Finn's House - Floating Magic City of Vane

[Storyteller] For the last few days, you've been sulking around the Magic City of Vane. Susannah's letter left more questions than it answered. Where was she? Why did she leave you? Should you go find her or leave her to her business? That last question was answered by a simple knock on your door...
~Knock~ ~Knock~ ~Knock~
* Finn wearily gets up from his chair and walks to the door...
~Knock~ ~Knock~ ~Knock~
[Finn] I hear you, I hear you.
* Finn opens the door.
[Storyteller] Standing on the stoop is a mutal friend of Susannah's and yours...
[Finn] Oh... Hi...
[Dawson] Jeeze Finn... You look like hell...
[Finn] Great to see you too.
* Finn grimaces.
* Dawson sticks his head in the door and looks around a bit.
[Dawson]You're not busy, are you?
[Finn] No...no, I'm not. I'm really tired though... Is it important?
[Dawson] Well... Yeah... Listen... Go pack your things. We're going on a little trip.
[Finn] What?
* Finn sighs.
[Dawson] We're going on a trip. Pack some clothes.
[Finn] Look...my fiancee just left me, I feel like shit run over twice...I'm not in the mood to go on a road trip with you.
* Dawson gets somber all of a sudden.
[Dawson] Listen, man... She was my friend too.
* Finn 's eyes soften a bit...
[Dawson] I know I don't miss her as much as you do, but you gotta get out.
[Finn] Yeah. I know.
[Dawson] Besides, if she's not on the island, where could she be?
* Finn casts a glance at the messy room behind him...
[Finn] Well... yeah, I guess you're right...
* Dawson reaches behind him, pulling something out of the back of his pants but still holding it.
[Dawson] You're damned right I'm right.
[Finn] What is that?
[Dawson] A suprise. Go pack. My things are already waiting on the pier.
[Finn] Alright... I'll meet you there... Okay?
[Dawson] Sure...
* Finn wanders off to his room to pack and get ready.
* Dawson turns and heads toward the pier. The envelope in his hand flashes slightly of gold as he brings it back in front of him.

Cobia's Boat - East of Caldor Isle

[Storyteller] Even though the weather seemed rather threatening earlier, you went out to set your nets anyway. A little spout of rain had never stopped you before. Besides, it was coming up on the Midwinter's Faire in Saith . You wanted to be the one to catch the single largest fish of the year for the seventh season running. It was a record nobody had beaten, and you were rather proud of it.
* Cobia rubs his hands together to keep them warm.
[Storyteller] As the sun continued it's journey accross the sky, your morning prediction proved true. There was defiently a storm of some sort rolling in. But... There was something wrong about this storm.
~Thump~ ~Thump~ ~Thump?
* Cobia hangs his head over the stern of the boat.
[Storyteller] One of your dolphin friends pokes his head up, after greeting you with his usual spit in the face of water, he sets to clicking.
* Cobia stumbles back after being hit with the stream of water. He regains his posture and pets the dolpin on his long nose.
[Dolphin] Storm wrong... bad rain...
[Cobia] Why do you think that?
[Dolphin] Dark water... Scared lunch... Not good...
* Cobia tosses one of his smaller catches to the dolpin.
[Cobia] How far away was this dark water?
[Dolphin] All over... High... Low... Near... Far... Started north.
[Storyteller] The boat rides atop the crest of a large wave, the dolphin swims away, but comes back as soon as the boat settles again.
[Dolphin] Big float east... Only clear water.
* Cobia looks north, his eyes scan the horizon.
[Storyteller] The clouds to the north do seem somewhat darker. Unlike a normal storm though, it's not dark clouds rolling in. The very clouds above you seem to be turning black as ash.
[Cobia] You better get back to your pod. I will return to shore, I can't risk my boat being capsized in the swells.
[Storyteller] The dolphin leaps away... Just as Cobia turns to take up the tiller, a large wave comes up from behind and pushes him with unnatural ferocity.
* Cobia instinctually stays low to prevent himself from being tossed overboard.
[Storyteller] The storm rises to supernatural intensity at unprecedented speed. There is no doubt in your maid that this weather is not normal. Never in all your years have you seen a storm like this.

Floating Magic City of Vane

[Storyteller] Dawson sits on one of the pillars of the pier. He impatiently raps a gold embossed white envelope against his hand while he waits.
* Finn hurriedly walks down to the pier with a backpack and his sword strapped on...
[Finn] Sorry...it took me longer than I thought it would...
[Dawson] That's okay...
[Storyteller] Beyond him, tied up to the end of the pier is one of the largest boats you've ever seen.
* Finn ogles.
[Finn] We're going on *that*?
* Dawson holds up the gold-embossed envelope.
[Dawson] First class all the way. I pulled a few strings... Dipped into the Guild treasury... And... Shazam?
[Finn] Oh... Um... did you do it entirely... legally?
[Dawson] But of course.
* Finn shakes his head...
[Finn] I can't believe I'm doing this.
[Dawson] Oh, come on... You need it.
[Finn] Where are we going, anyway?
* Dawson slips the envelope into the pocket of his jacket.
[Dawson] Meribia.
[Finn] Meribia... Okay, I'm just gonna close my eyes and do this.
[Dawson] Midwinter Festival, Finn. Don't you own a calander?
* Finn sighs.
[Finn] Oh yeah, that. I'd forgotten.... That should actually be pretty fun...
[Dawson] Damn straight.
[Finn] Okay, well, shall we go then?
[Storyteller] High up on the boat, the massive brass air whistle goes off... HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONK?
* Finn winces.
[Dawson] Yeah! All aboard that's goin' aboard! Let's move before they leave without us?
* Dawson reaches down to grab his bag, and slings it over his shoulder.
* Finn follows Dawson.
* Dawson breaks out in a run toward the MSS Dragonmaster.
[Dawson] Come on! Come on?
* Finn runs quickly beside Dawson...
[Storyteller] Two pairs of the cutest women you've ever seen hop off the boat and go to unfasten the large dock lines at bow and stern.
* Finn momentarily ogles the women.
[Storyteller] Just as you clank your way up the brass gangplank, they hop the railings and the boat pulls away from the dock.
[Finn] That was close.
* Finn pants.
[Storyteller] The massive paddle wheel in the back throws plumes of water high into the air as it pulls at the water in heavy reverse.
[Dawson] Damn, man... You really need to get out more.
[Finn] It's healthy to mope for awhile...

MSS Dragonmaster, Flagship of Ramus Ocean Ventures, Ltd.

[Storyteller] Dawson is one of those skinny little scholarly types... But as bright and cultured as he looks, you know from rumor and personal experiecene that his golden heart is heavily tarnished. Not that it's a bad thin g... It's just well known in the City of Vane that if it exists on the island, Dawson is the guy who can get it for you.
[Storyteller] A man comes walking down the boat. He stops at a young couple further forward, then starts walking again.
[Purser] Tickets! Tickets please?
[Dawson] "While" was up a few days ago, Finn.
[Finn] I guess it was, wasn't it? Doesn't really make it any easier, though...
[Dawson] No it doesn't.
[Storyteller] He turns to the purser, pulling the golden envelope out of his pocket.
* Finn absentmindedly runs a finger over his wedding ring.
[Purser] Thank you sir... Ah... The Jessica suite and the Luna suite...
* Finn raises an eyebrow at Dawson...
* Dawson returns the look, plus adds a shrug.
[Finn] What are the Jessica and Luna suites? Do I want to know?
[Purser] You're going to want to head toward the bow. Your cabins are port and starboard.
* Dawson just smiles...
[Finn] You didn't rent me a hooker, did you?
[Purser] No sir, although...
* Purser looks over the ticket.
[Purser] That is marked as a paid option.
[Finn] I see...
[Purser] If you'd like, I can bring the catalogue to your cabin later.
[Finn] That's quite alright, thanks though...
[Dawson] I'll take two of those catalogues.
* Finn smirks.
* Dawson grabs Finn by the arm and leads him forward...
* Purser walks on...
[Purser] Tickets! Tickets please?
[Dawson] Order you a hooker? Never! I'm insulted.
* Dawson leans close to wisper in a conspiritorial tone.
[Dawson] Pre-pay one yes... Order, no.
* Finn laughs...
[Finn] That's somewhat more acceptable.
[Storyteller] As they make their way up toward the bow, they pass a few "Mermaids" busy "entertaining" some of the passengers.
* Finn keeps walking further up to the bow.
[Storyteller] Rounding a corner, they come upon the two fore-most suites. A marble statue closely resembling a toga-clad Luna stands beside one of the doors. Next to the other is a statue of Jessica wearing considerably le ss.
* Finn raises an eyebrow.
[Finn] Will you be taking the Jessica one?
[Dawson] Only the best.
[Dawson] Meet you in Meribia... I got a catalogue to browse.
* Finn chuckles...
* Dawson walks over to his suite and enters, but not before throwing out some lines and catching a few mermaids. Out of his magely kind of robes, he looks pretty good for a "bookworm".
[Finn] Alright then.
* Finn opens the door to his suite and enters...
[Storyteller] The suite is grander than any room you've seen in your life. It almost tops the sitting room you once played, that of Guild Premier Nash.
* Finn 's mouth drops...
[Finn] God...he really went all out...
* Finn flops onto the bed and lets out a massive sigh.
[Storyteller] The bed is made of brass, but unlike a normal bed it's raised off the floor on swivels. It would probably remain flat and level in every conditon approaching a full broach.
* Finn rolls around a bit...
~Knock~ ~Knock?
[Finn] Ahh, dammit...
* Finn gets up and opens the door.
[Storyteller] Standing at the door is a tall, willowy blonde woman dressed in a skirted, low-necked pseudo-seaman's uniform. Clutched to her chest is a large leather bound book.
* Finn blinks...
[Finn] Can I...help you?
[Woman with voice of warmed honey] Well, actually. I'm here to help you.
[Finn] I...no. That's alright.
[Woman] The purser told me you and your companion in the other suite were interested in the catalogue. He's already made his selection.
[Finn] No, I think he got it wrong. I specifically asked for no catalogue.
[Storyteller] She covers her mouth with one hand.
[Finn] I'm not interested, ma'am, I'm sorry.
[Woman] Oh, I'm terribly sorry... Can I interest you in tea on the foredeck with the capitan?
[Finn] Actually, that sounds rather nice.
* Woman sets the book down on a table near the door of Finn's suite.
[Woman] If you'll come this way, I'll bring you up front.
[Finn] What is that, may I ask?
[Woman] That's the catalogue, sir. I'll pick it up when I come back this way. I'm sure your friend will want to take a look at it some more.
[Finn] Yeah, I think you're right... Shall we go?
[Woman] Yes, right this way.
* Finn follows her.
* Woman leads him out of his cabin, then forward. They exit the hallway, and walk out onto the deck. She leads him further forward. They climb a pair of steps. She just stands at the edge.
[Finn] Something the matter, ma'am?
[Storyteller] In the center of the small forecastle is a table with a lace cloth on it.
[Finn] Oh...
[Storyteller] There are two persons sitting at the table. One bares a strong resemblance to Ramus of Meribia... If you gave him six weeks of length-alternation treatment in the Rack. The second is a medium-tall woman with a head of short blue hair.
[Finn] This is the captain, I assume?
[Woman] Yessir.
* Man rises.
* Rei stands.
[Man] Come, join us.
* Finn hesitantly walks over to the table.
[Man] It's not often I pick up more than one passenger in Vane.
* Finn glances back at the woman.
[Finn] Thanks.... Oh, really?
* Rei extends a hand to Finn.
[Rei] I'm Rei. From the magic guild.
* Finn shakes Rei's hand.
[Finn] Finn MacGovray. Nice to meet you.
[Rei] Aren't you the musician friend of a certain guild member named Dawson?
[Finn] Yes, I am the musician friend of Dawson...
* Man extends his hand to Finn as well.
* Finn shakes the man's hand and nods to him.
[Ramus II] Ramus the Second, Master of this Vessel...
[Finn] Wow...Ramus the Second... It's an honor.
* Ramus II smiles slightly.
[Ramus II] Will you join us for tea?
* Ramus II gestures to the table.
[Finn] Dawson is otherwise occupied at the moment, otherwise I'm sure he would have joined us...
* Finn smiles at Ramus II and sits at the table.
[Rei] I know Dawson. Shifty joker... but a pretty darn good magician.
[Finn] Yeah, he's rather bright.
* Ramus II returns to his seat.
[Rei] Bright? Hell, he made a few UNWANTED passes at me last week. I finally had to mute him.
[Ramus II] Miss Asakao here was just telling me about her mission for Madam Ausa.
[Finn] Bright yes, controlled...not quite. Mission?
[Ramus II] Your tickets were also brokered in that name... Are you travelling together?
[Finn] Dawson and I are travelling together, yes.
[Rei] Yes... Madam Ausa gave me a package to deliver to Premier Nash at Black Rose Street in Meribia.
[Ramus II] Hmm... Well... Have some tea.
[Finn] Interesting...
* Ramus II pours for everybody, refilling Rei's and his own cups while pouring a new one for Finn.
[Finn] Thanks.
* Finn takes a small sip.
* Rei rolls her eyes.
[Rei] Why am I not surprised?
* Finn glances at Rei.
[Finn] Hmm?
[Storyteller] The same woman the lead Finn up to the captain returns. She heads directly to him, bending over right next to Finn to wisper in his ear.
[Woman] (wisper) Frrsh-sh-sh-mshhy-shsh-shsh-shishid...
* Rei takes a small sip of her tea...
* Ramus II wispers back.
[Ramus II] (whisper) Dihsihd-hshs-hshs-yhhsm-hs-hs-hsrrf?
* Ramus II clears his throat and rises.
* Woman takes a step back to let him out.
[Finn] Is everything alright?
[Ramus II] Oh, yes. If you'll excuse me, I'm needed on the bridge.
* Rei turns her attention to Finn.
[Rei] By the way, Finn... Aren't you the boyfriend of Susannah?
* Finn flinches.
[Finn] Why do you ask?
[Storyteller] The woman and Ramus II walk off.
[Rei] I just saw you two together alot and was wondering.
[Storyteller] A few minutes later, the boat lurches suddenly.
* Finn blinks in surprise, trying to keep his balance...
[Storyteller] Their feet suddenly get wet as a wave crashes over the side of the boat.
* Rei falls over.
[Rei] That hurt.
[Storyteller] All of a sudden the bow seems like a very, very bad place to be.
[Rei] Let's get to the stern.
[Storyteller] The boat lurches the other way, sending the table sliding across the deck and knockingFinn to his knees.
[Finn] Uh, yeah. Sounds like a plan.
[Storyteller] Rei slides across the slick deck, crashing into him.
* Finn sets Rei on her feet...
[Storyteller] Another wave comes over the side pushing them both forward, closer to the bow pulpit. The waves seem to come from no particular direction. Some rush over the bow, some up from behind, some from the sides.
[Rei] Ouch....
* Rei thinks to herself.oO(If I didn't know better, I'd swear that these were magically created.
[Finn] This is odd. Usually there is a direction they come from...
[Storyteller] You hear a loud creaking sound, then the whole world seems to turn on end. Up is no longer up and down certainly isn't down...
[Rei] Why do I have this certain feeling of vertigo?
[Storyteller] You're both convinced you're flying through the air, until you realize you suddenly can't breath.
* Finn looks around frantically for the surface of the water...
* Rei looks around for the surface as well. She thinks .oO(If I find that mage, he's TOAST!?
[Storyteller] As Finn gropes around, his hand comes into contact with something soft and warm. The two rise to the surface together, hand in hand. As they rise and fall among they waves, they briefly catch sight of the boa t, but just once.
* Finn takes a deep, gasping breath...
[Storyteller] The water around them begins to seep through thier clothes. The frigid ocean chills them to the bones.
[Finn] When I get ahold of Dawson...
* Rei catches her breath.
[Rei] I swear that must have been magically done.
[Finn] There's no other way... And we are going to freeze to death now.
* Rei starts shivering...
* Rei looks around for land.
[Storyteller] As the two huddle together for warmth, the broken ship drifts away south... The City of Vane inexorably continuing north... Leaving them in the middle of the ocean, alone... Together...

Ocean

[Storyteller] As much as he tried to get his boat headed back toward Saith, he simply couldn't fight the storm. As random as it had seemed before, it was now steadily pushing him east, toward the mainland. Like the seasoned mariner he is, he manages to keep his craft in once piece... So much for catching the biggest fish of the season, though...
* Cobia tries to adjust the sails but it proves fruitless in the circling wind.
[Storyteller] As the boat tops a crest in the massive waves, he spies a large object to the north. However, it's much, much too far away. Almost on the horizon.
* Cobia glares towards the object, wishing he would have brough his looking glass.
[Storyteller] He crashes down into the low point. Beneath him he hears the sounds of splintering wood. Somewhere nearby, Rei and Finn hear a crash of wood-on-wood.
* Cobia checks the hull of the boat.
[Storyteller] The bottom of the boat is seemingly fine. Looking out around him, he sees a field of debris. Rising atop the crest of the next wave, he catches sight of something larger floating in the water.
* Cobia looks into the seemingly black water, steering the craft to the large object.
[Rei] HEY! SOMEONE...HELP?
[Finn] HELP!!! HELP!?
* Rei screams at the top of her lungs...
[Rei] HELP US...PLEASE!!!!?
[Storyteller] The boat slams against a piece of debris, sending it spinning away. With a heave, Cobia is able to bring the boat around.
* Cobia hears voices, only made audiable since they come downwind.
[Rei] HELP.....!!!!?
[Storyteller] You can hear two voices, although one is much clearer than the other.
* Finn keeps yelling...
* Rei continues screaming at the top of her lungs.
[Rei] HELP.....SOMEONE..PLEASE HELP?
* Rei forgets yelling and begins chanting...
[Rei]"Elemental of light... bring forth a flare... PULSE RAY!?
* Rei shoots a beam of light into the skies?
[Storyteller] The flash shoots up into the sky. It hits the dark clouds above, which send the light scattering back down. It illuminates the whole scene, but only for the briefest of moments. Having already been pointed in the direction of the two swimmers, the boat continues to close on them despite the waves crashing around it.
* Finn continues screaming, with the knowledge that he's going to have to be drinking lemon tea and resting his voice for days after this.
[Storyteller] It's almost as if the craft had a mind of it's own.
* Rei yells back in Cobia's direction.
[Storyteller] Finn and Rei both feel something come up from underneath them. The feel themselves moving through the water toward Cobia's boat.
[Rei] What in Althena's name?
[Finn] Who cares, as long as it gets us there...
* Cobia hollars.
[Cobia] Quit yelling you'll attract Sea Scrabs!?
* Finn abruptly shuts up.
* Rei shuts the hell up...not wanting to attract sea monsters.
[Storyteller] They get almost within arms reach of the boat and then feel a sudden lurch as they fly up through the air, landing neatly in a pile of arms and legs. A pair of dolphins backflip away from the boat and swim o ff.
* Finn sighs in relief, his teeth chattering madly.
[Rei] Oof.....Now THAT hurt..
[Storyteller] A dolphin sticks his head up over the stern and clicks a few times before swimming off.
[Rei] Looks like our friends with fins helped us out...
* Cobia Looks towards the visitors remaining silent.
[Finn] Very acute observation...
[Storyteller] From somewhere in front of the boat, a bright light shines upon the three. It passes over them, then vanishes.
* Finn looks up at the sailor.
[Finn] Thank you very much.
* Rei looks up at Cobia.
[Rei] Yes, thank you, sir.
[Cobia] I am not the one to thank, save your praise for Althena herself.
[Storyteller] The light passes over the boat again and vanishes just as quickly.
[Rei] What in Althena's name was that?
[Finn] I have no idea.
* Finn looks at the sailor.
[Finn] Do you know?
[Cobia] In all my days, I've never seen lightning like that.
[Storyteller] The sound of the waves crashing changes... The light passes again, this time higher over your heads. Ahead of the boat and off the starboard side you see a row of faint lights.
[Finn] We need to get onto land.
[Cobia] That light looks familiar... HURRY brace yourselfs.
* Finn sighs and grabs onto the nearest grounded object.
* Rei gets herself ready, grabbing the closese grounded object she can.
[Storyteller] The instant they've all got a firm hand-hold, the boat stops dead. With a great shudder it seems to pop up out of the water, send all three of them sailing through the air...
[Rei] First we swim, then we fly...perfect.
[Finn] This is insane...
* Cobia groans as his body torques in midair.
[Storyteller] Smash! Cobia hits the ground for 22 HP... Bang! Finn hits the ground for 13 HP... Crash! Rei hits the ground for 18 HP...
[Rei] Youch....:?
[Storyteller] They all land on relatively soft, dry earth. Off to one side, the see a tower. Up near the top, they hear a faint buzzing. The light swings past them, as if it's coming from far above their heads. From the to p of the tower.
* Finn coughs.
* Rei tries to get up, but her knees are kinda shaky.
[Finn] Moping around in my messy house is starting to look pretty damn good right now...
[Rei] Hmmmm... Let's check out this tower, what say?
* Cobia rights himself. And tries to get his bearings.
[Cobia] Damn clouds, too thick to see the stars.
[Storyteller] Creeeeeeeeeeeeeeek... A door at the base of the tower opens. A shadowy figure steps out, torch in hand.
[Figure] Hellooooo! Helloooo out there?
[Finn] Hello?
[Rei] Ummm..Hi.
[Figure] Come on... Get yourselves over here. It's a miserable night to be out on your own.
* Rei walks over to the figure...
* Cobia walks towards the tower.
[Cobia] Lightkeep, my companions and I owe you for your hospitality.
[Finn] Hmm...
* Finn cautiously walks towards the figure.
[Rei] We owe you big time...
[Lightkeep] Come on... In, in, before the storm picks up again?
* Lightkeep steps into the house, clearing the way through the door.
[Rei] Storm? From the waves, I thought that was magically created.
* Rei steps into the lighthouse.

Electric Lighthouse 001, Principality of Meribia

[Storyteller] Once everybody has entered, the man closes the door behind them. He sets the torch back into it's bracket on the wall, then hangs his heavy, oiled slicker beneath it.

The inside of the lighthouse is quite warm. There is a roaring fire on the opposite side of the room, and a rather intriguing looking contraption hanging from the ceiling. It appears to be made out of ordinary metal and glass, but it sheds a gentle, ev en light over that end of the room.
* Cobia feels somewhat secure as he enters the lighthouse.
[Lightkeep] You folks okay?
[Rei] It's been one of those days, sir...
* Finn walks over to the fire and stands over it..
[Lightkeep] I was just sitting down to dinner... Join me.
[Cobia] My, what happened to the old lighthouse?
[Rei] Thank you, sir... you are too kind.
[Lightkeep] Law 'o the sea, m'lady. ?
[Lightkeep] What ship did you wash up from? The MSS Dragonmaster is long overdue.
[Rei] It was the MSS Dragonmaster. It got stuck in that storm, and as far as I know, sunk.
* Cobia gives a sudden smirk. Then returns to his normal grimace.
[Storyteller] As you think about it, neither Finn nor Rei really has any idea how long they were floating in the water together. And Cobia doesn't know how long he was fighting the waves to keep his boat in one piece... Al l you can really think about is that you're all tired... Very, very... very... Tired.
[Cobia] Keep, may I ask what location we are at?
* Rei can hardly keep her eyes open...
* Finn yawns...
* Lightkeep slides a chair under Rei, just before she falls to the ground. He leads Finn over to a couch. He pulls some blankets from a closet and covers each of them up.
* Cobia stands still next to the fireplace, letting it's light dance about the room.
* Finn totters slightly, then flops onto the couc?
* Lightkeep turns and walks back to Cobia.
[Lightkeep] Good of you to watch over those kids.
[Cobia] Yes, well I we have not been properly introduced yet. And they kinda fell into my watch. My name is Cobia, from Saith.
[Lightkeep] Termony... Termony St. Valentine.
[Termony] You look famished... Join me for dinner, then you can hit the sack.
* Rei is dead to the world, asleep.
[Storyteller] The two sit down and have a spartan seaman's meal. After showing Cobia to one of the extra rooms in the light house, he comes back. Ever so gently, he carries Rei to another room, setting her down in the bed and lighting a roaring fire for her. He goes back. Figuring Finn is as comfortable as he's going to get on the couch, he heads toward the door. He pulls on the rain slicker and takes up his torch. Only moments later, he vanishes into the darkness of the s torm.