Kahleen lowered her voice as if she was about to spean of something sinister and forbidden. "Our village elders spoke of ancient ways thag charge the prayerstones into something more powerful. There are stories passed down to each new generation speaking of using our sacred prayerstones as hearts for beings from lands beyond the realm of mortals."
"It is said that the first Zameri used these beings to protect them in times of great need. These beings were direct descendants of our tribal gods."
Kahleen paused. "I want use our combined powers to summon one of these beings or at the very least to speak with the gods in their own realm. I refuse to accept that they were all annihilated."
Mesahri looked up at Jäger, a bit intimidated by the human's height and commanding appearance. She had seen him from afar, before, but it was quite different to be face to face with him. "H-hello," she sputtered out. "My name is Mesahri. I- I'm a Petty Officer, third class under Captain Fallensteller. And you're Captain Jäger. Miss Fallensteller spoke highly of you. Your Sergeant was polite, thank you."
---
Ackermann appeared as if in a mental fog, detached from reality. When Lonstray spoke, it shattered his trance, and the blank expression on his face turned very dark, and quickly. "They say I'm insane," he began, simply. "The Vice Admiral, Officer Kahleen and I all told our story, but they believed Rabenschwarz instead. She wasn't alone. First Officer von Strauss from the Eisenstrasse defended her, too. I don't know what it is about that woman. When she spoke it was like there was no arguing with her. When others called me mad, I was angry, but when she accused me, I just felt... defeated. By the end of it all, Rabenschwarz had somehow directed the fleet to question the Admiral instead. That's when he cut the meeting short. Now I don't know what to do. I worry I've lost the Vice Admiral's trust."
Karam looked to Kahleen with worried uncertainty. Does this girl know what she is doing? Does she really comprehend what this could do?
"Are you certain you wish to go down this path? If we open a portal to the reals beyond, who knows what we can pull out of there? Many legends speak of both heroes and villains that have tried what you are suggesting. None of them end well."
The four friends nodded firmly and silently, as Kass explained to the destitute group what was going on. The faces on the Cattans could be described as saddened, but understanding. While they wouldn't be meeting Krantz or Váradi, at least they got to see the ship, have a nice meal and meet a nice lady in Von Strauss. Kass began leading the way towards the cargo elevator, with Dagobert, Ephraim and Gawain following close by. Lanzo quickly approached Von Strauss for a moment.
"T-thank you for your c-congeniality, m-ma'am. I p-promise not to c-commit any m-more infractions," Lanzo said nervously in a thankful tone, bowing before running back to join the others.
Soon enough, explaining to anyone who may see them that the Cattan gang was allowed on board for a tour thanks to Von Strauss, they all arrived at the cargo elevator and went down to the port. Lanzo furiously apologized to the Cattans for what happened, but they were understanding. Goodbyes were said, a few hugs were shared, and they separated. Thaddaios, Eligius, Nikon, Zotikos, Ceres, Didacus, Alma and Isidora have left the port, with Lanzo looking teary eyed waving them off, and Dagobert patting him on the back, before the four of them headed back up.
After having left the port, Isidora would notice that something had been slipped into her clothes. Checking it, she would find a small wooden mushroom, with a note attached, written by a kobold from the looks of it. The note, dictated by Lanzo, explained the symbol of fortuition which the note came with, and stated how he hoped that they'd never forget them, just as he and the rest will never forget them. And right under the note, it appeared that there was a bit of Old World money stashed as a gift. Isidora smiled, and showed the object to the others, causing the eight of them to promptly go Felis' House of Wine, to toast, for a day spent in good company, and in honor of the Eisenstrasse.
Jäger nodded towards Mesahri. "A pleasure to meet you, Petty Officer Mesahri. I hope that the accommodations abord the Blitzwave will be to your liking."
---
Kahleen nodded. "Maybe you are right..." She looked away and shrugged. "You'll have to forgive me Mr. Vaikar. I'm afraid I am growing desperate. All around us there are signs... Signs that the worst is yet to come." She didn't mention her concerns regarding her own captain.
"I still think it would be worth attempting to reach out to the gods together."
Cattapoli, Fallensteller & Jäger
Yarah watched Jäger with an unamused expression as he touched and kissed Fallensteller. She had been listening quietly to Torsson and Mesahri nearby, though her eyes had remained on the two more important captains. Since her arrival at the meeting, Yarah-kei had come to quickly dislike Fallensteller. She didn't like the way she appeared to the senses, despite the Abyssal corruption she could detect on her. The woman proved to be adept in a tough spot given how the accusations at the meeting went, and Yarah had already pinned Fallensteller as dangerous. She wasn't so sure that Jäger actually understood what he was messing with. If her master became beholden to another, then that would make them a master of her as well. One master was enough already.
Up close to her now and having had some time to study the woman, Yarah was certain that Fallensteller was undead or something close to it. She couldn't detect a pulse, which was something succubi were able to watch closely to determine some of the emotions of their victims or masters. An undead was not usually an easy opponent. She'd have to inform Jäger about this later, with perhaps some... extra persuasiveness. Master or not, she could still manipulate him so long as she had the ability to do so.
When Fallensteller put out her hand to shake, Yarah hesitated only for a second. The last person's whose hand she shook had dealt her a strong mental shock. The admiral... that thing... was no mere powerful demon. He had to have been far stronger. She had been in the courts of numerous demon kings, and the same feeling she felt there was the same she had felt when touching his hand. It was a good thing he was holding himself back, otherwise she wouldn't have been able to hold herself back from bowing to him from instinct.
Yarah shook Fallensteller's hand with a simple smile. "A pleasure to meet you," the succubus said. Yarah felt almost nothing from Fallensteller, as if touching the woman was like reaching into a cold void. It was an unpleasant feeling. The dead were almost always an anathema to the living, but an undead like her was something to be weary about. Still, perhaps she could try something on her....
Fallensteller would be able to feel a spark, so to speak, from touching Yarah for the first time. A physical sensation from detecting the woman's true nature of being a demon. Her hand would start to tingle somewhat, as if it had fallen asleep, but nothing came of it. Yarah's expression darkened slightly as the tingling sensation went away from her hand.
Still, being in such close proximity, Yarah's aura and impression on the Ether around her was pleasing enough to behold. While the demon looked upon Fallensteller with some revulsion at being unable to influence her, Fallensteller's immune senses were still only recently that of an undead. Her soul had yet to fully acclimate to it, so deep down she was still more or less human. That meant that the succubus before her was still attractive in some way, and perhaps in more ways than one. The connection was already weaker than it would be had she truly been alive, and it would continue to weaken, but there was no denying that there was still some spark.
Yarah's eyes flickered only for a moment over the nearby Torsson and Mesahri, figuring they may be better targets for later if needed.
Cattapoli, Consulate
The Brunswick delegation packed up their things and plans, and loaded their gear back onto some of the jeeps. Mannfred spoke for several minutes with some Cattan officers and dignitaries, placating their concerns and questions over the events of the meeting. Their biggest worry were the war criminals escaping justice. And why not? Many innocents were dead or wounded from the actions of his men, and they demanded proper justice. They wanted executions. Of course, Mannfred knew this wouldn't be possible, but promised to ensure that satisfactory justice would be achieved.
With the gear packed away, the delegation got into their vehicles and left the consulate and headed back down to the docks. On their way out they passed Fallensteller, Jäger, and their group. Mannfred had his peaked officer's cap on, shading his face, though there was an unmistakable slight frown on his face as his small convoy drove past.
Jäger definitely needed to be watched too, though hopefully would be a valuable asset.
They reached the docks and departed on a small skiff back to the dreadnought. Once onboard, Murdoch took her place on the bridge while Mannfred stopped by the main comms room.
A telegram was sent to the Eisenstrasse for Captain Krantz's eyes only. It was simply the time Mannfred expected to see him on the Revenant - 2:30pm. It was already a little past one-thirty since the meeting had gone on for some time, though ended much earlier without the trial.
"A desperate measure, I believe." Karam commented "But one that we may be forced to take if the evils of the sea continue to claw at us." He was silent for a few seconds "There is more to this. The spirits wanted me to act and my task is not yet finished. When I have completed it, I believe they will speak to me again. Perhaps then we can attain more information."
Releasing Yarah's hand, Fallensteller now felt utterly certain that she was a demon, but a rather pleasant one to the senses. The vague tingling in her hand had been some sort of magic, it seemed, but as quickly as it had appeared, it subsided. Was she testing me, somehow? Did I pass, or fail? She got the sense that Yarah wasn't fond of her, but that wasn't due to anything related to auras- Fallensteller simply picked up on Yarah's barely concealed facial expressions and body language.
"Is it?" Fallensteller replied, benignly. Without waiting for Yarah's reply, she pivoted and joined with Captain Jäger and Mesahri's conversation. "I'm sure the Petty Officer will enjoy this visit at least half as much as I will," she said jokingly. "Shall we get a move on? As much as I would appreciate a day to relax, I know we both have quite a lot to attend to, and we have much to discuss. It would be much better to do so in confidentiality."
Jäger nodded. "I agree, please, after you." He gestured towards the jeep next to them. Jäger made sure that Mesahri and Fallensteller where seated properly in the back while Yarah would sit at the front. He gestured towards Torsson and Högborg. "I'll drive them down to the docks. I want two vehicles to escort us. The rest of the convoy can join later." He looked at Högborg. "Detail two sections and the rest of the vehicles to stay at the docks. They can sleep inside the second landing craft tonight."
Högborg and Torsson saluted. As Jäger seated himself and closed the door Torsson relayed the orders, prompting eight riflemen to hop into two fo the recon vehicles. While the drivers navigated into position- one vehicle infront of Jäger's jeep and one behind- the gunners uptop pulled back the charging handles of their machineguns with a loud clink.
Soon enough the small vehicle section was on the move and it didn't take long untill they had left the confined spaces of the consulate behind them, visible only through the rear mirror. While the soldiers eyed everything and everyone suspiciously Jäger seemed to be awfully relaxed in the company of Yarah and his two guests. He navigated the streets with both ease and confidence while maintaining a polite dialogue.
Dialogue was broken momentarily on the main street as the lead gunner made several callouts for people on the road to disperse. Cattan citizens glared at the vehicles angrily while the shot-up facade of the aprtment building could be seen in the background.
Most of the ride was spent detailing to Mesahri how submarines work, their role in military fleets and of course the unmatched advantage of striking from the depths below. He also spoke with Fallensteller regarding the imminent assault and briefly discussed the importance of a unified strategy as the two captains and their respective crews would work together to seize the gunpowder fortress.
Eventually the gunner of the lead vehicle hailed the soldiers stationed at the docks who greeted Jäger and his companions with salutes.
Jäger handed the keys to one of the marines before escorting Yarah, Fallensteller and Mesahri onboard the landing craft. Currently the metal cover shielding the cargo compartment had been retracted, allowing sunlight to slip in and shine down on the party as they walked up the ramp. A team of sailors greeted Jäger and the guests before heading upstairs to prepare the vessel for departure.
Once the ship had retracted its ramp and secured its heavy front hatch the docks were cleared. Gently the craft skimmed across the water with Jäger and his party standing at the front railing. Jäger pointed at a dark silhouette moored at one of the islands. "There she is."
---
"I will aid you with your mission. What can I do to help?" Asked Kahleen while crossing her arms. She ignored the departure of the three vehicles. Most likely one of the officers departing.
"The spirits were clear. Kill the head of the conspiracy and the rest of the body will falter back in line." Karam answered with a grim tone. "I am grateful for your help so far and for whatever aid you wish to offer in the future, but I'm afraid that this part, I must do alone. Captain Fontaine won't appreciate me bringing a foreign officer into the investigation. Not now at least. But as soon they speak with me, I will make sure that I get in contact with you again. Likewise, should you require my aid, I will try my damndest to assist you however I can." He noticed the vehicles leaving.
"Ah, I may have taken too much of your time."
Therasmus sat and tapped his fingers against his knees idly, only to cock his head as he takes note of captain Jäger and his two guests moving in their own vehicles. He couldn't help but notice he wasn't invited to the little gathering. "Hm. Has he found more interesting guests to speak with? Quite possibly. Given the choice I am rather mundane compared to people so... interesting." he notes as a finger is brought to his chin. "I shall continue to wait. Here? Yes."
Mesahri leaned over the rail, rapt with curiosity. "Ooh, that's odd. That's not how I thought it would look at all."
"Well, how did you think it would look?" Fallensteller asked.
"Like a fish," Mesahri replied. "I know you all explained it to me, but I'm still amazed you people's ships can even float, even less so all the other things they do."
"Wait until you see the inside," Fallensteller commented. "I've not been in a submersible since I was in officer's school, but if the Blixtvåg is anything like the one I toured a few years ago, it'll be like nowhere you've ever been. And yet," she added, slightly amused with herself, "it might seem a bit familiar."
"Sir, telegram for you from the Revenant. Your eyes only." said the communications officer, glancing over in Krantz's direction. He looked over, before approaching and waiting for the message to finish. 2:30, aboard the Revenant. His meeting with the admiral. He checked his watch, taking note that it was already a little past 1:30. Not too long of a wait.
When Váradi finally returned to the bridge minutes later, Krantz informed him about what was to occur. "I'll be departing for the Revenant shortly. While I'm gone, you'll be in charge of the Eisenstrasse. Von Strauss is to be allowed to venture to the Zuflucht when requested." he stated, to which Váradi nodded silently.
Cattapoli Bay, Revenant
The small skiff easily sailed its way across the bay and to the hulking dreadnought which sat peacefully at anchor. A sailor flashed them with a signal lantern, designating where they could pull aside - at a small staircase and platform which led down the side of the ship they were approaching on. Two sailors helped Krantz and his men onboard, and a small four man party of sailors led Krantz into the interior of the ship. The halls were well-lit and maintained. It was evident the crew took good care of the vessel. Numerous postings and documents were plastered on boards at nearly every intersection or outside certain rooms, and it seemed funny that for a man who seemed so tight lipped on information, there seemed to be plenty of it posted around his ship.
They carried on through the depths of the ship until they came to a nondescript area with some doors. Just down the hall was an open room which appeared to be a small lounge, with a couch, radio, and fan. There was even a little chess board on the small table within.
"Your men will be able to wait within the resting room, sir," one of the sailors explained. As the men walked down the hall, he knocked on the door and announced that Krantz had arrived. The admiral called out from within.
The sailor opened the door. "You may enter, sir."
Krantz nodded, before stepping inside. Well, time to find out whatever the Admiral was hiding. If he actually revealed anything. There was a lingering thought in the back of his mind that he'd leave here knowing the exact same things he already knew, and that nothing new would be revealed. Probably best that he didn't bring Von Strauss along for that reason. The conversation would be focused more on her because of her new alignment and whoever it was to.
"Good afternoon, Admiral." stated Krantz, straightening up as the door shut behind him.
Cattapoli Bay, Revenant
Krantz stepped into a simple meeting room, which looked to be one that was used by the crewmen during shift changes. There was a chalkboard on one wall with some writing on it, along with a large time table which appeared to have schedule listings. A metal table took up one side of the room while there was seating attached to the wall on the other side, flanked by a row of small personal lockers.
Admiral Mannfred was sitting at the table, dressed in a dark grey sweater and red infantry trousers - his typical outfit for dressed down occasions. His jacket was nearby though, draped over a chair and his cap was resting on the table beside a mug of a steaming beverage. There was another mug at the seat across from. It looked to be coffee, or perhaps a type of tea.
"Good afternoon, Captain Krantz," Mannfred said simply as he took a sip of his own drink. "Please take a seat. It would appear circumstances have led us both to this point. You want to know... the truth."
He said truth almost as if it was a word that would hurt him just by uttering it. "I suppose you must believe yourself capable of understanding a great deal then, hmm? Then humor me - you really think me to be a demon, as you so... ungraciously accused me of being?"
Krantz strolled over, removing his leather greatcoat and field cap. Beneath it, the standard grey officer uniform of the Pracht Empire's Grand Army. He draped his coat over his own chair, and set is own cap on the table next to the steaming cup.
Was Mannfred talking down to him? Hell of a way to start things off. "Yes. I believe you to be a demon, or at least something far more than human." he stated, as he sat down. He took the cup in hand after sitting, and peered down into it. He honestly questioned if he should even drink what was in the cup, but he'd at least hold it for the time being. "I'm sure a few others think the same." he said, before looking back up from the cup.
As the skiff bobbed along on its path to the Blixtvåg, there was a lull in the conversation. Mesahri still felt a bit intimidated speaking to Captain Jäger, and was interested in the mysterious Yarah, whose mystery preoccupied her imagination. The Captain said she was a sorcerer, or maybe even a demon. This could be really interesting, she thought as she tried to come up with some way to start up a conversation.
"Excuse me, Yarah?" she said. "Are you really... human?"
Fallensteller turned, a bit alarmed that Mesahri had brought up the topic without permission.
---
As the Blixtvåg's skiff was departing, the Zuflucht's party were marching on foot toward their own skiff elsewhere along the harbor shore. Schuster and Pawlitzky eyed each other a bit uncomfortably, neither entirely sure how invested the other was in the Captain's plans, and until they reached the ship it was unlikely to change. Schuster therefore had been silent from the moment they left the Consulate, while Pawlitzky spoke with his men and informed them of the coming assault on Nadesh and their attachment to the Blixtvåg's arm of the operation. When one of the riflemen tried to bring up a rumor he had overheard from some of the departing members of the other ships' delegations, the Lieutenant shut them down immediately. "There will be no sedition within this unit!" he barked at them. "I was there, and the accusations were baseless, crass, and unfounded! We will not accept the word of a lunatic and attempted murder; the Captain is loyal to this fleet, and we're loyal to her! Any questions?"
"No sir!" the men shouted in unison.
"Again!"
The men replied even louder. "No sir!"
"That's what I thought."
The beastfolk of the island looked on with concern at the gray-uniformed men and women. There hadn't been any Teutonic presence in Cattapoli during the chaos the previous night, and while the unit currently marching on their streets looked professional enough, there was a vague hostility about them that was different from the other humans. It was the sort of outward intensity which masked inner insecurities. They were less experienced than other soldiers in the fleet, yes, but it was more than that. No matter how hard Pawlitzky tried to drive the questions from their mind, they kept creeping back in; the men felt danger in the streets, knowing what happened in the dark there hours earlier, they felt danger in the fleet as other landing parties eyed them with suspicion, and they felt fear in each other, wondering whether, when the time came, they'd be able to rely on the fidelity of their entire operation, or if they'd simply be stabbed in the back at some later date.
In other words, pressure was only increasing.
With a series of loud thumps, the soldiers hopped off the dock and into the awaiting skiff, taking their seats roughly and waiting for the technician to fire the engine up. The two officers sat themselves at the bow, close enough to have a semi-private conversation which could be partially muffled by the sound of the motor chugging away behind them. Pawlitzky broke the ice by removing Pfeiffer's list from his pocket and showing it to Schuster.
"Sir, when we return to the ship, the Captain wanted me to rearrange the command structure of the rifle company, and put these ones in charge of things. She said you're going to need to handle the engineering and technical side of things."
Schuster looked at the list, confused. "Who are those people?" he asked.
"She said we could give these people a 'cautious degree of trust.' I think that means they're with us, Commander."
"Who's us?" Schuster demanded, leaning in closer so that absolutely no one else could hear. "...Have you given Him the blood?"
Pawlitzky gave a nervous, almost eager smile. "No sir," he replied, and Schuster leaned away. Pawlitzky added, "But I look forward to getting started as soon as the Captain gets back."
"Why?" Schuster asked. The Lieutenant looked at him skeptically, as if he was wondering whether Schuster was actually loyal. Schuster quickly added- "I'm all in, Lieutenant," he said, patting his arm where the bandage was hidden under his sleeve. "Even if I was coerced, there's no turning coat now. A piece of me belongs to Him and I'll never get it back. I might as well serve like I wanted it and hope He shows me mercy."
Pawlitzky wasn't fully satisfied, but he accepted the explanation. "Fine... but since you asked, I've been having dreams of my own, Commander. I feel like I've been chosen for this."
Schuster was more than a little uncomfortable to hear such a thing. It was bad enough to be chained to Fallensteller, but it was worse knowing that there were others like her in the fleet. "Fair enough..." he replied, not wanting Pawlitzky to elaborate. "The Captain has already told me of her intention to rearrange the bunking arrangements within the ship to place 'suspect' sailors into a single section of the vessel, sort of like a quarantine. She told the Reverend that it would be easier to contain and address their activities if we do so. There's going to be a lot of upheaval on the way to Nadesh, and it would be a good idea to stage the operation so we can do it swiftly."
"With everything that just went on at the Consulate, the Captain said she wants to 'hurry things along.'"
"Does that mean what I think it means?" Schuster asked, grimly.
"Yes."
Cattapoli Bay, Revenant
Mannfred tapped the side of his mug idly as he listened to Krantz .
"Is that so? I'm sure some may have some suspicions, though you seem to be the only one with the conviction and confidence to believe it. Interesting."
He noticed that Krantz didn't seem to be drinking, and he had figured to gauge the level of trust by watching him. Typically, refusing to drink showed a borderline expected hostile attitude. Did he think the drink was poisoned or otherwise altered? Little trust, indeed.
"Alright, well..." the admiral paused for a moment, not sure if this was entirely the best maneuver to make. "You are correct. I am a demon. That doesn't make me any less human, however. I've lived several human lifetimes from birth. I am as much Viktor Mannfred the human and admiral as I am Viktor Mannfred the demon."
He was curious to see what Krantz would say now that it was confirmed - if he would even believe him, or accuse him of a deflection. He wouldn't give too much away if he could avoid it.
Cattapoli Bay, Yarah
The succubus eyed Mesahri after the girl asked her if she was human. She had to think for a second what she was supposed to be again.
"No, dear, I'm a... ah, Zamerian," she said, hoping that was the right name. "Part of the diplomatic envoy from Goatia. I mean Gothia," she added, clearing her throat.
"Humans don't have pointy ears like me. But Zamerians do. We have... very pointy ears. And we're smart, too," Yarah said, realizing that Jager hadn't really mentioned much for her to go off of.
"Not at all," replied Kahleen. "I know the communications operator personally so do not fear to send me a message." She placed a hand on Karam's left shoulder and nodded. "Good luck."
With that said Kahleen left her newfound ally in the shade of the lone tree. She walked over to the convoy and as she approached the officers turned their eyes towards her. She seemed... Confident.
"Mount up."
---
Once the order came the delegation exploded with activity as soldiers and command staff climbed onboard. Fallstrom looked at Therasmus with a grin. "Time to leave." He closed the door and walked around the car to seat himself infront of the steering wheel.
Gavrilov sat down in the front passenger seat. He glanced over his shoulder. "This won't take long, sir."
---
The lead jeep, occuppied by a marine driver, Marine Officer Kahleen, First Mate Högborg and a radio operator signaled for the convoy to move. Engines roared to life and doors were slammed shut. Once all personnel were secured and onboard the convoy began to move.
Deep tire marks slashed through the gravel as the vehicle's many wheels also kicked up a small cloud of dust. Eventually the convoy thundered out through the consulate gates and onto the main street. It didn't take long for the vehicles to reach the small pier used as a staging point for the Gothian.
Once the vehicles were parked in a neat fashion several marines were delegated off to guard the docks. They ditched their backpacks next to a few crates of fresv food, fruit and water. Under no circumstances were they to eat or drink anything prepared prepared by non-crew chefs or shopkeepers due to the risk lf poisoning.
While the delegation embarked onboard the Falcon- as the Raven had left minutes earlier- the squads at the docks began placing caltrops and small wooden barricades between the pier and the city road.
Soon enough the Falcon departed with most of its passengers remaining below deck. Therasmus found himself at the front railing together with Fallstrom and Gavrilov, with the former detailing to Therasmus how cars, trucks and other wheeled vehicles work while the latter remained silent as he sharpened his knife.
Högborg approached and caused the two men to fall silent. "Sir," they said in unison. Högborg nodded at the soldiers before looking at Therasmus. He extended his hand. "First Mate Gustav Högborg, at your service."
---
Jäger listened to the conversation between Mesahri and Yarah. He had chuckled at the Petty Officer's remark regarding the appearance of the Blixtvåg. Now he studied Fallensteller and all her features with his piercing blue eyes. Partially becuse he enjoyed studying a natural beauty but also in an effort to read her face and, with it, her thoughts.
"How is your crew?"
"You are correct. I am a demon. That doesn't make me any less human, however. I've lived several human lifetimes from birth. I am as much Viktor Mannfred the human and admiral as I am Viktor Mannfred the demon."
Living several human lives doesn't make you human. Still a demon playing dress-up. Krantz peered back down into his cup. "I assume your one of the more powerful demons, right?" said Krantz, gently shaking the cup so that the liquid inside eventually began to swirl like a whirlpool. "You can bleed yourself dry, kill other demons with your bare hands, take on sorcerers with ease. You're friends with two gods here, Faryyn and Shalo. You have a loyal crew and a fine ship. A good question would be why do you need any of us? The rest of the fleet? It can't just be for seeking out other gods that might still be living, or recovering relics."
He paused for a moment. "I understand the mission. Kill Raum, save the world. I'm with you on that. But is there any other motive for dragging us along? Would you have stopped us if we had tried to leave back at Campo Diablo?" Finally, after another pause, he looked up. "Is this coffee or tea?"
Mesahri blinked, a bemused smile on her face. It was abundantly clear that Yarah's lie had gone over like a lead balloon. "I can't really tell the difference," she said, "but that's not what I meant, either."
"I'm sure we'll get the full story when we're seated for brunch," Fallensteller said, cautioning Mesahri on her line of questioning. "Or maybe it's lunch, at this hour. Haw."
How is your crew?
Fallensteller relaxed again, and replied calmly, "a lot has happened aboard our ship since we arrived in the Lost Sea. Many things have changed, and it's likely to accelerate in the lead up to our next mission. Many of the crew have been beset by nightmares, including our Chaplain, and I've had to work hard to retain their trust. The next few days are likely to be crucial, since I've ordered my top officers to begin reorganizing the chain of command to better reflect who I feel I can trust."
Cattapoli Bay, Revenant
"Certainly, I am powerful," Mannfred said with a nod. "There are few other demons who could stand up against me in my true form. I think you've already realized that my body suffers if I push my limit too much, just like what happened back at the dungeon."
He took another sip of his drink, flashing Krantz a small grin. "Its hot chocolate, actually. Made the old-fashioned way. Anyways, I certainly do need the fleet to help with this mission. Manpower is perhaps the most precious asset out here. Traveling alone is unwise, for there is safety in numbers. We've hardly even entered the Lost Sea. There are far more dangers the further we travel. Entire ships lost," he snaps his fingers, "just like that. I have a few hundred men at my command, but numbers dwindle in the face of hostiles, the environment, anomalies. The mission is survivable, of course - think of this place as a warzone. We're both familiar with the concept. Men die and are wounded. You never know who will fall next."
Krantz was an observant one he realized, and if he was asking about an ulterior motive, then he already had the idea in mind that one existed. As such, it was better to feed into that.
"Stopping Raum is of course my main priority. He poses a danger not just to us, but to the existence of all civilization. Aside from that, you could consider me a... scavenger of sorts. Collecting artifacts and finding other gods, dead or alive, has always been a core pillar to my expeditions. This business with Raum started developing a few years ago and has quickly become a serious concern."
He knew that wouldn't be enough for Krantz, so he went further.
"You are right in saying that Farryn and Shalo are my friends. As you have seen of Farryn, he is dreadfully wounded. Shalo is now simply a house cat, though she can speak and perform some magic. I want to help restore them to proper life. Resurrecting mortals is... relatively simple, all things considered. It is not so when the subject is a god. Fortunately both are alive and not actually dead, for then the task would be nearly impossible."
"As for Campo Diablo, I suspect I would have been able to convince you all to continue forward, one way or another. If those efforts failed, then I suppose there wouldn't have been anything I could have done."
Cattapoli, Yarah
Yarah-kei sized up Mesahri with a glance. Her powers certainly worked on humans and demons, so it probably had to work on these animal people too, she figured. It would be best to try that out later, possibly if she caught her alone. The thought caused her to smirk a little.
"I haven't the faintest idea what you mean. I am entirely Zamerian," Yarah continued to assert.
Tobey and his entourage emerged outside the consulate which was bathed in warm sunshine. The weather was impeccable, yet still wore his slight frown.
He instructed Norrys to gather up his men and march down to the harbour and return to the Mariners boon, where a meeting would be held to prepare the crew for the assault at Nadesh.
As he began walking down the street himself, he spotted Fontaine by one of the trucks. He nodded politely and even smiled slightly.
---
Marsh looked at Neustadt with a wrinkled face. He sighed, "During the colonial war there was a chemical gas that was used in warfare known as Mud Mist. I do not have the actual thing stocked, but I know enough of the ingredients to make a replica.
He paused and looked into the table and then back to Neustadt. If you breath in this gas, it will slowly erode your vocal cords, but with a tonic, it can be stopped.
Marsh tried to look as re-assuring as possible, "It will damage your voice enough to conceal your affliction. We can say it was a accident when you worked on our engines."
He smiled half-heartedly, "I won't have to be ashamed of speaking."
Neustadt listened carefully and nodded as Dr. Marsh explained the procedure. It seemed crude; she had been expecting surgery, but she would take any option available which would give her what she desired. "I'm ready whenever you are," she replied.
---
Fallensteller and Mesahri looked at each other after Yarah's reply, equally amused but unwilling to take the conversation any further until they were in private.
"Good fortune to you as well, miss Kahleen" Karam bowed slightly as she left. He felt slightly relieved from the conversation. He wasn't the only one in this fleet that had contact with gods, he knew that already. But the fact that it was benevolent beings that communicated with Kahleen proved that there are more forces at play here than just husks and demons.
He couldn't linger for long under the tree however. There was still more work to be done. Mainly, the traitor on board. He had already proven his loyalty, and Fontaine was already halfway there to pull the trigger. The corruption was close to getting cleansed.
---
Fontaine observed the conversation under the tree from a distance. It was a curious thing. He couldn't make out a word of it, but the actions spoke more than words ever could. 'Too bad you have your back turned to me, Karam. Otherwise I could see what you actually are doing. No matter, I'll get it out of you in time.'
His attention was drawn to captain Tobey's delegation leaving. The older gentleman even nodded and smiled at his direction 'I didn't think he was capable of smiling, you learn something new about everyone on this meeting'. Reginald returned the favor with a nod of his own.
"Eventfull morning, isn't it?"
Krantz knew that Mannfred wanted to bring Faryyn back to his old self. Apparently in regards to Shalo, it was the same idea. Now, after they were brought back to their original selves, what then? Where would things go from there? Gods have their own agendas. Krantz quietly took a sip of what was in his cup.
"Its been a very long time since I've had old-fashioned hot chocolate. Anyway, I figured that resurrecting the dead was easy. I mean, the skeletons back at Blackstone and the one wandering my airship prove that." said Krantz, looking back down into the cup. "How would you go about restoring Faryyn and Shalo, though? And other gods, should we come across any that are still sort of alive and friendly? It seems like it'd be a complicated process considering they're gods."
Cattapoli, Revenant
"To restore someone like Farryn back to their proper existence would require... a great deal of effort. Tools, ritual, power. Vague, I know, but there is so much depth that in this case it really is difficult to explain. Not all of the artifacts that we are searching for are weapons as you may now guess. For example - the Chalices of Meredith are a twin set of crystal glasses that were made to collect the elixir of life from the droplets collected on the bark of an Xanyth tree. The pool at the center of this island is quite literally a fabled fountain of youth, though its proper name is simply the Eternal Spring. To drink from the pool itself is death, but to collect the water from condensation on the nearest tree is not. Unlike Raum's Chalice, or more accurately Goblet, these are pure vessels made entirely to heal. Raum's was a supper cup which held the blood of a dying, cursed man. That corruption lingers within it. Regardless, the Eternal Spring lays months of travel into the Lost Sea. We won't be reaching that place anytime soon."
Mannfred took another sip of his drink, pausing to collect his thoughts on the matter. Give a little information to shield the rest. As much as he liked to discuss his plans, Krantz had yet to trusted. A mutual problem. Only time would tell if he would earn it.
"The process will also require some... souls to be consumed, or utilized. As I have mentioned before, souls are power. A natural source of energy. The matter sounds more concerning than it really is. Demonic souls will suffice and can more or less be easily obtained. No humans will be harmed." *And of course, the soul of a god would serve just as well.*
"As for other gods... well, there are precious few that could possibly still be alive. Most are entirely dead, with no soul connection to this world. Dead as in they are gone fully - like the death of a mortal. Some are dead in a traditional sense. A physical death, but their soul lives on nearby. Hence the importance of searching tombs. Trying to revive Farryn alone is a difficult task, though Shalo less so as she is simply weakened - not wounded. They are the only two who concern me, any other gods we come across who may be alive but wounded are not planned to be resurrected. It would be too difficult and take up too much time. Perhaps in many years when Raum has been defeated... but these other gods returning to life is not a concern of mine."
The admiral didn't speak on what would happen afterward he returned his friends to their proper forms, though Krantz still wondered what would happen after that.
Marsh nodded and directed Neustadt to one of the stretchers. Once she had laid down he began tying her to it using the belts on the side.
"It's simply a cuationary measure." He assured her before walking over to one of the cabinets.
Putting on an apron, heavy gloves and a gasmask, he got to work with a number of small containers.
He mixed two different containers of liquids and then rolled some sort of respiratory aid next to Neustadt. He put the mask on her face and opened up the machine.
He then returned to the desk and took a small vial and poured some of it's content into a small glass.
With all the preparations complete he returned to Neustadt with the two containers. He poured one of them into the machine and than took a long look at Silke.
Marsh then gathered up his courage and poured the other container into the machine. it began reacting immediately and he closed the hatch. Flipping a switch, it began pumping the noxious gas into Silkes face.
At first it was just hard to breath but then a burning sensation emerged, it felt like someone had lit a fire in her throat.
She thrashed and screamed, but the bindings held her steadily in place.
Marsh shut a valve and removed the mask from her face. She coughed and breathed with a horrible rasp. Marsh undid her bindings and then hurried over to the table with the small glass.
He removed his gasmask and brought the glass over to her. "Quickly!" he beckoned. "You need to drink this!"
The pain was overwhelming. Neustadt could feel the corrosion at work, destroying the eerie yet melodious voice the corruption had given her. All that would be left was an empty rasp, a permanent handicap in exchange for an end to suspicion.
But as Marsh ripped the bindings loose, an uncontrollable rage welled up inside her. All at once, her impulses ran beyond her control, just as they had done when she was presented with food. She let out one last wicked scream and swiped at the doctor, taking him by surprise and knocking the glass out of his hands. It shattered at their feet, depriving her of an antidote.
There was no time or space in her mind to think on her actions. She kept attacking the doctor, as she was in pain, the violence was an outlet, and, in a way, she was getting what she wanted: without the elixer, she would be entirely mute.
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