Pirates of the Hard Nox [Open]

Golden
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Pirates of the Hard Nox [Open] Aug 7, 2023 23:30:42 GMT paperwork likes this

Post by Golden on Aug 7, 2023 23:30:42 GMT

If Hester had her sword... Alys glanced around and saw the small chest tucked beneath Caleb's arm, partially hidden by the bulk of his coat. She'd left all her shit behind, expecting someone else to haul it back - no, she really had intended on going back for it. Truly. But now she had a small creature huddled up against her chest, seemingly dozing off in the crux of her arm.

"I can try, here -," she began to say, attempting to shift the mole carefully, only to earn her a high-pitched squeak of displeasure. Gods, the mole was upset with her.

Glancing towards the necromancer, Alys offered a small smile. "Would you mind? Just a little longer? The thing might bite my head off next time."

Falling into step once more, the fae continued the conversation. "Are you going to join us upstairs when we get back?" She was referring to the girls dorm, of course. Or was Hester going to resume hiding away in the bowels of the ship, with nothing but rats and an occasional appearance from Mal to keep her company?

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Pirates of the Hard Nox [Open] Aug 8, 2023 0:00:55 GMT paperwork likes this

Post by illirica on Aug 8, 2023 0:00:55 GMT

Oh, there was a giant hole in the wall and they were all just going to walk through it. Vena felt that there was something very definitively wrong with this, but at the same time, they didn't have any other good ideas. It was the looming portal or, well, staying back where Naveen was.

Between the two, Vena would take a death portal any day. At least if it killed them, it wasn't going to be getting off on doing so. The archer girl was trying to get everyone moving - without shooting them, Vena noticed quite thankfully, and so they just shrugged a little and trudged upwards, giving the hole one last uncertain look before plunging through.

This had been a very odd couple of days, that much was certain.

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ShoddyProduct
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Pirates of the Hard Nox [Open] Aug 8, 2023 0:21:46 GMT paperwork likes this

Post by ShoddyProduct on Aug 8, 2023 0:21:46 GMT

Juniper fell back into an uneasy silence, walking roughly in the middle of the group. They felt that they should be doing something, but there wasn't much to do, beyond hold the light and follow Ronan. In all honesty, they were fully at the kids mercy, whether they wanted to be or not, especially this far underground and surrounded by his moles. As far as they knew, they could be vicious, and just waiting on a word from the johtuun.

They were undoubtedly cute, though. Under different circumstances, they would've stopped to pet one, or perhaps even take one in their arms, like Alys, but- well. Not today. Their right arm was still out of commission, their left was preoccupied with light and the staff, and they still felt tense, wired. Maybe part of it was claustrophobia? No, that would be silly, crowds never worried them, tight places were easy to hide and blend in, it was the staff. Or, it was probably the staff. Maybe. Hard to say, the more they thought on it.

Were they even going up? Yes, they were, on closer inspection. It was slow going though, especially with waiting on the rest of the group. Leo, and Beck. Emer and Emryk. Lucien and Nessa were still gone, as well. Juniper theirself wouldn't necessarily mind if Vena came along, at least to get out of the mountains and somewhere hospitable, but Naveen could rot for all they cared. They were of half a mind to wait for everyone, but they could come back, probably. Once the rest of the crew knew they were... mostly alive.

Provided they hadn't already left.

trandy
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Pirates of the Hard Nox [Open] Aug 8, 2023 1:36:15 GMT paperwork likes this

Post by trandy on Aug 8, 2023 1:36:15 GMT

Beck heard voices from the other side, while trying to make her way through the tunnel without tripping while carrying a lump of cloth filled with jewels over her shoulder. She also heard the steps behind her, which meant the rest of the crew was catching up. The voices belonged to Hester and Alys, and when the narrow tunnel led to a wider chamber with light and familiar people, she sighed in relief.

Beck had feared they would never manage to leave that place, and if the stranger hadn’t appeared and showed them the path he'd opened, perhaps they never would. Her eyes began tearing up at the thought of returning to the Hard Nox soon. And at the thought of a warm bowl of soup.

***

Aug 5, 2023 19:23:57 GMT trandy said:

[...] They were no longer in the narrow tunnel, but a wider space with many giant sized holes throughout the walls. Ronan's tunnel was considerably smaller and less polished compared to the other ones, and Caleb's attention quickly turned to the small ball of white fur sniffing at his feet. There were many of them, and Caleb couldn't help but notice they didn't have eyes. [...]

“Good, you’re all here.” Caleb said, watching the rest of his crew step into the chamber, one by one. As captain he was supposed to lead by example, so he was the first one to go through the hole Ronan had disappeared into, happy to discover it was a slope. The air began to turn colder as he climbed, a small glimmer of hope filling his chest.

***

There were many layers of fabric protecting the passage from being blocked by snow. With a grunt Ronan moved it out of the way, and a ray of light disturbed his eyes, accustomed to the dark. The Johtunn would have turned back to help the others climb their way out, but as he stepped outside, a big wooden vessel in the distance, that just slightly resembled the ones he’d seen in books, locked his attention. He couldn’t look away.

“Wow.”

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Pirates of the Hard Nox [Open] Aug 8, 2023 19:35:14 GMT

Post by paperwork on Aug 8, 2023 19:35:14 GMT

"Of course. I've carried it this long." She seemed very mildly offended by the implication that it might be any trouble. Tired she might be, and weak from bloodloss, and in moderate pain, but, um... Well. Nevermind.

"As for--um. I wouldn't want to disrupt your sleep. I'm..." What was a polite way to say 'going to start washing again?' "...going to try to take better care of myself going forward, but there's only so much I can do about--the smell, and I wouldn't want to disrupt your sleep. Besides, all my tools are down there. It's nice to be able to go to work for a while if one should wake in the night, for some reason." She was momentarily struck by the absurd urge to apologize. For what? Not taking up space in their room? Ridiculous.

The shift to the exterior almost caught her by surprise, as did the almost-familiar silhouette of the Hard Nox on the horizon. Well. They were almost home. That was nice.

Last Edit: Aug 11, 2023 20:13:15 GMT by paperwork

“The only thing that ever stopped me being exactly who I wanted,” she said, “was the worry that I would soon be dead … and now I am dead, and I am sick of roses, and I am horny for revenge.”
-Harrow the Ninth, by Tamsyn Muir

trandy
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Pirates of the Hard Nox [Open] Aug 9, 2023 16:59:18 GMT paperwork likes this

Post by trandy on Aug 9, 2023 16:59:18 GMT

The Hard Nox stood in all her glory against the backdrop of the white mountains, with the wind blowing on her sails and banisters covered in a thin layer of snow. The sun wasn't much higher than the top of the mast, informing it was in fact still morning. By noon, the ropes and chains were thrown so that Caleb and his companions could climb their way back into the ship.

Caleb noticed the wandering eyes searching for the captain. He was the first to step his foot on the wooden deck and waited for the others to settle before bearing the news. His brows furrowed when a breathless Ronan climbed his way up top.

"I was wondering if I could… Maybe… Go with you guys?" He fidgeted with his hands expectantly.

"We are pirates, Ronan. Can you fight? Have you ever stolen something, or killed someone before?" Caleb asked, and the Johtunn shook his head. "Then this isn't a place for you."

Caleb began walking away towards the helm, but stopped half way. He knew what it was like being stuck somewhere he didn't belong, and if it weren't for Ronan, they'd likely still be underground digging holes.

"We can drop you off somewhere, if that works for you." If he had turned around, he would've seen a giant smile take over the giant's lips.

"Thank you, sir!"

Last Edit: Aug 9, 2023 17:00:46 GMT by trandy

illirica
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Pirates of the Hard Nox [Open] Aug 9, 2023 17:11:00 GMT paperwork likes this

Post by illirica on Aug 9, 2023 17:11:00 GMT

The ship was not, as it turned out, by itself. From the direction they had come, it had been the only thing in sight, but climbing up on the top deck would show Caleb that the centipede he'd been ordered to dispatch was still there. It had burrowed in again, just to the side of the Nox, and was still as a statue once more, though some of its faces were definitely watching the ship.

The marks of the damage they had done were still visible in broken off places that could never be mended. Somehow, in their absence, it had also acquired what was... perhaps, a scarf? If one were to use the very loosest sense of the word, in that it was a long thing that had been knitted into a vaguely rectangular shape. The stitches left much to be desired. The totem did not seem to be reacting to either its presence or its construction. There was something small and brown in the topmost mouth between the mandibles.

It might have been a potato.

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ShoddyProduct
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Pirates of the Hard Nox [Open] Aug 9, 2023 17:54:03 GMT paperwork likes this

Post by ShoddyProduct on Aug 9, 2023 17:54:03 GMT

If there was one thing they could say for certain, Juniper was glad to be back. Thankfully, Ronan hadn't been leading them to a trap, which definitely eased some of Juniper's fear, and it helped even more when they could see the light filtering down, hear the wind gusting above. Breaking back to the surface would have nearly blinded them, if not for the flame they had conjured. It was extinguished quickly in favor of holding the staff, and they took a deep breath of the cold, fresh air, before being quickly reminded that they well and truly hated the cold.

They all moved back towards the ship. Ronan followed, and began begging Caleb to come aboard. Under different circumstances, they would have turned and told him to leave, but that would mean sitting around here longer, and they wanted to go. Besides, Caleb had already told him he could come aboard, at least for one stop. Hopefully it would only be one. Hopefully, they were headed somewhere nice now, instead of anywhere like here.

The other construct was still in one piece, but it seemed... docile. It even looked like someone had made it some gifts. It was so absurd, it brought a smirk to Juniper's lips. Maybe they were free to go now, since the original inhabitants had long since left. Juniper walked towards the mast, sliding down it to take a seat, using a bit of heat to clear away the thin layer of snow. Gently, the sorceress placed the staff in their lap, and began to pour over it in silence, waiting for the ship to take air.

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Pirates of the Hard Nox [Open] Aug 9, 2023 20:36:08 GMT paperwork and trandy like this

Post by Quirbles on Aug 9, 2023 20:36:08 GMT

Emryk was tired.

Moreover, he was hungry, and embittered by the lackluster transition of power that had seemingly occurred overnight. Nobody seemed to have taken the former quartermaster's head in his sleep, which he supposed was a good thing; Naveen had not knocked upon their door as the pair slept to harass them further, which was also good. He intended to have a word with the vampire. Or several. Or he intended to beat him into a stupor; whichever came first. After having narrowly escaped death and prevented the wisewoman's own at the hands of an ignoble villain, he was not in the mood to have their relationship threatened anew, especially directly after deferring the first threat. That marksman still lived, after all. Had it been a mistake to show clemency?

Time would tell.

His dreams had been restless, and Emer was a small comfort. In the time they'd been away from the main group, a way out from this purgatory had been found, by-- some man. Whoever. Large, like Soren-- perhaps the same race, given what he'd heard of the late cook's origins. Emryk was once more uncharacteristically silent as they prepared to leave, lingering at the far end of the group with one hand around Emer as he watched the cryomancer Naveen like a hawk. If looks could kill, his citrine gaze would have burned a hole through the back of that ignorant sod's head before they'd even reached the damned portal. With a clenched fist, he stood vigilant, offering sidelong glances to the rest of the adjacent crew. He, of course, was one of the last, if not the last, man to step through.

New days brought new troubles, and it seemed there was plenty to come back to.

The statue had taken up sentry beside the ship once more-- unmoving, but much like a guillotine's blade might hang still at its apex. Emryk's brow furrowed, but he offered no further commentary beyond an annoyed huff of his snout and a flare of the nostrils as the steam billowed out into the frigid air.

"Stay close to me." Emryk muttered to the wisewoman, his hand firm upon her shoulder. "Let's get to your clinic, and see what we can do about the injured."

Last Edit: Aug 9, 2023 20:36:46 GMT by Quirbles

Golden
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Pirates of the Hard Nox [Open] Aug 9, 2023 23:20:51 GMT via mobile paperwork likes this

Post by Golden on Aug 9, 2023 23:20:51 GMT

How thoughtful of Hester, to consider the sleep quality of other people, people she hardly knew. Alys didn't question her bullshit response; if the necromancer wanted to isolate herself, if she wasn't comfortable lodging with others - fine. As pungent as the smell was, even if she did decide to sleep in the women's quarters, the fae wouldn't be affected for long. That would solely depend on the new Captain, and the promises he'd made her. Was he taking Sinèad's cabin?

The comfort gained after planting the soles of her boots onto the deck was unmatched. They were back, and more importantly, safe. At least she hoped so, though the sight of the totem did unsettle her.

She wanted to drink a gallon of water. Have some stew. Wash. Lay down in her bed and sleep. In that order. Still holding onto the mole, Alys began to move towards the staircase that led below deck. For a couple seconds, she stood idly, before deciding to fuck it and go. Down the stairs she went, making a beeline for the mess hall and kitchens.

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Pirates of the Hard Nox [Open] Aug 10, 2023 9:03:36 GMT paperwork and trandy like this

Post by Ghostly on Aug 10, 2023 9:03:36 GMT

Many hours had passed since Sinead had led most of the command crew on the excursion into the ice lands, leaving Ciaran as the senior officer aboard. It was a job he found himself comfortable in - but the idea of maintaining the command of a pirate vessel was still not quite his dream, not yet anyway. Still, someone had to watch over the ship in the captain's absence, and with most of the others chomping at the bit to find whatever Sinead was searching for in the snow, Ciaran chose his duty and stayed behind.

Besides, it was warmer here anyway.

The crew were always a delight, respectful and diligent while under his eye. Maybe the Fir Bolg hoped the ship would be in better shape than she'd left it, or maybe he just liked to pretend he was commanding a respectable vessel for once. Either way, the hours passed without incident. He'd deputized Torrel in the meantime, although it was mostly to give them some time to speak while things weren't quite as busy. Not much was said - the words were only a distraction. By the end of their meeting, a new thread seemed to be woven between the two and they moved ahead better for it.

Ciaran posted himself by the helm, looking out with stern command at the top deck and out to the horizon - wondering how much longer they'd have to linger in this strange and unwelcoming stretch of land. The snapping of fingers called his attention back towards the shore party's deployment as Torrel spied them with in their spyglass. At his approach, Torrel offered the scope to Ciaran.

"Torrel, let's ready ourselves for their arrival. Have the lads bring up the heavy blankets and warm them by the fires. Clear the clinic and have it ready for any possible injured, oh yes and have Mr. Manderley get to preparing some warm food - I'm thinking a hearty stew, plenty of greens and the meat." Torrel finished scribbling down his words and flashed the officer a half-assed mocking salute - if they didn't bust Ciaran's ass for his rigidity, who would? With that, they spun and went below decks, passing the word along to prepare.

They hadn't seen Pris all day, too much had happened too fast to find time to check on the girl. Torrel hoped she was alright and looked forward to the chance to play their song once more.

. . . I could never hold enough of you in my hands . . .

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Pirates of the Hard Nox [Open] Aug 10, 2023 15:31:38 GMT Ghostly and paperwork like this

Post by illirica on Aug 10, 2023 15:31:38 GMT

There were a lot of sounds up above, which either meant that people were back, or that the ship was under attack. Pris had decided to deal with this in her usual way, which was to be small and unobtrusive and not do anything sudden until she had a better idea of what was going on and how safe things were likely to be.

You couldn't really tell just by looking at someone, after all. The ice monster outside looked scary, but it hadn't been. And the ice monster on Mr. King's ship had looked like a picture out of a storybook, but he was scary. She missed some of the people from Mr. King's ship, but he definitely wasn't one of them.

She peered out of the kitchen cabinet cautiously, Lady Fingers perched on her shoulder, ready to hold her back if needed or just be a comforting presence.

There wasn't any shouting, though, and Mr. Ciaran was up there already, so Pris thought that if things were really dangerous, there would have been shouting. Footsteps had come down into the kitchen, and she peered out cautiously.

Oh.

It was just Miss Alys.

That was good. Pris decided to slip out of the cabinet and pretend that she hadn't been hiding in there. "Um... welcome back? There's stew. I cut up the potatoes. And the carrots!" Pris might not have been a cook, not really, but she was pretty good at cutting up vegetables. Except onions - those made her eyes all blurry and her nose all runny. She'd tried one, and then Lady Fingers had taken it away from her and made her go have a wash.

Pris felt that maybe she was the one who was supposed to be telling Lady Fingers what to do, but it didn't seem to be working out that way.

"Is... everything okay?"

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Golden
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Pirates of the Hard Nox [Open] Aug 10, 2023 22:34:40 GMT via mobile paperwork likes this

Post by Golden on Aug 10, 2023 22:34:40 GMT

A mouth-watering aroma hit her senses before Pris had managed to crawl out from her usual hiding spot and announce that there was obviously a stew bubbling over the fire. "Do you mind holding Gracie for a second?" Alys asked, handing off the small creature to the young girl before she could say no. Free from the mole, the fae reached for a bowl and immediately scooped two heaping spoonfuls of stew into it.

As the thick liquid hit the back of her throat, warming her from the inside out, the fae leaned against the counter and grinned happily. "You know, Pris, you just might be my favourite person in this whole world right now. The stew was just that good.

Spoonful by spoonful, Alys finished off the bowl, scrapping the sides to get every last droplet. "I mean - we're back. Not all of us, but-", she said, voice growing quieter, gaze finally drifting and landing on the little girl. "We'll be okay...

Clearing her throat and greedily reaching for another spoonful, the fae continued.
"I saw the gifts you left for the ice totem. Did you make the scarf yourself?"

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Pirates of the Hard Nox [Open] Aug 10, 2023 22:48:01 GMT paperwork likes this

Post by illirica on Aug 10, 2023 22:48:01 GMT

"Aaaahhh!" A creature was thrust into Pris' hands, rather suddenly. When Alys had been holding it, she had thought it was a cat. It was not a cat. It was... weird looking.

And fuzzy.

"Sorry," she whispered, patting the thing gingerly on what seemed to be its head. "Um. I just wasn't expecting a... a..." Pris didn't know how to end that, and hoped the creature understood.

She turned back to Alys, who apparently thought Pris was her favorite person, which made Pris blush, even if it was just for right now. "I mean... It's not a very good scarf. Emer taught me how to get started but she didn't teach me how to end it, so since she wasn't here I just kind of kept going until I ran out of yarn and then tied a big knot in the end. And it was very long. And... I don't know, it seemed kind of lonely out there. And cold. And I don't think anyone else needed a very long scarf, so I guess it's okay. I gave it a bucket to help it collect the little pieces, andI gave it a potato but I don't know if it eats potatoes."

She shrugged, then looked down again at the creature in her arms. "Does this... um... does this one eat potatoes? And... Alys, what is it?"

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Golden
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Pirates of the Hard Nox [Open] Aug 10, 2023 23:51:28 GMT via mobile paperwork likes this

Post by Golden on Aug 10, 2023 23:51:28 GMT

Children were quite amusing, weren't they? Unsurprisingly, you didn't come across many of them as a pirate, living among pirates. So, Alys had very little experience with them. Of course, she'd been a child herself, though that didn't count, especially since she'd never had an ounce of the pleasantness that Pris did. She'd take talking to Pris over a younger version of herself any day of the week. Even with a full belly and a drastically improved mood.

"That's Gracie, she's a mole. And good question - I'm not sure what moles eat. Should we test it out?" Fishing out a piece of cooked potato from her stew, and pinching it between her thumb and pointer finger, she lowered her hand towards the mole.

"Oh, I don't want to hear you saying anything bad about that goddamn scarf. In fact, I think you hold the record for longest scarf in the whole world - and that's pretty impressive. It sure as hell will keep the totem nice and warm... Now that I think about it, I could've used a scarf that long. Hey, are you in the business of making more? I'll pay a pretty penny."