NationStates Jolt Archive

The Island continent of Renalle was a large island Continent sitting by itself far away from any other civilisation, For centuries the continent had prospered in it's isolationism, however the Golden Age was not to last that nations collapsed into what would turn out to be a war of self-destruction. It took almost 120 years for this long war to end, and only then because there was no one left to fight. The once great civilisations that lived there where now just rubble and ashes. All the great acheivements they had were gone and it was almost like they never existed at all.

However, they were not forgotten for off the western coast of the large Island continent living in deep waters on the bottom of the Ocean floor was an ancient underwater city. The city of Aquantantis, it's inhabitants where mermaids and could easily handle living in these conditions.

The City of Aquantantis pretty much lived in total isolation until now...

OOC: Hi,This is an Intro thread for my nation. What I'm looking for is for one nation or more nations to come and do whatever they want on the main continent, prefarbly two characters where one of them will get to interact with a mermaid. I'll deal with stuff that happens on the continent as well as the mermaids. Thanks.

OOC: I'll send one of my characters. Will post IC shortly.

Bump?

OOC: Apologies about my delay. I completely forgot about this.

IC: Paul Kesson had always been a solitary person. He had been a soldier for most of his life, and a university professor for the last several years. It was his long-awaited sabbatical, finally. After succesful nomination by his students, he received the Sinclair fellowship for academic excellence, and was awarded two years off with full pay. It had taken him many months of studying charts, travelling across nations, hitchiking rides on passing freighters, but he finally reached the isolated continent. Kesson was a pure survivalist in every sense of the word. He had been a soldier since he was fourteen. He fired his first gun when he was eight. He killed someone in cold blood for the first time when he was fifteen. Ever since then, his life was one of silence. He rarely spoke ,and always seemed cold and distant, but he selected his words carefully, and when he did speak, his few words spoke volumes. He presently spent his every day simply foraging for food. Hunting, fishing, cooking, finding natural medicines, and in the time left over, writing his book. He had never been more at peace.

"Oscar Foxtrot Kilo, please respond." Hs radio chattered. Why do I keep batteries in this thing? "This is Oscar Foxtrot Kilo, Savvy. What's up?"

"Paulie! Naval intel is searching the area for smugglers! My group will be operating in your area soon. Mind if I pay a visit."

"Affirmative." He spoke.

"Right. Light me a flare and I'll visit you."

"I meant, yes I mind." Some people could not appreciate solitude.

"Paulie, don't be cold..." The voice whined.

If I let him find me now, he'll go away faster. "Look for green smoke."

"Roger!" The voice on the radio yelled as Kesson rooted through his emergency supplies. He walked slowly toward the beach and lobbed the small flare into the water. It fizzled slightly and then a large white flame could be seen and plumes of bright green smoke rose into the sunny sky.

"I see you Kesson. ETA 15 minutes." THe voice chatted as a small boat cruised towards Kesson, who sat on the rocks, contemplating the water.

Off the shore there where two Aquantantians, Mermaids both of them.

They had taken an interest in the man that had arrived on the continent that had not seen human habitation for quite a long time. The mermaids kept themselves on the surface with their equivalent of treading water, The waves and choppy water gave the mermaids the perfect cover from being seen, combined with being at an angle of around 55 degrees.

The smoke was obviously some sort of signal and that meant more people coming despite their interest, these mermaids where shy about groups of people and so as they saw the ship coming in from afar they dived down into the water creating a splash with their tail. They would be back... but at a time when they felt more comfortable.

Just inland of there rocks there was a forest.. a forrest that seemed to be extremely old, it surely would provide all manner of food that the survalist academic could want it also screams out to be explored. Who knows what manner of secrets it hides.

While Paul Kesson was waiting for his "friend" there was a slight discolouration in the beach that was to his left about 10 meters away, which was strange. as he had just noticed it.

"Paul." The man was smiling as he jumped off the small boat he drove onto the beach to prevent it from floating away. "Nice little place you got here."

Paul looked back at the makeshift tent and the forest in the background. "One could not ask for a more perfect environment. What brings you here, Lloyd?"

"Naval Intel is investigating rumors of smugglers moving parts for nuclear weapons. The ysuspect it was the same guy who lifted that load of gun parts."

"Any luck?"

"Frankly, I don't think they know what they are doing." He walked around the beach, noticing the discolored spot, and bending over to investigate. "Whats this here?"

"I don't know whats with this island." Paul spoke, looking into the surf. "I have had barely enough time to enter the forest and forage. It seems as if this entire island is hiding something. In a time of technology and global satelites, the unknown is such a joy..." He said, walking over to the discolored spot, extending a gloved hand to touch it."

The Dyellians were what one might call... politely, prone to taking property that wasn't precisely theirs. The idea of a contindent devoid of people and full of unclaimed treasure was obviously quite interesting. So a Naval Destroyer was dispatched to the area to survey what they could salvage...

The vessel in question the HMS Rat was a twin screwed diesel machine that belched out a huge cloud of poluting smoke as it raced to it's destination. The Dyellians were also a race who, although well known for their belligerence, were averse to open conflict. In other words, they would always talk before doing anything silly.

The Rat chugged along, doing a sonar scan for ships that may have sunk and provide additional booty for divers...

As Paul touched the discoloured spot a thin layer of sand was parted to reveal some very heavily rusted metal, if they where to excavate around the metal further they found that it could have very easily been the barrel to a coastal defense gun, left to waste away. It seemed to say that there was once a thriving and at least somewhat technically advanced society that had lived on the Island and hidden in amongst the the trees of the forrest, the answers to why the thriving civilisation fell.

As for the Dyellians, they where looking for a suken ship and that was exactly what they found, a suken ship rested on the floor of the ocean, it was deep enough that it was nearing the depth limits that humans could dive to without suffering but stilll shallow enough that it could be salvaged if they wanted to. As for the Island itself any significantly mysterious enough location is bound to end up in tales of great daring and great rewards, however the only thing that had so far is known about the island is it's shape.

OOC: Which incidently can be found here (http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f387/Bazalonia/Aquantantis/Renalle.gif) The colours indicate height from bright green just above sea level to brown to just below the snow line. More brown and less green... the higher it is.

The crew of Rat noted the position of the wreck, plotting it on charts on the bridge. They lacked the equipment to dive to that depth and carry out a propper survey though (having only a compliment of 10 frogmen who were really there to examine and repair underwater hull damage).

An hour or so later the little Destroyer (really no bigger than a Frigate), dropped anchor in a sheltered harbour on the North side of the island. About an hour later a launch was put out. It jetted towards the coast kicking up a spray in it's wake. Eventually reaching a seemingly deserted beach. There were 4 sailors, armed with shotguns against potential dangers. They wore a navy blue uniform with black belts and webbing, the sleeves and trousers were long, although the material was lightweight, perfect for the tropical conditions of the Dyellian Coast.

Upon landing two of the sailors played sentry with the boat, while the other two decided to take a walk into the interior. As they left, one of the men in the boat pulled his cap down over his face, reclining in his chair with his shotgun over his lap. He was quickly asleep, although the other, who seemed a little more nervous stayed awake.

For anyone observing the group, Dyellians were a small, slightly built caucasian race, with just about uniform black hair and dark eyes. There was one exception, which was the snoozing sailor, he was darker, almost looking like a Malay, he was in fact a Benjian from the far West of the country. In years past Fasta Benj and Dyelli Beybi had fought a long series of wars. Eventually culminating in the Dyellians seizing a 'buffer zone' along the border. This had become the province of 'East Benjia'.

"Just some algae or something." Lloyd dismissed the discolortion.

"No. Wrong color."

"Iron ore?"

"Iron oxide, judging by color" He scraped away at the sand. He stood up and kicked away at the sand. "Naval emplacement judging by shape, though it is too long for something arcane." he pawed at the sand a bit. "Judging by barrel dimensions..." He dug a trench along the barrel. "this is a very modern design, although it has been here for probably hundreds of years." Lloyd's radio went off and he raised it to his ear. "Smugglers?" Kesson asked. "No. Another power on the island. Frigate. Exploratory vehicle. Recon says men on the island."

"Anyone on The Council's shit list?"

"No. Dyellian. Have nothing on them."

"I'm going to have Naval Intel hail them. Kesson do you have a piece?"

"I've got a .44 cannon and a Type 2 Automatic. Will I need them?"

"No. Just Keep them in case."

Paul smiled. "I hate working in intelligence." He went back into his tent and came out with the revolver in his shoulder holster and his automatic on his hip holster. Kesson began exploring the woods, looking for signs of others on the island.

Dyellian ship, be advised that Siapian Intelligence is operating in the region. Suspect smugglers operating in region. Please respond.

The crew of Rat noted the position of the wreck, plotting it on charts on the bridge. They lacked the equipment to dive to that depth and carry out a propper survey though (having only a compliment of 10 frogmen who were really there to examine and repair underwater hull damage).

An hour or so later the little Destroyer (really no bigger than a Frigate), dropped anchor in a sheltered harbour on the North side of the island. About an hour later a launch was put out. It jetted towards the coast kicking up a spray in it's wake. Eventually reaching a seemingly deserted beach. There were 4 sailors, armed with shotguns against potential dangers. They wore a navy blue uniform with black belts and webbing, the sleeves and trousers were long, although the material was lightweight, perfect for the tropical conditions of the Dyellian Coast.

Upon landing two of the sailors played sentry with the boat, while the other two decided to take a walk into the interior. As they left, one of the men in the boat pulled his cap down over his face, reclining in his chair with his shotgun over his lap. He was quickly asleep, although the other, who seemed a little more nervous stayed awake.

For anyone observing the group, Dyellians were a small, slightly built caucasian race, with just about uniform black hair and dark eyes. There was one exception, which was the snoozing sailor, he was darker, almost looking like a Malay, he was in fact a Benjian from the far West of the country. In years past Fasta Benj and Dyelli Beybi had fought a long series of wars. Eventually culminating in the Dyellians seizing a 'buffer zone' along the border. This had become the province of 'East Benjia'.

The Dynellians doing Sentry duty at the boat could not have had better weather, although it was as bit hot. The Benjian remained fast asleep, around an hour about the others had left into the interior the sentry that remained awake saw something strange, there where 2 mermaids that leap out of the water right before his eyes, the tail and everything was there it was a mermaid.

(OOC: Just to make it clear, I'm only wanting the one Dynellian to see the Mermaids. Thanks)

....

The Dyellians that headed into the interior soon found themselves entering a dense forest, infact it was not just a forrest it was a full blown jungle the thick canopy far above their heads blocked out a lot of the sun. Most sattelites would struggle to monitor the Dynellians movement, however if the Dynellians had strong GPS locators their location would be known.

Inside it was a tropical rainforest, apparently this island received a lot of rain in it's rain season. Which you could be glad it is the dry season. Nothing really stood out. However about 5 hours into the trip they discovered a long strip about 180m wide where no plants grew at all. The ground was hard, but that was probably just due to the climatic conditions of all the water running off and the summer sun drying it off. Whatever caused this strip to be so barren certainly allowed the Dynellians should they head that far in to communicate with the ship.

On the bridge of the Rat the commanding officer, a certain Lieutenant-Commander Shaw was snoozing in his chair when the message came in. The sound of boots on the metal grating woke him, and he raised a bloodshot eye to stare at the Rating who was saluting him so smartly...

"Yes?"

"Message Sir." the Rating barked, his eyes fixed at a point a few centimetres above the Lieutenant-Commander's head.

"Who from?" Shaw grunted in reply. Dyellian troops tended to be quite casual when they weren't on parade, and the Rating's behaviour was quite peculiar... he must be new, "Not that funny ship we picked up on radar earlier?"

"Yes Sir!" the Rating replied too loudly, but without supplying any additional information.

Shaw sighed, "OK, hand it over."

The offending transcription was shoved into his hand. He looked at it, looked up and realised the Rating was still standing stiffly to attention, it was all too odd... "Off you go then, go back to whatever you were doing before." he waved the man away.

The Rating saluted, Shaw responded with a sloppy, much more Dyellian salute, and watched the man leave... must be new. He turned his attention to the note, they had said 'please', it went a long way in Dyellian circles. People who made demands usually ended up with guns pointing at them.

"Alice!" he yelled across the room.

A moment later his 2ic, Lieutenant Alice Hope appeared, "Yessir?" she asked, brightly.

The Dyellian armed services were odd in that there were a very high number of women serving, "I'm assuming that this message came from that ship?"

She nodded, "Yep, what do you make of it?"

"Well it would be rude not to reply, but I don't like this Intelligence business, all rather fishy, sounds like back in the day when we used to have a Commisaar on each ship." he pondered the message, scratching his chin thoughtfully, "I don't know if they're trying to frighten us away or something."

She shrugged and grimaced, it was, Shaw decided much more normal behaviour. People often mistook the Dyellian lack of formality for incompetence. That was a mistake, "I really don't know Sir, I guess we'll find out in time."

He nodded, "Yeah, I guess... send them a message back, tell then we're doing a survey, haven't seen any smugglers, but will be sure to let them know if we do... After that check with the Petty Officer in charge, Williams I think? Anyway check to see how we're looking on the rations front, might not hurt to supplement it with some local produce, and it would give the troops something to do."

-----

From: HMS Rat
To:Unidentified Siap Ship

We are here on a surveying expedition on behalf of the Dyellian Government. We have not encountered any smugglers or sign of their activity. Were we to encounter such persons we would immediately inform yourselves.

Please advise on the nature of 'Intelligence' Activities as we have a small shore party.

"Hey!" the Sentry who was actually paying attention nudged the other.

He came awake with a splutter, grabbing at his gun, "What's happening?"

"OK... you must have missed it." the first nodded towards the now clear patch of water.

"Missed what?" the Benjian demanded truculently.

The Dyellian looked slightly abashed, "Well it might have been a dolphin or something, but I could have sworn I saw mere-folk, of the feminine persuation."

In most countries that might have sparked laughter rather than the narrowing of the eyes, and suspicious glances out to Sea. The Dyellians lived South of a country ruled by sentient Walruses, had fought wars with elves and allied with Orcs. Sentient non-humans were not something unknown, "You weren't dreaming?"

"No." the other Sailor said categorically, "I was quite awake."

The Benjian shivered despite the warm weather, paranoia and fear of the unknown were begining to set in, "Radio back to the ship." he ordered, "I suddenly feel very exposed out here."

----------

Back in the interior the Rating one of the duo sat on the strip of hard ground, "Well isn't this nice." she complained, "Send us trecking through the jungle to see if we can find anything, I don't see any Officers out here, do you."

"No." the other member, a somewhat nervous lookin male was staring at the barren patch of earth, "Say Yasmine..."

The woman was slightly darker than the average Dyellian, not many people could tell the difference between the groups, but she was a D'Reg, from one of the desert tribes in the interior of the country. The true 'Dyellians' lived along a broad river and the coastline, and basically everywhere that could be farmed. The had conquered the somewhat disorganised D'Reg tribes several centuries before. They now made up about 10% of the population, many of whom had become excedingly wealthy off the oil trade.

"Yeah?" she had closed her eyes, reclining back on the bare earth, tugging her cap down to shade her eyes.

"Why do you suppose nothing is growing here?" the other sailor ventured.

One dark eye opened, "The Lord alone knows, do I look like I understand geography?"

"No, but there must be something wrong with the soil here... and you're lying on it."

She sprung up suddenly, aparently this had caused some alarm, "You don't suppose it's radioactive or something do you?"

The other sailor was dusting down her back, "Dunno... could be, the weird thing is though, it's long, this isn't just some random clearing."

"Got an hour before we need to turn around." the D'Reg, by her insignia a Petty Officer, was thinking.

The other sailor seemed to realise where this was going, "Oh no... I've seen the movies." he protested, "You go wandering into places you don't understand and wham something happens and you die horribly."

Yasmine laughed, turning around and patting her Junior on the shoulder, her tone managing to be both consoling and mocking, "Yeah, I've seen them too, we show movies in Quisa you know, it isn't all dust storms and caravan raiding... and in case you hadn't noticed we aren't in one... and we've got guns. We're going to explore, that's an order. When we get back you can get a geiger counter run over your boots or whatever. There's probably a perfectly good explanation for all this."

She paused, "Just radio base and tell them what we're doing first."

From Long Patrol Group 42
To HMS Rat

We do not wish to interfere with your activities. Our activities are sea-based and The Community has no interest in the land. We are looking for possible movement of weapons caches that belong to an arms dealer operating in our region, and we believe he is receiving help from an outside organization. Watch for suspicious activity. Also be advised one of our officers and a civilian are on the land.

***

Kesson looked at the strip. "Hmm. If I didn't know any better, I would say this was an airstrip at one point."

"It can't be more than 200 metres."

"Thats enough to fly a 172 off of."

"Bullshit."

"Well, I could."

"Paul, your full of it."

Paul smiled. Indeed a rare thing. "This island seems to be hiding a lot of things from us." He walked down pinching the sand in his hand and tasted it.

OOC: For soil composition, if it has salt or metals, its salty. If its basic (many industrial chemicals, soaps, phosphates, pesticides, borax or certain plants used to grow there) it will be bitter. If it has acidic quality (other industrial chemicals, explosives or weapons) it will be sour. If it had other chemicals (tar, fuel, other pesticides, solvents) it would taste like either vodka or very sweet.

From: HMS Rat
To: Long Patrol Group 42

Message understood. We will notify of anything suspicious, we have 4 persons on shore at this moment.

----------

OOC: Are these people on the same strip of land the Dyellians are exploring?

OOC: oops. I had thought Aquantantis was replying to me. I will leave Aquantantis to be the judge of that.

OOC: The strip is very long, as long as a pilot could avoid the trees any plane could land here... If it was flat which it isn't there are small contours and bumps throughout the entire strip. and runs nearly north south but not quite

Also the strip is so long that Sboth your guys characters could be on the strip and not even know the others where there, but I suppose if Paul managed to get a favourable wind... he might, bre able to tell.

Sorry forgot to mention this but there are various types of animals that you would expect in a jungle/forest like this. Fell free to make use of them in any approriate way.

As for the strip that Siap is in I will assume that it is the same as the one the Dyellians are in.

Also feel free to find appropriately deteriorated weaponry of about WWII era at whim.

IC:

The ground was quite acidic, there was a faint hint of gunpowder even after all this time. The Strip was infact once the frontline of a war between two opposing forces, one that lived on the east of the Island and the other mainly on a semi rugged plateau that was pretty central on the Island.

The question was if were to explore which way to the east or to the west?
War of this magatude and style meant civilisation, civilisation meant history and history meant records... but where?

*bump*

"Whats the word? Airstrip?"

"The struts of a 172 would be killed by this." Kesson looked at the scars on the ground.

"What spirits crossed this land, witch doctor?" Lloyd affected a deep voice.

Kesson thought. "No idea. Probably something industrial and really nasty. Maybe a spill cleared this out, but there's gunpowder in it." He removed his knife and began scraping through the Earth until he reached a metal pipe, which he excavated.

Lloyd crouched down and looked. ".50 BMG. This was an emplacement"

"Or something like that. Whatever this place was, it was hotter than hell's heart." Kesson extracted an unexploded tank shell, gently setting it on the ground and quickly backing away. "They must have been panic shooting and getting pounded. Obviously were defending something strategic. Or there was a gunpowder factory nearby and it was flooded and all the water settled here. Let's see what they were trying to save." Paul and Lloyd walked into the jungle, when Lloyd saw a trip wire. "Bouncing Betty, Paul." The two men took position behind trees and Paul took a long stick and tripped the wire. They both cringed as the small device was flung into the air and fell back down harmlessly. "Must've corroded the fuses. or were very lucky." The two walked a healthy distance away from the mine, looking for more evidence.

@Dyellians:

As it was obvious to the Aquantantians, the 2 of them, both of the Dyellians where aware they were there and so, despite their usual shyness they decided to head towards the beach. They started coming towards the beach making sure to jump out of the water quite spectacularily to make it obvious they were coming and for fun as well.

@Siap:

After they went a safe distance away from the mine they saw a surprising upright stone structure.... It had windows, that are now just holes in the stone wall and an opening where a door once once was. Inside if you could call it that (a tree that had grown inside the building had forced it's way through the roof. A small family of a kind of chipmunk was lving in a burrow that had one of it's entrances in the building. A heavily degraded piece of cloth was drapped over what probably was the only piece of furnature that had seemed to survive in reasonable working condition. It was made from some apparently pretty hardy wood, though of course it was not left unscathed from weathering. If they opened the doors they would find it quite a struggle

OOC: Should Dynellia explore I'll take it that he went in a different east-west direction and he'll find something eerily similiar... although with out the chipmunks. The first lot of answers coming soon.

"Don't alarm them or make any rash moves." the Benjian hissed to his accomplice, slowly lowering his weapon and putting it on the floor of the boat.

"Yeah." the Dyellian grunted in alarm, "I said there were things out here. Didn't I say it?"

"You did..." the Benjian stood up in the launch, "Let's hope they speak English." he muttered.

"Umm hello?" he called out, then added upder his breath, "Make sure you have me covered, I don't want to be someone else's lunch."

----------

Meanwhile inland the bickering Dyellians were dithering around by the front of the building, "I say we should go back." the Rating was whining.

"Sure." the D'Reg woman smiled, it was not a pleasant smile, "You do that, I'm going to head in, oh yes, if I don't come out again, you can radio the ship and explain your reluctance."

She pushed her way into the room while Paul stood miserably outside, worrying over what creatures from hell lived inside...

"Hey!" she called, "I reckon we could doss down in here if the worst comes to the worst."

Paul apparently didn't like the idea, just looking nervous as he peered into the interior.

"No use hanging around." Yasmine replied, "So what do you suppose this is?"

She nodded at the piece of furniture and Paul knew in his quailing heart that she fully intended to open it...

"Don't alarm them or make any rash moves." the Benjian hissed to his accomplice, slowly lowering his weapon and putting it on the floor of the boat.

"Yeah." the Dyellian grunted in alarm, "I said there were things out here. Didn't I say it?"

"You did..." the Benjian stood up in the launch, "Let's hope they speak English." he muttered.

"Umm hello?" he called out, then added upder his breath, "Make sure you have me covered, I don't want to be someone else's lunch."


OOC: I'll wait a bit longer for Siap to see what he posts before continueing on what's happening inland.

IC: The mermaids looks confused at each other they gestured to each other, obviously their language was a type of sign language, after a few seconds they tried to approximate "Umm... Hello" but it sounded more like "Awwm . He-woo" this followed by a gesture that they used for greeting each other.

@Siap:

After they went a safe distance away from the mine they saw a surprising upright stone structure.... It had windows, that are now just holes in the stone wall and an opening where a door once once was. Inside if you could call it that (a tree that had grown inside the building had forced it's way through the roof. A small family of a kind of chipmunk was lving in a burrow that had one of it's entrances in the building. A heavily degraded piece of cloth was drapped over what probably was the only piece of furnature that had seemed to survive in reasonable working condition. It was made from some apparently pretty hardy wood, though of course it was not left unscathed from weathering. If they opened the doors they would find it quite a struggle

OOC: Should Dynellia explore I'll take it that he went in a different east-west direction and he'll find something eerily similiar... although with out the chipmunks. The first lot of answers coming soon.

Kesson looked at the structure. "A residence? Looks pretty weathered, but if we go inside I bet we could find out some identification of who or what kind of people lived here." After both of them tried the door unsuccesfully, they entered through the window, looking for books, monuments and technological and religious items.

OOC: Sorry for the OOC post, but I want to know if its to late for me to join? If not I would like to join and I would like to do a small part.

Meanwhile inland the bickering Dyellians were dithering around by the front of the building, "I say we should go back." the Rating was whining.

"Sure." the D'Reg woman smiled, it was not a pleasant smile, "You do that, I'm going to head in, oh yes, if I don't come out again, you can radio the ship and explain your reluctance."

She pushed her way into the room while Paul stood miserably outside, worrying over what creatures from hell lived inside...

"Hey!" she called, "I reckon we could doss down in here if the worst comes to the worst."

Paul apparently didn't like the idea, just looking nervous as he peered into the interior.

"No use hanging around." Yasmine replied, "So what do you suppose this is?"

She nodded at the piece of furniture and Paul knew in his quailing heart that she fully intended to open it...

The Drawer eventually came open with a bit of force, inside there was what was a map, the map was incased in glass, which probably was the reason it laster for some long and had "MDCCLXXVI - Renalle" in lettering on the top of the map and the map itself was slightly faded but still easily readable. The maps showed a number of miltary important positions including a mine field that they discovered and only skirted before.

There was a main city aparently only 15 km away as well a main military bunker that was buried under it. Thery only barely stopped the glass encasing the map from breaking and if they look at they might find a thin film covering the inside of the glass. What it is or what it does is unsure.

Kesson looked at the structure. "A residence? Looks pretty weathered, but if we go inside I bet we could find out some identification of who or what kind of people lived here." After both of them tried the door unsuccesfully, they entered through the window, looking for books, monuments and technological and religious items.

The Siapians and Dynelians had without knowing that each other where there went different ways, the Siapians went east while the Dynelians went west.

The building was too small to generally be considered a residence and it was only one room, though that is by no means difinitive evidence. Inside there was a hard form of an early plastic... Bakelite, it was in the form of a casing for something that looked liked it was a radio transmitter from the mid 1920's though it did not look like it was powered, nor if it was in working operation, there was a big hole in the side where some birds had a nest.

OOC: Sorry for the OOC post, but I want to know if its to late for me to join? If not I would like to join and I would like to do a small part.

OOC: I think I may have a part for you Somethingey. Do you have any IM software I'd like to talk with you about it in Real time. Or you can find me on IRC... I'll TG appropriate stuff to you when we work out how we communicate further.

OOC: You can use my extra email address to tell me the part. I have a IM, but its acting like crap and won't work or you could just TG me.

eddieisblue@aim.com

OOC: You can use my extra email address to tell me the part. I have a IM, but its acting like crap and won't work or you could just TG me.

eddieisblue@aim.com
OOC: TG coming your way. Further discussions to take place via TG

The building was too small to generally be considered a residence and it was only one room, though that is by no means difinitive evidence. Inside there was a hard form of an early plastic... Bakelite, it was in the form of a casing for something that looked liked it was a radio transmitter from the mid 1920's though it did not look like it was powered, nor if it was in working operation, there was a big hole in the side where some birds had a nest.

"Radio?"

"Maybe." Kesson kicked the box and listened to the flapping. "Birds. If a radio or a computer has a hole in it, they'll go in and nest. Same with squirrels and other creatures. If its got a battery or a transformer, they'll nest against it using the wires to build a nest for the heat. Looks like a Bakelite casing. Check and see there are power lines in this building, check under the floorboards, might be hidden compartments."

"Radio?"

"Maybe." Kesson kicked the box and listened to the flapping. "Birds. If a radio or a computer has a hole in it, they'll go in and nest. Same with squirrels and other creatures. If its got a battery or a transformer, they'll nest against it using the wires to build a nest for the heat. Looks like a Bakelite casing. Check and see there are power lines in this building, check under the floorboards, might be hidden compartments."

Paying particular attention they noticed what should be a power cord coming from the rear of the case it descending to the floor. At floor level however the cable was chewed through, three single wires where ther red, black and green.

Obviously there was power to this building at some point and as long any battery, that might happen to be in the radio case, run out of juice which would be quite appropriate to assumed.

Something else slighlty interesting happened, when Paul kicked the case the case became slighly dislodged before returning back to it's resting position.

bump

"What the hell?" He said, kicking the case multiple times, observing the phenomenon. "Magnetized?" Paul kicked the case again and attempted to wedge his knife in so it would prevent the case from returning to its original resting position...

"What the hell?" He said, kicking the case multiple times, observing the phenomenon. "Magnetized?" Paul kicked the case again and attempted to wedge his knife in so it would prevent the case from returning to its original resting position...

It was more of a fluke that the Bakelite case landed flat the first kick than anything else... Subsequent kicks infact just made the case suffle forward... Too many more and the case would collapse on the ground.

From what they could see so far in the case it was full of electronics, mostly degraded from exposure to the elements

*Gives the thread a quick sharp BUMP!

(OOC: My apologies for dissappearing, RL got in the way lol)

The Benjian who seemed to be doing the talking waved at the mermaids, "Do you speak English?"

"Sprichst du Deutsches?" the other supplied hopefully.

These probably weren't the sharpest duo from the ship...

----------

The D'Reg NCO frowned vaguely at the map she'd uncovered, "I'm reading that as 1778." she eventually ventured.

"Nice, now let's get out of here." the Rating whined.

She wasn't listening though. An almost suicidal curiosity had overtaken her, "We'll sleep here tonight, radio base and tell them what we've found. We're looking at 15 kilometres to this town or city or whatever, so we'll go there tomorrow, find some old building to sleep in and explore properly the next day."

"You're insane." the Rating breathed.

Paul and Lloyd grew bored of exploring the small room, concluding it must have been a communications office. They proceeded further inland, stopping occasionally to marvel at the decrepit pieces of military equipment, looking for larger facilities, or anything to give them a clue of what was here before.

OOC: Sorry for the unimaginative post

(OOC: My apologies for dissappearing, RL got in the way lol)

The Benjian who seemed to be doing the talking waved at the mermaids, "Do you speak English?"

"Sprichst du Deutsches?" the other supplied hopefully.

These probably weren't the sharpest duo from the ship...


The mermaids looked at each other and had no idea what they were saying, Mermaids used sign-language to communicate, not verbal language.

After some time one of the mermaids beckoned the non-Benjian Dynelian to come closer to them. Obviously they could not go to him because they did not have the feet.


The D'Reg NCO frowned vaguely at the map she'd uncovered, "I'm reading that as 1778." she eventually ventured.

"Nice, now let's get out of here." the Rating whined.

She wasn't listening though. An almost suicidal curiosity had overtaken her, "We'll sleep here tonight, radio base and tell them what we've found. We're looking at 15 kilometres to this town or city or whatever, so we'll go there tomorrow, find some old building to sleep in and explore properly the next day."

"You're insane." the Rating breathed.

They walked the last 15 kilometers it was not until about 3 kilometers left to go before they started seeing various buildings. most where decript and had fallen down but there where still a couple of buildings that they found that would provide decent cover. They chose one and started to settle in the for the night.

(OOC: Now time for Somethingey.... Bwhahahahahahahha)

Paul and Lloyd grew bored of exploring the small room, concluding it must have been a communications office. They proceeded further inland, stopping occasionally to marvel at the decrepit pieces of military equipment, looking for larger facilities, or anything to give them a clue of what was here before.

OOC: Sorry for the unimaginative post

As they headed further in they stumbled across asome sort of compound concrete was visible under the mass of litter but a number of large trees hard managed to force their way through the concrete. It almost seemed a marvel that the concrete was still there. In the compound there where a number of buildings however all had a large lean to them they where pretty much upright. There was one that stood out as being particularily larger than the others.

(OOC: Now time for Somethingey.... Bwhahahahahahahha)

OOC: Ok, my turn is coming up:D. Or am I suppose to do it now? Also I 've been planning this for some time and I think I got some good stuff.

OOC: Pretty much any time from now. You can do it now or wait till they start exploring, in the middle of the night, or even as they enter. Your choice.

Neither of the Dyellians in the boat seemed thrilled with the idea of getting into the water. They stood where they were, looking slightly unsure as to what to do.

The two put their heads together briefly, then, instead of wading out to sea, pushed the launch off the beach and slid slowly into sea, closing on the mermaids...

----------

The two inland set up something approaching a camp in a building. There was no food, no fire and only great coats for warmth, although they didn't feel this would probably be necessary. The D'Reg NCO took the first watch, leaning up against a wall, cradling her shotgun on her lap. Were anyone to find her, they would not find her an especially alert sentry, but she wasn't expecting anything...

Neither of the Dyellians in the boat seemed thrilled with the idea of getting into the water. They stood where they were, looking slightly unsure as to what to do.

The two put their heads together briefly, then, instead of wading out to sea, pushed the launch off the beach and slid slowly into sea, closing on the mermaids...



The mermaids seemed to giggle among themselves before going underwater, the water was clear and shallow so they could be seen from the boat, both of the mermaids seemed to perform their moves with perfect synchronicity, leaping out of the water using the side of the boat to prop themselves up and lean into the boat to kiss the white, non-Benjian Dynellian, the other Dynelian received no such attention from the mermaids. And with that the Mermaids swam away.... though they would be back... Just a matter of when.

There was general puzzlement among the crew of the Dyelli Beybian launch. The Benjian frowned at the water, while the Dyellian looked pensive, "Well that's got to be worth something." the Dyellian eventually commented.

"Turn us around and put us back to shore." the Benjian ignored his comment.

Right then though the radio crackled into life. The Benjian took it, "Yes Sir... Right away... Thank you, we'll be back soon with a full report, there are some unusual things we've spotted."

He put the reciever back down with a click of finality, "Scratch that." he grunted, "Just take us back to the ship, seems like Yasmine has decided to camp out overnight. We'll be back in the morning."

There was general puzzlement among the crew of the Dyelli Beybian launch. The Benjian frowned at the water, while the Dyellian looked pensive, "Well that's got to be worth something." the Dyellian eventually commented.

"Turn us around and put us back to shore." the Benjian ignored his comment.

Right then though the radio crackled into life. The Benjian took it, "Yes Sir... Right away... Thank you, we'll be back soon with a full report, there are some unusual things we've spotted."

He put the reciever back down with a click of finality, "Scratch that." he grunted, "Just take us back to the ship, seems like Yasmine has decided to camp out overnight. We'll be back in the morning."

The next morning when the launch boat returned to the shore it was not long until the mermaids returned. This time they carried with them an underwater respirator something that you can put in your mouth and it filters the oxygen and other necessary gases out of the water. They had something they wanted to show them.

OOC: I'm not sure what Somethingey is upto or if Siap will post again but I have sent them both TG's

The next day the pair returned with a third party member. A slim balding man, probably in his mid fourties, with typical dark Dyellian eyes behind his spectacles. What was left of his hair he had opted to shave in an attempt to imply the baldness was deliberate. He was in fact the ships's surgeon as there was no biologist onboard.

He frowned at the mermaids, cocking his head on one side, "I take it they don't speak English?" he muttered to the Benjian.

"No Sir." came the whispered reply, "Not a word. We tried."

"Yes." he replied, "Well logically they wouldn't would they?" there was perhaps a slight edge of sarcasm to his voice, "And I hear you tested German as well, just in case?"

"Yes Sir." the Benjian replied proudly.

"What have they got?" he wondered aloud.

"Looks a bit like an aqualung, like one of them ones from star wars." the Dyellian sailor ventured, "Although it looks a bit foreign, maybe someone dropped it and they think it was us?"

"Yes." the Doctor shook his head, "Or perhaps they want someone to go with them?"

Apparently the Doctor was of reasonable intelligence, unlike the others. He pointed to himself, raising his eyebrows in what he assumed was a fairly universal way of saying 'Who? Me?'.

OOC: Who knows... sorry I've been slack, RL can be so inconvenient :P

*SNIP*

The Mermaids were confused about this other person, and entered into a conversation, if the doctor was fluent in any sign language he would have been able to determine that it was heated but not the actual words.

After the discussion one of the mermaids pointed at the doctor and becconed him into the water

The Doctor wasn't fluent in any form of sign language, but he got the general impression anyway. He followed them into the water, wondering where this was going to lead him...

The Doctor wasn't fluent in any form of sign language, but he got the general impression anyway. He followed them into the water, wondering where this was going to lead him...

The Mermaids lead him to a nearby coral reef, one of them moved and put the Doctor's hands on her shoulder and carried him with her. It would be faster this way.

The Coral reef was full of abundant forms of life, all sorts of fish and the animals that live of the coral skeleton. It was amazingly beautiful. It seemed they were taking the Doctor on a tour around.

The two inland set up something approaching a camp in a building. There was no food, no fire and only great coats for warmth, although they didn't feel this would probably be necessary. The D'Reg NCO took the first watch, leaning up against a wall, cradling her shotgun on her lap. Were anyone to find her, they would not find her an especially alert sentry, but she wasn't expecting anything...

The night was relatively mild, they didn't need a fire and the night passed without incident. Having done whatever they wanted before setting off. They set off further into the ruins of what was obviously a once great city.

As they went along they suddenly found themselves almost running into 2 people they were carrying a type of spear and were dressed in a way that screamed "tribal". If they were to look around behind them they would also find 2 tribesmen were behind them.

A man came forward from the woods. He had different clothes then the others and he didn't have a weapon, but an animal followed behind him. Or at least it looked like a animal or something like an animal.
"Who are you and why are you here?" He asked the trespassers.

OOC: Sorry I didn't post earlier, I forgot about this rp.

OOC: Hehe, nvm. As long as I get to finish this story I'm happy. *bump*

OOC: Sorry RL has kept very busy :P

The Doctor just followed where he was led, he was fairly certain this wasn't something malicious and was vaguely curios what might happen next...

----------

The Dyellians in the interior were quite suprised to find themselves suddenly surrounded. In what gave the impression of being a well rehearsed drill, Paul, the Rating, slid behind the female NCO to cover her back. Both held their weapons at the ready but not in the firing position, "What did I tell you?" he hissed.

"Shut up." Yasmine hissed back angrily, "This isn't some 70s cannibal film, they probably just want us to meet their chief or something."

OOC: I'm going to assume Somethingey's post was to me. If not ignore the next paragraphs

The man speaking English was more of a suprise, "We're from Dyelli Beybi." she explained, confident that everyone knew where Dyelli Beybi was. Someone hearing the accept for the first time would probably assume she was Irish, although she looked more Middle-Eastern...

"We're just taking a look around." she continued, "Exploring, that kind of thing."

OOC: Sorry RL has kept very busy :P

The Doctor just followed where he was led, he was fairly certain this wasn't something malicious and was vaguely curios what might happen next...



The Mermaids stoped they noticed something... The coral reef was teeming with life with fish and everything. However there was one animal that caught their attention, a bi-valve mollusc, better known as an oyster. They stoped in their tracks.

They stop and pointed at their eyes (look) then with the palms of their hands closed together they opened it up from the base of the palm (clam/oyster) and then pointed towards the oyster. While the other mermaid swum up to it, The Mermaid sung it was high pitched but very pleasant. It was almost a lullaby, and then she lightly brushed the oyster with her hand. The Oyster opened up to reveal a large natural pearl. It was exquisite and worth a lot of money.

"Dyelli Beybi? Exploring?" The man said something in an unknown tongue. Ten more tribal men appeared out of no where from the forest and aimed bows an arrows at the trespassers.
"This is the land of the great gods of war. You will come with me and we shall see if you deserve to see the land." He said and repeated his last order in the same tongue. The other men now had their spears and arrows aimed at the two strangers. He pointed to the woods.
"Come."

"It's a state in a bigger country." Yasmine explained, sounding slightly suprised Dyelli Beybi wasn't known, "The Federated Klatchian Coast?"

There seemed to be nothing for it but to follow him so she did, followed reluctantly by the other sailor...

----------

The Doctor watched everything with fascination, and the pearl with a look of awe. However he was intelligent enough not to make a lunge for the prescious object without first getting some kind of sign it would be an acceptable move...

The Doctor watched everything with fascination, and the pearl with a look of awe. However he was intelligent enough not to make a lunge for the prescious object without first getting some kind of sign it would be an acceptable move...

The Doctor did not have to lunge for the pearl, it was almost thrust into the doctors hand by the mermaid that was carrying it. This seemed to have a great importance as if there was an object lesson or if they were trying to say something to the doctor through actions something that was very important.

Perhaps it would be explained further perhaps it was just a gift either way he now had something very valuable in his possesion.

The Doctor was a thinking man and immediately wondered if this pearl might need to be presented as a gift to some great authority later on as he pocketed it inside his water logged shirt.

He tried to make an appropriate bow or nod of gratitude which didn't quite work underwater...

He waited to see what happened next...

The Doctor was a thinking man and immediately wondered if this pearl might need to be presented as a gift to some great authority later on as he pocketed it inside his water logged shirt.

He tried to make an appropriate bow or nod of gratitude which didn't quite work underwater...

He waited to see what happened next...

The Mermaid that gave the pearl to the Doctor pecked a kiss on his check before putting his hands once again on her shoulders and she swam.

The water got deeper and the Coral reefs got left behind. The descended into the water and arrived at a location, the wreck of the ship the Dynellians discovered by Sonar before. It had the design of a WW2 Destroyer but unlike the other relics of a war long passed. This was in immaculate condition. It seemed the mermaids had continued to maintain it as a some sort of relic since the war ended all that time ago.

The Doctor followed where he was being led. There was little else he could do, but he assumed this destroyer was probably his destination, the place where he would discover for what mysterious purpose he was being led here...

After a brief pause, the mermaids lead the Doctor into the destroyer through a gaping hole in the side. Inside there was a belt for the doctor, to weigh him down for him to walk, while exploring the wreck. Which the Mermaids encouraged him to do so with sweeping hand gestures.

They were on the bridge of the destroyer and there were any number of ways that the doctor could go. Whatever way he went one of the mermaids followed. There was a very strong sense, despite the lack of bodies, or bones, that Hundreds perhaps more people had died when it was struck by what would be easily assumed to be a Torpedo.

OOC: Bump. If I don't here from Somethingey by tomorrow I'll take back over the tribal stuff

The Doctor didn't seem especially keen on exploring, finding the wreck somewhat creepy, however he did wander back and forth a little, never straying to far from the exit. Inwardly he was wondering why he was exploring the wreck...

The Doctor didn't seem especially keen on exploring, finding the wreck somewhat creepy, however he did wander back and forth a little, never straying to far from the exit. Inwardly he was wondering why he was exploring the wreck...

As the Doctor was clearly uncomfortable in his surroundings one of the mermaids clicked off the weight belt and took the Doctor out of the destroyer. While the other mermaid produced a blindfold. And handed it to the Doctor. Making movements like that she wanted the Doctor to cover his eyes with it. They were obviously going to a very secret place, somewhere they didn't want him to know where, but something obviously important. They waited not doing anything until the blindfold was put on.

"It's a state in a bigger country." Yasmine explained, sounding slightly suprised Dyelli Beybi wasn't known, "The Federated Klatchian Coast?"

There seemed to be nothing for it but to follow him so she did, followed reluctantly by the other sailor...


After some distance they emerged into a village, these people were primitive but they did have some metal items that they had managed to scrounge and use.

The houses or more accurately huts where all reasonably small and were made from the trees and other appropriate building materials found. The Tribe consisted of around an estimated 100-120 people. The young men and women of the tribe where in battle training.

The Leader of the tribe who was obviously the man that was leading them yelled something and the daily activities that were done stopped, and they all gathered around. As they did the leader said something to the 2 Dyellians

"You have come here exploring from the world of Klatch, we shall see if you are worthy to continue or wether you shall be forever banished from these shores."

Saying something else in the unknown language the crowd cheered.

One of the 4 guardsman took their guns and any other weapons such as knifes that they had found. The leader holding each one up to the crowd said something and the crowd responded. He put them down on a nearby table.

"First test, Martial combat. Follow me." The leader said taking them to a circle about 4 metres in diameter.

The doctor put his blindfold on with only a minor degree of hesitation.

----------

The Dyellians had a small assortment of weapons, the two shotguns, one pistol on the NCO and a combat knife on the rating.

"Martial strength?" Paul, the Rating yelped in alarm, not liking the sound of that at all.

"Are you going to explain this test?" the NCO asked, giving the man a suspicious glance, "I'm guessing this is some kind of combat circle."

With the Blindfold on the took him for a trip, aftersome time, unsure exactly how long but could have bee minutes or hours. The Mermaids where both taking him to the destination and once they arrive the set him down took off his blind fold before swimming away.

The Doctor was alone, however before him stood a large and technologically advanced city. Though he could not see anyone. Beside him to his left there was a table, with three things on in, one of them looked like a hearing aid, another looked like one of those spit guard but about 5/8ths (1.5cm) diameter. There third as some sort of paper for underwater, it contained written (in English) instructions as well as diagrams showing him what to do with the pieces. The earpiece is to go in the ear and the thing that looks like a filter was to be inserted into the mouth piece of the Aqualung.

It also described what they were to be used for, to be able to speak with the king.

---

"One of you will enter into hand-to-hand combat with one of our warriors, you may start anywhere in the cricle and for a short time either combatant may not leave the circle, after that time that restriction is no more. The Aim is to get your opponent to submit, attacks that are deadly will result in forfeit and depending on the situation other situations might occur. We start at high noon, you have time to prepare and select your representative. You are welcome to food and drink that's over there." He said pointing to a tree stump that's being used as a table. Theres water, honey, breads and a variety of simple but nutricious and filling foods.

Being as there was nothing else to do, the Doctor fitted the equipment together then waited for something to happen.

----------

The D'Reg NCO cast a glance at the rating, "Out of curiosity." she asked, "Is this warrior chosen to be a fair match?"

It was fairly obvious what she was doing... she would rather take part than her quailing comrade, but wasn't certain if she was about to deal with some male 5 times her size...

"Welcome to the ancient city of Aquantantis, Traveller. I am the King of this fair city." said a voice in his ear, the earpeace was a receiver and the thing in the Aqualung was a transmitter.

Moments after hearing this a totally naked man, not a merman, not any other mythological see creature but a man, emerged from a corridor. Being naked he had no emblems of any office, not even any headware (such as a crown).

"It has been so long since anyone can remember since we have had a visitor such as yourself. May I enquire your name and what brings you here?"

The man seemed perfectly comfortable with his nakedness and his surroundings, he utilised the same methods of swimming as the mermaids just far less effective.

--

"The test will be what the test will be, a warrior never has all the pertinent information to a battle. For this battle you will not know your opponent and for your opponent they will have no idea of your abilities, of course should you be the one to take the challenge."

"Just be as prepared as you can, and don't be later." Added the leader of the tribe before leaving the Dyellians to do whatever they do to prepare themselves while he attended to other matters of importance

*bump*

OOC: Sorry I've been slow, I'm quite busy IRL, I'll post tonight though...

"Doctor Michael Ludlum." the Doctor replied, finding the speaking gear and everything all rather odd, "I'm from Dyelli Beybi, exploration vessel... ah is there any chance you could tell me what's going on?"

----------

On land the pair discussed who would be their representative, arguining until it was nearly time for one of them to go on... eventually they settled on the Rating, he was somewhat stronger than his female superior and a 'Dyellian' (whatever that was supposed to imply).

"All that will be answered in due time, but for now Doctor Michael Ludlum. Now, I would like to take you on a tour of Aquantantis, but first. We have a rule that no one in the city can wear any clothes. Firstly it's unnecessary and secondly a waste of the precious natural resources. So if you could get naked. We'll start the tour."

The King had no idea how Michael woud react it had been so long since he had even seen anyone apart from the Mermaids that he had great trouble even trying to determine where to start in reading.

----

It seemed the entire Tribe was there to watch the combat between the Rating and whoever he would face. They parted to let the Rating and his commanding officer through. And when asked by the leader of the village they replied that it was going to be the Rating. Asking the commanding officer to go into the crowd to watch. The Leader said something in the unknown tongue and then raised the Ratings hand. Indicating that the Rating would be the one that would be fighting. A cheer from the crowd arose as he commanded in English "Bring on the Warriors."

Three warriors stepped out from the crowd and stood in the circle. One was obviously a strong man, stronger than the Rating, the second was what would generally be considered a good match for the Rating in terms physicality. And third, was a person that looked like a frail old women.

"These three warriors are the best in all the village at what they do. You won't be fighting all three. But you will be fighting one of them. Apart of being a worthy fighter is choosing your opponent. Please choose one."

The crowd was silent the Leader shot a look towards the superior officer. This is for him and him alone. The crowd went deathly silent.

"No clothes?" the Doctor squawked, he didn't seem at all pleased by this, "No clothes? What happens to my clothes while I'm whereever we're going?"

----------

The Rating turned back to his superior, who muttered something to him, he nodded, acknowledging whatever it was she had had to say, "We shall take him." he pointed to the man who appeared to be the strongest of the three. The old lady had been dismissed as an anomaly, leaving the other two, it was assumed the stronger was probably also the slower of the pair...

"They'll be looked after, and will be here for you should you leave, and my apologies, I've forgotten that there are people who have an issue with nakedness. My humble apologies, perhaps if you had some 100% cotton close fiting items that should suffice."

---

The others options for the opponents left, you could tell that the cheif was impressed, either they picked the right one or he was amused by the prospect of a dominated match.

Both of warriors had chosen their spot in the circle, The Ratings opponent choose a place by the edge of the circle and the battle was started. He waited deciding to wait and see what the Rating will do before trying anything, though you could tell from his stance that he was ready to go like a jack-in-the-box.

"Right." the Doctor still didn't sound completely impressed, but he was doing a good job at pretending he was at his ease as he stripped down to his underwear, which is what he assumed was what was meant by a '100% cotton close fiting item'.

"So." he said, "I take you can probably explain to me what on earth is going on here?"

----------

The rating stepped into the circle, and to start with did nothing, aparently also waiting for his opponent to make the first move, although his stance was considerably more relaxed.

When he realised his opponent seemed to be doing the same thing, he cautiously sidled forward, then suddenly scuffed his foot along the ground, attempting to raise a cloud of dirt that might cause his opponent to close his eyes for a moment.

The King let out some sort of low frequency call, he was fouled by the Doctor's actions.

"Well, as you may have found out, on the nearby continent there was a raging war. Prior to that war we had good relations with with the two national groups, unfortunately the war happened and so we broke contact with both of those groups. We retreated into our own city never to set out again."

Two Mermaids came pulling some sort of carriage from our of the city, and another was coming along side. The Third Mermaid came and put the Doctors clothes away. Ready for him when he was to leave.

"Hop in. I'll tell you the rest while we go."

---


The Dirt scuff worked better than he though a reasonable cloud of dirt sprung forth. The Larger man started charging towards the Rating still trying to deal with the dirt too. Despite his size he was vulnerable at the moment. The Rating just had to make the most of it.

"Actually no, we hadn't found out." the Doctor replied, "We were sent out here to look for natural resources, stuff to mine, you know. Finding this city is quite an interesting suprise."

"So there was a war?" he asked as he boarded the peculiar carriage, "And what happened? May I ask how you are familiar with the English language?"

----------

On land, the Rating stepped to one side at the last moment, swinging his fist at the larger man in a move that was supposed to send his opponent out of the ring, propelled by his own momentum. He was surprisingly fast, almost too fast to be quite human.

The king looked shocked as the words "mine" and "natural resources" were said in the same sentence. He was flabbagasted, too shocked to speak. It look like he'd start a rant on the environment but no, he composed he self. A strange air of tension filled the water around them.

"Do you still have the pearl? I'll get to your other questions later but for now, this is most important."

The previous jovial mood of the King had been replaced with a serious mood, the environment is obviously something that isof great concern to this.

---

Meanwhile on the land the fight was short and sweet, the Rating had gotten the warrior to charge out of the circle. It was a risky move for him, but he relied on his strength to achieve something.

The Fight ended quickly with the entire village whooping the Rating.

"You did not see their strength but saw their weakness, but not only that you turned their greatest strength into their greatest weakness. You have passed this test very comprehensively. Now to introduce you to your other opponents potential opponents."

The person about the ratings build and the little old lady stepped forward. Indicating the other man that he could have fought, "A much more rounded fighter, Even with your incredible speed he would probably made you at least last until the expansion of the circle. And this old women, don't be decieved by her looks, a formidible warrior in her own right. One of the last Grand Masters of an ancient martial art. In my estimation she would have been your toughest opponent."

He lead the rating and the NCO over towards the brute of a man that the rating had just beat. The man smiled, "you are fast" he said. "Good job" after brushing down himself one more time he left to return to his chores. "Not the brightest of men, but he is extremely strong and makes a very good loaf of bread. He's our baker." said the leader of the tribe. "It's time for the next trial."

"It is a simple accuracy test..." He lead them over to some standard bullseyes. On some wooden natural looking tables there were fairly primitive looking bows and arrows as well as some throwing knives. "You can use your own throwing knives if you want but otherwise choose either the bow or knives. This is a test for both of you."

The Doctor looked perplexed. By contrast, Dyelli Beybi was mostly one large inhospitable desert that the locals mined relentlessly. He nodded, "Yes I do still have it. What is it?"

----------

The Rating looked shocked that his plan had actually worked, the NCO on the other hand whooped for joy, clapping him on the shoulder, "Said you could do it, didn't I."

"Yeah, I guess." he blinked, as everything was explained, offering his hand politely to the baker, "Good match, what?"

The NCO nodded, her dark eyes sparkling at the mention that the old lady was some kind of grand master, "Said she looked unusual."

She looked slightly perturbed when shown the selection of weapons, "Any chance I can use a firearm?"

The rating on the other hand was chosing a knife, "Come on." he taunted, "They taught you how to throw one of these in basic training."

"Yes." she grumbled, "That was a long time ago."

"Having pristine environment is very important to us, All of our technology works with nature. We generate energy through various renewable and clean sources, such as tidal wave and lightning collection, and all our other technology works along side nature rather than against it... Do you still have that pearl?" he asked, while one of the mermaids started to go through his clothes looking for it before she finished putting them away.

---

"Your other weapons are not suitable, We are testing your accuracy." the leader said

"When you have selected your weapon you will have 5 attempts at this distance and then we'll keep increasing the distance. until you cannot hit it."

The targets where around the size of a standard bullseye target used for archery. The targets started 5 metres away and were to be moved 5 more metres each time. As they looked out they noticed that a distance of around 100m had been cleared into the forrest as an area for target practice.

"Right." the Doctor sounded as if he regarded this as a novel idea. The Dyellians had no real notion of conservation...

"I believe it's in my left trouser pocket." he said regarding the pearl, "yes I still have it."

----------

"Perhaps." the NCO shrugged, "Although we are both unfamiliar with these is not a true notion of accuracy."

She was good at talking... although she stopped kicking up a fuss after that and decided to actually take a shot at things.

It would become clear that both of them knew how to use the throwing knives. Not to the point of being experts, the Rating proving slightly more adept. However, when it came to ranges where the bow was more suitable, it became rapidly clear that both only had the vaguest idea of how you made the 'pointy stick thing fly out the end', although were anyone around to judge such things they might get the sense that with a little practice the Rating might be very good at archery....

The mermaid returned having found the pearl and gave it back to the Doctor.

"Here, just look at the pearl, the pearl is a marvel of nature that's why you were taken to the reef and then compared to the naval wreck. If it wasn't for the efforts of us Aquantantians over a long time, ever since that ship suck then who knows what damage might have been done and there would be no reef and no pearl.

What were your questions again?"

---

As the Rating and NCO performed their 'accuracy' test, it wasn't anything spectactular.

"Well, obviously you have had no training in the use of a bow, but that's alright. The Rating obviously has a natural talent for it. You have passed this test, both of you. There will be another test but it will take some time to properly set up. It should be ready in the morning, come and stay with us for the night. You'll be our honoured guests."

They were showed where they would be staying, a hut just like everyone else but it had a wooden floor and had a fairly nice bed. There would be a hut ready for each of them seperately or one ht together depending on what the Dyellians wished.

The Doctor nodded along vaguely, "I see, it is quite an equisite piece."

"Oh yes... you said something about a war?" he prompted, "I assume that sunk ship is something to do with it?"

"Also." he continued, "You're speaking my language, although by all accounts you have had no contact with outside. How can this be?"

----------

"Paul is a Dyellian." the NCO stated, as if that explained everything.

The pair opted to sleep seperately, apparently the NCO was somewhat shy of the Rating catching her in a 'compromising position'.

"oh, yes, the War." the king commented "On the land, there were once these two great, in their own eyes, civilisations. Both of these civilisations didn't realise, nor care for the living creatures and the environment around them. A minor incident, caused the tension between these to reach breaking points. A full blown land and sea war errupted. The ship was just one of the ones that had sunk during the battles. They nearly wiped themselves out. Only a few from either civilisation survived. Realising that the war had almost wiped everyone from the continent. They joined to form a new life, this life was totally different, they lived a subsitance lifestyle and the decendents of those still live on the continent now in a tribe. We keep an eye on them whenever we can, but they worship war, so we are obviously concerned about them. We have some data logs if you want to know more."

"As for the language, during the war recordings of the language went down with a ship, we recycled the equipment and every king has taught themselves english from these recordings. They are quite varied and provide a great foundation for the english language."

"In fact, I would like to show you these recordings, as well as something that I had just finished working on. It may help you."

The King said something in sign language to the 2 mermaids and then with a bit of a jolt they were off, to the Kings residence.

----

Before the sun had come up the NCO and the Rating were woken up by loud knocking on the hut. "We need to get going for the third test, get ready and pack for a full day, perhaps 2." the leader yelled before leaving after receiveing confirmation. This would be a big day for both the NCO and the rating.

OOC: Besides the similar name, my nation is a city state...

*Sniff's Aliquantus NSwiki page for signs of molestation*

OOC: Besides the similar name, my nation is a city state...

*Sniff's Aliquantus NSwiki page for signs of molestation*
OOC:
*checks Jolt Join Date... Hmm Oct 2006 vs March 2007*

*checks population size... 985 million verses 150 million*

My name is a bastardisation of Aquan (water things) and Atlantis (lost city of).

I don't have an NSWiki yet, though I might, depending on how things go here.

*bump*

OOC: My apologies for disappearing, RL keeps intruding...

"I see." the Doctor nodded, "Yes, war is somewhat unpleasant. It is an unfortunate blight that keeps plaguing our own Nation."

He grimaced, Dyelli Beybi was notorious for civil wars, although the King probably didn't know this, "Yes, I believe these recordings would be of value, although obviously we would need to send them to persons of authority."

----------

The pair of sailors emerged at around about the same time, and exchanged a rapid conversation. They didn't have supplies for another day, they hadn't anticipated this...

The NCO who seemed to be the brains of the opperation approached the leader, "We have run out of supplies." she said simply, "Weapons, we have, food and water we do not. Is it possible to replenish here before we set off?"

"I'm sure copies could be made available." The king said as the carriage seemed to pass through the city. The city, was seemingly quite advanced compared to the primitive style of transport. "Look around, everything in the design of all our buildings and technology have been designed to have practically no footprint on the environment. They came up to a beatiful building, the artificial light generated sparkled as pearls had been embedded into the design. It was obviously the kings residence.

"Please come in." he said as the King made his way into the building leaving the carriage behind.

---

"Of course," enough provisions for 2 days were supplied for the 2 Dyellians. After which they went for a walk, approximately 4 hours into the forest. It was at this point, That they furnished them with a rough topographical map, various landmarks where also marked. A black x was marked on the map as well as the villige was marked.
"Some times stealth is required of a true warrior, picking your battles and manouvering so you don't face unnecessary battles. Your goal, is to navigate from here to the village without being identified. You will have 3 obsticles, first the terrain, second a group who's purpose is to actively seek you out, and third group mimicing defense of the village. You will have until your supplies run out to successfully get to the village, and you will havea significant headstart ahead of the seeking forces. Any questions before we start?"

There were a significant amount of people with them, just how many where to be part of this active hunting group was uncertain.

The Doctor seemed fascinated by all this, but it was strict curiosity, he was a medical man and had not an idea how any of this would not be leaving a footprint, "Fascinating." he remarked, the sentiment was genuine.

He swam after the King in this surreal world, "What exactly is your purpose for me, your Majesty?" in truly un-Dyellian style he had used a title, "I understand I am probably a messenger, what kind of message would you send?"

----------

The pair looked at each other, there seemed to be some definite non-verbal communication going on, "You talk of simulated defences?" the NCO ventured, "Does this mean there will be further combat?"

The Rating was looking at the map with evident dismay.

"Someone that get's right to the point, I like that..." the King said

"As for your purpose that will depend on mainly you." The king said not giving any hints. "Though, yes, being a messenger is apart of it. As for what, that is for you to decide, we still have alot more to see and do. The reason I took you here is to show you this..."

There was a doorway without a door. purely there to delineate where one room starts and the other stops. The room was bare apart from a table and small device.

"This is something that I have worked on using recycled portions of ships like that destoryer and other equipment that have found it's way into the ocean. It translates the english I know into Aquantantian Sign Language."

He picked the device up, flipped a switch and then pressed another button and the device powered on. The Doctor could hear that the device had hooked into the communications signal and all it required was something to test it out.

---

"While it won't be combat like what could have been yesterday you can physically resist should you be found, but your goal is to not be found out. If that is all the questions you have then let's get started."

The map showed a number of interesting items, there was a river nearby that lead to somewhere close to the village, it was one of the places where they get their water from when filling up their provisions, on the other side of their current location there were gully's depressions that lead to a sort of plain, a third way they could go was via the mountains. It looked it would be harder but perhaps it would be less guarded, as well as any other less direct routes they might choose to take.

"The defense, will be like the active persuers but they are defending a static location and will be in locations as if defending."

"Thats all I think." the NCO smiled brightly, "We'll see you whenever."

The pair set off at a brisk pace through the undergrowth in the direction of the mountains marked on the map. Almost as they left the NCO had grabbed the map off the Rating, "You can't read this can you?"

He shook his head, "Can't make head or tail of it."

She rolled her eyes. After walking for about half an hour she signalled a halt. "OK, we're Sailors right?"

"Yeah." the Rating replied, sounding slightly confused, "Where's this leading Yasmine?"

"We could pick our way through here with all the care in the world and these guys would still be able to track us. We need a way to lose our tracks."

He nodded mutely, but said nothing.

"Cut down towards the River, we'll swim for a couple of kilometres." she explained, "We'll get off on the East bank and then loop around here." she drew a rough route on the map, "That way we don't make the final approach by river, but hopefully we'll throw them off the pursuit for a bit while they search every inch of the river for signs of us getting out."

"I hope this isn't like one of the Rivers at home..." he sounded concerned, Dyelli Beybi had crocodile problems.

"Say a prayer that if it is we get out in time."

"That's hardly comforting."

----------

The Doctor looked vaguely at the contraption, "Hello." he said to it, "My name is Michael Ludlum, how are you?"

"Thats all I think." the NCO smiled brightly, "We'll see you whenever."

The pair set off at a brisk pace through the undergrowth in the direction of the mountains marked on the map. Almost as they left the NCO had grabbed the map off the Rating, "You can't read this can you?"

He shook his head, "Can't make head or tail of it."

She rolled her eyes. After walking for about half an hour she signalled a halt. "OK, we're Sailors right?"

"Yeah." the Rating replied, sounding slightly confused, "Where's this leading Yasmine?"

"We could pick our way through here with all the care in the world and these guys would still be able to track us. We need a way to lose our tracks."

He nodded mutely, but said nothing.

"Cut down towards the River, we'll swim for a couple of kilometres." she explained, "We'll get off on the East bank and then loop around here." she drew a rough route on the map, "That way we don't make the final approach by river, but hopefully we'll throw them off the pursuit for a bit while they search every inch of the river for signs of us getting out."

"I hope this isn't like one of the Rivers at home..." he sounded concerned, Dyelli Beybi had crocodile problems.

"Say a prayer that if it is we get out in time."

"That's hardly comforting."

----------

The Doctor looked vaguely at the contraption, "Hello." he said to it, "My name is Michael Ludlum, how are you?"

It was at this 30 minute venture when they heard some sort of scream coming from where they had came, seemingly the pursuers had begun and had given them a reasonable lead. As they got to the river, which was 10 minutes away they heard the first of what would be many calls, from the persuers. They were obviously communicating something, perhaps they were planning, perhaps just telling each other where the tracks lead.

As the two of them looked down the river their navigation equipment told them that the village was downstream, at least they would not have to fight the river in getting to the village, however their pursuers would have the same advantage. Looking further, actually into the water, the water was very clear, part of the reason the tribes people settled along side it and use it for water but from what they could see, there was nothing to indicate predators that could harm a man in the water. They could indeed swim, but would that be quick enough to avert the pursuers?

---
The screen of the device seemed to come alive, as each word was spoken a video of the King doing the action with the word in black imposed on some white backing, however for Michael and Ludlum there was no video nor text "Unknown word" was displayed on the screen.

"I didn't do names, but you can make up your own sign, I'll tell you if you can use it. Now you have tested that portion, Flip the switch on the side and point the device at me."

"Bloody hell... some head start." the Rating grunted upon hearing the yelling.

"They're too close." the NCO mumbled as they reached the River, "Too close by far, we'll have to change to plan B."

"There's a plan B?"

"Yeah..." apparently she wasn't in the mood for explaining, "See any crocs, piranahas, anything like that?"

He shook his head, "Nope, water's pretty clear too."

"I'd gamble there's something like that on the river somewhere. All rivers have dangerous water animals of some description, even if it is just eels and pike... We're going for a swim."

"Yeah." the Rating replied sarcastically, "Just what I wanted to hear before we set off... what are you doing?"

The girl was going through her pack, removing all her supplies and bundling them into her coat, "We're on half rations, just you watch." last of all she removed her combat knife, fastening it to her belt.

Quickly she began wading out into the water, followed by the Rating, this soon turned to swimming. Provided there were now unexpected suprises, about half way across she would stop to tread water (OOC: We can drop the next bit if you want something unexpected to happen)...

"What the hell are you doing?" the Rating had taken several strokes ahead, before he'd realised she had stopped and the supplies were now bobbing on the water's surface, "That was good food."

"You have bandages right?" she asked.

"Yeah... oh you idiot." there was a gleam of steel, a yelp, and blood in the water.

"Go, quick!" the pair pounded the water to the far bank, leaving a red stain in their wake.

At the far end they both collapsed for a moment to catch their breath. The Rating recovered first, quickly searching out a medical kit. The NCO had slashed her wrist, the cut was jagged and bleeding steadily, although it ran crosswise and would be readily sealable. "Christ wept, you'll need stitches. You're lucky I took a medical kit from the ship. I can't believe you swam like that. You're insane woman."

"Yes, but if there is anything unpleasant in that water. It'll be drawn there." she mumbled, "Should buy us some time."

"Yeah... if you aren't too tired to go on. Hold still!"

The NCO had yelped as the needle had dug into her skin, "Try to be gentle. I'll be fine. If not, there's always plan C..."

They were off again, within 5 minutes.

----------

"Interesting." the Doctor remarked, "My name isn't that important."

He paused to speak into the machine, "Doctor" he said simply to see if it registered anything, before flicking the switch and turning it around as instructed.

25 minutes later as the 2 of them were heading through the jungle on the other side of the river with no real geographical features to aid them in navigation they had to rely on what they had learned before hand in survival navigation to get their way to the village.

Back at the river, the noises stopped as the unknown number of hunters began their investigation of what happened. Indeed it seemed that electic eels in the 22-3 minutes it took for them to get to the river. Things went silent as they tried to figure out what happened and how to get across.

From then on the rating and the NCO heard nothing, from the group, perhaps they found a way to head off, or almost anything could of happened behind, whatever happened they still had to get their way to the village.

---

There was a word for Doctor and it's video displayed on the screen, once the switch was flipped, the screen changed the video was live video, whatever the device was pointing at.

Once it was pointed at the king he started to do some signs, words appeared exactly how they appeared before, They read "Hello" "This Item" "allows" "you to" "speak" "and" "read" "Aquantantian";

The pair chose to approach the village in a wide arc, coming at it from a different angle, it was slow going, considering one was injured. They didn't stop to sleep that night, just pressing on in the hope that they would reach the village before daybreak and be able to make the final approach in the dark...

----------

The Doctor smiled vaguely then spoke into the machine, "Your Highness, what do we do now?"

The two of them had been unmolested by the so called tracking team, which continued to strike as odd. As night fell the moon came out to shed some light on their path, they struggled using only the moon light to navigate but a few hours into the night they up ahead saw the flickering light from a campfire. They had come across a camp of some type. The two of didn't think they were close enough to the village for a defensive camp, but they could have been off from where they think are, moving around at night is hard without technical assistance, unless you are familiar with the stars in the area.

---

The device worked translating the Dyellians words into movements that was displayed on the screen. Once that finished the king waited for the Dyellian to flip the switch on the device at which point he started speaking in the Aquantantian sign language.

"We" "have" "2" "options" "Tour of" "the city" "or" "play" "a game"

The king signed.

The NCO staggered to a halt in the darkness, holding a hand up.

"What?" the Rating whispered, straining to hear something, "You tired?"

"Sit down." she didn't acknowledge the question, she was deathly pale, although the moonlight would not reveal that. Slashing your own wrists wasn't a healthy thing to do...

The rating obeyed, squatting down in the undergrowth next to his superior, "Paul, have you noticed we seem to have totally lost the pursuit?"

"Yeah, we did...."

she held up a finger for silence, "Quiet. I don't like it, you'd have thought they'd have been closing on us. What if this isn't a game anymore?"

"Eh?"

"Well these people are pretty keen on combat." she pointed out, "Usually when you're keen on combat there's someone you're keen on combating..." she trailed off, letting the implications of her words sink in.

"We need to get back to the village to get our guns." he grunted after a significant pause.

"Yeah, but we need to tread carefully, I say take our time, and give this outpost a wide berth."

"Right you are."

So they continued, slowing down somewhat, treading more carefully as they approached the village.

----------

"Umm..." the Doctor evidently wasn't expecting choice in this matter, "I would be most interested in a tour of the city."

The two of the had come far, they must be near the village now, and indeed they were, only 500m away they could here the soft sounds of the river as it started to get a bit rapidy where they were downstream of where the water was usually fetched.

The stars shone brightly in the night sky, alot of stars one could stare forever into the unknown the night was that clear. However any meditation on the stars would have to wait the two needed to decide how they would cross the river, it was sure to be guarded in some fashion and so it was.

At first they only heard the soft chatting but then they saw the lights of their torches before hearing their footsteps. There were two of them obviously on patrol each having a torch in one hand and a weapon, it looked like some sort of sword... a long sword.

They stopped, as if they heard something... and started to speak in the tribal language...

"Did you hear that?"

"Yeah, what was it?

"I dunno."

"Do you reckon it was them?"

"Perhaps."

"What are we going to do?"

"Stay here. I'll go and check. Be on the lookout I don't want them to have an easy way through. got it?"

"Got okay, here I go remember keep a look out."

The voice of the person that was heading this was a female voice, they would have to deal with her, somehow or another.

---

"Good, will give us chance to have a good talk. I haven't had someone to speak with for quite some time." The king said as they headed out of the king's residence and started to swim to the next location, wherever that was.

"Look around, all you see here was recycled in some way or another, the war actually left terrible amounts of rubbish in the sea but if it wasn't for that we would not have the building materials necessary to make Aquantantis what it is now, a thriving city. However on the continent the war resulted in complete destruction of civilisation. Nature has reclaimed it though I believe at least there was a small group of survivors, which we have not seen nor heard of for quite a long time, historical documents say that they had become tribal and war-like. So if anyone is on the surface they should be careful, unfortunately not having any contact with them for so long, I don't even know where they are or how many there are. Ah, here we go this is the central administration office. That is the heart of the functioning of our fair city."

The building was one of the tallest in the city as it spired up from the ground. Of course it would not be able to stand upright out of water but that's to the support provided by the water it stayed up.

One of the pair moved, creating more noise, then doing a somewhat competent impersonation of a pig rooting in the bushes, although it was entirely possible the jungle here had no wild pigs...

----------

"We do have people on the surface." the Doctor said simply, "Two people went into the jungle exploring. They were overdue but still in contact with the ship, last I heard."

"Well it's a very interesting use of resources to be sure." he commented, "It's all very impressive, now I'm guessing there is more to this building than you are immediately communicating."

The man stopped "Don't worry, It's just a pig" (in tribal language) before heading back to meet with the other man where a brief conversation delayed the two of them describing just how strange it was to find a wild pig in that area so close to the camp, but after 2 minutes discussion they moved on seemingly leaving the coast clear.

There was no other signs that they could detect about people being there.

---

"Actually it's pretty boring in there. Beaucracy at it's finest just doing their best to follow what I say. Infact I rarely go in there. Nothing really for me to do there."

"But seeing as this is indeed a special occasion I can take you in there if you want... Just don't be surprised when it doesn't meet your expectations."

"Nice pig impersonation." the NCO whispered when the rating returned, "I didn't honestly think that would work."

"I thought they'd think it was dinner and throw a spear at me." he grumbled disconsolately.

"Shall we?" the pair began to creep forward slowly...

----------

The Doctor nodded vaguely, "Oh no, I am strictly at your disposal, take me wjere you will and show me what you like."

"Nice pig impersonation." the NCO whispered when the rating returned, "I didn't honestly think that would work."

"I thought they'd think it was dinner and throw a spear at me." he grumbled disconsolately.

"Shall we?" the pair began to creep forward slowly...

----------

The Doctor nodded vaguely, "Oh no, I am strictly at your disposal, take me wjere you will and show me what you like."

The pair crept slowly forward 2 more occasions coming across a wandering patrol around the village but luck seemed to be on their side. They failed to notice anything. They seemed to think that the NCO and Rating didn't have a chance and so were complacement. But now they were close to the village and could hear some thing large was going on. The light from a large bon-fire in the village could be seen. Some sort of celebration, ceremony or ritual. Whatever it was the Village Chief was addressing the what looked like everyone that wasn't patrolling or seeking them out.

He was speaking in the tribal language so couldn't be understood but there was one phrase that they heard in English "The tests will soon be over and then it will be the time for Judgement." At this the crowd erupted into jubilant cheering. IF they got closer they would see all forms of animals including pigs having been killed and being roasted on the spit. That was why the patrol didn't hunt the pig down, they had plenty and so would leave it for another day.

---

"Okay then, considering it's totally and utterly boring place we'll move onto the next most important place. Aquantantis' spiritual home. The Temple.

After another 10 minutes of swimming they came to an ornately ingraved and sculptured building. Almost immediately as they arrive a Mermaid comes from one of the side entrances of the building and spoke to the king. "Father, We have need of you." she said in the Sign Language. The translator would pick that up if the Doctor had it on.

"Excuse me," the king said "The high-priestess has need of me. You are welcome to enter the temple and look... but don't touch." the King said before leaving.

Almost immediately a mermaid siddled up to the Doctor and asked in the Sign language. "Would you like to be shown around, inside?"

"What judgement might this be?" the NCO had waited for the cheering to die down and reveal herself, the Rating skulking behind her.

"This was a fluke." he whispered to her, "We shouldn't have got here."

"Shut up and play along." she growled back.

----------

The Doctor took all this in, he had tyhe machine on and understood the exchange.

"Err..." he spke into the machine as the mermaid approached him, feeling slightly strange about using it, "Yes, I would be most honoured if you would show me around."

The sudden silence of the assembled tribe was eery, it was obvious that they weren't of meant to see or here any off this. They all looked at the NCO and then back to the Chief to see what he would do.

"Well, we didn't expect you here so soon. Especially with your injury, we thought you would take some time and rest." he said pleasantly. "About this judgement it is the 4th, final and the hardest trial of all. This is just a ceremony that we do before it, asking for the War gods to bless it."

"Come, stay, join in the revelry and the final trial will start tomorrow." the Tribal leader said attempting to placate the 2 of them.

----

She smiled as if he had just made her day... "Come... I'll take you inside." she said gingerly taking a hold of one his his hands and bringing him into the temple. He could hear soft voices, not having any words just the notes... they were hauntingly beautiful as he spotted where the voices were coming from, up the front of the long building.

Inside it was full of ornamentation, sculputres, arts of all it's forms. A sermon was going on, though they were undistubed by the entrance of the new people. Though was currently too far away for the device to work properly.

"Oh", the NCO smiled, then sat down heavily against the wall of a hut, "That would be nice."

From the looks of it, she would be in no particular mood to do anything but sleep, although the Rating looked up for anything, aparently, the idea of 'revelry' was appealing.

"One thing." she was still smiling in a distant sort of way, "We spotted a camp fire out in the middle of the woods, didn't approach it, thought it looked a bit unusual."

----------

The Doctor took everything in with mixed awe and trepidation, the Dyellians were a devout race, and while he was deeply interested, he was also unsure as to whether he should be in a pagan worship hall, "Are we allowed closer?" he said to the machine as quietly as he could.

"Excellent, oh don't about those they'll be joining us soon." the leader spoke something in the tribal language to one of the people that where hanging around and they went out into the night, presumably to go and fetch the people at the campfire and bring them back to the village.

The NCO was left alone, seeing as she was tired and needed sleep, however the rating was welcomed into the gathered throng, the rythmic beat of drums, and other percussion instruments started up as the party was just getting underway.

---

"Yes," "just" "don't" "disturb them"

replied the device once she had done the signs. The doctor was free to roam and get closer to anything, as long as he didn't disturb whatever it was that he was observing.

The NCO curled up in a corner and slept almost immediately. She didn't look particularly well, but that was to be expected. The morning would see her looking a fair degree better...

The Rating on the other hand it would seem was keen for anything, particularly if it involved alcohol, although he wasn't sure he'd find any in this particular party...

----------

The Doctor meanwhile, meandered about, taking everything in, but being careful not to disturb anyone from prayer, meditation or whatever it was they were doing in here...

While the 'party' didn't involve alcohol it did involve juices and extracts of various plants that gave an affect not entirely unlike Alcohol. It would infact be a fairly appropriate replacement. However Of course the Rating had no idea what exactly was in it, but she did see them mixing it up.

After an hour or two the Leader closed the proceedings, Tomorrow was going to be a big day and everyone would need their rest. And so that's what everyone did went back to their own huts, the Rating obviously wished to continue on but as there was no party anymore his options where severly limited and so he went to bed too.

The next morning. The sun was shining and life started as normal, for now no one spoke of the upcoming trial but it was comming, perhaps in a way that they would never expect.

---

The Doctor would find various busts of male people, no titles just exquisitely carved in some naturally occuring product... Perhaps Limestone. The last of these would be the King, the man that the Doctor had just departed company.

Tapestries of some of these men hung around the wall, all naked and with some mermaids in the background each one was different but non-specific about it's intent. As he moved around he got closer to the group of mermaids.

There was one leading them, a sermon, a snippet of the sermon,

"Our Mother, the ocean, the ground, the fish, the coral, she sustains and nutures, as good daughters we aid our mother...." it went on abit about what could be done to "nuture the mother that had nutured us" before moving onto "The Father, the King, As a father he leads and guides and as good daughters we follow in his path," Obviously the King has great import in what some might call "the religion" of the Aquantantians.

However it went on about false fathers, people who may put themselves in that position but not actual "Care for their mother". The most grevious sin any person could do was to harm the mother for Aquantantian.

The Rating retired as the festivities ended. Neither he nor the NCO had put any thought into the nature of what the final trial might be. They would find out when it came...

----------

The Doctor decided to try to listen in on the sermon, it was interesting in what it said of the culture and probably might give him a valuable insight into what the people here might not be openly saying or might be taking for granted.

The two would soon find just what the final trial involved. The two of them where just meandering around the village no clear purpose or direction when they came across some kind of table. Two blades where on the table, the closest people that could be seen nearby was a shop keeper who was oblivious to the swords and said that he had no idea what they were used for.

---

The sermon seemed to describe the basic beliefs and tennets of the Aquantantian religion. The two most important people where the High Priestess and the king. Another name for the High Priestess was "the first daughter". They believe that the earth and ocean themselves are gods and everyone is like a microscopic bacteria living on her body. Good Bacteria, like the Aquantantians accomplish things and help the earth entering into a symbiotic relationship. While bad bacteria only leeches of the earth and does her harm, bringing destruction in their wake.

After a while there was a tap on his shoulder just behind him the King had finished business with the High Priestess and where ready to move on.

"I have a feeling." the Rating nodded to the weapons, "This could go one of two ways."

She picked one up, examining it to see how many cutting edges it had, if it had a stabbing point, whether it was a one or two handed weapon, if there was a curve at all in the blade, what the hilt was like... The Dyelli Beybian armed forces were unusual in that they still practiced with hangars and cutlasses. So a short curved swird with a basket hilt would go down a treat...

The Rating nodded, clearly not understanding her at all, "Ah ok."

"Either we go out and fight someone." she explained, "Or they get us to fight each other."

"Oh right." the Rating didn't seem particularly keen on either eventuality.

----------

The Doctor seemed a bit startled, giving what seemed to be some attempt at an underwater bow to the King. He didn't speak though, fearing he might disrupt the service.

There was a third option, people come and fight them, out from behind a nearby buillding emerged. Two of them emerged, each carrying a sword. The 4 swords all the same, they were cutlass's they looked like once they could have been ceremonial swords but over the years and without proper care they had become more functional than decorative, with only hints at what could have been in the glistening sun.

There seemed to be no one around officiating the fight, the look in their faces of the attackers (who where both female), they saw they were looking for one thing and one thing only... blood.

---

The King smiled and returned the bow but to not the degree. They waited in silence for the sermon to finish it didn't take long, only a couple of minutes as the mermaids assembled started to leave, all showing the reverence to the king as would be appropriate for a near-god King.

"You have heard some of the basics of our beliefs... do you have any questions. I can't think any better place to ask."

"Ah..." the Rating grabbed one of the swords, swinging it around in front of himself, "Is this option 1?"

"More or less." the pair touched backs, then took a step forward, circling, "Option 1 with extras."

The NCOs bad hand was held firmly behind her back. The rating risked a glance at her, "Got any bright ideas Yasmine, before more of these folk show up?"

"Not as such." she was eyeing around for objects, rocks, rope, she had no intention of fighting fair, if that unfortunate eventuality could be avoided.

----------

"Why the isolation?" the Doctor inquired, "You have a sophisticated culture, there is no reason you couldn't have made contact with the outside world. Why stay hidden away here? Surely, there is much that everyone could benefit from were you to make contact before now."

There were nothing really on the ground but the nearby store looking thing had numerous what would be called "adventuring" items... which could be used as well as the store itself.

The clang of the cutlasses started, they got an early jab in, but it was only minor slice. They seemed for now to be playing with them... rather than full on death match, though just how long that would last was anybodies guess.

--

"Perhaps, I should show you something, we have a deep shame, and it is for that we have until now not made contact with anyone... Follow me."

Said the King as he lead the Doctor out of the temple and down a few buildings. It was had the english words "Hall of Records" written in stone above it.

"This building contains our entire history... but there is something specific I want to show you."

Entering the building it looked huge, much larger than it looked outside. inside it was rows upon rows of shelves filled with everything and anything momento's from times past as well as numerous documents. The started to head deeper into the building.

"Over there." the NCO was already looking tired, and this had hardly started.

She ducked behind the Rating, tossing him her cutlass as she passed. He stepped back and back until he stood in the doorway to store... While he now had two cutlasses he continued to parry with just one, "What the hell are you doing?"

"Just wait will you." the NCO snapped back.

He swung away, a small trickle of blood working it's way down his sleeve to drip onto the floor. After parrying a blow he aimed a blow at his oponents face with the basket hilt of his second weapon, if it connected it would have a bone breaking effect on their nose...

Meanwhile the NCO was frantically searching through the shop, opening supplies, checking shelves for oil, rope, heavy objects, anything that might make an unconventional weapon, but most of all, knives...

----------

The Doctor nodded seriously, he couldn't guess what the King could possibly be talking about...

The Rating managed to get the timing exactly right getting through an opening in the tribesperson's defence. They stumbled back from the hit and covered their nose as it started to bleed.

For now the Rating was fighting one on one with the other tribesperson. Who's attack has seemingly gone up a notch. The aim now... was death!

The NCO had found a number of things including basic whips, rope, defacto clubs, and a few throwing knives... 5 in total.

--

"As they walked a bit further into the building he started to explain, "There were once 2 thriving civilisations that had formed on the landmass they called Renalle. In the year 1730 by local reckonning there was an incident that had lead to a long and bloody war, causing the genocide of one civilisation and the total breakdown of the other. The Tribes people on the continent are the remnants of that civilisation."

"Here we are...." He said... pulling a large book down and started to thumb through it... What he wanted was obviously in there somewhere. Not to far away there was a table and chairs for the Dyellian to read what was going to come up next.

The Rating seemed somewhat taken aback, taking a cut to his torso that would need attention as well as being forced back through the doorway, although he kept standing, for to stumble was to die, "Here!" the NCO was waving one of the throwing knives.

He tossed her back her cutlass, which she failed to catch and went clattering across the floor. She picked it up, then charged back in, taking a clumsy swing at the assailant's calves. She now had one of the knives in her bad hand...

----------

"Uhuh." the Doctor nodded along with the story, uncertain as to where it was going. Presumably all would be revealed once the King found his passage.

As the NCO took up a flanking position on one of the attackers two seperate battles started to form, two one-on-one good old traditional sword fights with a makeshift dagger in her bad hand it was slightly easier for the NCO rather than the Rating.

The shot at the calf was deftly parried, for them to overcome their opponents they would need to wear them down first, for now though the exchange of swords resulted in no contact by the tribes people.

---

The king had just found the passage he was looking for and started to read it aloud as he slowly made his way to the nearby table.

"On the twelth day of April, 1730 RC. A day of celebration and festivities in remembrance of the first Treaty of Renalle signed 100 years before that, a document that laid the foundation for peaceful co-existance of the two-land dwelling nations, Teralle and Renatia as well as the Mermaids of the city-state of Aquantantis. The major celerbrations where held on Precipe Island, neutral territory.

Everything was going well until one of the Mermaid representatives made a comment disparaging Terallians for their inappropriate pollution. The argument escalated with issues that been boiling under the surface some time suddenly erupt into a emotional Volcano, a major diplomat from Renatia stepped in and tried to calm down. the Terallian accused the Renatian of favourtism and stormed off and back, the next day they had ripped up Treaty and had started to deployed their navy to drop depth charges on the Aquantantians.

The Renatians came to the Aquantantian defence sinking the leading Destroyer and engaged in a fierce Naval battle, which they won. However as this brought the Renatians into the war soon the armies of Renatians and Terallans where clashing, first in minor skirmishes and then into full blown conflict."

He finished reading there, "You see the Renatians where wiped out because they came to our aid but by the time they had been the two nations had been in war so long that neither could remember why. The Terralians, civilisation collapsed from all the death and destruction that had been bought on and without the war to galvanise the population. It fell into anachry and then a leader from within the anarchy arose and from that the tribe on the land has formed. We don't visit them anymore, their obsession with war and their 'gods' which are really just their ancestors keep us seperated. Though perhaps now... we can finally engage in contact with the outside world once again."

The Rating seemed content at the moment to let his opponent come at him... possibly he didn't have the confidence to launch an attack, perhaps he was biding his time or hoping she'd wear herself out on his defences...

The NCO on the other hand stepped in close, waited for the blow, parried, then while the blades were still locked, thrust at her opponent's stomach with the knife.

----------

The Doctor nodded along, taking this new information in, "And where is your majesty's blood line from?" he asked after a while.

The knife penetrated an opening that was left open while the cutlasses where engaged. The Tribes person collapsed to his knee, blood oozed out of the wound as he coughed up blood on the NCO. The knife perforated his lung getting through the rib cage. Soon unless major medical intervention came the NCO's attack would soon start down a long and painful road that would end in death after hours of pain.

Meanwhile the other attacker saw her companion fall, this only seemed to increase her ferocity, she seemed to flow smoother and faster it almost seemed she was releasing a bit venom with each attack. Who ever was facing her attack would need to be careful, very careful indeed.

---

"I'm one of a long line of kings that have lead Aquantantis, right back to our first organised government. A man from the continent left his life on land behind to live with the mermaids. He was called Henry... every King ever since has been his decendent." the king said... Somehow it triggered something else in the King... he made a statement which was out of left field... "Though... my father the previous king... He died when I was young... I doubt I would be able to remember what he looks like if it wasn't for his bust in the temple.

Killing had not been the NCOs original plan, but now there was a red mist, she stepped forward poised to deliver a killing blow, "Pakrah!" she spat.

"Ah Yasmine, a little help here." the Rating was having a very tough time, already bleeding from numerous small cuts, he was retreating step by step. He was a little clumsy and seemed to be tiring, although he was also exceptionally fast... it was in the genes.

She spun, pulling a second dagger out and hurling it at the other woman's back... Unfortunately she had never thrown a dagger at a moving target before, and her wrist was bleeding again... It missed the woman entirely, nicking the Rating's cheek instead.

And that settled the matter, ignoring the dying man she raced forward, approaching from behind and swinging a blow at the other woman's back.

----------

"I see." the Doctor nodded, "Who was your mother then?"

He seemed curious, mostly because a weird though had just occured to him...

The cut on the back was successful, A flap of clothing drooped down from the near horizontal slice, the NCO could see blood but still the tribeswoman was unrelenting releasing anger... it was as if she didn't even notice the long wound that surely would be seeping energy out of her as the blood slowly oozed out.

Surely she was a berzerker, the only question was how long till she would succumb to the wounds.

---

"My mother was human... If that is what you are asking... anyway... There is one last place to show you... a place only for us."

Apparently the subject of his mother was a touchy one... if he knew anything about physical responses to lying he would be able to detect that the words that he spoke he believed to be true... but something wasn't quite right.

Whatever it was about his mother he didn't want to talk about it, he started to lead the Doctor away to one last location... The building didn't seem to have any markings on it, identifying it. However it did seem the focal point of the local area.

Being as the beserker didn't seem to be responding to the NCOs attack, she took another swing, this one lower and aimed at hamstringing her victim. The Rating was definitely flagging under the attack and probably wouldn't last much longer...

----------

"I see." the Doctor replied simply, "Oh? I imagine this will bem ost interesting."

The hamstrung gave the berserker pause before her injuries finally caught up with her and overwhelmed her... collapsing down on the ground. What ever the NCO and the Rating where expecting at the end of the fight it didn't happen.

They didn't even know if this was the test, though they would assume correctly if they did assume it was. Was the test over or was there another part to it? They'd have to find out.

-----

This trip required the carriage once again, the mermaid that had lead the Doctor around took up one of the places in the carriage and sped both the King and the Doctor to the final major stop for the Doctor's tour.

Once they stoped and the King and the Doctor had stepped down the carriage disappeared...

"It's just over this rise..." the king said as he started to swim towards the crest of what would be called a hill on land. Just on the other side was a large flat plain.... It contained 2 major sources of power for the Aquantian society. Tidal energy gained from the simple movement of the water and lightning rods attracting bolts from storms that frequented the area in the right season.

"It makes you think, the earth as a mother can sometimes unleash dreadful energies upon those unsuspecting of her Judgement."

The sight was amazing... but there was a slight feeling in the Doctor that the King had brought him here for more than to look and be in Awe at the power of nature.

It was likely neither of their opponents was dead, but it seemed the will to fight was drained from the two Dyelli Beybian sailors.

The Rating swore as he slumped back against the wall, bleeding in numerous places, "Yasmine, how did we survive that one?"

"No idea." the NCO stamped on the berserker's sword wrist for good measure, grinding her heel in visciously, "I don't know what the hell's going on, I won't pretend we weren't extremely lucky, by right we should both be dead."

"Thank God for Collins and her cutlasses." the Rating rubbed at his eyes, "Who'd have thought that would ever come in handy."

The NCO gave a short laugh, "Certainly not me... Say, do you happen to know where our guns are?"

----------

"It's very impressive." the Doctor remarked, genuinely sounding impressed, although he obviously thought there was more coming and waited expectantly...

From what the two could remember the Tribe's Chief was the only one to have ever handled their weapons... and they thought his hut was on the other side of the village. It wasn't far but if the trial hadn't ended the likely hood of another similiar attack was practically 100%, and they knew unless the circumstances where completely different that it could be their last.

So, it was time to weigh up their options... would they run away, run to the tribe's chief's huts, find someother way of getting guns or something else entirely. Their next move was entirely in their hands, would they try to complete the trial and if so how? or would they just get out of dodge. This indeed was the hardest test that had yet to face.

---

"Yes, magnificent isn't it..." said the king before a pause just absorbing the environment. He was building himself up to ask a question...

"So, Doctor... I'm about to ask you an important question, one that cannot be taken lightly. I suspect that you will have lots of question to ask me before you can give me an answer and the answer must be a considered response...

The question is... Will you accept the invitation I am giving you to become an Aquantantian?"

"I'm guessing the chief's hut." the Rating ventured.

"Best we bust them out then." the NCO decreed, "Keep low and behind stuff if possible, if we get taken by another pair like that they'll be using our ribs as toast racks."

"Don't need to tell me that."

The pair shuffled off, trying to stay hidden as they cautionsly made a bee line for the chief's hut.

----------

This had definitely suprised the Doctor, "I'm honoured... but I am married. I have a wife and three children. Would this extent to them? I'd have to ask them either way. Why do you wish to extend this invitation to me of all people?"

It all came out in a babbling rush.

(OOC: Sorry I haven't been around recently, troubles in my personal life have made it very hard for me to write stuff.)

The two of them got close to their goal, so close they could almost smell it, well not really, before they came agross an old women, not any old women. This was the old lady that they had the option of doing battle with during their first trial a few days ago.

She didn't have a weapon, standing or even looked threatening in any manner, she was just in a chair doing some basket-weaving. She noticed the Rating and the NCO, gave them a smile and a nod before returning her attention back to the basket. Weaving it just as she had before.

----

"It applies to them purely through their relationship with you... If you were to take up the offer you have options. You can stay here and help breath new life, bring a new perspective and fresh ideas to our fine city, or you can leave and act as our representative abroad promoting care of the environment. If you stay, your family won't be able to visit, we only have these 2 aqualungs and cannot produce anymore, also if you were to stay you'd need to shed your last bit of Bashfulness and remove the last piece of clothing."

The rating nodded and tugged his hair respectfully, "Morning Ma'am." apparently he had decided she was no threat.

"Morning." the NCO was more cautious, tugging her companion along with her in the direction of the chief's hut, darting the odd glance back at where the old woman was seated.

----------

"I won't leave them willingly." the Doctor said, quite simply, family was very important to the Dyellians, leading to a large degree of nepotism in Government."

"Can I have time to consider this and consult with my superiors?" he asked, "I just have one question..." he was frowning, "In opening yourself up to the outside world you run the very real risk of being the subject of some imperialistic scheme. Would you be able to resist this? The world is a dark place with few places of true enlightenment... whether political or environmental."

She wasn't a threat to them... but her students were. Two young men about 18, agile and muscular seemed to appear from out of the woodwork and where blocking their way forward, one appeared next to his teacher, and the other was on another side of building.

The two of them did the normal demonstration of their abilities, their moves where quick and precise, before beckoning the NCO and Rating forward with a motion that could only mean. "Bring it on."

----

"As I said, it's a big decision. Of course you may discuss it with those you feel appropriate. Unfortunately risks are always there, Actually there is one last place I want to show, you. It's nearby."

The King lead the Dyellian to one last place, it was building. On the floor inside it were bleached corals, corals that were once alive but head. artificial lights kept it as bright as a topical surface.

"We tried this experiment a long time ago... bring Corals from the surface down into the depths, so they can continue to flourish without worrying about the varriabilty of temperature, polution and a whole lot of other things. But the pressure was just too much for them, they couldn't handle it and so died. To be healthy they needed no where near the amount of pressure that thousands of metric tonnes of water can provide. And for us it's similiar we have spent far too long in isolation. It is unhealthy for us and if we are the target of unenlightened people then that is something that we will just have to deal with. Anyway, we better get you back to the surface. They'll be wondering where you've got to."

The Dyelli Beybian duo looked worried, the NCO was standing square, knife in one hand, sword in the other, "Paul..."

"Yeah."

"Leg it." she didn't turn to look at him, "That's an order Paul."

He nodded momentarily, then sprinted back the way he had come, he was fast. The NCO stepped forward so as to be able to block the path for as long as possible. It was she figured, probably suicide, but she'd at least go out like a D'Reg ought...

The Rating though hadn't abandoned her, he was circling, through the village in the hope of getting to his weapons from a different route...

----------

"Mmmh." the Doctor nodded, "It is interesting." he commented on the corals...

"You can though, ascend to the surface if you wish I believe." he frowned thoughtfully, "Were I to sepak with my superiors about this undoubtedly the Government will become interested. This is potentially good or bad. Good if you speak to the Prime Minister or Tzarina, both, she is the same person. Bad if the spooks take over."

"Would you come out of the water to speak to her?" he asked.

The Rating, otherwise known as Paul, found his way into the Chiefs hut with no further incidents. However what he was looking for was not in plain sight, and there was almost a myriad of places that their weapons could be hidden, adding to the fact that he could be sprung at any time also raised the tension. Here are just some of the places he noted, a wooden cupboard, what looked like a metal foot-locker, under the bed, some sort of desk which looked like it was a generals desk. A whole of places that he had to choose to look into.

Back with the NCO, she was having a difficult time, the two students were almost tag teamming her as they first attempted to disarm her and then using angle, base and leverage lifted her up into the air and then caused her to come crashing down onto the grass. She would not be able to stand much more of this.

---

The king paused as if he had no idea what was meant by "Spooks", and so he decided to gloss over it and just answer his last question.

"Yes, I would like to come out and meet her, though it would have to be on island nearby. I'd need remain by the water and I don't trust those tribespeople. When she comes, I will meet her. Let's get you ready to go back." he said as he called out for the carriage. It came and started to whisk them back to where the rest of the Doctors clothes where.

"If I was a General..." the Rating muttered, then went for the cupboard.

Outside the NCO landed heavily on her back, and just lay there sprawled on the path, staring blankly at the pair, her mediterraneanesque features creased in a look of confusion...

They might also notice her right hand had fallen conveniently close to the dagger she had been carrying before.

----------

"OK." the Doctor nodded, going back with the King to where his clothes were.

"Whatever happens will be interesting." he remarked, "No doubt Dyelli Beybi will be very interested in what it can buy off you."

As the rating raided the cupboard, it was full of hoarded memorabillia ecclictic stuff, collected presumebly from the decaying ruins where they were originally found. It seemed there were items of pride but no... the items looked familiar but no the Rating found no guns or anything else that could be used as a melee weapon.

They indeed noticed that, they were looking at the knife, and just waited to see what the NCO would do, they would be ready to strike the moment a vulnerability came up.

---

The ride back to the clothes was silent, the king was thinking about something, but didn't speak of it, if the doctor didn't know better it was like he was trying to remember something, something way back in the past. Something that he had forgotten and was trying to remember though he didn't have any idea what it was.

The two mermaids that had originally met the Doctor where there waiting to take him back, a brief conversation in sign language, that would roughly translate to "Take him back to the surface, he has a decision to make."

"affirmative"

And ready they were once he was dressed again to head up to the surface.

"OK..." the Rating muttered to himself, then went to looki in the footlocker without disturbing the collection.

Meanwhile the NCO's hand tightened around the hilt, she stood up slowly, giving the pair of assailants a blank stare. She had been hoping they'd assume she was out for the count and do something stupid, but apparently that wasn't the case...

She stood and waited.

----------

"Mmh.. well no doubt you'll see more Dyellians in the future." the Doctor replied, "Farewell your Lordship, you will know my answer soon."

He got dressed then prepared to follow the mermaids.

As the Rating opened the foot looker, smoke eminated out from the draft. The overpowering smell of incense came wafting out with the smoke. After a few seconds the smoke from the incense cleared enough for him to see into the foot looker. It was unlike any other footlocker that he had ever seen.

Their guns where there laid out repectfully in the middle on a type of pedestal, all very small one, more of an elevated surface than anything, in the four courners the remants of the insense that had died due to lack of oxygen.

Around the pedestal there was blood, blood of someone that had died it looked recent, on the sides where gory images glorifying war and death in war... these people where sick.

While his attention was on the footlocker someone had entered the hut, it was the tribal leader. "You have found and opened the sacred footlocker. That means only one thing." he said... a tense moment passed as nothing more was said by the Tribal Leader, obviously wanting the Rating to tell him.

Meanwhile the NCO had troubles of her own, one of the students feigned an attack moments later a foot attached to the leg of the other landed hard on her chest throwing her back. The Rating would have to come back soon with the guns if she would have any chance.

---

The mermaids took the Doctor, once again with his eyes covered for he wasn't an Aquantantian yet, back to the surface where they originally found him. They couldn't signal the Dyelian fleet but perhaps those 2 guards where still there. or he would find someone that could help.

The Rating gave a pleading look, "Please, you have to help Yasmine..."

He looked like he was about to fall on his knees at the clan chief's feet, but there was a sudden change in expression, it was a ruse to get close enough to lash out with the cutlass, which he swung with inhuman speed at the man's throat.

Of course the Rating wasn't human, neither was the Doctor who had spoken to the King, although neither knew it... it was one of Dyelli Beybi's more heavily guarded secrets.

The NCO went down again, getting up to her knees then keeling over forward with her knife under her. It could be another ruse, although from the look of her she'd managed to stab herself in the stomach. One hand came out from under her to claw at the dirt... there definitely seemed to be plenty of blood.

----------

It wasn't the same people in the launch as before, but the Dyellian launch was there, waiting. A sailor waved from the bow, "Ahoy there Doc! We thought you were a gonner."

"No." he called back, wiping water away from his eyes.

He took a moment to become acustomed to where he was then laughed, and with a few strokes was being hauled onto the launch by two sailors, "I have stories to tell, by God..."

One of the men onboard was an Officer of some description. He nodded, "Anything that could be of relevance to us finding two missing sailors on the mainland?"

"Perhaps... there are some peculiar tribes there apparently, violent people from the sounds of it."

The Officer exchanged a glance with a sailor, it seemed to say, And the Fish people told you this? He shrugged and grimaced, "That would be inconvenient, we can't really mount a full rescue mission we just don't have manpower.. although I am sure the Captain will see that honour must be satisfied."

"I was starting to get worried that I was wrong... My Lord, General." a smile had come across his face. He wasn't armed, nor was putting up any kind of resistance. "Come let us end these trials for yo have proven yourself." waiting to see if the Rating would take the blade away from his neck.

The students, were pleased with their work, they didn't see the need to continue on the battle with the NCO and headed off to see if they could do the same with the Rating, for now they set off in search of the Rating... but haven't found him yet.

"We do not abandon our comrades. Where are my weapons?" the Rating growled, not moving the blade an inch, although there was a faint glimmer that implied that the idea of being a Lord and General was very appealing to him. Power could corrupt so quickly.

The NCO's eyes had gone blank, but as soon as the students were gone she blinked, her eyes darted in the direction of the old woman, unsure as to whether moving would give away the fact she wasn't dead... and more importantly if she might stand a chance of sneaking up on her and slitting the damned creature's throat.

Always check the bodies. She wondered if they had crossbows here... that might be helpful if Paul didn't come back with a shotgun. Under her body she clenched her hand, trying to staunch the bleeding... she was becoming quite adept at mutilating herself she mused.

The Tribal Leader had to stiffle a laugh, laughing with a sword at your neck wasn't conducive to good health. "I wouldn't expect anything less from you, oh, master of sword, God of War. Your weapons are in the sacred footlocker take them."

Should the rating take another quick glance he would recognise 2 of the guns there as belonging to himself and the NCO but there were more there. There were a couple of other pistols, a rifle and a shotgun.

For the NCO a few tense moments passed as the old lady finished off her basket weaving. Standing up from her chair she hobbled her way over to the NCO. Was she infact not as good a fighter as was made out? She went down to where her feet lay and looked over the NCO's body, looking at her. "Come on deary, get up. Unfortunately for students they still have a lot to learn." She apparently had been able to identify the bluff, her demeanor was that of a concerned grandmother.

*bump*

OOC: Sorry I've been slow replying, just got my other threads done and we had a 12 hour power cut :P I'll get onto this when I get home this evening.

The NCO nodded after a moment, dropping the sword away, although it was obvious he was still cautiously watching for some kind of trickery.

He leaned to the side, his left hand curling around the barrel of his shotgun. He picked it up, taking a step back, dropping the sword and pumping it experimentally to check for ammunition...

The NCO rolled over onto her stomach then sat up with a grunt, "OK you spotted me."

There was a dark stain on her shirt where her hand had been pressed, "So now what?" she asked.

The shotgun was primed, he could hear the casings inside the shotgun, it was now a deadly ranged weapon.

"Come, we will find the Mistress." the tribes leader said and headed out of his hut. Coming out into the sun he turned around and asked "Which way?"

Meanwhile back with the NCO, The old lady replied "It's over now, one way or the other. Assuming your friend had gone to our Chief's hut, of course. I was just their to assess just how well my students have progressed, they have the moves down but not the experience to do things like check." seemingly being quite open.

"Come on we'll go and find him." she said as she started heading off on her own assuming the NCO would follow.

The Rating motioned forward with the gun, apparently expecting the tribe leader to go in front. He was definitely a cautious soldier...

Meanwhile the NCO scrambled to keep up with the older woman, it had seemed she was ready to just sit around until someone found her, "What do you mean it's over one way or another?"

The lady was obviously leading the NCO towards the tribal chiefs hut, as the Chief exited followed by the Rating, the Chief and the old lady obviously recognised each other.

"Well," the old lady said. "The trials are over, but there are still other matters to attend to." being vague about the nature of those matters and what they meant.

As they met together the tribal chief seemingly introduced the Rating as "The Master of Blades" and in return the old lady introduced Yasmine, the NCO as "The Mistress of Blood"

The Tribal leader knelt down facing Paul and so did the old lady, the few other tribes people around did the same kneeling towards the both of them. "The prophecies have finally come true. The Gods of War have come to us, to lead us to great victory. We are your humble foot soldiers. All Hail the Gods!"

And with that every tribes person around them started to chant "Hail! Hail! Hail!" while still on their knees though they lifted up their torso's and did their chants.

If anyone was watching closely, Yasmine, the NCO darted a couple of concerned glances at Paul... but he was lapping it up, waving his shotgun over his head, "First." he decreed, "Who is the enemy and where are they?"

Yasmine was biting her lip, "Paul?" she whispered.

He flat out ignored her, waiting instead for a reply from the chief or someone else.

"A long time ago the fish-people disappeared, our old enemies, but now that you are here, we'd be able to once again deal with them or find new enemies. Our enemies are your enemies."

The Chief said still on the ground, bowing to the Rating after he had finished. The old lady called out not using words but a sound like "Kiya-Kiya-Kiya"

More of the Tribes people emerged and bowed down with their headfully bowed showing devotion to the only people remaining to stand up.

"The fish people?" Paul frowned, "A non-human sentient race?" he guessed.

"How big an army can you muster?" he asked.

Yasmine had been listening to everything silently, just nodding along when she figured someone was watching, which was all the time.

"Yes, but perhaps not all, The majority of us can fight but just numbers won't be enough. They can only be in water where they have a serious advantage. There's just so much we can't do and so many places we can't go that they can. Only the floating islands can we make proper strikes against them."

The Cheif said, "We have been waiting for so long for you to come, so we can finally deal with them." The old lady said "We await your orders, and will follow."

*bump*

OOC Sorry, lots of problems happened :P

"Ok." Paul waved a hand loftily, "Obviously we need to get these fish people... so we need floating islands and we need an army. How many people do we have? Also do you have one of these floating islands?"

From the point of view of the Tribes people so far both Paul and Jasmine had so far acted as expected from them.

"My lord, the entire village as at your disposal a total of just slightly over 250 soldiers of fighting age, that are those that have reached man or womanhood.

We have made poor attempts without the fabled Shipyards of Renatia we can only construct crude attempts, not even worthy to be called failures. Though if you wish we can show you our attempts."

"Yes, we should take a look at these attempts." Paul nodded, having taken over completely from his now silent counterpart, "What we need though is more people... are there other tribes?"

Despite being outranked in the military, it seemed that Paul was the ranking god out of the two. No one seemed to blink an eye-lid at Paul taking charge while Yasmine remained silent.

"Follow me," the Chief said to the Dyellians The Chief confidently started to head off into the woods, there was no defined nor clear path but it was obvious that he knew where he was going.

Behind, the entire village stood still, waiting for something to happen, presumably waiting for the gods to leave

Paul followed the chief, looking like he was taking this new role very seriously, while Yasmine followed looking somewhat lost...

Paul followed the chief, looking like he was taking this new role very seriously, while Yasmine followed looking somewhat lost...

It was only the tribes leader, the old lady and the 2 "gods" that went on the journey, the fact that Yasmine was totally lost was itself totally lost on the tribes people, they thought it to be aloofness which was indeed one of the attributes they'd expect from the Mistress of Blood.

As they followed they came to a place not that far from the river, it was quite some way upstream, but that didn't matter. They came to what looked like a wooden boat, however it seemed to lack any type of propulsion at all, no engines, no sails, not even a rudder. It looked on the outside like a small Patrol Boat, but our sailors had to start to doubt whether it would float, it didn't look sealed.

The 'Mistress of Blood' eyed the boat warily, then voiced what had probably occured to Paul as well, "Has anyone sailed in this before?"

Paul on the other hand seemed more interested in conducting his war, "Are there more soldiers to be found where we can sail to?"

"We have got it into the water of the river, but the test was unsuccessful. Our enemy makes the sea their home and it's how they have their advantage, we just cannot attack because we cannot go and fight them. We have the man-power but not the means to fight. That's why we train every day in the hope that you would return and be able to lead us and destroy these abominations once and for all. I hope that successfully answers both of your questions."

"Ok." Paul nodded, placing his hands behind his head and stretching, "Now you want weapons, and I know how you can get some. However, nothing comes for free. What do you have that might interest people with weapons?"

"We are but your Humble soldiers, all we have is yours... but my lords, haven't you forgotten... The Quatermaster's Dungeon..."

"Perhaps." Paul waved a hand, "I must look there, but what we really need is a ship and equipment on board to allow us to rain death on the enemy."

"By your order..." the Chief says as he started to head off, presumably towards the 'Quartermasters Dungeon'

Assuming the Dyellians follow they would find what looked like a heavy gate to an underground bunker, Two guards with actual guns, though they were just pistols, sidearms.

"Halt Chief! Who are these strangers?" the guards asked their weapons drawn and aimed at both Yasmine and Paul.

"PUT DOWN YOUR WEAPONS!" the Chief barked "YOU ARE TARGETING THE GODS OF WAR!"

The guards faces suddenly changed as if they suddenly went "oh, shit". Their weapons were lowered and then they bowed their heads, they were really embarrased but as well really scared of what might happen afterwards.

"I'll have words with you later, unless our gods do but for now open the doors." The Chief's look could cut a steel beam in half but his words were calm and together. The guards kicked into action performing a series of actions, much like that of unlocking a deadlock the two doors loudly groaned as they swung open."

Inside, they could see a bank of computers and a corridoor leading to the side.

"Oh... computers..." this immediately drew Paul's attention, "Do you have an inventory somewhere?"

He moved over to the screens, with Yasmine, his silent shadow. He searched around for a moment, then pressed the power switch, although secretly having no real expectation that it might function...

The computers looked more like the mainframes of the 1950's than workstations or any type of computers that the two of them knew. Looking around for a power button on the mainframe Paul noticed a cartridge slot, but it would be useless unless they could power it up. There was no power button or such but there was this large toggle switch, as such you would expect to find in a mad scientist lab.

Switching that in leiu of a power button the Bunker seemed to come alive. The Capacitors start humming as bright lights, properly illuminate the bunker.

Not that there was much else of interest but the cold steel look of the bunker was inforced, The computer started to come alive, however the text that appeared on the small monochrome screen was all garbled and encrypted. If they wanted the information in the computer they would have to find some way of getting it.

Paul was not the sharpest tool in the proverbial shed, and didn't make any attempt to decode what he was seeing, "Fancy... ok, let's see what else this place holds."

"If it's all the same to you, I might stay here." Yasmine put in, speaking for the first time in a long time.

"Mmm?" Paul apparently hadn't really been listening, "OK, you stay here, I'll see you soon."

Down the corridor was an armoury, on the style that there were well used, there was a wide range of weapons to be had from pistols to shoulder-launching rpgs. Some of these perhaps could be used in water but there was always the issue of maneuverability.

As Yasmine pondered and looked at the garbled screen she couldn't find a recognisable pattern, there was not one character used to seperate the words and using the basic code breaking technique of finding the e's. Whatever the encryption algorithm was it was much too complex for Yasmine to get her head around.

"How often are these used?" Paul asked, sounding a little suspicious of unexpected explosions...

Meanwhile Yasmine showed no interest in trying to decipher anything, in fact she headed for the nearest local, "When we first arrived here, we had back packs. Where are they being kept at the moment? Can you take me to them?"

"They're frequently cleaned and maintained... But no they have not been used since you, my Lord had left." said some Tribal lackey that had followed Paul into the Armoury.

The Tribe Chief snapped his fingers and commanded, "Bring the Lady's pack to her." Someone dashed out and in about 20 minutes returned with her backpack.

"Ok, well let's bring some up into the sunlight and test them." Paul clapped his hands together, although he didn't look entirely sure about the idea of trying to swim and shoot...

"I think we need a ship." he declared.

Yasmine, noting that nobody seemed to be bossing her around, shouldered the backpack and wandered out of the bunker. She took a few nonchalant steps away from any villagers, then crouched down and began rummaging around in the backpack.

"Rat." she said in almost a whisper, "Do you hear me? This is Petty Officer Allos."

There was silence... then just when it seemed there would be nothing, a response, "Lieutenant Hope, we had picked you for dead Officer, where are you."

"I need urgent extraction. Please... Paul, I mean Rating Jones has gone mad, he thinks he's some tribal God..."

"OK Yasmine." Dyellians were very informal, the voice was calm, pleasant, reassuring, "We're coming to get you, leave nobody behind, remember? But we need you to do something for us, in your pack you should have a GPS reader device thingee, I need you to read the coordinates to me."

"You can't come here." Yasmine breathed, "Too many of them, you'll get attacked, we'll take losses."

"OK, then you run and we'll come and get you. Do you have that device?" Hope replied.

"One moment." Yasmine, took a few moments fumbling around in the backpack before finally finding it and reading out the coordinates.

"Great. Yasmine, I'm going to come." Hope reassured her, "But I need you to radio in every thirty minutes with new coordinates so we don't miss each other. OK?"

"Understood Ma'am."

"Good." Hope replied, "Now run, don't stop, don't sleep and don't ever look back. We are coming."

Yasmine took one last look around, then bolted...

Most of the tested firearms worked but there were a small number that exploded and about double the number that constantly jammed., from the tests A total of 10% of the weaponry would be defective in some way.

Tribes people volunteered to do the testing, the exploding doing enough damage to put them out of action for at least a day. They were helped back to the village.

As for Yasmine, she was noticed but the tribes people had kept a respectful distance away, and things seemed normal until she suddenly legged it running into the jungle.

Someone went and told the Tribe Chief, who was disturbed, finding Paul.
"The Lady of Blood has betrayed us, she just ran off, Lord, What do you want to do, Shall we send people after her?"

Underneath the false bravado, Paul was a coward... and he knew very well what kind of a reception playing God would have among the crew of the Rat...

"Yes." he replied, appearing to consider the problem deeply, "Send a good number of people. She may encounter friends. Ideally try to take them alive, they could be useful and you can always kill them later if they aren't."

"You are indeed honourable." the Chief said bowing his head towards his God.

He turned around, The unmistakable bark and stance of a drill Sargent echoed from the Tribe leader as he barked orders for his tribes men to get weapons, quickly organising them into small groups before sending them out. They were quick organised and had a sort of military precision that would never be expected.

As the groups move out to hunt down Yasmine the familiar calls between the groups where heard, the same ones that were heard while they had to escape and manuever from the tribes people. However this time they weren't just playing a glorified tag Yasmine was fleeing for her life.

*bump*

*bump*

OOC: Hey I'm really sorry I vanished, my internet was offline for just over a week

Yasmine bolted... she wasn't trying to cover her tracks either, it was a straigh bee line towards the coast. She was moving relatively fast, although one might assume she'd tire at some point.

For about a minute the calls stopped and then started again, they seemed to be coming up behind, they were making better time but only seemed to be gaining slowly. As she ran she came to a place where she'd have to make a quick decision, there was a slope down which remained wooded she quite tell where it went as she'd never been here before but the other way remained level, the drop leaving a sort of minature cliff, she could no immediate cause for her to not choose either way.

---

Meanwhile back with Paul, the chief was only gone a few minutes getting things done related to the chase. "What is your will now?" he asked, there was nothing obvious for him to do but there was that computer, If he could just find out how to decrypt the computer, he'd be able to find out what it could help with.

Yasmine paused, then kept on heading the way she'd gone to start with. She needed to head directly back towards the ship....

"Lieutenant?" she had picked up the radio, talking into it as she walked.

Reading you loud and clear, Petty Officer

The response was immediate; We're zeroing in on your location now, just keep moving, at the rate we're going I think we'll reach you in about 6 hours.

Yasmine has slowed to a walk, there was no point tiring herself out unnecessarily, especially if there was still hours until she met the people from the ship, "OK, they are gaining on me I hope you realise."

There are ten of us, armed, I think we can make the extraction. You just need to stay focused on reaching us.

"OK"

----------

Paul frowned, "Anyone know how to work that machine?" he asked hopefully.

Suddenly he snapped his fingers, "My radio is in your hut Chief, we should go and get that, we'll be able to listen and see if the traitor is talking to the others."

She headed straight, going on the level ground, going on she came to a sort of precipice. She obviously hadn't heard of an old saying "Sometimes to go straight you have go around the side." If it was an old saying. It probably was somewhere around the world.

The face of the precipice was steep but it was full of rubble, perhaps she could slide down it? Down in the valley canyoun type thing was the well known river, she'd crossed a number of times before. Just to her left was a waterfall as the eater fell the 6 or so metres (20ft). The bottom wa all stoney ground and it looked like it continued for ages, Go along there should certainly cause problems for her pursuers. It was just a matter of getting down their safely.

~~~~

The face of the tribal chief froze in horror, "You mean the legends are true?! I fear we may have sent them to their deaths." It was obviously a hard pill to swallow it had been a long time since any real war had been made and it was almost to east to forget that it costs lives. "Come, I will take you to where it was stowed."

While they were on their way the cheif continued speaking "As for the Machine legend says deep with in the cave the gods had hidden a key, a key that allows us mortals to use the great and awesome power that is the Computator."

"As for the machinem legend says a

Yasmine weighed up her options, then decided to try to slide down the cliff. She had little or no idea what might happen, but backtracking was probably a bad idea...

----------

"You must tell me this legend." Paul said, "Actually both, what is this legend of outsiders? and I must know more of the legend of how to access the computer."

"I wouldn't worry too much." he said of the people they had sent to track Yasmine, "If they encounter others they will be few, alone in a land they do not know, probably frightened. They will surrender if they are given the opportunity to and they will not kill unless they feel they will die if they don't."

Yasmine weighed up her options, then decided to try to slide down the cliff. She had little or no idea what might happen, but backtracking was probably a bad idea...

----------

"You must tell me this legend." Paul said, "Actually both, what is this legend of outsiders? and I must know more of the legend of how to access the computer."

"I wouldn't worry too much." he said of the people they had sent to track Yasmine, "If they encounter others they will be few, alone in a land they do not know, probably frightened. They will surrender if they are given the opportunity to and they will not kill unless they feel they will die if they don't."

As she started slide down the cliff she could see the bits of loose gravel following her down, she apart from a scrape on her back she was unharmed, it perhaps took 12 seconds to go down that 6 metres. She noticed that under the waterfall was a cave, she could go through that, but who knew where it went or she could try and follow the river to the ocean or find her own way through the terrain.

~~~~

That raised a curious look, Paul should of obviously known the story.

"The War gods where engaging in battle, with the pantheon split in half neither side could get an advantage, and that's when the God's brought us mortals into the battle, the gods came and sired the demi-gods, those with great strength and great ability, half man, half god. If the Mistress of Blood has help then it would be those Demi-gods born to her through relationship with man. As for the Computator, Legend goes the gods hid the key to accessing it somewhere in the cave, we have never found it we have searched everywhere. Perhaps you would be able to find it my Lord."

They were getting close now and it would only be a few more minutes before they arrived and the Rating would be able to get to the radio and listen in.

Following the river to the Ocean never even occured to the NCO... Instead she splashed across, breast stroke, heading a straight bee line for where she had come from with no attempt to deviate.

----------

Paul waved a hand dismissively, "They're called Dyellians, nothing superhuman about them, just have plenty of weapons. If they like us they might even give us some. The mistress of blood is what you call a D'Reg."

"So how would you tell a God from a Demi-God from a Mortal?" he asked, evidently curious on this point, "We should also take a look for that key after, I may know what I'm looking for."

There was an eagerness about his manner, he wanted to hear what was going on over radio...

As Yasmine was running, she re-entered the woods, she soon found herself in what looked like and old aircraft wasteland, despite however the forest reclaiming the area, there were Spitfires, Messerschmitts, and other war planes of that era, all crashed, all useless and rusted out. Yasmine could no longer run in a straight line, it was like she had entered a maze, dead ends, if it wasn't anything else it was the perfect place for an ambush. The tribes people were getting closer and closer, she could not have left a more obvious trail splashing through the water, luckily so too was the Dyelians so, it was just a matter of who would find her first.

~~

"It's not the time for such discussions now, Lord, look your backpack." As pointed ahead as indeed, there it was the radio there and waiting to be listened to.

Nearby was a log, the tribal leader sat down on it and seemingly entered deep thought something that paul had said seemingly caused the tribal leaders altered behaviour pattern.

And things were coming through the radio loud and clear...

"OK Yasmine, stop. We're right on top of you, people fan out!"

"Problem is they're right on top of me too..."

What was probably about to happen was the tribes people would bump into pairs of searching Dyellians rather than their target, although anything was possible in what was probably about to turn into chaos...

As the tribespeople aproached they also fanned out into 2 person groups, 2 of them would scout around the "graveyard" the other 4 groups started to find their way around looking searching.... for her, though they didn't find her, they did find other things.

The noise of everything that was happening around was all echoing and reverberating around, everything was happening chaotically and confusion abounded.

By total coincidence the Dyellians were also in two person groups. One group stumbled into a group of tribespeople, the lead sailor immediately let rip with an ill-aimed blast from his shotgun... which pretty much sealed things. Even if the tribespeople had had a thought of talking. after the first pellets were let loose, the rest of them assumed that they were under attack too...

Yasmine flinched as the blast went off, then sprinted in the direction it had come from, running head first into a youngish Dyellian woman, knocking her off her feat, "Hello Petty Officer." she said, with a joviality that didn't really work while she was gasping for breath, "Would you mind getting off me?"

"Sorry Ma'am."

Meanwhile Paul gritted his teeth, "They've met up. I hope if one of your people kills one of the damned sailors they'll have the good sense to pick up the radio."

One of them yelled something in the tribal language it seemed that only a few could actually speak english those that seemed to be favoured by the gods, that being the chief and the old martial arts lady, but let's go back to the action.

As the shotgun blasted out it's cone of shrapnel they dived behind some nearby wreckage hitting and scrapping against the and injurying themselves further. But that gave them an idea of their own. A call, high pitched, similiar to the ones that they used to track her down different again. They had almost an entire language made up of such things, one that could be communicated over long distances, one totally and utterly foreign to all those that heard it.

As the sound echoed each group of 2 seemingly disappeared, there was no a hide nor hair of them, was it trap where they waiting for something or was that it?

*bump*

OOC: Sorry I've been slow, I have a lot of threads at the moment and not enough time to reply to them all in a day :P

The Dyellians were definitely alarmed by this, figuring they were about to get attacked at any moment, "Regroup people. We'll set up a defensive perimeter and make a stand, can't let them pick us off one by one."

This was Hope through the radio. Slowly, mostly because the sailors only had a vague idea of where they were or where they were going, they began to reform around the Lieutenant...

As the teams came together, each had the eerie feeling that they were being watch but there was nothing. The sound of weight shifting in a plane hulk but if they investigated there was nothing there.

However long it took for the Dyelians to re-group was how loong the Tribes people waited, well, nearly just as the last 2 man groups were arriving a loud shout echoed, perhaps a war cry, perhaps something else but they rushed the Dyelians, it seemed like suicide despite out numbering the Dyellians by about 2-1.

The Dyellians opened fire. A few shooting high or wide in fright or panic. Others like the Lieutenant kept a cool head, although had anyone had the time to watch her they'd realise she pointed her shotgun but never actually pulled the trigger...

If the tribespeople didn't break and scatter they might break the circle and turn things into the kind of unpleasant melee the tribespeople would probably do better in.

Despite the panicked shooting about half of the shots fired managed to do their job effectively enough and slow those hit, or make them so much more ineffective in a large melee to make them pretty much expected to not count in the encounter at all.

However that still meant the Dyellians where out numbered 3:2 in a good old fashioned melee scrap. They had knives but where also very good in the old rumbling.

About half of the Dyelians where attacked with the knives and the remaining half were being wrestled, grapping against each other.

... Which didn't bode particularly well for the Dyellians. As a people they tended to be small and slightly built. They were usually more nimble than average, but when it came to wrestling that didn't exactly help... and none of them had a melee weapon. It would probably only be a matter of minutes before they were entirely subdued one way or another.

The Dyellians were beaten the stuffing out of, their opponents used the terrain to their advantage knokcing people out by bashing their heads against against anything they could find.

It wasn't that long till they were all knocked unconcious, the main question that now needs to be answered.... "Where was Jasmine?"

Yasmine was gone. She had to be close, but for now she had effectively vanished...

Picking up the weapons of the Dyellians the tribe warriors stired the Dyelians from their unconcious state using smelling salts and other methods, such as kicking them in the side.

With their weapons in hand, and superior hand-to-hand combat, the tribe warriors where certainly in charge, and while Yasmine, the mistress of blood their main target had disappeared, instead of trying to go and find her, they'd make her come to them, stack the environment to their favour as much as possible.

The Dyellian in charge seemed to be in charge was a slim blonde, probably in her mid thirties. Even if they didn't recognise the insignia (probable), there was a certain way that she carried herself, and a way that the others looked at her that suggested she was definitely in charge and could well be trouble with or without a weapon.

It didn't matter they were all forced to march back to the village, probably would take a good hour and a half to get back to the village. Once there however as Paul was there he;d obviously be able to identify her.

As they began to move off Yasmine cautiously stepped out from her hiding place... and whistled, loudly. Then waved. She was looking to get attention.

They were given two options... go for their primary objective, or go for a secondary objective hoping that later on they could use that to obtain their primary objective.

It was a decision that needed to be made on the spur of the moment and so it was, a brief call by one of the tribes people, and thus obviously denoting him as the highest "ranked" person in the team told them abandon their prisoners and go after Jasmine. After quite a few shots that weren't anywhere near as accurate as they should have been and totally not causing any real danger, while some started to move round the back of where the Dyellian was in an attempt to cage her. If she waited to long, she'd be encased and would seemingly have no way out.

The D'Reg stood exactly where she was, like an animal caught in the beam of headlights. She was holding something, although it wasn't clear quite what.

In some ways they were a well disciplined army unit, and in otherways just a rabble of men with guns.

They wouldn't move until they were certain to have her surrounded while they were nearly done it just needed that bit more time, so for now. It was a tense stand-off between the tribes people and Yasmine. Time ticked down, ever closer to the time she would be completely surounded.

... which apparently she didn't care about. In fact she sat down against a heap of wreckage giving the nearest tribesperson (she could see) a raised eyebrow. She was waiting for them to come to her.

The Dyellian sailors were also looking restless. With less guards they looked in the mood to start a fight again, although the one who seemed to be in charge was looking decidedly groggy for now.

The circling around was complete, Jasmine was completely surrounded a moment they all started to slowly but surely they started to close in on her.

That was until the woman who lead the group who had up until this moment, just had been running the group on standard operating procedures put a stop to the slow advance by raising her hand and by placing an order to those that arrived. "HALT" Was that order. Before continuing on speaking something in the tribal language.

Those that had surrounded lowered their weapons as she stood forward, it seemed it would be woman to woman, who had at least some command of the english language.

She would be walking calmly her weapon draw. Pausing about 4 metres away from the "god" it was obviously a matter of honour and respect.

For the first time Yasmine actually looked nervous, "So?" she asked, "What are you waiting for? What is your intent?"

Anong the sailors there was a palpable mood of expectation. Everything was watching for what the D'Reg NCO was planning next.

Quite some distance away the tribe leader would be able to inform the other god what was going on.

"It's a matter of honour, the mistress of blood can't be felled by just anyone, but it's upto the highest ranking official to accept the challenge. She's waiting for the challengee to make her move and take up her own weapon."

~~~

Meanwhile the situation remained tense, the female tribesmen waited for the Dyelian to draw a weapon of her own. She waited obviously unable to understand nothing but a challenge had been given.

It took a moment or two for Yasmine to figure out what was going on... then she stepped forward, aparently planning to take her opponent on bare fisted... only she was holding something.

There was a pause while she fiddled with the object in her hand, "Here, catch."

... it was a fragmentation grenade. One could only suppose she'd been intending to drop it at her feet before...

She was too disciplined to actually fall for the catch part of the deception but with no idea what a fragmentation grenade was, nor what one looked like she started to take a step forward her sword ready to swing, but never having a chance. The Grenade exploded the threw her body violently away, it did'nt rip any of her limbs of but their she lay, presumably dead or very much so unconcious.

Those of the tribes people stood in stunned silence, they had witnessed something amazing, a miracle. A ball erupting with fire and killing their leader. but now who was in charge? everyone of the tribes people where very much confused.

Yasmine was no fool. She didn't waste time, but strode forward confidently, making a bee line for the captured Dyellians and generally hoping everyone was too stunned to do anything. If not... she was completely unarmed, and rather tired.

The dumbstruck look that had taken a hold over the Aquantantian forces quickly changed to one of terror as she, the Mistress of Blood to steps forward towards them. The second in command, had taken over, he was calling to stand firm against her, but no as Yasmine approached the tribespeople started to step back, their eyes wide with fear and their bodies getting flooded with adrenaline. It didn't take much perhaps 5 confident steps for the first to start to flee, followed soon after.

The calls of the man now in charge unheaded... The tribes people were soon evaporating underneath him, and while he could probably take her on himself that left the seriously under guarded Dyellians, which with the sheer numbers he wished the those martial artists where more than mere trainees with more battle experience but now, there was no chance the fight was lost. All he could now was rally the troops and make them stronger for next time.

And the Dyellians attacked... driving off their captors. It had been a lucky victory at best.

They were jubilant, Lieutenant Hope taking it farther than most, hugging the NCO, "Great work Yasmine.... shh.... EVERYONE QUIET!"

A general hush fell over the clearing, "Grab your guns if you can still find them, then we're off, we won't be so lucky twice." Hope ordered.

As they set off she realised that the reality of the situation was that they were going to get caught again if the enemy rallied any time soon. They just had to hope they didn't.

Their weapons where in small piles where they fell as the tribespeople ran away in fear. It would take at least sometime for the second in command to find and gather a reasonable force ready of facing them. So for now they were in the clear... though as for how long was anyone's guess.

They would be unmolested while they went to where-ever they went.

The Dyellians were heading straight back for their ship. Unfortunately night was also closing in. So they made camp for the night before setting off again in the morning (rather than stumbling about in the dark and almost certainly getting completely lost).

The night seemed to get colder than the other nights had been, the fire in the middle of the campsite flickered it's light around in the dark. The moon rose and started to fall, It was about a half-moon.

The nocturnal animals that were around in the forest did their things, making noise, hunting for food. The guards didn't see anything unusual during the night for there was nothing to see. Where ever the tribes people were it wasn't where the Dyelians where and as the sun rose. It glistened off the dew perfectly, in anyother circumstances it seemed that this place would be paradise.

OOC: Dramaticstan; your post is not welcome here, especially with that content.

The next morning the Dyellians set off again, making a bee line for their ship. If anyone was tracking them they'd realise the Dyellians had approximately no skill at traversing forest, blundering through it like a family on a Sunday outing.

As they made their close to the ocean, so close in fact they could smell the salt -water in the air and almost hear the waves lapping at the nearby beach they were almost home... almost.

Then as the group of Dyellians were scurting around a bush, they came almost face to face with that 2nd In Charge. A wry smile on his face as his sword was drawn.

"Have another?" the blonde Dyellian stepped up to the plate, undicating to the others that they should skirt around her and try to make it down to the sea.

"Wonder if you speak English. I'm not going to hurt you, whatever your intent, you're coming back with me though." Hope didn't really have any way to back up her declaration. In fact, she was thinking very hard on how to disarm someone with a sword without the use of lethal force...

It was a trap, an ambush, as the Dyellians started to skirt the tribesfolk where ready, seemingly coming out from no-where in amung the vegetation of the troope.

Obviously not all could be covered but there was enough to essentially ensure a one-on-one confrontation between the Dyellian and the current leader of the "army".

Producing another sword he flung it towards the Dyellian, hitting the ground just to his left of the target. Sword vs. Sword, surely that was much more civilised.

OOC: My apologies, lots of RL stuff happened, then my computer broke down AGAIN

The Lieutenant tossed her shotgun to Yasmine, "If anyone moves, blast them, someone radio our coordinates to the Rat. I guess we need to play along for now."

She stooped to pick up the sword, saluted, then brought in down... apparently someone had taught her fencing, "En garde!"

And so no one seemed to move except for those 2 facding it off through swords. The tribesman made half-hearted attacks, probing, testing, just seeing how good his opponent was, while keeping his defenses high.

The Lieutenant it seemed was average at best. She was probably a very good fencer... but fencing went along a straight piste, and movement to the left or right seemed to confuse her.

There obviously where differences between fencing and the type of sword attacks that the tribesman practice, while there were specific rules with fencing, a sport among the "genteel", the type that he was facing with was much different. It was a raw, battle form, one that you might expect to face in the days before guns where even thought of. One where you lived or died by the hand of your sword there was no thought for the nicities of particular aspects of fencing.

In this form, it was obvious that the Lieutenant was outclassed, yet he wasn't getting a proper attack. He was being toyed with, a slice on exposed skin here, slicing at his uniform there. All it caused was a bit of pain and a bit of humiliation, the battle could go on for seemingly however long they wanted it to.

---

However, meanwhile back in the village after a good nights sleep, the Tribal chief approached Paul... "Are these Dyelians your people?" he asked, of course after making sure that paul was provided with a sumptuous breakfast. Full of fruits, and something that tasted delicious that he had no idea what it was... Some kind of baked pastry.

OOC: My apologies for vanishing for ages. Personal issues can be something of a nuisance :P

The Lieutenant was evidently aware that she would lose, sooner or later. She was thinking, trying to figure a way out of what was developing into something of a grim situation...

Meawhile Paul nodded, "Yes, they are my people. They are by and large a cowardly race that relies on trickery and murder in the night to achieve their goals."

It seemed lost for the man who tried to fight this tribesman, who was indeed very skilled with the sword, soon a flick of the wrist had totally managed to take the sword right out of the opponents hand. It was lying on the ground, he pressed his advantage pushing forward. He was about to take a swipe at the currently defenseless man, a look never seen before in his eyes.

A Woman tribes-person grabed his arm and prevented the swing. He briefly turned his face to her and said something to her angrilly, she replied calm and was apparently starring him down. A few more choice angry words were spoken as the man threw down the sword on the ground and started to leave. However the fight still continued, a punch from the woman that had held back what could have been a devistating blow kicked things back into gear.

~~~



"Ah, so she has been in control for too long, and you are returning some balanced warfare back... but, I really didn't need to ask."

He brandished one of the longswords, a small tear flowed from his cheek...

"I had devoted my life to leading this village in the way that I know you would of wanted, able fighters, honourable in battle, in defeat and victory.Honoring the code of a true warrior, and now you have left us for these.. these... Djel."

another tear, a larger one this time rolled down his other cheek.

"All my work waiting, and preparing for the day you'd return... we tested and tried each other, to be the best we can for YOU, but you left us and now... There is nothing I can do, all my work has been for nothing... Deal with my people honourably, I know you will but I can no longer lead them for you."

And with that last word he thrust the sword up into his innards going up into behind the rib-cage. He slumped forward blood coming out of his mouth... "Why?" he managed to gurgle before soon succumbing to the effects of his self-inflicted wound.