The Furry Forums
Creative Arts and Media => Roleplay => Serious RP => Topic started by: Grovygrunge on August 14, 2015, 09:55:23 PM
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The urchins nodded and took the pieces of paper back and mentioned that you should head to the Admiralty as soon as possible, though they wouldn't blame you if you felt like loitering a little. The urchins then ran off towards The Admiralty Survey Office to collect their payment for delivering the message. They probably weren't working for much, maybe some bread, or a few echoes. That's about it. That doesn't affect you though, so maybe you should get going with what you're doing. After all, why would you want to stay in Fallen London, it is a dreary and to be honest fairly dull place at times. Sure, there's The University but that only really entertains scholars and zailors who want to sell an artifact they've found or share a myth for the scholars there to bicker over and over analyse, or the shops which sell mostly parts for ships, fuel and rations. It's like they actively promote becoming a zailor. There's also the aforementioned Admiralty Survey Office but if you find fun in such a place then honestly you must have a screw loose...or ten.
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Angder follows the Urchin, the sooner he was on the Zea the better.
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As Angder followed the urchin he was approached by a badger with a gleaming bald head and one eye which had no no pupil. He was dressed in a long dark jacket. He leaned in close to Angder and gave him a warm yet oddly threatening smile. "Rumor has it youse lookin' to become a zailor. That right? If so I 'ave a...proposition for you. Are yo interested in what I 'ave to say to you, my good man?" He seemed like he was trying to have some sort of charm but it honestly seemed forced.
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Angder grins. "Well, hurry up then? why would I not be!" Angder looks at the badger expectantly.
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Geoffrey also followed the urchin and Angder, but stayed some distance away in case the wolf was bothered by him. He hated making people uncomfortable.
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The badger grinned and produced a package from his jacket and pressed it into Angder's hands. "Well then, you need to take this package to..." He leaned in close and whispered into his ear when he noticed Geoff, not wanting him to hear. "Take this to Gaider's Mourn, to the east. You'll know it when you see it. Big upwards island." The badger walked away, glancing menacingly at Geoff as he did. "You didn't see nothin'"
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Angder examines the package. "Sounds good to me..."
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Geoffrey's ears lowered at the badger's menacing glare. "Uh, okay..."
He peered at Angder with curiosity for a moment, then awkwardly continued walking to the office. Whatever was going on was clearly shady and he wished to steer away from anything of that sort. It was none of his business.
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The package rattled a little but there's not much Angder can tell about it from that. It was obvious though that it probably wasn't that legal. Both Geoff and Angder were approaching the Admiralty Survey Office. It looked a lot more official than the buildings the two had seen so far. That wasn't all that surprising though. They're officials after all, and what is an official without an official looking building? Not a very good one. It seemed to be open. At least...they think it did. The only way to be sure was for one of them to check.
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Angder places the box in his coat, and heads into the building.
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Geoffrey moved out of the way and watched Angder head in, still wanting to keep his distance from the guy but for a somewhat different reason this time.
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Angder was met with the uninterested gaze of a young and, oddly, quite beautiful fox. She must have been quite wealthy, as common folk don't see a lot of people who look like her on a day to day basis. The rather stout British Bulldog who was talking to her glanced in your direction and swiftly headed for the door to his office which you caught merely a glimpse of as he enters it. It looked dull anyway, still...it's a place where he seemed to not want you to go at the moment. The young lady seemed like she must be his secretary or something to that effect. She kept her uninterested gaze on Angder for a few seconds. "What is your name?" She gestured to the pile of pieces of paper on her desk. "So I know which one of these was you."
Whilst Geoffrey stayed outside he saw young urchins run by him, play in the street, he then heard shouting from the other end of it. The shouting was accompanied by the sound of shoes clacking against a cobblestone pavement. A rather well dressed deer came into view, he glanced at Geoff a look of pure and sheer anger upon his face. "where did those little rodents go? Tell me this instant! You must have seen them!" He had big antlers...
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Geoff was rather intimidated by the intensity of the deer's anger. "Uh, y-yeah, th-that way." He pointed toward where he saw them run.
The bear wasn't too comfortable with this side of town so far. Nearly everyone he met seemed either scummy or in a bitter mood. Then again, that description fit most of the city in general.
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"Angder." Angder states "I heard you needed
szailors."
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The secretary grabbed the piece of paper Angder signed earlier. She read over it and took all the information in. "So you want to get out there and explore? Well then if you seek something less...mundane. We want you to meet a contact in the port on Gaider's Mourn. Get some strategic information from them. You shall NOT read it. Understood? By the way, do you have a crew and a ship ready?"
The deer ran after the urchins, yelling behind him. "They went this way boys! We'll make sure the rats don't get away with interfering in our little...business." Several men run past Geoff after the deer and urchins. One smiling to Geoff as they do. "We'll make sure you get repayed for your help. Just keep an eye out for us next time you're in the area."
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"Sure... and no I am afraid..." Angder grins. "Ah well, that's why I came here. To become part of a crew, or to get my own, who cares. Ships a ship."
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Geoff frowned as the men ran off. He just helped some bad people, didn't he? Now he really wanted to get out of here as soon as possible. He opened the office door and stepped inside.
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The secretary frowned at Angder, pointing at Geoff as he walked in. "You and that guy will be a part of a crew, We will provide you a ship and we shall provide you with supplies and enough fuel to get there and back. DON'T go off course as when I say enough I mean just enough and we don't care if you don't make it back. You're both expendable. Any questions?"
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"I GET TO BE A ZAILOR! WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO" Angder cheers
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Geoff blinked. "Uh, okay..."
So he was now partnered with this guy. But it took only a few seconds to realize the wolf was oblivious to the fact he apparently had accepted a shady business deal earlier. Maybe he should tell him... or maybe the wolf does know but doesn't care. Either way, he doesn't seem like the scummy type.
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The secretary handed Angder a license and gestured to a small cart that was being filled with some canisters of fuel and a few packages of what must be the food supplies. "Show that to someone at the docks, they'll give you a ship, it won't be much but you're getting it for free after all. Take that cart with you. You may have a very small crew and you should try to rally a couple of officers such as a surgeon and a cook, stuff like that. Now go on, get going. You'll receive payment in compensation for some fuel and some echoes." She gestures the two to leave. "Oh and by the way, if you happen to stop at any other docks along the way make a report on dock and the goings on. We will pay extra for each depending on the location and the danger in that area."
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"But you just said we don't have the fuel for that!" Angder declares.
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"There'll be docks that are pretty much right on the way If you run out I'm sure you'll think of something. Now both of you get going would you? We have more important things to do than invest in possible failures." The secretaries eyes were filled with scorn.
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Geoffrey nervously backed the cart up and opened the door slightly.
"Uhh, alright, so we're... heading out," he mumbled to Angder. He wished to follow him, trusting he better understood what to do. He was a bit unfocused today, which unfortunately was more common than not.
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Angder grins. "Well, this way..." Angder heads as fast as he can fro the docks, obviously excited.
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The secretary watched as the pair of would-be zailors left the building. She sighed and sank into her chair a little. "We get too many reckless fools in this line of work."
The docks smelled of salt and...fish? No, crab. That was unmistakably the smell of shellfish. The strange thing was that there wasn't a single crab on the shore at the moment. There were workers and zailors all about the dock, going to and fro about their own business and keeping to themselves. A few were sat around sharing tales in hushed whispers. They were the kind of tales a man dare not say aloud, for fear that they may be true and they might spurn the wrath of some horrible beast from the zee. From here one could see the false-stars up above on the cavern roof. It is said sometimes these ominous lights move and make up little constellations all on their own. No one really knows why, many seem them as some sort of sign or omen, depending on the constellation in question.
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Angder glances around. "What ship do ya want?" He asks Geoff. "Names Angder By the way."
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Geoff shrugged.
"I'm Geoffrey," he replied.
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A small rat approached Angder and Geoff, not an anthropomorphic rat of course, that would be silly. It was just a small rat. That spoke, and it spoke thusly. "You two lookin' to zail right? I can tell these things. We rats, we be smart little critters ya know. Well, I'll come with you no matter what kind of ship you 'ave. I'll even bring me friends. We'll pull our weight, fix it up when needed. Promise we will."
Nearby a rather scruffy looking old sheep dog was sitting on a barrel. "'Ey! Leave 'em be." He beckons Ander and Geoff over. "If you two need a ship you can buy it from me later when I'm not on break. Assumin' you 'ave the echoes of course."
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Angder gestures at the cart. "Apparently we should get something for free if we show someone this stuff." Angder states. "And I don't mind rats. Angder leans down to look at the rat. Want to come, go ahead, we need all the help we can get!"
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Wayward looked down at the scrap of paper. Of course, his name wasn't actually Wayward, but he liked it. It suited him, and he suited it. Anyway, it was probably going to be easier to be known by that than anything else. Not that that even mattered.
Stretching his legs, he made his way towards the Admiralty Office, keen to see what may be about to arise.
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Geoff simply nodded. He liked the rats, as odd as they are. He had befriended a rat shortly after being evicted, but unfortunately the poor thing got itself killed. He'd rather not think about how it happened.
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The scruffy sheep dog frowned at the cart. "Admiralty give ya that I s'pose? Guess that means you have one of them licenses." He let out a long sigh. "I don't even want to see that thing. Just take that ship over there." He gestured to a ship that was rather dingy, it's hull looked like it was thrown together by an amateur who got lucky. "It's better than it looks. Deal with it."
Wayward entered the Admiralty Survey Office, the young, beautiful fox secretary stared up at him. "You want to zail right? Go to the docks. Look for two people, a wolf named Angder, and a bear named Geoffrey. You'll find em. Now go away."
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Wayward stopped for a moment, and then headed out of the office. Looking around, he saw the docks, and began to head in that general direction. But what was her problem? Seemed a bit rude, for a receptionist or whatever the hell her occupation there was.
Dissmissing his previous trail of thought, he began to search out the bear and wolf. Being a stranger to the area, he wandered aimlessly around the docks.
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Angder strode aboard the ship, Cheerfully. "Looks ok to me." He jumps on the deck, and the floorboards creaked alarmingly. Angder did not seem to notice. "Bring the cart aboard Geoffrey."
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Geoffrey pouted and struggled to keep the crooked-wheeled cart straight as he pushed it onto the ship. He leaned against it and sighed.
"S-so... now what?"
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The jury-rigged ship bobbed slowly on the waves, a rope keeping it from drifting aimlessly into the zee. The false-stars up on The Roof seemed to shimmer then they started to move very slowly. Many zailors quickly cast their eyes down, captains of ships started to shout to their crew. "Eyes to the floor, boys! If there's an ill omen it's best we don't see it. We don't want to stir the wrath of the God's. If you're feeling lucky cast those eyes upwards and pray that Stone don't take offence." Most of the zailors cast their eyes down at the dock and the decks of their ships, anyone with sense fears the god's of the zee. Even those who don't believe are fearful of the tales they hear.
The false-stars aligned in such a way that they looked like...a hooded man, perhaps? A mysterious figure for certain, and, a zee bat.
It was at this moment, Wayward spotted Angder's and Geoffrey's ship. Geoffrey was the only bear around at the moment, coincidentally.
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The bear... The only bear, by luck. Wayward began to approach the ship, looking towards the bear.
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Geoffrey noticed the person heading his way staring right at him. Nervous, he sheepishly lowered his head somewhat as he waited to be questioned or scolded at.
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Angder glances up at the stars. "odd." He looks back down at the stranger, he was looking at the bear, so for now Angder would keep his nose out of their business. Unless it turned nasty of course.
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All of zailors finally returned to their business after a few minutes. A voice could be heard very close by, in fact it was so clear to Angder it was almost as if the voice was coming from behind him. "All these poor souls, so afraid of those little lights up in the sky. It's almost a pity isn't it? You seem to disregard them. Do you not believe in the signs and the Gods of the Zee? Are you foolish or have you just never zailed before, I wonder?"
A few of the zailors who had dared to look up whispered to their captains, told them what they saw. Some of the captains nodded and called out for their crew to get off the ships and head home. They didn't consider it wise to zail out tonight. Another seemed to beg to differ. "Men, I care not what these Gods say! I couldn't give half a damn! In fact, to prove how little they matter, we're heading to Whither and I'm gonna show you what sacrilege really looks like!" Some of his crew cheered, others looked afraid but did not dare disobey their captain.
The voice behind Angder spoke again. "He will be leading those men to their deaths."
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Angder turns around. "how do you know?"
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Wayward approached the bear. His voice was low, but had a refined edge as he spoke.
"Are you... Geoffry? Planning to sail out soon? I was told to come to you. Apparently I am. To sail with you two or something akin to that."
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"Oh!" Geoffrey sighed and grinned awkwardly at the stranger. "Y-Yeah. Welcome."
Having been let go of a little earlier, the cart was rolling gradually down the deck. It took a minute for Geoffrey to notice.
"Sh-sh--!"
He took a large couple steps toward the cart with a hand outstretched and pressed the tips of his fingers against the handle, halting it in place.
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The voice came from a stranger who was dressed in all very neat and smart looking clothes, or at least, that's what they used to be. They were all torn and worn with age now. It appeared as if these clothes had been all this man had worn for the past year or so. This stranger was a very scruffy looking rabbit with ashen grey fur. It is hard to tell if the grey quality to this fellow's fur was natural, or if it had somehow came about by other means. "Because I have traveled the zee, I have seen what happens out at zee. I know the dangers of the zee." There was a pause. "I'd like to join you. Just don't be surprised if I someday ask for something in return. That is...assuming you live long enough to earn the trust required for such a thing."
The cart jerked to a stop, causing a few of the supplies to fall onto the deck of the ship, a few of them even smashed and were destroyed entirely, making them rather useless. Zailors that noticed this returned to their ships. "Seems they's the ones that got the curse. We seem to be in the clear boys."
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Angder nods. "Welcome aboard!" Angder says cheerfully. "it will be good to have someone experienced aboa~" *smash*
"Geoff. What just happened to our supplies?"
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The harbors of London were dark as could be. Then again, what else could there be? The arclights lining the streets nearby cast harsh shadows across the water, and Galen prepared to set off into the dark zeas on his own medium-sized craft. Armed as much as possible, and properly provisioned as well, he would soon be leaving London.
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"Thank you. I shall... Get to work, I guess."
Wayward looked around the boat, inspecting and analysing the hull as he did.
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"AGH damn it!"
Geoffrey quickly gathered the fallen supplies, grumbling swears at himself.
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The stranger smiled and gestured out to the dark green expanse of water before him. "I shall wait here for us to disembark on our journey. Do as you will."
Galen spotted the ship Geoffrey and Angder were on, it seemed like they were the only ones that were gonna set out anytime soon as most of the other ships were abandoned. He had arrived just in time to see the sacrilegious captain leave the docks and zailing for the north.
The food was mostly intact, there was preservatives, fruit and pretty much anything else a crew out on the zee will need to prevent starvation and scurvy. The rest would be up to the crew's skill and luck.
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Angder looks at his crew, rats, a stranger, an incompetent bear, and another stranger.
"I see no reason to delay! Everyone, prepare to leave, I want to move as soon as possible.
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Looking onwards to the person calling his way, Galen walked over, a slight clocking from his holsters audible over his footsteps.
"Did you say something?" he asked.
Traveling with others would definitely increase the safety of the journey, and probably stave off boredom on the long travels.
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With his analysis of the hull turning up inconclusive, Wayward went up onto the vessel, an occupied himself with learning the layout of the boat. Hearing the wolf, he guessed that he would soon be making himself useful anyway.
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Geoff examined the saved supplies. "Okay... Okay. Not a big of a loss, we're good..."
I'm a friggen idiot.
He looked up to his crew. "I'm, uh, gonna store this... stuff..."
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The docks were silent. Nothing but the sound of the occasional voice as someone spoke. The voices seemed to be being carried on the wind, it was possible, if you listened closely, you could hear even the fainest whisper from a few blocks away. There was a scream from far off. Very far off. The shabby, smartly dressed stranger mused to himself as he stared off the bow of his ship. "That scream came from the zee. Not from out at zee but the zee herself. She must be in pain." He was an odd one, for sure.
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This was... unexpected. Such an impromptu invitation to join their crew, but for all it was worth, he might as well oin them. It wasn't like he couldn't defend himself if it became necessary. Taking the multitude of cases containing his various belongings onto the ship with a series of short flights to and fro, he stated" I am ready when you are. As soon as I find out who you all are. Why did you ask for me specifically?"
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"If you were sent here, I have no idea why. I am just following my own orders. I am Angder, welcome aboard the... the..." Angder looks back at Geoff "Whats this ship called again?"
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Wayward paced around the boat, checking for anything to do before they set sail.
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Geoff had gone to place the supplies in a safe location in the ship and only just returned to Angder's side.
"Eh?... Oh, the ship," he mumbled.
"Uh, I don't think it had a name..."
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"Well, that's reassuring." added Galen, taking a moment to look at the craft's deck. His wings were stowed with a quick rustle of feathers.
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"W-we can make one, of course," Geoff said thoughtfully as he gazed up at the sky.
"Hmm... How about... uhh..."
His gaze fell to the worn floorboards beneath his feet.
"Humble... Humble... Ha--Hannah. Humble Hannah."
The bear smiled. "How's that for 'er name?"
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A sluggish wave hit into the side of the ship and caused it to pitch and rock slightly. It was almost like an encouraging nudge from a friend, but overall felt more sinister, more akin to the nudge a mob boss would give you to encourage you to do something under threat of death. The shabby stranger spoke, his voice little more than a murmur, as if he was meant to be the only one who would hear what he said. "She is impatient for us to start our journey..."
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"Then lets cast off!" Angder yells, excited. "Everyone is aboard? Good!" He Starts to untie the ropes. "Geoff! Start the engines, we head east!"
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"uh, aye!"
Geoff booted the engines, and despite his nervousness, he smiled as the ship zailed out into the arcane zee.
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Wayward made his way to the front of the boat, and looked out into the sea. He didn't understand why people pronounced a lot of things with a Z... But it didn't matter, and now that they were out at sea, not a lot from before would mattered. He thought he should seek out other crew members, but that can wait.
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The screams in the distance stopped, almost as if the zee had been appeased. In the distance, not too far away from the shore, there was a light boat, it was essentially a floating lighthouse. It would be possible to dock with it and board the ship if need be, but the only reason to do so would be to hear a story or two, you have more than enough fuel for now and they sell it at a higher price than back home.
The shabby stranger paced the ship, looking around at everyone. "Where is our destination exactly? Do we have one?" His voice seemed lighter, like he felt more at home offshore for some reason.
The rats scurried off down into the hold, one of them seemed to salute as they closed the hatch.
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"I made the assumption that we had already decided on that. My intent back on my own was to head outward until we found the end, or at least another light shaft." he said, looking up at the cavernous ceiling with a neutral expression.
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"For the moment Gaiders mourn, to deliver a message, and receive one." Angder states. "Still when we have more supplies and a bigger ship... who knows!" Angder grins. "well... are we heading the right direction Geoff?"
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Gaider's Mourn. Somehow that sounded familiar to Geoff, but he couldn't place it.
"Uh, we're heading... east. Is that right?" he asked.
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Angder is happy to see their ship is making good progress. He goes to sit at the front of the ship, looking out over the Zee.
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Angder glances at his crew. "so... Who is here? why don't you tell us a bit about yourselves. Long voyage ahead... well, longish."
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Taking a moment to respond as he looked up from his deep thought, he said "Galen Arakisk. Present. I'll tell my story, eventually at least."
With a pause, he sat at one of the small seats scattered across the craft, checking his inventory for any rust or missing items. If there was any time to forget something, this was his last chance to find out.
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The Shabby Stranger turned to face Angder and grinned widely. His teeth, or at least the few he still had, were completely rotten and it was obvious their days were numbered. "I am but a man of the zee. I like to zail. No particular destination. Of course that's not all there is to me. No. A person is a lot more complex than that. Whether or not you'll learn anything about me is up to fate I suppose."
A zee bat flew past Geoff's head, it's wing almost hitting his face. It landed on his shoulder next to him and stared unblinkingly for a few moments before taking off again. It was white... A rare sight indeed.
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"So... you want to play it mysterious huh? fine. Just don't go betraying my crew or you will go WALK THE PLANK... we do have a plank right? probably not actually... damn."
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Geoff eyed the bat as it flew off with a grin on his face. If it stayed longer, he would have tried to pet it. Maybe it was a good omen. He sure hoped so.