2019-05-24: Any Port In A Storm... Unless You're The Runner
- Log: 2019-05-24: Any Port In A Storm... Unless You're The Runner
- Cast: Layna Manydays, Talise Gianfair, Sephilia Lampbright, Seraph Lanval
- Where: Thunder Plains
- Date: May 24, 2019
- Summary: After finding shelter from the everlasting storms of the Thunder Plains, Fox Company takes the time to discuss more theories as regards the mysterious sailing ship called the Runner. Why is it out there, in an ocean always threatened by Sin, and what are the goals of those at the helm?
==================================================<* Thunder Plains *>================================================== The Thunder Plains, occasionally known as the Gandof Thunder Plains, are an open, barren landscape connecting Guadosalam to the Macalania region. It is an area that is constantly - yes, /constantly/ - bombarded by lightning and thunder. Crossing the plains was all but impossible due to the never-ending storm, until an Al Bhed named Bilghen set up several towering lightning rods to draw the storms' fury and provide travelers with a (comparatively) safe road. He was in the process of setting up the final tower when he was struck by lightning and killed, something which lesser minds would regard as irony, but which the faithful know is poetic justice for a blasphemer against Yevon. I mean, they'll still /use/ the road. Because Yevon wants them to. Clearly. BGM: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Gea_xz-cJ8
<Pose Tracker> Layna Manydays has posed.
The Gandof Thunder Plains - the long stretch of land between Guadosalam and the Macalania region. Known for its near-constant lightning storms, travel was somewhat dangerous, but made a good deal safer by the lightning rods strewn throughout it.
Travel through it was necessary if one wanted to reach the rest of the main continent, however...but, for those who sought thrills, there was a certain excitement in seeing how far one could get through it.
Unfortunately, as heavy as the storms can get on a good day, it can still get worse. This is one of those worse days - the rain had intensified, creating a sheet so thick one could barely see an inch in front of their face. Lightning crashed down, with greater fury than before.
For the Fox Company, who had been traveling through it at the time, this meant a brief detour. Thankfully, there was a branch of Rin's Travel Agency here - the Al Bhed-ran rest stops scattered throughout Spira.
For the time being, they've decided to wait it out there. It's brightly lit, not to mention warm and cozy - especially compared to what they just went through.
As dangerous as it seemed outside, in here the sound of the storm is reduced to a pleasant pitter-patter of rain against the building, accompanied by the occasional flashes of lightning and cracks of thunder.
It can actually be quite relaxing, especially when accompanied by friends and a warm beverage.
Layna, currently sitting back with her feet up in one of the rooms intended for traveler's use, thankfully, has both.
"It's really comin' down out there, aye?" She comments with a chuckle to herself and a sip of her drink.
<Pose Tracker> Talise Gianfair has posed.
MORE LIKE THE GANONDORF THUNDER PLAINS
"Yeah. It's really coming down hard." That's Talise. She's propped herself up on a chair with her feet propped up even higher on the edge of a piece of furniture, leaning the chair back with her arms crossed behind her head. Her sword and archlute have been leaned in a corner, her armour stood up there as well, leaving her in her shorts, tank top and boots.
She hasn't said much tonight. She finished a couple of drinks and sunk into thought.
Now, though, she clears her throat. "...I've been thinking.
"Remember those fishermen who told us about the Runner? That ship they keep seeing racing around on the horizon."
<Pose Tracker> Sephilia Lampbright has posed.
"It sure doesn't seem like it's ever going to stop," Sephilia replies to Layna and Talise. Sephy's not drinking, and has been mostly using the opportunity to organize her notes and sketches into a less haphazard organization.
"Oh yeah," Sephy says, in response to Talise's query. "I was just looking at that sketch I made to show them if it was the same kind of ship."
<Pose Tracker> Layna Manydays has posed.
It's been quiet, but that's not a bad thing. There's something to be said about enjoying a quiet moment with friends - enjoying each other's company even if no one says a word.
"I'm sure it'll let up... Uh, eventually." Layna remarks with a glance toward Sephilia, then looks toward Talise as she clears her throat.
Talise brings up the Runner and Layna pauses, thinking back.
"...Aye, I remember. What about 'em?" She asks.
<Pose Tracker> Talise Gianfair has posed.
Talise crinkles her nose a little. "I'm not sure," she admits. "It's just been on my mind. I guess...."
For a few seconds, the swordswoman goes quiet. Then she swings her legs down from the table, bootheels touching the ground again. Resting her elbows on her thighs, she leans forward, cupping her chin in one hand.
"...Well. We saw what Sin did to basically everyone. So how could a ship still survive out there on the seas? And why would Sin let it?" She frowns. "...And who could it be? I used to hear stories sometimes about pirates who claimed they'd found Spira...."
<Pose Tracker> Sephilia Lampbright has posed.
"Maybe..." Sephy hesitates. She shakes her head. "Maybe whoever's on the ship knows something we don't about avoiding Sin," she says.
It is not what she was going to say, but her Sephy-sense is tingling and telling her that launching into enthusiastic ghost ship theories while Talise is so pensive might not be the right way to respond.
"If only we could go looking for the ship, or knew where it might appear next and when..."
<Pose Tracker> Layna Manydays has posed.
Talise floats a question. How could a ship survive on the seas - how could they let it? Layna opens her mouth...then closes it again, a frown crossing her face as she thinks it over.
"That's...a damn good question." Layna eventually replies, shaking her head. "I don't think there's a ship out there that could outrun that beast - not even the Empress, much as I hate to admit it. I guess the Guard figured out some way to get around it, so, it might be somethin' like that, but..."
She frowns, and thinks it over. Sephilia suggests that they might know something they don't about avoiding it. That certainly seems possible...at the moment, Layna can't think of a good explanation, herself.
<Pose Tracker> Talise Gianfair has posed.
Talise tilts her head in thought, leaning back to look up at the ceiling. "I wonder. Whoever it is must've come here looking for something, if they're in a ship like one of the ones from the mainland. Maybe they're lost somehow."
With a frown, she brushes a lock of her hair back, tucking it into place behind a gently pointed ear. "Worth checking out, in any case. Next time we're near the shore, I plan on asking around and seeing if anyone's seen anything. It might be worth following up on, at any rate."
<Pose Tracker> Sephilia Lampbright has posed.
Sephy considers this. "You know, I hadn't considered that they might be here looking for something, but I guess that would explain why they haven't just gone back home, right?"
So would the ghost ship theory, but Sephy's still not airing it!
<Pose Tracker> Layna Manydays has posed.
Lost? Layna considers that for a moment. That seems plausible - it would explain a lot, though still left some questions unanswered.
"...I guess that's another thing to add to the list o' questions to ask 'em, if we ever get a hold o' them." Layna replies with a shrug.
A ghost ship...that's possible, too, but like Sephy she doesn't voice it yet.
Talise mentions her plan, and Layna nods.
"Aye, good idea." She agrees.
<Pose Tracker> Talise Gianfair has posed.
Talise eases out of her chair. The ghost ship theory has occurred to her but she doesn't give it voice.
"I wonder how people even got to Spira in the first place," she muses. "It seems like they don't have any concept of Althena here. Even the rules of life and death seem to work a bit differently."
The swordswoman meanders across the room to retrieve the bottle of wine she'd been working on earlier. Picking up her goblet, she pours herself out another glass.
"There were always stories about people who claimed they saw something out east. I always dismissed them as people talking out their butts. But maybe people have come close to Spira before and it's just never been a matter of official record."
<Pose Tracker> Sephilia Lampbright has posed.
"If it had been officially recorded I would know," Sephy says proudly. "My Dad would have come here if he'd known, and he's kinda famous so it's not like nobody would tell him, right?"
Sephy still loves her Dad a lot.
"But do you think there might be some kind of treasure or--" the girl's eyes widen, suddenly, "--or do you think they might even know about a weapon that could stop Sin? Maybe they already have something to stop it--maybe that's why--"
<Pose Tracker> Layna Manydays has posed.
"Aye. If it weren't for all the proof to the contrary, I'd wonder if we ended up on the other moon. This place feels like a whole other world sometimes." Layna replies with a nod toward Talise, then glances toward Sephilia.
"Well, I figure somethin' like this is the sorta thin' people would wanna keep secret - who would believe it, after what all we've seen?" She replies, then shrugs.
"As for a weapon...I figure, if they had it, they woulda used it by now. But if they're lookin' for it..." She considers, then shrugs.
"...Well, that's another reason to go after 'em, I guess." She comments.
<Pose Tracker> Talise Gianfair has posed.
"It does, doesn't it? I wonder how that happened," Talise muses before pausing to take a long drink from her goblet.
She swirls her drink and moves to lean near the window. Raindrops pepper the pane of it in a dull staccato. Looking out into the weather, she lets out a quiet hum of thought. "...There's always been stories of the lost treasure of Spira. It's been an old sailor's tale for as long as I can remember."
With a glance back at Sephilia, she smiles lightly. "I don't know about stopping Sin. But the Summoners seem to have some way to defeat it temporarily."
<Pose Tracker> Sephilia Lampbright has posed.
"What kind of treasure do you think it is?" Sephy asks, rapt.
<Pose Tracker> Layna Manydays has posed.
How, indeed?
"...Y'know...I think a part o' me's a little glad there's still so much mystery to Spira, now that we're finally here." Layna considers, and chuckles slightly as Talise brings up Spira's lost treasure.
"Aye, I was brought up on those tales, too. Every sailor worthy o' the name's dreamed of findin' it themselves - at least at some point." Layna replies, then looks back toward Sephilia.
"...Good question. Can't rightly say, m'self. It could be gold or jewels, but...for all we know, could be somethin' else entirely." She replies.
<Pose Tracker> Talise Gianfair has posed.
Talise flashes Layna a wolfish grin at that, her eyes suddenly glittering. "I know, right? It feels like we're writing our own stories every day. Whatever we find here will be amazing. And even though some things have gone a little squirrelly--"
> that's racist against ratatoskr, talise
"--I think there's still going to be a happy ending."
She rakes her hands through her hair. "I'm not sure if there is a treasure. Maybe it's something the priests of Yevon have. Maybe it's just old drunks' tales. But we've beaten all those sailors here, so we'll have a chance to figure out what's out there."
<Pose Tracker> Sephilia Lampbright has posed.
Sephilia laughs delightedly. "I actually *am* writing our stories, you know!" she points out.
<Pose Tracker> Layna Manydays has posed.
"That's my hope too." Layna replies with a nod toward Talise before looking toward Sephilia.
"Aye, lass, an' we're countin' on you for that!" Layna replies, sending her a grin. Every good adventure needed someone to keep track of it, after all.
Layna leans back, then, her eyes finding the ceiling.
"Aye. Even if there's nothin', the stories and seein' something entirely new is treasure enough for me." She replies, and then chuckles to herself. "...Though I wouldn't say no to actual treasure."
<Pose Tracker> Seraph Lanval has posed.
KRA-KOOM!!!
That was *close*. Closer than the lightning should ever strike. It might make everyone jump! Then, a few moments later, comes a certain stumbling, eternally drunken Seraph whose laughing is labored and even full of weird coughs. (They're weird because Seraphim lack the biological need to breathe, so all coughs sound a little weird.)
Smoke rises from him.
"Ha ha ha... shooo, uh, I tried ta... take care of the rain shome, y'know... buuuuuut I think I mighta made it worshe. Shorry~"
He flops down on his face. "Mmmmph... 'm gonna resht here for a while... 'n not get shtruck by lightning."
Oh, that's why he's smoking.