Across the Sea

[Gryphon]

The Lydia floated in the lake, looking very alone in the thin morning light. It was just after dawn, and no person should have, by rights, been awake at that ungodly hour. Nevertheless, a man was approaching the boat, a pack on his back.

Gryphon stopped by the edge of the lake and peered up at the Lydia. With a sigh, he threw his pack into the boat, and sat down wait for the rest of the group to arrive. He had already scouted out the area. The lake fed a river that began just behind a bend in the lake shore, and that river ran--he assumed--out to ocean, which, in turn, should carry them to their destination.

[Grim Jestor]

...the man known only as Gryphon waits there, for friends or companions, unaware that he is being watched from the shadows. Under the trees which line the lake shore, a wizard's eye floats silently, unheeded in this peaceful place. Its owner, many leagues away, peers out over the calm waters and into the brightening day, turning from His observations only when he senses the Servant drawing near. The sound of a horse pulling a creaking cart can be heard, moving ever closer to the floating ship and the journey ahead...

The cart pulls up to the beach, and a medium-sized man in a long coat, wearing a wide-brimmed hat, jumps down and calls, "Ho there Gryphon! Simon and supplies, here at last!" Although he has been traveling for many hours he is jolly and full of life, evidence that the cart is at least one ale-barrel light. Simon, a trader from the far North according to his own word, is a strange fellow and obviously not involved in commerce, unless it is normal in his land to openly carry so many thin, silver daggers on his belt... but he tries so hard to play the part that Gryphon, eager to set sail, does not say a word but helps the now-unsteady Simon load the contents of his cart onto the Lydia.

[Zegmorien]

Zegmorien walks along the shoreline of the lake with a loud banging and rustling of overstuffed gear in his backback. He then drops all of the items with a loud crash, completely destroying any sort of peacefulness and tranquility that was occurring prior to his arrival.

Stands there and looks at Gryphon, "Hi! Where we shoveling.. er shoving off to!? " Waits and looks at Grphyon who appears dumbfounded at this insane looking person wearing armor apparently backwards, a helmet oversized, and enough gear for an army of chefs preparing for a royal banquet.

Takes Gryphon's silence a requirement to speak some more, "Oh.. I get it... you want me to to use my special pirate accent. Okay *ahem* Ahoy thar Matey! The sun - she now be settlin' low best be shovin' off before somethin' sinister this way comes! Unless ye be expectin' more to add to the party at this current locale!"

[Grim Jestor]

Simon looks up from his work to see an outlandishly-dressed newcomer, and although he could say plenty on the poorly-kept gear, he decides that his employer's choice of companions is his own business, and merely says, "You can drop the pirate act, mate, because where I come from, the sun rises in the east. But it's good to meet you, all the same, I am a trader from the far North and you can call me Simon." He then takes the last of the various crates and barrels on board, and cuts his horse loose from the cart. They will not be needing horses for a fair time yet, so this lucky beast has just won its freedom. Seemingly relieved to be free of this quasi-trader who does not seem to know a thing about the value of a good mount, the horse wanders off in the opposite direction almost immediately, and soon is gone down the road from which it came.

[Zegmorien]

"Ar?" Zegmorien questions and glances at the sun, lowers his gaze to his shadow, and after a few minutes of observing proclaims and drops the pirate accent, "Alas! Well make the father of donkey! It's rising indeed! Gryphon must have chosen you for your ability to track the heavenly bodies with the most expertise of skill! A pleasure to meet you! Need a hand with those items?"

He then walks forward and stumbles on his cookware and nearly falls into the water. "Perhaps I should start with my own gear..." He then proceeds to collect his items and forms a small pile aboard the Lydia.

[Grim Jestor]

Simon stands awhile with his back to the rising sun, enjoying the cool breeze blowing off the lake as he watches Zegmorien finish stowing his gear. Seeing no sign of Gryphon, for the present, he turns to the pirate, "The journey has not even begun, and already I have worked up a thirst worthy of ten men." Seemingly eager to make amends for his rudeness earlier, for he has decided by now that Zegmorien is surely a decent sort of fellow, he breaches one of the ale kegs from his cart, and offers a foaming mug to his new companion...

The cry of some lake bird can be heard far off across the dawn as they sit and drink, waiting for Gryphon to return.

[Gryphon]

Gryphon stares at the two men, utterly confused.

"Who... who are you?" he stammers, his mind working furiously. He was sure that he didn't know any of these people, and he couldn't imagine where they would have gotten the notion they were coming along. That is, unless...

"You're not part of Scyris's crew, are you? If you are, you're sort of at the wrong boat."

[Zegmorien]

Zegmorien stops in the middle of unpacking says "Ar?" He then reaches in his back pocket which is blocked by the front shielding of the reversed armor. After unlatching the armor he pulls the note out of his pocket, reads it and says, "On my note written apprently in.." he pauses to taste the writing, "..blood it says, Get ye wretched self mediate'ly to lidyeuh!" Offers the note to Gryphon for inspection.

[Grim Jestor]

Simon closely studies the seafarer, looking for signs of mirth on his face, but sees none. "This is the Black Lake, is it not? For where else do the mournful cries of the loon echo across the water, fending off the wandering Spirits of the Night? Nay, sir, it is you who are mistaken, unless you have changed your mind since we last spoke, so many days ago back North..." He looks quickly back at the now-empty and horseless cart, and then back to Gryphon. His deep-sunk eyes almost seem to flash under his wide-brimmed hat, "When a man hires Simon of the Northlands, he gets what he pays for... whether he likes it, or not."

The mood on board the small vessel grows tense as Simon's hand strays to his belt, upon which hangs many slim, silver daggers...

...back under the overhanging branches of ancient, gnarled trees which line the shores of this great lake, an unseen eye opens again to watch with interest the events unfolding at the water's edge. The decision lies in Gryphon's hands, as well the watcher knows, but the Servant possesses enough fear of failure that the watcher is certain what the end will be. If truly the Lydia sets sail this day, the so-called Simon of Northlands will be on board, and if not-- if not, the watcher will still be able to report success to those He serves...

...unfortunately for Simon, he does not notice a woman approaching from behind until it is nearly too late...

[Scyris]

Scyris walks up behind the crowd, her hand casually on her rapier hilt. "I beg your pardon gentlemen, but this voyage only requires three people. And three people have already been chosen. I do not believe either of you are the third member of this party and I request that you leave us to our business."

[Grim Jestor]

Simon eyes the newcomer darkly, tensing for what is about to happen. "And who might you be, stranger? Zegmorien I know, and Gryphon I thought I knew, but you? You, if I may offer a word of advice, ought not come upon armed men with your hand upon your sword, m'lady... or you might be leaving with neither hand nor sword in your possession." Flashing in the early daylight, two thin silver daggers appear in Simon's hands, and he waits for Scyris to make her move...

[Scyris]

Scyris raises her eyebrow, a clear sign of being unimpressed. "I am someone who doesn't take kindly to threats. This voyage has been planned for several months and during its development, Gryphon mentioned neither of you to me. Gryphon is not one to forget a detail in a plan. And to prove to me that you know what this voyage is for, please enlighten me as to what you think we will be doing on this little journey."

[Zani]

Zani appears only as a cloaked figure off to the side, not seeming to even be paying attention. She is, however, listening.

[Skriker]

Stands listening intently to the conversation, cloaked in the shadows cast by the gnarled trees along the shoreline.

He sincerely hopes that the voyage about to take place is not one of exclusivity as he is certain others may wish to join in the adventure.

[Grim Jestor]

Simon sneers at Scyris from under his hat, and his face turns ugly with rage. His voice grows quiet, and he forces his words out in almost a low hiss, "The time for talking is over, and the only proof you'll have from me is my silver blades in your heart!" He moves as if to leap forward and strike, but his foot somehow catches on the edge of the boat, and it is a fatal mistake. As he falls, daggers gone now from his hands as he tries to catch himself, he thinks he can see the flash of Scyris' sharp steel blade out of the corner of his eye, and in the split-second before she strikes, he knows that he has failed. The pain bites deep, a fatal blow, and as the darkness takes him a feeling of relief washes through his mind...

...back down the shoreline, the watching wizard's eye seems to widen in surprise, cartoon-like, and from far-off comes a howl of rage. The Servant has failed, and what more has managed to get himself killed in the process... the Lydia's crew and mission are safe, for now.... the wizard's eye blinks itself out of existence, and the watcher returns to his dark place to make new plans...

[Gryphon]

Gryphon didn't zone out. Of course not! Real life just happens to catch up with a guy every once in a while.

He spots a familiar cloaked figure off to the side, recognizing Zani despite the concealing garment. He takes the opportunity to escape, and dashes over to her.

"Do you see this? So much for secrecy."

He notes OOCLY to Skriker that the voyage itself doesn't present opportunities for more people to join in, but the destination certainly does. He hopes that helps.

[Shiqra]

A newcomer wrapped in a faded purple cloak wanders by, and perches on a nearby rock, watching the proceedings with concealed interest. Only after the three companions go off to make their voyage plans does she wander over to the docks. She contemplates the outlandishly dressed "pirate" as she casually toes the fallen corpse of the man with the silver daggers. Her own home far behind, she only has forward to go, and the promise of adventure to draw her.

She drops her pack, then looks over her shoulder to where the unseen Wizard's Eye has been. "Argh! Thank the gods it's gone for now - always watching, spying, prying!" She fingers the long silver pins holding up her hair and glares in the direction of the unseen Watcher. "One of these days - POKE!!" She rummages in her pack, tossing odd bits on the ground until she finds what she has been searching for. She throws a battered tinkered toy boat into the water and begins a lilting chant. Nothing happens. Taking one of the pouches from her belt she throws the contents upon the water, this time adding a swaying dance to her chant - and still nothing happens.

Quite frustrated with the whole matter, she gathers her things and shoves them into the pack, muttering Elvish curses under her breath. The air around her crackles with blue energy and - FWOOOMPH! - the boat grows to many times its its original size. "Ahhh - there we go!" she cries. Her green eyes narrow "Accursed gnomes!! That'll teach me to deal with them again!" Turning now to the man in the incredible set of armor she says "Well now - we have a ship, and we have a destination. You look like you came to take a trip - would ye care to come along on this er...boat, such as it is, while the magic lasts, at least?" She looks down at the corpse, and her hands move of their own accord to her pack wherein the Book lies concealed. She shakes her head. "No," she says, half to herself. "That was my father. I will not follow in his path. Let the dead lie; I do not need undead minions to further my plans..."

[Zani]

Zani pushes her hood down and stands up straight off the wall, glancing at Gryphon.
"I see it. I don't know how they found out about our voyage. I suppose it was too much to ask for secrecy. There are ears everywhere here."
She then glances at Scyris. "Go back to your ship. I think someone dropped a cannon through the upper deck."

[Scyris]

Scyris sheaths her blade once again, thoroughly annoyed. She turns to Gryphon and is surprised to see Zani. "So you made it. Well done." She then addresses Gryphon, "We'd better get moving before other people show up. Who knows what they'll bring with them."
Acknowledging Zani's statement, she starts off towards the much larger ship at port next to the Lydia, the Black Syren. Faint shouts and fountains of various profanities spew from it as she approaches.

[Gryphon]

Gryphon watches Scyris leave, then turns back to Zani.

"I think we've delayed long enough. Ready to cast off?"