Part 3: A reckoning rides from the west

Akiran's gauntleted hands fiddle with his mug, as he remembers his homeland. The smells, the food, actually feeling like he belonged, filled his mind on a near constant basis. His fools dream of being welcomed back home, bringing as always a sense of hope & despair. After a long drink from his mug he decides to help, if fortune's kind he could get in and out without anyone recognizing him.  With a solemn nod to Osrik, Akiran quietly says  "I'm in, better than sitting around while we wait."  Looking over to Lilli he reflexively replies  "I'm alright." before pausing and adding "I'll tell ya more later, but I'm gonna be keepin' a low profile on this job."

Lilliana places her hand upon Akiran's much larger one and gives it a friendly squeeze and nods her understanding before drawing her hand back to her glass of wine to take a drink. She hoped she wasn't overstepping any boundaries with Akiran with her own need for some sort of familial connection, but this friendship that she had with him is exactly what she'd always wanted with her own siblings. Instead she'd received scorn and jealousy for being not only the youngest, but also "the favorite". 

Vesh said: “Normally Ah’d say Ah hate t’impose but, well,”  he grins sheepishly, “if there’s a chance t’see such a legendary crea-chuh, then Ah would be real delighted t’join y’all.” "A 'shark monster' this far inland and in fresh water?" Thrandimir muses. "If there's something out there, it's not natural. More likely some ancient wizard's experiment, or just a plain old curse."

sansasnark said: Ascian looks from Thrandimir to Akiran to the new face coming on board, slowly dragging the heel of his palm down his thigh enough to leave faint indents in the leather. "How long will we be gone." "We leave tonight, and we should be back before midday tomorrow," he says.

"And you're sure Dad isn't going to notice that his guests have suddenly disappeared only to come back the next day?" Katrin raises an eye at Osrik. "And that Tordek won't notice either?"

"We can tell him exactly what Renley says," Osrik says. "We're going to see Segoa."

Katrin opens her mouth, then closes it, letting out a resigned sigh. "Presumably on that rickety boat of yours. Tempus be praised," she says with as little enthusiasm as she could muster.

“ Rickety?”  Renley laughs, looking from sibling to sibling.  “My lady to hear yuh brother tell it he commands a vessel so rugged Tempus himself  would struggle t’sink her.”

Katrin slowly turns to look at Renley, raising an eye. "Well of course he would. He loves that thing like it's his child." She looks back at her brother, pressing her lips together to hide a smile, adopting the mock-serious tone she would use when they were younger and Os had just discovered the "joys of fishing" as he had put it. "Dwarves belong underground, dear brother. We don't float, we sink. Like rocks."  She holds her expression for a moment longer, than breaks into a grin, lightly punching her brother good-naturedly on the shoulder. "I'm just teasing. But you do remember how much I hate boats, right?"

"It's not rickety!" Osrik says, looking offended. "It's pristine! And I know we don't float. That's why we have the boat!"

Katrin just purses her lips, raising an eye at her brother. After a moment, she relaxes her expression. "It's my job as a younger sister to give you crap for it, Os. I'm just fulfilling my sisterly duties," she says, smiling cheekily. 

Osrik rolls his eyes. "So, what do you all say?"

"Money to be made. Small chance of danger. What are we waiting for?" Thrandimir chuckles, puffing on his pipe.

Lilliana nods. "I'm in."

Ascian glances to Thrandimir and Katrin. It's time he'll have to wait anyway, and both of them seem eager to go. He nods jerkily. "Okay."

The evening passes with drink and a hot meal for most of the Fireblades, including Ember, who gnaws happily on the leg bone of some large bird beneath the table. Eventually, Osrik leads them somewhat stealthily down to the docks. He opens up a warehouse that seems to be bare, with the exception of a large pile of hay in the back corner. He brushes some of the hay away, revealing a stack of unmarked wooden crates and barrels. "Here's the stuff," he says, waving away the hay dust as its swept away by the cool lake breeze. "Let's get it onboard." He points out the door toward a boat, the deck dominated by a large cabin in the center. The bow of the ship is adorned with a large chimney-like structure made of what looks like copper. Two large outboard paddle wheels sit toward the stern. The most immediately noticeable thing about the boat is the lack of sails -- that, and the fact that it looks like it was cobbled together yesterday, with ropes and planks holding most things together. He shrugs. "Don't listen to what Katrin's about to say. She floats. And she'll get us there."

Katrin just glares at Os.

Renley does his best to hold back the laughter he feels rise up in his throat, instead clearing it to pat Osrik on the shoulder. "If ever there was a more seaworthy vessel, mon ami.. ." Double checking in front of them the presence of his kit of healing supplies, he smiles congenially to the Fireblades. "Well, Ah'm feeling more n' more thankful bah the secon' that y'all a'letting me ride along."  "Shall we?"

Lilliana eyes the 'boat' dubiously, looking at Osrik. "How does it move without sails? Are those large wheels what push it along the water?"

"I bought it from a guy in Bresselvik," Osrik says. "He said it works by steam power. I light a fire, it boils water, and uses the pressure to move the wheels, which pushes the ship."

" Fascinating ," Thrandimir marvels, inspecting the paddle-boat as best he can from the outside. "Would you mind showing me the boiler?"

Some of the apprehension in Akrian's gaze fades, with chuckle he adds  "Shoulda just said it was magic in da first place. From da looks of it, I half expected to end up at da bottom of da lake." Looking out across the water, Akiran wonder if that may be better than what awaits. Roughly pulling his cloak's hood low over his face, as he boards the ship. Akiran takes a heavy pull from his flask, as he tries to push out the scorned faces of his people as they cast him out forever. 

"Sure," Osrik says to Thrandimir. "Soon as we're underway." At Akiran's comment, he looks moderately puzzled, then shrugs and picks up a crate. "Hey, big man," he says to the dragonborn. "Help me out with this stuff. You too, Kat. You look like you've been working out."

Katrin rolls her eyes. "It's the gauntlets, idiot," she says, tapping her fists together. But she picks up a crate anyway.

Akiran grunts and after pause "Yeah I'll help ya, an' while we're out there Bigman's good. No need ta use my name." He then grabs a crate and hauls it on the ship.  

Renley eyes Aki— the "Big Man"  — curiously, recalling the comments Osrik and he had made about Dragonborn clans in the area. Nonetheless he boards the not-rickety-at-all contraption and takes a seat leaning back against the portside rail. He quickly eases up though, afraid too much pressure could split the siding in twain. 

Thrandimir happily skips aboard, keen to inspect the ship's inner workings.

Osrik raises his bushy eyebrows at Akrian's statement, but shrugs and nods, then busies himself with loading the ship with the others. The cargo is loaded in no time -- four crates and three barrels -- and soon, the boat's stack is belching black smoke into the sky as the ship chugs across the lake. Despite all the machinery, the boat is fairly quiet, with the loudest sounds being the paddles plunging into the lake as they push the ship along. Osrik is happy to let the curious inspect the engine or steer the ship, though maneuvering quickly is out of the realm of possibility.  Soon, the sun fully sets and the lake is dimly illuminated by moon- and starlight, as well as lanterns that hang from the bow of the ship. It's a beautiful sight as the crystal clear lake reflects the night sky perfectly. Any reverence is interrupted by a  dull thunk from the ship's hull .  The ship lurches violently to one side, then splashes back down into the water. 

Katrin throws out a hand to prevent herself from falling, her face looking rather green. Gods above, I hate boats. She turns and gives her brother a look. "What. In all the hells. Was that?"

Lilliana joins Thrandimir is learning about this technological wonder, having not seen anything quite like it. Once satisfied, she simply sits along the edge of the boat, looking out into the darkness and enjoying the simplicity of a quiet night on the water... until the boat lurches. She immediately pushes back from the side, towards the middle of the boat as a panic rises into her throat and the joint where her prosthetic leg meets her thigh begins to burn with phantom pains. For a moment, she is back in the cave staring at the ruined wreck of her leg while dragging herself away from the monster that had nearly claimed her life still only a few days ago. She tries to calm herself, but the visible shaking of her hands is easily seen. 

Thrandimir glances left and right, taking a puff on his pipe, before settling cross-legged in the middle of the deck. The wizard takes out his spellbook and begins a ritual to allow everybody onboard to breathe water for the next day.

Renley's oversized floppy hat nearly flies from his head as he leans hard to the side with the boat, though neither his posture nor position shift much, and he calmly looks over the side for any sign of whatever had hit them. "How odd, don't anything down there."  He turns back, looking across the vessel to its captain.  "Say, Osrik, those stories about Segoa say anything 'bout it being invisuhble?"

Katrin shakes her head, then regrets it as a wave of nausea hits her. I HATE boats. "Stories don't mention anything like that."

Osrik rushes out of the cabin, looking around frantically. "No,"  he says, choking off a cough. "No stories about it..."  He coughs again...almost sounding like a laugh. "...being invisible." His "coughing" fit gives way to a peal of laughter. He bends over, hands on his knees as he laughs. He reaches back into the cabin and hits a lever, causing one of the paddle wheels to reverse for a moment, making the boat lurch  with that thunk sound again.  "You should have seen... gasp ...your fucking faces."

Katrin forgets about her nausea. She forgets about the fact that she's on a boat. She glares daggers at her brother, stomping across the deck until she's in his face. "You," she hisses,   "Are an asshole."

Lilliana turns to stare at Osrik with wide, terrified eyes before realization hits her and not wanting to make anything worse, she forces out a smile and chuckle. She'd had a brother once, just like Osrik... apparently they never outgrew their need to play tricks on their siblings. The fear passes into a general sense of unease, her hands still shaking a bit as she moves a little closer to the side of the boat again, knowing it was just a trick. 

"Yes, I am," Osrik says, his laughter dying down to a soft chuckle. "I'm sorry, I just couldn't resist. You bought into the stories of Segoa so readily...I had to do it."

"I can't believe you. You just did it because you thought it was funny. Because you know how I feel about boats. About water," Katrin says, still glaring at her brother.  "And to show off. It's not funny, Os." She goes to the railing, gripping it so hard she thought she might break it as she directs her glare over the water.

Akiran's stares in confusion at the laughing dwarf, his shield raised and sword drawn to fend off the "approaching danger". As realization strikes him the scales on his snout hover between amusement and anger. Before letting loose an echoing belly laugh,  sheathing his blade he wheezes out  "Ah ya got me ya bastard." With strong yet friendly smack to Os'rik's back  "Half thought I was 'bout ta drown, fighting some crazy monster."  Gesturing to the rest of Fireblades  "Hell running with this lot it was more likely than not ta be that beasty ya made up. Wouldn't be crazier than most of da shit we've seen." Taking a swig of his flask and holding it out to Os'rik, his laughter fading he adds  "Ah I needed that laugh." 

Despite the banter on deck, Thrandimir continues with his ritual, mentally chiding himself for not remembering to carry it out in advance of the voyage.

Osrik nods to Akiran and laughs all the way back to the cabin. As the boat carries on, a few chuckles can be occasionally heard coming from Osrik. Eventually, just a few minutes after Thrandimir completes his ritual, the boat arrives at its destination -- a small, nondescript, and seemingly abandoned dock. Osrik swings the boat alongside the structure, and then he and the Fireblades begin the process of unloading the cargo. After that's done, Osrik looks to the others. "So, how do you want to handle this?" he asks.

"It's your  hand-off, is it not monsieur? " Stretching his newly-minted sea legs, Renley hops off the boat and starts looking around the area, lest any land shark-hydras wanted to make their presence known. "Presumably we leave all the talking t'you and the rest'uh us either stand behind ya lookin' real tough or make ourselves scarce n' skulky, oui ?"

Despite how much she dislikes the water, Katrin stays at the railing for the remainder of the journey across the lake. She loved her brother. But sometimes he could be a real ass, and she still wanted to punch him. When the boat docks, she stays at the rail, her hands feeling glued to the wood. She would be perfectly content to just let Os take care of this on his own, but she knows that's not why he brought them along. With difficulty, she turns around, her eyes flat and stony as she waits for her brother's response.

"Well," Osrik says, "I don't typically stick around. I don't know when the dragonborn will be here, but if whoever made off with the last cargo shows up...well, I was wondering if you wanted to stand out in the open, or ambush them."

"Standing around in the open gives them an opportunity to ambush us," Katrin says flatly. "I'd just as soon not give anyone else an advantage."

"Why not both?" Thrandimir chuckles, puffing on his pipe. The smoke drifts over towards the drop point to take the form of a Renley-shaped mannequin.

Ascian, quiet for the duration of the boat ride, watches the smoke pass overhead and nods slowly. "I'll get ready in the trees."

Renley watches with fascination as the puff of smoke takes, of all things, his own form. With a whistle of appreciation, he grins at the old man. "Now that's a jus' something ain't it? Always wanted mah own twin."  He walks around the illusion, admiring its accuracy for a moment longer. "All that said, Ah wouldn't mind standing by fuh the negotiations. Never been much good at healing — or hurting — from a distance." "Up to y'all though,"  he adds in with a shrug.

With input from the Fireblades, Renley moves off toward the trees and the group settles down to wait.  After an hour, the clip-clop  of horses hooves on dirt and a clatter of armor drifts into the clearing. Eventually, the source comes into view. A horse-drawn wagon escorted by just over a dozen men rolls down the path, illuminated by torches -- some carried, and a few mounted on the cart. The cart slows to a halt as the incoming men notice the waiting group at the boxes. One of them gestures for the others to wait, and then steps forward.  "Well, I'll be," he says in a slurring, almost exaggerated Heartlands accent.   The man steps into the light. The studs on his leathers glint in the torchlight beneath his duster. A shield is slung across his back and though he carries no visible weapons, his duster drapes strangely across the sides of his chest.  "A couple dwarves and a dragonborn, congregatin' together all suspicious-like in the middle of the forest. Wonder what that's about, eh boys?" The men behind him laugh. Most are armed with swords, spears, and shields, but a few have the same long firearms that Private Jenkins and the other Heartlands sharpshooters had used back in Fireblade.

Katrin's hand rests on the hilt of her sword, her other hand tightening it's grip on the leather straps of her shield. Her eyes don't leave the firearms wielded by some of the intruders. "Os, please tell me that Uncle Ragnerk's invention hasn't made it into the public market," she mutters to her brother as the men approach.  "Not expecting company?" Katrin raises her voice to the intruders, tightening her grip on her weapon.