<Storyteller> The waves of the tempest slosh and swirl rocking the boat in place. It
has been all quiet on the deck for the past half an hour with the departure of Nachabe and Gerard.
* William watches over the railing
<Storyteller> Brianna leans upon the railing looking out into the Sea of Shadows,
Friday stands near the helm seemingly afraid to let it go.
* William goes up to the rear deck
<Storyteller> The air brushes across the deck coldly, and uncaringly
<William> "Perhaps I could take over?"
<Storyteller> Friday nods and steps down
<Storyteller> The other crew watch the captain
<Erik> "Oh joy...no helmsman...wonderful...who's gonna drive now?"
* Remy cocks an eyebrow at Erik
* Abe wanders up to the captain
<Abe> "I can sail her."
* Remy smiles at Abe
<Remy> "Go for it."
* Abe smiles and walks up the stair
<Abe> "I think I can take over for ye."
* William nods
* William steps away and walks back down to the main deck
* Abe takes the wheel
<Friday> "Captain, we have company..."
* Remy peers in the direction Friday is looking
<Storyteller> You see two tall men leading a man in chains to the plank
* Erik mutters "Oh joy, another slave..."
* Remy looks curiously at the men
<Grady> "Permission to come aboard, captain!"
* William frowns
<IronJohn> {Erik: Hey they are gonna drop him in the Tempest...look familiar?}
* Erik looks at the slave
<Remy> "We not scheduled to pick up any more slaves..."
<Erik> (I don't think so, Shade)
<Storyteller> The slave looks back a hatefull expression upon his face
<Remy> "Permission granted, pending an explination."
<Grady> "Well, I have a requesition here for some new raw material."
* Grady holds up the form
<Remy> "Can I see it?"
* Erik mutters "knew it..."
* Grady hands him the form
* Remy browses it over
<IronJohn> {Erik: he he he maybe we are next , I love that place .... remember the
look on Sam's dead face? The smell of her perfume mixed in with the cheap
booze...perhaps we can go to the lands of the living see if the tempest tells the
truth yet?}
<Grady> "Signed by a Simon, chief engineer, DKI Ulysses."
* Grady says as you read off the signature
<Erik> (No...I'll never go into your realm again, Shadow...but don't worry, I'll make
a point of visiting Sam real soon, so you can see what an ass you really are)
<Remy> "Simon?? I didn't give an ok on this."
<IronJohn> {Erik: The shadow begins to read the suicide note word for word in a
monotonous tone, he reads it over 3-4 times then stops}
<Erik> (No...she's to strong to do that...stronger than I ever was...)
<Simon_> "Well captain we do need it. Gerard took some equipment with him."
<Remy> "What do you mean, Gerard took some equipment. I didn't ok *that*, either!"
<Storyteller> Remy{Your'e a slow learner, captain...your dead, pal, dead! Get with the
fucking program.}
<Remy> (What does that have to do wit' slaves?)
<Simon_> "Well sir, I didn't realize it either until just an hour or so ago."
<Remy> "That bastard...."
<Remy> "So what we gotta do to get some more material?"
<Grady> "Look, is there a place I can put this?"
* Remy bites back a coment regarding Grady's ass...
<Simon_> "That slave there *is* the new material."
<Remy> to slave "Well, got anything to say about this, son?"
* William steps up.
<Bannon> "I say, to hell wit' you an awll yer kind."
* William frowns, looking at the slave
<Grady> "It's not his descision sir. He lost that right."
<Remy> to Grady: "No good. I'll only consider drones."
* William raises his cross.
<William> "Do you have anything to confess my son?"
* Erik mutters "Just what we need, smartass floorboards..."
<Grady> "I'm sorry sir. This is a criminal, and he has been sentenced to the forge."
<Erik> "What is his crime?"
<Remy> "What were his crimes?"
<Grady> "He's a renegade."
<Remy> "That's all?"
<William> "So much like the real world, this place is."
<Grady> "Did you just say...is that all?"
* Grady gets into Remy's face
* William breaks them apart
<Remy> "If you're gonna melt this guy jus' because he titled himself Renegade, than
that's just stupidity. What made him a Renegade?"
<Erik> "What did he do as a renegade? Was he violent, or a political activist?"
<Grady> "Let me tell you son, this boyo here sent 5 of me best men to Oblivion. They
were fine men, good men who didn't deserve to be done in like tha by a snot nose
like him."
* William looks at the slave
* Erik turns to the slave
<Remy> "Why were they fighting?"
<Erik> "You like to hurt people, eh?"
<ErikShade> {Erik: do you thing those chains would look good on us?}
<Grady> "I don't know where you come from, but here we have justice. And this here is
going to get what's commin to him."
<William> "Will you confess to the sin of feeding the Darkness, and hope for
redemption?"
* Bannon kicks his legs out futily at William
<Remy> "If your men attacked him without cause, and he killed them in self defense,
then I'd dare say that ain't justice. So what did he do?"
* William frowns sadly
<Erik> "Well, do you? Does it make you feel powerful...more alive?"
<William> "I am sorry."
<Bannon> "Get this fuckin' vic away from me."
* William raises his cross and begins reciting a blessing in one of those sing-songy
catholic priest tones
<Erik> "Answer me, prisoner!"
* Remy rolls his eyes
<ErikShade> {Erik: Oh yeah tell it to him! Yell at the man in chains....very manly}
<Grady> "Thas not the fuckin' point. They were on partol, and he and his gang fell on
them and did them."
<William> "Our Lord in Heaven, who art kind and forgiving, please see fit to find a
place for this poor soul with you in heaven."
* Erik looks into Bannon's eyes
<Erik> (fuck you)
<Remy> mutter:"I reckon this man would rather die than listen to Erik and William any
longer..."
<Remy> "Well then, that's much different, isn't it, Grady."
<Bannon> "That's right, turn me into something useful why don'tcha, like maybe a
muzzle for the vic here."
<Erik> "Forge him. He doesn't deserve life."
* Erik turns his back on the prisoner and walks away
<Remy> "Alright...we'll take it."
* William follows Erik.
<Storyteller> Grady stalks off the ship as the crew bring Bannon down into the brig.
You look over and see two more men standing on the plank.
<William> "How are you today Erik?"
* Remy looks over to the other two guys
* IronJohn stands on the dock arms crossed over his chest in his hands he holds a
rolled up document
<Remy> "We don' want any."
* Hans stands next to him
* IronJohn looks like an older man of a large build
<IronJohn> he is dressed in 16th century colthing and carries a musket pistol at his
belt
<Erik> "As always, William, consumed by rage and grief for the life I feel I was
denied."
* Erik smiles grimly
<Erik> "On a lighter note, at least I could give a person I hate his just desserts."
* Hans is a tall blonde haired man. He looks over each of you with a piercing gaze
<IronJohn> {Erik: ooohhh thats good...... I like that.... nice and grim... thats
something to tell the specters}
* William looks quizicly at Erik
<William> "What do you mean?"
* Hans clears his throat
* IronJohn walks up the plank
* Hans follows him
<Remy> "What can I do for you gentlemen?"
<Erik> "The prisoner...didn't you know? I despise those who would hurt others for no
reason other than it's 'fun'."
<IronJohn> "Permission to come aboard ... Captain?"
* William nods in understanding
<William> "I have something I have been meaning to discuss. While I agree that Beau
needed to be punished, it is such things that feed the Darkness within each of us."
* Hans walks on board.
<Remy> "That I am. And be my guest."
* IronJohn walks on board
<Erik> "It was something I had to do."
* IronJohn hands Remy the document
<Erik> "I don't exactly expect people to understand, or care."
<IronJohn> "This is from the Hierarchy Command."
* William nods. "But perhaps now would be as good a time as any for my services?"
<Erik> "No noe does either, except for Sam..."
<Erik> "Why not, William...anything to take the pain away..."
<IronJohn> {Erik: and me I understand}
<Erik> (You're "understanding" is a pale mockery of the reality of the situation. I
need your understanding like I need a trip to Hell)
<William> "Previously you mentioned I desire to avoid the rituals of my religion. How
would you like to proceed?"
* Remy skims over the document
<IronJohn> "I am High Captian Iron John Smith, I have been assigned to take command
of this vessle."
* Remy frowns
<Remy> "Well....looks like we ain't going anywhere."
<IronJohn> "Excuse me?"
<Erik> "Do whatever you are comfortable with, William...maybe your God will help me,
although he hasn't in the past..."
<Storyteller> The crew crowd around the two men
<Remy> "I've been suspended from command 'till that double crossing Beau is through
wit' his tantrum."
<IronJohn> "Suspended from command of this ship, not your Cohort Captain."
<William> "As you wish. I will not lie. The process of purification it painful to
both you and the Dark One, but I will heal you as best I can when it is over."
<Erik> "Thanks. I'm used to pain, so go ahead...can't be worse than what I've
already faced in life."
<Remy> "Still, I'd like to talk some sense to Anaceron Preston'."
* William nods.
<Erik> "But let's go someplace less public."
<Erik> "I don't like people seeing me in pain."
<William> "Your quarters?"
<Erik> "Sure..."
* William follows Erik
<IronJohn> "If you will excuse me I will be reviewing the crew Ajustor Remy."
* Erik goes to his quarters
<Remy> "I see. Well, good luck...."
* Remy smirks
* William follows Erik to his quarters
* William draws his sword and sets it, blade down, like a cross in front of him
<William> "Touch the sword please."
* Erik places his hands on the blade
<William> You feel a warm, pleasant feeling as you touch the blade
* IronJohn goes through and interviews the crew
* IronJohn weeds out about 5 sailors
* IronJohn escorts the 5 off the ship
<Remy> "John, we're short on resources as it is."
* IronJohn has another sailor go fetch a group of people from the harbor area after
he gives him a list of names
<IronJohn> "I can see that...they will have replacements."
<IronJohn> "Mr.Remy may I speak with you for a moment?"
* Erik grips the blade tight enough that a trickle of corpus runs down it
<Remy> "Yeah, you can."
<IronJohn> "I would like you to be my First Mate. Will you take the position sir?"
<William> "Do you confess all of you sins and ask the forgiveness of the Lord, so
that He might forgive you, and shine his Light upon you and weaken voice of
Darkness that tempts us all?"
<Remy> "Well, I suppose I can."
* Remy smiles
<Erik> "I humbly beg forgiveness for all my faults and sins."
<Remy> "I'd be honored. Maybe I should get some tips on how to captian a ship,
anyways."
<IronJohn> "Have you had any experience on a saling ship?"
<IronJohn> "Besides on this side?"
<Remy> "Well, I done a bit of everything, topside. So I've seen a thing or two
regarding ships."
<IronJohn> "Good then you are the man that I want, we have 5 more days in port by the
end of that time I want this ship in top condition...."
<Remy> "Yes captian."
<IronJohn> "Listen here men Mr.LeClaire here is the First Mate on this ship , when I
am not topside his word is mine."
* IronJohn addresses the crew
<Storyteller> Erik you feel a burning pain and then it is gone.
* Erik grits his teeth and then relaxes as the pain subsides
<Erik> "Is it done, then?"
<IronJohn> "We leave this port in 5 days...by the end of that time I want this ship
in top sailing condition. We are heading into deep tempest from here on in and any
man who dosen't like it can leave now. If you stay you have my word that I will do
my damndest to see you safe through it to a port filled with all the luxuries that
our kind can abide."
<Remy> "Don' suppose I'd have time to go have a talk with Beau, would I?"
<IronJohn> "I woulden't suggest it Mr.LeClaire."
<IronJohn> "He has a bug up his ass deep enough to give him a gut ache."
* William puts his sword away.
<Erik> "Thanks."
* Erik goes topside
<IronJohn> "Not that I blame him , but Politics aside we have a job to do."
* Remy smiles. "Least there's comfort in that."
<IronJohn> "Ai."
<Remy> "I suppose he gave you a bunch of nonesense about stolen slaves, and such..."
<IronJohn> "Mr.LeClaire whats in the past is in the past , the words of men who sail
as passengers mean little to me."
* Remy nods
<IronJohn> "Impress me and Beau's words will fade from my mind."
<Remy> "Fair enough."
* Erik walks up to Remy
<Erik> "Mind giving me an update on what's going on...I was predisposed at the moment."
* IronJohn goes about getting the crew into shape
* William goes up to the deck and leans on the railing staring out into the Tempest,
somewhat tired
<Remy> "Well, you can ask the new captian, I suppose..."
<IronJohn> "Mr.LeClaire please see to the rigging, there are holes that need to be
patched."
<Erik> "New Captain? So what are you now?"
* Remy motions to John, and hands the document to Erik
<Remy> "I'd be the new First Mate."
* Erik reads it
<Storyteller> To Captain Remy LeClaire of the DKI Ulysses
<Storyteller> There have been allegations brought up against you by one
Beau Worthington in the matter of Stolen property, Damaged Property, and Un
professional Conduct you are hereby suspended from Command untill this matter
maybe fully investigated. In duly noted: You are to relinqish command of the ship to
High Captain John Smith where as he will continue your missions.
Signed Alscott Preston, Anaceron of the Legion of the Grim
<Erik> "So I'm just a useless crewmate then...oh joy."
* Remy *could* make a wisecrack.....
<Erik> "I should have another chat with our friend Beau..."
<IronJohn> "Mr.Sarenson There is no such thing as a usless crewmate..."
* William closes his eyes and grasps his cross, focusing his mind (meditation)
<Erik> "You're right. I'd probably make a very useful floorboard or obolus."
<IronJohn> "Cause all of them have been tossed over the side when the bitchin got in
the way of fine sailing men."
<Remy> "I wouldn't recomend it."
<IronJohn> "I am appointing you Chronicler Mr.Sarenson."
<Erik> "Just ask our friend Beau what it's like...he'd probably give a rather
accurate description of the feeling..."
<Erik> "Chronicler, eh? Wonderful..."
<Erik> "Sure you don't want me to be ship's Pardoner or something?"
<IronJohn> "That position is taken Mr.Sarenson."
<Erik> "It was a joke."
<IronJohn> "It's Chronicler or the guy who scrapes the spectre barnacles off the bottom of the ship."
<IronJohn> "Take yer pick."
<Erik> "I'd be crappy at scraping barnacles...trust me...I'll take Chronicler."
<IronJohn> "Good."
<Erik> "Thanks anyways."
<Storyteller> The crew busily get the ship in shape
* Erik looks for Gerard's records from when he was chronicler
<Storyteller> The seas of the Tempest look different somehow as if the tide had
somehow changed....
<Storyteller> This concludes Act One: The Bonds of Honor
