Episode 47 "The Hammer Falls"

<Storyteller> Somewhere in New York
<Storyteller> Two guards stand by the avenue sign, watching the quick go by
<Storyteller> The night air is warm as winter turns to spring, and they are glad that tonight they have watch duty
<Storyteller> Unnoticed, a dark shape flies by them, nearly cutting them into two, and it continues it's way towards the Legion Hall
<Storyteller> Suddenly the night air is filled with the sounds of screams, and howls as spectres seem to come from nearly everywhere
<Storyteller> "What the hell is that!??" shouts Anaceron Hopper.
<Storyteller> Motioning for his Legionnaires, several of them rush out the building to confront the spectres, Anaceron Ridley rushes out to meet the attack. Swinging his gladius he cuts down several
<Storyteller> Hopper grabs his weapon and runs to the roof
<Storyteller> Rushing through the door, he stands by Ridley as the two cut a path through the spectres towards an oncoming figure
<Storyteller> "Jesus what is that?" Ridley says pointing
<Storyteller> The Lady of Shadows descends, knocking Ridley to the ground as she picks up Hopper. Hopper screams as she flies off with him, and the spectres retreats having found what they came for.
<Storyteller> She laughs a she looks down upon the ruined bodies of the Legionnaires
<Storyteller> "They all break so easily, like toy soldiers..."

<Storyteller> Meanwhile on the Ulysses
<Storyteller> It has been two days of uneventful travel, no spectres have come, no ships have been seen, just quiet waters
* IronJohn paces on the top deck, every now and again he looks out over the water and mutters to himself
* Angelo yawns.
* Ahuru sits near the edge of the ship in meditation
* Daniel looks out over the ocean, in a decidedly somber mood
<Storyteller> Angelo-{Bored? I have something that may get you excited...}
<Angelo> (Try me)
* Brianna is in her cabin, mulling over the things she discussed with Ahuru
* William walks the deck of the ship
<Storyteller> {Sure, do you know what Donny is up to? He is making capo, a job you should have had...}
* Brianna is holding a rose made from cobwebs, and absently twirls it in her fingers
* Remy is sitting up on the deck
<Angelo> (Yeah, and what the fuck do you know, pompinaio? Donny's a weasely little shithead, he doesn't have the balls for the job.)
<Storyteller> {Well obviously, he had more balls than you, may I remind you who is here, and who is capo now??}
<Angelo> (Bite me, checca. My turn's coming)
<Storyteller> Friday walks over to the captian
* IronJohn turns to Friday
<Storyteller> "Captian, I think there is a morale problem."
* IronJohn looks around at the crew...
<IronJohn> "Aye."
<Storyteller> "I'm out of ideas..." he says
<IronJohn> "Tell the men that there is a 5 oboli reward for the man that can slay the biggest spectral fish by the time we get to the port."
<Storyteller> Friday smiles, "There's a five oboli reward for anyone who catches the biggest fish!"
* Daniel listens, shrugs, and goes back to looking out over the water
<Storyteller> The men cheer and head to the railing
<Ahuru> "A somber mood, Daniel?"
* Daniel smiles at Ahuru and turns
<Daniel> "Just doin' some thinking."
* IronJohn joins the men and pretends to look for fish with them
* William studies the crew of the ship
* Ahuru listens
* Daniel looks around the ship, then turns back to Ahuru. "How long do you really think fishing will amuse them?"
* IronJohn joins Daniel and Ahuru
* Daniel nods to John
<Ahuru> "Men of the sea have many superstitions, and many ways. They are wise among men, and sometimes fools among men."
* Daniel chuckles
<IronJohn> "Till we get to port, and its not the fishin, its the competition."
<Remy> "Men are suckers for competition."
<Daniel> "Well, do you think there's a big enough place to...I dunno...maybe do a little performance?"
<Ahuru> "That is wise."
<IronJohn> "That would be good Daniel, pick yer spot and do what you will."
<Daniel> "I just...I remember how popular the dreamplays are and...well...I never tried anything like that yet. But I've got some ideas..."
<IronJohn> "But keep it light."
* William approaches Angelo
<Daniel> "Gimme a little while to prepare...you won't be disappointed!"
<IronJohn> "Tis not me ye have to worry about..." Says as he points to the crew, "It tis them."
* IronJohn smiles
* Angelo looks up.
* Ahuru stands and walks to Brianna's chamber
* Daniel laughs. "Just wait."
* Daniel runs to his chamber
<William> "Hello."
* IronJohn calls after "Throw in something about mer-maids.... that allways "raises" the spirits."
<Angelo> "Hey, what's up?"
* Brianna opens the door to her cabin
<Remy> "Not everyone appreciates Shakespeare, afterall."
<William> "How have you been lately?"
<Ahuru> "You have more questions?"
<Storyteller> The crew shout when off in the distance a whale is seen
* Brianna nods, and invites Ahuru inside
<Remy> "What the..."
* Ahuru enters and looks at the flower
* IronJohn looks at the whale
<Remy> "We get many whales in the underworld?"
<Ahuru> "Nephrutu gave you this..."
<Angelo> "Little more philisophical than usual, that's all. Why do you ask? You know something I don't?" he asks William.
* Brianna nods
<Brianna> "Yes, he did."
<Ahuru> "You miss him."
* Brianna nods again
<Brianna> "I didn't know him very well, but he was becoming a friend."
* Ahuru puts his hand upon your shoulder
* William shrugs "Some of the arts you have used lately call for focusing one's emotions...particularly those the shadow would feed on."
<Ahuru> "He had watched you since the day you were born, he was fond of you."
<Ahuru> "He watched all of you,"
<Brianna> "He did? He never told me.. "
* Angelo shrugs.
<Brianna> "Do you know what became of him?"
<Angelo> "Well, he has been awfully mouthy lately."
<Ahuru> "Yes, I do." he says in a low voice
* William nods "...Since you began using those particular arts?"
<Angelo> "Nothing I can't handle, of course," he adds quickly.
* Angelo shrugs.
* Brianna asks, "Where is he? Did he make it out of the Shadowlands? Or..." she falters
<Angelo> "I dunno. I do what I have to. He comes and goes."
<Ahuru> "You must prepare yourself for these eventualities, for sooner or later they come to us all."
* William looks sort of distant, and sad for a moment, then sighs. "I think, at one point, that's what they all say."
<Angelo> "Like I said, you know something I don't?"
<Ahuru> He motions for you to sit
<Storyteller> "Captain!!" comes a shout from the crows nest
<William> "I can see the strengths of people's dark sides. I look at the group from time to time. Your's has grown stronger since last I looked."
<IronJohn> "Aye!"
<Angelo> "Hmm. Well, it's not like I can give him a good pounding, can I? What am I supposed to do about it?"
<Storyteller> {Don't listen to him, Angie, he's just like Donny trying to fuck you over.}
<Storyteller> "A ship dead ahead!!!!" comes the reply
<Angelo> (Ah, go pee your pants someplace else you little wuss. What are you, scared of him?)
* IronJohn takes out his spyglass and looks at the other ship
* Remy goes to the railing and looks at the other ship
<William> "Sometimes we need help." William looks at Angelo "I can help you."
<IronJohn> "Aye, she looks deserted.... could be a trap."
<IronJohn> "Bring her in slow!" me calls to the helmsman
<Angelo> "Hmm. What do I need to do? Are you a priest or something? How many Hail Marys do I get?"
<Storyteller> "Aye aye, captian!"
* IronJohn yells to the crew "Be ready men."
* IronJohn draws his guns
* Remy draws his pistol
* Brianna nods, worried for her friend
* Angelo looks distractedly at William. "Hold on, looks like we might have trouble."
<Storyteller> The men gather and arm themselves
<Brianna> "Why was he watching us?"
<William> "It's not quite that easy. Some find it unpleasant. The things you keep inside, the things the darkness turns against you, must be brought into the light, where the Shadow cannot use them against you."
* Daniel leaves his room at the call to arms, and draws Nocturne
<Angelo> "Yeah yeah, just a second."
<Ahuru> "There are reasons, a conversation for another time..."
<Storyteller> The ship slows as it approaches the other
* Brianna nods, hearing the commotion up above, and suggests that perhaps they should go find out what is going on
<IronJohn> "Shit, it be the Mackenzie's clan."
* IronJohn makes a quick assessment of any damage that he can see on the ship
* William follows to the bow of the ship and looks out
<Storyteller> The ship seems to have been in quite a fight, and it looks like it lost
* Brianna slips on her mask, and for an instant her form shimmers as the mask works it's magic.
* Ahuru walks up to the deck
<Remy> "The MacKenzie's clan? Friends of yours?"
* Brianna makes sure she has her sword, then goes up to the deck with Ahuru
<IronJohn> "I didn't know the captian, but she was one of the fleet."
* Angelo draws his gladius.
<Storyteller> The Ulysses draws up to the Pride and you can see it sustained heavy damage
<Storyteller> most of the damage seesm to be from claw marks
<IronJohn> "Damn."
<William> "Spectres."
* Brianna studies the ship intently
<IronJohn> "Hold back, I want men on the rails watching for dark ones."
* IronJohn turns to the command crew
<Remy> "Shit. This seems familiar..."
<IronJohn> "Ok, who here knows the traveling art?"
<William> "We've seen this before."
<Ahuru> "I do..."
<William> "I have some skill with that art."
<Daniel> "Not me."
<IronJohn> "I say we jump over before we risk the ship getting closer."
* William nods, drawing his sword
<Angelo> "I'd come if I could, but if you want I can man the rails."
<IronJohn> "I can carry one."
<Remy> "I know the traveling art. With some skill."
<IronJohn> "Can anyone else carry?"
* Daniel brushes his hair back and grins at John. "Take me, my hero." And laughs.
<Ahuru> "I can..."
* William closes his eyes and focuses.
<IronJohn> "I will take Angelo."
* Daniel chuckles
* IronJohn opens his massive sailcoth like wings
<Remy> "I might be able to."
<Daniel> "I'll repel the incoming boarders, then. Have fun." Waves bemusedly.
* Angelo makes sure not to look down.
<William> Angelic, feathered white wings emerge from William's back
* Ahuru sprouts angelic like wings and looks to see who his passnger will be
* Brianna stands uncertainly on deck
<Ahuru> "Who wishes to come?"
* Brianna walks over to Ahuru
<Brianna> "I will go."
* Daniel mutters something about wishes and arses..."I'll go, I guess."
* Ahuru offers you his staff, "Hold on."
* Brianna holds on
* IronJohn gets ready to make the jump to the other ship
* Daniel looks around, smirks and heads back to the bridge. "Have fun. Bring back a souvenir for me..."
* Ahuru lifts into the air and floats over to the deck of the ship
* Ahuru lands Brianna gently and then floats over next to her
* William steps up to the rail and jumps into the air. He smoothly glides across the tempest to the other ship.
* IronJohn and Angelo land next
* Brianna draws her sword
<Storyteller> The ship's deck appears to be scoured with claws
* Angelo looks relieved to be back on nearly-solid ground.
* William folds his wings against his back and keeps his sword ready
* Brianna stalks over the deck, alert for any signs of habitation
* Daniel gets scooped up by Remy and hops with him over to the Pride
<Storyteller> No sounds eminate from the hold
* William cautiously searches the ship, keeping his blade ready and his senses alert
* Angelo twirls his gladius comfortably.
* Daniel raises Nocturne and looks around warily
* Remy carries his pistol with practiced ease
* Brianna closes her eyes, concentrating
* Remy gestures with his head in the direction of one of the quarters
* Remy raises a finger in a gesture to be silent
* IronJohn nods
* Brianna opens her eyes just as Remy gestures down into the quarters
* Brianna nods in agreement
* Daniel nods to Remy and walks over to the room
* Angelo nods and shifts his feet.
* IronJohn gets his pistols ready
* Remy smiles briefly at Bri
<Storyteller> You walk down into the quarters and each of you hear it this time
<Storyteller> Footsteps
* Brianna smiles back and gets closer to Remy
* Brianna keeps her sword ready, alert for danger
* Daniel looks back at the others, smirks, and begins opening doors
<Storyteller> You open a door and something rushes past you
* Daniel spins around, trying to trip it
<Angelo> "What the?"
* William throws out his wings to block the hallway
<Storyteller> Daniel misses it as it runs into William
* William raises his sword defensively
* Brianna flinches
<Storyteller> It hits William and falls like a ton of bricks
* Daniel raises his sword and advances on the shape
<Storyteller> A little girl looks up at you
<Remy> "What the..."
* Daniel smirks again. "Figures."
* Brianna 's eyes widen in suprise
<Storyteller> She looks in the direction of Remy and runs over and hugs his leg, looking at William, eyes wide and frightened
* Brianna immediately studies the girl (Kismet)
* Remy looks at Bri. "You know her, cher?"
<Remy> "It's ok, child..."
<Brianna> "No, I just wasn't expecting to see a little girl, here of all places.."
* William lowers his blade
<Brianna> "Remy! Do you remember her? We met her outside the Dark Kingdom of Wire.."
<Brianna> "You gave her a coin."
* William lowers his wings, folding them back up
* Brianna takes off her mask, and crouches down beside the girl, long blond hair
cascading down her back. "It's ok, little one. You're safe now,"
<Storyteller> She looks out at you, and holds up the coin
<Remy> "Yeah! Thought I recognized you...."
<Remy> "Are you alright, child?"
* Daniel blinks and looks away, muttering something
<Storyteller> "I want to go home."
<Brianna> "What is your name, honey?"
<Storyteller> "Rose..." she says
<Remy> "We'll get you home. How'd you get on this ship?"
<Brianna> "Rose, my name is Brianna. We're here to help you."
<Brianna> "Rose, how did you get here? What happened to everyone?"
<Storyteller> "I was looking for him," she says looking up at Remy
<Remy> "You can call me Remy, Rose. You were lookin' for me? Why?"
<William> "Who were you looking for?" William asks soflty, kneeling
<Storyteller> "Remy, because.."
<Storyteller> "I don't want to stay here any more..."
* Remy nods
<Remy> "Okay. Okay, we'll get you over to our ship."
<Angelo> "Hmm. But what happened here?"
* Angelo looks suspicious.
<Brianna> "How did you get on this ship? And where are all the other people?"
* Brianna asks in a soothing voice
<Storyteller> "I snuck on board looking for...Remy, and you, and you, and him, and you too."
<Storyteller> "They were hurt by the ugly lady."
<Storyteller> "I want to go now."
* Brianna takes Roses' hand. "It's ok, we'll get you off this place."
<William> "Who was hurt?" William asks in a gentle voice
* Remy nods
* Brianna looks at the others. "Do you want to check out the ship while I take her back? I don't want her getting more upset than she already is, poor thing."
<Remy> "Let's get her out of here first. We can ask questions later."
* Brianna asks Ahuru to take her and Rose back to the Ulysses
* William looks at Bri and nods, then turns to the little girl. "It'll be all right. You're safe now."
<Daniel> "I'll check out the rest of the ship..."
* Brianna picks up Rose and follows Ahuru to the deck
<Ahuru> Ahuru grasps the girl gently and lifts her over to the Ulysses
<Storyteller> You check the rest of the ship to find it barren, even the cargo is gone
* Brianna takes Rose down to her cabin and sits with her, talking to her and trying to get her to tell her more about what happened
* William continues searching the ship
* Angelo looks around for any other signs of life.
<Storyteller> There are no others aboard the ship, the only inhabitants are the strange claws marks
<Angelo> "Weird."
<Angelo> "Is it just me, or does something not seem right about that kid?"
* Angelo scratches his head.
* Brianna , while speaking to Rose, uses Kismet to determine who, or what, she is
<Daniel> "It does seem odd...but often, children can be more resourceful than their more 'responsible' elders."
<Angelo> "I mean, I wasn't with you guys when you met her, apparently, but it seems strange that spectres would destroy absolutely EVERYTHING on the ship but her. Where did she hide?"
* Angelo shrugs.
<Angelo> "Yeah, and spectres can wear the faces of children. You know that as well as I do."
<Daniel> "I know. We just have to trust that Brianna knows what she's doing. Would you rather have the blood of an innocent child on your hands?"
* William goes up to the deck and flies back to the ship
* William walks down the steps and waits for signs of trouble, but hopes there are none
<Remy> "Responsible elders often stand and fight, afterall."
<Angelo> "Well, you don't see me jumping to kill her, do you?"
* Angelo is carried back over by Iron John.
<Daniel> "No. I'm also saying your suspicion is well placed. Just be careful."
<Storyteller> Ironjohn picks up Daniel as well
<Storyteller> "Let's go," says Ironjohn as the ship heads out
* William knocks on Bri's door
* Brianna opens the door
<William> "We've finished searching the ship." William says in a low voice. "Nothing left."
<Storyteller> You enter into Brianna's quarters
<Brianna> You enter Brianna's quarters to see a small, well-kept area. A grey rose rests on a desk, and upon closer examination you discover that it is made from finely-spun cobwebs
<Storyteller> Rose looks at each of you
<Brianna> Brianna's mask hangs on a peg above her bed, and a small chest at the foot holds her clothes. All in all, the room looks very stark and un-lived in.
* William smiles
<Storyteller> Rose sits on Brianna's bed
* Remy sits down
<Brianna> "Rose, where do you live?"
<Remy> "I know you want to get home, and we're on our way back to New York, but we gotta ask a few questions first, ok?"
<Storyteller> "I live in New York."
<Storyteller> She does not look Swarian
<Remy> "Why were you looking for us, Rose?"
<Storyteller> "Because I was sent to find you."
<Brianna> "By whom?"
<Storyteller> "My grandfather."
* Brianna looks at the rest of you "Her grandfather is a prominent member of the New York Dark Kingdom of Wire community."
<Remy> "Did he say what he wanted us for?"
<William> "Why were you sent to find us? Is something wrong?"
<Storyteller> "I don't know,"
<Storyteller> "My grandfather says he can help you..."
<Remy> "Okay. Can you tell us what happened on the ship? Who's the ugly lady?"
<Brianna> "He can help us? With what?"
<Storyteller> "An ugly woman came and hurt everyone. I hid, but I heard lots of screaming."
* Brianna wonders why her grandfather would send a little girl out alone to find us..
<Storyteller> "My gradfather is a Rabbi, he says he can help you, and I am supposed to take you to him."
<Storyteller> to be continued