Post by ThurnockScormus on Aug 21, 2005 19:59:27 GMT -5
InsidiousCorsair: -Getting basicly no where with the patch up work he'd get to only the second hole in the hull he'd merely stick his head out the hole hollering on up to Venor as he felt a sinking in his gut no less anything else.-Were gunna need to get this ship beached it aint gunna be floatin if we leave it like this even if you get it tipped! We aint got enough hands on board to deal with this right now! But hey! We got rowing holes in are hull now eh! -He'd laugh as his small joke almost miserably as he pulled his head back into the mans chest size hole of gapping boards merely to get back to hammering what wood he had left in his hands before trudging back towards the door to get out of the hold climbing on up towards the deck once more He'd hear bang on the door where thewomen where simply calling in to them.-I suggest getting on deck if this bucket starts to kilter!...-Would be short and sweet before he speedily got back up on the deck once more with a few lasts steps. He'd look to whomever was left having to start directing it would seem.-Who evers left not emptying this thing of water needs to get your arse's going to get us closer to the beach! The less water under us means the less water in for now!...-Yeah he wasnt kidding either... to few meant sink or sail.... he'd choose sail onto the beach for repairs to be done with out much worry... not like it was a big issue.. most ships were beached at night anyway if not docked. Even as he barked orders to those here or there he'd merely head to do things himself... not the type to give commands he wouldnt fill himself if possible.-
Even on the starboard side, ashore no less, it was not unheard, Renn's call...He'd truly hoped to save beaching the ship for the last, or better, further down the coast; maybe some inlet or tributary where they'd be tucked out-of-sight, you know? But, you couldn't argue the logic; if it saved time in the long-run, may as well. So, nodding to the men to join the others in catching lines and tying-off to the trees, he eyed down the trail. Truth be told, it hadn't been long since the canoes came ashore; it merely felt that way from the adrenaline. But...Hm. Glancing to two Silenti-men he'd seen before, he nodded, handing one the cutlass as he took the mans dagger from his belt, tucking it down the hip of his own as he shifted the quarrel of arrows behind him, waving off to the far-side of the trail. "Scout it; if you find someone alone, kill 'im. Don't get in over your head." And, that was that; he'd leave Renn to handle those problems with the ship he hard no business with; on a boat that needed a crew, he was useless. In the jungle, with bodies to find and a sharp knife in his hand...He was dangerous.
..:as the door opened and the brutality of an icy gaze met the fear seeping from coal darkness she drew in a deep breath, in that heartbeat in time she took it in like a distinct scent and as in the laws of the jungle it served to give her the stony front she needed. Renn's bellow had her blink into action,she didn't ask...Amanita's arm was taken securley in hand and she was "escorted" up the steps and the two emerged on deck. She settled the woman and herself into the line bailing buckets. Now that she was insight at least they could be two more bodies lending a helping hand. She would work as feverishly as the men at passing buckets back and forth but you can bet whenever she be scanning the shoreline::..
|| The Village of Ullali || Arrows swooped down, plucking off men as they rushed for the tree line. Akira's band had a dual advantage with both the high ground and cover. One arrow thunked into the throat of a Silenti man, the feather fletching protruding from the center of his neck. Another took a bolt into his knee cap. Another his sword hand. Some of the arrows missed their mark; others found the meaty flesh of the enemy and bristled them up like porcupines. Akira wasn't shooting blindly. He was going after the Merchant's man. He did not care of Sakina was lost in the cross fire and this next shot did not miss. Sinking the bolt into the man's thigh, the Right Hand of the Beast smiled maliciously, but then was forced to bring his steel up as men flooded into the trees and one took a decapitating swipe at his head. He was a Pirate of the League of Black Slavers and fighting in such close quarters was his forte. He would make short work of this villager. Twisting about so the man's over drawn thrust would miss harmlessly to one side, the scimitar swept though the man's midsection, pouring out his guts in thick chunks to the forest floor. Then he dropped down to one knee, the blade gelding the next man as it cut through his pelvic region. That got all the fight out of the man and the Black Slaver tucked his boot under his dropped bow and snapped it up in the air so he could catch it and move along to the next pocket of battle. He flung the heavy-hilted sword, the wicked curve of steel cleavering beside the man's spine, sinking deep. When Akira reached the corpse he had to pry the scimitar free from the body, coated in blood. He grinned and moved along. This was nothing new to him. Boat battles were swarms of bodies on deck, so crowded you could barely draw your arm back. The panther women were screaming in rage when one of their sister's took an arrow and fell ass-over-teakettle to the ground. Walking slowly, he notched another arrow and aimed it at Thurnock, aiming for the palm to pin his hand down to the soil, another part of his body or the nearest hard surface. Whatever worked. The arrow loosed, he walked and skewered a Silenti man. Akira was the Beast's walking talking killing machine. Out of the triad of Krakatoa, Akubu, and Akira, this man was the most lethal with weapons. He had no fear. He didn't even get worked up about it, just shoved the man off his blade and with a shrill whistle signaled his men yet again. The Kur hadn't come through and his faction of men wasn't designed to take on everyone. Killing off the few around them or dying themselves, the Akira's posse broke off from the fight started to recede in the jungle. Akira walked, slowly cycling his blood drenched blade he laid it along his thigh, running the flat of it against his breeches for a sloppy clean job. Slamming it back into the scabbard, he moved on. He would meet up with that squirrely's ship mate that had dared to fire upon his men...that was who he was now gunning for.
SAVING THE SHIP // Renn gave swift orders to save the vessel by dragging it to shore. It was the only way to patch it without taking on more water. Had the beast's barge not pulled back to lick it's own wounds they would have been grounded. While the explorers would eventually have to go into the jungle, it was better to use the waterways and the canal built by the black Ubar, Bila, as long as possible. It didn't take more than a glance at a map to know it would take months to reach the Ua River otherwise and while Arculeius had been right about the villagers of Ullali not being hostile, he could not promise those deeper in the jungles would feel the same once they saw white men, or even those like himself, of a different tribe. Amanita felt the clasp of fingers at her arm even before she had digested Renn's words. She didn't parker her heels, but moved beside TaSheera to towards the deck to pitch in and at the time remain out of the way. Glances towards the jungles took came now and then, but she wouldn't dare say what was on her mind. SHOTS FIRED FROM ABOVE // The first arrow had missed only by a few inches, but Arculeius, like the rest of the men, was not free and clear. He remained hunched over, the woman placed protectively behind him, still holding the illusion that she was a helpless free woman, held in the same respect as his merchant. He did not have on him a shield, only the two faithful companions he wore at his back when not drawn to take blood. Still moist with the scarlet flag of Kurii, but too far from the action to warrent anymore juice. He looked up only to see the man Thurnock shot fall from the trees to the ground. The fall should of killed him, but he groaned until a blade slicing his throat put him out of his misery. It was just as he turned back that he felt the bite at his thigh from an arrow. He cursed himself for having pity on the man, but couldn't stand around in the open unless he wanted to take another arrow. He yanked the woman with him as he limped forward the thick cover of a tree where he slumped long enough to have her pull the half lodged arrow the rest of the way through his leg
|| The Village of Ullali || The thought that enters Brinlars mind as he utilizes the hulk of the dead Kur as a shield, is that.........these tarsk came from the direction of the river..which means that the Folly is in trouble. Not good.and again he silently curses at being outmaneuvered.....but he has faith in the skills of Renn, and even those of Venor ...who has shown he is a worthy ally, to mete out insult to the overconfident sleen of a guide of the late explorer Shaba. He can not NOT think any differently, though a single word slips from his lipsas he looks for an opportunity to regain those of his party..."Sheera.." Kings..he feels like he is stranded on an island out in the open, without bow in hand, hoping she is out of danger herself. Grimacing as he shifts along the body of the Kur..he sets his blade atop the flank of the beast, then he reaches up and is about to yank one of the embedded claws out of his shoulder, pausing as he realizes if he does..the bleeding will increase, so he simply grits his teeth and pushes the pain outside his scope of attentions. He has a better view of their attackers than Arculeius or Thurnock, being out parallel to the path leading into the village. Seeing the enemy form of Akira as the man moves behind cover, along with those of his party attacking from thier rear, the sounds of steel clashing and mens screams,particuarly the one that Akira just skewered with ease, the Sleen of Cos decides in that ihn to do what he does best....ATTACK. Leaping over the carcass of the Kur, grasping his bloodied gladius, he weaves in a crouchlike position in the direction of the retreating man, wary of any straw arrows, and calls out loudly after the right hand of the Beast "Tarsk of a Schendian...you leave before we can dance!! Come..show the Sleen of Cos what skills you possess with your steel! If you dare!!"
Heh as luck would have it and the PK's reign, he made a short motion as he reached up to take another bolt and knotch it, the weapon that the otherwise so accurate aim should have made missed, his eyes caught the movement of the one sending it in his direction and he moved in a crouch to the other side of the tree, comming into view only long enough to send his own both to the mans shoulder, not sure of who he was his gut told him by the way he seemed to "cut" through things he was the one they had been trying to stay clear of, well well, this brought a whole different set of reactions from the huge carpenter, now he was pissed.. really NOT good, some thought Kurs were hard to stop, the mans temper, his ability to hide, yes, even make himself a small target if he had to and cunning on top of that, sometimes unusual for some to think of for a carpenter, he pulled back behind the tree leaning his side against it and looked over towards Brinlar, a cold smirk crossed his features as he heard those words called out to the Schendian, he moved his head to look to the opposite side from where he had taken his shot and look towards where he had shot his bolt, another one knotched he was a patient man.. more patient that some, not as patient as others even in the state of angry he knew that to win he could not let his emotions get hold of him, he had to get them in place.. now was the time to stay this fool
-Well while hat battle ensued on land he had his own attentions on his own battle of saving that folly of theirs or it would all be of no use in truth. He'd truly have to wonder as he barked orders to those scattering here and there to deal with the tasks he'd order them to, if it was truly worth the hasstle to get the ship to land... if it would be easier or safer to take the rest of the trip on foot... it'd be pushed from his mind though as he continued on working to get what he had to done... truly it wasnt his choice what routes to take anyway... As the half worthy river vessel was set into motion once more he'd merely head for the bucket line where the two females were... a hand set to each of their arse's he'd smile all to broadly down at the both with a squeeze as he spoke.-Good to see yer both up and about! Very good to see!-Oh he wouldn't hang around there to long though as he hopped back a few steps moving at a half jog to escape whatever wrath they might have for his more then likely unwanted attentions... as if he'd care... He'd merely grab a rope winding it about the ships railings to be tied off before he'd push two men into the water.-Swim to the beach!...-The rope set between his teeth he wouldnt be long after them diving straight in head first swimming as quickly as he could... they werent far off of course from the shores by then and he'd soon trudge free onto dry land once more still moving as quickly as possible he'd wrap that long rope about a simple tree before pulling... like a pully system he'd call to the two he'd pushed in as they came over helping.-Pull ya damn sleens! Lets get our hulk of a boat on land!
Tree's. Green trees, and dark, rich earth; That was what Venor's world consisted of right then as he moved through the brush, low and tight over himself with the half-drawn bow in both hands, hopping this bush or root or that potential twig, moving down those decaying leaf-trails in comfort. That was the thing about it that startled him though, as he began to move faster, more assuredly; he felt more at-home in those surroundings, than he did on the boat...And while he felt as if an anvil had been taken off his chest for the moment, he had to admit that...well, it irritated him to be honest. Which left, more on his mind than was necessary. Coming up short, he stopped...and knit the brow, sinking somewhat lower to open his mouth wide in a faint spindly draft through the trees...And he smacked his lips, working for the...flavor on his mind, before he struck after it. Tinny copper; blood was spilled, in
Debauched Caper: barrel-load's worth, in that direction...And he'd come across the village none-too-soon, either.
|| The Village of Ullali || Akira was skilled enough that sneaking up on him would be nigh to impossible. It was as if he had eyes in the back of his head but he didn't need those extra oculars to spot the man that wanted a piece of him. As his head turned, a slow smile working at his mouth,knowing that title that was bellowed, yet his stride didn't slow; it did not speed up; it did not change at all from the easy trek through the jungle. His chin lifted, egging the man to follow if he dared; into the thick cover of the trees. The Black Slaver would be the one to choose the time and place for any exchange of steel; the cries meant to prick his ego where shrugged off without even conscious thought. The two arrows peppered the tree that Akira stepped behind as if he too had that sixth sense of danger, the bolts diving into the virgin bark of the jungle palm. He was out of range the next ihn, putting trees and distance between him and the village. Once he was out of sight, he released the steel shank from it's berth, readying himself if the two men got their balls back between their legs and came for him. He wanted this; thirsted for it. It would taste better that the man that he would face was known on Thassa. The stronger the foe that spackled his blade with blood; more he liked it. Far better than slowly picking off their number which was Krakatoa's way, he would relish the confrontation. His men moving through the trees, they would know better than to interrupt a fight of one on one, a cajellne, in any way. They were men from his ship and they knew how Akira operated. He walked on as if there were not people wanting to skin him alive, as if they weren't breathing down the back of his neck, intending to stop him. The scimitar was wind milled, round and around, slicing off parts of leaves that reached out to touch him. This was going to be...fun.
Arculeius had no choice but to bite down on a stick while the woman pushed the arrow the rest of the way through his thigh rather than yank it out the way it had come. There wasn't time for more than quick first aid and he refused to even let her take a look at his gut until they were back at the River. If the Kurii had attacked the village to stall them and these men came from the same direction as the water, there was no telling what shape the Folly was in. He caught a glimpse of the pirate as he began to chase the killer, but Arculeius could barely walk, let along run. Once he was on his feet again he called for his men to make it back towards the river, but found that their numbers had dropped even lower. Their dozen was almost down by a third, and half of those men were nursing woulds the same or worse than Arcu. Things were looking grim until a second fleet of arrows came from behind, this time they were on the good side, at least from Arculeius' perspective. Men from the Folly had closed in on the foot soldiers of the Beast and started picking them off from the trees. Odds were soon equal again and there was a chance to retreat. ON THE FOLLY // Amanita had just taken a bucket from TaSheera when she felt something foreign, the woman who was used to things slithering up her leg had something that didn't belong pinching at her rear. Considering the state she was in, she might of been able to let it slide had the bucket not already started to act on it's own. Renn was just about to make a clean getaway to go robe and give it a pull, but he would be doing so even more soaked than he already was. The empty bucket was passed on without a flinch and the next full one taken in sync as if nothing out of the ordinary had occured. Dark eyes would meet again with the other woman, perhaps getting a small bit of approval, though she was probably used to that kind of behavior having been around this lot of pirates longer than the merchant.
|| The Path to the Village of Ullali || Brinlar Sevarii..pirate of Cos is nobodies fool, so he did not expect the man to throw caution to the wind and accept his challenge ...noo..he did so to gauge the intelligence of the man, the demeanor of the Beasts lackey, and found him of the same mindset as the Quietus captain. Nor would the pirate follow blindly into the jungles.. where he would have a distinct disadvantage for certain. That he has already ascertained is the scheme of the cool-headed Nubian. He also knows beyond a doubt,if they are to achieve thier prize, the Beast must be defeated, and that before he can cut off the head..the strongest hand needs to be removed 1st. And that would be the one that goads him with his disdain into following...noo...not at this juncture. There will be a time and a place to cross steel with the urt...a day he looks foward to eagerly. Pausing, making sure the attack is truely at an end for the time being, he looks over his shoulder and barks out, already moving towards the river "Thurnock..you and any able to fight with me..we return to the Folly!"
Comming quickly to his feet, his senses still piqued he turned towards the two that had set Mateo down, his eyes going to the black one then to them as he walked towards them, there was something that echoed in his mind, something Mateo had told him a long time ago, something about his beliefs, the Shendians beliefs when one dies there was that stillness in time, an ihn where the soul seperates from the body, where those around it sense it's leaving as he closed the distance to his old friend he knew the mortality of those he lived with and their way of life, he knew too the cost of battle as he crouched down next to him, he knew time was short as he bowed his head looking a final time to Mateo's still opened eyes ... he reached down closing the lids and took a tarsk from his pouch tucked inside his breeches, setting one to each of his eyes and stood, he spoke quietly to the two telling them to take his body back to the Folly, it would be seen to as soon as possible, it would not be easy to take the body of the second mate back, but he felt he owed him that. Shoving the loss in the back of his mind, and for as big as he was, he was agile as well and was as quickly as he could be not far from the heels of the Capn, the news could and would wait for later, but then words wouldn't have to be said, a simple look shared would tell the tale and the cost, ducking the branches of the low hanging trees and slicing through the brush just off trail they hastened back towards the folly, that same haunting feeling that she was not fairing well under the attack
-Heh... by the time they would all be heading for the beach the folly was already pulled half way ashore ready for repairs... the last of the full water buckets would be being dragged up to the deck to be dumped over board as he and the two men he had taken with him pulled that rope a few last times before tightly tying it off to the tree e had chosen to be worthy enough to hold for time being. He'd leave that there sending the two men not back to the ship... but like Venor and the few others he'd taken... towards the village, even as he himself moved to simply walk around looking to the holey broken area of the hull once more... this time clearly from the outside... A small thankfulness quietly spoken under his breath with a few uttered curses for their barge fairing 'friend' he merely smiled thinking of if only one of those catapults shots had hit the man in the head... If Only... bah but luck never was there when it was needed... skill came in handy at those times... either way all such thoughts pushed off he would set to climbing back aboard... ordering what few men were there off the ship to start getting a camp set up in mean time as their vessal was out of danger for the moment... and night seemed to be approaching... one thing at a time... most important on the list was safety of the men over fixing a boat.. he'd merely draw his shirt free which was still soaked and dripped as he passed merely winding it up until with a flick of his wrist it'd be sent into a clashing Crack down over nita's arse for her throwing the water at him early... was done as he passed of course out of reach while heading for the lower decks once more... to go deal out orders to those down there who couldnt hear him... ahh the wonderful work of a first mate... hmm... come to think of it where in the kings name was Brin and the rest of them.... what was taking them so damn long.. for now... he wouldnt linger on it... merely getting done what needed to be while waiting for them to return.-
If you could count on something, it was the ...volume, a pirate could yell by. Even to the point that, across the village, in the treeline, Venor could hear most of the order to return to the Folley. Which, flinchingly he realized, meant he'd been a little late to come to anyones aid. But, he didn't dwell over it; rather, he fell onto the path's level footing and turned to a full run down the paths. If Brinlar was yelling for able bodies, that meant Krakatoa would be circling around. And that not only had he come for nothing, but he'd left a prime spot to take cover...Damned his luck!
Even on the starboard side, ashore no less, it was not unheard, Renn's call...He'd truly hoped to save beaching the ship for the last, or better, further down the coast; maybe some inlet or tributary where they'd be tucked out-of-sight, you know? But, you couldn't argue the logic; if it saved time in the long-run, may as well. So, nodding to the men to join the others in catching lines and tying-off to the trees, he eyed down the trail. Truth be told, it hadn't been long since the canoes came ashore; it merely felt that way from the adrenaline. But...Hm. Glancing to two Silenti-men he'd seen before, he nodded, handing one the cutlass as he took the mans dagger from his belt, tucking it down the hip of his own as he shifted the quarrel of arrows behind him, waving off to the far-side of the trail. "Scout it; if you find someone alone, kill 'im. Don't get in over your head." And, that was that; he'd leave Renn to handle those problems with the ship he hard no business with; on a boat that needed a crew, he was useless. In the jungle, with bodies to find and a sharp knife in his hand...He was dangerous.
..:as the door opened and the brutality of an icy gaze met the fear seeping from coal darkness she drew in a deep breath, in that heartbeat in time she took it in like a distinct scent and as in the laws of the jungle it served to give her the stony front she needed. Renn's bellow had her blink into action,she didn't ask...Amanita's arm was taken securley in hand and she was "escorted" up the steps and the two emerged on deck. She settled the woman and herself into the line bailing buckets. Now that she was insight at least they could be two more bodies lending a helping hand. She would work as feverishly as the men at passing buckets back and forth but you can bet whenever she be scanning the shoreline::..
|| The Village of Ullali || Arrows swooped down, plucking off men as they rushed for the tree line. Akira's band had a dual advantage with both the high ground and cover. One arrow thunked into the throat of a Silenti man, the feather fletching protruding from the center of his neck. Another took a bolt into his knee cap. Another his sword hand. Some of the arrows missed their mark; others found the meaty flesh of the enemy and bristled them up like porcupines. Akira wasn't shooting blindly. He was going after the Merchant's man. He did not care of Sakina was lost in the cross fire and this next shot did not miss. Sinking the bolt into the man's thigh, the Right Hand of the Beast smiled maliciously, but then was forced to bring his steel up as men flooded into the trees and one took a decapitating swipe at his head. He was a Pirate of the League of Black Slavers and fighting in such close quarters was his forte. He would make short work of this villager. Twisting about so the man's over drawn thrust would miss harmlessly to one side, the scimitar swept though the man's midsection, pouring out his guts in thick chunks to the forest floor. Then he dropped down to one knee, the blade gelding the next man as it cut through his pelvic region. That got all the fight out of the man and the Black Slaver tucked his boot under his dropped bow and snapped it up in the air so he could catch it and move along to the next pocket of battle. He flung the heavy-hilted sword, the wicked curve of steel cleavering beside the man's spine, sinking deep. When Akira reached the corpse he had to pry the scimitar free from the body, coated in blood. He grinned and moved along. This was nothing new to him. Boat battles were swarms of bodies on deck, so crowded you could barely draw your arm back. The panther women were screaming in rage when one of their sister's took an arrow and fell ass-over-teakettle to the ground. Walking slowly, he notched another arrow and aimed it at Thurnock, aiming for the palm to pin his hand down to the soil, another part of his body or the nearest hard surface. Whatever worked. The arrow loosed, he walked and skewered a Silenti man. Akira was the Beast's walking talking killing machine. Out of the triad of Krakatoa, Akubu, and Akira, this man was the most lethal with weapons. He had no fear. He didn't even get worked up about it, just shoved the man off his blade and with a shrill whistle signaled his men yet again. The Kur hadn't come through and his faction of men wasn't designed to take on everyone. Killing off the few around them or dying themselves, the Akira's posse broke off from the fight started to recede in the jungle. Akira walked, slowly cycling his blood drenched blade he laid it along his thigh, running the flat of it against his breeches for a sloppy clean job. Slamming it back into the scabbard, he moved on. He would meet up with that squirrely's ship mate that had dared to fire upon his men...that was who he was now gunning for.
SAVING THE SHIP // Renn gave swift orders to save the vessel by dragging it to shore. It was the only way to patch it without taking on more water. Had the beast's barge not pulled back to lick it's own wounds they would have been grounded. While the explorers would eventually have to go into the jungle, it was better to use the waterways and the canal built by the black Ubar, Bila, as long as possible. It didn't take more than a glance at a map to know it would take months to reach the Ua River otherwise and while Arculeius had been right about the villagers of Ullali not being hostile, he could not promise those deeper in the jungles would feel the same once they saw white men, or even those like himself, of a different tribe. Amanita felt the clasp of fingers at her arm even before she had digested Renn's words. She didn't parker her heels, but moved beside TaSheera to towards the deck to pitch in and at the time remain out of the way. Glances towards the jungles took came now and then, but she wouldn't dare say what was on her mind. SHOTS FIRED FROM ABOVE // The first arrow had missed only by a few inches, but Arculeius, like the rest of the men, was not free and clear. He remained hunched over, the woman placed protectively behind him, still holding the illusion that she was a helpless free woman, held in the same respect as his merchant. He did not have on him a shield, only the two faithful companions he wore at his back when not drawn to take blood. Still moist with the scarlet flag of Kurii, but too far from the action to warrent anymore juice. He looked up only to see the man Thurnock shot fall from the trees to the ground. The fall should of killed him, but he groaned until a blade slicing his throat put him out of his misery. It was just as he turned back that he felt the bite at his thigh from an arrow. He cursed himself for having pity on the man, but couldn't stand around in the open unless he wanted to take another arrow. He yanked the woman with him as he limped forward the thick cover of a tree where he slumped long enough to have her pull the half lodged arrow the rest of the way through his leg
|| The Village of Ullali || The thought that enters Brinlars mind as he utilizes the hulk of the dead Kur as a shield, is that.........these tarsk came from the direction of the river..which means that the Folly is in trouble. Not good.and again he silently curses at being outmaneuvered.....but he has faith in the skills of Renn, and even those of Venor ...who has shown he is a worthy ally, to mete out insult to the overconfident sleen of a guide of the late explorer Shaba. He can not NOT think any differently, though a single word slips from his lipsas he looks for an opportunity to regain those of his party..."Sheera.." Kings..he feels like he is stranded on an island out in the open, without bow in hand, hoping she is out of danger herself. Grimacing as he shifts along the body of the Kur..he sets his blade atop the flank of the beast, then he reaches up and is about to yank one of the embedded claws out of his shoulder, pausing as he realizes if he does..the bleeding will increase, so he simply grits his teeth and pushes the pain outside his scope of attentions. He has a better view of their attackers than Arculeius or Thurnock, being out parallel to the path leading into the village. Seeing the enemy form of Akira as the man moves behind cover, along with those of his party attacking from thier rear, the sounds of steel clashing and mens screams,particuarly the one that Akira just skewered with ease, the Sleen of Cos decides in that ihn to do what he does best....ATTACK. Leaping over the carcass of the Kur, grasping his bloodied gladius, he weaves in a crouchlike position in the direction of the retreating man, wary of any straw arrows, and calls out loudly after the right hand of the Beast "Tarsk of a Schendian...you leave before we can dance!! Come..show the Sleen of Cos what skills you possess with your steel! If you dare!!"
Heh as luck would have it and the PK's reign, he made a short motion as he reached up to take another bolt and knotch it, the weapon that the otherwise so accurate aim should have made missed, his eyes caught the movement of the one sending it in his direction and he moved in a crouch to the other side of the tree, comming into view only long enough to send his own both to the mans shoulder, not sure of who he was his gut told him by the way he seemed to "cut" through things he was the one they had been trying to stay clear of, well well, this brought a whole different set of reactions from the huge carpenter, now he was pissed.. really NOT good, some thought Kurs were hard to stop, the mans temper, his ability to hide, yes, even make himself a small target if he had to and cunning on top of that, sometimes unusual for some to think of for a carpenter, he pulled back behind the tree leaning his side against it and looked over towards Brinlar, a cold smirk crossed his features as he heard those words called out to the Schendian, he moved his head to look to the opposite side from where he had taken his shot and look towards where he had shot his bolt, another one knotched he was a patient man.. more patient that some, not as patient as others even in the state of angry he knew that to win he could not let his emotions get hold of him, he had to get them in place.. now was the time to stay this fool
-Well while hat battle ensued on land he had his own attentions on his own battle of saving that folly of theirs or it would all be of no use in truth. He'd truly have to wonder as he barked orders to those scattering here and there to deal with the tasks he'd order them to, if it was truly worth the hasstle to get the ship to land... if it would be easier or safer to take the rest of the trip on foot... it'd be pushed from his mind though as he continued on working to get what he had to done... truly it wasnt his choice what routes to take anyway... As the half worthy river vessel was set into motion once more he'd merely head for the bucket line where the two females were... a hand set to each of their arse's he'd smile all to broadly down at the both with a squeeze as he spoke.-Good to see yer both up and about! Very good to see!-Oh he wouldn't hang around there to long though as he hopped back a few steps moving at a half jog to escape whatever wrath they might have for his more then likely unwanted attentions... as if he'd care... He'd merely grab a rope winding it about the ships railings to be tied off before he'd push two men into the water.-Swim to the beach!...-The rope set between his teeth he wouldnt be long after them diving straight in head first swimming as quickly as he could... they werent far off of course from the shores by then and he'd soon trudge free onto dry land once more still moving as quickly as possible he'd wrap that long rope about a simple tree before pulling... like a pully system he'd call to the two he'd pushed in as they came over helping.-Pull ya damn sleens! Lets get our hulk of a boat on land!
Tree's. Green trees, and dark, rich earth; That was what Venor's world consisted of right then as he moved through the brush, low and tight over himself with the half-drawn bow in both hands, hopping this bush or root or that potential twig, moving down those decaying leaf-trails in comfort. That was the thing about it that startled him though, as he began to move faster, more assuredly; he felt more at-home in those surroundings, than he did on the boat...And while he felt as if an anvil had been taken off his chest for the moment, he had to admit that...well, it irritated him to be honest. Which left, more on his mind than was necessary. Coming up short, he stopped...and knit the brow, sinking somewhat lower to open his mouth wide in a faint spindly draft through the trees...And he smacked his lips, working for the...flavor on his mind, before he struck after it. Tinny copper; blood was spilled, in
Debauched Caper: barrel-load's worth, in that direction...And he'd come across the village none-too-soon, either.
|| The Village of Ullali || Akira was skilled enough that sneaking up on him would be nigh to impossible. It was as if he had eyes in the back of his head but he didn't need those extra oculars to spot the man that wanted a piece of him. As his head turned, a slow smile working at his mouth,knowing that title that was bellowed, yet his stride didn't slow; it did not speed up; it did not change at all from the easy trek through the jungle. His chin lifted, egging the man to follow if he dared; into the thick cover of the trees. The Black Slaver would be the one to choose the time and place for any exchange of steel; the cries meant to prick his ego where shrugged off without even conscious thought. The two arrows peppered the tree that Akira stepped behind as if he too had that sixth sense of danger, the bolts diving into the virgin bark of the jungle palm. He was out of range the next ihn, putting trees and distance between him and the village. Once he was out of sight, he released the steel shank from it's berth, readying himself if the two men got their balls back between their legs and came for him. He wanted this; thirsted for it. It would taste better that the man that he would face was known on Thassa. The stronger the foe that spackled his blade with blood; more he liked it. Far better than slowly picking off their number which was Krakatoa's way, he would relish the confrontation. His men moving through the trees, they would know better than to interrupt a fight of one on one, a cajellne, in any way. They were men from his ship and they knew how Akira operated. He walked on as if there were not people wanting to skin him alive, as if they weren't breathing down the back of his neck, intending to stop him. The scimitar was wind milled, round and around, slicing off parts of leaves that reached out to touch him. This was going to be...fun.
Arculeius had no choice but to bite down on a stick while the woman pushed the arrow the rest of the way through his thigh rather than yank it out the way it had come. There wasn't time for more than quick first aid and he refused to even let her take a look at his gut until they were back at the River. If the Kurii had attacked the village to stall them and these men came from the same direction as the water, there was no telling what shape the Folly was in. He caught a glimpse of the pirate as he began to chase the killer, but Arculeius could barely walk, let along run. Once he was on his feet again he called for his men to make it back towards the river, but found that their numbers had dropped even lower. Their dozen was almost down by a third, and half of those men were nursing woulds the same or worse than Arcu. Things were looking grim until a second fleet of arrows came from behind, this time they were on the good side, at least from Arculeius' perspective. Men from the Folly had closed in on the foot soldiers of the Beast and started picking them off from the trees. Odds were soon equal again and there was a chance to retreat. ON THE FOLLY // Amanita had just taken a bucket from TaSheera when she felt something foreign, the woman who was used to things slithering up her leg had something that didn't belong pinching at her rear. Considering the state she was in, she might of been able to let it slide had the bucket not already started to act on it's own. Renn was just about to make a clean getaway to go robe and give it a pull, but he would be doing so even more soaked than he already was. The empty bucket was passed on without a flinch and the next full one taken in sync as if nothing out of the ordinary had occured. Dark eyes would meet again with the other woman, perhaps getting a small bit of approval, though she was probably used to that kind of behavior having been around this lot of pirates longer than the merchant.
|| The Path to the Village of Ullali || Brinlar Sevarii..pirate of Cos is nobodies fool, so he did not expect the man to throw caution to the wind and accept his challenge ...noo..he did so to gauge the intelligence of the man, the demeanor of the Beasts lackey, and found him of the same mindset as the Quietus captain. Nor would the pirate follow blindly into the jungles.. where he would have a distinct disadvantage for certain. That he has already ascertained is the scheme of the cool-headed Nubian. He also knows beyond a doubt,if they are to achieve thier prize, the Beast must be defeated, and that before he can cut off the head..the strongest hand needs to be removed 1st. And that would be the one that goads him with his disdain into following...noo...not at this juncture. There will be a time and a place to cross steel with the urt...a day he looks foward to eagerly. Pausing, making sure the attack is truely at an end for the time being, he looks over his shoulder and barks out, already moving towards the river "Thurnock..you and any able to fight with me..we return to the Folly!"
Comming quickly to his feet, his senses still piqued he turned towards the two that had set Mateo down, his eyes going to the black one then to them as he walked towards them, there was something that echoed in his mind, something Mateo had told him a long time ago, something about his beliefs, the Shendians beliefs when one dies there was that stillness in time, an ihn where the soul seperates from the body, where those around it sense it's leaving as he closed the distance to his old friend he knew the mortality of those he lived with and their way of life, he knew too the cost of battle as he crouched down next to him, he knew time was short as he bowed his head looking a final time to Mateo's still opened eyes ... he reached down closing the lids and took a tarsk from his pouch tucked inside his breeches, setting one to each of his eyes and stood, he spoke quietly to the two telling them to take his body back to the Folly, it would be seen to as soon as possible, it would not be easy to take the body of the second mate back, but he felt he owed him that. Shoving the loss in the back of his mind, and for as big as he was, he was agile as well and was as quickly as he could be not far from the heels of the Capn, the news could and would wait for later, but then words wouldn't have to be said, a simple look shared would tell the tale and the cost, ducking the branches of the low hanging trees and slicing through the brush just off trail they hastened back towards the folly, that same haunting feeling that she was not fairing well under the attack
-Heh... by the time they would all be heading for the beach the folly was already pulled half way ashore ready for repairs... the last of the full water buckets would be being dragged up to the deck to be dumped over board as he and the two men he had taken with him pulled that rope a few last times before tightly tying it off to the tree e had chosen to be worthy enough to hold for time being. He'd leave that there sending the two men not back to the ship... but like Venor and the few others he'd taken... towards the village, even as he himself moved to simply walk around looking to the holey broken area of the hull once more... this time clearly from the outside... A small thankfulness quietly spoken under his breath with a few uttered curses for their barge fairing 'friend' he merely smiled thinking of if only one of those catapults shots had hit the man in the head... If Only... bah but luck never was there when it was needed... skill came in handy at those times... either way all such thoughts pushed off he would set to climbing back aboard... ordering what few men were there off the ship to start getting a camp set up in mean time as their vessal was out of danger for the moment... and night seemed to be approaching... one thing at a time... most important on the list was safety of the men over fixing a boat.. he'd merely draw his shirt free which was still soaked and dripped as he passed merely winding it up until with a flick of his wrist it'd be sent into a clashing Crack down over nita's arse for her throwing the water at him early... was done as he passed of course out of reach while heading for the lower decks once more... to go deal out orders to those down there who couldnt hear him... ahh the wonderful work of a first mate... hmm... come to think of it where in the kings name was Brin and the rest of them.... what was taking them so damn long.. for now... he wouldnt linger on it... merely getting done what needed to be while waiting for them to return.-
If you could count on something, it was the ...volume, a pirate could yell by. Even to the point that, across the village, in the treeline, Venor could hear most of the order to return to the Folley. Which, flinchingly he realized, meant he'd been a little late to come to anyones aid. But, he didn't dwell over it; rather, he fell onto the path's level footing and turned to a full run down the paths. If Brinlar was yelling for able bodies, that meant Krakatoa would be circling around. And that not only had he come for nothing, but he'd left a prime spot to take cover...Damned his luck!