((OOC: BOOM! Feels straight in your face! I thought Matthew's dad was going to be one of the pirates attacking the cargo ships as a boss battle filled with feels but NOPE! Greatly executed on your part, ))

Matthew was silent for a while. After that he sighed with his eyes closed and gratefully accepted his father's saber. He was silent a little bit more, and finally he said, "Should have known. I should have known what he meant when he told us he was sailing somewhere else for fortune. I thought he was off to find treasure or something, but of course he would participate in some stupid war. 'Course he would also go down with his ship, too. He was one of the more honorable men of the sea." Matthew shook his head, his eyes closed. After a few moments of silence he got up, thanked the Captain, and left his quarters without another word. He headed for the cots, made sure to keep his things strapped to him in one way or another, especially his father's saber, and went to sleep, tears rolling down his cheek. The food didn't sit very well in his stomach.

OoC// -bows, and bows again- Thank you, a-thank you! There's more where that came from! And , Tressa could have overheard the whole thing while bringing to coffee to Rous...just a thought! Get your last interactions with everyone, peeps, time skip to the dawn of the third day coming up shortly!

Rous nodded and watched him leave, images of the battle playing over and over in his head. It came down to sheer luck, him winning that duel, and it was almost Jack's sheer luck that almost lead to his death. A stray bullet from one of the many ships had struck Rous square in the side of his shoulder, his left arm going down, the arm he was using to parry thrust after thrust. Just as Jack Lief went to run him through,  the ship next to the one they were on blew it's powder magazines, rocking the deck beneath their feet. It threw Jack's charge off, where if it hadn't, his blade would have pierced Rous'  heart. Both men stumbled, and Rous used the change in momentum to  spin and stab, striking Lief just below his arm pit. With that, the man went down. It was history afterwards.

Rous sighed, and walked back to the window, resting his hands on the sill, he stared out into the night sky,  waiting until the exhaustion creeped in.

((Nah, it'd take too long for her to make coffee for her to hear it.))

Skipping off to the kitchens, Tressa was in high spirits. Already, a chance to prove she was truly useful! Wait, that wasn't accurate - she'd just served a good meal. Shrugging, she pulled down the bag of coffee beans and measured out enough for one brew. Humming happily, Tressa cleaned up what she hadn't managed to because of the call to the captain's quarters. Everything was in proper shape and squared away by the time the coffee was ready. She poured a mug and headed back to her captain; Matthew had left not too long before, as she saw him on his way to his cabin. Whatever Rous had wanted, it obviously hadn't been good, judging from Matthew's expression. But then, it wasn't any of her business, not unless he showed up later for a drink or something. As he was headed towards the cabins, she doubted that.

Knocking gently and calling out, "Captain?" Tressa gave only short pause before entering. "I brought your coffee. I'll just leave it on your desk." She did, and then retired to her own cabin, still humming all the way.

He had turned as Tressa set the coffee down, acknowleding her with a small wave of his hand. He'd let the coffee sit for now, to cool off. After a couple minutes he drank it, nodding in approval of the flavor and strength of it. Fortunately he was tired (and drunk) enough to sleep through the caffeine. He wobbled over to his bed, which was better cor sleeping on drunk, and passed out.

The next day went on without a hitch, and he woke up feeling like a new man. He had woken up right before sunrise, as usual, and made himself some breakfast. He did his usual rounds, checking on everything, before the crew awoke. Then came lunch, and dinner. Nothing of any noteworthiness happened. He went to sleep.

Dawn of the third day, minutes before sunrise. Rous woke up, stretching as he climbed out of his hammock. He checked his maps, doing some quick calculations, before walking outside. He had been right. In the just now brightening sky, he could see the beginnings of the Mountains, the hills rolling below them already. He walked to the front of the ship, grabbing a lamp, with a shutter on it. He signaled to the ship leading the group, 4 short bursts of light, and it responded with just one long burst. He breathed a sigh of relief.

Suddenly, the second ship began frantically blinking their lamp towards them, then another ship, and another. Rous looked towards them, searching the sky, then he saw it. A lone Drake glided between the second and third ship, a scout just checking out the ships. As the sun finally peaked over the horizon, Rous could see the crews of the other ships silently scrambling and assembling, arming up. Rous quietly moved below decks. He shook Blackfire awake, whispering [I]"Miss Blackfire! Quietly beat to quarters, rouse the crew with utmost silence! Get everyone armed up!"[/I]

((Dawn of the Third Day - Rous comes out and sees the creepy-faced moon is about to crash into the merchant ships!))

(( ahaha <3 Can't wait for that on 3ds))

OoC// Glad you got the reference :3

((I'm so glad I'm not the only one to get that reference))

Blackfire slid out of bed to go do as asked. She was only in a loose undershirt and some silky shorts, but that didn't seem to bother her; getting everyone silently awake was more important. She used shadows to help with the task, but instead of mice like the first time they would take her shape. No time to be scaring anyone after all. Matthew's room was first, so she slipped in and gently shook him awake. As she spoke, the shadows did too, "Get up and get yourself armed as quietly and quickly as possible." Then, specifically to him, "Matthew, make sure the gunmen have everything prepared as quick as you can."

Avery busied herself the next day by organizing her office's contents and tending to the crews injuries. She figured the ones who came to visit were trying to test her since she was a female. She let them know as nicely as possible that she could not be pushed around.

The next day she was woken by a little shadow messenger. She stared at it blearily as it relayed its message. "Good, now go away." she ordered it, flicking a small ball of light at it, hoping to scare the shadow away. It didn't flee like she'd hoped but it went away anyways. "Shadows shouldn't move." she muttered to herself. She tossed on clothes, strapped on her knives, and bullied her hair into a braid. The whole routine was done only half awake. The doctor wasn't sure what to do then, she was able to fight, but knew that her duty lay here in case of any injuries.

The orders had been to arm up. She decided to follow those orders, if the captain or any of the other officers had a problem with it she would return and wait until she was needed. Quietly she padded through the halls and up to the main deck to wait for orders.

The days following the big meeting had been full of normal work, deep thought, and silent exploring. There were still many questions that filled Fer’s head as he worked. Previous lives of those around him, areas they were over, going to, and a great deal of self reflection wanting to start changing his ways. Jack had questions of her own that made her extra curious at off hours when she had a chance to explore, quietly lurking around as to not get in trouble incase she stumbled upon an area she wasn’t yet to be. Though she felt the captain knew her every move, she had been anyway, he seemed like the type. But that didn’t stop her.

Being woken by the shadows, Jack blinked twice looking at, or through, or whatever at the curious looking shadow. She wiggled her fingers a little seeing if she could feel them to determine wether she was awake or still dreaming. She was definitely awake. Quiet was easy for her, easily she got up throwing on a long jacket, making it look like she didn’t have much else on and her tall boots. Grabbing her trusty knife, and another, she started her short journey top side, curiously and quietly.

Fer followed the others as he grabbed anything he could to arm himself after being woken. He squinted taking a moment to get use to the rising sun. Looking around for clues as to why they needed to be ready.

Nikki's ears twitched, and she roused herself. She stretched, threw on her clothes, and moments later she was on her way topside. "Hnnn...so what's up, Captain?" she asked, her usually chipper tone more subdued. She covered a wide yawn and took a look around, searching for anything out of the ordinary. When the ship itself seemed to be fine, she turned her gaze outward.

Rous stood topside, watching the drake as it wheeled about. When people started showing topside, he hissed [I]"Everyone, line up on the stairs! Gun crews to your cannons, both sides open! Where's my gunnery officer? ( ). [/I]" He grabbed a rifle from a rack, and thrust it into the hands of Avery. [I]"Hope you know how to use this! Everyone keep quiet! Not a fucking peep! There are drakes flying around our ships! If we stay quiet, they just might go away!"[/I]

He swiftly and silently strode to his cabin, pushing the door open. He grabbed his crescent axe off his coatrack, and stuck his long barreled pistol in his belt, pulling the flintlock hammer back on it already. The axe was designed, besides for leaving nasty, gaping, and guaranteed fatal wounds on humans, elves, etc....for slaying drakes and dragons. Useful for times like these. He strode back to the stairs leading topside, grabbing a rifle for himself, and another for Nikki. [I]"Someone go find Mr. Lief!"[/I]

Nikki grabbed the rifle and headed back below, making her way to where Matthew slept. If he was still abed, she grabbed the blankets and swept them off the bed with blithe disregard for his state of dress, whatever that might be. "C'mon," she exclaimed, though quietly to follow Rous's lead. "We're gonna fight a dragon!"

Tressa groaned at the shadow messenger. She had been up early the first and second morning, but the third she'd stayed up too late giving the kitchens proper organization. She heard the message, but fell back asleep. It wasnot for another few minutes before something in the back of her mind registered, despite sleep, that she was summoned and she jolted awake. The start was just enough to get her sitting up; her drowsiness quickly returned. She rolled out of bed, grabbing her dress and throwing it on without regard for tying on a corset or otherwise properly dressing.

Exiting, she saw Nikki and trailed sleepily along behind her, yawning before she could ask what was going on. Her answer was given in Nikki's words to Matthew. A dragon? Now she was awake. They were going to fight a dragon? She swallowed thickly and felt dizzy, swaying against the wall by Matthew's door.

Tressa groaned at the shadow messenger. She had been up early the first and second morning, but the third she'd stayed up too late giving the kitchens proper organization. She heard the message, but fell back asleep. It wasnot for another few minutes before something in the back of her mind registered, despite sleep, that she was summoned and she jolted awake. The start was just enough to get her sitting up; her drowsiness quickly returned. She rolled out of bed, grabbing her dress and throwing it on without regard for tying on a corset or otherwise properly dressing.

Exiting, she saw Nikki and trailed sleepily along behind her, yawning before she could ask what was going on. Her answer was given in Nikki's words to Matthew. A dragon? Now she was awake. They were going to fight a dragon? She swallowed thickly and felt dizzy, swaying against the wall by Matthew's door.

Blackfire hurried back to her cabin and threw on more presentable clothes, then got her ass back onto the deck and a spot as high as she could. She didn't have a gun in her hands; instead, she reached her hands out as if grabbing something, then slowly drew one hand back like she was drawing a bow string. As she moved, the air around her seemed to shudder and ice crystals began to form up an already loaded bow. Archaic, yeah, but in her experience once things got hot some of those guns would just make them mad, whereas feeling the freeze between their armor plates might send them running.

Matthews eyes nearly shot open when he was spoken to. He nodded at the mention of quietly waking the gunmen. He met Nikki halfway down the hall and gave her a nod and a gesture towards other sleeping crew members saying "Help wake these men up." One by one, Matthew quietly woke all of the crew members with the duty of manning the cannons, and all the best sharpshooters he heard of on board while he was in the cafeteria. They each silently headed towards their stations for the battle to come. He then himself got ready. He grabbed a pouch of ammunition, a sheath for his father's blade, and he then headed towards topside to talk to the captain.

Once he reached topside he scanned the skies for a view of the dragon. He was slightly relieved it was only a drake, not a full-size, magical, probably-impervious-to-normal-bullets dragon, but it was still a threat none the less. "Apologies for the delay Captain Rous." He told the captain of the ship, "I was busy waking the gunmen and making sure they were ready for battle." He then gestured towards the flying creature above them, "Once we kill it, I call it's claws."

The words "I'm much better with knives" froze on her lips as the captain walked away from her. At least she wasn't sent below deck to wait for the events to end or something silly like that. She gathered some extra ammunition as quietly as she could before taking a position on the stairs. Spying the frozen bow she let a small smile escape. She wasn't the only one with water magic, although freezing took her some concentration. She envied Blackfire's ability to create the bow quickly. While keeping an eye on the Drakes she slowly called to her magic, making sure it was immediately in reach in case they opened fire and something on the ship began to burn.

[I]"It's alright. The top rows of guns shall be loaded with chain shot, the bottom two rows alternate grape shot and regular cannon balls, two bags of grape shot apiece. But that's just in case this Drake alerts his group. [/I] He whispered, turning to the crew waiting behind him, watching as some ran to their cannons. Another drake flew over, circling their ship while the previous one went to investigate the ships behind them. The drake landed on the deck, growling and grunting as it sniffed the air. It was twice the size of a full grown bull, just an adolescent, but still very, very dangerous. The ones they would have to worry about were the alpha females, and worse, the King drake, the top alpha male of the drake herd.

All was quiet, the only sounds that could be heard was the wooshing sniffs of the young drake, female from the looks of her drab color. Rous held his palm down and to his side. A small, pale blue orb of fire spun and hummed to life. One way to tell of a pyromancers power was the base color of the flame they could spawn. Everyone knew that red wasn't as hot as yellow fire, orange was hotter, and white was hotter still. But after white, was blue. Advanced pyromancers were known to spout olumns of white hot flames with half of their concentration, but Rous?

He was on a whole other level.

As the drake finally went to give up, she turned to take flight. The report of a rifle in the distance reached her, Rous' and the rest of the crews' ears, followed by what Rous didn't want to happen. What started as the one roar of the other drake, turned to two, then 6, then a defeaning cacophony that shook the ship. The drake herd had awoken.

[I]"Damn whoever fired that shot! Everyone FIRE!"[/I] He immediately sprinted up the stairs and around the corner, right in front of the drake, to avoid turning into confetti from the countless guns firing behind him. He squeezed the orb, making a tube with his hands, as if he was holding a sword. There was a hissing noise, and a FOOMP! sound, as a jet of fire, like that of the end of a gunpowder rocket that had been lit, appeared. It suddenly wavered, and took form. It appeared to solidify, round off at the top, and flatten on the edges. He had wrought a sword from flame, a favorite spell of pyromancers, the knowledge of which was worth more than gold to any fire bug.

The rifles tore into the young drake, which roared as the storm of lead peppered it. Stunned, it writhed around on the ground. Rous dashed up to it, axe in his left hand, and Flame sword in his right, swung the axe high, sticking it in the meaty shoulder of the drake. The drake stopped it's writhing to roar in pain, as planned, and Rous swung the sword, separating it's head from the rest of it's mangled, bullet ridden body. [I]"Everyone on deck! Reload and prepare to fire!"[/I] He walked to the railing, and peered over. Countless drakes of all sizes were peeling off the mountains below, racing up at the group of ships. [I]"This is about to get fun!"[/I] He shouted over the din, laughing.

(( are these single shot rifles, or what?))