Stranger in a strange land

[BlackAngelYume]

Elysia rolled her eyes at Azzron, lowering both of her crossbows, "Do you realize what I've had on my ship before? And honestly, how did I know I could trust you when I let you on my ship?"

She looked back to Azhi after saying this and shrugged, turning to walk past him, "My father was an admiral and his entire fleet went down... and considering this is the only port in this whole stretch of water that fishes here I'd say the fishing's pretty damn good."

She started walking at this point heading back the way she'd come from, "If you choose to stay, the name's Captain Elysia Redriver. Call me either Captain, Captain Redriver or Captain Elysia and there's a couple things I'd need to go over with you."

She was walking back toward the docks, where he boat was stationed. This one dragonhalf could probably do the job of three random mercenaries she hired from the bar, that meant less gold she needed to give away, so she saw no point in heading back to the inn to look for more recruits. They'd spent enough time at this backwater port.

[royaleagleofthor]

For once Azzron did not even give Tempest or Ignis the oppurtunity to speak as his patience had grown quite thin for this disgusting creature.

"Well, that's a first. I'm used to the prejudice of more civilized races, hell I'd even say my people actually deserve it, but never before in my life have I been so insulted by such a vile brutish abomination," Azzron rambled on his tone getting more harsh as he went along.

His glare turning quickly from mere suspicion to pure hatred he continued, "Let's be clear about one thing here...whatever the hell your name is, for whatever reason Elysia wants you around and only the gods know the reasoning for her logic. However, your kind sicken me to no end, and since you also have no concept of controlling your tongue either this well. Should you actually manage to survive this journey. I will personally see to it that it is the last one you ever have the privelegde of experiencing."

"And when that time comes I will feast on your foul blood," added Tempest in a dark sinister tone.

Howling insanely Ignis could barely manage to form his words, "Butter knives, butter knives, just you wait bucko you gotta sleep sometime."

The scimitar then turned on Elysia, "And you, I hope your not planning on screwing him too you sick bitch!"

"Forgive him Captain my brother cannot control his rage, or his mouth," offered Tempest sincerely.

Azzron shot Ahzi one final glare as he spoke, "I'll be watching you."

The dark elf then stormed off for the ship overtaking Elysia without so much as even acknowledging her. Why do we always attract morons and assholes he thought to himself as he boarded the ship, nodding to a few of the dwarven crew as he passed. This is going to be one long journey.

[Bob]

Azhi smiled. Much treasure to be gained, much fish to feast on. And battle, of course. He could find his own battle in this place, likely, but this had been the first time he had been offered great bounty for the chance to kill a few people. So kill a few people he would. “Very well, I’ll crush all those who stand between you and your father’s treasure, for a fair share,” Azhi didn’t mention that to him, a fair share was all of it, “and all the fish I can eat. That is certainly worth suffering the presence of a rodent from the Underdark.”

Azhi probably would have then responded to the elf’s shock at being racially discriminated against(which, of course, he didn’t notice had quite a bit of prejudice for other races mixed in with it), and his claim that he would kill him at the end of this journey. He would have responded, but, unsurprisingly, the elf chose to walk away rather than be cleaved in two. So he only shrugged and followed the captain. It was actually refreshing to hear such open threats, however empty they may have been, coming from a race with lies and deception running through their veins.

[BlackAngelYume]

Elysia was not know for her anger, but she was known for her very short patience threshold. Yes, she was an impatient woman by nature and she had found ways to keep herself occupied, but at this point she was angry. That sword would be punished by whatever means Elysia could imagine the proper way for punishing a sword. She had normally never had a problem with Ignis or Tempest, particularily Tempest, but he had crossed the line.

However, Azzron stormed off before Elysia could inform him of the punishment his sword would recieve... or perhaps ask him for ideas so instead she shouted off a string of expletives and complainings just to let off steam. When she was finished, she spun on her heels and glared at Azhi, not that he did anything wrong, just out of sheer anger. The glare was strong enough that if Azhi was anyone else he may have actually been afraid of the death that oozed from her eyes.

"Listen now and listen clearly. You will take orders from me. I don't care what kind of backround you came from, I am your Captain and you will listen to me or punishment will be enacted. Once this is complete, you and Azzron can have your little boyish duel and at this point I don't care who comes out the victor. If you," she pointed at him for emphasis, "So much as even think of turning on me in any way then I will come up with a punishment far harsher than putting out one of your eyes."

She turned and started to walk away, "Come with me, I'll lead you to the Validus Aqua."

She weaved through the streets, which wasn't too hard considering most people scattered when they saw the half dragon that followed behind Elysia. As they neared the docks, the smell of the ocean and of fish markets grew stronger. She paused before they got too close, the smell of the sea having calmed her down a bit and glanced over her shoulder at the half dragon, "Don't take the fish from the marketers, I don't feel like breaking you out of jail or buying what you take. You'll get fish, you just need to be patient."

She continued her step out to the docks and lead Azhi to what appeared to be a medium sized merchant ship the words "Validus Aqua" written across the front. She walked up the ramp to the ship and stopped at the top, shouting out to the dwarves that manned the ship, "Oy! Boys! We got us another strong-arm. Treat him well, and if he mistreats you, y'know what to do with him." With that said she walked to her quarters, leaving Azhi at the mercy of the dwarven crew.

[royaleagleofthor]

Now on board the ship the ranger went of to his own quiet corner as usual in an attept to collect his thoughts, and his cool.

Staring into the gently rippling waters began to soothe his soul. So this is how it was going to be. The dark elf wondered why he had even chosen to remain with his now long time companion. Could it be that he had actually begun to care for the woman. No that didn't seem to be likely. Perhaps it was the fact that the pirate and the dwarven warrior Tordek where the only friends he had truly ever known. Still he had chosen to stay aboard this ship rather than follow the longings of his soul to roam free through the wonderous wilds of this place as he once had. Why did he continue to travel with Elysia admittedly the only answer he could find was Elysia needed him, although she would never admit it. And in a way even if it was merely on the most instinctual levels, Azzron needed her as well.

"What troubles you master Azzron," inquired Tempest, "certainly you do not concern yourself with what that vile montrosity thinks of you?"

"Yeah, that guys just some heathen brute with a big clumsy hammer," added Ignis.

"Not at all, the likes of him shall be dealt with soon enough, I just need some time to think is all," Azzron stated dejectedly.

"I don't beleive this, it's about her isn't it? What happened to the mighty warrior who I once served who stilled his blade for noone and certainly never cared for any woman," spat Ignis.

"Shut your mouth for once in your existance brother," scolded Tempest.

Letting out a deep sigh Azzron interjected, "He's right though Tempest, maybe I'm getting a little soft in my old age."

"It is only natural that you should have these feelings at some point in your life master," replied Tempest sweetly.

"I am a drow Tempest the only emotion we know is anger, we're heartless remember," Azzron countered somberly.

"That's right and thats just the way I like you," Ignis stated emphatically.

"You do have a heart Master Azzron whether you care to admit it or not, you are not like the others of your race. Not one of the is even capable of feeling the joy you get from runing through the forest or the love and respect you have for all living things, well most of them anyways," offered Tempest.

"Whatever you say sis, I say the hell with the wench, let's go shred that bestial buffon to bit's and you'll be feeling better, " suggested Ignis.

"So what then do I do tempest," the drow inquired.

"Go to her, you know you want too, it may resolve nothing but I am certain you will feel better,"answered Tempest.

Azzron grumbled a little, "Very well then, but if I hear one word from either of you while I'm there...I swear I'll toss you both straight into the oceans deeps. Do I make myself clear?"

"Perfectly," replied the pair in unison.

Weaving his way through the busy dwarves preparing for the ships launch Azzron finally made his way to the half elfs quarters. Taking a deep breath he knocked firmly on the door.

[indy]

Chance brought Indy topside in time to see Captain Redriver return; the foul tempered elf was with her and so was something new. Something frightening. Unlike the elf whose elfin charm disguised conceit and arrogance this one . . . simply scared her. Fear was an unpleasant sensation. Hopefully he, she, it—whatever—would be spared injury for a long, long time.

Indy wrinkled her nose at the sight of the elf’s two scimitars. She hated them. Especially the lewd one; she was convinced it ogled her body whenever she walked by. She didn’t know why the captain suffered them—or their owner—aboard her vessel. There were elves with more skill and flowery tongue. Why settle for that nasty creep? Maybe the . . . thing she couldn’t name held more courtesy.

The breeze was nice. Often the stifling air in the orlop was overwhelming. Her place of work, yes, but fibres from hemp and oakum got everywhere. She was topside for fresh, unsullied air. Without being able to put a finger on it she also felt pushed to be there at this exact moment. Strange. Her precise hands touched rough railing. She felt relaxed.

Wait. No she didn’t. She felt like some pushy drawler had pestered her the whole day until she finally gave in. Yes. That’s what it felt like. Some rotten bastard prodding and prodding with her own needles until the back of her shirt was bloodied and she was in a bad mood. And it wasn’t even the scimitar!

[BlackAngelYume]

Elysia needed to plot out precisely where she was told the fleet had gone down and figure out how long it would take the ship to get there. So she leaned over a large table in her quarters, staring at a map, precariously moving a compass across it to figure out the exact distance they'd be traveling.

She had told the dwarves they had a few days leave, but with the sour mood she was in, she debated over cutting their mini-vacation short. Most were still on the ship, and those that weren't could be found relatively quickly. Her warriors were here, as was Raywyn and she caught a glimpse of Indy as she'd left the deck. So everyone needed was around. Of course, she wasn't sure if either Indy or Raywyn would be up for joining her and the two men she didn't really want to deal with at the same time.

A knock on the door broke Elysia from a particularly amusing thought and she looked up at it, as it was located directly in front of her, "Come in."

At the sight of Azzron she frowned, leaving the compass on the table and standing upright, her arms crossing over her chest, "Before you say anything, that one sword of yours needs his mouth cleaned, I expect something to be done about it, or I will see to it personally. Now, what do you want?"

[royaleagleofthor]

Well, this trip was going well already thought Azzron crossing his arms as well and beginning to pace. Now he needed to find the words to express his thoughts. Normally drow were known for their silver tongues. It helped all that much more in spreading their lies and enacting their plots, but as with most common traits of his race Azzron lacked that ability.

Finally the ranger spoke, "Ignis is already being dealt with, but for once I don't feel that his mouth is the greatest problem here."

Taking a deep breath the dark elf just began to put it all bluntly, "I would like you to realize one thing 'captain' I am now and always have been here with you by choice, because for some reason I still feel the need to protect you. I must say however I am less than thrilled with the way you've treated me as of recently."

Halting directly in front of the pirate Azzron stared directly into her eyes with a piercing gaze, "If you cannot or refuse to show a little respect for one who has saved your life countless times then you could at least show some respect to one you willingly share your bed with."

As the drow turned his back to the pirate Tempest cleared her throat as if she had something to say.

"I ordered you both to be silent, you want to learn to swim the hard way," bellowed the ranger.

Though not what the drow probably needed to say Elysia's reponse would give him suffiecient enough answers for now, and at least this way he didn't have to appear as weak.

[Bob]

He didn’t like being ordered around. Only his father had ever done that and lived. He didn’t like being threatened, and that had the same basic history to it. That being said, a fleet’s worth of treasure would be enough to fill a small dragon’s hoard. Greed and the knowledge that when it was over he’d be free to kill the drow. When he found where this treasure was, he wouldn’t have a need to keep the bossy half elf around, either.

So he followed the elf to her ship. The sounds of his hunger were growing, and the smell of fish wasn’t helping that much. So, when he saw a string of fish hanging up at a stand, and the fish monger running from the sight of him, he decided to forget what the captain said about taking from the marketers, snatched up the fish and started gobbling them down. Bones didn’t bother him too much, his teeth were strong enough to grind them into a paste, that didn’t taste particularly bad.

“Not a very patient person.” was his response when he noted that the half elf turned her head at the sound of his crunching. When they reached the ship, he regarded the dwarves for a moment, as well as the small human female. Deciding he was more hungry than sadistic at the moment, he decided to follow the captain below deck to find room of his own, a place to leave his maul. He didn’t like to be without it, but it wasn’t very easy to swim while carrying it.

He quickly discovered a single, slight problem in that plan. Despite crouching down, folding his wings as tightly to his body as he could, he couldn’t seem to fit into the door. The wood creaked and groaned as he slammed against the doorframe, trying to get in, though it soon became apparent that wasn’t going to happen. Walking over the deck, he found the hatch to the cargo hold, lifting it up and dropping below deck

[BlackAngelYume]

Elysia stood there and patiently listened to what Azzron had to say. When he was finished with what he needed a smirk crossed her lips, "You've been on this ship for this long and still havn't figured out how I treat people? The fact that you havn't been left at some random port should be proof enough that I don't mind you being around."

She moved one of her hands to her hip and let the other hang at her side, "If you don't like my methods, then you know where the ramp off the ship is."

She walked around the large table, walking past Azzron, grabbing his hand and squeezing it as she walked past to the door, pausing with her hand on the handle, "The addition of Azhi has accomplished two things, Azzron. It saves me having to split any of the spoils with more people and he is easily controlled." She looked back at him, "And if he turns on us, he's disposable."

She turned the knob to the door and opened it, stepping out on the deck and was about to shout something to her crewmen when she noticed a water mephit, a particular water mephit, scurrying to the cargo hold. She paid it no mind, he was allowed to scurry around the ship so long as he didn't break any of the rules.

"Listen up boys! We'll be leaving come sundown, go out and find your bretheren and make sure they're on board!"

She moved out out from where she stood, heading up the stairs to her left to where the wheel of the ship was. From this point she could see everyone on deck. She noticed the absence of the halfdragon and presence of her chirurgeon. She needed to talk to Indy as it was, this would save her the trouble of finding her.

"Oy! Indy, c'mere."

Meanwhile, the mephit that had skittered into the cargo hold was trailing Azhi and not making any attempt to be stealthy or quiet about it. In fact, one would think he was doing the exact opposite with the way he'd occasionally poke his head out in front of the dragonhalf and make faces at him before dissapearing among crates and barrels.