Author: Vincent Gloreaver, Posted: Sun Aug 27, 2017 8:04 AM, Post Subject: Crowded Sky [p,r]

“You sure about that? The other captains I believe would have, but I’m willing to bet that I’m the only one you let in…and I mean into your problems, woman. Don’t be getting the wrong idea”, he said while he placed a hand on top of her head. “Besides, it would do us no good if our leader is troubled and I can’t do anything about it.” Vincent was responsible enough to see that she was doing well and not in any immediate trouble. Her trauma was exactly that though and he wouldn’t leave her side until she got through it somehow.

“Your explanation makes sense- her past and her responsibilities as a leader help to fuel the nightmares when she isn’t under some sort of substance influence. This should provide some comfortable for her”, he sighed in some relief. He knew just as her mother did that Fortuna was the sort of being that wouldn’t admit many things easily if she didn’t want to. But even he could have seen how much she had went through despite the short time of getting to know her. She was in charge of an entire crew made up of smaller ones, as well as their families and ships and such. She waged a personal and moral war against the corruption while having to evade capture from those like himself formerly. He was honestly surprised she kept it together for as long as she did.

Vincent nodded as she wished to see what the others had been up to in their absence. It wasn’t too hard for him to imagine what they could possibly be doing at a time like this but he would accompany her just the same. He moved over to help her up to her feet. “Don’t overdo it. We can go as slowly as needed.” He rubbed at the back of his head and took her hand into his own and took their departure from the manor for the time being. He kept his pace close to hers as they made it through the district; every so often he would glance over to her direction for a few moments before looking forward again. “Make sure you don’t trip over the skirts”, he said half-jokingly before they reached the tavern. He could hear the jollies being sung in there followed by roars of laughter before they even set foot into the establishment. “Oh gods, what did you do to my crew…”, he sighed at Furtuna before going inside. As he expected, plenty of them were singing and drinking their brews; some were accompanied by ladies and others were completely missing.

“Remember, no alcohol”, he whispered at her just as a few of his men looked towards their direction and at the fearless pirate queen herself. “Hey there fellows, there’s our queen right there, and she’s dressed for the occasion!”, one hooted and rose his drink. A few of them stopped singing to laugh at the sight since they had never seen her dressed up before.

Author: Furtuna, Posted: Fri Aug 25, 2017 5:17 PM, Post Subject: Crowded Sky [p,r]

A soft smile came to her face as she heard Vincent’s reasoning for being so careful with her. “I don’t think I’ve ever heard anyone be as considerate as you.” She felt the slight heat of a blush come to her cheeks as she thought about it. Even her family couldn’t possibly be as gently as he was right now. He understood even if he hadn’t dealt with it.

Angela thought about the answer to his question and chuckled. “This brew will help keep the nightmares away hopefully. I believe that the more stressed she becomes the more she has the dreams so we’re going to try and relax her a bit. She had a lot of stress and responsibilities on her shoulders even if she doesn’t act like it.” The goddess pet her daughter’s white and blue hair before Furtuna decided to have Vincent dress her.

Furtuna felt weird with the dress on her. She moved her arms and tied the corset like strings on the front of the white dress. “You have a sick sense of humor Mother. White? Really?” Angela chuckled a bit as she worked on more of the brew at her work station.

“Never say I don’t have a sense of humor… You might find yourself on the side of a losing bet,” Angela spoke quietly as she held up a flask as she spun the contents. She watched it change color as she moved it to the next phase.

“Right… Well… I think a walk around town might be what I need. Otherwise, I feel like my legs would become jelly.” Furtuna slid to the edge of the bed and pushed herself up. For a moment she lost her balance and she growled just slightly. It was the brew it had to be. “I damn well knew it… We have to go for a walk so I don’t have land legs. I quite like my sea and air legs.” She winked at Vincent as she held out her hand. “We can go see what everyone else is doing at the pub.”

Author: Vincent Gloreaver, Posted: Wed Aug 23, 2017 12:40 PM, Post Subject: Crowded Sky [p,r]

Vincent knew what she meant, but that wasn’t why he was so hesitant about it. “I worried more for the mental scars than the physical behind it”, he explained softly. And he would see fully on how much the former hurt her dearly. He frowned as he watched her writhed in agony, but it was something that her mother felt was necessary to deal with. He knew that they would likely have to deal with that bridge and cross it, but it was painful to watch her go through it all the same. “Yeah, in our brief time of knowing one another, I could tell that she was dependable like that.” Furtuna was strong and strong spirited, he also knew that much; even through the pain, she smiled and acted jolly not only for her sake but that of her crew and family.

He imagined that with those within her, she could get over wearing a white dress, or a dress for that matter. She didn’t seem like the sort to bear one, but she had already surprised him many times before. He caught it and held it until she was ready to wear it. “So what’s with that stuff?”, Vincent asked, referring to the brew Angela just got done making and had Furtuna drink it.

He settled back into his seat, while making sure the dress stayed out off the floor. It wouldn’t last long as he had to help her into it. “As you wish.” Getting right back up to his feet, the captain slid the dress over her and down her body, careful in getting her arms and head to where they need to be. “Really, I don’t know. How you holding up? Don’t want you to overexert yourself. I’m good with whatever you want.”

Author: Furtuna, Posted: Wed Aug 23, 2017 11:59 AM, Post Subject: Crowded Sky [p,r]

Furtuna stuck her lip out at Vincent. “That scar is about thirty years old Vincent… It won’t hurt anymore.” Her voice was soft but still, she gave him a smile. It lasted until the next part of her exam, the mental one.

“She’s always been that way though. Even her father was impressed with her attitude. One time I caught her beating one of the other children into the ground. Turns out he had said something about me and she just wailed on him with her fists.” Angela smiled towards Vincent. “She is fiercely loyal. Took me and her father to get her off the poor kid.”

Furtuna held Vincent’s hand to get herself steady but still wasn’t completely ready to talk as her gut settled out. Angela smiled at the two of them. “I’ll wash her clothes so in the mean time she has to wear this.” Angela tossed him a simple looking white dress. It seemed the goddess had a sense of humor as she came over and quickly folded and piled the clothes.

Once the brew was ready came brought it over and helped Furtuna to drink it. “Should taste just like peaches.” Angela sounded so proud of herself.

“Now you god damn know I hate peaches.” Furtuna frowned as she drank it.

“And I hate being shot up into the air on an airship. Life’s a bitch isn’t it?” Angela kissed the top of her daughter’s head. “Get dressed and go see Arri or if you need to… go sleep I have a room here for you but you never came home to see it.”

Furtuna looked at the dress. “I can’t dress myself.” She said coy as she put her arms up. “Please Vincent? Also… What do you want to do?”

Author: Vincent Gloreaver, Posted: Tue Aug 22, 2017 9:42 PM, Post Subject: Crowded Sky [p,r]

“No, but I’m in no way surprised to hear that. My deepest sympathies”, he offered her mother while giving Furtuna a look. She deserved whatever she gave her after all the crap. He could relate after some of the hi-jinks she pulled onto him in recent times. Heaven knew how her own mother put up with her antics; she must of had the patience of a saint. 

He was hesitant but she gave him the okay as he felt her scar. Vincent waited for any signs of discomfort. “I’m surprised to hear that; she constantly has her fill of drinks day in and out. I swear I don’t know where she packs it all into.” He had a few good ideas, but refrained from even voicing them in his mind. He didn’t want things between the two of them to be shaky even further. The moment Furtuna started to freak out and get into a fit of screaming, Vincent practically leaped out of his chair and went to try and calm her, but Angela looked like she knew what to do, so he refined. The only thing he would allow himself to do was to hold her hand through the ordeal. “A pain even when she was little…yeah sounds like her of course. I know that she does a lot of things so that you aren’t involved and draw the irk from her actions.” He squeezed her hand tighter, having a light laugh when she started to fight through the pain. “Attagirll”

Peeking around to see what Angela was concocting, Vincent took his time and continued to watch the sky pirate to make sure she was okay. “I can try and make sure. If I have to force feed her at some point, then so be it.” He slowly descended back into his chair for the time being. Even considering the option of leaving her be while he went out to have a good time with the fellows at the brothel didn’t seem appealing for one thing; another was that he wasn’t up in the mood to deal with more Rosenites. From what he recalled, he would be the main course for a lot of them, not to mention what Furtuna would let him get away with. They weren’t lovers, at least not the sort that the poems sung about. No, not at all. I don’t mind staying here with her tonight. Can’t say the same for her, but at least we are in a safe place.“ 
 

Author: Furtuna, Posted: Tue Aug 22, 2017 9:05 PM, Post Subject: Crowded Sky [p,r]

Angela took a bit of a sigh. “You and Adraejen are too much alike Furtuna.” The goddess shook her head. “He got hit with a harpoon took has a large scar on his chest. Scared me to death to see him like that. Wasn’t long after that when we found out we were having our son Rohan, who is growing up to be a fine young man now. He’s about eight now.”

Furtuna smirked as the examination continued. “Yeah, I noticed. We both like that face you make when we scare the shit out of you with flying.” Angela smacked her hard upside the head.

“That was why we weren’t on speaking terms. Did you tell Vincent about that?” Angela glared a moment. “Someone thought it was funny to completely cloak their airship in the earth in Parvpora and shoot me up on top of it with no way off. I’m afraid of being off the land and she knows that. She managed to do it twice.”

Furtuna was grinning up at her mother. “Have a sense of humor. You’ll live longer Ma. No one wants to see the Legendary Angela Rose go down without flaming glory.” The pirate queen looked over at Vincent who was touching her scar. “It’s alright… You can touch them.” Her voice was soft as he gently touched.

Angela smiled at Vincent and nodded. “I do know but I wanted to do a full examination of my wayward daughter. She’s healthy enough and the booze hasn’t done too much damage to her.” Furtuna rolled her eyes softly as Angela laid her back. “This might hurt just a bit Furtuna… It will all be over soon.” In that moment that her mother touched her head Furtuna let out a horrifying scream. Angela looked like she was seeing what Furtuna was.

After a few moments Furtuna rolled over and began to heave all over but Angela was quick enough to put a bucket under her. “I had to see what is troubling her… I didn’t want her to lie to me about how bad it was. Ever since she was a girl she would tell me she was alright even if she was bleeding or crying. Didn’t want me to have to worry about her.”

Angela moved over to a stand with ingredients and began to mix things up. “Lots of people from that day have the same troubles as Furtuna. We do our best to help them and my medicine helps the most. Do you think you could help her remember to take it every day? Of course, she will have to lay off the booze and hookah just before she takes it. It might null the effects of what I’m going to give you.”

“Thought this would be a therapy session,” Furtuna laughed a bit as she was in pain now.

“Therapy doesn’t help people like you Furtuna. I learned that a long time ago when I was studying medicine for the first few months. You just need a lot of time, understanding, support, and medicine.” She began to brew a few bottles. “I zapped all her strength doing that so you both might end up staying here for tonight. If that’s alright with you Vincent, if not you could always join your crew mates over by Lily’s.”

Author: Vincent Gloreaver, Posted: Tue Aug 22, 2017 8:40 PM, Post Subject: Crowded Sky [p,r]

Lucian looked at her and sunk into his seat while Vincent roll his eyes. “We can go with that, if you wish. I personally wouldn’t know that pain below there.” Her brother shook his head and mentally counted while he awaited Mother’s return here. “Oh I’m used to being introduced to them; met a good deal of them already. I’m sure that even you haven’t met them all either.” She said that she was the worst, but he begged to differ. “Don’t know, Nerezza who is my twin sister, Aelwen and Iva are huge pains currently for me.” The scene was getting a tad awkward for him as well, but he supposed that they should make the best of it. His palm did meet with his face as he got to hear the savory bits about the man that was accompanying her. “Charming.”

“Maybe a bit too much information?”, Vincent offered her before he turned to the direction of the voice that came out. He recognized the redhead just as clearly as if the night he saw her was last night. At first he was confused as to what she was spouting about Furtuna and her desires and such, but considering her status, he shouldn’t have been so surprised to learn that she could read them like books. He hardly had to try remotely thinking about his own before she blurted it out, causing his cheeks to glow more reddish. “Yes, yes. Sorry about that.” Hell, he wasn’t sure if he could look Furtuna in the eye after that; which was strange since he heard about hers and kept silent about it. Well, this would make things slightly more awkward for them.

They reached another room and he spotted the two little babies. Obviously they had to belong to the goddess, making them his captain’s siblings. He moved over to the sweet little babes and looked down to them with a smile while she played with them. That lasted for a bit before business had to be conducted and he took his seat close by the table while she stripped down and prepared for what he assumed was to be an examination. What happened next left him with his mouth ajared. He didn’t know that she kept her appearance as secretive as she had- his eyes studied the various scars on her torso. Were they all spoils of war?

Vincent was finally about to look at her directly and nodded. “No, you told me that already”, he confirmed with a nod. This seemed more like a mother and daughter situation for them and for him to stay out of it, but he stood by just in case, if nothing more than for support for Furtuna. He had promised her that much, after all. He shifted so that he could see the mentioned scar on her back. His face was free from judgment or disgust; but rather genuine concern as he ran his hand over the scar gently and quickly in case she didn’t want it touched. “Duly noted”, he replied, “I’ll be sure to look out for those.” His eyes went to her mother, “I take it that you already know why we arrived here this eve then, ma’am?” 

Author: Furtuna, Posted: Tue Aug 22, 2017 7:57 PM, Post Subject: Crowded Sky [p,r]

“Back up plan is to go to the temple and I really don’t want to be in her territory like that. Gods know what she would do to me if she had complete power over me. It makes my pirate senses tingle with frustration.”

Once they got into the manor she crossed her arms and looked proud for a moment as he said Pirate Queen. “Booze hound? I do drink a lot but a stubborn pain in the ass I don’t know. Pain in the dick maybe…” She elbowed Vincent softly and let the smirk drop. “Yeah that’s me and I’m looking for Mother so could we hurry it up… please. I don’t want to be here any longer than I am to be.” She offered a smile just so he understood this was uncomfortable for her.

“Also I would get used to sisters if I were you… You have a lot of them and I’m worst so it only gets better.” She gave him a smirk. Furtuna’s mouth gaped open for a moment as he said Vincent was her boyfriend. “No, we just fuck. Can’t people just screw around anymore and not be a thing?”

Furtuna shoved her hands on her hips and got huffy for a moment. “Careful Furtuna… People might actually think you have a heart if you keep thinking that way.” Angela stepped into the room and looked Vincent over. “Furtuna’s deepest desire is to find someone who will put up with her like Vincent has been.”

Furtuna got red. “MOTHER, you can’t just go reading other people’s thoughts and telling people.”

“I can when my daughter is a pain in the ass and doesn’t come home for two centuries.”

“Touche,” Furtuna answered stubbornly as Angela beckoned the two of them to follow her.

“We’ll be going to the clinic now. I had the twins put in there for me so I could deal with you.” Angela sighed a bit as she looked back at Furtuna. “I thought you would put up more of a fight.” She stopped in the hallway and turned on her heel. “Vincent, can you please not think about my daughter’s ass so loudly in my presence? I don’t want to see blue butt cheeks.”

A red Furtuna looked at Vincent innocently before they continued their walk into a large glass domed room. It was built to be an infirmary. In a little crib were two little beings who were sitting up and staring at them the best they could. “Well aren’t they just adorable little monsters.” Furtuna went over and played with them a bit.”

“Monsters is right. They are a pain in the ass to get to sleep… Meet your youngest siblings Larkspur and Poppy. Adraejen and I have been up endlessly with them. They are very curious about the world…” Angela smiled a bit as she prepped the table and found a chair for Vincent. “Once you two are done admiring the terrible two… Furtuna can strip down?”

Having no problem getting naked Furtuna did that and hopped up onto the table. “Furtuna, the spell knock it off.” Angela was firm as she smacked the back of the Pirate Queen’s head. Suddenly her perfect skin began to form various large and ugly scars across her chest and back. “Crude healing… You should have asked me to heal you.”

“Weren’t on speaking terms Mom. Remember? Vincent, I told you we weren’t on speaking terms right? It wasn’t my imagination?” The pirate dragged her temporary lover into this.

"What's this one from?" There was a huge scar across her back.

"Ran into a naval fleet from Egjora and got into a fight without my airship. Almost had me." Furtuna kicked her feet gently. "Harpoons hurt by the way."

Author: Vincent Gloreaver, Posted: Tue Aug 22, 2017 4:22 PM, Post Subject: Crowded Sky [p,r]

Vincent took his pipe back and took a hit of it. “Just ask next time. Would have shared.” He didn’t think it would be impossible for her to find someone to be with. Difficult, yes of course it would be given her whims and attitude, but he saw a different side of her. Maybe he was one of a few that were able to see her at her most vulnerable. He saw his men off and joined Futuna as they made their way through the city in hopes of finding her mother. “Hell, if I work them hard, then maybe next time I should just let them go drink and get some rounds of fighting in?” He smiled as they went down the street. “We got a backup plan just in case, right?”

It took a bit but the two soon stood before what he assumed to be her home, though Futuna seemed perplexed for a moment before they went inside. The place looked exactly what he would assume of a royal home- elegant, graceful and alive with color. It made it sort of harder for him to believe that she was apart of this family, but one couldn’t merely judge by appearances alone. He stood by while she explained to one of the servants who lead them not to Angela, but to a young man that was reading an enormous book on his lap. Lucian looked up, brows together as he listened to the strange woman call him a brat and insisted on him getting her mother for her. “I assume you mean Angela…” Sighing, he looked down and flipped a few of the pages of his book until he found her likeness.

“Hm, Futuna, is it? Pirate queen, booze hound and over all stubborn pain in the ass.” He looked up from the pages and onto her, “Sounds about right. Great, another sister. Anyway, one moment.” He called for another servant to go and fetch the goddess from the gate not too far from here. Once they were dismissed, he looked to Vincent, who had been silent and merely watching the two. “She’ll be here shortly, so you and your boyfriend can wait here until then.” The captain shook his head, “It’s not like that, kid.” Lucian shrugged it off. “Fair enough. I guess the twins she’s dealing with are more of a handful as of late for her. But she should be here in no time.”

Author: Furtuna, Posted: Tue Aug 22, 2017 3:06 PM, Post Subject: Crowded Sky [p,r]

“Hell, I’ll give you all the booze and grass you want.” Furtuna chuckled towards Vincent as they talked and joked.

“Maybe one day I’ll get the urge to punch myself in the face repeatedly.” The Sky Queen threw a joke towards Vincent. “That’s about as likely as finding a man to put up with my shit for the rest of my life.”

Maliel laughed, “Don’t think the gods have ever made such a man Furtuna. Not one that can put up with you for all of your ageless life.” There was a smirk on her face.

Furtuna stuck the pipe in her lips and smirked. “I’m only borrowing it… Sour Puss.” She lit it and began to puff on it before handing it back to him. “No need to be so territorial.”

“Cap, I think you are the last person who needs to scold someone for being territorial.” Xeria chuckled towards her.

Once they were in Arri she watched the men run off and chuckled a bit. “You are working them too hard Vincent.” It was only a jest knowing that he had been chasing her. She took him through the streets of Sularia in a direction she hadn’t pointed. “We’re going to the Red District where my mother is… or should be. I don’t feel her here right now and normally I do.” She must have been at her temple.

The huge white and gold mansion came into view and stopped. “That’s not what it looked like before…” It had been a long time since she had shown up obviously. “Whatever… Let’s go.” The door opened and she was greeted.

“Welcome, how may I assist you?” The house keeper asked.

“Furtuna Rose, I need my mother is she in?” The woman went pale white and brought her into the meeting hall. “I said, my mother, not some white haired brat who looks like my mother.” Furtuna huffed a bit. “No offense kid but you won’t help me at all.” The kid was none other than Lucian the sitting king of the Red Court. “I know we haven’t met but this is urgent… Could ya go get Mother?”

Author: Vincent Gloreaver, Posted: Mon Aug 21, 2017 8:51 PM, Post Subject: Crowded Sky [p,r]

The Rosenite culture wasn’t too far off from any of the others, he’d imagine. It was only instead of the males being territorial of their mates like in most races, it was the females that did it instead. He didn’t think of himself being in such a high favor, not that he let it go to his head. She just didn’t scream the jealous type to him, but after learning some more about her the last few days, Vincent realized that he didn’t really know her at all. So who was to say how she would behave should he partake in a seedy establishment. “Sounds like it's bad for my health, Suppose I’ll stick to drinking and smoking then”, he joked.

“Hell, she has enough children apparently.  She’ll have all the grandchildren she could ever want, more so than most people living I’d imagine.” He didn’t know how her mother pulled that off since the timing for it must have taken centuries. He also pondered if her daughter would oblige to such a wish one day before letting it slip past his mind. “Maybe one day you’ll get the urge to have some little knuckleheads running about the ship, wanting to sail it through mountains too”, he teased, blowing some of the smoke her way. As he took on a deep inhale, the captain coughed it out when she revealed why he hadn’t been given the treatment she seemed to be famous for. Some of the crew members “oooh” and “awww” while looking at Xeria, then Furtuna and then towards Vincent. “Don’t worry your heads about it”, he said shrugged. Honestly he didn’t even know that she had a problem with men playing with her like that. It seemed to come natural to him but he digressed. He was ready refill his pipe when it was stolen by her. “Hey! That’s mine!”  

When they landed into Arri, the men looked as though they hadn’t seen land in months; many of them scrambled away from the Sacab and onto the city grounds. From there, they scattered between the Brothels and Alehouses, not that either would see a lack of business. Vincent bowed at her cousin, seeing that she was royalty and whatnot and he still held some form of manners. But soon it looked as though it would be just him and Futuna. Adjusting the collar of his shirt, he looked around to make sure they were alone. “Why not? I said that I would with you through this. I am a man of my word and I don’t go back on it. Besides, a little trouble doesn’t measure up to the heap of it I’m in back home.”  He patted her on the shoulder and followed her lead. He wanted to make sure that she saw this through and he would help in any matter he could.

Author: Furtuna, Posted: Mon Aug 21, 2017 8:28 PM, Post Subject: Crowded Sky [p,r]

Furtuna made a face and Xeria giggled lightly. “Rosenites are particularly bitchy towards one another. If they even think you are thinking about stealing whats theirs they will attack. There are laws in Arri that prevent such attacks from happening. While Furtuna doesn’t act like that towards other races she does when it comes to her sisters in blood. Truth is a pretty man like yourself hooking up with a whore of Arri might turn bad for Furtuna. Women are known to get territorial with their favorites.”

Furtuna took a boot that was delivered and threw it at Furtuna. “Lotus gets away with it… She’s my cousin but she’s strong. I mean she’s young but she goes around fucking everyone’s husband from here to Komiteia if it gave her a thrill. She’s been quiet lately. Normally she at least gets on my airship and rides around for the hell of it… I haven’t seen her in a long time. Too quiet for my tastes. Though her mom started up trouble a few years ago. Caused an all out war with Arri and put them on high alert. That’s the last time I heard from Lotus.”

She looked back at Vincent for a bit with a concerned face. “My mother likes grandchildren and she’s always been trying to get more genasi. See she loves me and loves the color of my skin but she and papa don’t see eye to eye. Djinn culture and Rosenite culture… ya know? So she stays away from Djinn but I have siblings from men all across Revaliir.”

She rubbed the back of her neck and blushed just a bit more. “Besides I haven’t tied him up because I like what he does with his hands… Is that so wrong?”

“Finally found someone who likes those piercings of yours.” Xeria grabbed at her own chest to show Vincent’s crew the type of piercings that Furtuna had. “Not a lot of men have the balls to know what to do with them at least that’s what a drunk Furtuna sings about in the wee hours of the morning.”

Furtuna grumbled a bit more. “Yeah, yeah. Pipe it down. If I wanted to hear sex stories I would be more interested in yours Xeria.” Xeria shut up immediately and shook her head. “All big and bad until it's turned on you.” Furtuna reached out and stole Vincent’s pipe so she could take a drag on it. She chuckled towards him. “Welcome home new crew.”

Once they got to Arri they were greeted by Cathrine who was flying and landed on the deck. “Are you porting Sacab?”

“Yeah, got my dock ready?” Furtuna asked as Cathrine nodded.

“Around by Kirika’s dock.” They would be out of sight for the most part as she took the airship down nice and slow. She managed to dock right by the staircase of the Black Court Manor. “All ashore whos going ashore.” She took them off the ship as they climbed the narrow staircase.

Kirika was there to greet them. “I am sorry the staircase is so narrow Cousin Furtuna. It’s the only place we can safely hide you away from prying eyes.” She was so cheerful.

“This is my cousin Kirika, she is currently the queen of the Black Court.” After short introductions, she took them into the city. “Brothels other there… Alehouses over there… Market up there.” She pointed in the general direction. “You want the best blacksmiths you’ll have to go in that direction.” Furtuna watched as everyone left them and she looked back at Vincent. “You sure you wanna go with me. It will only cause trouble for you.”

Author: Vincent Gloreaver, Posted: Mon Aug 21, 2017 8:12 PM, Post Subject: Crowded Sky [p,r]

“What’s your problem”, he asked while the pipe hung from his teeth. He didn’t see a problem with going to Sularia with the entire crew. If anything, this was her bright idea. He looked at her slightly confused for a moment before blowing out some smoke. “That can still be arranged, if you order me to do so” He closed his eyes and sat down. Vincent had never said that he was going to join his men in the debauchery at the brothels. He was more so fixing to get a drink or two instead.

“Share? Didn’t know we were getting possessive now… thought you were a rolling stone…” He puffed his pipe and ditched the ashes before replacing them with fresh herbs. Apparently her captains found humor in her behavior and she was quick to retort against them. “Should I feel lucky that she likes me, or will that make me a target even more?” The baby talk was strange, yet due to her mother’s domain, he suppose that it would have been possible if the goddess was motivated enough and it seemed from between that and the other night they talked, Furtuna didn’t want that in her future. He himself still hadn’t gave it a second thought, though he was a bit curious about the possibility one day.

“How so? Never seen another Rosenite but you and your mother, though very briefly.” He looked up at her. “You seem a bit too worried about this now.” Vincent then turned his attention over to Xeria and sighed, “No, not yet. She probably would have, I’d bet.” He didn’t know to the exact of what she would have done to him, but given what happened, he was sure they hadn’t reach that level quite yet. He wondered if he even wanted to know the details of that.

Author: Furtuna, Posted: Mon Aug 21, 2017 7:44 PM, Post Subject: Crowded Sky [p,r]

If anything Furtuna was a good captain. She would show them all about being a family after all hers was one of the largest in the world. She had learned well from her family like her siblings and her mother, even if they weren’t talking for a very long time. It didn’t mean she didn’t care. She nodded to Vincent and took a deep breath. “A pirate’s life for me.”


She crossed her arms when Vincent asked her about her father. “It’s been a good fifty years since I woke him up. Djinn are used to falling asleep and not waking up.”

The sails were set as Furtuna took to the wheel and steered them towards their next destination. “Man is going to suck. Vincent why did I let you talk me into this. I would much rather you talk to me into bed.” She yelled at him while he was with his crew.

“Now I have to share you with a bunch of hussies.”

“You are one to talk about being a hussy Cap.” It was Maliel and Furtuna was quick to take off her boots and throw them at him.

“Blow me,” Furtuna laughed a bit as she returned to steering. “You lot think you are so clever, I happen to like Vincent.”

“Keep talking like that your mother is going to make you get pregnant.” Her other captain harassed her.

“Oi oi oi oi. Him and I aren’t talking wee ones. That is all Maliel!” Maliel chuckled a bit at Furtuna who was red like a cherry. “You lot suck. I’m trading you in for newer models. All I’m saying is that Rosenites are a bit too uppity for me. Might run in my blood but they are heathens sometimes.”

“Takes one to know one.” Xeria laughed a bit from her perch. “Vincent did the Captain tie you up and make you her bitch yet. That’s her favorite move.”

“Maliel… fetch me my boot. This is going to be a long ride to Sularia.”

Author: Vincent Gloreaver, Posted: Mon Aug 21, 2017 5:50 PM, Post Subject: Crowded Sky [p,r]

Furtuna, he supposed, was doing her best to ease the tension of his crew. Either that or was goofing off for whatever reason, but he let her be as he went into more pressing issues and gave his explanations. He did have to stop and let some of them catch up on the conversation every so often as he noticed their attention being diverted away from him and onto her. Fortunately it looked as though he would have their support and aid going into the future. Many of them started to remove the sigils of Egjora from their clothes. They would still fight for the people, but not the government nor the Academy. Vincent knew how they all felt- hurt and betrayed by the very people they were suppose to put all their faith into making this world a better place. They would no longer sit by and let the corrupt spread any further- not if they had anything to do or say about it.

“The catch with this is Furtuna now outweighs me as far us being captains. Her word is above my own, within reason of course…” Obviously he wasn’t going to risk lives or anything so fortuitous like that, and hoped that she wouldn’t either. Some of them looked wided eyed at her as she went into detail about one of the Admirals. They were searching among themselves of the potential candidates that she took on while Vincent groaned. “Regardless, we are striving for a better tomorrow; the thing we wanted and trained years for.” He was impressed by her brief speech about them being a family- they would need each other for the long haul. “I swear to you my word that I will not leave a single soul here in the cold. If one falls, we might as well all fall!”

The meeting between his crew and her other captains was a tad awkward but soon everything seemed to mellow out for the best once he flew her up aboard her ship. Of course when they met her father, who powered said ship, he felt a bit more awkward with what happened last night. “How long had he been asleep for?”, he found himself asking, while scratching his head.

At least things went more smoothly than he could imagine, which was good. He felt as though he could make a difference without being restrained by the law. Of course, it wouldn’t settle well with his former connections, but the end justified the means- he had to keep reminding himself of that as the cheers filled the air around them. He was surprised that she was bring the whole lot with them to Sularia, but he could only guess it was to drive away suspicion from them about her whereabouts or reasons. Vincent wouldn’t say a word to anyone about it- it wasn’t his business to give and to prove his loyalty to her, he would kept his mouth shut. He merely joined in the cheering and smoked his pipe with a grin 
 

Author: Furtuna, Posted: Mon Aug 21, 2017 2:29 PM, Post Subject: Crowded Sky [p,r]

Once they got to the surface and to the Fellshield she whistled up at it. “This is a nice ship. Remind me to steal one just like it.” Her words echoed playfully through the tantrum of his crew. She chuckled a bit at the and winked at them. She was on the railing of the ship doing cartwheels, yoga, you nap it and she was entertaining herself doing this boring time. “And if any of your scurvy dogs tell anyone what he just told you about me I’ll personally tie you up and throw you overboard.” She said cheerfully as she threw herself around Vincent.

The tall blue woman looked over his shoulder at his crew. “It’s a fine crew you have! Welcome to the Sacab boys.” She let go of Vincent and put her arms behind her back. “It’s true that I may or may not have caused men to go crazy… I think one of the Admirals of the Academy was one of my victims at one point! However, what Vincent said is true. I fight the low fight, I fight for justice, ain’t no history book gonna remember what we’re doing. We’re gonna be scurvy dogs until the day we die.”

She was serious now as her posture and attitude changed. She put her hands on her hips and gripped tightly. “We’re more than just some pitiful pirate crew. We’re family. We eat, drink, sleep together. Well I sleep with people so does Xeria BUT that is besides the point. We’re a family. We look out for each other… When the Fellshield isn’t deployed you will be on the Sacab with me. It’s important that we all trust each other. My word is worth as much as Lacriamium… Which is like saying… On my mother’s grave I promise.” She crossed her heart.

“Speaking of which,” She put her fingers together and whistled deeply. “Get your bloody asses out of the damn clouds.” The Sacab emerged out like a mirage with all the airships in its belly. “Captain Vincent, please take us up so I can be captain of my own ship for a bit. Been piloting everyone else’s bloody ship for the past few days.”

Once they were aboard she made sure to introduce his crew to each of her five crews and her main crew. “Finally, since you are a part of my crew. You will need to understand Sacab. Sacab isn’t just an airship… It is a living breathing thing. It’s a not a she but a he…” It came in a mist behind Furtuna, a large air djinn. His blue eyes pierced into them and he put his hand on Furtuna’s shoulder. “Hello Papa, good sleep?”

“You woke me up for this? I’m trying to power an airship Furtuna.”

“Aye Papa, you know.. These guys are joining us now… They should know about you.” The Air Djinn huffed at his daughter and patted her on the head before vanishing back in the ship. “That’s his way of saying hello! He’s just a bit grumpy from me waking him up like that. Most of the time he is asleep so he can power Sacab without interruptions. Sacab is his greatest gift to me.”

She brought them up on the main deck. “Now, we’re off to Sularia. BROTHELS AND THE BEST ALCOHOL FOR EVERYONE!” She didn’t dare leave anyone behind for right now. “Are you ready to see Sularia?” She asked Vincent’s men while her own were cheering endlessly.

Author: Vincent Gloreaver, Posted: Mon Aug 21, 2017 2:12 PM, Post Subject: Crowded Sky [p,r]

He didn’t really expect much from this night moving on forward. Given her attitude and everything, he was likely another notch in her belt. It was something he was already prepared for long before they slept together. Vincent was a bit surprised to see that she was willing to go see her mother, but there was a stipulation to it. “Sure, I’ll go. I think centuries of nightmares and panics are more than enough to deal with, and if you’ll gonna be stubborn in not going without me, I’d rather see to it myself that you do.” He could only guess that few of her previous lovers had dealt with her traumatic incidents and could only guess on how many actually stayed to see her off safely. 

He looked at her with a questioning look at first, but then decided that she was telling the truth about being sober and flying. Judging that she only had one accident they were willing to mention, it seemed like she was capable of having a good head without the need of substances.

“Fair enough. I’ll believe you, for now. If your crew tells me otherwise, then I’ll be inclined to take their side then. “ He took the rum for a moment and a good swig of it before handing it back to Fortuna. Her subtle suggestion made him laugh as he stared at her for a bit. “Right, and that answer could only be a few things that come to mind. None of which, I mind of course.” 

Vincent felt a bit different now that the collar was loosen, so to speak. He was a bit too uptight, he’d admit but now he was more willing to open up to her. “Hell if I know, to be honest. I figure that I’d drop them off unless they want to capture me as well. If that happens, I might have to fight them. Hopefully it doesn’t come down to that.” He didn’t want to have bad blood with them, after everything they all been through together. It would be bittersweet but he thought it would be for the best to at least warn them of what was really going on with Egjora first. “I’ll explain my stance and from there we will see.” Taking a heavy sigh, he was about to reach for the bottle when he saw that it was empty. It didn’t matter much anyway once Furtuna took charge and she was over him. Her hands pinned his own against the bed, asserting her dominance. There was no problem from him whatsoever though as he cracked a smile. “Alright, I won’t.” There was no telling if she meant for the remainder of the night or longer, but he didn’t seek to disappoint her. “I’ll stay until then.”

 It felt like forever before the morning came and he didn’t wish to get out of bed, but business had to be handled, one that he was dreading a bit. He peeked one eye open to see Furtuna getting dressed. “Yeah, I know, I know.” He wanted to go back into the covers, but Vincent forced himself up and got dressed. “Bloody hell… “ By the time he got his boots on, he was ready to head out and with her aid, they got out of the cove and headed to where he had instructed The Fellshield to set anchor last night. He could see his crew frantically awaiting word of him when they spotted him descended down, but their cheers silenced once they noticed Furtuna before they grew louder. He suspected that they thought that he captured her, but then as he got off the ship and joined up with them, he held out a hand.

“Gentlemen, it's hard for me to say this but…”

From there, he went onto explain what he had learned about Egjora’s trades, as well as its past crimes and why he going to not only let the pirate go, but join her in her crusade. Many of them, as expected, were angry and confused about his reasons. Others thought that he was somehow manipulated by her wiles and few stood by in silence. He spoke sincerely and offered to return them to the Academy and a life free of persecution. He owed them that much for being a loyal crew. He would bare none of them ill will and hoped for bright futures for each and every single one of them.

Vincent heard the mutters among them as they were trying to decide what to do. He hoped for a peaceful solution but what happened next was unexpected. One by one, they started to pledge their allegiance to him and the pirates- many of them didn’t have families and were from the lower parts of Egjora, Adeluna and other parts. They grew up with nothing and stride to secure futures that were good and well, and a good number of them also despised the nobles they had to work for before. But with the news of their greed and corruption, it only fueled the fire in them more so. Besides, they didn’t want to be forced to hunt him down and kill him for betraying the commanders. Sighing, Vincent reluctantly accepted their wish. 

Author: Furtuna, Posted: Mon Aug 21, 2017 1:13 PM, Post Subject: Crowded Sky [p,r]

Furtuna snuggled into him like a scared child at first. He was so warm and inviting that it was eating her soul. She couldn’t understand why he was so comforting to her after all wasn’t he just another conquest? It was hard to understand. “I’ll go… But only if I force you to go with me. Otherwise, I don’t think I could take her attitude.” It was more like a child giving in. “Say you’ll go with me and I’ll go back to Sularia for healing.”

The Genasi took the bottle into her hands and smiled up at him. “I don’t pilot while drunk or high… That’s irresponsible. Ask my air crash.” She winked at him and laughed a bit. She scooted into him and snuggled up into him. “Maybe but I have a feeling I know just the thing to make me feel better with you around.” There was a laugh from her lips as they shared the rum together.

“That will pass… It always does, it just takes a while. We can set out for Arri as soon as you are done with your crew. What will you do if they want to go home by the way?” They passed the rum around until it was done. “And now for the main course,” Furtuna flipped him under her with ease after her heart had calmed down enough. “Don’t know the point in letting my heart calm down since it’s just going to get bad again.” There was another laugh. After a moment the laughing ceased and she gripped his hands. "Vincent… Don't leave alright? I mean don't leave me unless I tell you to." It was a voice she hadn't spoken in before, it wasn't scared or jolly… It was just true.

In the morning she pulled herself from him and stretched. One night terror had been enough but now she felt a bit more rested as she pulled her pants on as she sat on the edge of the bed. “We got explaining to do to your crew today.” She cupped his face. “My Captain Vincent.”

Author: Vincent Gloreaver, Posted: Mon Aug 21, 2017 12:23 PM, Post Subject: Crowded Sky [p,r]

He might have only known her for a couple of weeks, if that long, but Vincent wasn’t used to seeing the captain this way. Normally (at least for him), she was full of life and wit, but right now, she was at her most vulnerable. It wasn’t that long ago that he had wanted to find a kink in her armor so that he could capture her, but right now, as he sat there and watched her, he was glad that he hadn’t.

Furtuna had problems stemming from her past; it wasn’t her fault though. She couldn’t control the actions of kingdoms nor the events that took place. It was devastating, but she shouldered the burden of this for far too long. “You can’t help it, you aren’t invincible. Your crew knows that and I’m sure that if you want to tell them about it, they would understand.” He wasn’t going to be the one to tell her what to do with them, that was up to her. “It’s alright to be afraid sometimes if you are… “ He rested his head above hers, comforting her as long as she wanted it. “Maybe, but telling her wouldn’t completely mean that she would force back home, would she?” The goddess could be an easier route for her to silence the nightmares and her fears, but again he would leave that up to her.

Vincent shook his head and petted the back of her head, “No, not scared. Worried, a bit yes.” It was sudden and out of nowhere, but as terrifying as it could have been for him, it was even worse on Furtuna. How she kept her sanity over how long she’s been suffering through this was beyond him. He started to slid off the bed and head to where they had left the rum bottle on the bar before returning to the bed and handing it to her. Perhaps it wasn’t the best medicine, but it would help to calm her nerves and make her more relax. Vincent sat up in the bed and looked her over carefully. “Whatever you decide to do, then that’s what you will do. I won’t stop you, but I will suggest that at some point we find you a more permanent solution for this. If you are unable to fulfill your duties, then none of us can get back into the cove through that hole.” He chuckled a bit before scooting over closer to Furtuna. “Think we might need a couple more?”, he asked referring to the bottle. “Just try and relax; I figure that your heartbeat shouldn’t be so loud right now… “

Author: Furtuna, Posted: Sun Aug 20, 2017 8:52 PM, Post Subject: Crowded Sky [p,r]

That cold glare in her eyes when she looked at him. Her mother was right, she was scared but she nodded as it faded and she exhaustively pushed herself against him. “Aye,” she finally answered him. “The same dream as always,” it was such a defeated sound that left her lips as she closed her green eyes and pushed her head up under his chin.

Her heart was about ready to rip right out of her chest that when she held herself to him, he probably felt it. “I just… I don’t know what to do about them.” She looked up at him. “Can’t tell the others about it because… I am their captain. I’m not supposed to be afraid of anything right? If I told my mother about them she would ask me to come home for treatment. I can’t afford to be gone for so long.”

She pulled at the hair on her head for a while and opened her eyes to look up to Vincent. “I’m sorry if I scared you. Happens a lot when I’m not drunk or high…” She reached over and put some water on her hands from a cool washbowl on the dresser on her side of the bed. She rubbed it on her face and groaned. “I don’t know how much more of this I can take. Sometimes they are so real… Sometimes I can’t remember what happened completely and it’s just the sounds… but this time I could see it and feel it.” She shivered gently as her chest heaved.

“I need a drink.” Yet she didn’t move from him, she just put her head into his chest more.

Author: Vincent Gloreaver, Posted: Sun Aug 20, 2017 8:43 PM, Post Subject: Crowded Sky [p,r]

“At least I know your calling card, I suppose”, he said with a roll of his eyes as he drank. It wasn’t very hard for him to guess that, considering that she gloated about it nights before now. It didn’t bother him for that wasn’t any of his business; they were associates if anything as far as he was concerned. His eyes rolled again, “I’m sure if it was up to you, I wouldn’t wear anything but a fig leaf. If that much…”

He had thought that she was kidding in her advances but to come to find out she was being real with him, he looked at her and down to her fingers running against him. Just as easy as it was for her to approach him, Vincent finally gave in and came over to her. The kiss felt like it had the first time- amazing. This time he followed through and took her into his hands which felt like an eternity before they ended up on the bed. His hands traveled down her body as he helped stripped her of her remaining garments and found out some interesting piercing on her. The sex lasted for a long time as he got out everything that he had been restraining for so long since that night. He made sure that she was just sated as he was before their night was through. He was drenched in sweat by then and tired out, feeling the warmness of her body driving away the cold against him. His arm snaked around her as his blank mind started to fill back in only to give way to sleep. He would worry about what just happened in the morning.

But before morning could come, Vincent was woken by her screams sometime later and sat up quickly before he reached out with a hand behind her back. “Furtuna? What’s the matter? Was it a dream?” He recalled her telling him of the nightmares she continued to have, even to this today of the sick crimes delivered to her people. “It’s alright, it's just a dream…”, he ushered in reassurance.

Author: Furtuna, Posted: Sun Aug 20, 2017 8:28 PM, Post Subject: Crowded Sky [p,r]

“Nah, I just like sex.” She chuckled a bit. “With dangerous men.” She added as she poured him another shot after he started to strip and she watched with interest. “I could get used to that sight.”

She brought her hand up and ran her fingers down his chest with a chuckle. “That is an interesting admittance.” She climbed over the bar and pulled him to her. “Then let me pick up where I left off when I was so rudely interrupted.” She kissed him softly for a long time before they both began to deadly dance they had begun a week prior.

They ended up in her bed and she showed him all the fun types of things she loved to do with. He was experienced and it showed with the way he loved on her body. It was exhilarating and fun for hours. Afterwards, she curled up with him and told him to get some sleep. She kissed his lips, cheek, and finally his neck before settling her head into his chest pulling the blankets up on them.

However, the peace only lasted for a few hours before she shot up screaming and covered in a cold sweat. Her heart beating so hard and fast even the hardest of hearing humans could hear.

Author: Vincent Gloreaver, Posted: Sun Aug 20, 2017 8:11 PM, Post Subject: Crowded Sky [p,r]

“Children…Not sure how I’d handle them to be honest” Vincent never did give it a serious thought; aside from joking around with the men at the taverns and bars about settling down, it hardly crossed his mind. Perhaps one day when he retired and retreated to an estate of his own, then maybe he would have settled down with the right girl. But his duty came first for him, or at least it had before he learned the truth. Even so, he was about to enter another life that would make that difficult to achieve, not that his focus was on that. There were more pressing issues for him first to deal with.

“Agreed. I rather move forward and make sure the crimes never occur again.” He was glad that Furtuna was understanding about the concept. Even after everything that happened to her, she didn’t want for such a thing and it made him respect her more. “God forbid he’d be able to keep up with you”,he jested to lighten her mood.

It was a hasty decision, but one that needed to be done. He couldn’t just stand by and follow orders that may or may not have harm others. And he wouldn’t play dog for his town any longer. He would be an outcast in order to save it, which didn’t seem to bother his new boss who whisked him away from the room and into another- her own chambers. It was much more exaggerated than he had thought she would have. Considering her years though, he should have expected all the things around here.

She led him over to the bar, and he thanked the gods when he saw the amounts of drinks she had. Furtuna in her corset didn’t seem to bother him as much as it she had back on his ship, but technically she was still wearing more clothing now too. Vincent’s eyes though narrowed when she told him that he would stay here for the remainder of the night. “I suppose that can work out.” His mood lightened further as she got him a shot of rum. “Well then, I suppose this is a celebration then” He rose up his glass for her to clink with before he downed the shot. “Some mighty fine stuff your mother gave you.” He felt the warm go down nice and smooth. He looked at her for a moment and then burst out laughing. Perhaps the first time she would have saw this from him. “If that was the case, that’s because I thought you were playing mind games with me. You’re quite good at that, really.” He took off his coat and shirt and let them hit the ground as he enjoyed the coolness. “You're right, it's too hot around here." Vincent leaned against the bar and threw his head up to look at the ceiling. “I’ll admit something if you give me another shot…” He wanted until she did and downed it. Looking at the rim of the glass for a bit, he settle it back down and looked right back up. 

“I did nearly give in the night you decided to break into my vessel. Didn’t want to, but I withstood the temptation…until the kiss happened”  

Author: Furtuna, Posted: Sun Aug 20, 2017 7:23 PM, Post Subject: Crowded Sky [p,r]

“From what I gathered their mother was a pompous bitch anyways. I’m much more fun!” She chuckled a bit more and shrugged. “They told me that their dad had sent them letters to explaining everything in a way they could understand without getting prosecuted. Their father was a smart man and they are smart children who have lived very full lives. Proud of them like they were my own.” She chuckled a bit. “Should have children your age now…”

Furtuna smiled a bit and nodded. “Revenge doesn’t bring back the dead… It only makes a hole deeper in your soul. That’s what my mother says and she is right. For the most part I spew we are going for revenge but I’m not. I’m making sure the mistakes of the past never happen again… While systematically destroying those who have wronged us. God forbid I ever get a husband.” It was a choking laugh.

She made a face he pulled away from her and watched with interest as he tore the mark off of him. “Sounds good to me. I could always use another good captain and you are a good captain Vincent.”

She grabbed him by the hands and pulled him away from the table with excitement. “I’m glad you saw things my way!” She busted open the door to her room and showed him. It was a grand room, one of the largest he probably ever saw. There was a work area with maps and a desk, a large chandelier overhead, a pile of gold and silver, weapons, outfits, a large four-poster bed with noble looking drapes and piles like pillows like people from Abed or the desert had for comfort. There was almost a bar in the room as well.

The room was carpeted with finely made rugs. “This is my room, the captain gets only the best!” She took him over to the bar before she took off her undershirt with skill and threw it. It was only her corset left now. “It’s too damn got to be modest.” She grumbled as she pulled out a bottle of her finest rum. “This was a gift from my mother centuries ago. I only take a drink from it when we have victories.” She poured them each a shot.

"You will stay in my room tonight right? You gave me the run around twice… three times? If you count our last encounter." She smirked a bit at him and slid him his glass. "I'll make a pirate out of you tonight."

Author: Vincent Gloreaver, Posted: Sun Aug 20, 2017 6:58 PM, Post Subject: Crowded Sky [p,r]

At least the blasted dragon wasn’t too close to here, but it didn’t settle in well for him that he could have possible been crushed or set a flame by the beast had he still be pursuing Furtuna. That was if he didn’t crash The Fellshield first into the mountain. “Reasons…I can think of a few, though I’ll refrain from speaking anything about what I’m thinking it might have been” He was sure that he didn’t wish to know the full story of her first crash.

The tragic story of the captain was simply that- tragic. He pondered if he was hung for giving her that information and to silence him once and for all. Or was it just petty revenge for him ruining their rackets? Either way, it wasn’t justice at all. It was simply evil at its finest. It made him furious to think that this whole time, he was following the commands of the wicked. “Yes, you did mention that. At least there’s no bad blood with you and them then…” He was still bothered by this news and merely held a smile smirk at her jest. “The need for some might be too great for me to ignore this offer.” Vincent sighed and thought more about what he was to do now that he wanted to leave the Academy. He wasn’t too surprised to feel her hands against him- it seemed to be her shtick with him and he thought nothing more of it. But her proposal threw him for a bit of a loop. “Me, a pirate? Riiiiight…” He didn’t believe her at first about this; he was hardly the pirate type. “I care little about revenge- I prefer to right the wrongs done to those that didn’t deserve it, like your people. I was made a fool, but I can live with it, but what I can’t stand is my own follies for obeying them.”

Vincent, for one reason or another, was slowly starting to think of what it would mean to join her crusade- it would mean more strength in numbers to succeed and also that she was already righting the wrongs made so far. A part of him still thought it was a ploy by her for whatever reason but he pushed such a worry aside as he felt her against his ear. He had to think carefully about all this and he softly pushed away from her and paced about before reaching for his insignia patch of the city on the arm of his coat and ripped off. “Fine. I will accept these terms if it means that I can help more people now than before.” He tossed it away and sighed. He would have to dismiss his crew and retake his ship. There was no point in driving them into this; they were honest men like him without families but were in the debt of Egjora. He didn’t want them to be hunted down along with him. Hopefully that conversation would go well. “I’ll remain here until the morning, then I have to fetch my ship. Now about that rum…”       

Author: Furtuna, Posted: Sun Aug 20, 2017 6:33 PM, Post Subject: Crowded Sky [p,r]

“Baltil isn’t that far from here. In the deepest reaches of the mountains lies the Dragon’s Hoard. A powerful and ferocious dragon lives there and if you disturb the mountains you wake him up. You only go through the mountains with an airship if you know what you are doing. Landing inside this cavern leaves a 0.01 percent error margin. Anything more than that and you risk blowing the airship up. Someone with a natural affinity to air such as myself or my father can do it without a problem because we can listen to the air. The only reason I crashed it before was because… REASONS!” Obviously, she was doing something she shouldn’t have been doing or someone.

When she thought of her friend in Egjora she crossed her arms. “He proclaimed his love for me while they hung him from the gallows. I was in the crowd and I was the last face he saw. I thought it was the least I could do for him. I have to admit a part of me loved that fool too. He was as reckless as I was but that was a long time ago… Fifty years now, every once in a while I leave gifts for his children. I did mention he was married.” She chuckled a bit. “They know it’s me but they’ve never really had a grudge, I think they knew.”

The rum thought made her smirk. “In my private quarters Captain Gloreaver.” She chuckled a bit more. “You’ll have to come with me there if you want it.”

There was contemplation in her eyes before hopped up and over to him. “Then quit being a soldier. Quit being a government dog.” She wrapped her arms around his shoulders. “Become a pirate like me. Become one of my captains and we’ll liberate Egjora together. I can’t promise you if it will be in your life time but we can do it. We can purge the evil out… We can get revenge not only for me but for you too. The atrocities of Egjora must be answered. Adeluna has already paid for what they did… and now Egjora must too.”

She bit his ear lightly. “Stay here tonight.”

Author: Vincent Gloreaver, Posted: Sun Aug 20, 2017 6:21 PM, Post Subject: Crowded Sky [p,r]

He could see why she was confident in her skills if she’s been doing this for such a long time, collecting worthy individuals to associate with and starting her pirate empire. “That is a hell of a way to start a…career like that”, he offered. But all things considered, he suppose that it had been a right call for her, even if he wasn’t entirely sold on the idea.

“I see. Still, this is the perfect place to hide all of this”, he gestured to her base. She had also said before that her father had been the one to help her construct the massive airship as well. “Powerful indeed.” Heaven only knew that he was only lucky to have to just met her and not her father. If that was the case, he couldn’t be sure that he would be alive today…

Thank the stars.

“Dragon? What dragon? I didn’t see…” He looked around, but didn’t see such a thing. Was she still messing with him? Rubbing his temples, he continued to follow her all the way to the war room. From there, his fears and worries came to surface as he listened to her confirm his suspicions that Egjora did have something to do with the other pirates. It was the lower houses, and immediately he thought that they were partaking in these things to boost their own reputations and ranking. “And what happened to the poor fellow afterwards?”, he asked softly, his mind still tormented by the thoughts of people, citizens of his home having a hand in these crimes. A hard swallow was taken as he listened and acknowledged the information. “If the lesser nobles fall, then the other may too. If they do, then the Academy’s reputation will fall and may close too…” He didn’t like it, not one bit of it, but it was necessary for its survival. Still, it stood against everything he believed. Vincent was a creature that saw the world in black and white, but he was starting to feel sick by this betrayal. What other things did they allow to happen behind closed doors? Enslavement of the innocent?  Stealing land and other worldly possessions for themselves? Things similar to what happened to Arri?

He took a seat, he had to sit down and come to terms with what was happening. Resting his head into his hands, he silently pondered his next move from here. Surely he couldn’t go back out on good conscious. “Got any more rum?”, he muttered. Hopefully she did so that he could down some more of it to get the nasty taste out of his mouth. Not of the alcohol, but that of what was going on underneath his nose. “Honestly, I never did like politics. There’s too many regulations and whatnot that they’d rather focus on than doing what needs to be done.”  He tried to not let it bother him greatly. He glanced over to Furtuna and got back up to his seat. Slowly he moved towards the map and took a hard look at the locations. “You…gave up everything for this life, to take on the title of pirate lord and forsaken yourself from your home in order to save it…you have a lot more bravery than any soldier I know…” Closing his eyes, he reached for his pipe and took several puffs as he thought hard and long. He knew that she wasn’t lying somehow, she was rather honest with him from the start, unlike his commanders and the nobles.

“You don’t have to worry about me anymore. As of right now, I will resign as Captain of the Academy. I can no longer work for them with this knowledge that swims in my head now. I simply can’t. If I have to leave Egjora in order to save it from itself, then so be it.” He didn’t care if he had to do it alone, but he was damn sure was gonna try to stop this madness.

Author: Furtuna, Posted: Sun Aug 20, 2017 5:43 PM, Post Subject: Crowded Sky [p,r]

“Each ship was theirs before it was mine. I dueled each of them and at the end of it when they offered me their rapier to kill them… I made them be my captains instead. I’ve had many captains over the years but I have to say these five are among the best I’ve ever had. You’ve met Xeria. She’s been my friend since the old days. Her parents used to worship my mother back in the day. We decided to run away and be pirates together. Her ship is called Burr Berry. Not very menacing… but it’s the most poisonous plant in all of Revaliir. Coincidentally, my friend, it was the first ship we ever stole together.”

After she docked the ship she thought about what he said. “My father used to use this as his home back in the day. See my father is a Djinn. Strong and powerful, thousands of years old. He met my mother and they had their fling. I was the first of her children born after her ascension. He gave me this place to stash Sacab. Since then I’ve made it my base.”

As they were walking into her base Maliel ran and caught a little girl. “Maliel, you are going to be in trouble with your wife if you don’t kiss her first,” Furtuna waved her hand and Maliel panicked as he ran off to find his wife. The captain laughed. “This is a safe place for us to raise our children as well. No one can penetrate this mountain without pissing that damn dragon off. I had to wait a week after I crashed the first airship in here for the damn thing to go back to sleep.”

She circled around the map and gently fingered some places on the map. “These are all the pirate coves owned by the lesser noble houses of Egjora. Pillaging other lands and taking their trade through fencing. Reselling it for profit. If the higher nobles are doing it too I have not a clue but the captain in the madhouse was able to send me all the locations secretly through love letters. He got found out… However, they didn’t realize the locations were getting sent to me. Just that he was writing love letters. Cryptic little bastard that he is.”

She put her hands on the table and looked at Vincent. “This is the truth of Egjora. Whether or not the Academy is involved doesn’t make a difference right now. They still cover it up because if the lesser nobles fall and get the blame the higher nobles might have to take it as well and resign. That’s the way politics work. I’ve been talking with my Aunt about the trade routes that Egjora takes. You might see my aunt in Egjora every once in a while for trade meetings. She is the leader of the trading industry that Sularia has built. She drops me a line on any juicy information.”

Author: Vincent Gloreaver, Posted: Sun Aug 20, 2017 5:21 PM, Post Subject: Crowded Sky [p,r]

While normally he wouldn’t take a drink from someone he was supposedly up against, Vincent took the offer and took a good swig of it. Fortunately he wasn’t hunting Furtuna down anymore so he didn’t have to worry about that. “Fate is funny about these sort of things, I guess”, he offered, taking another swig before handing the bottle back to her. He received her kiss and was pulled into following her. “I’m starting to think that you weren’t just messing with my head these days.” He joked around as he followed her down through the steep hill and through some obstacles right up until they reached one of her airships.

“Do each of the airships mirror important names of your captains?”, he asked as he looked around a bit as they took off. “I have to admit that I never been in a pirate’s cove, all things considered.” It seemed strange that she would allow an outsider like him to visit something so precious and secretive to her, but he wouldn’t speak against it. It was sort of an honor, he figured. But she wanted to talk and where better for privacy than her home?

“Hole? What hol…”, he was about to ask before they reached it. For a moment, he was sure that the ship didn’t even look like it could fit through it but Furtuna got it in somehow. It was no wonder that she had never been caught in her cove- it was a pain just to try and find it, let alone reach it. He was amazed with the airships that belonged to them at the dock. He would have never found them without her help.

“It must have been luck that you found such a secure place for your cove…” He would have looked around some more, but he was then lead by her through the place and onto their destination. He assumed it to be a war room or meeting room by the way things were organized and when he saw the map, he looked very carefully at the details before turning to her. “What is this map about? Is this of targets already hit or ones that will be soon enough?” Another question popped up in his head and it took some time for him to voice it. “Do they have to do with Egjora as well?”

Author: Furtuna, Posted: Sun Aug 20, 2017 4:43 PM, Post Subject: Crowded Sky [p,r]

Furtuna had a bottle of rum with her as she hummed. She offered it out to him. “You and I need to quit running into each other like this Vincent Gloreaver.” She was teasing him as she lowered her hood. “Not here, you are coming with me.” She jumped off her perch and kissed his cheek before pulling him along. There was a steep hill after that and she pulled him down it. She was flawless as she helped balance him and her on what looked to be a plate of metal.

Down in the crevasse was one of her airships like she said. “Welcome aboard. This is Florence. Named after Maliel’s mother. He is a half elf from Endapano.” She waved her hand and Maliel took the airship off. “My fort isn’t that far from here… Or as I like to call it my cove. All pirates have a little cove they call home. Mine is the most dangerous to get into unless you know how to drive an airship with expertize.”

“Admittedly Captain… I’ll have to have you take over from here.” Maliel smirked at her. “I can’t maneuver this thing into that hole.”

“Sure, sure.” She took over steering once they got close enough and she began to lower the airship slow and steady. It was almost like the airship wasn’t that big at all as she managed not to hit cavern walls on the one in. “Sacab is one of a kind… It can go through the walls but these can’t. Slow and steady Florence.” There was a dock with several airships already there. She ported it and smirked at Vincent. “That’s how a pirate captains a ship.”

“She’s the only one who can pilot a damn airship into the mountains and make it look easy. Though I heard she once crashed them straight into it the first time she tried.”

“THAT WAS THREE HUNDRED YEARS AGO!” She stomped her foot lightly. “I’m much better now.” She beckoned Vincent to follow her. “This way,” she said as they went through a large complex. It had many rooms for her people and at the center was a war room. There was a map with many x’s on it.

“This is what I wanted to show you.”

Author: Vincent Gloreaver, Posted: Sun Aug 20, 2017 4:11 PM, Post Subject: Crowded Sky [p,r]

Vincent felt her coming closer and then her teeth against his ear, which made him look towards her direction. Of course she would play with him in such a matter- he hadn’t forgotten what had happened when she broke into his vessel. He didn’t mind it of course, and even cracked a smile at her. But all in all, he knew not of what was going happen now that he was going to let her go. “Baltil…right.” He couldn’t blame her for distrusting his crew- those men’s allegiance were to him, but even more so to the city and the Academy. Hell, he didn’t know what he was going to tell them aside from seeking her out around the Old Forge Tavern or so. But he did want to get to the bottom of this and her way seemed to be the only way he would.

“We’ll see one another then”, he replied and watched as she started to sing and got the whole tavern into the melody. Meanwhile he smiled and shook his head and took the bottom of rum with him, making his exit as well.  That night, he told his men to sleep well because he had heard word that Furtuna had already made it back to Parpova and they would follow suit in the morning.

The five days went by pretty quick as he kept the knowledge of her to himself and dismissed the entire crew over to the Old Forge as suggested. Vincent, on the other hand, made it to the secret location and hunted around for any trace of her. Humming was heard and as he drew closer, he recognized it as the shanty she had sung days ago. It didn’t take much longer before he found her by her lonesome. “Well, I suppose that you are going to fill me in on the secret now”, he asked as he circled around to her front. “It’s just me- the others are having a jolly good time back in the tavern for the evening, as promised.”

Author: Furtuna, Posted: Sun Aug 20, 2017 3:54 PM, Post Subject: Crowded Sky [p,r]

Furtuna smiled at him and leaned over biting his ear. It was more to mess with him than anything but it was also to show him that she was alright. “You are a good man. I can see that you wouldn’t betray me, however, I can’t trust your crew. If you want to know about what I’m doing to Egjora… Come alone to the foothills of Baltil five nights from now. Just you. Tell your crew whatever you have to get there. Drop them off in the Old Forge Tavern if you have to. I’ll pick you up in one of my airships there and show you the truth.”

“You are a good man Vincent… You deserve to see the light.” She pressed her lips to his cheek and pushed herself off. She stumbled if only for a moment from the alcohol running through her completely.

“And Roger did then try to play his game,
But in pirate lands he was a man of fame,
So the working girl didn’t trust a word
And did not even give our man her name

Game, and fame, and naaaame!

And for the nameless girl Roger did so pine,
As he’d never met a girl so fine,
And then to him the girl was lost,
To a most heinous and brutal crime

Pine, so fine, the criiiiime

Roger Walker was ne'er seen again,
Some say he ne'er survived the pain,
But a part of Roger lingers on,
In three bastards he never knew he gained!”

Furtuna sang loudly as she danced around the tavern. She got the whole damn place riled up as they began to sing the famous sea shanty. She got up on the table and led them proudly in song. “Vincent Gloreaver! FIVE DAYS!” She held up her hand and with a bow she was gone with the whispers of the wind.

On the night that she was supposed to get him she had herself cloaked and sitting up on a rock. She was humming the sea shanty so he knew it was her. Her long legs kicked peacefully against the stones to the mountains. The foothills were always so pleasant this time of night.

Author: Vincent Gloreaver, Posted: Sun Aug 20, 2017 3:40 PM, Post Subject: Crowded Sky [p,r]

This was a rather difficult subject to swallow. He was instructed to capture and bring the pirate in, and yet he felt sympathy for her plight. No one should have gone through what her and her people had, and to make matters worse, it was by his people’s hands, no matter how long ago it happened. That couldn’t be explained to those that remembered and were changed forever by it. There was no justifying the cruel actions taken during that time. He couldn’t find anything to say or how he felt about learning this. In their history not once had he even heard of something like that taking place, but then again why would they speak it? It was far better to let it be in the darkness than to bring it to the light and own up for the actions of the past.

Hell, had it never happened, then those like Furtuna would of had a better and more promising future. Picking up a handful of peanuts, he let them drop right back into the jar before picking them up and repeating the action several times while he thought about everything. “If that’s why you do these things, then that’s that. I can’t very well stop you in good conscious if the reason you do this is to protect your people and keep your sanity. I became a soldier to protect those too weak to defend themselves, been wanting to do that since I was younger. Surely there are a lot of people like that back in Egjora thanks to the class division. It’s just that I don’t know what actually goes on there then. I know the merchant families are far from trusting at times, but if they were involved with Arri’s pillaging or have these ties with the wrong people, then I don’t know what I’m fighting for or for who.” Perhaps she was right in saying that he blindly followed where they pointed him towards, with no regard for him or those in trouble. Maybe they were just there to line their pockets and fulfill any disgusting desire they had.

“The thing is…I have no idea”, he admitted as he took the rum bottle and brought the head to his lips and chugged a good deal of it. He then looked to her and shook his head. “The game was far more complex than I realize, even now I want to say that it’s not so, but it is.  All I know is that I want to help others in trouble. I suppose the first thing would be to let you go and say that you can’t be caught. That would hardly be lying given your reputation”, he shrugged.

Author: Furtuna, Posted: Sun Aug 20, 2017 3:14 PM, Post Subject: Crowded Sky [p,r]

Furtuna looked frustrated for the moment as she looked over at him. “I still smell the decay of their bodies… Even right now. I had to help bury everyone that got killed. We all did. I remember finally being able to leave and finding my great grandmother on the roads. My other one had sacrificed her life to provide a barrier large enough to keep the larger lot of forces out of Sularia. Most of the royal family was dead by the dawn of the final day.

They had run out to save as many as they could but they got overwhelmed. My grandfather was the first one to find his mother… He changed after that you know? Everyone did. Sularia became a force to be reckoned with. We began to train harder… master magic faster. We became a powerhouse country. Our people are among the strongest now all to protect the sacrifice of those who died before us.”

The rum tasted a bit bitter now but she knew it was her senses making it that way. She closed her green eyes and shrugged a bit. “I do to protect Sularia.” She quieted down so he could figure it out by himself.

“Do this partly so I can sleep at night. I still wake up in the middle of the night screaming my damn head off. I remember everything so vividly. Not even the potions my mother brews help keep the nightmares away. She says I was traumatized by the events in Sularia. She might just be right but I try to do the best I can. So I get boozed and high to avoid the nightmares.”

After a few moments, she tilted her head. “You wanted to know my game… my story and now you do. What are you doing to do with it Vincent Gloreaver?”

Author: Vincent Gloreaver, Posted: Sun Aug 20, 2017 3:03 PM, Post Subject: Crowded Sky [p,r]

He didn’t flinch when she moved over right beside him. Instead he stood his ground, or more remained on his barstool and leaned onto the bar. “Fair enough.” He didn’t want to get involved into family disputes if he could. Those got too messy for his taste.
He only turned towards her again as she started to explain the deal with that saying of hers. He had heard of Angela the Goddess in passing here and there, much like how he learned of the rest of the pantheon, but he didn’t know just to the extent of her spheres or family in this case. “You, a problem…can’t see where she would get an idea like that”, he spoke, sarcasm  lingered on his tongue similar to how the rum was right at that moment. But he dropped it once the conversation got more personal for her. For all her troubles, she was talented and he could see her doing good as a soldier and such but then something changed. It was when she told him what happened with Egjora and Adeluna and her home. Vincent looked at her with shock, eyes widened as he couldn’t imagine his home doing something so atrocious to another land, let alone women and children. He looked down to the ground and silently sipped at his drink.

It must of happened long before he was born, and yet he couldn’t shake the words she spoke. He couldn’t picture those that were taught by the Academy to partake in such horrors. Adeluna made sense to him because of its former king, but Egjora? He didn’t think she was lying this time, but it was all too surreal. It took a while before he found his voice again and summoned the urge to be able to look at her direction. “I’m sorry…can’t imagine how much you had to endure during that time.” Perhaps it would just be best to give up the ghost and say that she disappeared on him. It likely wouldn’t reflect on him kindly in the eyes of his superiors, but he didn’t feel like trying to capture her like this anymore.

“So you pillage and fight the wicked…my only thing is why was Egjora, the Academy even in cahoots with whoever you were…” He started to think about something as he cupped his chin. Were the merchants in charge of the city involved in seedly deals with those of ill content? He didn’t want to believe such was a case, or else what was the point? Why was the Academy made if not to defend the defenseless?

“And you do this so that your mother doesn’t have this reflected by to her as well, I take it?”    

Author: Furtuna, Posted: Sun Aug 20, 2017 2:43 PM, Post Subject: Crowded Sky [p,r]

Furtuna was less than amused that Vincent was there and she knew his voice by now. She got up and moved over by him. “All our drinks are on me.” She patted Vincent on the back and tilted her head to him. “It is none of your business. Ma has her own problems and doesn’t need mine added to them. Her problems escalate in the hundreds thanks to my siblings… A Terrible little bunch that they are.”

The Genasi watched him for a bit and thought about it. “I once asked her why the people who are supposed to be protecting us the most are often the people murdering their own kind. That was her response to me. See Ma was a Death Goddess when I was born. She was depressed… We fought a lot. Bad blood and rebellion. Blah, blah, blah. Typical young adult stuff, we Genasi tend to be considered children and young adults even after centuries of being born so I can’t say my attitude was fantastic back then coupled with hers.”

She shrugged as she got more to drink. “One day, her spheres changed and she got Fertility and Earth. Gods she was so strong Vincent. I actually started to look up to her. I wanted to be part of Arri’s Royal Fleet. I wanted to be a soldier and help them all out. I could do it, I am an Air Genasi. Then one day… I was with my grandparents in Sularia.” Her face got grim. “Egjora and Adeluna had attacked us. The soldiers were murdering and raping our women in the streets. Lots of people died…”

She shivered a bit. “Grandma had me hidden with her up in a tiny space in the castle but we could still hear the screams. The royal army was able to come in and get them and soon my mother came back and destroyed their left over forces… Turns out she had been forced into a Conclave meeting to deal with something that would be called… The Godslayer. At the time it was just rumored and they didn’t think something like that existed until the Godslayer War not long ago. You asked what that saying meant. That’s what it means. Sularia screamed and no one heard us…”

She drank the rum down and sighed. “So I decided to do what any good daughter would do. Denounce my last name of Rose, ask my father to build me the ultimate ship, and I became a pirate.”

Author: Vincent Gloreaver, Posted: Sun Aug 20, 2017 2:30 PM, Post Subject: Crowded Sky [p,r]

The drink tasted even rougher than what he had imagined but Vincent stomached it somehow. There was definitely a fire in his belly due to it and he poured some more into his glass when the bartender addressed someone, the name was as familiar to him as the first ray of sunlight was to a waking man. He didn’t turn quickly, instead he watched from the corner of his eye as it was Furtuna coming downstairs and joining the bar. Vincent kept his presence low, drinking his rum and occasionally munched on some of the peanuts on the counter. When he heard of what had spun on her, he kept the magic deficiency in mind to jolt down for later. Sounded like the sort of thing he was hoping to get from her and he would have to discuss this with his mages later on.

Sipping at his drink, he nearly spit it out when he thought that she knew that he was here. Just as he was about to speak up, he looked again to see that it was another woman that was there. Apparently one that she didn’t want to talk to. Biting his tongue, he simply fell back into his own privacy and merely listened.

Learning that she was a goddess was one thing, but that Furtuna was one of her children was something that through him for a loop. How the hell did she get like this then? The discussion simply got worse and he felt awkward about it even though he had nothing to do with this. Simply put, she ran her off and the drinking would only really begin for her tonight. 

Sighing, he down the rum and let it burn down his throat and stomach. “Probably could have handled that better, but it’s none of my business.” By then he turned full towards her and watched her with a narrowing look. “That said, perhaps peace will be made once you’re behind bars.” He wouldn’t very well reveal himself out in the middle of pirate territory, that would be right out foolish. Instead, he held back for the moment and poured some more rum. “So she’s the one that gave you that bloody saying you kept throwing at me. I have to admit its getting annoying since I can’t figure out what you lot mean.”   

Author: Furtuna, Posted: Sun Aug 20, 2017 2:03 PM, Post Subject: Crowded Sky [p,r]

Furtuna stared at him for a bit. “It’s too early to tell you everything to my story.” There was a smirk as she left him there.

Everything leading up to the fight with Strugeus had her on edge. She needed some time off away from her ship and crew. So to keep them safe she had told them to go back to Baltil and wait for her after the assault was done. Vilpamolan was like her home away from home.

The Genasi had been asleep for a few days up in her tavern room. She needed all the energy after the adventure she had with Vincent and Strugeus. Once she was awake she made her way down the stairs while tying her corset up.

“Captain Furtuna, that was a glorious display.” The bartender slid her a drink and she grumbled as she sat down at the bar and drank. “But you were asleep for some time… Are you alright?”

“I’m fine, it’s just magic deficiency. All magi go through it.” She downed the drink after that and frowned a bit more. “Why are you here?” Vincent would think it was him she was talking to but no.

“Furtuna, please don’t do this.” It was Angela, the goddess of life and earth.

“Get away from me.” Furtuna lost her cool with the woman. “What the hell do you want?”

“I was just hoping that we could talk.” Angela frowned at her.

“I ain’t ready to talk to no goddess who abandons her people.” Angela winced a bit and Furtuna sighed. “I know you didn’t abandon us but please leave. I ain’t in the mood to deal with your self-righteousness today.”

“Furtuna, whatever did I do for you to act like this to me?” Angela frowned deeply. “You are one of my beloved children. Yes, you scare me sometimes but you do it out of fear of what happened. You try to hide behind your jolliness. It’s the real reason your crew isn’t with you right now. You haven’t changed a bit… Not in all these centuries.”

Furtuna held up her glass. “You shouldn’t be in Vilpamolan. You know how they feel about you. Go home, Mother.” It was the first time she called her mother in a long time. “I’ll come see you soon. I just got thinking I got to do before I go around telling everyone my business. You know I don’t like that.” Angela gave her a smile.

“The world is blind even though it can see.”

“The world is deaf even though it can hear… You said those things to me once upon a time. I live by them. Now get the hell out of here… I hate it when people eyeball my damn mother like this.” Angela sighed a bit and disappeared. “More,” Furtuna chugged it down.

“You know everyone in this pub knows about who your mother is… You could talk to her a little. Your secrets are safe here.” The bartender tried to give the pirate lord some advice. “She loves you Furtuna.”

Furtuna gave a frown and sipped on the drink a bit more. “And I love her but she can’t be associated with me. The last thing people need is a reason to hate her guts more than she gives them.” The Genasi said it stubbornly as she rested on her propped up elbow.

Author: Vincent Gloreaver, Posted: Sun Aug 20, 2017 1:46 PM, Post Subject: Crowded Sky [p,r]

Was he to really believe anything that poured out of her mouth? He suspected not yet he was willing to hear her out at least. There wasn’t much else he could do; besides he could use this time to find any sort of kinks in her armor. So he would let her speak her piece. “I believe in justice first and utmost. Just as I do not know you, you do not know me, Furtuna. What I do is for my home, regardless of who is put in charge. If they were a threat, then I would deal with them according.” How much more was she going to mess with him? It was uncertain whether she even was doing that or not. Still, he had to constantly remind himself that they were enemies and to watch what she was saying to him. “You are right about one thing- I am young and haven’t seen what you have in your days. That said, I won’t yield to an opposition or injustices.” Some of the pirate’s words still haunt at him but he tried to shake it off. “What atrocities do you mean?” He had to admit that she stroke his curiosity, mainly because she could justify her own actions while condemning others.

“Then while don’t you share with me the reason you are who you are?” Vincent crossed his arms in waiting, perhaps a futile one but it didn’t stop him. “So you take justice into your own hands? Is that it?”  The thought alone was bizarre- a self righteous pirate pillaging and taking from the evil? He didn’t think he was drunk enough to believe it.

“I’m not going to give in. I’m going to capture you, mark my words. If it’s the last thing I do, you will be turned in and charge.” He was slowly regaining himself from this high and even the alcohol’s influence as his hand loosened even more. Furtuna wanted a challenge, then he would give one to her. “I will take you and your captains down, one by one if I have to…” She wanted to play that game, then so be it. Hopefully he would be able to accomplish this far before she broke him like she did the others. He felt her hands lowering onto him yet didn’t move until he heard another voice and spun around to see another of her captains from earlier.

Great.

 He was moved away and poured another glass for himself as they talked. Princess? He looked Furtuna over again, not believing what they spewing this time. It was unbelievable to think of her as royalty after everything she put him through. Must have been screwing with him still. But he did overhear their next location and decided to head there after his ship was fixed. Downing the drink, he watched as they departed and he sighed before scratching the back of his head and stumbled over to the bed and collapsed into it. Unfortunately it still had her scent on the sheets and pillows, making sleep a bit difficult to obtain. “I’ll get you, Furtuna…”, he mumbled.

They arrived in Kairth in a little under a day’s time and the crew were off to collect supplies and enjoy their brief stay while Vincent occupied himself. He recalled that Captain Furtuna’s ship was able to great distances under a few moments, making it somewhat difficult to keep tracking. He would need something to counter it firstly if he wanted any hope to capture her. The second would be to dispel her defenses, as great as they were. Third would be systematically taking down her captains before heading to the head in charge herself. Fourth would be to withstand any and all games played by her in order to get a rise out of him. So far, that had been going on poorly for him. Sipping at his tea, he searched along the excesses of his mind for such answers but was coming up blank. Once he had heard word of The Fellshield’s completion, he ordered his forces back onto the ship and set sail for Canelux. Even if it was too late to catch up with her, he would still likely find out word on where she could be popping up to next. The young man sighed as he watched the sunset over the horizon as they sailed through the air.

The mixture of the sun, sea sky colors against one another would usually bring comfort in him, but instead Vincent found himself bothered by her cryptic words about how the world worked. While he couldn’t say that his home was perfect and that Egjora did have its share of  ne'er-do-wells, he wasn’t going to be convinced that they were the evil she spoke of. It sounded flat out ridiculous to even consider. He found himself pondering though what was her end game. Some of the men urged him to not let what she said when they first saw her get to him, lest he’d end up like the others. But Vincent was sure he was much more different and nothing would change. He was selected for this and he would see himself through to the end.

When they reached Vilpamolan, he was sure that she would have at least stopped at the pirate’s sanctuary for a bit but they also had to be cautious since the people around here didn’t like authority much. Instead, he elected to go along in disguise and traverse the city. Searching through his trunk, he dug out some wares that resembled that of these dirty sea rats. A flowing dark coat  and pants and a cream shirt, complete with thick back boots and a crimson hat that he felt silly in. He said his piece for the night to the rest of them before he headed out on his way over to one of the tavern inns. The moment he stepped inside, he looked around for any sight of the woman before heading over to the bar and ordering a Black Oyster Rum.

Author: Furtuna, Posted: Sun Aug 20, 2017 1:02 PM, Post Subject: Crowded Sky [p,r]

“I live for the thrill of the chase… and it turns me on too. It’s a win, win… Besides hate sex is some of the best sex out there. Trust me I’ve gotten my fill of Egjora Captains over the years. They just don’t tell you about it. Though the one in the Madhouse is the first one ever to take what I say to heart.”

Green eyes stared at him as her lips parted. “Dear Vincent… The world can’t hear even though it’s so blind. What you consider an honor code is just a way to cover up the atrocities your government does when you don’t look or watch. The world is blind even though it can see. Once you become awakened to whats around you… You can’t ever look at things the same way again. The harrowing screams of the dying and the raped still haunt my memories. You are too young to remember it though.”

Her words were so soft and delicate. They were serious as was the look on her face as she spoke about it. The nightmares that brewed in her head. Still, though she pushed them aside and moved on to mess with him some more. “I kill when I have to kill. I save when I have to save. The atrocities of the world have yet to be answered for.” That was her game and now he knew. He knew a little too much but not enough to figure out just who she was.

His voice was so quiet to her but she gave him a smirk. “No, I came here to let you know about who I am and what I do. I don’t do this for the treasure… for the glory. I have a very real reason to do the things I do. I just happen to find the thrill of getting a captain to unbuckle his pants for me a bit too much at times.” She rolled her shoulders in a shrug.

Vincent took her neck and she gave a smile, he wouldn’t do it to her. Furtuna took his kiss with stride and smiled. “The fire from earlier is missing in you. Don’t give up so easily Vincent Gloreaver.” Her hands moved up his as she took his hand off her neck. Pulling him in she wrapped herself around him and kissed his neck softly. “It’s not fun when you just give in.” She was about ready to busy herself as her fingers played with the edge of his pants when a grumbling noise interrupted them. There was an agitated shy as she looked up over his shoulder.

“This better be good Xeria.” There was a tiny fey looking girl behind them as she pushed him off of her and slid off the perch she had been on.

“Wouldn’t be interrupting you unless it was something important, Princess.” The Fey gave a smirk and Furtuna rubbed the back of her neck.

“Don’t go spouting that princess bullshit around people who are on a need to know basis. We’ve talked about this.” Furtuna’s playful attitude left.

“We found Sturgeus. He’s in the middle of the Nylea Ocean off the coast of Vilpamolan. Looks like he was plundering some of Arri’s ships.” The Fey was standing there with a confident look and a rather military style stance as Furtuna frowned.

“Teleport onto the ship and get me Sturgeus… Then blow up his entire fleet. Kill them all but save Sturgeus for me.” Furtuna rubbed her neck some more as she looked back at Vincent. “Why is the world so deaf when they can hear? I got asked that question once… It’s a phrase to live by. We’ll play again… For now, Xeria prepare Sacab to launch… We’re going to pay Strugeus a visit.” They were gone after that.

Off the coast of Vilpamolan a huge pirate fight took place. It lasted but a couple minutes as an entire fleet was blown up. There were a man's screams as a body was flung into the air as a high altitude. His body was filled with holes from air magic, nice and clean. He had suffered before he was thrown off. His body washed ashore not long after that.

Author: Vincent Gloreaver, Posted: Sun Aug 20, 2017 12:39 PM, Post Subject: Crowded Sky [p,r]

Vincent couldn’t help but to cock his brow towards her. What sort of sick game was this? It hadn’t been very long since he ordered the destruction of her ship, with her on it. And now she was trying her damndest to seduce her. What the hell was wrong with her? Gods knew that if he ever needed a drink more than ever before it was now. “What…NO! That’s not what I meant, woman!” He knew that she was trying to mess with his head further, and so far it was working. His eyes glanced over to her feeling her attire before looking away in shyness.

Things got only more awkward and he took another shot of brandy. “Please…and then I end up with a dagger in my back…NO! I won’t even consider it…” She was a beauty, but she was also a criminal to boot. And the one he was instructed to hunt down. He sighed and gestured for her to come and have a glass, whether he liked it or not was no longer an option. “Break him? You sleep with pursuers  for the hell of it?” Another shot was taken and he felt the burning of the alcohol become more duller for him. “No, the details were spared from me, likely as to not discourage me from going after you”, he explained. Among all the tales, he hadn’t heard that one, so it meant one of two things- either Furtuna was lying or his commanders wanted this information to be kept secret for whatever reason. “A code of honor, right” By now, he was on his five or six drink. “So what’s your game? You don’t seem to flat out kill, but you like to screw with people’s heads?” Vincent could feel himself becoming more blunt as the liquid courage took form in him.

What was the point in her being here, really? Was it to gloat that he had failed in his attempt? If so, then he had some disappointing news for her. “I’ll take your word on it.” He said as she came closer to him. “Just because you are here and free doesn’t mean I’m giving up. I will not rest until I do catch you, so you know.” He placed down his glass and was about to pace back to his bed when she grabbed him and made him feel her body. WHAT THE…” He froze up, sensing that there was something disturbing about her and it threw him for a loop. And if that was capable of doing so, then the kiss she gave him made feel like he was drowning in it. Pulling back after a moment, he backed away and just stared at her. “Quit fucking with me”, he said in a low voice. “You came with for a reaction, didn’t you?”

She was testing his patience and his resolve. Vincent, even for a second, was starting to question his own resolve in this situation. The alcohol was doing more harm than good for him as he looked angrily at her. He went to fetch his glass and then grew hesitate and suddenly lash his hand out towards her neck but held back from squeezing it. Deep breaths were taken as his mind still felt like it was swimming before he looked at her again and moved in closer to her. “And how do you feel about people coming this close to you then?” The man wasn’t sure what he was going to do from here. He wanted to capture her and lock her away underneath, but he couldn’t very well do that with the state of mind he was in. He felt like just ending the game here and walking. He felt like simply caving into her whim. A tempest brew within the captain before he pulled her over to him and brushed his lips against hers, denying her a full pledge kiss.      

Author: Furtuna, Posted: Sun Aug 20, 2017 12:14 PM, Post Subject: Crowded Sky [p,r]

He was so innocent and it was just too cute. “I want to play with you some more… but not with our airships. It’s much more fun if we just play with our bodies.” She giggled lightly at him. “I didn’t realize you were a man into whips and chains… I thought you were a leather and lace man.” She ran her hands over her outfit sensually.

She flopped herself and spread her legs. “THEN I SURRENDER MYSELF!” She wasn’t loud enough to cause a stir but she smirked over at him. He had caught onto her as he slipped off the bed and went for his brandy. “Are you going to offer me some of that brandy. You realize it’s rude not to accommodate your guests.”

She rolled over onto her side and stared at him. “You know the last guy they sent after me… was killer in bed. It took a few times to break him but before long we were having angry rough sex in his captain’s office. You know that’s why he’s in the madhouse right?” She chuckled a bit. “Poor guy had a wife and everything though I didn’t know about that. I do have a code of honor. Though he does write to me now and again under a code name of course.”

She pushed herself from the bed as she came over to pour herself a glass. Her lips puckered a bit as she tasted it. “Not bad but you should have the brandy from Mamlak, well they don’t call it brandy but it is made using the same ingredients but with a twist. Tastes like heaven.” She hopped up on the dressed by him and took his hands making him grope her. “Play with me, Vincent. That’s all I want. I get a sick thrill out of the people chasing me.”

She leaned into him and kissed his lips. “Just play with me.”

Author: Vincent Gloreaver, Posted: Sun Aug 20, 2017 12:01 PM, Post Subject: Crowded Sky [p,r]

It bugged him that he would have to continue the search from scratch all over again, but for the time being he was at least a little more at peace writing into his journal. He had underestimated the situation and would have to adjust his planning a bit more in the future. He had to find some sort of weakness to the Sacab- from its design and size, to what it was actually capable of in actual combat. He took down notes of his observations and jolted down some key points and what he could actual do in response when he noticed the sudden change in his quarters. The lighting for one dimmed down and candles were spread out. Candles that he knew he didn’t own. Peeking up, his hand slowly slipped behind his pillow to where a dagger was resting just in case. But it was too late to make any hasty decisions once he saw who was in his room. And more so flat out stared at her with a blushing face when he took notice in what she was where. Immediately he forgot about the dagger and use his hand to shield his eyes.

“Are you daft!? What are you doing here?” Despite this being his chance to catch her, he was hesitate due to the unforeseen circumstances right now. Not to mention what his crew would be thinking, or the Academy for that matter if word of this came. To be blunt, he was in a pickle.

“I don’t want your damn chocolate, I want you in chains.” He grimaced and tried to look away from Furtuna but was fed it all the same. “I have a need to, and that’s to capture you. Did you come here to surrender yourself?” He quickly thought about the situation and how it looked and shook his head, “Not like that…but…dammit you know what I mean!” His voice was kept a few pegs from yelling since he didn’t want to have the others involved in this conversation. He tried to keep a cool head, but the attire she chose to visit him in wasn’t helping the matter whatsoever.

So he slipped off of the bed and headed to his decanter and poured himself some brandy and downed it. “So what is it you want Furtuna? Your timing couldn’t have been more perfect since you know I can’t very well capture you yet?’ His eyes still trying to pry themselves from her form and instead went to pour another shot. "You know very well what happened- I have to fly over to Kairth to get it fully repaired after what happened." 

Author: Furtuna, Posted: Sun Aug 20, 2017 11:37 AM, Post Subject: Crowded Sky [p,r]

It was a few hours before the clerics deemed her able to move. It was rather annoying but she dealt with it all the same. She returned to her quarters and decided that she felt less jolly than usual. “Whelp… Better use my new playmate.”

She dropped her normal outfit and stood in the nude for a moment or two. “Nah, this would kill him.” She reached into the abyss of her drawers and began to pull out a very risque outfit. It was just lace. She pulled it onto her body and looked at herself in the mirror. “Guess my breasts have gotten larger since I decided to mess with someone using this.” She was spilling out of it. “All well… We can replace it.”

There was a giggle that left her lips as she pinned her white and blue curls up with flowers. Jewels now adorned her body and she looked like a real lady. For the time beginning, she adjusted her breasts just a bit and the lace felt mighty uncomfortable against her piercings. She frowned a bit. “All well it’s just for a moment.”

The room around Vincent dimmed. Candles appeared through the room as they spontaneously lit. The bed shifted while he was reading and moved the book from him. “I told you we would play more.” She had seen he was uptight and that could be a lot of fun to mess with. “You know I’m more than just a pirate right? I got needs, Vincent.” She brought some chocolate up from a box that was next to her as she pushed his legs apart and crawled up on him putting the chocolate to his lips.

“You got the room all set up for us… No one will come bother us thanks to your little thingy on the door.” If she could have hearts above her head she would. There was a magic circle on her chest from the healing spell earlier. It hadn’t yet vanished but it was a known healing crest. “Your airship alright? It’s flying a bit bumpy right now.”

Author: Vincent Gloreaver, Posted: Sun Aug 20, 2017 11:22 AM, Post Subject: Crowded Sky [p,r]

It wasn’t often that the men on his ship would seem him so irritated, but then again he couldn’t recall the last time he was made into such a fool like he was now. He had ignored the stories because he thought they were just rumors meant to scare of would be pursuers, but that wasn’t the case here. Perhaps he would be end up like the fellow in the madhouse. But he shook himself out of it and regained his resolve. He couldn’t lose today, he refused to. That blasted ship of her was going to end up in pieces if he had his way. While he would prefer to capture her alive, a dead pirate couldn’t do any more harm if it had to come down to it.

“Spare me your riddles”, he retorted, having not a single clue as to what she was offering him. Vincent just considered it to be her trying to continue to throw him off his game and he wouldn’t have any more of it.

When word reach them that the Sacab was retreating, he couldn’t pass up this opportunity. If they were to escape then he would have to chase them down all over again. Now was his chance to end it quickly and not have it drag on more so than needed.

“We’ll see…”, he muttered back as his mages released their firings upon their ship but his face dropped into a pale white color when he saw what she had been planning. “What is that…” “What’s the Keeper’s doing!”, one of the mages yelled out. The crew looked astonished by the sight as the attacks were absorbed into it. “That can’t be…” If he was any stronger, he could have broken the horn he gripped onto as Furtuna spoke. “Dammit! Deflect the blast!”, he ordered as he turned the ship as well to minimize the damage as much as possible. The Mage pooled their energies together to form a barrier around the ship’s side to take the hit. The Fellshield felt the impact of the blast through the barrier and managed to get damaged still.

He had no choice but to take her down for the time being as he watched the Sacab disappear and banged his hand against the wheel. “Damn!” Deep breaths were taken as he anchored  the ship back onto the ground. “How’s the damages?”, he asked the inspecting lieutenant after he made his rounds. “The hull taken a good hit, but we can make the necessary repairs, but it will only be temporary until we reach Karith.”

“So be it. Have the constructors get to work immediately. We will set sail for Kairth by nightfall.” Vincent retreated to the ground below and took out his pipe. After a few angry puffs, he threw it against the ground and punched a nearby tree. How could he had been so careless? And how could he let her get under his skin? After a few moments, he regained his composure and retrieved the pipe. It was several hours until the ship was ready to make the trek and took off. By then, the eve had began and he retired for the time being in his private quarters. He removed his military cloak  and undid a few of the top buttons of his shirt. A long golden chain was hanging on the doorknob outside, signalling that he didn’t wish to be disturbed as he contemplated what went on today and started writing into his journal as he laid back against his bed. 

Author: Furtuna, Posted: Sun Aug 20, 2017 10:55 AM, Post Subject: Crowded Sky [p,r]

“The last time a guy called me miss I had him suckling on something very nice.” She loved the way that they looked when they saw her jump from her ship. She loved the adrenaline of everyone realizing what her true vessel was. It was a beautiful creation and it had been her father’s final gift to her. To be a menace to society she needed Sacab.

She was standing on top of the railing to Sacab seeing Vincent’s face. “I’m a Genasi and my father loves me dearly. This is what happens when Djinn works together with technology. This is the Djinn Airship SACAB! The Mirage of the Skies.” She loved introducing her ship as she held out her arms.

“Love, I don’t got no overconfidence. I am confident in my abilities as a mage, captain, and pirate and that’s what has kept me alive. Tell me how can people be so deaf when they hear… Be so blind when they can see. The truth seekers of the world are all around you.” She was lecturing him and her face was quite grim now as it left the happy face she had been putting on.

“Captain Furtuna should we man our cannons?”

“No Cesil, prepare for fast travel.” Furtuna’s words were missing the jolliness she had as she watched them prepare to fire the mage canons.

“CAPTAIN FURTUNA HAS ORDERED US TO RETREAT. PREPARE FAST TRAVEL MAGIC!” The tall Viplomolan man was yelling. She didn’t care if Vincent could hear them.


“Fire your damn cannons Vincent Gloreaver! YOU ARE THE ONE WHO IS OVERCONFIDENT!” She listed to the canons fire and yet she didn’t move from her post. If this worked she would be famous if it didn’t, a captain always went down with her ship.

Once the cannon fire ceased and the airways cleared the cannon fire had been caught by a large purplish magic circle. It was the symbol of the Keeper. “Yo, Vincent… I like you. So keep coming back to play.” There was blood running down the side of her lips most likely from using enough magic power to do what she had done. “I hope you live long enough to play with me for a long time.” The magic shot back down towards his ship. “Let loose the magic now.” With that, the Sacab was gone.

They were in the Baltil Mountains at their cove. Furtuna was being over saw by one of the healers they had in their wake. “My lady… You almost killed yourself… Please be more careful your mother sent me along to make sure you would be alright.”

Furtuna scoffed a bit and rolled her head off to the side. “It really bugs me that she cares so much some times.”

Author: Vincent Gloreaver, Posted: Sun Aug 20, 2017 10:44 AM, Post Subject: Crowded Sky [p,r]

“What the hell?” His oliver eyes blinked at her and her atrocious words. Did she think of this as a game? This was a matter of life and death, or justice and discord. And she thought that this was fun or funny? His face was red, flushed with anger and embarrassment. Not to mention that it looked as though she was about to kill herself and her entire crew with her reckless flying for a moment there. Rushing over to the edge of his ship, Vincent scowled at her.

 “This is no time for games, miss! Surrender yourself now…” Her counter offer only made his blood boil more so but then it washed away with a look of concern and fright once she dropped from her own ship. Leaning down, he screamed at her and then saw what she had been planning for this whole time with her true vessel showing up.

“What the hell?”, he repeated before rushing back to the wheel in time to see the previous ship she was on joining the main one. “You have got to be joking…how on earth is that possible?” Her three minutes have long since passed and his annoyance came swimming back onto his face. He had no intel on how she able to stay free and wild in the skies for so long. Now it was making sense, more or less. She was going to force his hand.

 “You may be clever, but on this day, your overconfidence will be your undoing! Mark my words, Furtuna!” He was not in the mood to play games or negotiate with pirates of all things. He steered his ship upwards and ascended higher before turning it to its side to face her. “Mages, to the cannons!” Several men masked in cloaks poured themselves over to the unmanned cannons, and channeled their energies onto the instruments.

“You have one last chance, Captain. If not, then you and your Sacab will be parting ways, along with the rest of those ships beneath it. I don’t care if there’s six or sixty of you!”

When it looked as though she wasn’t going to bugle, he lowered his head and said very bitterly, “Fire the cannons” The Mages released the magic through the cannons and brilliant green fire was shoot out towards the Sacab. They weren’t just any mages, they were previous scholars from Iria that were aligned with Egjora and him. Their fire would surely scorch and spread upon the damned vessel and ignite everything onboard. “Hold your fire!”, he commanded as he awaited the aftermath.

Author: Furtuna, Posted: Sun Aug 20, 2017 10:22 AM, Post Subject: Crowded Sky [p,r]

“Ohhh?” Furtuna’s green eyes looked at him with interest. Her voice was using the wind to amplify. “I would have never thought someone so young and cute would chase after me.” She chuckled a bit as her voice carried down to him. “Egjora must be trying really hard now to send a cutie like you after me.” She jumped off the wheel and the airship did a verticle dive for a moment. The screams of all her crew on board were heard. “SORRY SORRY! Captain Maliel take over the airship.” Her orders could still be heard loud of clear.

“YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES TO CONFIRM THAT I WANT YOUR BOOTY!” She lifted herself up over the edge of the warship as it steadied out. Her attitude was so coy as she let herself drop from the side of the ship into the deep blue of the sky. “SACAB RISE!” Her voice called out.

The ground rumbled beneath where Vincent had been. The colors of abalone shell, deep blue, and white shined brilliant below him. It was huge and disguised as a few hills. Vincent had actually been on top of it!

The airship was able to meld past Vincent and catch Furtuna. “Maliel merge the warship with Sacab please.”

“Aye Captain!” Furtuna smirked as Maliel positioned the warship below Sacab. There were 4 other warships podded on the bottom of Sacab. Many closed airship pods meant she could hold so much more. She stood on the edge of Sacab and looked down at Vincent.

“Did you really think people hadn’t caught me just because I was charming? Sacab Vincent Gloreaver! I’m surprised they didn’t tell you about it!” She had a smile on her face. “Sending a cute little man like you to take down a big bad air pirate like me… It’s almost orgasmic to think about.”

Five people appeared behind her as she held her arms up. “I am the Captain of Sacab and these are my five captains! If you can manage to take all six of us, you win. If I win Vincent Gloreaver… Well, you’ll see just what I did to the others who came before you.”

Author: Vincent Gloreaver, Posted: Sun Aug 20, 2017 10:10 AM, Post Subject: Crowded Sky [p,r]

The wait was going by painfully slow; many of his men had taken to playing cards, drinking some of the wine that was stocked below or kept on the wait with swords in hand and keeping watch. Vincent himself took to pacing about after he confirmed that the skies were clear. He had to keep telling himself that they had the next few days until she would pass by the lake, if his assumptions were correct. She would have to in order to reach her next target as soon as possible since cutting through here was the quickest route. If not, then he would have to start all over again, rereading her patterns and determine where she would hit next.

One of his lieutenants came over and handed him a glass of white wine. “Thank you” Ceasing his pacing for the moment, he allowed himself some sanctuary with the coveted drink. “Sir, what is the plan for when we do capture her? Surely won’t we have to worry about any retaliation?”

“Perhaps, but first thing’s first. We must capture her. Justice demands it and I will heed its call. I will worry about the future afterwards.” He wasn’t scared to face any opposition nor did he really feel like he would have to deal with it if they kept to the plan and handled this discreetly. By the time the news would reach the world, she would already be safely behind bars, he thought. Finishing his wine, he took another long, deep puff of the pipe before the lookout called at them.

“To the east! A ship, a ship!”

“Damn, already?” Vincent rushed over to the wheel. “Raise anchor and get her into the air!”


“Aye, sir!”

The Fellshield slowly rose from the earth. “Remember, don’t let them see us so soon! We need the jump on them first!” Vincent took the wheel and maneuvered them to keep low until they could get under their target and then behind it, raising the ship to match their height. He was sure that it was Furtuna that was onboard and reached for his horn. “Captain Furtuna, are you aboard that craft? If so, then know that you are wanted by the province of Egjora by the decree of Skjalborg Academy! This is Captain Vincent Gloreaver and I strongly urge you and yours to surrender peacefully!”

“Men, prepare your stations!” He wasn’t going to take any chances in this should she refuse him. “You have three minutes to confirm your reply, lest we be forced to take more direct actions!”  

Author: Furtuna, Posted: Sun Aug 20, 2017 9:45 AM, Post Subject: Crowded Sky [p,r]

“Oiii, Maliel…” The caption called from her spot as she steered the large warship with her feet. “Malllieeeellll.” A tall elven man appeared by her side, not by magic but she really wasn’t paying attention. “MAA-”

“Captain Furtuna I’m right here…” The man sighed a bit and looked down at her. She was a lovely creature with her blue pigmented skin. Her hair was in curls of blue and white. While her eyes were the Sularia green and red. “What is it that you require?”

“Are we there yet? You broke my war airship and we had to take it all the way to Karith all incognito about who we are.” She reached up and poked at his nose. “You know how much it cost me to get this fixed? You are lucky Adraejen knew how to get us in and get it fixed. Tell me why I shouldn’t have to replace you.” She continued to poke at the man’s nose.

“I… You know we were attacked, right? It was you who gave the orders to retreat which was when the airship got hit.”

Furtuna gave him a blank stare for a moment. “That doesn’t mean you quit firing… THAT MEANS YOU RETREAT AND FIRE.” She took her large black hat off her head and swatted him. “I DIDN’T BECOME THE LEGENDARY SKY PIRATE FOR NOTHING. You got one of my babies hurt.”

“Maybe you should get babies like your mother has.” Maliel shrugged. “They are less expensive hobbies.”

“Oi oi oi oi, don’t let anyone hear you say that shit. They will think that I, FURTUNA, am just as soft hearted as my heathen mother. NO!” She stood up on her chair before getting up on the ship’s steering wheel. “We’re here boys! WE’RE HOME! Jasumin Lake! Prepare to merge with Sacab!”

Author: Vincent Gloreaver, Posted: Sun Aug 20, 2017 9:32 AM, Post Subject: Crowded Sky [p,r]

“Captain Gloreaver, we have arrived at our destination.”

Vincent looked up just a bit from his hat covering his eyes and rose from his seat. A determined look was etched across his face as he moved to the deck to be greeted by the gorgeous sight of the Jasumin Lake. It had been a good few weeks but his ship made the trek, which was the easy part of his mission.

Taking out a pipe, he lit it and let the herbs be inhaled deeply before blowing it out. “Very good. We’ll have to wait here. If my calculations were correct, then our target should be here within the next day or so. Set her down.”

“Yes, sir.”

His hand gripped roughly at the end of the pipe as he recalled being selected for this mission. He had a special dislike for pirates, let alone ones that ruled the skies. A particular captain had been running amok for long before even he was born, yet it was only into recent years that Egjora had been hit hard by her attacks against other provinces it frequently traded and did business with. The Academy, for one, had had enough of her antics and yet no one they had sent prior could capture. In fact, no one at all ever did. It was only because he had requested his hand into this did they allow for it. But many of his comrade advised against it. As he went to the railing and leaned onto it, the words came running back to his mind.

“She’s the damn scourge!”
“She will ruin you and your men!”
“Don’t you know of the last man that tried to capture her? He was sentenced into the madhouse because she scrambled his mind!”
“Hope you made your peace with whatever deity you worship…”

Placing the pipe back into his mouth, Vincent felt the ship beginning to descend and bite hard onto it. He wasn’t afraid of some crazy pirate. He didn’t care what the rumors had said of her- she was an outlaw and he would catch her, period. Within minutes, The Fellshield landed a good three hundred meters away from the lake itself. The crew were preparing their weapons and being informed by his lieutenants of the next course of actions. They would have to keep out of the skies until they found the blasted woman and from there, he would seek to bring her in, one way or another. Dumping the ashes aside, Vincent reached for his spy glass and looked over the great blue above for any sights of another airship.       

"Mark my words, you will be brought to justice!"