Treasure Hunters

[Elflegend]

(ugh, I had completely missed that one post about the diverting tactic, sorry)

Veldin watched carefully as the cannon powered down. "Can't just switch elements in the middle of power up. That kind of stunt is enough to blow up the ship. I think the direct way went just as well..."

 

[Kensuke]

"Like this is the first time I do this?" I laughed to myself. "Sorry Lotharian. But I didn't exactly get in this business without knowing the risks." I looked down at the Crystal Mask, and back at Lotharian.

I walked towards him, and handed it to him. "Here. Do what you do best." I walked away, towards my room. "I need a bath."

 

[shadowoftheheart]

She watched Damien leave with a smirk on her face, then turned to Lotharian.

"Pretty bauble. How much you reckon it'll fetch?"

She waited for the inevitable explosion. She enjoyed yanking the old man's chain.

In truth, she held a certain respect for him. He understood things she never would, had seen things she was only just now seeing, and he had seen them years earlier, when their lustre hadn't faded quite so much.

 

[Lotharian]

"Pretty bauble?" Lotharian said, glaring at the gunslinger for a moment. "It is a valuable magical artifact of an age lost! Maybe if you could look beyond profit..."

Lotharian grumbled to himself as he stormed off. How could a woman so beautiful be so bloody annoying and foolish? He knew she did it just pull his strings. But he couldn't help it. No matter what she just bothered him so much in that respect...

He made his way to his chamber and closed the door with the slam. Though he made it look like he was upset, this COULD be the key... Well, that's what he kept telling himself. It's what kept him going.

He sighed and sat down the artifact, preparing to do his study of the artifact. He brought down some of the old magical books to begin deciphering the runes on the mask, comparing it to those in his books. This process would take anywhere from a couple of minutes to a couple of days depending the complexity of the items and the runes.

 

[shadowoftheheart]

She returned to her room, a little upset that she didn't get to shoot something. Well, getting an artifact usually meant a couple quiet days while the bookworms examined it. Maybe she would do some sunning on the upper deck if the weather held up.

Ironically, in the desert she had always hidden from the sun. She still covered herself neck to toe normally, only leaving her hands and face uncovered. Now that she was away from the intense sun of the desert, she made a point of relaxing in the sunlight.

As she was considering this, she absently took out her whiskey, and took a slug. The bitter fluid burnt a path of pleasure down her throat, what spread across her chest and belly.

She dozed off, feet propped up on a table. Hardly like a job, she thought to herself pleasantly.

 

[Mistriss_Isis]

Lilith watched from the inside as the commotion erupted, long ago pushing aside the weathered chees board. As Lotharian took the mask and disappeared she smiled and stood stretching herself like a cat, on bone at a time. It felt acheingly good. With a smirk she walked below decks and gathered a few books from her room soon appearing outside Lothrain's door, slowly she knocked, hugging the leather volumes to her chest.

"Lotharian? I think I have some text that might help," she said loud enough to be heard through the thick door.

 

[Lotharian]

Lotharian was in the middle of tracing an intricate rune on the sheet when suddenly he was taken out of his conversation by a rapping at his door. The wizard looked up quickly from the scroll and then back at it... He had accidently messed up scribbing it.

"Lotharian? I think I have some text that might help," she said loud enough to be heard through the thick door.

"Gragh!" Lotharian grunted. "Fine! Come in!" Lothrian shouted and began to work on sketching the careful rune once more.

It was a very difficult one to scribe, and it was much easier to look for such things through the books with them all on one sheet and in the proper direction. Instead of all about the place and taking the extra time to find out it's proper positioning.

He felt somewhat bad for shouting at the attractive Lilith... She was one of the few people on the ship that match him with wit. The two had many close matches over the years of chess, and of other things like research. Though she was a vampiress, and knew of the dangers she presented. It was somewhat sad she wouldn't know the joys of a mortal... of motherhood and family. And that she would always have to live through the pain of others.

 

[DrStein]

Nicodemus never left his room during the whole fracas. He knew his comrades could take care of themselves. Besides, dragons weren't his specialty. It was those capable of walking amongst humans. Ghost Soldiers weren't the catch-all slayers that some people ignorantly assumed they were. They were specialized warriors, each one selecting only a handful of foes as archenemies, while the rest simply remained gnats to be swatted.

The artifacts seldom held much interest for Nicodemus. Mostly it was simply the chance to keep them from falling into evil hands. And clean a few more inhuman abominations off the planet.

He finished reading his book and stood. He wrapped himself once more in his long duster coat and placed his wide-brimmed hat over his head. The coat was the hallmark of a Ghost Soldier. It was woven with enchanted threads to shield against certain attacks, could shield the wearer from extremes of weather better than any other garment, and it pockets were seemingly endless. Only the wearer every truly knew whether they all were or if the rumors were true and they too were enchanted so as to be bottomless.

Without a single sound to give away his presence, Nicodemus left his room and swept upstairs to the deck to see if there was anyone he could speak to a moment about the issue weighing on his mind.

 

[shadowoftheheart]

Tanya stepped out to the upper deck of the airship, in a plaid string bikini. The sun was warm, and she didn't feel like waisting good weather and peace.

She found a spot to lie down, spread a blanket, and laid down, enjoying the caress of the warm sun.

Soon, with the lingering effects of the whisky, she was dozing peacefully.

 

[DrStein]

After a few minutes of waiting, Nicodemus figured the only one of his shipmates he'd be seeing any time soon was Tanya, sunning herself out on the deck. The even rise and fall of her chest showed that she was asleep, so he decided to wait for her to awaken or until someone else came along. Whichever occurred first.

He walked over to where Tanya lay and sat down cross-legged beside her, staring off into nothing as he waited patiently.

 

[Mistriss_Isis]

Lilith slowly pushed open the door, feeling the vibrations of Lotharians stress. She placed the three leatherbound volumes on the desk, making sure they were away from the artifact itself and Lotharians writing, "These are all the texts I have concerning the mask and the runes, I marked the pages for you," she flipped open the first on, describing the runes intricately, how they stabelized the mask itself and so on.


"I hope this helps..." she offered quietly, afraid she had upset him. He was the only one she cared abotu upsetting on the ship and maybe Nicodemus, but to her she saw them as equals. Intelligance skill and strength all balled up into a neat little package. She shook her head and turned to go, "Let me know if you need any help..." she said slowly as she walked towards the door.

 

[shadowoftheheart]

After a few minutes of waiting, Nicodemus figured the only one of his shipmates he'd be seeing any time soon was Tanya, sunning herself out on the deck. The even rise and fall of her chest showed that she was asleep, so he decided to wait for her to awaken or until someone else came along. Whichever occurred first.

He walked over to where Tanya lay and sat down cross-legged beside her, staring off into nothing as he waited patiently.

Tanya started awake. She looked up to see Nicodemus sitting beside her. She sat up on her elbows.

"Heya. Didn't see ya today on deck. Didn't worry about the dragon?"

She smiled.

 

[Lotharian]

Lotharian raised his hand as Lilith went to leave. He did enjoy some company... even that of a cold vampiress. He would need help sorting these books, and she would help make the work go faster. Not to mention the fact that she knew her away around books... and she wasn't too displeasing for his eyes to relax on after the dull pages.

"If you've no other duties to attend to for our 'fearless leader', you may help me translate these runes if you whim." The wizard said as he motioned to some of the shelves. There were easily 38 large tomes within the room. "I am currently working on scribing the runes from the mask to a sheet for they are more easily kept track of."

"The instructions are simple if you are up to the task. Just merely pull up the red bookmarkers of the ones you read. And if you've found something, mark the page and pile them in the corner over there." Lotharian said the instructions, resuming his scribing. "Though I will not keep you from anything more exciting for may seek to accomplish..."

 

[DrStein]

Nicodemus turned his grey eyes down to watch Tanya without actually moving his head. "Dragons are not field of expertise. Besides, you all can handle yourselves against one reptile fine on your own."

The wind played with his wavy brown tresses a bit. He always spoke slowly and softly, pausing after every couple of sentences as if handpicking his words with the scrutiny of a jeweler. "There is one thing on my mind, however. I've been reading through the books I acquired from that necromancer's tower last month. Apparently, there is an artifact that we should be looking for posthaste."

 

[shadowoftheheart]

"Yeah? Well, if you think there's something we should be looking for, we should go tell the boss. I guess you can see I'm not real busy. Once the bookworms take over, I don't got too much more to do."

She sits up.

"C'mon, we'd better go tell Damein. So, what is this vital artifact?"

 

[DrStein]

Nicodemus stood fluidly in the same manner as always, as if all of his moments were slower than they had to be. It was eerie to watch him move sometimes, to say nothing of watching him in battle.

"It's an amulet. Called The Eye of the Lyacanthrope. It grants the wearer the ability to transform into any creature but with a catch. In order to become that creature, the amulet must steal the soul of one first and keep it prisoner within."

As they moved belowdeck, his voice darkened considerably. "And to make matter worse, it works on humans as well. The wearer of the eye can become a perfect copy of any person whose soul is trapped in the amulet, right down to their memories.

"We cannot allow something like that to remain at large in the world."

 

[shadowoftheheart]

"Damn," Tanya mutters. "Yeah, I agree, an artifact like that ... finding it does kinda seem important."

She gathered up her blanket, draping it over her arm. She remains comfortable in her bikini as she walks through the halls of the airship. Once, she had felt naked and helpless without her guns. Now at least she felt safe in the airship.

"Damein's drawn a bath, so I dunno if he is available to talk, but he's gotta hear this. The bookworms need to hear it too."

Tanya has never seen Nicodemus as one of the "bookworms." Smart, capable, but still a warrior. Like that Necromancer's book. She had seen it, and didn't know what language it was in. It didn't even look like writing. But he had understood it.

She had actually come to terms some time ago that of the crew of the Jiyuu, she had the least learning, at least as far as books went. She knew guns, and guns helped to keep the smarter ones alive. So, she was fine with that. Besides, she wasn't dumb. She learnt a little bit more each day, and she now knew things that before were only vague myths.

Musing on these things, she stood before Damien's door, and knocked.

 

[Elflegend]

At times, Veldin could be the perfect image of the impassive, stoic elf as he appeared i most stereotypes. Which was just as well, because he was glad not to betray any expression as Lotharian displayed his usual scornful behaviour that somehow, he felt, always did some splash damaged: if he berated someone, you felt vaguely insulted just because you stood nearby.

He shrugged idly as the scowling man retreated into his room. At least he knew his job. He was somewhat surprised to see Lilith approach his room a while later. He at first looked at her in silence for a while, eyes unreadable as always, then openen his mouth to warn her of Lotharian's current mood, but since there was no shouting and flying of books right afterwards, he decided it must have gone well enough.

With a sigh he turned to the cannon, where the crystals were slowly recovering from their instability caused by the hasted blast. He would definitely have to find an alternate solution to that.

Shruggin quietly to himself, he disappared graefully and silently into his cabin, already planning some experiments.

 

[Kensuke]

After drying myself from the bath, I heard a knock on the door. I sighed as I didn't even have enough time to change.

I wrapped the towel around my waist and opened the door. "Tanya?" I asked. 'She was coming to see me while I was taking a bath, eh?' I thought. 'Heh, might as well play along.' "What is it?" I asked, smirking.

 

[Mistriss_Isis]

Lilith turned back around at Lothrians words and soon settled herself down to leaf through one or two of the volumes that he had pointed out to her. Her own table to herself she looked to be rather engrossed in her work, her hair falling slightly in her face as pale fingers turned the pages. SHe loved all of this, history and real magic.She had always wanted to see if she had the strength it took to hold such magic, but something of light could not survive within someone of darkness.

"I think I found something, it has a picture of the mask..." she said softly looking over at Lotharian, "OH and how lucky it talks about the runes... my first book I pick...go me," she said smiling as she stood and walked over to Lotharian and placed the book on the other side of the mask, away from his drawing.

 

[Lotharian]

Lotharian looked up from his parchment with a raised brow. The mask itself WAS IN ONE OF THE BOOKS!?! This had never happened before. More oft than not, he was forced to put runes together because most of the artifacts they had were small. But if it was specifically mentioned in a tome...

"Beginner's Luck." Lotharian said with a snort as he quickly picked up the tome to read the section about this Crystal Mask...

 

[Mistriss_Isis]

Lilith smiled at Lotharian as his eyes went wide an she stood beside him watching him read, "Yea right, what kind of beginner do you think I am, I've been reading about these things just as long as you..." Lilith said with a laugh as she went back and sat down at her little table.

 

[LadyFairy]

He shrugged idly as the scowling man retreated into his room. At least he knew his job. He was somewhat surprised to see Lilith approach his room a while later. He at first looked at her in silence for a while, eyes unreadable as always, then openen his mouth to warn her of Lotharian's current mood, but since there was no shouting and flying of books right afterwards, he decided it must have gone well enough.

With a sigh he turned to the cannon, where the crystals were slowly recovering from their instability caused by the hasted blast. He would definitely have to find an alternate solution to that.

Shruggin quietly to himself, he disappared gracefully and silently into his cabin, already planning some experiments.

Rhannon hadn’t moved from where she was standing as she watched her companions go to their various tasks. She hated inclosed spaces and always avoided going to her cabin as long as possible.

Seeing Veldin start to speak with Lilith as she went buy with her books then stop shaking his head, before begining to work on his cannon. Rhannon's curiousitoy about the cannon got the better of her as she moved forward to see what he was doing. Any thing i can do to help? She asked not quite quick enough as he moved off to his own cabin.

Shaking her own head Rhannon moved around the other side of the deck seeing Tanya, and Nicodemus heading below talking about another artifact that needed found. Something called the Lycanthrop eye..

Alonria debated on wether or not to follow but decided that if it was important they would all be told soon enough. Closing her eyes she decided to stay where she was and enjoy the sun on her skin, and the wind as it blew thru her hair, and over her wings.

 

[Lotharian]

'The Mask of Iceflesh

A Mask of signifigant power that granted the wearer near full safety from the cold. Magical or natural. Created by the Archmagi, Elyiana Frostheart, so she may better use the forces of cold against her foes that sought to best her. The tought came to her after...'

It just continued on for that for another couple of pages, about every little act and so forth of knowledge that was now worthless. That would've helped in the knowledge to try and create a similiar item should one have the magical might. Though since this Elyiana seemed to be one of the strongest users of Ice Magic, it wasn't likely.

"A mask that protects against the cold... Could be useful in these mountains." Lotharian said, a smirk coming to his lips. "And to think our 'wonderful leader' had the means to save himself from that Ice Dragon by his lonesome the whole time. Heh. Well, I guess he can't do EVERYTHING by himself..."

Lotharian grunted lightly as he leaned upon his staff and stood. He was getting too old for this traveling non-sense. He looked upon his shelf and fetched an old tome, that to him seemed simple, but to her probably seemed rare. 'Prestigous Presidigitations'. A book on simple spells, but was rare now a days.

"Here." Lotharian said, handing it to Lilith. "For your assistance and saving me some time. Something for your collection."

 

[Mistriss_Isis]

Lilith smiled as she watched him read. It went on about random things after awhile she was sure. Shaking her head at his comment about their fearless leader. "Yes well he can be a bit dull witted sometimes," Lilith agreed as he handed her a book.

"Lotharian you dont have to, I know how much these books mean to you..." Lilith said holding the book out to hand back to him.