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Post by Brennon on Jul 1, 2021 2:08:05 GMT
Brennon isn't fond of slavery, but this place also isn't his, and it's a time-honored Viking tradition. All he says to Ruta on the subject is, "I trust those you conquered are being treated with what honor they earn, and having their wounds tended properly. Those who are ill-fed or mistreated will not work as hard or as fast."
Moving on to better topics, he returns Ruta's enthusiasm with his own. "Yes! I bring what I could find, beg, borrow, buy, or steal, as I promised. I also bring news." Once Celessia is close enough to talk to Ruta without shouting his news across the sound, Brennon will step to her and speak on a low, quiet voice. He aims to look her in the face as he talks, but if he's close enough that his height gives him mostly a different view, he won't complain.
"Amber has twice recently had events heralded across the shadows, and twice been struck by disaster. I heard news of a third event, and it is less than a week away. I have no certain news of a third disaster, but even my people say all things come in threes. How many ships do you have ready?"
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Post by Admin on Jul 1, 2021 2:38:23 GMT
Ruta lets out a booming laugh and slaps Brennon on the back.
"You're right there, my friend! Those with honour fought and fell to our blades as they deserved, those without fell anyways! No use us going to fight your wars and leave our homes undefended, yes? Now all this land is under our domain and we have tripled our fighting force! And with more than enough salves to man our oars!"
She lets out a great laugh once again.
"The ships are ready but for provisioning. I will put all available hands to it so we cn sail at the next tide. Until then come with me and help celebrate out great venture! For too long have I rode upon creaking ships and tame mountain ponies - tonight I ride a stallion!"
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Post by Brennon on Jul 1, 2021 2:50:19 GMT
Brennon passes word to his crew about making ready for the next tide as well, and gives a limited shore leave in the rotation of some of his hands to spend an hour apiece assisting the longshoremen in provisioning all the other ships, in return for an hour of their own time ashore. All to be completed two hours before the next tide. Then he'll join Ruta in her farewell feast, and anything else she may have in mind for the evening, confident in his ability to outdrink most, if not all, of her warriors, and still steer a ship at the end of it.
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Post by Admin on Jul 1, 2021 4:22:26 GMT
Even with his enhanced strength and endurance, Ruta keeps the pace in the revelries and so it is a bruised and battered Brennon that walks from the longhouse to the Celessia in the morning. Even aching in a dozen places, he still can't keep the grin from his face.
The locals have prepared their ships, and all is ready to go. Ruta salutes from her flagship, and the fleet waits for Brennon to lead them to glory.
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Post by Brennon on Jul 2, 2021 18:35:16 GMT
One of the benefits (or drawbacks) to having a psychic ship, is that the crew always knows the ship's mood. Brennon is happy, which makes Celessia happy. It's with a number of jaunty whistles and snatches of song from a dozen shadows that Celessia dances her way through the harbour and out to sea, following the path Brennon previously marked and found. At the last anchor buoy, Brennon aligns his internal compass to the major sea lanes of Amber, and checks the skies for the storm he will be bringing with him. Hopefully, the skies are currently clear, since at a certain point the rough weather of travelling shadow will limit how fast he can push through.
Heading out to the horizon, he focuses not on the party Flora is/was planning, but on arriving before whatever event will be tied to it occurs, and leaving a trail for Ruta's people to follow if and when some of the longships get left behind. The passage is only as long as his push through shadow, so it will only help them get to Amber's sea lanes, but that could well save their lives if they have been 'lost'.
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Post by Admin on Jul 5, 2021 6:59:58 GMT
Three of the great Viking ships have one of the elders mounted on the prow. Seen n daylight for the first time, Brennon sees that they are mummified corpses and cobwebs still dangle off them, blowing in the ocean breeze.
Are you sticking to the established shadowpaths or carving your way to Amber using BP? Riding the oncoming storm suggests BP work but that might be a dangerous folly.
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Post by Brennon on Jul 5, 2021 17:18:53 GMT
[[OOC: I was of the opinion that these shadows weren't on well-established shadowpaths. Brennon will use BP to stitch together the established shadowpaths with his storm, not the fastest he might go if he was using BP constantly, but a bit safer with ships in tow. Hopping from path to path, letting it calm a bit between BP jumps, is what I had in mind. Faster than using just the normal shadowpaths, until he gets to the point he can't shift things any more.]
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Post by Admin on Jul 5, 2021 17:42:28 GMT
[Ooc: gotcha]
All the disasters inherent from following the dark paths of the broken pattern happen as Brennon leads the fleet for path to path and it is a battered half of the ships he started with that loll during a break in the journey.
Ruta signals to him that they need to find a sheltered Bay or cove to begin repairs before they will be able to sail on further. One of the elder mounted ships has been lost in the journey.
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Post by Brennon on Jul 5, 2021 20:12:18 GMT
He had been hoping it wouldn't happen, but losing one Elder was better than losing all of them. If he went back, he might be able to find several of the ships and bring them and what was left of their crews to Ruta. Knowing these waters a bit better than the stormy seas they had been crossing, Brennon will find a small island archipelago to hide the Viking raiders in, where they can find non-tropical timber for repairs, and refresh their other supplies, like water. "These islands are part of the Duchy of Mon Pelliamor; the bigger island there," he points, "has a city with some high stone walls, and fire-mages that can throw about as far as a longbow can shoot. They don't mind foreign ships using the unpopulated islands, and they don't mind people who pay in gold at their docks. If you stay on the sea lanes here, it is a month and a bit more to reach Amber. The lanes swing wide to hit a number of trade cities along the route." The island in question is perhaps three to five times as high as the little islands they are hiding among, and from this distance only the edge of one massive crenellated wall can be seen against the sky at the top of a heavily forested slope, facing the sea. "I was planning to cross the open lanes a few more times, to come in inside the Golden Circle. How long do you need for repairs? Is it worth it, to have me look for your lost Elder, or some of the ships that strayed off course?"[ooc: if my directions are off in timing/direction, just edit in the right estimates. ]
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Post by Admin on Jul 6, 2021 0:02:10 GMT
[ooc: what is time in shadow? I don't know the answer to that question so that we can assume all moves at about the speed of plot(ish).]
"A few days to repair. Many ships carry some spare beams and masts for replacement. Other ships will be too badly damaged to repair be harvested for what can be reused, the rest scuttled. Stay and guard as your ship sees to be in the best condition in this fleet. The others will come or be lost as the gods and elders decree."
She looks longingly at the city.
"If we could take that city or you? Put those mages to the test against the might of our elders?" she muses.
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Post by Brennon on Jul 7, 2021 1:45:34 GMT
"Celessia can take gunfire and cannons, but fire-mages can be a problem. If I had ten of her, it might be an even fight. I have no desire to hold the land, though, and I like that they ignore people using these little islands. Whether I won or lost, that would change after such a battle. If you want to spend the gold, go ahead and visit them as a guest. They won't mind, and with enough gold they will show you around their city." No matter how many Vikings Ruta has, they must be overwhelmed by a city of half a million people, with a fire-mage academy, public education, and a small library of natural philosophy. Not to mention the hand of years in civil or military service each male adult had to serve.
"I don't know what your Elders can do. Perhaps they are each a match for a fist of fire-mages. Take a look through a spyglass at the top of the wall, if you like. They are fat, happy, and well-defended. Perfect place to buy new things, or sell extra things, as long as most places consider it legal."
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Post by Admin on Jul 7, 2021 6:13:31 GMT
"We will think on it. Such a place would be advantageous for Amber to control, yes? If we were to take it maybe this would be the service you wish us to provide for the gods.
"A direct attack on the harbor would be foolish, but if we could land our ships farther up the coast and march in by night..."
She will sleep that night, amid the noises of repair and refit, dreaming of battle plans and great victories against Mon Pelliamor.
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Post by Admin on Jul 14, 2021 23:33:52 GMT
[OOC: Assuming you have no other plans for the night.]
The next morning is windy and the waves gusts confine the fleet to their bay. Brennon can see ships sail beyond his berth, a few of the large warships of Amber and some smaller vessels. One is the flagship and shows the Unicorn Jack of Amber on her mast above the orange and black tiger flag of Prince Calvera. Through a looking glass, he can see Calvera standing on the foredeck of his ship
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Post by Brennon on Aug 1, 2021 22:02:36 GMT
Brennon will find Ruta, and point out the Prince's standard.
"There's a person to impress, if you wish to help Amber. Hailing his ship will get you faster passage to Amber than I can give. He'll probably also know where your forces are best placed."
As the two of them stand and watch the ship, Celessia will dart out of the cove where she has been standing guard, and run some signal flags up her mast. Perhaps there is a new hand on the lines, because it is unclear whether the signal is one for requesting or offering aid.
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Post by Admin on Aug 2, 2021 3:11:24 GMT
Ruta grabs Brennon's bicep in an iron grip.
"That's him! That's the one we have sailed towards! The Elders say he is the threat to Amber that we must destroy!" she says excitedly.
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