Quest No Escape

[Talus]

Cortosi Sea - The Errant Spring
Daria | Henry Bauer | Ademar Acero | Sierra | Venanin Sen Shiir

Talus stood on the prow of the small ship that Archon Naja had provided them.

It had been some times since Coraliv had fallen. In that time there had been waves of political intrigue and scandal. Though Talus had expected backlash for release of the royal, the Archon had been surprisingly flippant in her reaction to their failure. This was especially true after the discovery of a very full vault beneath the central Government House.

After that, the fleeing royals were largely forgotten. Time moved on, some of the Apprentices like Talus took their steps out of the Academy and moved under the mentorship of a Dreadlord. Others remained, still needing to undertake their trials of the tower.

Funnily enough though, the step forward was cut off by the sudden call of an angry Archon. Naja had each and every Apprentice on Coraliv brought to Coraliv, Vel Anir having declared her Governor of the city while they 'sorted out' a new government. In a calm seething she told the Apprentices of an escaped Councilor of Coraliv, one who had managed to garner independent support from pirates, smugglers, and even some legitimate merchants.

He now used a small armada of converted merchant vessels to harass traders heading to Anirian waters.

An event that could not be allowed to continue.

Thus Naja had offered them a choice; Find the Councilor and end his rebellion before it began, or she would ensure that each and every one of them did not make it to even the rank of the fourth.

Talus and the others had of course accepted, and that was how they found themselves on the Errant Spring. They had a small crew of twenty men, no soldiers, but at least their fate was all the same if they failed. Talus felt some small amount of comfort at that.

His head shook, and he turned back towards the ship, hoping to find the others in or near the Captains Cabin.

 

[Ademar Acero]

It had been a while since he visited Coraliv, a victory given to Vel Anir and he was acknowledged by other Dreadlords when Naja spoke in regards of him and his other comrades that conquered the island. They failed to capture the royals, but all was forgiven it seemed.

Almost forgiven.

He was pulled from his assignments suddenly as he received word that Naja, now governor of Coraliv, demanded his presence. He heeded her call and was informed of why he was summoned back to the island. Apparently she would put a mountain in his progression had he refused a mission assigned to him and other Dreadlords. Cease and desist a former councilor that fled the island city when they first besieged Coraliv and destroy this rebellion he had amassed.

He accepted without hesitating, be foolish to think over it. Now or never.

Aboard the Errant Spring and walked towards the captain’s quarters and saw a familiar face, one that he was fond of to have as a fellow comrade.

“Talus,” he said in greeting the man and offered a nod of respect.

 

[Harry]

The mentioning of Coraliv had immediately brought a bitter memory to Henry's mind. One of defeat and pain, but also of victory and triumph. It had been several months since then, and the apprentice had drastically changed since Anir's occupation of Coraliv.

Branching web-like scars trailed up his left leg and chest, only stopping on his cheek below his left eye. A burn scar graced the right side of his neck. Both gifts left behind by Luther, an apprentice that was once a friend to him, Talus, and Sierra. A friend that Henry killed atop the Tower for his final trial before graduating from the Academy. Since then he'd changed, and with the influence of his mentor Selene Avar, was nothing like the apprentice from Coraliv. He possessed invaluable experience from the tireless missions he took under Selene's mentorship but was weathered from it. The boy appeared to have aged years and had a cold edge that was absent before.

Hal hadn't thought much of the task at hand. Selene did seem to be particularly annoyed and voiced her frustration over it. It was all very uncharacteristic of her, who was always so composed and dignified. Henry, of course, didn't say a word but found it to be quite funny and almost charming. Displays of emotion of any sort were extremely rare from his mentor.

Many of the apprentices present on the ship only worked with Hal in Coraliv, therefore he didn't have words to speak with any of them. Henry barely even spared words to even his old friends. He stood at the stern of the ship, facing the rolling waves that the vessel left in its wake.

 

[Venanin Sen Shiir]

Lavendar eyes watched the water as the Dreadlord stood with hands clasped on the railing. The waves lapped agaisnt the side of The Errant Spring. The smell of the water and the feel of the spray brought memories of Coraliv to mind. A bitter memory, failure in every way. The dreadlord hadn't even managed to die right, but now redemption was offered.

The apprentice blinked as the scenes of the last months replayed out over the waves. The Dragon was not the least among them. Venanin could still feel its hot whirlwind breath and its icy breath weapon. The smell of rain filling the air as Venanin worked to slay it.

Venanin could still feel its blood. If it had given its power, the apprentice hadn't noticed yet, but things were different. Everything was new.

 

[Talus]

"Ademar." Talus offered the other lad a greeting nod, then motioned him towards the Captain Quarters.

Before he reached the door himself he turned around and placed his fingers between his lips. An intensely loud whistle rang out from him, calling the attention of nearly everyone on the small sailing vessel. Some of the soldiers even looked up.

"My fellow Apprentices." Talus called out, his voice filled with slight amusement. "Please, join me in the Captain's Quarters."

There was no Captain of this ship, only Dreadlord Apprentices and Sailors.

As of yet no one had tried to claim the quarters for themselves. "We need to do some planning."

He said by way of explanation before ducking into the Captain's quarters.

Daria | Henry Bauer | Ademar Acero | Sierra | Venanin Sen Shiir

 

[Sierra]

Sierra was definitely...showing.

Her baby bump was evident beneath that armor. She'd told Hal after the tower. And they couldn't really say more. Do anything more. It wasn't unheard of for an apprentice or graduated Apprentice to get pregnant at the Academy. After all, they were given leave and free-time.

What would be unheard of was if anyone found out it was also Hal's child.

A part of her was surprised that Blackforge had agreed to be paired with her at all. The Dreadlord had agreed to mentor Sierra quickly. And the best part? They hadn't restricted her missions. Yet.

Sierra lowered herself into one of the chairs in the quarters. Hand protectively rested on her stomach beneath the surface of the table. She still had a few months to go. She wondered when Blackforge would order her to stay on campus.

Gaze drifted briefly to Hal.

But she didn't say anything as her eyes shifted to the map spread along the table.

 

[Ademar Acero]

The Apprenticed joined Talus and the others inside the captain’s quarters, opting to stand up rather than sit down at the table and standing near by Talus’ side. As far as he knew they were the chain of command of this merry crew assembled. No captain or an officer that outranked them. Just the apprentices here and they were all equal in terms of ranks, except those with most experience would assume central command with the others as their loyal lieutenants. For Ademar? He wouldn’t challenge for the mantle of command amongst them; in fact, he thought Talus was the lead commander of the crew. Couldn’t find another suitable candidate to fill that role.

His eyes then trailed at Sierra, a look of confusion masked his face before realizing she was pregnant. Not the first nor the last apprentice to be pregnant that did not graduate from the academy. A heavy exhale escaped his nose before shaking his head in disapproval. Disapproval not because of her condition, but disapproval they approved her to be suited for combat and not forcing her to take leave from missions.

All he saw was a liability and someone that’ll slow them down, maybe not even be effective in combat.

“What is the word, Talus?” he looked at his comrade, awaiting for whatever plan he had came up with or whatever discussion they needed to have.

Sierra | Talus | Henry Bauer | Venanin Sen Shiir​

 

[Talus]

Talus too glanced at Sierra, and then to Hal, and then decided it would be best to look at the table in front of him.

He managed to keep his expression entirely blank, though in truth he was filled with a new sort of anxiety that he hadn't really ever felt. Lips thinned, and then he cleared his throat as he pulled out a small piece of charcoal. "We have some word on where the Councilor and his rebels might be hiding."

The Apprentice drew a quick circle around a set of Islands to the South of Cortos.

This information of course had not come from Naja; it had come from Talus' mentor. The man had been surprisingly willing to help, more amused at the situation than anything else.

"Their ships, we think, are moored here when they do not raid." Technically the islands were claimed by one of the free cities, but no settlements or the like existed there. "There's no guarantee they won't be out raiding, but if we take their home base..."

A shrug rolled over his shoulders. "Better than searching the sea for the next month."

 

[Daria]

Daria sat alone in a corner, her expression empty as she watched everyone file into the room. She appeared to be the youngest by far, not even graduated. One might wonder why an unmentored apprentice kept showing up with the big dogs, but a glance at her father's name tended to stop those questions short.

She watched the subtle ticks that rippled through the room as the group settled down: Small glances. The direction of a posture. Tension inside of the fingers. Body language was a thing she had lacked awareness of before, but that was changing now.

She did not always know what to do with the information, but it pleased her father to receive it.

Talus was someone she was familiar with. A long winded mission with him-- her first-- had helped her find her footing out on the field. There was a small bit of respect for the things he had helped her learn. He probably didn't even mean to, but his experience had lended to skill. She had taken pains to observe it.

"And if they aren't there?" She asked, a thing which might surprise him. She hadn't exactly shown she had a voice before.

She was adapting. As she had resolved to.

 

[Harry]

Hal was quick to join Talus and the other apprentices following the sharp whistle that broke the silence onboard. Like the others, Hal sat somewhere between Talus and Sierra, arms folded across his chest. By turning his head, he’d be able to see the other apprentices.

Hal looked at Talus for some time. They had come together from Vel Anir to Coraliv, and then here. Naja had called for them almost immediately after the two completed a mission within the walls of Vel Anir.

He did not meet Sierra’s gaze, but his eyes did fall onto her when she looked down at the map. He only looked away when Ademar spoke. As Talus gave his plan to the others, Hal nodded along.

“If they aren’t there, we could take the base anyways to stage a trap.” He offered his own opinion in response.

 

[Venanin Sen Shiir]

Venanin walked into the cabin with everyone else. Sat down randomly next to the quiet girl in the corner and watched. The light was dim here. The candles unlit while the sun beamed in through the far window of the ship. Perhaps it wasn't dim, just the brightness of the sun was so intense it seemed dim if you weren't illuminated by it.

The group listened as Talus gave a quick debrief of the situation. Ven however was watching the dust motes spinning around one another in the sunlight like tiny dancers or...

"Ships." The apprentice said quietly as the dust moved and spun in the light.

They needed to draw the enemy in or they would just circle and circle like the dust until they were destroyed. Venanin looked at the girl as she spoke and wondered if she had spoken even in the same room as Ven before. Not that it mattered. Ven couldn't help but wonder why the thought had even popped up?

 

[Talus]

"I agree with Hal." Talus said with a nod.

That would be the best plan of action. His head turned slightly towards Ven at the mention of ships, an eyebrow raising slightly as if in question of something being missing.

After a moment he simply continued. "If they are there, we'll attack in stealth. Try to take the leaders before anyone can realize we're there."

He frowned briefly, then marked on the map where the cove would be.

"Agreed?" Talus didn't want to make the assumption that he was in charge.

 

[Ademar Acero]

He gave a questioning look at Ven, confused as what he was trying to say with his single word sentence. Entranced with something? Or perhaps worse than that. He shook his mind away from him and continued to listen to Talus and the others.

“Agreed,” he said with a nod of his head, although he did have a few questions.

“There’s a chance the cove might be defended if they are there with ships on patrol. How will we manage to sneak around that many vessels?”

Only thing he could think they could was if someone amongst them was adept in casting magic to provide invisibility to the naked eye.

 

[Harry]

"A distraction could aid in that," Hal proposed; simply throwing the idea out for consideration, or to stimulate further thoughts among the group. "Though, aside from Sierra and Talus, I haven't the slightest clue what the rest of you can do."

Though, a distraction could very easily work against them. Hal's brows knit together in thought. How easy it would be to merely cast stealth aside and subdue the enemy with overwhelming force. He, Talus, and Sierra could do it easily enough on their own. With the added numbers, they'd be a force that the Councilor's men would stand no chance against. There was a chance that their targets would flee if they announced their presence so eagerly.

"I agree," He finally confirmed. He looked to those that haven't responded yet.