2017-08-04: A Most Magnificent Beach Party
- Log: A Most Magnificent Beach Party
- Cast: Morgan Newkirk, Catenna, Layna Manydays, Avril Vent Fleur
- Where: Silver Coast
- Date: 08-04-2017
- Summary: Just as Morgan is putting the finishing touches on Layna's Gear, brigands arrive with designs on it. Fortunately, our heroes have plenty of backup...Catenna, though, just wanted a nice, relaxing swim.
==============================<* Silver Coast *>============================== The Silver Coast is the name given to the northeastern coastline of Ignas. The origins of the name are lost to history, but residents of the area tend to assume it reflects either the famous white-sand beaches northeast of Lacour, or the region's distance from the desertification slowly spreading out from the continent's heart. The Coast and its surrounding territories are claimed by the Kingdom of Lacour, and contain a wide assortment of biomes, from plains to rocky hills and mountains to rolling beaches. Major roads between Lacour and its next two largest settlements - the Port City of Hilton and the Academy City of Linga - are heavily patrolled by the kingdom's soldiers, and are generally safe. The hinterlands, however, are plagued by monsters of all types; researchers in Linga can find a variety of uses for the body parts of monsters, and do a brisk trade with Adventurers seeking to protect the population and make a little coin to boot.
<Pose Tracker> Morgan Newkirk has posed.
The so called Silver Coast isn't really very 'Silver', except at the famous white-sand beaches of Lacour. Its also just a touch crowded. After all ocean-space is at a premium. Unless you know where to look.
Which thankfully for most people, one Morgan Newkirk does.
In a little cove with a gorgeous view of the ocean Morgan has set up shop. Repair shop to be specific. To fix a pirate's Gear. Which he only charged a song, and maybe dinner with the captain. And quite a lot of booze.
Quite a lot.
I mean really its kinda amazing how much the fox can put away.
However, he's nearly done with the thing. The last shipment of parts has come and the fox himself, stripped down to a tank top and shorts, it working on the thing. Half stuck in the engine compartment of the refurbished gear, his legs sticking out and his head entirely hidden by the metal beast he makes an amusing sight. Tail swishing this way and that as his voice takes on a echo from the armored thing he works on.
"Thanks again for helping me with this last load!" He calls cheerfully down towards the feet of the gear. "I'm glad I got this in, had to beat a different group of scavangers to the prize!" He says with a grin others can hear even if they can't see.
<Pose Tracker> Catenna has posed.
It has been awhile since Catenna has had some time alone.
Finding a quiet, isolated stretch of the Silver Coast wasn't easy, but finally, she'd found this cove. Far down the sands, the dusky-skinned woman has set up a small temporary camp, really just a little tent for her to tend to her devotional activities for the past hour or thereabouts. And of course, a place to leave her dress while she prepared to go swimming.
When she pushes the tent flap aside, she's carrying a silk sheet with her. Smiling, she tilts her head and lets the ocean breeze play through her hair. If there were a camera, it'd be shooting her from behind. It's been a long time since she's had the chance to really be alone with nature, or close to the ocean like she was back home. All she has to do now is wait a little longer for the sun to slip below the horizon, and she'll be able to start the ceremony. Until then, it's just her and the scenery. The white sands, the gently rolling surf, the foxman shouting to his friends from on top of the Gear on the other side of the cove -- it's all so perfe-
Catenna lets out a yelp of surprise and blushes hard as she pulls the silk sheet around herself like a robe, hastily concealing herself from about neck to knee. When'd they get here?! They weren't there half an hour ago!
<Pose Tracker> Layna Manydays has posed.
Fortunately for Layna, booze of all kinds was something her crew had in spades. He would have been offered quite a few varieties, Lunarian and Filgaian alike, including some of the infamous Goddess' Breath. They knew how to treat a guest, after all, particularly one who was performing a very important favor for them - repairing the Gear the Captain and her friends had found.
Outside, Quartermaster Dahlia can be found directing members of the crew as they transport more parts, and inside, Lead Artillerist Victoria stands near the entrance of the cave with her spear shoved into the ground, leaning against it lazily for support as she glances about for signs of trouble.
And, of course, the captain herself is present. Layna sits off to the side, sitting atop a crate that had been emptied of its contents. She looks up at the Gears, arms folded in front of her and nodding approvingly. It's been progressing quite well. It'd still need a fresh new coat of paint...but it was hard to see it as the sad, rusted giant it had been before.
"Aye, I knew I could count on you for it." Layna comments with a grin and a nod toward Morgan. He'd always proven himself to be reliable, after all.
<Pose Tracker> Morgan Newkirk has posed.
The yelp causes Morgan to sit up quickly. He catches his ears on the hatch as he does so and there is a wince. His ears flatten back against that silver hair of his as he rubs the top of his head and peers towards the sound to find...
He squints.
"...Catenna?" He asks with a quirked eyebrow. The smirk on his face. "...you're looking a little underdressed!" He calls over towards her with a laugh. "I approve!"
Then the grin tips down towards the foot of the Gear. "I'm glad to help, Captain! Should be done soon!" He adds with a grin and a wave. "Maybe another half-hour and you can take her for a spin!"
<Pose Tracker> Catenna has posed.
Catenna is not underdressed! She's got a lovely silk sheet on and everything. It's even a nice shade of snowy white that contrasts with her complexion.
She's also blushing fiercely. "Newkirk," she calls back, her voice a little pinched with embarrassment. "I did not realize other people had arrived here... I had thought this stretch of the shore was more isolated." She presses her lips together at Morgan's teasing, though.
Her eyes dip to her sheet. She wraps it a little tighter. "I was going to swim," she starts, before trailing off and sighing.
When she looks up again, it's with a gentle arch of her brows as she inspects the Gear the pair of them were working on - more than a pair, she realizes. They must've brought the Gear here for a test run, she realizes.
"Hold on," she calls as she heads for her tent again. "Let me change."
<Pose Tracker> Avril Vent Fleur has posed.
It's a completely, absolutely, one hundred percent normal cove, sheltered from the land and prying eyes by a wall and overhang of rock and .
Was that doorway always there, though?
No. It wasn't. The soft grinding of stone on stone clinches it.
Tiptoeing out through the passageway, a young woman with long silvery hair peers out, gloved hands resting on the outside of the entrance from which she has just mysteriously emerged. "Excuse me..." she voices, her gaze traveling from person to person to Gear and back again, with absolutely no sign of shock or surprise whatsoever at the machines.
"Could you tell me where I am?" Avril asks.
<Pose Tracker> Layna Manydays has posed.
Layna's attention is taken off the Gear for a moment as Morgan calls out to someone else in the area, and she glances aside to see who it is.
Catenna? ...Wait a second. She looked familiar.
"Ah, if it isn't the lass from the Venomous Sheep! It's been some time." She comments with a grin. She watches Catenna retreat, before turning her attention back to Morgan and the Gear.
"You're certainly a fast worker, lad. Good, good...at least in this situation, aye?" She replies with a chuckle. Hearing this, Victoria wanders over, focusing on Layna.
"...You are going to give me a chance to ride it, right, Captain?" She says. There's an edge of excitement to her voice. She seems just as eager as Layna to see it completed, but then again she had been part of the party that found it.
"Aye, aye, of course. Maybe once it's..." She trails off, spotting yet another newcomer to the mix. Layna grins, and offers Avril a wave.
"Well, ahoy there, lass! They call this area the 'Silver Coast'. Are you a little lost?" She asks. Layna's first guess was that she must be from Lunar, to seem so...out of it, but she didn't react at all to the large machine before her.
Maybe her reaction would change once it started moving?
<Pose Tracker> Morgan Newkirk has posed.
"Hey now don't let me stop you, Spice!" Morgan calls out towards Catenna as the woman retreats back towards her tent. A smirk though is on his face as he glances down towards Layla. "I just know Gears, I know how to take my time with some things!" He adds with a grin before looking back into the engine compartment.
"But everything looks good here. Just really want to get the safty systems running so it'll bring power up a bit slowly. Don't want to rush the old girl." A glance down towards Layla. "...well its your Gear, so is it a girl?"
As he asks though a previously hidden door slides open to reveal an...Avril?!
"Welcome to the party!" He greets with a laugh. "Got a bit turned round in a dig did ya?" Thats the usual reasons people pop out of hidden holes in the wall. "...maybe this cove was more busy than I thought..."
MEANWHILE!!
"Look boss, I'm just sayin' maybe this isn't the best of ideas." Further away from the party in the cove, a mid-sized group of...well...lets call them thugs...seems to gather around two beastmen. One a large jackal looking man, the other a smaller and hunched over weasel. "There are more than just one of them...and they have a Gear."
"Shut it Smythe!" Growls the Jackal. "We have a Gear too! Thats what all this was about, we go down there. Capture theirs. Then we have two Gears. We'll be the terror of the coast! Captain Jackal. Pirate King."
"...look Eugene. You don't even have a boat."
"DON'T CALL ME EUGENE! Its JACKAL! And I'll just get one! From...somewhere! We planned this right Smythe! We time it when they almost have it fixed. Then we fall on them with superior numbers and our Gear!"
Smythe sighs. "Fine. FINE. But you're not blaming me for this one!"
"What blame you for everything going PERFECTLY. Fine then I won't!"
"Mom would be so dissipointed."
"Don't bring mom into this! Just get the Gear and lets get going!!"
This would be where any lookouts would see a few figures trickling towards the cove from the west.
<Pose Tracker> Catenna has posed.
"Yes... hello, Captain," Catenna calls back to Layna with a faint, embarrassed smile. She's just about to duck into her tent when a door opens in midair.
Where'd that come from? Folding her arms a bit tightly around herself, Catenna looks towards that suddenly-appearing entryway, recognition coming to light in her eyes as she sees who's coming out of it. The thought of Avril being Lunarian never even occurs to her; the woman has a Medium, after all, even if it's not one of the traditional-style ones Catenna herself carries with her.
"You seem to be on the Silver Coast near Lacour," she explains, her voice quiet and respectful as she nods to the arriving woman, even as she takes a step back towards the mouth of her tent. She'll never get a chance to get changed at this rate.
"And yes," she answers Morgan drily, completely oblivious to the presence of thugs somewhere down the way. "It does seem this cove was... busier than I had expected. I had hoped it would be a good place to relax, and to exercise my devotions to Celesdue."
There's a particular one involving the reflection of the moon on the water that Catenna has in mind. But there's still time.
<Pose Tracker> Avril Vent Fleur has posed.
For all her initial trepidation, Avril is quick -- the moment that recognition alights in her gaze at a few faces at least -- to emerge from the darkness of the cramped stone passageway.
She had wondered if she would be crawling that darkness alone for all eternity.
Some tension bleeds from her posture, and she sighs softly. "Morgan, wasn't it? And Catenna. It would seem that we meet again." She pauses, cocking her head at his question. "Yes. We were exploring a ruin when I became separated. It would seem that the door I passed through before this passage no longer opens."
She pauses again, right hand lingering at around chest height, an uncertain look in her eyes. "...Is this something that happens often in these ruins?"
But at least for now she's back in the sun.
"The Silver Coast..." Avril murmurs, brow creasing faintly when Layna speaks up and Catenna confirms the fact. Yet, she nods, as if this was a satisfactory answer. "I see. Then, I have not gone far off. If I can return to Lacour, I'm certain that I will be able to reunite with my friends there." Assuming they don't wait for her outside the ruin entrance or something.
She's sure they're doing fine, wherever they are.
Where she stands now, she doesn't have a good view to a certain side of the cove.
"Celesdue... That's right, you are a Shaman, are you not?" This, obviously, is addressed to Catenna.
<Pose Tracker> Layna Manydays has posed.
Layna thinks this over for a bit, before shrugging.
"Aye, that works. Victoria?" She asks, glancing over to the artillerist for her opinion. This gets a nod.
"Well, of course." Victoria replies with a shrug, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.
Layna grins when Morgan mentions the busyness of the cove.
"So it would seem...but the more the merrier, aye?" She says, then glances toward Avril. Of the people gathered here, it would seem she's the only one who hadn't met her before.
"I'm Layna Manydays, captain of the Ruby Empress. And that's Victoria, my Lead Artillerist." She says, gesturing toward the woman with a spear. Victoria offers Avril a lazy wave.
Around this time, Dahlia makes her way into the cave, her pace urgent.
"Ah, good timing! There's Dahlia, my Quartermaster!" Layna says, gesturing toward her as well. Dahlia is a bit taken back by this, and stares at Avril for a moment.
"Well, hello...but I'm afraid I'm not here for introductions." She says, straightening up and regaining her composure.
"I've received reports from some of the men. We might be receiving company soon, and we're unsure if they will be entirely...friendly." She reports.
At this, Layna sighs, stands up, and glances toward Morgan.
"What should we do, lad?" She asks. Sure, she was the Captain here, but she had the Gear to think about right now.
<Pose Tracker> Morgan Newkirk has posed.
"Well nothing stopping you from relaxing. This is pretty much my version of relaxing. Putting together Gears." The fox laughs lightly. "I know, I'm an odd one." He says with a grin as he pats the metalic side of the beast. "But I've always had an affinity with em. But yes. It was indeed Morgan. And you're welcome to join us we have..."
Then the Quartermaster rushes in.
"Apparently we have visitors? Hrmmm. Might have spoken a bit too soon about it being relaxing." Morgan quirks an eyebrow. "Well. If they don't look friendly I think that you should...whats the nautical term? Stand to and prepare to recieve borders?" There fox's ears twitch with mischief though. "But if one of you want to climb up here in the cockpit, well...I can see about getting this thing started early. Nothing like a field test!" He calls as he shoves his head back into the engine compartment.
"Who needs safties anyway!"
Outside the gaggle of ruffians seems to have gotten within at least range of a few of their Gunsmoke arms as the ricochet of bullets off stone can be heard. Not effective range, but they seem to be very enthuastic about shooting things. Which means they likely arn't friendly either.
<Pose Tracker> Catenna has posed.
"It does not happen often," Catenna admits to Avril with a shake of her head. "It must have been a very curious door."
She's about to duck into her tent and finally get ahold of an actual outfit when Avril asks her an interesting question. Raising her eyebrows shallowly, she shakes her head. "Only the Guardians can decide when one is a Shaman. It is not a title we give to ourselves. But I am what the Baskar would call a Zoa Priestess, yes. I was raised in the service of Celesdue." Stepping briefly into the fold of her tent, she reaches inside and comes out with the simple stone tablet that is her Medium.
She smiles back at Avril politely. "I noticed that you called upon Lucadia, when we traveled together, yes?"
Looking up at Morgan, she presses her lips together tightly, but the sound of gunsmoke ARMs in the distance is enough to alarm her. Frowning, she turns and looks off towards the source of the sound. They're coming pretty quickly, she realizes.
She's really, really not dressed for a fight.
"Please hold them off for a moment," she urges Morgan, Layna and Avril with a fervent nod before rushing into her tent. She pulls the flap closed behind her. Some rustling can be heard from within.
About fifteen seconds later, her sheet sails out and lands in a heap near the tent.
<Pose Tracker> Avril Vent Fleur has posed.
"Oh, I see. I will keep that in mind," she answers Catenna, nodding. ...Was she expecting something like that to happen next time?
"I'm pleased to meet you, Layna," Avril says, bowing her head as if in polite greetings. "My name is Avril Vent Fleur. So you are a captain... where is your vessel?" Her gaze lifts to the Gear. "This?" she asks, then visibly stops herself. "No, that isn't sufficient to hold more than two or three people in the cockpit at most," she answers herself, a hand resting on her chin.
As if this is a totally normal thing for her to encounter?
As Catenna explains herself, Avril once again cants her head to one side, listening as if intent. "A priestess, then," she says, once Catenna finished.
Cyre had wondered if perhaps Avril had been a priestess before she lost her memories. "...Yes. The Medium I bear is the Original Artificial Medium of the Sea."
Though precisely what that means might have to take a backseat. Another woman comes racing in, and it's apparently bad news.
Punctuated by gunshots, in fact.
"What do you propose, then?" she asks Morgan, taking steps across the sand as she approaches the Gear. "Will you use that machine against them?" Somewhere in the span between her standing there and her coming close to him and the Gear she's drawn out a strange-looking device that Catenna and Morgan might recognize from before, sort of like a half-way point between a part of a gun and a sword's hilt.
<Pose Tracker> Layna Manydays has posed.
"Oh, my vessel is a ways away from here, in another section of the Coast. She's a beauty, she is. You should see her sometime, lass." Layna replies with a proud grin toward Avril.
But then, of course, Morgan proposes they just go ahead and activate the Gear. Layna's grin widens.
"Sorry, Victoria, I think I'll take this one. You take the lads and go out to give our new friends a...'warm' welcome, aye?" She says, cutting her off before she could volunteer. Victoria sighs and shoulders her spear.
"...Oh, fine. I was getting bored just watching, anyway." She says and strolls out. Dahlia nods and follows along behind her. After they leave, they'd get the crew organized into fighting shape.
Fortunately, they never left home without the War Chest - an object that was clearly a stereotypical treasure chest packed to the brim with weapons. While they didn't have the gunsmoke weapons their attackers did, instead resorting to just crossbows, they had the advantage of sorcerors who could provide them with defensive barriers. Once Victoria made her way outside, the sound of firey explosions would join the sound of gunfire.
...It seemed like she had the power of fire at her disposal, and was the type to use it aggressively.
Layna, though...she strolls up to the Gear.
"Now you're talking my language, lad. Full speed ahead, I say!" She says, climbing into the Gear. It seemed that was her answer to Avril's question.
<Pose Tracker> Morgan Newkirk has posed.
"I'm pretty sure the idea is gonna be, Layna there gets in this Gear and kicks people around until they realise how bad an idea this was." The echoing quality of the foxes voice returns, since he's speaking from inside the engine casing. "I'll try to walk ya though this when I get the engine going!" He adds as he furiously works.
Outside the battle is joined. The battle...also isn't quite going in the bandit's favor. They didn't expect pirates with magic there. And though crossbows are almost laughable against a Gunsmoke ARM, the fireballs and magic shields arn't. "THE BOSS DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING ABOUT NO FIREBALLS!" One of the bandits growls as the cat-like beastman nearly gets his tail singed off by one of Victoria's blasts.
They are a mixed back of a few beastmen and mostly humans. In a hodgepoge of armor and weapons, now trying to close with the pirates.
"Just keep em busy for a few more moments and Eugene will have our Gear in position!" Smythe shouts back as he dives to one side to avoid a crossbow bolt.
...as if on queue.
Out of the water at the mouth of the cove there is a bubbling and rippling before a massive form bursts out of the water. Draped with sea-weed and with a odd rounded shape to the armor the rut-red Gear heaves itself from the waves. On its back is a massive ships anchor and a huge canon takes the place of its right arm.
"BEHOLD!" A voice from the Gear's speakers booms out. "COWER IN TERROR BEFORE THE MIGHTY MIGHT OF THE BILGE RAT!!!"
"...Eugene," Smythe facepalms behind his cover. "...I told you not to name the thing that..."
The displacement of the water sends waves everywhere and the canon starts to track towards the pirates.
...yes. That means there is some small titlewaves heading towards Catenna and Avril.
<Pose Tracker> Catenna has posed.
The bad news for Catenna is that she's in a tent when the tidal wave comes in. The tent is pretty close to the water.
The incoming waves crash onto the shore and sweep away Catenna's tent. There's a yelp of surprise from within it. As the water rolls back out, it takes the tent along with it, and its contents as well. "This is highly improper!" Catenna can be heard spluttering from within the remnants of the tent as they bob on the surface of the cove.
The massive Gear and cannon seem like they'll be unopposed for now. Until something innocuous bobs to the surface of the cove not far from the Gear's feet.
It's Catenna, her wet hair clinging to her face and shoulders in long black tendrils, fanning out on the water behind her. Blushing, she doesn't lift herself out of the water. She remains immersed up to about her collarbone. Mostly what one can see of her is her head, then a set of bare shoulders, then her arms rising out of the water.
In her left hand she's holding her Medium. Her ARM is quite waterlogged; that's out of the question right now. She'll have to pick up a new one.
"Why is it that everyone in all of Ignas chose today to come to the exact place where I want to go swimming!" she grouses acidly as she raises her Medium. Her right hand weaves over it; a subtle shimmer in the air can be felt, soft words spilling from her lips in a tongue that isn't quite Baskar, but has some similarities to it.
The surface of the water eddies - and the huge rust-red Bilge Rat Gear will suddenly find itself being crunched and compressed by the force of heavy gravity. Even moving its arms will become a challenge for the ages. Just moving at all will strain its power plant. Even fuel is circulating through it badly. It's like everything is being dragged to the ground.
Catenna don't need no stinking Gear. Her gravity spells work better against huge targets.
<Pose Tracker> Avril Vent Fleur has posed.
"Perhaps I should," Avril replies, after considering Layna's offer briefly. "I believe Dean would be interested."
Of course Dean would be interested, it's a pirate ship.
Other people might be more alarmed right now. Avril, though, while her expression has drawn towards the apex of 'grim' doesn't seem especially worried by this situation. Does this happen a lot for her?
Briefly, Avril considers the conclusion Layna has come to, and then dips her head in a nod. "Yes, I agree. Given that our attackers seem intent on causing harm, it would be best to resolve this swiftly," she says, before stepping away from the Gear.
She must be used to Gears, or something like them -- she knows well enough to clear the area when one is preparing to move.
A twist of her wrist is all it takes to summon forth the blade from the unusual ARM she bears, appearing as if it had always been there.
And then, she just... frowns, as another Gear emerges from the briney deep.
"It seems they have one as well," she call, making her way cautiously towards the lip of the little cave in the cove here. "Be careful! We will need your machine to deal with it properly."
A Gear isn't just something one can fight on foot... and is something that Avril has in fact just now worked out -- for the first time ever since she awoke near Capo Bronco -- no, really, she has no memory of these things -- upon sighting it.
Being on foot also means that the incoming waves are a larger problem. Avril's blue eyes faintly widen, and turning, she scampers up some of the rocks here in an attempt to outpace the flood -- and hopefully not lose what cover she has to deal with some of the men on foot. This works... semi-well. She can't get high enough to evade the wave entirely, but at least it means that she's only partially soaked instead of plastered against the wall or beach.
"Oh," she comments as the waters recede, before hopping down off that rock she's perched on. Sodden skirts make for poor going, but the woman in green presses on anyway, pressing for a melee encounter with the same ones the sorcerors are flinging spells at.
Sunlight slides along the length of Absolute Zero's very real blade as Avril suddenly... emerges, seconds behind a volley of fire. She had seen the intervals before between Layna's crew's casting time, had made some calculation or another of the length a volley might stun one of the attackers. And presses in with that as her advantage, thrusting the blade at the man she's ambushed.
<Pose Tracker> Layna Manydays has posed.
"Ahahaha! Burn! Burn, you posers!!" Victoria cackles gleefully, sending bolts of flame every which way. The bandits were closing in to melee range now...and unfortunately for them, that's where the Manydays Pirates excel.
Victoria combines magic and her spear in a dangerous fashion, weaving spear thrust inbetween incantations with very little time spent not attacking, and Dahlia's boarding axe carves dangerous crescents through the air. Most of the crew had weapons but one of them, a mountain of a man affectionally referred to as 'Ol' Anchor-Arms Andy' prefers to just manhandle the bandits directly without the need of such things.
Victoria pauses in her assault for a moment to look Avril's weapon up and down as she joins the fray.
"...Hey. That's a neat-looking weapon you've got there. I'm kind of jealous." She compliments with a grin, before getting right back into combat.
Back in the cave itself, Layna pauses as she straps herself into the cockpit, hearing the 'Bilge Rat' announce itself.
"Morgan, lad, you've got tell me where that button is on this thing!" Layna calls out urgently. There was just so much wrong with that statement. She had to have Words with this person. Fortunately, though she's not aware of it at this time, Catenna seems to be buying them some time.
<Pose Tracker> Morgan Newkirk has posed.
"Right don't need this..." A piece comes flying out of the engine compartment. "...or that. Or this either. Prolly not that. This doesn't look important..." The fox seems to be working overtime. Connecting and speeding up the process of getting the gear running.
"Hit the red button!" He calls up. "Left pannel! Should make her twitch more than a bit if I did this right!"
He doesn't even think about how that sounds as he bounds out of the pannel as the engine begins to rumble slightly ominiously in the belly of the Pirate's Gear.
He slams the hatch shut, scrambling up the arm and shoulder as the pannels in the cockpit start to light up. "Layla! Use the pedels there..." One hand on the glass of the cockpit he points. "...and the hand controls to get it to move!"
They have a Gear. Why did they have a Gear.
Outside the bandits come to grips with the Pirates.
...and they soooo regret it.
These bandits work by ambush and stealth mostly. Maybe swarming with numbers if the day is right. Unfortunately? This is not any of those times.
Diana's axe leaves a bloody swath as men fall back from Victoria's flaming spear. Smythe, the weasel himself comes face to face with Avril. Brandishing twin swords he had been trying to sneak in and get Victoria in the side only to find a blazing sunsword thrust towards him.
There is a squeek of shock as he hurriedly tries to parry with his own swords. Which end up melting right off. He stares at the stumps before looking back up at Avril.
"Yeah. Nope."
Then he turns and flees. Leaving the men Avril stunned behind.
Meanwhile. The Gear itself starts to aim right towards the clustered pirates. That is before it sees in the tent in the water. And the little figure bobbing there.
The Bilge Rat pauses, leaning forwards just slightly.
"You," A longer pause. "Are you naked down there. WHY ARE YOU NAKED! BATTLE IS NOT A TIME FOR---GYARK!"
Eugene is suddenly suprised by the gravity wave crashing into him. The Rat staggers, slowing down as it fights suddenly against its own weight. Struggling to aim the weapon or pull the anchor from its back. Slowly the muscles of the Gear strain against the magic, but its slowed. Unable to do anything but stagger for a moment.
...which of course causes more waves.
<Pose Tracker> Catenna has posed.
The interesting part of traveling with Catenna is that in many ways, her support in a fight is hard to notice. Her magic has no flashy effects. It has no visible fireballs or lightning bolts, no swashbuckling or loud ARMs. It's just there, encumbering invisibly.
Of course, there's also the nice outfits and the spicy food, but that's something else entirely.
As the Gear pilot shouts at her about her state of dress, Catenna bites down to her lower lip and blushes, sinking down in the water until only her eyes and the top of her head are visible - aside from a hint of blush. She bubbles something disconsolately but doesn't confirm whether or not she is, in fact, indecent.
Her arms, at least, remain above water. The gravity begins to abate as the spell winds itself down naturally. The power of gravity can have great effects, to be sure, but holding down something so massive is difficult. Still, its effects linger; even as the heavier gravity weakens, the Bilge Rat will find itself slower, encumbered by whatever systems damage Catenna might've done.
Lifting her head above the water again, Catenna glances back towards the group still on shore, even as she bobs back in the water to gain distance between herself and the Gear. "I hope you are nearly ready; I cannot hold this Gear forever!" she calls back, before scowling towards the bandits once more.
"Some of us would prefer not to battle!" she calls up as she raises her Medium again. "Some of us were going swimming! And I did not invite literally every human being on the continent, and yet here everyone is! I will not forgive it!"
She chants again, arms and shoulders above the water once more. This time, gravity takes ahold of the Gear in a fluctuating wave - and an immense gravitic force will grip somewhere behind its head. It's like every part of the Bilge Rat has gone weightless except its head as Catenna shoves its centre of gravity way up, trying to cause it to fall backward.
<Pose Tracker> Layna Manydays has posed.
It was easy work. The pirates were used to dealing with other unsavory types, after all. Victoria shoulders her spear and incants another spell. A bolt of flame comes shooting out in the direction of the retreating bandits...but, by design, it goes wide. It flies just over their heads, practically taunting them.
With battle done, Victoria sends a glance Avril's way.
"You know, you're not half bad. Are you looking for work? You could always join our crew." She offers.
Back in the caves, Layna scans the panel for the button Morgan had indicated.
"Red button? Aye!" She calls back, hitting said button. The button is pressed, and the Gear begins to come to life. It shakes once, then twice...then steadies, as the output stabilizes.
She follows Morgan's command, focusing on the controls and putting them to work. For the first time in ages the ancient Gear rises to its feet. It stumbles a bit, but the systems kick in, preventing it from collapsing dangerously. It's on its feet now, though, and Layna moves an arm experimentally.
"Aye...I could get used to this..." She commments with a grin.
She maneuvers it out...and even manages to get the speaker system working.
"Sorry to keep you waiting, lass! Go find yourself a change of clothes, aye? Preferably somewhere safe!" She calls out to Catenna. The Gear then points directly at the Bilge Rat.
"As for you...just who do you think you are, aye!? The 'Bilge Rat'? You ought to be bilged on your own anchor for a name like that! The Crimson Corsair will be glad to assist you!" She says. ...It...didn't look quite crimson yet, but that was the next step after making sure it actually worked.
<Pose Tracker> Avril Vent Fleur has posed.
"Thank you," comes the response from Avril to Victoria, as she similarly pushes on into the fray. Her expression is set; if she was somewhat serious before, she's no less than intent now, blade flashing in the light as she sets after her opponent.
Between the magical fire and the strength of her blade's edge, though, it seems that this one -- twin swords or no -- is not much of a match for her more formal blade arts.
That, or they were just badly made swords. While Avril blinks as the blades melt, she nonetheless does not hesitate.
"Please, stand down," she asks, pointing her sword at Smythe. She asks politely.
He runs for it. This leaves the young woman decidedly nonplussed, the first time during pitched combat and indeed, almost the entire time since she arrived that she's looked this way.
"Work? No, I do not think so," Avril says, glancing at Victoria. "There is something I must do, so I must decline. My apologies."
It's not a good idea to get distracted while fighting on the beach. The men might largely flee, but there's still that Gear.
And it's making waves.
A yelp escapes from Avril as one comes hurtling forth, knocking her from her feet. She slides somewhat ungainly a few feet across the beach, getting to her feet as the water laps back out again.
Well, now she's soaked.
Lowering her sword to her side, she with her spare hand reaches for the Medium still safely tucked in her gown.
"Sea Guardian," she invokes, drawing upon Lucadia's protective power.
The Medium shines, momentarily.
A wall of light -- evoking for the moment the curl of the waves as they tug the surf along with them -- rises around Catenna, who seems to be... having trouble.
<Pose Tracker> Morgan Newkirk has posed.
That gout of flame from Victoria seems to encourage the bandits to do one thing.
Run faster.
They flee, Smythe leading the pack as the unsavory sorts run for it. They didn't have the stomach for a fight it looked like, at least not against opponents who were aware and awake.
Which the pirates defintally were.
A few flung bodies from the massive bare handed figher and they simply break and run.
The Bilge Rat though...
"What? You're not supposed to have that working yet!!" The pilot shouts towards Layla and Morgan as they stomp out of the cove. "YOU BYPASSED THE SAFTIES! YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO DO THAT!" It looks like things arn't going according to plan. "You have naked magic girls and not naked magic girls and pirates and--ARRGH!"
Yanked backwards the whole Gear staggers as he flings the canon arm back to jam it into the sand just to stay upright.
...not a great manuver since it leaves it open for Layla.
But Catenna might be greatful for that sudden wall of magic with the blast of spray, foam, and sand thrown up by the staggering gear.
"I'll give ya lessons later," Morgan smirks as he glings to the outside of the Gear with a wide grin. "But lets keep it simple this time. Punch that thing till it stops moving should work!"
<Pose Tracker> Catenna has posed.
The feel of Lucadia's protection around her brings Catenna the first real sense of ease she's had since she discovered her beach trip was ruined. She draws in a breath, then smiles, looking back over her shoulder towards Avril - then down towards the water, mouthing something in her own language. Words of reverence. The Guardians are to be honoured.
Indeed, she's pretty grateful for the protective wall; the surf crashes against it, but the water Catenna's in remains still. It enables her to swim for shore and grab for the ruins of her tent, then dive beneath the waves. A minute later, she emerges, much closer to the shore, but still keeping only her head and shoulders above water.
"I shall thank you not to make snarky comments about my state of dress!" she shouts up at the Bilge Rat, blushing hard. She lifts her left hand above the water.
With a grimace, she scowls at what she grabbed from the tent. It's her ARM, and it's currently hanging open with a fish tail waggling from the magazine. She plucks the poor fish out of the ARM and lets the waterlogged weapon sink back to the bottom of the cove. So much for that weapon.
The second thing she pulls up is her grappling hook and rope line. Wheeling it over her head, she casts it towards the staggering Bilge Rat. The hook arcs upward, latching on to the thing's knee. Pushing off the bottom of the cove, Catenna swims forward as fast as she can.
She's actually quite the adept swimmer, it turns out. Smoothly she circles around the Bilge Rat's other leg, then dives under to swoop around the first leg again, then circles around once more. It's dangerous, but she seems to be trying to wind her rope around the huge Gear's legs to tangle it up in the hopes that Layna can topple it!
<Pose Tracker> Layna Manydays has posed.
The pirates don't seem to be too bothered by the waves, all told. But then again, they were pirates - they lived their life on the ocean. Handling themselves against the waves was just a part of the job.
"That so? Well...maybe some other time, then. Once you're done with that." Victoria replies with a shrug. Her attention is turned in the direction of the fleeing bandits, a cruel smirk crossing her lips as she sees them accelerating.
"Victoria, we should move. With the enemy routed, we're only getting in the Captain's way." Dahlia says, and Victoria nods.
"Yeah, yeah...alright, you lot, you heard the lady! Let's move it!" She shouts, and the crew starts to move to somewhere with a little more cover from the Bilge Rat.
Speaking of the Captain, the Corsair starts to make its way toward the Bilge Rat. Layna nods as Morgan decides they should keep it simple, then focuses on her opponent.
"Safeties!? That's landlubber talk, lad! Out on the sea, the only 'safeties' you have are yourself and your crew! If you're going on about 'safeties'...you're not even worthy of calling yourself a 'Bilge Rat'!" She punctuates her comment with a punch aimed for the center of the Bilge Rat, though she's mindful of Catenna's current position.
It was staggered, so with the line around its legs...maybe they could topple it with ease!
<Pose Tracker> Morgan Newkirk has posed.
This just was a bad decision for Eugene.
He's really beginning to rethink his decision making paradyme.
"For the record!" He shouts as he struggles to right himself. "That Gear is not crimson at all!!" The petty insult is hurled as he finally rights himself and...
...and the Corsair's fist slams into the Rat's center of mass. The tie around its ankles and the added gravity and unbalancing act of the water combine to smash the Rat right off its feet. It crashes back into the surf with a roar. Smoke starts to roil out of the broken chest pieces as water floods in though the cracks and the cockpit of the Rat shatters as Eugene tries to swim out and away from the towering Corsair.
"I'LL GET YOU PIRATES!" He shouts as he tries to swim further out to sea. Away from the victorious pirates. "AND YOUR CRAZY NAKED MAGES TOO!"
Morgan is laughing as he clings to the side of the Corsair. "I think that looks like a successful field test! What do you think Captain?"
<Pose Tracker> Morgan Newkirk has posed.
This just was a bad decision for Eugene.
He's really beginning to rethink his decision making paradyme.
"For the record!" He shouts as he struggles to right himself. "That Gear is not crimson at all!!" The petty insult is hurled as he finally rights himself and...
...and the Corsair's fist slams into the Rat's center of mass. The tie around its ankles and the added gravity and unbalancing act of the water combine to smash the Rat right off its feet. It crashes back into the surf with a roar. Smoke starts to roil out of the broken chest pieces as water floods in though the cracks and the cockpit of the Rat shatters as Eugene tries to swim out and away from the towering Corsair.
"I'LL GET YOU PIRATES!" He shouts as he tries to swim further out to sea. Away from the victorious pirates. "AND YOUR CRAZY NAKED MAGES TOO!"
Morgan is laughing as he clings to the side of the Corsair. "I think that looks like a successful field test! What do you think Captain?"
<Pose Tracker> Catenna has posed.
"Would you stop that!" Catenna huffs as she reels her grappling hook back in. It zips out from around the Gear's legs, tucked back into her hands.
With a scowl, the priestess watches the Gear sink into the water. The shore's a bit far and the waves are pushing her that way anyway. Reaching for the fallen Gear's hip, she pulls herself out of the water. The first thing she does is flick her hair back with a toss of her head. Then she climbs up onto it.
She reaches down, and adjusts the waistband of the shorts she's wearing. There's also a nice bandeau top which handily keeps her modest. She adjusts the lower hem of it.
"Imagine," she huffs to herself as she looks up towards the sky. "What an awfully perverted imagination that man had."
<Pose Tracker> Avril Vent Fleur has posed.
"Yes," Avril comments from her position on the shoreline, a flick of the wrist returning her ARM into its compact and inert form. "I would say that was a worthwhile test of your machine's functionality in combat." Water still drips from... well, everywere. Hair, clothing. It's going to take a while for all that to dry.
Though in spite of her current state, clothing sticking to her body, sand gods-know-where, she acts just as always: endlessly serene.
<Pose Tracker> Layna Manydays has posed.
"Yeah, yeah, keep talking, lad! I'll fight you whenever, wherever, Gear or no!" Layna calls back, then laughs triumphantly. She looks down at the fallen Gear, but doesn't respond to Morgan right away. The Corsair leans down, picking up something discarded from the Bilge Rat. The Gear hoists the massive anchor that had been in its possession, resting it against the shoulder opposite the side Morgan was on.
"I think...I think I'm gonna enjoy this, Morgan." She replies.
<Pose Tracker> Catenna has posed.
With a squeak, Catenna finds herself clinging to the anchor as Layna hoists it. She holds on tight as the big thing is dragged into the air.
Only once Layna stops moving it does the very wet and flustered priestess slide down it - upside down - and settle to a landing on the shoulder of Layna's Gear.
"I think I am going to be sick," she puts in.
<Pose Tracker> Morgan Newkirk has posed.
"And I think," Morgan smirks for a moment. "That this was the best beach party I've been too in a long time." The man adds with a laugh as he leans back against the cockpit.