Firiona Vie Everquest

A loud shriek stopped Mujbura in her steps, her eyes wide she looks in the direction the shriek came from. As if she could protect him, Mujbura moves herself between Stormfollower and Tajer. A valiant effort, though needless as it was. She readies her hands to cast then looks upon Tajer curiously only glancing back towards Stormfollower, "Is she mad?"

Stormfollower looked over at Tajer with worried thoughts. He had made his apprehensions clear at breakfast that morning. His mind had been drifting between ancestral memories of a tribe nearly destroyed by blood starved vampires and a son who lay dead for craving immortality. His only certainty was that the island of the dead held the hidden connection between the two events without indicating whether the outcome would be good or evil.

Without much thought to the consequence he handed the tiller to Mujburra. "Here. follow that reddish cat ahead."Then as an afterthought he left some parting instructions."Left is right and right is left." He pointed ahead at the twin hulled ship that had been leading them since they had set out the previous morning.

He grabbed an idle halyard and swung smoothly over to Tajer on it. He placed his great palm securely on her middle back. "The pain is great, for your body is not used to the discomforts of mortal life." He rubbed her back firmly working out the knots of her bed riddance."Tell us how we can help you."

They were moving along more swiftly now with the increase in wind yet at the vanguard of the small fleet the sleek tri-hulled scout ships had heaved-to and come to a stop.

Sineliniel recalled Fluffy to his previous position of standing guard off the bow.

Gilliadson checked his blade. The faint glow that it usually displayed around the undead was gone. He was not sure if Tajer had completed the journey to becoming mortal again or if Jetamio's magic had masked the Teir`Dal's essence as she had done with Kalsari. Gilliadson hoped for the former and held his position at the bow.

Myrikel approached Stormfollower and Tajer, her hands radiating the familiar blue aura of the paladin's Lay of Hands ability. Myrikel knew that Tajer was a priestess but figured that she was probably spiritually drained at the moment.

"Do you need healing, Priestess?" Asked the Love-bearer.

She looks up at Stormfollower with big, amber eyes of insecurity. "He wants me to steer this thing?!" she yells in her head. She bites her lower lip then looks over at the ship in front of them as he gives her further instruction. This thing, this huge, lurking thing, and she was supposed to steer it? She hides her fear and nods confidently in Stormfollowers direction. Chewing her lower lip she keeps repeating in her mind, "Right is left, left is right. Right is left, left is right."

Her eyes lock on the ship ahead as she continues to repeat the steering mantra in her mind. The wind picks up moving them more quickly she glances down at Stormfollower then continues her mantra. Seeing the other ships stop she wonders if, or even how, she should stop this thing. Her eyes dart between the forward ship and Stormfollower. What should she be doing? "Okay, right is left and left is right. But what is stop?" her mind wonders. She chews her lower lip a bit more then mutters, "Ummm...."

Seeing the forward ships of the fleet holding their position and noticing that the Goblin Queen is going to collide with one of them, Sineliniel commands Fluffy to stop the ship. Fluffy, being an air elemental, blows a reverse breeze into the sails that brings the Goblin Queen to a halt until Stormfollower is ready to resume his position at the helm.

As the ship slows to a halt she realizes her fingers are wrapped so tightly around the tiller her leather gloves creak. She looks over at Sineliniel with grateful eyes and gives a slight nod. "So what now?" she thinks to herself then looks over at Stormfollower. She was unsure who this female was to him, but it was obvious he cared about her. Her eyes wander from that of the other ships, the placement of this ship amongst them, the others on board and Stormfollower. Not knowing what else to do, other than what she was instructed, she stands there feeling a bit silly steering a ship that has come to a stop. But still, she prefer at least this place upon the boat watching everyone from a distance. Though, ever faithful eyes of caution are kept upon the brother of her heritage.

Gilliadson sets about closing the sails so the Elemental can stop blowing until all are ready to resume the journey.

P`Nala summons her sokokar mount.

"I am going to ride ahead and see what stopped the fleet"

P`Nala rode her mount into the air and flew toward the front of the Fleet.

Up ahead stretching beyond three of the five horizons the water was turned black as night. The lead ships were stopped within several yards of the strange liquid but none of their captains dared enter. All of them stood dumbfounded on their decks wondering what to do next.

Tajer stood uncertainly by the rail, one hand still on its polished surface. He had asked her how they could help her, but she didn't even know what they had done to her already. A sudden breeze caught her drying hair, carrying with it grim portents.

She could sense the tension from the fleet, some caused by the appearance of the Dark Elf on the deck of the Goblin Queen, but that was nothing compared to the borderline terror from the front of the fleet. Soon Tajer was forgotten as they craned to see what lay ahead.

Keeping her hand on the rail she moved towards the bow, her steps still a little uncertain but she was feeling stronger by the minute. She saw the black liquid floating on the water, the scent blowing off it seeming strangely familiar. With a frown she wondered if she would be associated with this anomaly.

He had seen this before, but never so close to one of Wolf Cults camps. This toxic sludge was sent up by that most primal of creatures known to Stormfollower and his tribe only as the Undersea Magician and only glimpsed at from his contact with them in the realm of dreams. The blackness was as thick as squid ink and would not settle to the ocean floor. Instead it would cling to whatever surface lay across the waters top and stick fast without hope of cleaning. There would be no diving for the pearls that lay in the beds ahead this season. The birds would leave the Wolf Cult Clans skies and the fish would not spawn up the sacred river on the Island of the Dead this year. Yet all of these traumas were of little concern to Stormfollower compared to the eminent visit that he knew would certainly accompany this bleak event. This only happened when the beast came to the surface to hunt. Once as a child The great shaman had witnessed its coming.

He remembered seeing the eight colossal tentacles rise from the water thick as the boreal trees at the waterline and stretching up into the clouds. Down they fell smashing boats like paper toys and laying waste to the seven barges of food they took to relieve the hunger of another tribe. He had watched in horror from the stern of their escape skiff as his uncle Oxbalm rowed them to supposed safety amongst the ichor befouled weeds of a kelp bed with hopes that they would not be seen. Then the crunching. He could still hear it now and the way it ground their ships to pulp with its water soaked thrashing of a beak the size of the Goblin Queen herself.

They were in great danger. Panic stricken captains looked to Sormfollowers boat even as he raised the flag of retreat.

"Raise the sails Gilliadson, and prepare to do battle!"

"Battle?" she whispers to herself. She had, of course, assumed this trip was merely a formality to bury his dead son. But, battle? She would ready herself as she looked to the heavens asking Tunare for her blessings upon herself and the boats occupants.

Her tiny frame climbs atop the railing by the tiller. Whispering yet another prayer to The Mother she unsheaths her sword taking a long leap towards Stormfollower. The breath of The Mother slips beneath her tiny body lowering her safely to the ships deck next to him. Another quick prayer brings a small gift of The Mother to Mujbura. A tiny bear while not physically strong, becomes a boost in spiritual assistance.

Pulling her shield from her back she looks up at Stormfollower, "Tell me what you need of me, brother." The typically shy girl smiles up at him with a confident and playful smile, "Or, I could just jump in where our Ancestors lead my sword."

Gilliadson raised the sails and drew his blade. Sineliniel summoned her mount and cast her levitation spell. Fluffy flew to her side ready to battle anything she commanded.
P`Nala quickly returned to the Goblin Queen and called her animated blades. Sineliniel summoned some weapons and armor and equipped the pets. Gilliadson prayed the blessings of Brell upon the group while P`Nala cast her spells of Mental Enhancement, Magical Protection and Haste. Finally Sineliniel cast her fiery shield upon them all. Myrikel drew her holy blade and stood at the ready next to her Father.

"Shall I summon Mirthan to us, Master Stormfollower?" Sineliniel called out to the Great Shaman.

Suddenly realizes the ship has started moving again and she has left the post she was assigned. Mujbura makes a bit of an "eep" sound and hurridly slipps her shield onto her back and sheaths her sword. She glances back at Stormfollower shrugging, "Yeah,,,, that round thing, I know." smiles a bit as if the word "Battle" still didn't echo in her mind and leaps up the stairs to the tiller. Gripping it tightly she whispers to herself, "Left is right, right is left."

Stormfollower quickly began summoning all the helpful spirits he could as the rest of the ships began to tack back the way they had come. Up ahead in the thickness of the black ooze something stirred as thick bubbles broke the surface of the foul smelling mess.

Jetamio was observing Tajer when the call to prepare for battle rang out. She told Aidhan to take Tajer back below deck before she joined the others. By the time she was beside her husband, the skies were already full of storm clouds swirling darkly overhead awaiting her request. Fire and ice were also hers to command, but the storm was her favourite. She eyed Mujbura on the tiller and held a hand out to her. While she had no idea how skilled the younger woman was, two druids were better than one.