<Storyteller> The five days have come and gone. For some it was days of hard labor and tedious work, for others it was days of constant study and preparation.
<Storyteller> At last the work is over, the studying has ended, and all wait for the launch towards the Dark Kingdom of Swar
<Storyteller> The crew await the captains command
* IronJohn stands on deck and orders her out of port
<Storyteller> The Ulysses lurches out of dock and begins the short trek to Swar
* William watches from the railing
* Brianna sits calmly in her room, meditating
<IronJohn> "Mr.Abe...hard to port."
* Abe follows the captains orders
<Storyteller> London dissapears from view
* Brianna is sitting in her room meditating
<Storyteller> The ship sails on towards the horizon
* IronJohn continues to command the ship
* Hans stands by the railing, watching the waves go by with a saddened look.
* William walks up next to Hans and leans against the railing
* IronJohn commands the ship out of port
<William> "Good day to you sir."
* Hans looks at William. "Sometimes, good days are the worst my friend."
<William> "Why is that?"
<Hans> "Every time I start having a good day, it turns out to be the worst. Thats why I don't believe in good days."
<William> "Hopefully time will change that."
<Hans> "Still, I shouldn't always be down. The unlife has its rewards."
* Friday walks up to IronJohn
<Friday> "Captain, here is the mission statement for Swar."
* IronJohn calls up to the soul in the crowsnest "Anything on the horizon lad?"
<IronJohn> "Thank you Mr.Friday."
* IronJohn takes the mission statement
* IronJohn reads it
<Rogers> "No, captain!"
<IronJohn> "Good man Mr.Rodgers...keep an eye out...and tie up those boot laces."
<Storyteller> Deliver Cargo to Harbormaster of Swar
<Storyteller> The ship sails along
<Rogers> "Captain!"
<IronJohn> "Yes."
<Rogers> "There's a reed boat out there and it's heading right towards us! He came out of nowwhere!"
<Hans> "Tell me William. What was your life like?"
* Brianna walks up on deck
* William thinks
<IronJohn> "Keep an eye on that vessle Mr.Rodgers."
<William> "In the end, lonely."
<Rogers> "Aye aye sir!"
<Hans> "At least we share that in common."
<IronJohn> "All you Swabbies stand fast, have a weapon at arms reach."
* Friday looks out to try and see the boat
<Brianna> "What's going on?"
* Hans looks to where the commotion is at.
<Hans> "Somethings going on."
<Rogers> "He's getting very close!"
* Remy takes a look
* Remy unholsters his gun
* William walks to where he can see the boat
<IronJohn> "Raise our flag Mr.Rodgers."
<Remy> "Maybe he jus' wants to talk..."
<Storyteller> Out on the Tempest you can see a small reed boat, with a lone person guiding the boat towards you
<Remy> "Don' look like too much of a threat to me..."
* Brianna looks around the ship, seemingly searching for something
* Hans goes to see where the boat is.
<IronJohn> "Stand down...tis the vessle of a reaper."
* Brianna looks towards the ship
<Storyteller> He seems to be very tall from what you can see he is wrapped in a cloak that hides his form and face
<IronJohn> "Mr.Rodgers give him the signals."
<Storyteller> Nephrutu walks up on deck
<Rogers> "Aye aye sir!"
* William stands at the railing, watching the boat.
* Brianna glances over at Nephrutu and nods
* Rogers gives the Hierarchy signal
<Abe> "Captain if we don't stop we'll hit him."
<Storyteller> The boat is ever closer
<IronJohn> "Hard a-stern."
<IronJohn> "Throw the anchor."
<Abe> "Aye."
<IronJohn> "Drop the mizzenmast."
<Storyteller> There's a splash as the anchor hits the dark water
<Storyteller> The reed boat comes to a stop
<IronJohn> "Welcome the reaper aboard Mr.LeClaire."
* Remy peers out curiously
<Storyteller> The crew all cease their activity and watch pensively
<Storyteller> The person watches you, still his face is hidden
<Remy> {John, don't let him muscle in on your territory.}
* Brianna looks over at Nephrutu
<IronJohn> (Ey ya bastard I had no intent of doin such)
<Storyteller> Nephrutu opens his mouth and a long note emits from him
* Hans whispers. "Gott in Himmel. Vas is loss?"
* Hans crosses himself.
<IronJohn> "Identify yer self reaper."
<Storyteller> The person lifts up, and gently lands upon the deck
* Friday rubs his chin
* Brianna looks curiously at the stranger
<Storyteller> Nephrutu kneels before the person, the box he clutched so tightly before held up to the cloaked figure
* William watches, hand resting on the hilt of his sword
* Friday get's a shocked look on his face
* IronJohn turns to William (his back to the reaper) and makes a clutching motion over his heart
* Friday kneels
<Friday> "Kneel." he says out of the corner of his mouth.
* William stares at the cloaked man intently
* Hans kneels.
<Friday> "Kneel!" he says more intensely
* Brianna kneels, looking uncertainly at Remy
<IronJohn> "I kneel before no man unless he identifies himself."
<Storyteller> The crew uncertainly kneels
* IronJohn stands
* Hans wishes he could be playing some Beethoveen on a violin and here right now.
<Storyteller> The cloaked figure reaches out for the box and takes it from Nephrutu
* William looks slightly distressed and then refocuses himself on the cloaked man
<Storyteller> He opens it, and a brilliant blue light illuminates part of his face, and you can see it is not a human face
<Remy> "What the...."
* Brianna looks at Nephrutu
* William has relaxed, his hand nolonger on his sword
* IronJohn glances at William
* William turns to the captain (the reaper can't see)
<Friday> you thought you saw a muzzle
* William mouths "Weak shadow"
<Storyteller> The figure reaches into the box and brings out a brightly glowing blue ball
* IronJohn watches
<Storyteller> He tuckes the ball into his cloak
<Storyteller> Nephrutu and the figure begin to speak,
* Friday get's a look of concentration on his face as he listens
* Friday get's a confused look on his face
<Hans> Remy {Hey, you could take that blue ball with no problem. Be just like that bank robbery you did a while back. Your an expert at stealing.}
<Storyteller> The figure looks again at each of you and speaks something to nephrutu, and he lifts gently back to his reed boat
<Storyteller> The crew stands up to watch him leave
<Storyteller> Nephrutu stands up as well, and heads back down the stairs to his cabin
* Friday stands and scratches his head
* Brianna stands up and follows Nephrutu
<Remy> (Well, mon 'ami', that was an allowance for a special circumstance)
* Hans gets up and goes back to staring at the ocean.
<IronJohn> "Mr.LeClaire find out what that was all about from our passenger."
* Remy nods to John
<Friday> "That was odd."
* Remy goes over to talk to Nephrutu.
<IronJohn> "Draw the anchor, raise the sails...lets get this lady moving."
<Remy> "Can I assume that the cargo was delivered, then?"
* Brianna stops and looks at Remy.. "That box is what Ahuru wanted us to bring to the Amenti Court..."
<Friday> "I don't understand...."
<IronJohn> "Mr.Rodgers drop our flags."
* Friday says to no one
<Storyteller> The flag drops
<IronJohn> "Explain Mr.Friday."
<Hans> "So William. Know anyway I can get my hands on a violin?"
<Friday> "Well that conversation they had? It didn't make any sense."
<IronJohn> "Tell me more Mr.Friday."
<Friday> "Well, Nephrutu handed him the box, he opened it, and he look at Nephrutu and said, "Yes."
* Remy nods
* Brianna says to Remy, "We should go talk to Nephrutu.."
<Friday> "And Nephrutu replied, "When."
<Remy> "That's what I thought, but Nephrutu seemed to know him...."
<IronJohn> "Mr.O'Connor....what did you learn?"
<Friday> "And the tall guys says, "Soon."
<Remy> "Odd indeed. I'm heading over to talk wit' him right now. come on..."
<William> "I'm sorry. I'm sure when we get back you can find somebody willing to make you one."
<Friday> "Three words."
* Brianna waits for Remy to catch up, then she goes down to Nephrutu's cabin
<Friday> "I mean there was no question to say yes to."
<William> "All I could tell was that his shadow was very weak."
<Hans> "Ahh, well. Guess I will just have to wait."
* IronJohn looks to see if the ship is under way
<Storyteller> The ship is indeed underway
* Brianna knocks softly on Nephrutu's door
* William looks to the captain. "Where to next?"
<Storyteller> The door opens
* William looks to the captain. "Where to next?"
* Hans walks up to the captain and salutes. "What do you want me to do sir?"
<Brianna> "May we come in?"
<IronJohn> "Mr.Shmidt...I want all of that recorded."
* Nephrutu look up from his medative position and nods
<Hans> "Yes SIR!"
* Remy steps in behind Brianna.
* Brianna slowly walks into the room, hopefully with Remy behind her
* Hans walks to his cabin and begins to write it in the log book of the ship.
<Brianna> "May we come in?"
<Brianna> "Why did you give the box to the reaper? We thought that Ahuru had entrusted it to you to bring to the Amenti Court."
* Nephrutu looks at you
<Nephrutu> "Anubis is court."
<Remy> "I don' suppose that mysterious figure was in the court?"
<Brianna> "What?"
<Remy> "Anubis?"
<Remy> "You mean de Egyptian god of the dead?"
<Nephrutu> "No, Osiris is god of the dead, Anubis is the judge of the dead."
* William looks to the captain. "Where to next?"
<IronJohn> "Mr.Abe....to the Swar."
<IronJohn> "Good work all of ye."
* IronJohn says to the crew
<Storyteller> The ship gathers speed and begins it's way there
<Storyteller> The crew look up and smile
<IronJohn> "Mr.O'Connor...."
<Brianna> "Does that mean you will be leaving us, Nephrutu?"
<Nephrutu> "No, still one more thing left."
<IronJohn> "May I speak with you for a moment?"
<William> "Yes?"
<William> "Of course."
<IronJohn> "Good work Mr.O'Connor."
<Remy> "Huh. Well, my Egyptian lore is a bit rusty."
* Remy grins
<IronJohn> "Consider it a standing order to do the same to everyone we meet while on the tempest."
<William> "As you wish Captain."
* Nephrutu stands
<IronJohn> "Thank you Mr.O'Connor."
* Nephrutu looks at the both of you with a gravely serious look
<IronJohn> "Mr.Rodgers keep an eye our for the dark and nasty....deep tempest is ahead!"
* William walks about the deck, looking around, watching the Tempest
<Brianna> "I'm sorry to bother you, Nephrutu."
* Remy nods
<Remy> "Forgive my intrusion as well."
<Nephrutu> "There is a hard time to come. Prepare yourselves."
* Brianna looks at Nephrutu. "What do you mean?"
<IronJohn> "All men on full spectre watch...."
* Nephrutu in a voice that sounds very much like Ahuru, "For the darkness that is sure to come."
* Brianna blinks and looks uncertainly at Remy
* Remy looks very curiously at Nephrutu
* Nephrutu opens the door.
<Brianna> "Thank you for speaking to us, Nephrutu. Sorry to bother you.."
* Brianna starts walking out the door
* Friday awaits outside Nephrutu's door.
<IronJohn> "Mr.LeClaire? May I speak with you for a moment?"
<Friday> "Oops, sorry."
<Friday> "Ummm ah what was that all about?"
* Remy looks at IronJohn, still intrigued. "Yeah, sure, captian."
<IronJohn> "What did our passanger have to say?"
<Friday> "'The darkness that is sure to come' I mean what is that about?"
* Brianna looks at Friday coldly.
<Friday> "Err yeah ok sorry."
<Brianna> "It's not polite to listen in on other people's conversations."
<Remy> "I reckon it refers to some sort of underground tunnel. Nothin' to concern yourself, my good man."
* Friday walks off
<Storyteller> The ship sails onward
* Brianna watches Friday leave, a thoughtful look on her face
<IronJohn> "Mr.LeClaire?"
<IronJohn> "What did our passanger have to say?."
* Hans comes back on deck. "Captain, should I have the crew write in their logs on the event?"
<IronJohn> "Have Mr.O'Connor and Mr.LeClair add theirs."
<IronJohn> "Leave some space for me and then sign the matter sealed."
<Hans> "Yes, sir, do you know where they might be?"
<Remy> "Well..."
<Remy> "I oddly feel like I left wit' more questions than answers."
<Remy> "He says that that cloaked figure was Anubis...an' that there is great darkness up ahead." *whispered voice*
<IronJohn> "He was delivering one of their special ones..."
* Hans talks with Mr. O'Connor and LeClair about the log.
* Brianna sees that she is not needed at the moment so returns to her cabin to meditate
<IronJohn> "One of their everliving kings."
<Remy> "You don' say. A Pharaoh? in a box? You think they'd make better arrangements..."
* Remy thinks about what he just said
<IronJohn> "You are a man of humor Mr.LeClaire......Thats a quality that a ship's crew is always lacking."
<Remy> "Nevermind."
<IronJohn> "Mr.Shmidt needs your statement in the log."
* Remy nods
<William> When Hans gets to him about the log he looks at Hans strangely. "He wants a 'log?'"
* IronJohn smiles
<Remy> "Thank you, Captian. I try my best." *grin*
* Remy goes to his room to write a log
<Hans> "No, write about the reaper in *der* log. Verdamnte Shiesskopf."
<William> "...ok."
* Hans continues to mumble curses in German about how William should listen and not keep his head in the gutter.
* William takes the pen and writes "I observed that the shadow of the reaper was a weak one." As a side note he adds "Nepherutu's shadow is weak as well."
<Rogers> "Land ahoy!!!!"
<Storyteller> The crew looks to the horizon and indeed there is land
* William stands at the bow of the boat
* Hans finishes the logs and leaves a space for the captain.
* Remy hands in his log when it's done
<Storyteller> As you draw closer you can see that there is a harbor there and it's filled with Tempestships
* Remy peers over the rail, curiously
<IronJohn> "If I was a younger man........"
<Remy> "They ammasing a fleet?"
<Storyteller> You can see tall gold spires rising in the distance.
<IronJohn> "Raise our Flags Mr.Rodgers."
<Rogers> "Aye aye!"
<IronJohn> "Full regalia."
<Storyteller> The flag raises high above you
<IronJohn> "All crew on standby for port."
* Hans watches from the bow. "So this is Swar."
<IronJohn> "Slow for Port...let them see us for a while."
<Storyteller> You draw closer and closer tho slowly now. You can see ships from the Dark Kingdom of Jade
<Storyteller> There are some ships from the Dark Kingdom of Ivory
<Storyteller> And there a some Dark Kingdom of Iron there as well
<Remy> "What's goin on here?"
<IronJohn> "Into Port Mr.Abe."
<Storyteller> A short man is waving you in
* IronJohn takes the wheel and sails it into port
<Storyteller> You easily port the ship
<Storyteller> The dock workers tie up the ship and the plank comes up
<Storyteller> the short man walks aboard
* IronJohn orders the crew to stand down
* Hans goes back to his cabin and checks his weapons.
* Remy does so
* IronJohn calls out the names of 5 crewmen and Mr.Friday
<Friday> "Aye sir?"
<IronJohn> "Ye are the first watch..all other crew have 5 hours shoreleave, Mr.Friday set up a rotational shift for guards, one officer is to be aboard at all times."
* IronJohn walks down the plank
<Storyteller> "A good day to you! Our Iron friends and welcome to the City of Delights! Please leave your weapons aboard, and come enjoy the city."
<IronJohn> "Mr.LeClaire....let us find the harbor master"
* Remy leaves his gun in a safe place
* Hans leaves his weapons aboard and walks down the plank.
<Storyteller> to be continued...............