Sarik. "I will do everything I can to stop him. I never hated anyone before... not like I hate that pompous bastard." She said.

"I sure hope we prevail, but remember, we must have Lorathin examine you... if, as you said, he is not sleeping." Karasu chuckled.

Sarik got on a large brown-spotted horse and rode out of the stables, waiting for Karasu. "I dislike him as well...I only wish I could have killed him when he was with us..."

Harlin, who had just finished attaching his bags to Windflitter, nodded to Sarik before mounting his steed and riding east. Shara and Minos were only a few seconds behind him.

ooc: Gonna take a shower after this post, be right back ;)

Both Sarik and Karasu had already arrived. The port was huge, not to mention smelly...at least one half of it. One could clearly see the lines between the upper class and the lower class. Fishing docks and several trading docks being on the lower class, visitors, higher end trading, and luxory docks on the high class end. Luckily, Sarik soon found out, they were on the high class docks, not having to deal with thieves, muggers, and people trying to make a living by crime.

And once Sarik and Karasu arrived at the docks, guards immediately came to them and guided them to a larger of the medium sized ships, with two large, round, tubes pointing upwards. Sailors were running about, preparing the boat for launch, and many citizens had come to see the new boat ship off.

"I hope this is safe..." Sarik whispered to Karasu.

"Oh, don't worry, this ship is perfectly shape. You'd expect that after three different prototypes...the first two exploded, the third went well until some lightning hit it, then exploding it."

Sarik's eyes widened in surprise. "You do know we're after a fiery demon, right?"

The guard laughed. "Rest assured...Enchantments have been summoned all over this boat."

Sarik sighed in relief and nodded as they got off their horses and were led onto the "Steam Ship" as they called it. He was led into several rooms, that were pretty cramped, but nice enough. They had one large bed which took up practically the whole room, one mirror, and one tiny sink. Bathrooms were shared down on each hallway.

"Thank you, Sir. I hope this trip will be better than the rest of my mission has been," Sarik replied with a smile.

"Good luck, sir, and you too, beautiful," winked the guard before walking away, down the loading ramp.

Sarik looked off the railing and noticed Shara, Harlin, and Minos approaching. "Hey! You guys! Up here!" Sarik shouted, waving his gauntleted hands.

Behind them, the captain moved slowly towards the railing above Sarik and grinned...

Lorathin woke to find Karasu and Sarik missing. Not paying it any attention, he headed to the kitchen for a snack.

ooc: For those who play D&D, how good is AC -13(for second edition rules)?

Harlin smiled and waved at his friends on the ship. Shara and Minos were forced to leave their horses behind, but Harlin wasn't going to leave Windflitter.

He looked around for the captain, and eventually found him. "I need to bring my horse aboard. Could you show me where I could tir him in the hold?," Harlin asked.

"Aye," the captain replied. His face was hidden under his large captain's hat, along with his large coat.

The captain clapped his hands and a tall Minotaur sailor bowed to Harlin before leading the way.

As he led Harlin and Windflitter down a set of stairs, they came across a small hold, meant for animals. "Here you go, sir."

***********************************************************

As Lorathin went into the kitchen, he bumped into the large stomach of Kalzog.

"Slow down there, mage," growled Kalzog as he picked Lorathin up, setting him on his feet.

"Where are the others?"

"They were in the library when I took my nap, when I woke up they had gone somewhere else." He replied

"You think they left for the docks?" Kalzog asked as he looked out a nearby window.

"Maybe, if they did they forgot us then." Lorathin commented as he began making himself a sandwich.

"Is it hard to forget an ogre who saves all their lives?" Kalzog growled, furrowing his brows. "I can understand forgetting a human who only sleeps and eats...but a big lovable ogre?"

"A big thieving ogre who gets in fights at the drop of a hat." Lorathin replied with a grin. "So why don't you go ask a guard if they've left?"

"Thieving? When have I ever stolen anything?" Kalzog chuckled, trying to mock surprise. "I have to say...I agree with the fighting...I have to keep my reputation up..."

Kalzog walked out to an entrance and poked a guard. The guard turned around with an angry face before looking upwards, his face immediately turning into that of surprise and fear. 'Y-y-yes?"

"Where's Sarik?" Kalzog asked simply.

"Sir Sarik? He...went to the docks along with some beautiful lady...I saw three others follow him..."

"Imagine that, thank you," Kalzog grinned, showing off his dagger-like teeth before patting the guard on the back, knocking him over.

Kalzog returned to Lorathin and nodded. "Yeah, they've left to the docks...I hope they don't leave without us...Not to brag or anything, but I'm the only one that can deal with Rothargot..."

"You stole my sandwich for one." Lorathin commented before the ogre went off to find out about the others. "Well then let's go, but I have to go see Rimoru first."

"Oooh, kissy kissy," Kalzog laughed, persing his lips and making sucking noises.

"Blow it out your nose." Lorathin growled as he found the guard that Kalzog had knocked over. "Do you know where Rimoru is?" He asked

ooc: I have to call the Mr. and he would know Theao... I will ask him if I can get ahold of him: "For those who play D&D, how good is AC -13(for second edition rules)?"

"What a lovely boat" Karasu stated. "It figures, only the best from Rimmy." She smiled.

Karasu only wished she could fly. She would get wherever much faster, and something seemed weird about the boat, not that she knew anything about ships, but she felt something was off about it.

"Sarik? I keep getting a feeling that something is 'off' about this ship. I am concerned, although I do not know anything about ships. It is sort of a woman's intuition." Karasu looked at the ship carefully.

"Hello all!" She greeted the others. "Where is the bottomless stomach and Lorathin? We do have to wait for them." She said, chuckling, imagining them arguing about food.

"Your sick, Azrael," Kalzog chuckled as he followed Lorathin outside.

The guard was adjusting his hat as he noticed Kalzog come out again.

"Empress Rimoru is in the medical area," the guard replied, keeping his eyes on the ogre.

***********************************************************

Sarik chuckled at Kalzog's nickname. "I'm sure he'll love that," he laughed.

"Do you know what is off?" Sarik asked quietly as he scanned the surroundings. It felt like any other ship he's been on, other than there seemed to be more heat coming from around the ship.

Lorathin nodded and, after getting directions, headed down to the medical area the guard had indicated.

"I'll leave you two alone so you can make out...meet me here when you're done," Kalzog shouted after Lorathin.

The guard slowly stepped away from the ogre, trying to come up with an excuse to leave the brute.

***********************************************************

Rimoru had long fallen asleep, her head resting on Maverion's shoulder, her breathing small and quiet.

Lorathin scowled at the ogre before heading in.

Looking around, he noticed the sleeping Rimoru, and the guy he'd squished. Taking a sheet of paper, he wrote her a note, and added a spell to protect it from anyone but her, at least till after she read it.

"Azy?" Rimoru whispered quietly, before the mage could leave. "Please wait..." She picked up the paper and silently walked towards the mage, wrapping her arms around him. "Azy, promise me you'll be safe? Promise me you'll keep the others safe as well? Promise me that we'll keep in touch..." she asked sadly.

"I promise I shall do everything I can to keep everyone safe, even Cadeyrn." Lorathin replied "And I shall keep in touch." He replied hugging her, before leaning over and giving her a passionate kiss.

"Be safe yourself."

"Sarik, I do not know what is wrong... it is kind of a feeling." Karasu replied.

"Now that you mention the excessive heat, this concerns me even more. We ought to be on guard. This ship may have been tampered with. I cannot say how or why... but you said the you felt the excessive heat as well." She replied.

"I would not even know where to examine the ship, but one of V-Man's flunkies may have done something to it... or... gods forbid... Rimoru herself."

Karasu had a sad look on her face. "She has been helping the enemies moreso than us."

ooc: Hyper, Sarik didn't say anything about the heat, he just was thinking about it ;)

Rimoru had closed her eyes through their kiss, savoring every last bit of it, she pressed herself onto Lorathin, before gently pulling away. She slowly opened her eyes as she stared into Lorathin's own different colored eyes. "Thank you Azy. I'm going to miss you," she whispered, several tears running down her face. She didn't want to let go of Lorathin, her only friend that seemed to trust her.

***********************************************************

Sarik sighed quietly before sniffing the air. "I'll be on guard. I think you'd better test your pendant if you feel Rimoru is up to something, or have someone else test it, for that matter."

"I'll miss you as well," He replied, gazing back at her, before reaching up to brush her tears away. "And if I can, I will come back."

"I hope you do, Azy," Rimoru smiled weakly as she kissed him one last time before breaking away. "Good luck," she whimpered as she turned around, wiping away her tears.

"Thank you." He replied to her back, before his hands passed before her face as he put a necklace around her neck, and with a hug, he departed.

Rimoru smiled slightly as she felt along her neck, pushing up the necklace so she could see it. She cuddled with it as tears continued to fall down her face...

***********************************************************

Kalzog was yawning as he sat on top of his floating platform, the guard shivering behind a nearby tree when he noticed Lorathin approaching. "Have fun?" he called out to the mage.

Cadeyrn leaned over the railing staring into the distance before his eyes got big.

"Land!" He yelled across the boat as Marlene poked her head out from below deck.

Rimoru would see a gemstone in the shape of a tear drop perfectly clear except for a pale yellow sphere in the center. If she looked into the sphere she would feel a sense of peace flow over her, and if she was thinking of someone she knew when she gazed into it, she would find she could almost feel thier presence beside her.

The gem was an exceptionally rare stone known as a King's Tear, believed to have been brought into being by a king ancient beyond ancient. Few knew of them and fewer still knew the secrets behind, and with them.

*******************************************

"Fun isn't exactly the right word, but let's go find the others." Lorathin commented, "Mind if I catch a ride?"

ooc: Let's not finish the boat ride quite yet, have something planned for both badguys and good guys on boats ;)

Inzikai darted out from inside of the Captain's Quarters and looked around. "I hope you aren't point towards where we came from..." he growled.

Rothargot also began to look for the land...

***********************************************************

Rimoru looked into the teardrop shaped stone, slowly growing relaxed as she felt at peace. Not only did she feel at peace, but she could feel the presence of Lorathin with her, his strange ways, his kind words...Rimoru chuckled quietly as she remembered him.

***********************************************************

"Not fun? I thought every time with Rimoru was fun for you!" laughed Kalzog as he motioned towards the platform. "Why do you think I always make these with tons of room? I always anticipate visitors..."

Cadeyrn's eyes slanted hard towards Inzikai in anger.

"Never mind, it's just an island, no consequence." He said disapointed.

Lorathin smiled as he got on the Kalzog's platform. He was sure the gemstone would help Rimoru, and while the ancient monarch may have objected, Lorathin knew that it was the proper thing to do and what his father would have wanted, as if that King's Tear was meant for Rimoru.

"Not always fun." He commented to the ogre, "But always important."

"Ah..." Inzikai nodded, resisting the temptation to rattle on about how brainless his cohorts usually were. Instead, he slammed his door shut again to do whatever business he did inside the room...

Rothargot noticed Marlene peaking from below deck and smiled at her. "Already inventing new...creations?" he asked quietly.

***********************************************************

Kalzog laughed. "Ah...important...another way of saying fun," the ogre replied before casually crossing his arms over his barrel like chest, and immediately zooming towards the port. "Don't fall off," he chuckled as the platform picked up speed.

"No, just explosives." She replied before diving back down.

"'m not even going to tell her to be careful." Cadeyrn added slumping back to the ground.

Karasu looked at Sarik and said "I guess we just wait for the others.", obviously bored and impatient.

"I suppose so," Kalzog replied as he got up from the kitchen stool. "I guess I'll have to keep it then."

With that, Kalzog stretched lazily before walking to the Library.
Figuring there was nothing to be gained through more verbal fencing with the ogre at the moment, Koryl got some bread and cheese, then followed.

~~~~~
Lorathin: "You stole my sandwich for one."

"Not to mention my spyglass." Koryl put in. He recognized Lorathin as one of those who had been fighting on the same side as Kalzog in the library.

He grinned at the guard's changing expression when Kalzog poked himm and laughed quietly when the ogre knocked him off his feet.

~~~~~
Kalzog: "Why do you think I always make these with tons of room? I always anticipate visitors..."

"In that case, I think I'll come along as well. The Emperess wants me to help find Marlene; I've got a tracking spell locked on her."
The wanderer leaped lightly onto the platform, easily keeping his balance as it moved.

~~~~~
Verton pointed as the platform hurtled by.
"Hey, isn't that the ogre we met back at that inn? I think that other guy was with Sir Sarik, as well."

"Finally, we're going to catch up."

Their motion a blur from the Longstride spell, Boliad, Verton, and T'zark hurried after the platform.

OOC: Grr, too busy!

Lorathin braced himself, before moving over for the other dude that he didn't recognise but claimed Kalzog had pilfered from him as well.

"Hey Sarik... Do you want to go aboard with me? I am going to go up." Karasu said.

"Anyone else want to get on board?" She yelled to the others. "I am going up!" Karasu called out.

She wanted a good look inside... all of the ship.

Prior to going up, she said to Sarik quietly, "Maybe you should come up with me. Something is weird, but I bet we do not find it. However, we could both look over all decks. If anyone tries to prevent us from going into some room... especially the engine room, we need to get in there." Karasu paused and looked at him slightly worried.

"I wish Lorathin was here. He could check for any weird enchantment... well, what he is capable of anyway." She remarked.

Karasu wanted to split into 100 or so. The ship could be checked out quickly this way, however, she did not really want the crew still working in the hold and other areas to know she was not a normal human.

ooc: They're already on the steam ship

"We can search the ship, but I don't think we can get into the engine room easily...the Iskanis wouldn't want people stealing their advanced designs..." Sarik said as he watched several sailors put several boxes into storage.

***********************************************************

"Just keep away from my pouches," Kalzog grumbled to Koryl before taking off for the port...

He failed to notice Verton and the others behind him.

"Damn... That is where I want to be is in the engine room. I just have a weird feeling about it, I have no intention of stealing the design." Karasu replied.

"Should we wander around a bit and then get to the books?" She asked Sarik.

She walked up to Sarik and hugged him. "Sarik, I know you are far more upset than you let show. No matter what happens, you will always be one of the kindest people I ever met in my entire life. I understand that the other issue is one you cannot control, and one that eats at you as it is the opposite of the real you. I can't wait for Lorathin to get here. I want him to check you out and hopefully figure this out and have a cure for it."

Karasu stepped back and kissed him on the cheek. "I have said this before, but please remember, I am here for you and you can talk to me about anything. Please do not hesitate or be embarrassed. I respect you so much... no matter what happens."

Karasu gave him another hug and kiss on the cheek. "I do understand what you are going through. You remind me of an old friend." She smiled at Sarik.

"Keep your hopes up, and I will never stop being your friend." Karasu smiled again. "Now, should we scope out the ship and then go throught the books while we wait for Lorathin?

"Perhaps if I changed into something... alluring, I could get the guards to let me into the engine room. I would act like an airhead as well." Karasu chuckled.

"I am going to find a room and go change into something... revealing... and eventually hit the engine room." Karasu chuckled. "I was once quite like Rimmy... a long time ago. I can manage that. Whether they let me in, I do not know.

"Well, I am off to change into something aside from my fighting clothes." She laughed. "I will see you sooner or later as we check the rooms."

Karasu laughed.

Sarik smiled as he put his gauntleted hand over his cheek where Karasu kissed him.

"I'm sure you'll be able to get us in there," Sarik laughed as she went to her room. Sarik leaned against the railing, figuring out what had just happened.

She kissed me...she has feelings for me...and I don't see how someone cannot have feelings for her... Sarik wondered to himself as images of a potential future with Karasu and him filled his mind. Suddenly, Sarik shook his head. No, this is only like a sibling relationship. I already have a fiance.

Yet, he could not help but continue smiling as he blushed a darker green color.

"Of course! I don't even want to know what I might find in there." Koryl replied, finishing off his snack.

~~~
"Who's that other guy up there, with the ears? I don't remember him at the inn."

"I ssupposse ssomeone elsse they came acrosss in their travelss."

~~~
Koryl paused, sniffing at the air. With all the magic in the area, he almost hadn't noticed the spell behind them, but it had something of a different 'smell'. Glancing back, he saw the blurred figures of the other three from Dar-Kavryn.

"Hey, there's some people following us!"

"Let us see to it, then," Teralynn said in regards to the object in the boat after the false land alarm. She figured Cadeyrn or Marlene would probably be better able to tell the demon what the thing was, but she was not going to complain about being taken away from Inzikai.

Thankyou, she thought to Rothargot. It is most appreciated.

***

Maverion had fallen asleep as well, and did not hear a single word that passed between Rimoru and Lorathin.

The carpet had flown away long before the human mage arrived, disappearing somewhere.

Kalzog raised an eyebrow and shot a glance back. They looked familiar, but he figure out why quite yet...then he remembered, they were with Sarik before they needed to gather supplies or whatever they needed to do...they helped interrupt his dinner...

"Well what do you know," he called out to them as he slowed the platform until they were riding alongside each other. "About time you showed up..."

"Explosives? I do not want our boat to catch fire," Rothargot rumbled before turned back to Teralynn.

Have you tested for any of your new powers yet? Have you noticed any change in your shape or form? Rothargot thought back to Teralynn, wondering where a good place to start would be.

Lorathin looked over, but failed to recognise the people, even thought Kalzog obviously did. "So, are you going to stop to give them a ride?"

"We kept arriving everywhere in time to find out you had just left." Boliad replied.

OOC: Got to go for a while, sooner than I was expecting. I'll be back when I can. Assume my characters are coming along with Kalzog and Lorathin for now.

"She is kidding, right?" Teralynn arched an eyebrow in regards to the child playing with explosives on a flammable ship.

And no, I have not tried anything yet. The pain is still nigh unbearable. My skin has been hurting a lot, and I think the three bumps you mentioned are starting to form.

ooc: K, I g2g in about 15-20 mins. Will be back in 2-4 hours

Rothargot gave Teralynn a mischievious smile, poking her lightly. That's for making fun of me while I was mortal.

The burning sensation is what makes fire manipulation so much easier. You will feel as though you are relieving yourself of it's presence, but you have a near limitless supply of it, as long as you do not wear yourself out. I'm guessing that illusionary magic is the only magic you've done, right?

***********************************************************

"Yeah, sure..." Kalzog grinned in response to Boliad as they continued towards the docks.

"This isn't a wagon, Azrael," Kalzog replied to Lorathin. "Besides, they seem to have it covered..."

Ow! Teralynn had to clench down on her teeth to prevent that from coming out vocally as she clutched at the spot where Rothargot poked her. Not funny.

And that depends on your definition of magic. Speaking as we are right now can be considered as such as well.

But I think it's funny. You were laughing at me and I had no idea why...I was just alone in a mortal world... Rothargot replied happily. I am only getting my revenge...

Yes, it could. But have you done elemental magic before? Rothargot asked as he picked up several pieces of rubbish that sailors left before they were killed.

Touché. Teralynn narrowed her eyes at Rothargot, then stuck her tongue out at him.

I have not, she answered.

Rothargot smiled and stuck a long flaming tongue out at Teralynn in response.Demi-gods always know what is best he joked as he spread out the rubbish on the deck, hanging onto several of the more flammable items. I have to say, however, being a mortal was the most fun I've had since I can remember...If only you mortals weren't so squishy...and easily hurt.

Returning to the lesson, Rothargot once again turned to face Teralynn. It's complicated...I rarely need to think about summoning forth fire, but I do know that creatures new to the magic have trouble.

Rothargot paused as he tried to come up with a way to teach Teralynn how to summon a flame. Several times he watched himself summon his own fire, before unsummoning it without a thought.

You have to imagine yourself...summoning the flame. Feel the pain, the burning inside of you and attempt to push it out. Anger can bring out flames as well, but is not required.

"Don't worry, if one did go off, the blast itself would put the fire out. Not to mention they're ont strong enough to put a hole in the ship...but if three or so went off..." Cadeyrn said rubbing his chin.

Karasu went into an empty room and came out in an extremely revealing dress that left just about nothing to the imagination. She felt stupid that her comrades would see her like this, but if she could get in the engine room.

She was wearing a slightly see-through short dress with a neckline that went to the waist revealing almost all of her ample breasts. The back went as low as it could without anything showing, added to it were a pair of 5 inch heeled sandals.

I hope this works. Karasu thought. She really did not want her friends to see her almost nude, even though she did have a perfect body.

Karasu sighed and went out onto the deck and began looking in the various rooms on the way to the engine room stairs, hoping she did not run into any friends.

ooc: LoL k, cya'll in 2 hours or 3 lol

Sarik was walking down the hallway. He hadn't expected such a surprise...

"Wow...I mean...K-Karasu, I found the engine room...I think..." Sarik replied, staring at her wide eyed before he turned around. "Wow" he mouthed again.

"You may follow me if you'd like," he stuttered as he glanced back to see if she was going to follow.

***********************************************************

"And how many explosion's do you think she'll set off?" Rothargot asked, wondering whether they would be able to trust Marlene with explosives.

Teralynn did not want to know more about this "fun" Rothargot had in his elf form, and so did not say anything else about it.

Sounds easy enough, Tera thought as she focused on a piece of cloth.

She began concentrating on it, feeling the heat inside her and trying to force it out and into the cloth. Her muscles tightened and she felt as if something was building up.

With a large exhaling of her breath, she let loose her pent-up energy...and nothing happened.

"Knowing her." He raised his head trying to calculate. "None, she knows exactly what she's doing."

The mercenary began to take a short nap against the mast for the first time in a long time. Old faces still haunted him; a thousand names he swore he would have forgotten by now. A thousand friends he promised himself he wouldn't remourse.

"Oh, that is fantastic!" Karasu replied to Sarik finding the engine room.

"I really did not feel like roaming the ship looking for the stairway.

"I will make an attempt to get in, but I doubt it will work. These men have their orders.

"After I give it a try and look through the other rooms, I will help you with the books."

Karasu asked the others to help inspect the ship for anything odd, and then followed Sarik to the stairs to the engine room.

Lorathin nodded as the ogre commented about the others hoofing it, before taking a nap till they reached the ship.

Minos was wandering the large "steam" ship as they called it. He had never heard of this technology before, but it intrigued him. He was sure that if he could ply the engine room guards with some of the findail wine he had purchased in the port, that he could gain entry to the engine room.

As he made his way deeper into the ship, he was met with a very... beautiful... surprise.

"Karasu! It's... a pleasure to see you." He indicated the bottles it his hands, then her mode of dress, and then the signs indicating that the engine roo mwas just down the hall. "It would seem we have the same sort of idea, perhaps we could work together?," he cocked his eyebrow as he proposed the idea.

Sarik laughed at the two. "I seem to feel as though we're all going to a lavish festivity of some sort," he chuckled as he turned a corner, only to be stopped by two large guards.

"You are not allowed passage," they growled, nearly in unison.

Sarik only smiled as he stepped back, letting Minos and Karasu take the floor.

ooc: That was the longest two hours ever!!

Kalzog nudged Lorathin awake with his foot. "Wake up, mage. You remind me of a cat," he growled, before looking to his other side. "You two, cat-ear," he added to Koryl.

"I think we're here." They were in front of a somewhat large boat, masts rising high above the buildings in a proud display of woodworking.

"I suppose she gave us a fishing boat," Kalzog asked, a hint of confusion in his voice as big smelly men brought out big smelly crates of big smelly fish.

The ogre had failed to notice the ship next to it, a giant tube rising out from the middle, as it began to belch out small puffs of steam.

***********************************************************

Rothargot nodded to Cadeyrn. "I admire your confidence in her. It certainly shows in her work, her persistence."

Speaking of persistence... Rothargot thought to Tera as he turned to her, smiling widely. I almost thought you were going to explode. Your face turned a bright red as you made your attempt. Do not worry. You've succeeded in making me laugh again.

With that, Rothargot opened his mouth and again made the strange laughing sound; as though it were two rocks being rubbed against each other, along with a deep, throaty sound that seemed to grow louder at sporatic rhythems.

Try again, you may have been close...

Minos looked up and put on an almost hurt, but forgiving face. His face said How can you accuse me of such a thing! Well, I'll forgive you nonetheless. He then put on a smile. "Oh, no no no! You have us all wrong. We were merely looking for someone to share our wine and company with! You gents seem the perfect candidates."

OOC: It certainly was...

Lorathin roused himself at Kalzog's prodding. "When was the last time you washed your feet?" He asked, standing. "Also, might it not be that one?" He commented pointing to the bigger vessel beside the fish boat.

The men looked at the wine. "How old?" one of them asked.

Sarik walked to Karasu before chuckling quietly. "Somehow I get the feeling Rimoru only gets guards so she can get a kick at how...unintelligent they are," he whispered before laughing again.

The men looked at the wine. "How old?" one of them asked.

Sarik walked to Karasu before chuckling quietly. "Somehow I get the feeling Rimoru only gets guards so she can get a kick at how...unintelligent they are," he whispered before laughing again.

OOC: the guards a conniseurs?

Minos laughed, "Only the best for you my friends! This was bottled when Lord Dakon was the reigning King of Fandar. Well before you were born."

He turned his head and whispered over his shoulder, "Talk about picky help..."

"Ah...I suppose it could be. Good man, sleeping with the Empress to get us a good boat," Kalzog laughed as he ruffled Lorathin's hair, before motioning his platform forward, before it dissolved in front of the loading ramp.

People who were passing by, not already enthralled by the machine's amazing mechaniks, were staring wide-eyed at the massive ogre who wore tattoos like clothes, and who's eyes glowed a dull red. Not only were they impressed by the ogre, but their eyes fell to the spindly fellow next to him, with the strange catlike eyes and ears. To the otherside, a man who also seemed as though he had a tattoo and some scars, but his eyes were multicolored.

ooc: Being guards of Rimoru, of course they gotta be! Only the best for her, and if they're lucky, they'd get a swig...or two...or something extra from the big R herself...lol


Sarik laughed to Minos as he walked behind him. "Fine drinks...We've been to three places so far, The Patriarch, The Court of Miracles, and the beloved Empress, and each and every one of them wanted more of this."

"We regretfully had to wag our fingers and deny it to them, as we ourselves wanted to share some with those who will be enjoying our company in this long voyage. So, we request for you to have some. Our treat!"

The guards looked at each other wide-eyed before looking back at the bottle in Minos' hand. "You're sure you won't tell anyone else?"

Lorathin scowled again at Kalzog. He was tempted to twack the ogre across the head but was prevent by two things, one being the ogre's height, the other the fact that he'd be very unlikely to get sleep for a long while as he was sure that Kalzog would pester him every time he tried to sleep.

He didn't care that there were people staring and occasionally stared right back.

"Now now, Lorathin, don't stare at the pitiful creatures out there," Kalzog laughed. He always had the sense of superiority, especially amongst commoners and nobles, considering there was rarely another who's been through as much as the ogre had.

Kalzog quickly shuffled Koryl and Lorathin onto the boat, not even looking out the side. The ogre did, however, turn slightly, before looking into the water. His eyes grew wide, before he turned around again. "I hope this boat is fast..."

"Awww, is the big bad Kalzog scared of a little water?" Lorathin teased as they got on board.

Kalzog bared his pointed teeth at Lorathin. "I'm afraid of nothing..." he growled.

In truth, however, he was terrified of it. Sure, ponds, lakes, streams, and all that was nothing to the big ogre. He didn't mind going underwater as long as a jump can bring him back out. Oceans and the such, where miles of water in all directions, except the obvious up...those were the problem. Kalzog was not a swimmer at all, and the fact that ogres don't float very well, especially with all the heavy equipment he was currently carrying.

If the unbeatable ogre fell into such a large body of water as this, he'd fall straight to the bottom faster than a rock...A bottom where he would not be able to escape...

"Then you wouldn't mind taking a swim to wash off once we get out to sea?" Lorathin asked, "Your feet were quite rank when you poked me with that big toe of yours."

"You only whiffed the scent of judgement, Azrael. I judge someone an annoyance, I kick 'em so hard in the rear, you'd think they a falling star..." Kalzog replied as he looked at the Captain who, once noticing the ogre, tipped his hat gently before speaking with a nearby guard.

"I whiffed the scent of stinky ogre feet, not the scent of judgement." Lorathin commented, "So I take it you can swim?" He asked, a slightly devilish look in his eyes.

"Why are you so interested in me going for a swim? Who knows when the boat is going to take off," Kalzog growled, keeping his eyes on the captain.

"Because your being so resistant to the idea." Lorathin commented, "I need reparations for my sandwich after all."

"Do I look like someone who gives reparations?" Kalzog growled. "Maybe I'd go for a swim...if you chugged thirty barrels of ale..."

"You know a single barrel of ale has more in it than could physically fit in me." Lorathin replied, "And I didn't intend for you to give reparations, but for me to take thm."

"Unless you really are scared of going swimming in the ocean..."

"We've no time for swimming," Kalzog replied gruffly before opening a nearby door and walking in. The hallway reminded him a bit of Rimoru's palace, the walls lavishly decorated, occasional mirrors, tiny tables with a vase of flowers. It's hard to imagine such a luxory ship to be armed in the way it was...

"Fine, but I'm going to take a swim. Come get me when we're ready to set off." Lorathin commented as he began stripping down to his shorts.

The guards looked at each other wide-eyed before looking back at the bottle in Minos' hand. "You're sure you won't tell anyone else?"

Minos gave them a wink and a nod and said, "Tell them what?"

The guards smiled as they immediately snatched the bottles and popped the corks, not even asking for any glasses as they quickly guzzled it down.

"Don't you guys want to savor the taste?" Sarik asked as he raised an eyebrow.

"Aye...good point. Cheers!" said one as he raised his bottle to Sarik, Minos, and Karasu. They drank it slower this time, as they moved out of the way, revealing a large door.

***********************************************************

Kalzog barely heard Lorathin as he wandered the halls, painful memories seeping into his mind. Constant beatings, yellings...ironic who the savior was...Valtrox, a haven for the child named Kalzog.

The sleeping human dreamt of an old battlefield (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v723/Luporum/Cade8.jpg) he had once fought on, no one survived. One of the most brutal and grotesque fights he had ever been in; the odds were shifted against his side 6 to 1 and the enemy had artillary as well as the highground. As he slumped in the center of the slaughter vicotoriously he saw a bloody Karasu emerge from the gore. She only scowled at him before lodging a blade into his neck.

"Have you ever loved anything other than yourself?"

"Of course, what about Marlene?"

"And this will not protect Marlene! It will destroy her life...She will never trust you again and she will fear you!

"Perhaps, but what other choice do I have if I am going to survive? What else can I do? Is it so wrong to want to be happy at the expense of others?"

"You could...die"

"I've been trying..."

The blade broke off in his neck as the dreamy Karasu faded into the wind. A chill wind wracked his bones as he curled into a ball to escape the cold.

"I just don't want to be alone anymore. Even if it means doing something I am regretting."

Karasu whispered to Sarik and Minos: "So... Rimmy hires wine sommeliers as guards." She snickered.

Karasu walked up to one of the guards and rubbed her body up against him and stroked his cheek. "So is it to your liking? Up to your standards?" She asked the guard seductively looking at him with smoldering eyes.

"I sure hope so. I would feel terrible if we brought something substandard." She continued, her lips nearly touching his ear as she spoke. "If you like, we can get you some crystal wine glasses... Nothing but the best for Rimmy's guards." Karasu stroked the guard's neck, imagining she was going to be teased to death by Sarik and Minos later.

We have to get in the engine room.

Minos leaned over to Sarik while Karasu put her moves on one of the guards. "I wish I'd had a sleeping draught to put in that wine," he whispered.

He turned back to the other guard, who was now looking rather dejected that his friend was getting all the attention. "Now now Karasu, you can't show such favoritism. Perhaps you could go get your twin sister? I'm sure she would just die for this fine hunk of man right here." He winked to her.

"Oh and she would!" Karasu replied.

Karasu walked up to the other guard and rubbed up against him as well, speaking to him with her lips about an inch from his and ran her hands through his hair. "The thing is... I do not think I would like to share either of you." She gave the other guard a seductive look and brushed her lips against his.

"I guess I am just greedy that way." She glanced at both of them. "No... I will not share these two gorgeous men with my sister. I want you both for myself!" She seductively said to both guards.

Karasu then grabbed the other guard and pulled them next to each other and kissed each one passionately. "No," she said, "I would never share either of you". She caressed their faces and stepped back a bit, smiling at them deviously.

Sarik was stiffling his laugh as best he could as both guards eyes were as wide as dinner plates.

The guards, however were so dazed, they had no idea what to do next.

Once he'd stripped down, Lorathin had dived off the side of the boat, casting a spell as he went. Splitting the surface, he began swimming almost like a fish.

Karasu glanced at Sarik and gave him a "You are really going to get it later!" look, and smirked at him.

Sarik only laughed again as the guards continued to look at Karasu. "Hey, I know a nice room we can...you know," one of the guards whispered to Karasu. Immediately, the other guard looked at his partner. "She's mine!"

Immediately, both guards growled as they picked up their wine bottles and bashed each other on the head with it. They both slumped to the ground, unconscious.

Sarik finally let out his laugh he'd bottled up. "Karasu, you could have fooled me," he laughed.

Karasu was laughing hysterically!!! "Rimmy hires some weirdo guards! They are practically wine sommeliers, and they are as kooky as to knock each other out at once!" She was trying to catch her breath.

"Well, that saved me from taking them both to a different room!" Karasu laughed.

"Perhaps I should stay out here while you two check out the engine room. That way if they become conscious, I will try to keep them from going inside." She snickered.

About twenty minutes after he'd plunged into the water, Lorathin surfaced for the first time in that time. Leisurely swimming to the wharf, he climbed up and walked back on board but this time he was dripping wet.

ooc: Pong Humour (http://www.duelinganalogs.com/?date=2006-02-15)

Sarik nodded as he reached for the door, only to have it open up, revealing two familiar guards.

"I told you I heard her voice!" shouted John.

"No, you were just complaining how you failed to get the kiss from Rimoru!" replied Bjorn.

'You idiot, that's probably why we're now on a ship sailing to who knows where! You're a bad kisser!"

"Well, let's find out, then!"

Both guards marched past Sarik, towards Karasu in her revealing atire. "Hey, we never got your name!"

"And the promised night!"

Sarik laughed as he turned back to the door, immediately confronted by a soot covered gnome.

"You bumbling brutes! Keep them away from the engine room!" he growled as he fumbled for a remote in the pocket of his apron.

Cadeyrn (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v723/Luporum/Cade9.jpg) was sleeping restlessly against the mast as his guilts continued to mount together. A ballad of his own sins.

"You killed this girl's parents, then her friends, and then the army you came in with as well as your own master. Why did you save her?"

I don't know old man.

"Perhaps you're not like your father then, maybe there's hope for you after all."

Eventually the mercenary began talking outloud.

"Stupid dog." He growled from his sleep. "Don't you know how to follow orders?"

Rothargot turned his attention from the straining Teralynn to the sleeping Cadeyrn. Or atleast he looked as though he was sleeping, to Rothargot.

And yet, he was speaking. Is he faking? Who is this dog he speaks about? Is he talking to me? the demi-god's mind was full of questions as he slowly walked towards Cadeyrn.

For many long minutes, he inspected Cadeyrn, up close, almost shoving his massive fiery face into Cadeyrn's. "Wake up Cadeyrn," he finally said, unsure what else to say.

A startled Cadeyrn snatched his sword and almost attacked the demon before coming to his senses and placing his blade against the mast.

Still sweating from his nightmares the mercenary finally dropped his guard.

"What is it Roth?" He asked not sure why the demon woke him.

Marlene watched from a grate listening and mourning everything Cadeyrn had been saying. To an extent, she could almost see what he had been dreaming about.

"You were speaking. And yet you were sleeping. I thought mortals could only speak as they were awake. Am I wrong?" Rothargot asked, unblinking, but he moved his face out of the way slowly.

"You said something about dogs and orders."

"I wasn't aware that I was talking in my sleep. People usually do that when they have a lot on their minds." He answered stretching his arms. "As for what I said exactly...it's of no importance."

Marlene ducked back below deck with tears in her eyes as she knew exactly what he was dreaming about. Cadeyrn often referred to himself as a dog, who would protect his master at the expense of biting anything else.

"Oh? Nothing of importance? And yet you have a lot on your mind?" Rothargot asked, obviously puzzled by mortal habits.

"Wouldn't it be good to reveal these thoughts so you would not have so much of a burden?"

Lorathin shook himself somewhat dry, and while he awaited the sun to dry him the final amount, he wondered what the others were doing, as well as how Rimoru was faring.

"I'm starting to wonder if I'm making the right choices, not for myself however." He answered somberly. "All I want is power, but I know that's not best for her."

Staring out to sea his left hand burst into flames as he slowly examined it.

"Is fishy done swimming?" Kalzog asked as he slowly walked from behind Lorathin.

***********************************************************

"And what does Marlene want?" Rothargot asked as he watched the flames on Cadeyrn's hand.

"She doesn't want to see my darker half ever come out again." He said making the flames dance before him. "That is why I don't go searching for power like all my other comrads."

"For now, and you should really try it. It's a great relaxer and you're always so tense." Lorathin commented

Minos frowned at the gnome. "What have you got to hide?"

"What do you think, you bumbling old man! Go sit in a hole and die! And bring your friends with you!" growled the gnome as he pulled out a small black rectangular item. Upon closer inspection it had several buttons on it, along with a few tiny levers.

***********************************************************

"I relax in battle, Azrael. Not in water," Kalzog growled. "You should try alcohol...it relaxes you faster."

"She doesn't want to see my darker half ever come out again." He said making the flames dance before him. "That is why I don't go searching for power like all my other comrads."


"Your darker half?" Rothargot asked as he stole a bit of Cadeyrn's fire, forming a the small figure of Rimoru in it.

"Then what if all the casks of alcohol on the boat were floating in the ocean, would you go swimming to get your favorite beverages?" He asked, "And anyways, what is your obsession with me drinking?"

"What is your obsession with me swimming?" Kalzog returned with a smile. "And no, I'm not dependant on alcohol..."

"What do you think, you bumbling old man! Go sit in a hole and die! And bring your friends with you!" growled the gnome as he pulled out a small black rectangular item. Upon closer inspection it had several buttons on it, along with a few tiny levers.

Minos' eyes flared silver and the air around the gnome thinned to a near vacuum. "What was that you said gnome?" Minos' elemental powers rumbled in the gnome's very bones. "If I were you, I would hold my tongue around those more powerful than myself."

"The same reason you have with getting me drunk, because you're being stubborn. I have reason against drink, it tastes nasty, but you don't have a reason, or at least not one you've given." Lorathin commented

"Salt water ruins my complexion," Kalzog returned, this time with no smile. "And it feels nasty."

"If you say so." Lorathin replied with a shrug, "So did you find the others?"

"Same goes to you," growled the gnome as his eyes narrowed. He pushed a small button on his remote control and three spidery machines walked out, attached to the sides of the passage way. One could see each leg held a vicious looking hook at the ends, along with about four or five different arms covering it's black body, each ending with a strange tool.

"If you kill me, you'd not only have to deal with Rimoru, but you'll have to deal with Valtrox, considering you couldn't work half of the things on this ship."

Bjorn and John stared wide eyed at the challenge, unsure if they should interfere.
***********************************************************

"No...was I supposed to be looking for them?" Kalzog growled.

ooc: Is this Mebbiwik and how can he talk if he can't breathe?

"Would have thought you would have." He commented, "But what bee has gotten under your bonnet today?"

ooc: Yeah, it's Mebbiwik, and it said near vacuum, wasn't sure how close to a vacuum it was.

"I just have to deal with annoyances like you," growled Kalzog. He really didn't mind Lorathin, or any of the others he was currently traveling with.

"Me, an annoyance, surely you jest." Lorathin mock protested.

"Do you see me laughing?" Kalzog growled. "I'm going to look for a room..."

With that, the ogre once again took to the hallway, opening several doors as he searched for a room big enough to fit him in comfortably.

"Silly ogre." Lorathin commented as he took a seat on the prow.

I was thinking really really thin. Like loss of consciousness thin almost... Doesn't really matter... TG me why they aren't supposed to go in the engine room/why Karasu wants to go in, please.

"Valtrox?" Karasu mentioned. "We are on a ship from him? You said this was a bad assignment?" She looked at Bjorn and John. "Is this true? You would not lie to me, would you?" She said seductively.

Looking at the gnome, Karasu stated, "Why the defenses if there is nothing to hide?"

She stood waiting for an answer. Karasu pretended to cry to try and get Bjorn and John's sympathy and maybe some answers. "Bjorn and John are going to kill me!" Karasu sobbed.

Minos smiled. The combination of the shine from his eyes gleaming of his teeth and the way he towered over Mebbiwik made him seem almost predatorial.

"Perhaps, but yours is not the only boat in the harbor, and I have a feeling that Rimoru wouldn't trouble us for disposing of you for your insolence. Especially when we explained to her the trifling issue you threw in our paths. I'm not an old fool either, for I know that if this ship truly is powered by steam as you say then I can power it myself if needs be.

"In the event of an emergency, it would be good for me to know the operation of the engine so that I might use my fire and the water to improve the efficiency of the ship. It would be easier for me to attain that knowledge," Minos paused and used his power to draw more air out of the space around Mebbiwik, to the point where the gnome could no longer breath, "If you would get out of my way."

"This ship ain't from nobody but me and Rimoru, you twit! But considering your going to stop Valtrox from being resurrected, and this is currently the only ship that has a shred of a chance to reach Inzikai's ship. If you rid the ship of me, you will have to fight the god himself once he is risen. In fact, for that matter, I will be the last one to die in peace while you all are horrendously tortured for eternity!" shouted Mebbiwik.

"Nothing to hide? I am trying to hide my machine! I don't want any of you to take my designs and create your own infernal vessel! And don't try that 'but we won't understand or steal the designs'!" Mebbiwiks face was a bright red as he fumed at the group. Suddenly, he began to gasp as he could barely breath. He fumbled with his remote, pushing a button before giving Minos a defiant grin. The spiders sprang out at Minos with surprising speed, lashing their deadly hooks at him.

Sarik brought out his sword smacking one away from Minos before it hit him.

Bjorn and John looked at each other before running to Karasu's side. "No, no ma'am! We just don't have our sea legs yet!"

"Yeah, we're land lovers!"

"That's land lubbers, you dolt!"

"We-we're not tryin to kill you!"

"We're just here to help you all along your way!"

"Fool..." Minos said before sand and water began rushing in from all directions. The two substances coated each of the remaining spiders and then flames shot out of the air, and evaporated the water while turning the sadn into glass. The result was an ultra strong concrete like glass matrix in which the spiders sat immobile.

Minos surveyed his handiwork before turning back to Mebbiwik, "I'll let you have your spiders back if you let me see the engines."

"Salt water ruins my complexion," Kalzog returned, this time with no smile. "And it feels nasty."
Koryl laughed. "You've got to admit he's got a point there. Anything that makes his complexion worse, I'm sure we all want to avoid."
The cat-eared wanderer was balancing easily, shifting position to make up for the slight motion of the ship in the waves. It was clear that he was familiar and comfortable with travel by sea.

Boliad, T'zark, and Verton arrived at the ship a few moments later. As Verton released the Longstride spell, Boliad suggested "Let's see if we can find Sarik and let him know we've caught up."

The three were searching the vessel when they heard shouting and the clash of steel nearby. Alarmed, they hurried toward the sound with hands on weapon hilts.

Karasu felt helpless against the magic going on around her. If worse comes to worse, I will just melt into the wall.

To the Gnome, she said, "Ah, I see you are actually a servant of Valtrox? Your words conflict, gnome."

"Your darker half?" Rothargot asked as he stole a bit of Cadeyrn's fire, forming a the small figure of Rimoru in it.

"The half that beat a dragon to death with my bare hands." He said gazing at his alien hands: one ablaze the other metal and bolts.

He watched Rothargot make an image of Rimoru and smiled slightly.

"Miss her?" He asked using his weapon as support.

Rothargot nodded slowly, before making the image disappear. "I almost regret..." he trailed off, not wanting Valtrox to hear. He would give up Valtrox to be with Rimoru...But his master will not have it. Such a thought could kill Rothargot, if not worse...

"You cannot control that half?" Rothargot asked quietly.

***********************************************************

The gnome shook his head in disappointment, before weakly pointing to Minos, then to his nose. He didn't know how much longer he'd be able to last.

"Minos, don't kill him," Sarik said as he held the spider in place with his sword. "Let him speak. I think he's trying to tell us something..."

Bjorn and John were shivering in fear, not knowing what to do. Bjorn took hold of Karasu, slightly hiding behind her. John looked at him before doing the same with Karasu's other arm.

***********************************************************

"My complexion is better than your's skunk...cat...man," Kalzog growled, before turning to the sound of commotion. "I'd say a battle is already starting!" he laughed as he began to walk to the door.

Cadeyrn immediately understood the demon's plight and smiled slightly.

"No in the least, in my anger I become like a rabid dog. Only one person has been able to tame me while I'm out of control." He said nodding his head to below deck.

The mercenary wasn't speaking about battles he had fought in, but the genocides and slaughters he had commited at the whim of his masters.

"But it can be put to use, I'm sure," Rothargot replied as he looked at the deck.

"How long have you known Marlene?"

"Anger is the source of all great power." He recalled while thinking about the Demon's question.

"About seven years."

"And you love her dearly. You hope to marry her, Cadeyrn?" Rothargot asked curiously, his tail swishing behind him.

"I love her dearly, she reminded me that there is a place beyond the battlefield. However, I would never marry her, and soon we will part our ways." Cadeyrn claimed while staring into the tranquil sea.

What is it that drives all humans Berzerker?

"Tell me Rothargot, what is it you fear?"

Karasu looked at John and Bjorn, shocked. "What are you doing hiding behind me?" She asked them incredulously. "You two are guards! Let go of my arms!"

Karasu turned around and feined sadness. She was still thinking she may be able to use them somehow. They were in the engine room after all. "You use me as a shield. Why are you mean to me? I thought you two liked me." She pouted. too bad I am not blonde. She thought, though stereotypical, she did what she could to play a stupid bimbo. It seemed to work with Rimmy's guards.

Karasu turned for a moment and whispered in Sarik's ear, "I am going to look for Lorathin. He may be of help here, plus we have this other issue."

She turned back to the guards and pouted some more and walked off, hips swinging seductively.

Karasu got to the top of the deck and found Lorathin. "Lorathin! There is a problem by the engine room. It seems this may be a ship linked with Valtrex. There is a gnome who will not let us in the engine room telling us how we will all be tortured for eternity... blah blah blah..." She told him. "Aside from that, he is magical, and Sarik is there so you can work with him on the other issue later. I think they could use your help. I do not think I can help much any longer."

Karasu gave Lorathin directions to the engine room and asked him to please go help them. "I think there is something in there they are hiding."

She completely forgot what she was wearing and went about her business on the ship as usual.

"What do you say, Lorathin?"

Rothargot looked at Cadeyrn for a while. "I fear my master, Valtrox," he replied sternly. He knew of no other fear until he met Rimoru. Now, he feared for her, for their love...and for a certain pink orb...


***********************************************************

"No, come back! We don't even know your name!" cried John.

"And you still owe us a fun night!" shouted Bjorn. John immediately smacked Bjorn on his arm.

"Don't say that! It's not right!"

"Well it's true!"

"So? Now we have to comfort her!"

Both John and Bjorn ran after Karasu in hopes of cheering her up...along with other things.

"There is another fear you're not telling me about, a fear that all mortals share. It is beyond fear of your master and fear for your own life." Cadeyrn said smirking.

"But I'm no mortal," Rothargot replied to Cadeyrn. "And I do not fear losing my life."

"Then what is it you are afraid of losing?" He asked again catching hand in flames.

"Fear of losing?" Rothargot ruffled his wings. He stared at Cadeyrn long and hard again. "I fear losing her..." he whispered.

"Valtrox, or any master for that matter, uses fear to keep their servants obedient. We are not so afraid to die as we are to suffer the loss of the one we love." The human began shaping the fire into Marlene and became lost in its beauty. "That is why I have to leave her, or she will keep suffering at my expense. I can never become as powerful as I want to be with her as my weakness; for a while I envied you demons."

Rothargot stared at the image before turning away from Cadeyrn. "I live to serve Valtrox," he rumbled. Any weakness must be eliminated... he thought to himself sadly.

The demi-god was lost between two devotions. "Let us not speak of this again, mortal," Rothargot said gruffly.

"Very well then, but you can't sit the fence forever demon. You have to make a choice eventually...I did" Cadeyrn said before walking to the back of the ship, sword slung over his shoulder.

I have made my choice, I will let Marlene live her life without me, and she will live long and prosperous. I will serve as Valtrox's attack dog and he will give me power in return. Eventually I might be able to become better than Rothargot and Hebdebza, but until then I'll soften them up a bit.

The mercenary drew a large wicked smile.

Inzikai was studying his maps, deciding which ports to arrive at. He walked out of the captain's quarters, map in hand, as he walked past Rothargot and to Cadeyrn.

"Cadeyrn, how long can four people hold out on the current supplies on the ship?" asked Inzikai, as he kept his eyes on the map, another hand flipping a dagger absent-mindedly.

"There were 16 sailors occupying this boat before us and considering this is a trading vessel." He raised his head calculating for a moment. "We should be able to last at least a month of binge eating. However, I'm not sure how much Rothargot eats so that much is unknown."

"There's barely enough food for three days and I'm not seeing any fresh water down here." Marlene's voice squeeked from below deck. "They must have been docked for supplies when we stole their ship."

"There may be more supplies she just hasn't seen yet." He replied looking at Inzikai worriedly.

"Do you eat, Rothargot?" Inzikai growled, his hands clenching the map roughly.

"I do not eat," he rumbled quietly as he walked to Teralynn.

"Good. I don't eat often..." Inzikai said. "That still leaves less than a month..."

Inzikai curled hips lips over his larger than normal razor like teeth and slowly turned around and began to walk down the stairs. "We had better have more supplies...Valtrox has waited long enough..."

After several more failed attempts, Teralynn gave up. Her increased impatience recently did not help either.

"How long will it take to get to Zlatlan at the rate we are going?" she asked, unused to calculating speed over water.

"About a month or something like that," Inzikai said as he descended the stairs...

Rothargot examined Teralynn for a bit. "Did you succeed?"

He couldn't help but imagine the fiery woman just turning extremely red, before exploding and taking half the ship with it...all in a comical way, of course.

The silver faded from Minos' eyes, and he frowned. "Fine, the gnome can live."

With that, the air rushed back in around the gnome's head with a small popping sound.

Cadeyrn grumbled miserably.

"All of us can go weeks without eating, but without fresh water..." He growled rubbing his stomach.

Lorathin blinked as he was addressed by Karasu. Turning, he came close to falling off his perch on the prow as he caught sight of what she was wearing, or rather not wearing.

"Alright, where is it?" He asked as she explained the problem. Once she gave the directions, he commented, "I'll go see what I can do, oh and you might think about changing."

Getting up, he headed down into the ship toward the engine room.

ooc: 'pologies for not being on, computer access problems today.

Inzikai got below deck, watching Marlene with an evil glint in his eyes. "What are you doing? Where's the supplies?

***********************************************************

"Thank you, Minos," Sarik smiled as he let the spider up, where it crawled back to the gnome.

"Imbeciles...you couldn't run it, elementalist, you don't know where half of the items go...and where's your idiot woman friend? I'm always stuck with a group of idiots! Even the guards are nincompoops! Get outta this area!" shouted the gnome as he shut the door.

Sarik was burning up inside. He knew these people were not dumb, and he especially knew Karasu was not an idiot. As the gnome shut the door, Sarik just snapped.

With a low growl, the paladin marched to the door and kicked it in, much to the surprise of the gnome. The spider leapt at Sarik, who only pointed his sword at the spider, spearing it through it's middle section.

"What are you doing? I told you to get out!" growled the gnome, pulling out a small weapon. It had a strange curved hilt, where several small tanks seemed to be stored. Pipes from each of these tanks ran up the hilt to a long tube. With a strange popping sound, Sarik felt a terrible burning in his chest. But he paid it no heed, he picked up the gnome and tossed him into a barrel of gears, knocking it all over.

As the gnome began to bring himself up, Sarik kicked him back down, before picking him up and tossing him onto a desk again. He pulled out a long elegant dagger, with a beautiful gold hilt, the white dragon Zavers engraved on it. He pushed the scrambling gnome down and grinned evily.

"We may not be as smart as you...but you may be to smart for your own good," growled Sarik. He was about to plunge the dagger into the gnome when the gnome began to speak.

"And you call yourself a paladin? Zavers would shake his head at you...you're not living up to your profession...I did nothing..."

Sarik slowly frowned and looked at the bloodied gnome. What am I doing? I cannot let the others see this...see me... Sarik's face softened up as he looked at the hilt of his dagger, then once again turning to the gnome. "I'm...sorry," he whispered as he felt his eyelids grow heavy. With a quiet gasp, Sarik slumped to the floor, the wound on his chest pouring greenish blood out.

The gnome looked up at Minos. "I suggest you get a healer if you want your friend to remain alive," he coughed.

Karasu went ahead to the engine room only to find Sarik on the floor and bloody.

"What happened! Sarik! Sarik!" She tried to rouse him.

She asked the others, "What happened to him?" Karasu was terrified. His wound looked horrible." Her eyes were wide and tears started running down her face...

"Find Lorathin, or anyone who can heal!! Quickly!"

Karasu tore part of the bottom of her dress off and put pressure on the wound to try to stop the bleeding while they found someone to help him.

Minos beared his teeth to the gnome, "You will pay for this with your life gnome."

Then, his eyes turned white again, but he did not strike out against the elf. Instead, he spoke in Shara's ear informing her of what had happened. Within several moments, she came rushing in the door, her hair disheveled and her clothing apparently thrown on in a great hurry.

When she saw Sarik lying injured on the ground, she gasped. Swiftly she knelt to his side, moving the cloth that Karasu held to his wound, she gave her a nod acknowledging what she had done for Sarik but letting her know that she could take care of it now.

Rolling up her sleeves, Shara closed her eyes and began whispering just under the audible level of the rest of the people in the room. Slowly, the familiar brilliance of Westera's healing powers began to flow from her finger tips and into Sarik wound. This was an incredibly grievous wound, and Shara wasn't exactly full of energy, but she did what she could.

When she had finished, a patch of raw flesh was all that remained of the wound, and the beginnings of scales poked through. Whispering the last word of the prayer, she slumped over, exhausted by the exertion.

Lorathin arrived to see an unconsious Sarik and Shara and asked, "What happened?"

"Oh no! Shara!" Karasu wished Lorathin was there. "Is there anyone else who can heal? I do not know if she needs a healer or if she is just exhausted." She stated. "Could someone find Harlin? Perhaps he knows what to do."

Karasu looked at Sarik. "Thank you Shara." she whispered to her.

Karasu put Sarik's head on her lap and began to stroke his hair, waiting for him to become conscious.

"Sarik... Sarik... are you awake?" Karasu spoke soothingly to him.

"We still do not know what happened to him." She said, as she looked at the others.

Teralynn shook her head. "I guess it is too early to see results just yet."

She grew silent as she tried to think of some way to get the ship to go faster. Presently, an idea dawned upon her.

"Rothargot, have you noticed how hot air, like from a fire or something, tends to rise above colder air? It makes the upper levels of a house warmer than the lower levels. And sometimes, it causes a larger draft coming into the house on the lower levels than when there is no source of hot air. You have taken the heat out of a room before, and I assume you can reverse that too. Perhaps if you fly in front of the ship and continuously put out heat, then it would create a cold draft or wind that would push on the sails and make us go faster?"

"Oh Lorathin! I do not know! Shara collapsed after healing Sarik. I have no idea what happened to Sarik." Karasu then explained to Lorathin what took place.

"Can you help?" Karasu asked with begging eyes.

"I can try, but my skills don't lie in the healing arts." He replied as he kneeled down by Shara. "I'd guess she's just drained thought." He replied as he put a hand on her forehead, casting a spell to get a reading on her energy level.

"But Lorathin! What happened to Sarik? The wound just appeared and he collapsed!" Karasu relayed to him.

"Where was he when the wound appeared?" He asked, "And what did it look like?"

"He was just about to kill that ill-tempered gnome, when he stopped, and the wound just appeared... big and round and deep... bloody. A fatal wound without a healer I would think." Karasu explained to Lorathin.

"I have never seen anything like it. It just appeared. He was not even touched where the wound appeared in his chest."

"I forgot to mention... I do not know if this is important, however, Sarik kicked in the door to the engine room, stomped in and started beating the gnome to death." Karasu told Lorathin.

"Then I'd say ask the gnome what he did." Lorathin commented, "As he's most likely the cause of it."

"You ask him please. He has magic powers as I have none. He may not answer me. It did not look as if the gnome did anything to him except say something to him : 'You call yourself a paladin... What would Zavers think?' or something to that effect. Sarik stopped immediately and the wound formed." Karasu replied.

"I do not know that the gnome did anything other than speak to Sarik."

ooc: Just a note, Sarik has no hair lol. No Skizzarish has hair ;)

"Then, perhaps you should all listen to me next time," the gnome growled as he put a cloth over his bloodied nose, limping over to inspect some of the machines. "Where there you go....you're all not in my engine room. No respect...If Rimoru was here, I'd have you all executed. Except you, Elementalist...you'd be tortured for as long as your ancient shell can hold you for."

The engine room that they were in, was quite small, a massive cylinder in the middle with a grate surrounding a large floating crystal. Several tubes that were connected to the cylinder flowed up to the ceiling where they all went through another doorway, the water room. Several of the spider machines were on the inside of the cylinder, twirling the crystal occasionally, or fixing some small patch of metal or wire. All along the walls were blueprints, bookshelves stocked with giant volumes, a rack of large pressure guns, tables, barrels of strange devices and gadgets, and tables with chairs.

Sarik could feel himself drifting away. He knew he was dieing, he knew he didn't want to...too much to do... To much to do...

Today is not when you die, Sarik, came a deep masculin voice, a soothing one actually...and so familiar...Zavers... You have a lot more to do.

Sarik opened his eyes, letting himself bask in the glory of his master. The massive white dragon with beautiful golden eyes was perched on a throne, angels playfully flying in the beautiful blue sky. Sarik looked down and noticed he stood on beautiful fluffy white clouds that were incredibly soft to the touch.

Go, Sarik. Bring my will, my glory to the unfortunate Cultists...

Sarik nodded to the mighty god as he felt himself drift away into blackness. He recieved a feeling of warmth in his chest, one not very different from the feeling he recieved when he encountered Zavers. It still gave him the feeling of comfort, of joy. He still saw happy memories drift pass him, when he finally awoke.

He gasped harshly, taking in as much air as he could. His eyes were wide open, when he noticed Shara sprawled on the floor next to him. "Please don't tell me she is dead too," he gasped.


"Hello? I'm right here, nitwit," the gnome growled, his current towel already bloody.

***********************************************************

Rothargot looked at Teralynn and cocked his head. "Your mortal world is strange...but their is no cold air in the underworld. I suppose I can try."

The demi-god spread his wings before he looked at Teralynn again. "You're just trying to get rid of me, aren't you?" he smirked.

"So are you responsible for that?" He asked the gnome.

"In a sense, no. Otherwise, yes. Quite a genius weapon," the gnome said as he jumped onto the floor and picked up his pressurized pistol. "Right through his armor..."

Karasu still had Sarik's head in her lap when he awoke.

"Sarik! I was so worried. Something strange happened to you... you almost died!" Tears of happiness ran down her face.

"I am so happy to see you awake. But Sarik," Karasu looked at him puzzled, "do you know what happened to you?"

"So you went a shot Sarik." Lorathin commented, "Why?"

Teralynn shrugged. "If that is how you like to see it. I am more interested in expediency. Oh, and do not heat the air too much. Start small and slowly build it up. It would not be good to have the sails and the boat suddenly burst into flames."

"I-" he was about to tell them everything, but slowly shut his mouth. He lost control again...and he had the opportunity to ask his god what is happening with him...all ruined...

"I don't remember," he whispered. A direct lie...

"You bastard gnome!" Karasu wanted to hack him in half when she realized she had no weapons. Damn.

"We are supposed to trust you to run the engine room? And by the way, for your information, Rimmy would never have me executed. I am her best friend, moron!" Karasu spat at the repulsive creature.

Minos acted quickly to cushion Shara's fall with a pocket of dense, dense air with which he laid her sortly to the ground. Meanwhile, his extrasensory perception through the air was telling him the details of the room. Where all the small knobs were, but not what they did. Still, he sensed the fire and the water and the steam.

"You were wrong gnome, I could power this ship. Draw in water, add fire create steam."

Then, Harlin came crashing in through the door, "What's wrong?" he yelled bowling over John and Bjorn as they tried to prevent his entrance into the room. Attempting to stop a lover fearing for the life of his beloved is never wise.

Stopping at Shara's side he knelt down and watch as Lorathin performed his spell, and then cradled Shara's head in his lap as he put his ear to her mouth. He breathed a sigh of relief, she's breathing.

Meanwhile, Minos had walked to the gnome, and stood towering over where the creature lay injured on the table. He didn't let go of the power yet, instead intensifying it for intimidation value. The air around his almost crackled and groaned at his presence, as the silver glow in his eyes lashed out like bolts of lightning.

When he spoke, it was the voice of the air, not his own. "Mark my words gnome, for I do not make idle threats. When you face the end, it will be I who ushers you towards it."

"Why? Are you truly that stupid? Look at me! Look at my stuff! That maniac of a paladin tried to kill me! Right after your idiot elementalist pet did! Look at my room! It's a mess because he," he pointed to Sarik, "Tried to kill me!" The gnome had been yelling at the group the whole time.

***********************************************************

Rothargot nodded as he flew up in front of the sails and began to glow slightly redder as the head around him began to get hot.

Karasu then took in what Sarik said. She looked him in the eyes as he said it.

Very softly, Karasu kindly said to him: "Sarik, you know that is not true. I can see it in your eyes. Let Lorathin help you... please. For you, your friends, and your god."

"I thought you were naturally messy, and he's not my elementalist, and why did Sarik try and kill you?" Lorathin asked

"You think your magic tricks will scare me? I work with a goddess, you imbecile. And, no, you cannot. This isn't just powered by water and fire." He pointed a bloody finger at the crystal. "You kill me, you all die. Simple as that."

"And as for you, Rimoru's best friend, don't think I'm not around Rimoru enough to know that you are losing your position. She knows you don't trust her."

"You know, now I know why followers of Valtrox turn to him. They have to deal with insolent fools such as all of you!"

"And Now I know why Inzikai is having such an easy time getting the book before you...you're all squabbling over petty things when we could already have been days away from this infernal port!"

Sarik could barely hear the gnome as he looked sadly into Karasu's eyes. Without a word, he nodded slowly, before feeling where his wound was. Whatever hit him had punctured through his heavy armor, right into his body.

The Paladin slowly got up, setting his hands on the floor, but also noticing a small metal pellet. A bloody one at that. The one that blew a hole in his chest.

"Why would I know why the bugger tried to kill me? I said do not enter, and he burst through my door! What do you know, you're all in here!"

Suddenly, a voice broke through the crowd. "What's going on here?" came the captain's voice.

Minos looked at the captain and then at the gnome. "Nothing, nothing. In fact if you just follow me out into the hall, I'll explain to you exactly what has been going on. Before stepping out with the captain, he nodded to Harlin.

Harlin got the idea and then turned back to the gnome. "You forget, gnome, that we're in the middle of the Lustrian Sea. We could kill you and then tell Rimoru that you had defected to Valtrox and had to do it for our own safety. Alternatively, we could drop your body in the water and play dumb if anyone asked questions.

"Also, I'm surprised that the captain doesn't even know how the ship works. Truly poor planning on yours and Rimoru's part," he concluded shaking his head.

"Fuck off you ugly gnome. Some day, you will be nothing but ugly decor in ugly gardens, mark my words! I do not consider friendship a 'position'. You live in fear, you live with fear, you will go to whomever can keep you alive! Coward! And you are not the brilliant shrimp you think you are!" Karasu yelled.

"Now, I am done wasting my vocal cords on some idiot with a one digit IQ!"

She turned to Sarik... "What is that? Sarik?" Karasu then called for Lorathin. She knew Sarik was ashamed of something, but hoped Lorathin could help.

"Lorathin, quick, come and look at this!"

Karasu grabbed up the pellet and handed it to Lorathin. "It fell out of Sarik's chest."

She looked at Sarik sadly... "Remember," she whispered... "you are kind like the Patriarch... no matter what. Do not doubt yourself." Karasu smiled kindly at Sarik.

The captain nodded and walked out with Minos. "Minos, what is happening? Why is Mebbiwik going crazy?" he asked, as if he already knew the Elementalist.

***********************************************************

"Go ahead, tough guy. You'll all die. At this moment, I hold all your lives in my hands and you're all losing precious time to catch up to Inzikai. If you want to kill me, go ahead. Tell Rimoru I defected to Valtrox, which in no way is true."

"Then, we'll see how far in life all of you get when Valtrox rises from the underworld and burns your souls to ashes..."

"And you, Miss Know a lot, I doubt you have any knowledge of how any of these things work. Come on Brilliant one, think of something to counter even my spiders!"

"That would be what caused in injury, unless I miss my guess." Lorathin commented as he took the bullet. "Now let's let this ankle-biter work on his machine so we can go after Inzikai and his ilk."

"What's this? We have a genius in the making here, folks! Thank you wierd-eye. Now get out of here!" growled the gnome.

"Ahh... and I am not speaking to the squat one... The gnome does serve Valtrox, as he is a coward. I wonder what his true intentions are regarding Rimoru... hmmm? He is quite untrustworthy, is he not?" Karasu said in a mocking voice.

Looking at Lorathin, she asked, "What is that thing and what does it mean?" referring to the pellet.

"It's a bullet, essentially an arrowhead without the shaft," He replied, "And that ankle-biter used it to injure Sarik after firing it from his gun, which is an upgrade on a crossbow."

The captain nodded and walked out with Minos. "Minos, what is happening? Why is Mebbiwik going crazy?" he asked, as if he already knew the Elementalist.

"Mebbiwik's upset, throwing around death threats, being really protective about his giant floating crystal. He's generally being a thorn in everyone's side, but it's okay. He's really just compensating, if you know what I mean." Minos added this last part with a wink and nudge before giving a hearty chuckle.

Karasu whispered to Sarik, "Sarik... you must speak with Lorathin now. You cannot let whatever this is go on. Please tell him what you know. I am begging you!"

She turned to Lorathin... "Lorathin, there is more to it than that... please speak with Sarik."


"Well, the soon to be lawn ornament is mistaken." Karasu said. "Your spiders are useless against me."

Suddenly there were 200 Karasus in the engine room jammed together. "With weapons... they are useless."

"Well we should probably get both Sarik and Shara into rooms so they can rest." Lorathin said before he was suddenly squished by Karasus. "Would you mind?"

"Mebbiwik is like that," the captain chuckled. "He's a fiesty greedy old gnome who invents and doesn't want anyone else to have them..."

"Is everyone alright?"

***********************************************************

"Idiot woman! This shows nothing but your low IQ!" growled Mebbiwik as he pushed away from a Karasu.

Sarik soon found himself looking up a Karasu's dress, immediately closing his eyes. "Please Karasu. I'll speak with Azrael...just...let's leave the gnome alone," he chuckled quietly.

"Let's get you and Shara to your rooms." Lorathin commented to Sarik.

"Oh yeah? Wanna be stomped on? I could add a thousand you know. I wonder how your little gnomey bones would take that?" Karasu spat at the irritating gnome.

"You know... I am just tired. This is ridiculous; spending 2 seconds even thinking about this idiot. Marlene is a better inventor. Too bad we cannot trade the two, since he wants to be with V-Man so badly." Karasu sighed.

She morphed back into one.

"I'm sorry Sarik, Lorathin, everyone. I am just stressed." Karasu looked at Sarik; "I am very worried about you. May I come and sit with you while you rest? I would feel better if I could watch over you."

She then realized that, not only was she wearing the barely there dress, but it was torn from when she used a piece on Sarik's wound.

"Uhhh... after I change that is." Karasu rolled her eyes and grinned.

"Is that OK? I want to be around someone who is not going to be arguing and I need to relax a bit. I cannot believe I let that little shit get to me. Maybe you should have finished him." She sighed.

Inzikai got below deck, watching Marlene with an evil glint in his eyes. "What are you doing? Where's the supplies?

"They're in this room here." She said moving past the cots and opened a large, mostly empty storage area. "He doesn't care about Rothargot, Tera, and especially you. In fact, the only reason he's put upwith you to get closer to Valtrox. The rabid dog would kill all of you to get a taste of power."

Marlene heard what Cadeyrn had said about leaving her and she had snapped. She felt betrayed and abandoned by the only person she cared about.

"I wonder if those explosives are enougth to sink this damned vessel." She growled while biting into a stale stick of bread.

Boliad's long legs carried him ahead of the others, and he quickly reached the engine room. "What happened?" he demanded of the two guards as T'zark and Verton arrived behind him. "I heard fighting!"

Meanwhile, Koryl was trying to find the Captain or the navigator, so that he could point out the direction they needed to travel to find Marlene.

On the other vessel, a pile of dust waited in its bag. In this state, Valerith was not even aware of the passage of time.

OOC: Fire practically right next door! That kept me kinda distracted this morning, and I was busy this afternoon.

"Sarik, is it OK if I sit with you?" Karasu asked again.

ooc: LoL Yesturday when I was leaving I was like "NOOOO!! Valerith!!

Inzikai growled as he threw his dagger at the breadstick in Marlene's hand, pinning most of it against the wall. "Don't eat up all our stores..."

Inzikai raised an eyebrow at Marlene. "I cannot be killed, plain and simple...want a demonstration?" he asked wickedly as he pulled out another dagger from his belt.

***********************************************************

"Keep thinking of your imaginary people," the gnome growled as he pushed himself to the table.

Sarik nodded to Karasu. "Of course, Karasu. It would be nice to have some company," he smiled as he stood up.

**********************************************************

Bjorn and John stared at the three warriors.

"Uhh...It's over..."

"Yeah, over. They're in there," John said as he pointed inside the engine room.

"Death would be a blessing compared to what Valtrox would do to you if oh say...those explosives went off and sunk the ship. Perhaps lossing the book in the process." Marlene snarled ripping the blade out of the bread and tossing back to him. "Nothing would make me happier than to see you rip your own throat open. So please, entertain me, or would you rather me do it for you."

Slowly she approached Inzikai with the same grin on her face.

"I'm going to lose him because of you..." She whispered. "I'll repay you for that."

Inzikai caught the dagger with his hand. "Then watch, little Marlene," he laughed as he flipped the dagger in his hand, before plunging it his throat, black blood dripping out as he pulled the blade out. "Amazing is it not?" he gurgled before doing so again.

"Rothargot, come take Marlene...I don't want her causing trouble..." Inzikai called out, blood pouring out of his mouth.

He turned to Marlene, his bloody face mere inches from hers. "You can do nothing against me, you little brat," he growled, blood splattering against Marlene.

"I wonder if you were a pompous ass before or after you were given this power to be stabbed." She growled wiping the thick blood from her tanned face. "Vengence has many forms, only one of which being physical damage, you remember that."

"I wonder if Ar'mai was as unimpressed with you as I am." She barked heading back up deck towards Rothargot annoying Cadeyrn all together. The workbench she occupied earlier was littered with various powders and metals.

The brutish mercenary headed below deck to check the supplies when he saw his boss bleeding heavily from the neck. He turned his head towards Marlene and back again.

"Did she do that?" He mused.

"She couldn't do it if she tried," Inzikai replied as he licked his blood from the dagger before putting it a sheath on his belt.

***********************************************************

Rothargot looked towards Marlene and put on a small smile. "Are you alright?" he rumbled as his wings slowly flapped around him, cooling the incredible heat from his body. He had just been unleashing massive amounts of heat, as Teralynn said, and was still pretty hot.

"Of course. I'm just wondering why someone would go and stab themselves in the neck...it hurts like hell." Cadeyrn rplied recalling his first fight with Beau and the iron rod that was rammed through his throat.

"Any idea on how to make our supplies last. Rothargot can make the ship sail faster and I can boil sea water so its drinkable. As long as we don't do anything overtly stupid, we'll make it there just fine."

---

"He's leaving me." She said half sobbing while wiping the tears and black blood from her cheeks. "He's leaving me for the likes of HIM! Why would he do this..."

Rothargot cocked his head, unsure of what to do. "Who is leaving you for who?" he asked as he crouched low, still unable to get eye level with Marlene.

***********************************************************

"That would be possible. Otherwise, we'll have to act as pirates for supplies amongst the merchants...unless we can find a Cultist ship in the water, but the only ones would be in the trade lanes...several days away from our original route..." Inzikai growled as he pulled out the map from his pocket.

When they got to a room for Sarik to lie down and rest, Karasu broached the subject he had been avoiding.

"Sarik, you rest," she stroked his head. "If you would like a massage, I can do that as well. I am good at it." Karasu smiled.

"However, you have been avoiding the biggest issue. Sarik, do not be ashamed. Please, for my own knowledge, and because maybe I can do something, and, to get it off your chest... What all happened back there. I know you were lying about it. You must be honest. Share your pain with me." Karasu caressed Sarik's face, with a worried look on her face. "Please? I beg you."

Her eyes were beginning to water, but she was forcing the tears back.

"Cadey is leaving me for good this time because I'll just get in the way." She gasped between breaths trying not to hurt her hand from curling it into a fist so hard.

- -

"Time is a luxoury none of us have, especially myself." He growled growing tired the cramped area. The sword on his back was catching every corner and wall he turned around. "Why is it you can stab yourself in the neck for leisure when i'm having trouble just staying alive?"

Sarik closed his eyes and shook his head. He didn't want to speak of his problems, but he didn't want Karasu to cry either.

"I attacked the gnome...I lost control again...I deserve to have recieved that wound," Sarik said as he looked into Karasu's eyes. He slowly pulled off his gauntlets and tossed them to a corner. "Do not shed a tear for me Karasu. I do not deserve it..."

***********************************************************

Rothargot picked up one of the nearby clothes he was going to burn earlier, gently wiping away Marlene's tears. "He just does not want you to be hurt," the demi-god replied. Rid one of their weaknesses...

***********************************************************

Inzikai smiled as his neck slowly stitched itself together, the wood underneath him beginning to rot. "I am already dead, Cadeyrn," he said, smiling wickedly.

"Does he not see how much I am hurt now?" She whimpered trying to msile at the demon.

- -

"I have fought undead before, armies of skeletons and rotting soldiers, but none of them maintain their form as well as you." Cadeyrn said almost startled. "Not to mention you smell a lot better."

"Sarik, it is not your fault. You need not suffer any guilt." Karasu replied.

"You promised you would let Lorathin examine you on the ship. Please please tell him what happened! I am begging you. It is not your fault. May I call for him?" She asked Sarik.

"Valtrox has helped me, Cadeyrn. My body looks new, as though I'm still young, when I am nearly as old as Rimoru..." Inzikai replied with a smile as he began to walk up the stairs. "Not to mention making me stronger...holy weapons cannot defeat me so easily..."

***********************************************************

"I'm sorry, but I do not know, Marlene. I am still new to these mortal interactions," Rothargot rumbled softly.

***********************************************************

Sarik nodded slowly. "Okay...I will speak with Lorathin..."

"All i want is to survive this damned disease." He admitted before drawing a slick smile. "Power would be nice as well."

As they left the bowels of the ship Cadeyrn walked right past Marlene without even nodding his head.

"You were better off without them." She said holding back tears.

"Both could be achieved if you follow Valtrox loyally..." Inzikai said to Cadeyrn before stopping in front of Rothargot.

"What are you doing? Shouldn't you be propelling this ship?" Inzikai growled to the demi-god.

"I am only helping Marlene, as you said," Rothargot replied.

"I said to take her, not help her. Get rid of her...put her in a room or something," Inzikai said as he leaned close to Marlene's face again. "Actually, I would like you to die, but we'll keep you around a little longer." He pulled out his dagger again and smiled as he brought it closer to Marlene.

Suddenly, Inzikai felt himself being gently pulled away. "I shall deal with her," Rothargot replied as pushed Inzikai away.

"He's correct Marlene, you have no right to threaten my superiors or challenge their authority. Now please remain out of the way the rest of the trip." He scolded while Roth took her away.

Cadeyrn's hand moved swiftly to the blade resting on his back.

"I will serve Valtrox loyally, but if you ever bring a blade that close to Marlene again. I'll utterly annihilate you." Cadeyrn growled while lowering his hand off his weapon.

"and no you won't deal with her." He snarled before giving Inzikai a sinister glare (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v723/Luporum/Cadeyrn/Cade.jpg).

Lorathin motioned Sarik onto the bed, as he took a chair. "So what is the problem?" He asked

"Sarik, do not hold anything back." Karasu told him, hoping it was not something serious, but having a bad feeling.

Inzikai only smiled warmly at Cadeyrn. "But of course...then you should deal with her. I do not want her threatening to destroy the ship..." Inzikai replied as he put his dagger back in it's sheath. Once Valtrox is on this world, I'll make sure he kills you after he chains Karasu up for eternal torment...

Rothargot brought Marlene to a doorway, which he couldn't exactly fit in. His eyes disappeared, leaving two dark sockets in the demon's skull. Suddenly, his rock-like body made a loud cruncing noise as it began to squeeze itself together. Soon, he had the figure of his elven self, slightly wider and much taller than he was with Rimoru. He also kept his wings, which remained nearly as large as they had been. Rothargot only moved them around him barely skinny enough to fit through the passage.

His features remained as they were in demon form, his face keeping some of it's draconian features. He continued his journey into a small room. "I can bring some things for you to create if you wish," the demon rumbled softly.

"She threatened to destroy the ship?" He asked surprised before chuckling. "Give me that blade then. This is the exact reason I am making her leave the ship ASAP. That way nothing can hold me back."

Marlene had noticed her guardian stick up for her against Inzikai and she felt better again. She couldn't tell what his intentions were as Rothargot crunched into a more handsome form she winced listening to the agonizing sounds.

"No I'll be fine, tell Cadeyrn I left some ammunition for his 'weapon' downstairs. Oh and Rothy, thanks." She said tilting her head smiling. "I think I like your other form better though."

"Well Lorathin? What is going on?" Karasu asked.

She looked at Sarik and knew how much pain he was in... out of control of his own behavior which was opposite his nature. She turned her head and started to cry.

"It isn't quite like my mortal form..." Rothargot replied as he ran his left hand over his right. "It was the only form that I can think of that fits in these confining hallways." Rothargot walked into the room, before turning around to walk back onto the deck. Suddenly, he stopped, turning sideways, barely able to do so as he looked at Marlene.

"You do not like Valtrox, do you?" he asked quietly.

***********************************************************

Inzikai smiled at Cadeyrn and gave the dagger to him, hilt first.

***********************************************************

Sarik smiled at both of them as he sat on the bed. "I feel...strange about all this," he said quietly, his cheeks turning a dark green again.

"I am having...trouble with myself..." Sarik said as he lost his smile and looked down. "I seem to lose myself in a rage...more often than I used to..."

"I can't tell until Sarik gives me some information." Lorathin replied to Karasu. "So this has happened in the past?"

"I have only heard rumors and read about him, but I don't always trust everything I read." She said frowning a little. "I don't like what he is doing to Cadeyrn, or at least what Inzikai is doing."

- - -

"I hope you realize it was joke boss." He said turning the blade back to Inzi. "The last master who tried to take her away from me was Karasu, and you saw what I did to her."

The mercenary remembers it distinctly, the burning rage that consumed him to pounce and beat his old friend to death. Blood and wet smacking sounds as he threw everything into punches that were never really meant for her.

Inzikai slowly wrapped his fingers around the hilt of his dagger. "As long as you keep her contained, we won't have much of a problem," he grumbled.

***********************************************************

"What are they doing to Cadeyrn?" Rothargot asked curiously, not noticing any difference in the warrior. Atleast not yet...

***********************************************************

Sarik nodded slowly. "As long as I can remember...but I was able to contain it for the most part. My masters helped me greatly, making it so that It was nearly nonexistant..."

"I intend too, but there was a reason why I didn't attack Ar'mai back in the library...even as she rittled my back with a dozen arrows and took Mave's life." He growled growing tired of Inzi's bullheadedness. "The sooner she gets off the ship the sooner you'll like me more."

He drew his big wicked smile again.

- - - -

"He is becoming cold again, and no doubt he will return to how he was before I met him. The heartless, murderering machine that made him infamous on and off the battlefield." She said pushing a candle with the tip of her finger.

Inzikai raised his eyebrow, unsure what Cadeyrn was planning. "What are you planning?" he asked.

***********************************************************

"That is his goal, is it not? I thought Cadeyrn was a fighter," Rothargot replied, clearly not understanding what Marlene was getting to.

"So it only happens when you get mad or are fighting?" He asked, "And anything you can tell me would be helpful."

"Then nothing will hold me back." He said before laughing. "Nothing makes me feel better than swining my sword through lines upon lines of people whether they be armored or not."

- - - - -

"There are better things in this world than heartless killers Roth..." She said while sinking into a chair.

"As long as you do not betray our cause. Remember, Valtrox only rewards the loyal..." Inzikai said as he looked over the railing, water in every direction.

***********************************************************

"You mortals are not created for a single purpose?" Rothargot asked Marlene as he knew that Valtrox's demons were created with certain purposes in mind.

***********************************************************

"Both, I'm afraid...well, when I'm angry. And when I get into battle, I have a chance of getting angry..." Sarik replied to Lorathin.

"So do you know anything else about it?" He asked

"Nothing else that I can think of..." Sarik replied. "So do you think you can help me?"

"Of course not, the benifits outweight the punishments greatly." Cadeyrn began leaning on the railing next to Inzi. "The question is...what are you getting out of this little venture?"

- - - - - -

"We have no given purpose, only the free will to make our own. Human nature is to create our own individual natures." She began nostalgiaclly. "People like Cadeyrn only walk the path they were thrown into because they are afraid to lose what they have. But I have seen him capable of so much kindness, he can be a great hero if he chose to be."

She sighed deeply and looked up smiling.

"That is why I agreed when Cadeyrn said you two were alike, because you are the same in that aspect."

"Possibly, I'm not sure." Lorathin replied

"Well what do you think, Lorathin? That wound and pellet... I do not know that they had anything to do with the future lawn ornament... sorry... gnome." Karasu replied.

"What is your opinion?"

"As I said, I'm not sure." Lorathin replied, "I have to run a few tests, with Sarik's permission of course."

"Sarik, you will give permission, will you not?" Karasu asked her face practically begging for a positive answer. Although she had a fear that the result was not going to be good, she would stand and be there for him no matter what.

"I can hear that it's over. I wanted to know what it was!" Boliad grumbled, as he strode into the engine room.

OOC: Inzikai splatters blood all over Marlene while cutting his own throat as a demonstration, and can't be bothered to spare a drop for Valerith?:( ;)

Minos and the captain were walking silently through the passages returning to the deck of the ship.

When they came to the stair leading to the surface, Minos pulled the captain over behind the stair well into a closet. He looked him firmly in the face, "You look familiar, and you know my name with out me needing to tell it to you. Who are you?"

*************

Carefully, Harlin lifted Shara and carried her from the engine room. After finding his way back to their room, he laid her down on the bed, and sat down in the one chair the small cabin afforded. Then he waited, hoping that she would regain consciousness.

"Sarik, just give your consent... please." Karasu asked him again. She did not want Lorathin to leave.

"What do you see so far Lorathin?" she asked.