2018-09-09: Closer to the Waves
- Log: Closer to the Waves
- Cast: Layna Manydays, Talise Gianfair, Sephilia Lampbright, Tethelle Cirdian, Seraph Lanval, Rosaline Calice
- Where: Silver Coast
- Date: September 9, 2018
- Summary: The Company of the Fox returns to the Ruby Empress, only to find that the crew have been busy freeing the ship from its sandy prison!
<Pose Tracker> Layna Manydays has posed.
They had returned to Filgaia. In some ways, Layna was afraid of what that might mean. She had been separated from her crew for so long. What had happened in the meantime? She had left them in a precarious position. Dahlia was out of commission. Their home base was set ablaze. Had they scattered? Would they welcome her back?
She was uncertain, but she didn't let the uncertainty show on her face, even as she asked everyone to accompany her. By a stroke of fate, they had landed in the part of the continent where the Ruby Empress rested. It only took some travel time to make it there.
She had no excuse not to go. It would be irresponsible of her not to - she was their Captain, assuming they would still welcome her.
She was somewhat distracted as they traveled to the Silver Coast, and to where her ship was. ...But these uncertainties are shoved out of her mind in the face of awe when she sees what has become of the situation.
No longer was the Ruby Empress half-buried into the side of a hill. That hill was no more, and now the ship was supported by a wooden frame built around it to keep it steady. Something else had been built around the base - a wheeled construction on top of a set of rails. There were even some temporary dwellings assorted outside, and there were people going about their business.
"...Looks like they've been busy." Layna comments with a laugh. She begins to approach. As the party gets closer, people turn and watch in awe until Layna stops at the base of the gangplank.
"Ahoy there! Layna Manydays and friends, preparing to board!" Layna shouts. There's some commotion up above as Dahlia and a few other crew members emerge from the ship in a bit of a hurry. Dahlia, who normally faced the world in a stoic fashion, stared down with a mix of surprise and relief.
"...You're back." She states, a little out of breath.
<Pose Tracker> Talise Gianfair has posed.
Mysteriously, Talise's horse was still around. Goddess only knows who took care of Dragon when she was gone. Talise suspects the Adventurer's Guild is just like that sometimes. Either way, the horse is more than big enough to carry her out here.
To something surprising. Not a hill, but a scaffolding and a wheeled platform bearing the weight of the Ruby Empress.
"Wow. They've done a lot in a short time," Talise remarks with wide eyes. She didn't wear her armour for this; putting it on takes time and it's hard to justify the discomfort for a social trip like this. She went with her tank top, slacks and heavy coat.
The sight of the crew rushing towards Layna brings a grin to Talise's face. Sliding down from her saddle, Talise steps after Layna. She plants her hands at her hips as she watches the happy reunion. Then she looks up at the ship.
"Althena's thong," she comments with a warm laugh. "If I didn't know better, I'd think she was just about ready to get back in the water."
<Pose Tracker> Sephilia Lampbright has posed.
Sephilia waves with vigor at Dahlia, then pulls out her sketchbook and sets to work on getting an updated drawing!
<Pose Tracker> Tethelle Cirdian has posed.
Tethelle came along even though she is very definitely not a pirate.
Well, very definitely has never been a pirate before. She might be willing to expand her horizons.
Tethelle still has not properly replaced her sword, and still has the saber lent to her by Claude. It hangs at her hip instead of the over-the-back greatsword she's used to, and she's still getting used to it. At least it doesn't light itself on fire when it's just belted on, because that could get really inconvenient.
"A bigger ship than I thought," Tethelle says, as she sees the framework. Most of her experience is with smaller ships than this; the ones in her hometown only went up and down the coast, and sometimes out a little in search of fish. Not an ocean-travelling big one. She's only been on those a few times; her trip from Guild Galad was the first time she'd ever crossed the ocean.
Tethelle's smile broadens when she sees the crew come out. Well, they don't seem upset. A good start!
<Pose Tracker> Seraph Lanval has posed.
Lanval's along with the others, because of course he is! Filgaia being what it is, he doesn't roam too far away from any of them while they go about their next few orders of business. There's his own order of business: just be along for the ride while he tries to take in the scope of his situation straight-on that this is the Blue Star he's on, and it's...
...those thoughts can be completed later.
He manifests himself outside of his bottle Vessel with a broadening (and dumber, somehow) smile as Layna goes to reunite herself with her crew.
"Mmm... shoundsh ta me it'sh time fer a feasht... ha ha ha!" Always about the feasts and the drinks, with him, that lazy glutton that he is.
<Pose Tracker> Rosaline Calice has posed.
After recovering from the Fox Company's most recent adventure, Rosaline had been helping with the humanitarian efforts in Adlehyde once again. In some ways, it was as if the last year and a half had never happened. She did, however, agree to accompany Layna and the others to go find her crew once more.
She's wearing the Etone habit once more, after over half a year. She remembers taking this path, too, with Talise and the rest, to go meet Layna for the first time. She also remembers the strange sight of the sailing ship embedded in a cliff. She contrasts it, now, with the sight of the wooden construction, and the obvious work that went into it all. It's hard not to be impressed.
She waves a hand to Dahlia and the others, remembering them. She wasn't present for the attack on the cave they had taken residence in, but she's been filled in on the generalities. "They've certainly done some very impressive work. It seems they've been waiting for you," she tells Layna with a little smile.
<Pose Tracker> Layna Manydays has posed.
"...Aye." Layna agrees, glancing back toward Talise and Rosaline. ...It was like a dream. She had never expected to come back to this. She glances toward Tethelle then, with a nod.
"Aye, she's a beauty, ain't she?" Layna comments with a grin toward Tethelle before nodding to Sephilia. "Make sure to get her good side!"
With that, Layna turns her attention back to the deck.
"Permission to come aboard?" Layna asks with a cheeky grin. Dahlia folds her arms in front of her...but there's a hint of a smile on her face.
"You don't even need to ask." She repllies. With that, Layna makes her way up the gangplank, gesturing to the others to follow.
"You lot haven't burned my wardrobe, aye?" Layna comments. Dahlia shakes her head.
"No. Everything is just as you left it." She replies, and Layna grins.
"Great. I'm gonna go get changed, then. Dahlia, you mind leadin' everyone to the meeting room? I think Lanval's got the right idea." Layna replies, then glances toward Talise. "Oh, you mind doin' introductions while I'm gone?"
They hadn't met Tethelle or Lanval before, after all. Either way, Layna soons sets off as Dahlia turns, leading everyone into the ship.
"...She's just as carefree as ever, I see." Dahlia comments quietly, folding her arms in front of her.
<Pose Tracker> Talise Gianfair has posed.
"She really is impressive," Benedict comments from the rear of the little group of foxpals.
Talise smiles and falls in next to Tethelle, folding her arms as she watches the reunion. "This is about the right size for a pirate ship back home," she explains quietly. "The one I grew up on was pretty similar. Maybe a little leaner."
As Layna tosses a task to her, Talise flicks her hand as if to let her know it's alright. "Done," she says, smiling as Layna darts up towards the ship. In turn, Talise begins to move along the gangplank.
"We picked up a couple of friends, actually," she explains, then nods to Lanval. "Dahlia here is Layna's quartermaster." Then for the crew: "I don't know if most of you have met Tethelle Cirdian? And I don't know how many of you can see him, but our variously-invisible friend is named Lanval. He's a Seraph from the Silver Star and a pretty decent fella. And the guy with the beard is Benedict Greygust, our courier."
Benedict inclines his head slowly. "Been on a few ships like this in my day."
<Pose Tracker> Tethelle Cirdian has posed.
Tethelle hates riding. She would have walked if she'd been able to keep up.
Tethelle says, "I haven't spent much time on the open ocean. Fortunately, I don't get seasick." If she did, the trip from Guild Galad would have been truly miserable.
Tethelle smiles when she's introduced. She gives a slightly unusual, formal-looking bow - unusual by the standards the Lunarian crew is going to be used to, anyway, as to Tethelle it's the more natural form. "A pleasure," Tethelle says. "As she says, I'm Tethelle Cirdian, priestess of the Sword." Introducing herself that way seems to be accepted anywhere; Guardianists know what she means, and non-Guardianists assume she's some weird martial artist.
Which... well, it's not a lie.
"I don't have my sword with me, though, so you'll have to take my word for it." Tethelle has a sword, but it's not her sword. There's a difference.
<Pose Tracker> Sephilia Lampbright has posed.
Sephy grins. "Does she have a BAD side?"
<Pose Tracker> Seraph Lanval has posed.
Lanval quietly watches the interplay between captain and subordinate. It's plain as day there's a real respect for Layna - this many months after the fact, if he's got timelines right and has the correct grasp on the scope of time as it relates to mortals (this can be tricky for those like him to grasp), they're still loyal and happy to see her.
"Hellooo~," Lanval's voice trails off as he hiccups prior to going off into one of his usual short laughing fits again, holding a gourd up as he waves whole-heartedly in spirit. It looks much more half-ass to the eye, though. Maybe it actually is. "'m Lanval... the Mirthful Wellsphring, 'sh what I'm called... I'm a Water Sheraph." He's kind of hoping that there's at least one or two among the crowd that can see him. After being all but exiled from the Blue Star, the seeming lack of anything resembling native Seraphim on the Blue Star (which makes sense but is still a thing that breeds loneliness), and the continued very low average Resonance among mortals present here, well...
He'd like as many as he can!
"Ahhh... ya got a good captain... lemme tell ya..." If they can hear, he will certainly 'tell ya' and probably segue mostly about how great her Quartermaster's Stash stuff is.
<Pose Tracker> Rosaline Calice has posed.
Lanval speaks of feasts, and while Rosaline knows her lifestyle frowns upon extravagant meals... "Well, I am hungry," she admits.
"She is, but mostly I think she's happy to see you all," she tells Dahlia. "It's been a strange few months. I missed a lot of it, but..." She shakes her head. "She has a lot of new stories to tell, as I'm sure you also do."
She doesn't need an introduction, at least, and so hangs back for the moment, admiring the ship. She hasn't actually had that many chances to before, all things told.
<Pose Tracker> Layna Manydays has posed.
Dahlia takes a moment to study everyone as Talise introduces them, nodding in turn...including Lanval. It seems there's at least one person among the crew who can see him.
"...I see. It's a pleasure to meet all of you. Any friend of Layna's is a friend of ours. ...And I must thank you, personally, for looking out for her." She replies with a nod. ...She looks a little embarrassed at the mention of the 'Quartermaster's Stash', clearing her throat and instead addressing Rosaline's point.
"Indeed. We haven't been idle while Layna's been away, as you can see." She agrees.
As they go through the corridors of the ship, a certain tall spearwoman joins the group. Dahlia introduces her as Victoria, though some of them might recognize her. Particularly Sephilia.
"If I didn't know any better, I'd say you grew an inch or two. ...But that can't be right." Victoria comments with a grin, mussing Sephilia's hair. She tries to act nonchalant, but there's an apparent sense of concern.
Eventually, they arrive at the meeting room, well-stocked with alcohol, and Dahlia suggests everyone take a seat.
Before long, Layna returns. She's changed out of the equipment she was wearing on Lunar and was back into her traditional Captain's uniform...and she was glad for it.
"Alright, I let Wilhelm know to get a feast started. I've got a surprise for you too, Dahlia - I brought a fresh batch of drinks, straight from the Silver Star. I put 'em you-know-where." Layna comments with a grin. Dahlia stares, dumbfounded.
"...You really must have quite the story." She says, sinking into her chair a little.
<Pose Tracker> Talise Gianfair has posed.
"Trust me, Tethelle's great with a sword," Talise assures the Ruby Empress crew with a big grin. "She might be the best swordsperson I've ever met, to be honest!"
When Dahlia thanks them, Talise shakes her head and smiles lopsidedly. A little bit of rosy colour reaches her cheeks. "If anything, she looked out for us. Things got pretty dangerous a couple of times up there. We might've had trouble if not for all of us being together." Including Rosaline, now - Talise reaches out to briefly pat the young Etone on the shoulder.
Back into the meeting room they go. Immediately Talise takes ahold of a bottle.
Old Man Ettlesbury's Olde-Fashioned Golden Ale
Casually, Talise pops the top and takes a swig. When Layna returns, the swordswoman raises the bottle to her with a grin. "Hey, there you go! Captain again and with the ship ready to hit the high seas. Feels like good times."
She laughs richly. "Oh man, is it ever a story. Lunar, Ghaleon... heck, we even met a giant death whale."
Benedict narrows his eyes a little. "Which flattened a city. Unfortunately."
Talise winces. "Yeaaaaahhhh. There's that."
<Pose Tracker> Tethelle Cirdian has posed.
"I doubt that," Tethelle says, somewhat taken aback by Talise's enthusiasm. "But I'd like to be." That with a grin, though it doesn't last.
'Feast' sounds fine by Tethelle. She's always liked to indulge a little, and now they're back on a planet where alcohol is legal, which also coincidentally means it's a lot easier to get. Tethelle is a lot of things, but 'well-connected in the criminal underworld... on Lunar' was not one of them, and she only really had it when other people scored it for her.
Well, okay, and a couple other times.
Tethelle drops into a seat when invited to. She manages to do so without catching the saber on anything and without apparent effort. "You still need to tell me about that," she reminds Talise, serious for a moment. She explains to Dahlia, "I am Filgaian - you might have guessed. Lunar had a lot of things I wasn't expecting to see."
<Pose Tracker> Sephilia Lampbright has posed.
Sephy grouses a bit. "I'm just short, okay? It's not my fault! It's...good to see you too." She rummages in her satchel and produces a meat pie, wrapped in a handkerchief. "I brought you a meat pie?"
<Pose Tracker> Rosaline Calice has posed.
"You've done amazing work," Rosaline tells Dahlia, before they reach the meeting room. Talise pats her on the shoulder, which is once again padded with probable mysterious Ethos technology.
"I was, um." Rosaline takes a deep breath. "I was a Hellion for some time, as you might remember. Ida too." Chances are the crew was told, even if they didn't run into Rosaline and Ida in this form. (And the better for it, too-- This would be a very different reunion if the Ruby Empress had been reduced to ashes.) "We're not anymore," she explains, obviously, "so I missed some of it. I didn't meet Ghaleon, for instance."
Talise brings up the 'giant death whale'. "...Yes. It was the last thing we saw before we left Lunar. Most of Azado has been destroyed, if not all of it, though we did end up bringing a good amount of refugees to Adlehyde." Another headache of a situation, though at least they're alive.
<Pose Tracker> Seraph Lanval has posed.
The meeting room is well-stocked with alcohol... right now. If they are not careful, it will be merely adequately stocked. That is a warning, because if trends would continue unnoticed or unaddressed after that, well...
That's a crisis for later, as Lanval for once manages to sit in a chair and not just flop over on the ground (this is a near-inevitability). He's hunched over and sometimes resting face-down on the meeting room table, but he sure sounds like he's enjoying himsmelf as more of the useful exposition is covered by the others.
His laughter slows a bit at mention about Ghaleon and a 'giant death whale.' "Mmmm... yesh... shure did..." The thought of seeing that thing face-to-face was sobering indeed. Speaking of 'sobering,' the earlier commentary aside about alcohol stocks, he's pacing his drinking better than usual... like he just might be aware of how precious the truly, truly good stuff is on Filgaia.
If only he could maintain that level of reservation and temperance at all times ever!!
"Ahhh... I gotta shay, the lasht... two dragon cyclesh, maybe... mosht eventful timesh of my life with Talishe and the resht... mmm." He starts mumbling some other useless, sort of self-aggrandizing things to pass the time. Kind of like he just enjoys having the company and audience at all.
<Pose Tracker> Layna Manydays has posed.
"That so? Wouldn't mind seeing her in action sometime, then." Victoria comments in response toward Talise, glancing toward Tethelle. "Curious to see what a 'Priestess of the Sword' is capable of."
Sephilia's reaction, meanwhile, gets a chuckle out of her.
"...Yeah, good to see you too. So, you lot went to Lunar, huh? Did you get to check on your family?" She asks Sephilia, accepting the meat pie.
Once in the meeting room Victoria takes a seat and looks toward Dahlia as she addresses Rosaline.
"Yes, I remember. It's good to see that." She replies...though the mention of Ghaleon gets her attention.
"The Dragonmaster?" She asks, for clarification. Layna nods, though she also sends Talise a grin and a nod of agreement.
"Aye, and he's a right blaggard, at that. Lanval just wanted to ask a question and he spat in his face. Metaphorically, I mean." Layna replies with a distasteful frown.
"And this...'giant hate whale'..." Dahlia says, and leans back a little. "...As much as I would have liked to see Lunar once more, I feel like we might have 'dodged a bullet', to use a Filgaian phrase."
Dahlia shakes her head, and looks toward Tethelle.
"I hope you were able to enjoy your time there, the Dragonmaster and 'giant hate whales' aside. Anyway...everyone, feel free to help yourselves to the drinks." She says...though Layna immediately raises a hand.
"I'll get yours, Lanval, don't worry." She says, standing up and stressing a point.
<Pose Tracker> Sephilia Lampbright has posed.
"I did! This is one of Mom's very own meat pies! I got the recipe, too!" She pauses. "Ghaleon! That guy's a jerkbutt. The whale thingy was scary too...I...really need to learn to swim, I guess..."
<Pose Tracker> Talise Gianfair has posed.
Talise can get effusive when she's in good spirits. And she's in better spirits than she's been in awhile.
Less so on the topic of Sin, especially when Rosaline elaborates. Talise presses her lips together and takes a sip of her drink. "It's not something I know that much about, and Layna saw more than I did. I don't even have any stories about it. But apparently they call it Sin. For all I know it came from Spira, though Althena only knows where Spira is. Or if it's anything more than a myth."
Talk turns to Ghaleon. Talise grimaces and leans back, looking over to Rosaline. "Dragonmaster Sasshole himself. Ghaleon jumped me one day in that cavern where we found the mural of Rastaban and he just kicked the tar out of me and made a bunch of cryptic remarks. I still don't know what the point was."
Then something occurs to her, and she blinks. "Oh," she fills in, reaching back to pat the hilt of her sword. "We figured out where this came from. Apparently it's forty five hundred years old and belonged to a guy named Fredo, who traveled with the first Dragonmaster. We even fought his ghost again!"
<Pose Tracker> Seraph Lanval has posed.
"Mmmm." Lanval quiets up a bit just thinking about it. They are out of Lunar now, right? He's worried for the lot of them. They got the thing there that did in Azado, to say nothing about the failing Boundary... there might not be anything left for him to do, but after a good five-hundred years, almost nothing could ever pry that sort of thought out of--
"Aw, thanksh, yer a peach...! I could ushe shomethin' ta drink--" He could use everything to drink!! Okay, that something could pry that sort of thought out of sight or mind.
<Pose Tracker> Tethelle Cirdian has posed.
Tethelle seems to be debating if she can tilt her chair back and balance it. She decides not to.
Yet.
"I enjoyed it," she replies to Dahlia, without going into detail. And she did. "But I have things to do here. The Metal Demons..." Well, she doesn't think small, and Tethelle's stormy expression doesn't lend itself well to detailed questions.
Tethelle does not know anything about Sin either. "To deserve such a name, they must truly fear it," she says. "And apparently it was frightening for everybody... As for the Dragonmaster - well, he was all that and more. I can't say I liked anything I heard about him."
She does confirm, "We really did see that ghost, though. I have something from him, actually. Not that, I suppose, that that's proof if you don't believe it."
<Pose Tracker> Sephilia Lampbright has posed.
Sephy holds out her journal. "I took sketches of the whole thing!"
<Pose Tracker> Rosaline Calice has posed.
"Sin," Rosaline repeats, muttering. "What a name..." She decides, after a moment, to pour herself something non-alcoholic. She might be more inclined to party later, but for now she's in a bit of an austere mood.
"The Guardians... I mean, we heard the voices of Filgaia's Guardians. They called it 'Obsession'. I suppose that can be a sin, in a lot of ways." She looks away. "From the sound of things it's very ancient, maybe even more than the Guardians themselves." Some... how? Luckily Rosaline doesn't subscribe to the belief that they created Filgaia.
She considers, then downs her glass before pouring herself some of that ale.
"They said we needed to escape, to find something called the 'Lost Sanctuary' and to warn the Guardian Lords that it still lived. Though I don't know what they could possibly do, as they have their hands full with the Metal Demons still."
"I can believe you've met a ghost," Rosaline says, a bit more lightly. As a former nekomancer, she certainly believes in them.
<Pose Tracker> Layna Manydays has posed.
"Really now! That's quite the honor." Victoria comments with a grin, and then nods. "But yeah, if you're going to be on a ship, you really oughta know how to swim."
"I'm sure we'd be glad to teach ya, lass." Layna agrees, then looks back to Talise as she explains where her sword came from. Dahlia does not inquire further on the Metal Demons front - Tethelle's expression says all that needs to be said.
"Fascinating..." Dahlia murmurs. "I would not have expected that. And you fought his ghost?"
And Tethelle apparently had something belonging to him...
While she comments on this Layna stands up, grabbing two bottles. One she keeps for herself, the other she hands over to Lanval.
"You had any of the good Filgaian stuff yet? It's a lot easier to get here than on the Silver Star." She asks, listening as they discuss that creature, Sin.
"...Aye, I remember that. No idea what this 'Lost Sanctuary' is, though." She comments with a shrug. "Maybe these Guardian Lords can do more to this 'Sin' than they can to the Metal Demons."
After this, she glances toward Dahlia.
"...So, what've you lot all been up to?" She asks.
"Mostly what you've seen outside. After you all...disappeared, we went to the ruins of July to find out what happened. Unfortunately...it's filled with monsters, and we weren't able to explore further in." Dahlia explains. "After that...I decided to gather everyone and reunite with those still remaining at the Empress. The hardest part was smuggling all of the Gears across the border."
Layna chuckles.
"Aye, I bet. So they're here, then?" She asks. Dahlia nods.
"Yes, they're all here. We've made some Filgaian allies, and we used their help. They're also the ones responsible for the rails you see outside. They're confident that they'll be enough to transport the Empress to the water. ...And now that you're here, I think we're ready to find out if that's truly the case." Dahlia replies. Layna leans back. She tries to hide the satisfied smile on her face.
"...Aye. Aye, I think I'm ready. After the feast, of course." She replies.
<Pose Tracker> Talise Gianfair has posed.
Swirling her drink around her bottle, Talise takes a long swig from it, as if to wash away a bad taste in her mouth with the better taste of legal beer. (Thanks, Althena!)
She nods as Victoria and Dahlia questions further. "Yeah! Apparently he set it up so his ghost would come back and test people's worthiness? I mean, Althena knows how I got the sword the first time. But I think the second time confirmed it." She trails off with another little swig.
"The Lost Sanctuary? That's interesting," Talise muses as she sets the beer down against her chest, rocking back in her chair. "Whatever this critter is - Sin, Obsession - it's definitely bad news. It's the kind of thing that shouldn't be able to happen in Meribus. The Barrier ought very well to keep horrible nasties like that out.
"I mean, obviously we oughta go looking for that Lost Sanctuary. And maybe it'll help us stop Mother, too," she suggests. "Having the Empress back in the water would sure be useful for that. For all we know, the Sanctuary's on some other continent."
<Pose Tracker> Tethelle Cirdian has posed.
Tethelle was mid-drink when Rosaline gives her explanation.
She manages to avoid spit-taking it across the table, but only by practically choking on it instead, coughing and sputtering for a few long, long moments. She ends up thumping her fist against her chest to get herself to stop.
"You heard the Guardians speak against it?" Tethelle looks straight at Rosaline, as if trying to tell the accuracy of the statement by staring. "You heard them know about something from Lunar, and tell people they need to inform the Guardian Lords of it in person?" Her voice gets louder as she goes.
Then she slumps back in her seat. "I don't believe this. I can't. I need a drink. And we will certainly need to do that, but there is one problem. The Lost Sanctuary is... well, it's in the name. Perhaps having the Empress on the ocean will help, because I don't know that it's on Ignas," she agrees with Talise.
<Pose Tracker> Talise Gianfair has posed.
Talise blinks at Tethelle a couple of times, then rocks forward in her chair again. "...Yeah, that is a little odd. Apparently Lunar and Filgaia are tied together way more than we ever thought. But then again, the original people from Lunar did come from Filgaia...."
<Pose Tracker> Seraph Lanval has posed.
Lanval accepts the bottle with a happy little clench of that fat hand of his, the oft-load of the bunch smiling that much wider for it. "Mmmm... shure have." 'The good Filgaian stuff.' He's had Filgaian stuff. There's a lot of it, but... well, no use completing that sentence, he's just going to have to get used to it, as discussion starts going towards the Lost Sanctuary and what the crew of the Ruby Empress has been up to. There is a funny background event as Lanval realizes his bottle is closed in a most inconvenient way that's difficult for him to overcome. (Seraph-proof bottlecaps! His one weakness!!!)
Then, Tethelle starts choking and Lanval stops what he's doing, eyes opening half-lidded as she puts a finer point on just how urgent that is.
"Y-Yeah, I heard 'em talk 'bout that too--" He is quieted by her increasing volume, as if intimidated or perhaps correctly informed about how big a deal this really is. Tethelle says she needs a drink--
Lanval's bottle gently slides over to within her reach. He believes her that she needs it that much more than he does.
"Well... ya can count on me," they rarely can, he's not that great at math it turns out, "ta go lookin' fer it, Tethelle... 'caushe, well, guessh I already lent myshelf to the Guardiansh what with that statue of... uhh... which one'sh the one that'sh sheen with the creschent shape?" The Moon Guardian, he means.
<Pose Tracker> Rosaline Calice has posed.
"I suppose the first step would be the find this lost sanctuary," Rosaline says, sounding tired. "But it wouldn't be very lost if it was easy to find..."
She looks at Tethelle with concern as she nearly chokes. "That's right. I'm sorry I didn't tell you earlier. They sounded... fearful. I mean, who wouldn't?"
Talise mentions the Boundary. "It's a shame Hiro and the others didn't get to see Althena after all. I still don't understand..." She shakes her head. "It would have likely answered some questions if they had managed to."
She also mentions the people of Lunar originating from Filgaia. Rosaline puts her index fingers together, tracing a line. "It almost sounds as if it could have originated here. They also mentioned something about the Elw... It's possible that, when Althena brought her people to Lunar," Rosaline splits her fingers into two distinct lines, "she took Sin with her, and perhaps even one or two of the Guardians. That would explain the statue of..." Lanval isn't sure either, so she lets Tethelle finish that sentence.
"Or maybe the Elw could have transported it. They did have the technology to travel between our worlds. But then, to carry something that big would be tremendous. The teleporter we used certainly couldn't. Praise be."
But Layna's crew speaks of putting the ship back into the water, which may help with the search. "What, really?" Rosaline brightens up considerably. Stepping foot on a real pirate ship was already a childhood dream, but surely Layna and the rest would agree that a land-locked pirate ship really isn't the same thing.
<Pose Tracker> Tethelle Cirdian has posed.
"Celesdue," Tethelle says, halfway through getting the bottle open. "Guardian of the Moon. Of all the Guardians, I would have expected her to be associated Lunar the most. When I first met Talise, I thought that perhaps Althena was Celesdue called by another name."
Yeah, she's going to need that drink.
<Pose Tracker> Sephilia Lampbright has posed.
Sephy nods sagely. "I have started an entire section of my journal on the connections between them."
<Pose Tracker> Layna Manydays has posed.
"Maybe he saw potential in you? I think that's how that sort of things work." Victoria replies with a shrug.
As for the Barrier and Sin...Layna shrugs, too.
"That thing...it seems to work on different rules, aye? You'd think having a thing like that around would just put out a fountain o' Malevolence, but there wasn't even a single mote o' purple vibes to be seen." Layna comments. "Maybe it was able to slip through 'cause of that."
Tethelle is understandably a little concerned about what the Guardians said.
"Aye, I heard it, too." Layna confirms. She had said she'd tell them later, but...well, later was now, she supposes! As an apology she stands up, going to the drinks and grabbing another bottle to pass over to Tethelle.
Rosaline has her own theories on the matter too, which Layna listens to.
"Elw...that lot keeps comin' up, huh?" Layna comments, massaging the back of her neck. A part of her was beginning to dread it. It always seemed to be linked with bad news lately.
"But don't worry, aye? If this 'Lost Sanctuary' is anywhere on the sea, then you have my word, the Empress can reach it. Anytime you want to go anywhere, just hit me up, aye? ...Honestly, I barely even need the excuse to get onto the sea." Layna comments.
Dahlia, meanwhile, nods toward Rosaline.
"Indeed. We have a plan lined out requiring the use of two Gears to push it along the rails and support it into the sea. And with the Captain here, we have our best Gear pilot back. ...Besides that, I know she would not let us hear the end of it if we went through with it without her." Dahlia replies, and Layna grins.
"Damn right. It'll be good to be in the cockpit again." She says.
Around this time, the chef Wilhelm arrives with the requested feast. It had been far too long since she had had his cooking...but Layna is at least polite and waits until everything is sorted out.
"Looks good as ever, Wilhelm!" Layna comments, and the chef bows polite. "It is a special occasion. I wish I could stay, but I've prepared one for the rest of the crew, as well."
And with that, he departs.
<Pose Tracker> Sephilia Lampbright has posed.
Sephy is by now looking expectantly at Victoria. "Did you like the meat pie?"
<Pose Tracker> Talise Gianfair has posed.
Frowning, Talise knits her fingers together and leans forward. "I'm not sure she brought the Guardians along... but we have to think the Elw went along. I mean, that thing under Azado was an Elw ruin. I think even that armour I found is Elw armour." But then Tethelle makes a point, and Talise frowns, cupping her cheek in a hand. "...Yeah, that's a weird one too, right? How's Celesdue fit into all this?"
Shrugging, Talise leans in to plant an elbow on the table, the other hand lazily teasing the mouth of her bottle of beer. She glances between Layna, Rosaline and Tethelle. "Maybe Elder Halle would know something? We could always hit the Baskar Colony and ask her. Either way, I think it's worth looking for. 'Cause even if that damn whale is up there on Lunar, we've also got Mother to deal with. You heard what Siegfried said - Mother's awake now."
She sets her jaw. "Hopefully we've sealed enough Statues to at least put some kind of limit on her," she starts, before Dahlia starts talking about plans.
"If you guys still kept Alexander -" Talise's Gear. "-I'll help!"
And then food gets here. Talise picks up her knife and fork, and just grins.
<Pose Tracker> Seraph Lanval has posed.
"Huhhhh... that makesh perfect shenshe ta me... when they showed up, yep, took all the Malevolence with it far ash I could shee..." Lanval inwardly muses about how strange it is that the idea of the Malevolence disappearing almost entirely is freaky for how much trouble it causes Lunar - and can do awful things to his own kind too. Sin made it go away by sheer presence. Filgaia has... almost none, aside from a few patches. He should breathe easier, but just the very idea of it is so weird as to be uncomfortable - like there's something more to it.
Then the feast arrives.
"FEEEAAAAASHT!" Enthusiastically calls Lanval. Oh yeah, he loves the feasting. The drinking, the feasting, just the whole mirth. His form of polite thanks is how he's going to somehow magically shove a whooooole lot of that food in his mouth like it ain't no thing. Seraphim technically don't even need to eat - that's just how much he enjoys it!
As probably evidenced by his very appearance, attained through forbidden mathematical truths that Lunar is not yet ready for. It's easy for him to use this as an excuse to put present worries at the back of his mind while the mortals seem to have finer details in better focus, but once the feast is over... then what?
<Pose Tracker> Rosaline Calice has posed.
"There was that, too..." Rosaline says, when Layna mentions the Malevolence. "Maybe it was feeding on Malevolence? And that's why it's so powerful."
But at least there's a plan forming to try and find the Sanctuary. Talise mentions Elder Halle, too. "That's an idea... If someone would know more, it's her. ...So long as someone else talks to her, I always feel a bit awkward doing it, myself."
"I should go back to November City at some point and ask if I can still use Zephaniah. I... haven't really announced my return to the Church yet. No one in Adlehyde really asked questions, they were just happy for the help with the wounded and the refugees. And Etones vanish all the time, so it's only natural..." There's a quiet melancholy in her voice. A homecoming with no actual home to come back to.
But a feast arrives! Rosaline's nostrils twitch and her ears perk up at the smell. "Oh! Thank you so much, Wilhelm. I'm starving." She looks to Lanval with a smile, then begins to help herself too. With so many dreary topics, it's good to take a moment to celebrate what they can.
This may not be Rosaline's homecoming, necessarily, but it's a homecoming, and one she's welcome to. That's nice, too.
<Pose Tracker> Tethelle Cirdian has posed.
One bottle is probably enough for Tethelle.
"I would like to see you move a ship that way," Tethelle says, having recovered from her surprise and momentary distress. "Anyhow, talking to the Elder is not a bad idea. I would be happy to speak with her if you don't want to." Tethelle, of course, is a Baskar - if, from Halle's perspective, a weird schismatic Baskar.
She gets stormy-faced again at the talk of Mother, and only relaxes when the food comes out. That'll keep her busy for a while.
<Pose Tracker> Layna Manydays has posed.
Victoria has been busy talking, but she has been working on that meat pie, and before long she's finished it.
"...Yeah, it was pretty good." She admits to Sephilia.
"Elder Halle...? Oh right, she was the one who hosted that one talk that lead to the statue-sealing rush in the first place." Layna comments. Dahlia sends her a flat look.
"Yes, I remember that one. If I recall, you had me do the actual note-taking." She replies.
But that's a good point too - Mother's awake, and that leads to a whole host of problems.
"We've put it with the others, yes. It is ready for you whenever you want it." Dahlia replies, then looks toward Layna for confirmation.
"Aye, Talise. I'd be honored to have your help putting the Empress to sea again." Layna says with a grin.
But then, there's the feast. Knowing that before too long the Empress would finally be on the sea once more...it made it a little difficult to concentrate, but she digs into her own meal with fervor.
This would be a good day.