Unsavory Types (Ranger Princess)

[Tassadar]

Skye: HP = 74, PP = 38, EP = 64, Status = Fine


The Seawolf listed aside as cannonfire erupted from the vessel they were chasing, thunderous sounds followed by the whizzing noise of near misses and ending in distant splashes well behind them. Her first mate, who currently had the helm, had just barely turned the ship to avoid the shots, but they were now traveling in a direction slightly away from their prey. Davek spun the wheel in the opposite direction, and her crew scrambled to get the guns loaded and the ship moving in the proper direction so as to give chase. Their target, a merchant vessel from the lands across the sea, was larger and heavier than they were, but they also had a great deal more canvas with which to catch the wind than the Seawolf, and a powerful gust had come up a few moments ago. The sun was barely visible through the darkness that covered the sky, black clouds blocking out much of the light and leaving their chase shrouded in shadow.

To top it all off, she had only gotten up about five minutes ago after a particularly stormy night. She hadn't had a drink in almost a month of either rum or of her preferred carmine red, since their stocks of the former had gone bad and her last source of the latter (besides her crew) had departed her company for reasons that the woman hadn't adequately explained when they had last made port. Lorelai had said something about dark clouds on the horizon of Skye's future, and advised her to remain off of the ocean for a time. She most likely hadn't thought of it quite this literally at the time.

"Captain!" Davek called to her from the bridge of the ship, a scowl present on the burly young man's face. "They opened fire on us without a second thought! Should we return the favor?"

(Not sure if you wanted to name your crew, or if Skye was willing to feed on them frequently. I think you've implied otherwise for the latter, but I could have misread at the time. Or I'm retarded. You know, one of those. :P)

[Ranger Princess]

Captain Skye was already at the desk in her study, hunched over a couple maps when she felt the ship sway and heard the explosions from outside. The redhead stumbled out of her chair, "Whoa!" She exclaimed, but having her sea legs under her, she moved swiftly like a cat to keep her balance. The pirate vampire moved into action immediately. She grabbed her maroon overcoat, pulled it about her shoulders, and stormed out of her chambers and through the narrow hallway to the main deck.

When Skye burst forth from the double wooden doors onto the main deck of The Seawolf, her copper eyes burned brightly, and her lips twisted into a crooked smile wide enough to bare her fangs. "It's a skirmish they want is it?" she shouted up to Davek. The captain strode up to her first mate, slapped him on the shoulder with a grin and pulled out her looking glass to stare out at the cloudy sea. When the bandanna-clad redhead pulled her looking glass down, she scowled. "Let's teach them what happens to merchants who attack The Seawolf." Skye twirled so she could address her crew, "Stay on your toes boys and girls. Think of all the feasts and treasures they must have on that ship. And the rum!" The pirate vampire grinned wickedly, "AIM FOR THEIR SAILS!"

After she addressed her crew, Skye walked up to the prow of her ship, and stared up at the swirling black clouds grimly. For a short moment, she thought she could almost hear Lorelai's voice floating on the sea. That brought a scowl to Skye's lips. Silly superstitions, she thought to herself. A pirate does not hide from the sea. With that, she the redhead twirled on her heel and strode back to Davek at the helm.

(She probably would avoid feeding on them unless she absolutely had to, but she would definitely be grumpy. =P And you seem pretty good with names so far, so that sounds good if you wanna do it unless I come up with an idea for a crew member or something).

[Tassadar]

Skye: HP = 74, PP = 38, EP = 64, Status = Fine


(Okie dokie. If you feel like inventing anyone in a certain position, feel free. I'll only be making them up as they're needed.)

Davek returned her grin upon receiving the slap on his shoulder, and then wheeled the boat about to give chase. Those among her crew that were rolling out the guns all shouted, "AYE CAPTAIN" in near perfect unison upon Skye's command to aim for the sails, and the whole bunch cheered exuberantly upon the promise of rum, Davek's voice one of the loudest among them. The man had been suffering from lack of booze as much as any of them.

On board the other ship, Skye had seen men in blue uniforms scurrying about, reloading their guns and aiming to intercept the Seawolf's current path. They moved quickly but professionally, experienced sailors at the very least, but despite their bigger sails and favorable wind, the Seawolf was gaining ground on them rapidly, and were outside of the arcs that the other ship's guns could hit. Skye knew that they faced a choice now; Either to turn and fight, or try to outpace them until they could find some favorable terrain. The Seawolf hadn't seen land in weeks, so it came to no surprise to Skye when she saw them turning, angling for a broadside with the guns that hadn't fire yet. Davek had seen it too, and turned the ship on an angle, giving a slightly bigger target but also keeping them out of the line of fire for a little bit longer.

It helped that that also gave her own gunners a decent shot at the other vessel, one that they took eagerly. The thunder of the Seawolf's cannons sounded seconds after Skye had rejoined Davek at the helm, and the man shot a grin at her as one of the smaller masts on the other ship fell down, having been cut in half by their return volley. The other vessel's movement slowed, but before they could close the distance between them the other vessel had oriented itself for a full broadside, and opened fire once more. Davek ducked, and Skye felt something large and heavy move past her head at a speed faster than even her eyes could track, and several men on the deck went down screaming. Grape shot.

Heavier rounds tore into the front and side of the smaller ship, smashing through wood and hammering into the crew quarters, but the Seawolf wasn't stopped or even slowed by the hostile fire. "We'll be alongside her in a minute captain! Should we give them a taste of their own medicine, or prepare to board before the bastards can reload?" Davek shouted over the noise that now pervaded the deck of the pirate ship, his hands still steady on the wheel of the ship.

The crew of their prey was scrambling to reload and take up small arms, but from here Skye could see something odd up on the deck of the other vessel. Behind the wheel of the other ship and the burly fellow who manned it, the captain of the vessel stood (wearing one of those atrocious looking ornate hats that sea faring men seemed so fond of) beside a woman in an elegant white dress, an umbrella and a fan hiding much of her features from view. Neither seemed at all phased by the chaos going on around them, as the captain was quickly bellowing orders while his companion stood completely at ease.

[Ranger Princess]

Skye smirked as the Seawolf drew closer to their bigger but slower prey. Her sailor's instincts told her what they would try to do next. As the ship maneuvered around to engage the Seawolf, Skye's eyes lit up. Sea battles required careful planning, baiting, and a delicate touch. It was only a matter of time now until the battle, and the redhead was growing hungrier by the second. Being not only a pirate but a vampire, at sea, Skye was the hunter. She had her prey right where she wanted them, and they looked pretty juicy.

The redheaded vampire still had that eerie smirk as one of the masts on the bigger ship came crashing down. So far everything was going according to her plan, and her smirk was growing. The captain glanced back at Davek, giving him a wink and a nod. As the larger ship whirled around for a volley, Skye's eyes narrowed and when suddenly they opened fire, her eyes widened. The captain hit the deck in an animal-like crouch. Her copper eyes darted side to side, and Skye growled, fangs bared before getting back to her feet and glared at the helm of the bigger ship. Not only did they have the audacity to attack her ship, but they tried to shoot her with a cannon! Yes, Skye was most definitely going to enjoy watching these snobs writhe about on the deck before her.

The redhead was also unphased by the explosions around her except for a building annoyance and anger within her - and of course that constantly nagging hunger that drove her. In fact, the redhead actually relished the battle going on around her. Her adrenaline was pumping, and the prey was close at hand. Things were just getting started! She whirled around and nodded to her first mate, "Prepare to board while the wretches are distracted. We'll teach them a lesson in proper manners eh? Show them no mercy or quarter, but leave the snobby bitch to me." Skye snirked with an evil grin.

When they were ready to board, Captain Skye would lead the charge with her men and go for a quick kill as soon as she could with her badarian revolver. She was quickly growing tired of the antics of this merchant ship. The vampire meant to show them just how terrifying a pirate can be and to do it quickly. Surprise and fear were a pirate's greatest ally and it would help her crew in the coming battle. The captain grinned as she prepared for the raid. The fun was just about to start!

[Tassadar]

Skye: HP = 74, PP = 38, EP = 64, Status = Fine


Another loud cry of "AYE CAPTAIN" from the crew greeted Skye's instruction, and they made ready to board. She knew well that they would follow her instructions to the letter, firstly leaving the captain and the lady on the bridge to her, and second leaving not a soul alive on their opposing vessel. They came up alongside the other vessel soon enough, and grappling hooks quickly secured along the other vessel. Both sides exchanged a quick hail of gunfire, handcanons and rifles firing from across the shortening gap between the ships, but unlike the Seawolf, the sides of the other vessel were not made with cover in mind. Not a soul from her crew was struck down this time, which was probably a good thing given the difference of a numbers between the crews of the two vessels. Her crew only numbered about thirty at the moment, not including herself and her officers, and she could see at least forty men on the deck of the other ship.

The ships were soon close enough together for the first few boarders to go across, a second hail of gunfire coming across to clear more space in the enemy deck before a quartet of her crew flung across the gap on ropes. They were moving up a gangplank as well, but the defenders were organizing swiftly, and that rush would no doubt end in a brief struggle over the middle ground between the two ships. Her crew had done this sort of thing before before, and it was becoming increasingly obvious that, while the men on the other ship were able seamen, warriors they were not. As well organized as they were, their lack of fighting skills would only take them so far against the battle hardened men (and women) of the Seawolf.

At this point, she had several options open to her. The simplest would be to wait for the plank to lower, and join or possibly even lead the charge across it. She'd be in the heaviest of the fighting, but she would be in the middle of the other vessel, and the bloody spectacle of her cutting a swath through the opposing sailors would likely be enough to clinch that battle in her crew's favor by morale alone. Alternatively, she could take a line across to join in the party that had begun to carve out an island of relative safety for them, and while they were pressed severely now that pressure would likely ease up greatly once the battle between the two crews began in earnest across the gangplank. That would also put her the farthest from her own personal target, however, as she would be on the opposite side of the ship from the bridge. Finally, it would be something of a risk, but she could try leaping across the gap between the vessels. The enemy bridge was higher than that of the Seawolf, and there were no lines nearby that would make that task any easier, but with her superhuman strength it might be possible for her, and the worst she could suffer for failure from it would probably be a dip in the sea below. The gap was about twenty feet across, and the opposing bridge was five feet higher than the railing of the Seawolf, which would be her assumed jumping point.

(You are of course free to come up with your own solutions, these are just all I thought up off the top of my head.)


This is more for my benefit than yours really, but it's to keep track of the numbers of enemy combatants and whatnot.

Seawolf crewmen: 29 active, 3 wounded on the deck of the Seawolf
Also Skye, Davek (first mate,) Korelin (navigator) and Burtrend (cook and quartermaster)
Korelin's a she, Burtrend's a he. Just to clarify. And so that I remember, because sometimes i r stoopid and forget these things.

Mystery vessel crewmen: 46, 12 wounded on the deck of the
Also the captain and the mystery woman.

[Ranger Princess]

As the battle developed before her eyes, Skye grinned evilly in approval. The captain and her crew had been in many battles like this before, and the scene was developing just like she planned. Since the merchant ship started the assault, she assumed their confidence in their artillery weapons. Not keen on taking too much damage to her prized ship, the vampire decided to surprise them with a quick boarding raid after the initial volley that took down their small mast.

Seeing her men and women carry out the plan amused and pleased the redhead as she strode up to Davek's side. Initially, she had intended to lead the charge across the plank with him, but when she reached his side, her copper eyes glanced up at the bridge of the larger ship. Skye's eyes narrowed, and a smirk gradually grew more crooked on her features. Almost immediately, she clapped her hand on her first mate's shoulder, "You lead the charge today, my friend," she said with a semi-informal salute. "I have something special planned for our new guest!" The intense gleam in her eyes and the crooked smile on her face were a classic sign to her longtime first mate. Skye was about to do something crazy.

The captain whirled around, overcoat swinging outwards, and walked as if on a mission to one of the masts holding up her maroon sails. As she stormed toward the mast, Skye shed her overcoat, revealing her lighter clothing. Black leather pants with a loose maroon tunic. Her scimitar and badarian revolver hung on either side of a sash at her waist, and a skull pendant hung from her neck. Her red-orange hair was tied under her customary bandanna, and her golden nose ring flashed in the waning sunlight. Skye stood at the mast of her ship for a short moment, eyes boring into the bridge of the merchant ship like wild fire. The vampire took a deep breath and smirked in anticipation.

Slowly, almost inaudible at first, a low growl began to slip through her lips. As her growl grew in volume and pitch, Skye's eyes gleamed intensely and her fangs bared. The captain took off toward the railing of her ship. Sprinting, the sounds of battle grew quiet around the redheaded vampire. Eyes staring straight ahead, all she could hear was the stomping of her boots on the deck getting faster and faster and her growl growing ever louder as the railing of her ship swooped in on her. Skye hit the top speed of her stride just in time to step up to the railing. The redhead shrieked out her battle cry and launched herself in the air, flying in an arc toward the bridge of the larger ship.

The vampire pirate soared upwards, air rushing around her face and forcing her eyes to narrow. As her ascent rushed upwards, Skye's crooked smirk persisted. The vampire kept her arms tucked close to her body, and her launching leg bent forwards. The redhead grinned evilly as her arc soared above the bridge of the enemy ship, staring at her prey and licking her lips. She landed with her descent onto the deck of the enemy bridge, rolling into an animalistic crouch. As soon as she secured herself with her crouch, Skye bared her fangs at her two potential victims and hissed with the fury of a hungry vampire. When she looked up, the vampire's copper eyes gleamed brightly, turning completely white and seeming to swirl like little pools of mist. Staring at the captain of the ship with her milky white eyes, the vampire's gorgon gaze bored straight into his eyes and his soul, attempting to provide him with the eternal embrace of cold stone. As soon as Skye ceased her demonic glare into the captain's eyes, her hand shot to her waist, whipping out her badarian revolver with the speed of a duelist. Unless the captain turned to stone, she would fire a shot or two aimed right between his eyes.

If those actions subdued or killed the captain, Skye would storm straight toward the mysterious lady, barrel of her badarian revolver aimed right at the lady's head, "I suggest you get on your knees if you want to live!" She would say with her signature smirk. (if it didn't subdue the captain, she would remain in defensive position).

X of 8 +4 for 12 EP used for Gorgon's Gaze

[Tassadar]

Skye: HP = 74, PP = 38, EP = 52/64, Status = Fine


Rolls

Skye's jump: She makes it without a hitch!
Resistance: The good captain fails his check! Lament!


"Aye aye, cap'n!" Davek replied, grinning broadly in return following the slap on the back. Though he might not know her plan exactly, the big man knew how she operated well enough to know that look, but he showed no fear at it. He locked the Seawolf's wheel to keep her from listing about and started down toward the back, but he paused and turned back to her to say; "Good hunting captain!"

Before her jump, when she stood on the mast of her vessel and her gaze bored into the pair standing on the opposing bridge, something odd happened. One of the two recognized her gaze, and turned to face it. She only saw a hint of movement, but the umbrella of the elegantly dressed woman beside the captain turned slightly, and Skye caught sight of pale skin and a pair of deep, dark, emerald green eyes. Those eyes met hers for only a moment before the lady turned away, but Skye hadn't seen even a hint of fear in them during the brief exchange.

The gangplank between the vessels was lowered just as Skye started her run, and she watched as Davek stormed across it, a sword in both hands and a deep belly laugh sounding from his throat as he met the other vessel's defenders. The captain of the opposing vessel turned toward Skye as she shrieked and hurled herself across the gap between their two ships, her inhumanly strong legs allowing her to jump from one to the other without any trouble. The wind seemed to still as she rose to the apex of her leap, and Skye landed in a roll upon the bridge of the enemy vessel. The captain had drawn his sword as she was in mid air and advanced on her, putting himself between her and the woman in the white dress. He seemed about to say something, but as he saw her fangs and her milky white eyes he stopped mid stride, a look of horror upon his face.

That look was set in stone for eternity, for his body stiffened and then solidified instantly, clothes and all. A statue of plain granite he had become, set to remain as such for all time, or until Skye released him from its dark magics.

Not missing a beat, Skye drew her gun from her belt and pointed it at the green eyed woman. She had put away her fan, and now faced Skye with a carefully composed look upon her strong, sculpted features despite the weapon being pointed at her. She wore the garb of a noblewoman, but from the lack of both fear, and of the arrogance that might have kept it at bay normally, Skye doubted whether this one was some pampered noblewoman. Instead, she found cold calm within the woman's eyes. Those eyes proved to be the most remarkable feature about her, however, as her face was framed by plain curly brown hair, and her facial features edged more toward impressive and determined than traditionally beautiful.

"There is no need for that. I am surely no threat to you, and I am afraid that this dress does not offer much freedom of motion." The lady said calmly, and Skye heard a few shots go off behind her amidst the battle going on on the deck. The sound of booted feet rushing up the steps behind her signaled that Skye would be having company shortly, and a glance behind her revealed that three men, including this ship's first mate, were rushing up the narrow steps toward her, apparently heedless of the fate of their captain even though the statue he had become was standing in plain view.


Seawolf crewmen: 26 active, 4 wounded on the deck of the Seawolf, 2 wounded on the deck of the opposing vessel
Also Skye, Davek (first mate,) Korelin (navigator) and Burtrend (cook and quartermaster)

Mystery vessel crewmen: 40, 12 wounded on the deck
Mystery woman on the bridge

[Ranger Princess]

Skye arched her eyebrow at the lady's reaction. Her eyes narrowed and bore into the woman's gaze. The captain had been on enough of these raids to know how the usual noblewoman would respond to a situation like this, something like oh please don't hurt me!, eek! aahhhh!!, or some general hyperventilating. This was definitely not it. A pity since Skye oh so enjoyed feeding from a hyperventilating victim. This woman's attitude piqued Skye's interest. "I can see that. You might consider taking it off then," Skye snarked in response to the woman's reference to her dress. Her tone of voice was just deadpan enough to make it uncertain if she was actually serious, and the corner of her lips curled up malevolently.

Skye was skeptical of the lady's words. There certainly wasn't anything about her gait or her gaze that seemed acquiescent. But as the vampire heard the crewmen scampering to the stairs, she didn't have time to ponder such things. The pirate dropped a hand to her hips and scowled, "How annoying. Someone needs to teach your peons some manners. You stay right there and watch what happens to those who defy me." Skye's eyes glowed brightly like molten copper, and by the time she had turned toward the approaching seamen, her fangs bared with a vicious sounding hiss. She replaced her badarian revolver with her scimitar and charged to the top of the stairs to block the route of the oncoming soldiers. She wasted no time, immediately unleashing lightning strikes slashes at the first attacker in line. With each cut of her sword, Skye growled. The vampire taunted the soldiers before her with her fangs, hissing for greater effect. She didn't have time to play their games though and sought to deal with their silliness as fast as possible.

[Tassadar]

Skye: HP = 70/74, PP = 38, EP = 52/64, Status = Fine


Rolls

Attacks (Skye) : All three guaranteed to hit!
Damage: 4 + 4 + 20 - 12 - 1 = 15 damage per hit
Down he goes!

Attack (Enemy) : Hit.
Damage: 4 + 5 + 15 - 7 = 17 damage. Skye's armor is at 1/25 TP.
Because Skye is a vampire, however, she only takes 1/4 of that, so 4 damage. :|


"Oh, but it is so cold out today. I'd catch a chill if I took it off out here." The woman deadpanned in turn, and just as when Skye had spoke, it was unclear just how serious she was. The noblewoman's pose remained steadfastly neutral, neither aggressive to the point that she might attack Skye nor acquiescent to the pirate captain's whims. Unfortunately, before she could properly deal with the woman there was a more pressing call upon Skye's attentions, but she heard the woman speak again as she turned to deal with the three men charging up the stairs; "They're not my peons. If you want to berate someone for their lack of competency, dignity and common sense, talk to the freshly christened garden ornament."

The bulky was made to pause by the sudden hiss accompanied by the display of her fangs, and the pirate took that opportunity with to start swinging. Her blade whirled in front of her, the flashes of light that were the only thing that could normally be seen of her swordplay not even present courtesy of the dim light. She watched the man's face turn from fear to pain to shock and back as lines of blood appeared across his broad chest, his own sword trying and failing to intercept the half vampire's weapon before it carved into his flesh. After her third strike landed just under his throat, he fell backwards against his comrades, and Skye might have been glad to hear a gasp of surprise come from the woman still standing on the bridge behind her.

The three men tumbled back down the stairs for a moment, but one of them quickly climbed over his dying fellow to suddenly lash out at her with his cutlass. The attack was artless, almost clumsy, but despite that Skye couldn't deflect it before it landed. The blade knocked past her guard and cut a long line in her abdomen just below her breasts, tearing her clothing and causing her front to soak with her blood from the severe wound.... Or it would have been severe, and probably covered her in her own blood, if not for the fact that it sealed itself before the cut was even complete, a few drops of her blood running down her freshly exposed belly. And that was it.

He looked on in astonishment as his blow healed itself, doing little more than tearing Skye's shirt and getting a bit of blood on it. His fellow, who had been moving the body of their first mate out of the way, hadn't caught the measly effects of the strike and was still rushing up the steps to join the fight, but Skye still had the stairs effectively blocked off. She would only have to fight one at a time, and the stunned fighter in front of her was wide open for her response.

[Ranger Princess]

Scimitar whirling in her hand, Skye's glowing coppers burned into the eyes of her first victim. He may have thought he was an opponent, but he was really just prey in the eyes of a very hungry predator. As Skye watched the welp's expression turn to horror, the vampire smirked evilly, her amusement growing as she saw that inevitable realization in his eyes. Realization of who she really was and how little chance he really had. Tongue slithering over bared fangs, Skye whipped the final thrust just under his throat, knocking the man back into his fellow soldiers.

That was when she sensed it, the scent pouring into Skye's nostrils and flooding through the vampire's veins like a tidal wave of desire. The hair on the back of her neck stood on end, and her stomach clenched. Skye stared down at the fallen man ravenously with wildly burning eyes. Blood was in the air, and the vampire inside her was hungry.

Distracted by the overwhelming scent of blood she hadn't tasted in nearly a month, Skye was taken off guard by the incoming soldier's clumsy attack. Unable to deflect his cutlass in time, the vampire yelped in agony as the blade cut through her abdomen, and she staggered backward in surprise. Although vampires had the power of regeneration, they weren't immune to pain; Skye had every cut to remind her of that. Luckily the searing pain numbed almost as soon as it arrived, skin folding back in on itself and mending the gash.

Skye straightened up and glared in anger down at the perpetrator. His heart thudded in her ears, and she could see the throbbing of veins in his neck with her predatory vampire gaze. The vampire arched up her scimitar and slid her whip-tongue along the blade, licking up the blood along the edge. Her eyes burned into the soldier before her tauntingly, and she groaned inwardly from drops of crimson sliding down her tongue like sweet wine. The lick was fast but taunting, daring the soldier to step forward. Whether he did or not, Skye bared her fangs and shrieked in hunger and rage. Predatory glint in her eyes, Skye charged the stunned man before her. Scimitar whipping around furiously, Skye's swordsman instincts aimed for the man's vital areas. The coppers in her eyes burning brightly, Skye hissed and snapped her fangs menacingly with each slash. The vampire could not, would not wait to feed. She was determined to taste that tormenting scent of blood. They would die, and their blood would be her's if she had her way.
Lightning strikes on the poor guy in front of her.

[Tassadar]

Skye: HP = 66/74, PP = 38, EP = 52/64, Status = Fine


Rolls

Attacks (Skye) : Hit!
Damage: 1 + 2 + 20 - 13 = 12 damage per hit.
He's not dead.

Attack (Enemy) : Hit. This guy is extremely lucky. >.>
Damage: 4 + 3 + 15 - 7 = 15 damage. Skye's armor is destroyed.
Another 4 damage.


The sailor watched Skye lick the blood from her blade with a look of horror and terror, making no move to capitalize on the apparent opening. Before he could strike out at her again, however, Skye's blade flashed through the air once more, scoring deep cuts on the stunned man's body, but he recoiled away from the blow that would have taken his throat, instead only taking a wound across his face. Momentarily blinded by blade, he swung his sword wildly and somehow managed to score another hit on her.

His cutlass went higher this time, slashing across her collar and causing another narrow line of blood to form across her skin. Unfortunately, the cut also tore into her shirt, and the entire front of her clothing either dropped off completely or came apart. Regardless, in the end her chest was exposed, though the half blinded man probably couldn't be blamed for not noticing. The sailor at the bottom of the stairs, however, did notice, though with her display of her fangs he only let his gaze settle on Skye's bare chest for a moment. The stairs were still blocked by the blinded man, however, and he couldn't come up to join the battle.

On the deck, however, the battle was already practically over, her crew having wiped out over two thirds of the enemy fighters already and already surrounding the rest. Some had tried to surrender, but her crew had followed her orders to the letter, and the terror evident on the faces of the corner warriors as they battled against increasingly poor odds was plain for her to see even as far away as she was. The man at the bottom of the stairs turned to try and aid his comrades, leaving Skye with no one around her save the blinded man and the woman, who had apparently decided not to comment further.

[Ranger Princess]

Overconfident from the success of her attack, Skye was once again caught by a clumsy swing of a cutlass from this useless man in front of her. Inwardly, the vampire berated herself for fighting so clumsily. The swordsman within her cringed. Outwardly, she was enraged. Cheeks hot with embarrassment and fury, but it was just a little embarrassment and a lot of fury, Skye glared ferociously at the second man who was scampering off to meet his death another way.

Then her glowering eyes reverted back to the blinded man in front of her. This annoying little man had not only had the audacity to cut her twice but ruin one of her favorite shirts! Scowling horrifically, Skye began to slink quietly toward the blinded man in front of her. She let the vampire senses flood into her and take over her body. Not only could she sense the blood and the fear of the soldier in front of her, she had the ability, or so she assumed, to stalk him silently, stealthily. As soon as she was close enough, Skye struck out with her scimitar, intending to impale his stomach. Assuming that worked, she would waste no time. Eyes glowing angrily, she lashes out with her fangs, intending to not only sink into the flesh of his neck but pull the side of his neck right off. Blood spewing about like a fountain, the vampire shoves him to the ground and hungrily mauls his neck on all fours. Growling and sucking wildly, she sucks up the soldier's last remains of life, looking just like someone who hadn't fed properly in a month would look, wild and ravenous.

feel free to retcon if it doesn't work.

[Tassadar]

Skye: HP = 74, PP = 38, EP = 52/64, Status = Fine


(I don't actually need to roll for this since Skye can't miss him.)

The man who had torn her clothing was half blinded by blood, and flailed his sword around wildly in an effort to ward Skye off. He failed miserably at this, however, and her blade sunk into his belly after one particularly wide swing. He let out a gasp of pain and dropped his sword, after which he was easy prey to the ravenous enraged vampire. His cry of terror and pain became a loud gurgle when her fangs sunk into his neck and promptly tore a good chunk of it right off, and he went down onto the deck, Skye following and feasting on his life's blood.

After that, Skye's memory became hazy as she sated her thirst upon the dying man, gorging herself on the blood welling up from his shredded neck. The sounds of the battle below, the sound of the rising winds, the occasional distant crack of thunder from the storm brewing overhead and the cry of horror that emanated from the woman standing on the deck behind her; All were drowned out beneath the pulsing of her victim's final heartbeats.

And, all too soon, Skye felt his heart beat its last, one last shudder on the muscle's part, trying to keep its bearer alive before going still. One last squirm from the man beneath her, and his final gurgle became a death rattle as his last breath left him.

Captain Skye rose, her unnatural hunger sated and the after effects of the minor wounds that she'd sustained gone. The battle on the deck was over, the last of the sailors on the ship they'd taken lying dead upon the deck. Even after having fed, the smell of blood was heavy and distracting upon the air, even mixed with the salty scent of the ocean. A glance behind her revealed the noblewoman finally showing some reaction, staring at her blood coated form with horror and terror, a hand held over her neck as if afraid that Skye might fling herself at her and attempt to do the same. Davek and two of her men were making their way up the steps to the bridge, but they were pointedly not looking at their captain.

Whether that was because she was covered in gore, or because they respected her enough to not stare at her breasts, or perhaps a combination of the two was up to Skye to guess. Regardless, her first mate quickly reached the top of the steps and said; "We've secured the deck, and we're clearing the areas below as we speak. The ship is ours, along with whatever lies within it. What would you like us to do with it? Sink it, or should we try to tow it in and claim it as salvage? The port of Viorica is within a week's distance...." He trailed off, having caught sight of the woman in the dress, "What would you like us to do with her, ma'am?"

The woman gulped nervously, still clutching at her neck, but she managed to get together a passable imitation of her previously held confident demeanor as she responded; "I have a business proposition that I would like to set before your captain, whoever he might be. And in private, for his ears only."

[Ranger Princess]

Finally defeating the poor wretch before her, Skye gorged on him victoriously. Looming over the sailor in an animal crouch, the vampire forced his shoulders into the deck roughly, preventing him from wriggling out of her grip. After tearing the chunk out of his neck, she dug into the wound with her teeth. Her lips worked on the flesh, pulling at it and spitting out the chunks as she guzzled the sailor's blood. Unlike the victims that the captain liked to keep in her quarters who she savored like sweet wine, Skye had no use for this man. His blood was like cheap beer. No use for that except to chug it as fast as you can to get drunk, and chug she did. Not a single movement of her feast was designed to pleasure in anyway, even if a man dying man with a gaping hole in his neck could feel pleasure, Skye wasn't giving him any. The pleasure was all Skye's. Just like chugging cheap beer, Skye got more into it the more she drank. The blood rushing down her throat was like water to a dehydrated sailor. The vampire kept up her guzzling feast until the last and final breath fled the man's lips sealing him off to death's cold embrace.

Concluding her feast, Skye jerked her head backward in her animal crouch. Drops of blood sprayed forward from her sudden jerking motion, crimson streams running down her lips and neck. The vampires eyes, smoldering like burning copper, scanned the deck of the ship like a predator. Satisfied that the battle was won and no stragglers remained, Skye rose to her feet, abandoning the soldier beneath her to death's clutches. The redhead staggered momentarily, the scent of blood flooding into her flared her nostrils. The deck swirled around her as if struck by vertigo from getting up too quickly. It wasn't long until Skye was able to conquer the sensation though. The vampire glanced over her shoulder and saw the woman staring at her, a delicious and long overdue expression of horror obvious in her features. Skye smirked malevolently at the woman, whip tongue snaking along the tips of her ivory white fangs. The redhead swiped the back of her hand across her lips, flicking blood from her fingers onto the deck nonchalantly. She clucked her tongue on her cheek and winked tauntingly at the woman.

As Davek started to address her, the captain scooped up her tattered tunic from the floor of the deck. Skye scowled at it but pulled the maroon fabric over her shoulders, tying it in a knot just under her breasts to fashion a make-shift cover for her chest, at least until she could get back to her chambers to get another shirt. Still scowling because the tied tunic looked rather silly, the redhead's cheeks flushed in embarrassment. At least it allowed her a little more dignity in front of her crew. She glared around, daring someone to comment on it. Content that no one did, Skye turned to Davek and was just about to respond when the noblewoman burst out with her indignant proposition.

The pirate's copper eyes sparkled with glee, and her lips curled into a wide grin of pure, unadulterated malevolence. She hadn't turned to the woman yet, so Davek was the beneficiary of her evilly gleeful expression. Ever so slowly, Skye turned around to face the woman. Hand on her hip ostentatiously and a crooked grin on her lips, Skye called up to the woman, "Oh? You want to speak to the captain do you sunshine? He is a very busy man." Skye glanced to her first mate with a smirk, "A rather mean and grumpy fellow too don't you think Davek?" The redhead sighed, making a rather dramatic show of raising and slumping her shoulders, pressing the hand not on her hip to her chest. "Alas, you wound me buttercup!" Skye's grin was getting wider, more crooked, and evil by the second. The vampire shifted her gaze to Davek again, "Aren't I friendly Davek?" Skye shrugged with a mock frown as if genuinely hurt, "Ah well.. You heard the lady! Take her to the captain's quarters! He'll be very interested to hear her proposal I'm sure!" The redhead then walked to the bottom of the stairs, and did her best to look sweet for the lady. "Personally darling, I would have chosen me," and with a wink, she whirled on her heel back to Davek and slapped her hand on his shoulder, giving him a nod. "Good work out there." The vampire surveyed the deck, "After the crew clears out the ship, just sink her into the abyss. She's fat and clunky, nothing compared to our sleek, lovely lady. Don't want to draw too much attention to ourselves when we make port." The redhead glanced over her shoulder at the woman in the dress one more time. "Get her comfortable in the captain's quarters," Skye said with a smirk. Then Skye turned to the remaining crew on the deck, standing before them and saluted. She grinned widely, pumping her fist in the air. "To the Seawolf! And rum! ......and the Captain!!" Skye laughed and mingled with the crew, congratulating each of them on the well-fought battle.

[Tassadar]

Skye: HP = 74, PP = 38, EP = 52/64, Status = Fine


Davek, to his credit, tried as hard as he possibly could to hold a good poker face s Skye showed him her look of evil grin. He almost succeeded, his expression fighting between a smirk and a scowl, but she could see the glee returned in the man's eyes following the noblewoman's demands, and the smile eventually won the battle for his facial expression. Her first mate didn't respond verbally to the woman, allowing Skye to take the lead, and when she turned around and smirked at the cornered stranger she found the woman holding a much better straight face than Davek had.

Her first mate nodded at the question that Skye had directed at him, still smirking himself as he said; "Aye, the captain's not one to be parleyed with lightly. I'd hate to be one to waste his time!" The woman's expression twitched slightly, hints of her obvious fear appearing on her face, but Skye hardly needed that to tell that she was afraid. The vampire could practically taste the fear radiating from the woman, and the predator in her yearned to validate that fear despite the hearty meal she'd just taken.

Despite her fear, however, she still managed to look a little bit confused as Skye put on her dramatic airs, but Davek smiled back and nodded, "Aye! Not many on our humble vessel or as kind hearted as Skye here, once you get to know her!" His smirk changed to one as malicious and dangerous as Skye's, "Or as gentle." He trailed off meaningfully, the warning rather clear to one who knew the normal practices aboard the Seawolf in regards to Skye's guests. The stranger, however, did not, and she merely looked confused by the strange words. Trying to make herself composed, there was nonetheless a nervous tension in her voice as she said; "That is for me to worry about. I'm... Sure that he will see good reason to listen to me."

The two men who had followed Davek up to the bridge took either side of the strange noblewoman and led her away at Skye's orders, and Davek trailed her down the steps to the deck of the other vessel. Most of the bodies had already been searched, and the handful of men left on it were busy dumping the bodies over the side of the ship. The seawater below was red with blood, but Skye could see more than a handful of fins breaking the surface of the waves. "Thank you, ma'am. They were good sailors, but poor fighters. We only lost three men, and have six more injured. None are hurt too bad, but they'll not recover any time soon. We'll be missing Lorelai's healing soon enough, I think. And aye, we'll leave a keg of her own powder near the bottom once we've scoured her for valuables."

The noblewoman looked confused again at the exchange, and was then led across the plank and onto the Seawolf, disappearing into the door into Skye's own quarters shortly thereafter. Her crew paused in their tasks and joined Skye in a cheer, particularly at the promise of rum. They returned to their tasks, setting about clearing the ship with practiced efficiency. There was still much work to do, of course, and much of her crew were still belowdecks on the enemy vessel. She could join them down there and help sort through the ship's cargo for valuables, but Burtrend, her quartermaster, was already below and would probably know well enough what the Seawolf needed most. The captain's cabin of this ship hadn't been plundered yet, however, and it would likely have the items of greatest monetary value, if not practical value. Of course, she still looked slightly silly with her torn shirt tied under her breasts, and the mysterious woman was waiting for her in her cabin.

(Skye gains 6 experience!)

[Ranger Princess]

(Victory Dance!~ (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nVTaD1PY1aw))

Skye stood at the edge of the captive ship, her new prize that she was about to rape, pillage, and send to the bottom of the ocean. Fingers wrapping around the railing, the vampire watched the scene developing below her with rapt interest. A swarm of fins converged on the crimson stained sea. The sharks were no-nonsense predators. They darted straight for their prey like a torpedo and ripped into the bodies as soon as they got a grip with their jagged teeth. To the vampire watching from above the surface, there wasn't much to see except the rapidly converging fins, the sudden bubbling up of the water upon contact and the bodies being pulled away into the abyss a few second later. Skye knew exactly what was happening though, and she imagined it in vivid detail. In her mind, the vampire saw the sharks ravenously thrashing side to side to rip their prey to shreds, tearing flesh from the bodies of the unfortunate dead sailors. They had only one thought, to feed. If not the ultimate predator, they were certainly one of the most fearsome, an animal with no thought but to feast. Skye wondered how much like the sharks she was. She identified with the overwhelming desire to feed, with the exhilaration of the hunt, and the euphoria of success. The vampire felt some sort of deep respect for the sharks, being fearsome predators just like herself. Still, there was something very primal to it all. There was no hint of emotion, no sense of mercy. For the shark there was no bargain. Either it fed or it died. There was no gray area. As a half-vampire pirate captain, Skye was full of gray area. She just didn't like to think or talk about it very often. Skye promised herself that she would never be like a shark, as much as she admired and respected them.

As Davek updated her on the status of her crew, Skye startled out of her reverie. The captain nodded, "Aye. I could tell what sort of types they were from leagues away. Not too surprising. These merchant ships are all the same. Mindless automatons, the lot of them!" Skye paused and glanced about the ship to make sure none of the crew listened in. She lowered her voice and gazed at her first mate meaningfully. "Alas, the fact that they attacked us first was strange, don't you think? Arrogance, perhaps? Stupidity? Definitely. Yet, I'm still suspicious. I believe there is more than meets the eye to this ship." The redhead's copper eyes darkened ever greater at the mention of Lorelai, her last blood donor and resident ship doctor. "The crew did an impressive job, but yes Lorelai has a knack for constantly reminding us of what we lack with her absence." Skye scowled for a moment, thinking of the healer woman but then shrugged, her face turning back to her usual crooked grin. "Ah well. Ye know what they say about idle chatter at sea. Fills the mind with nonsense!" The captain winked as she began to walk away, "If you find rum, let them celebrate, but don't let them drain it all in one night!"

As Skye began navigating through her crew, she offered congratulatory gestures to a few and laughed along with them. The captain wandered her way through all the people until she found Korelin, her navigator. The vampire grinned and touched her arm in a friendly gesture. "How is our heading to Viorica, Korelin? Any new developments that I should know of?" The captain began walking, indicating that she wanted the navigator to follow her. "Come with me. We'll see what kind of treasure this oaf of a captain had stored away in his quarters." As they made their way to the unfortunate former captain's quarters, Skye glanced up at the statue higher up on the ship, "I must say he looks much better now than he did before! He ought to thank us eh?" The vampire pirate smirked evilly. She was clearly pleased with herself and her crew on their great victory and wasn't about to pass up the chance to revel in it!

[Tassadar]

Skye: HP = 74, PP = 38, EP = 52/64, Status = Fine


Davek shrugged slightly and replied; "I'd be set right set to agree with you captain. There wasn't any cargo in the top hold, at least not cargo meant for selling. Lots of supplies like food and water, shot and powder, plus lumber and canvas and such for quick repairs at sea, but no trade goods. Maybe there will be more in the lower holds, but it's odd to store such where they can't be easily removed when the ship reaches port." At the mention of rum, however, the man smirked and nodded, his own grin just as crooked as Skye's, "Aye aye ma'am! Wouldn't want to deprive the crew of their celebration, but we can't be drinking all of it at once!"

Skye found Korelin standing on the top deck of the opposing vessel, overseeing the dumping of the bodies into the sea. The woman had been at sea since she was fourteen, and now she was nearing her fiftieth year, but despite her age she had lost none of her mental acuity. Her navigator turned toward Skye with a respectful nod and evenly replied; "It's a straight shot back East to get to Viorica captain, with no islands or particularly dangerous waters between here and there. If we can get through this storm alright, we shouldn't have any major problems sailing there." When asked to accompany her to the captain's cabin, the older woman grinned and nodded, "Of course captain!"

When Skye indicated the statue standing on the other vessel's bridge, her navigator adjusted her glasses slightly and nodded, smirking. "Tis a strange form of immortality you've granted him really, if you think about it. Unless the statue he has become is smashed, he will live forever. I always wondered if they could perceive what was going on around them, those that you've turned to stone. It must be maddening if they can, being unable to affect anything in the world around them but watching it all."

The door into the captain's cabin was unlocked, and it opened to a fairly large, open chamber. The rear wall was a series of stained glass windows, and the only clear window (on the right side of the room) had a telescope sitting in it, staring outwards. The left wall had a small bookshelf on the side of the room closest to the door, but was dominated for the most part by a fairly large feather bed with a set of cabinets sitting underneath it. On the right wall, there was a chest in the far right corner next to the telescope and a wide oak desk with a padded chair sitting next to it. On the desk were a series of charts and maps, as well as an aging, leather bound book with no markings on the cover, probably a journal. Finally, on the wall with the door there were a trio of paintings, one of which was of the late captain himself, standing in what he probably thought was a heroic pose, standing with one knee raised up on a rock as he was view from the side, the setting sun behind him and a sandy beach forming the backdrop of the picture.

Another was of a fairly attractive woman lying on her side, her body barely covered by a translucent sheet of fabric draped over her. That painting was actually fairly well done, if edging slightly toward tasteless, and Korelin remarked; "I suppose that one's probably got a lot of long looks, ehh? During those long lonely nights..." The other two paintings were fairly unremarkable, one of a forest stream and the other of a mountain range, and neither was particularly well done. "I suppose we'd best get to searching the place. Where would you like to start?"

[Ranger Princess]

Skye came to a halt, hand at her hip and gazed up at the statue of the former captain at Korelin's philosophical words. The captain seemed to ponder the idea with great interest, eyes narrowing as if weighing options in her mind until she finally inclined her head toward Korelin. "Perhaps he'll be the first man to see the wonders at the bottom of the sea then, eh?" A teasing grin tugged at Skye's lip and she nudged her navigator's arm. "That is unless you want to put his ugly mug in your bedroom." Copper eyes flashing back to the statue one last time, the triumphant pirate captain smirked at him victoriously. "He's most certainly not setting foot in mine," Skye scoffed smugly as she laughed to herself, heading into the unfortunate captain's quarters with an obvious swagger in her gait.

Once inside, Skye surveyed the lair of her former attacker, looking for clues to explain his curious but ill-founded bravery. She was looking at the stained glass windows when Korelin's comment drew her attention to the risque painting of the scantily clad woman. The captain snickered, joining in on her navigator's mockery. "Oh I'm sure there were many of those, weren't there? Sooo very lonely nights out at sea, heh." Her eyes traveled over the curvy form of the woman. Even though she'd just fed, Skye's stomach twinged. The vampire inside her wanted to sink her fangs into that lovely but regretfully quite waxy flesh. "As for me, that painting would just make me hungry... and drive me batshit crazy if I didn't have anything to sink my fangs into." When Skye's eyes moved over to the captain's portrait, the redhead snorted in amusement. Copper eyebrow arched, Skye turned to Korelin and pointed at the portrait, giggling mischievously. "Ha! Look at that, he's doing it wrong!" Skye placed her hand at her hip, arching her hips to the side and gazed diagonally to the corner of the ceiling majestically. "If you're gonna do it, and I'm not quite sure ya should... it has to look just right. Has to be natural." Then she moved to another pose with both hands at her hips, pushing her thumbs into the pockets of her leather pants and smirked. "Am I right Korelin? Who looks better?" She pulled one of her hands out of her pockets and gestured to the portrait, "That troll over there... or me?" Skye gestured to herself with a look that suggested she knew just how awesome she was and snickered a little more until she finally sighed, "Yes I suppose we should get to work shouldn't we?"

The captain glanced around the quarters of her quarry, taking in the surroundings with her cold, calculating copper gaze. She pointed to the maps laying on the desk, "Why don't you take a look at those maps, see if you find anything interesting." Skye said as she walked briskly to the leather bound book that appeared to be a journal. The pirate looked down at it for a moment then scooped it up in her hands, flipping to the last entry to read through that as well as an entry or two before it. "Hmmm.. just what were you up to you scoundrel of a captain...?" Skye muttered to herself thoughtfully as she read the entries.

[Tassadar]

Skye: HP = 74, PP = 38, EP = 52/64, Status = Fine


Korelin let out a bark of laughter at Skye's suggestion, and said; "It's the bottom of the ocean for him then, I've got little enough space in there as it is! And he wouldn't do much for the decorum, methinks. Maybe if he didn't have that stupid hat on, and was about twenty years younger I'd consider it!" Korelin nudged Skye back, smirking, and then followed her forth into the captain's cabin.

Korelin leaned back, placing a hand on her chin and adopting a look that was half contemplative and half a mirthful smirk, as if she were actually comparing Skye's pose to the portrait of the other vessel's captain. "Oh, definitely you, my captain. Of course, with the way you look, I'd think that you could pull off any pose!" Her navigator replied, smirking, but then nodded at the suggestion that they ought to get back to work. "Aye aye, captain."

Korelin took up the maps and placed them on the bed in the corner, leaving Skye to look through the captain's diary.

The last entry, dated the previous day, read;

The first of the islands that our mysterious passenger noted to us is within two days sailing at our current speed if Ogren's calculations regarding our position are correct. The weather continues to favor us, though a storm can be seen off on the horizon, and crew morale is good despite our lack of profitable cargo. These are dangerous waters, but I am confident that Lady Alvarien's word is good, and that we will see our just reward for braving these dangers if we can aid her in accomplishing her goals. She still refuses to tell me why she seeks these gems or why she is willing to forsake all of the treasures that she claims lie with them in order to obtain them, but if it means that I can retire and live out my remaining years in peace with my granddaughter, then I'm willing to put some faith in her word.

The lack of luxury cargo has had an unintended bonus, in that were were able to acquire a great deal more food and drink than normal, and as such we have been able to increase our rations. I haven't eaten this well in all my forty years at sea, and the large stock of rum that Fevor was able to acquire has been pleasant enough, if a bit crass for my appetites. Perhaps I'll finally cave, and open that bottle of elven wine that I've been saving in my storage chest for so long?

The sightings of strange creatures has continued despite my order that those on watch be denied access to our supply of rum. I begin to grow tired of the superstition of my men, who up until this journey have been nothing but reliable. Ogren is the worst, and I begin to wonder if I really should sign my vessel over to his care when I retire to the mainland. Perhaps I will have to rewrite my will and testament once I return home, but for now I have taken him off of night watch and put him on deck duty.


The entry before it, dated a full week prior;

Lady Alvarien has adjusted surprisingly well to life at sea, all things considered. She is polite to the men, pleasant to speak with, stays well out of the way, makes no outrageous demands upon our supplies, and hasn't once complained at keeping quarters with Ogren despite the man's lecherous reputation. I have never once seen her stumble, not even in the heaviest of winds, though the weather has been nothing but favorable since our journey began. The islands she has asked us to bring her to weren't marked on any maps, but she assures us that they exist, and that we are on the correct heading. How she can know either for sure is beyond me, but with the amount that she paid for passage I am willing to accept her word on the matter.

Unfortunately, despite the favorable weather not all is well. The men on night watch have begun to speak of strange creatures visible within the water, though their reports are not consistent. Ogren alone has spoken of three completely different creatures, and as none are willing to back his word I am disinclined to believe him. The fact that six other sailors have spoken of similar creatures is concerning, but as none of them are consistent I am, for now, willing to pass it off as mere superstition, or perhaps an attempt to irritate me for the perceived slight at not carrying any valuable cargo.

Regardless, our journey is underway, and we will not turn back due to a fraction of the crew's irrational fears.


Finally, the entry prior to the one before the last one, dated another three days back;

Good fortune! While I was attempting to acquire cargo for our next voyage, a young noblewoman approached me, and offered to make me a business proposition. Normally, I would brush off such attempts, but this time something made me stop. I am quite glad that I did as well, as Lady Alvarien offered two thousand denarii for the assistance of my crew and I, plus an additional thousand when we return to port, in retrieving a series of artifacts that she says belong rightfully to her family. In addition, she assured us that there would be other treasure along with the items that she desires, and has said that we may take what we like of whatever we find. I am skeptical, but with the amount that she is offering and with the promise that the journey will take no more than a month, I decided to take a chance.

She will arrive on our vessel tomorrow morning, and we will depart immediately. Ogren, my faithful navigator, has looked at the maps that she has provided me and assured me that at least one of the islands she indicated exists even though they weren't on our own charts. He claimed that the place had a foul and dangerous reputation, and I am wary of such, but with the added firepower of our new guns I am confident that we can ward off any pirates that make a try at us, particularly with the grapeshot we picked up from the wreckage of the 'Amelia.'

Since we'll have to return to Viorica in order to drop off the Lady, I chose to forgo on further attempts to acquire cargo for sale, and instead purchased added stores of shot, powder, rum, water and foodstuffs. Some of the men, particular Fevor have raised complaint at this, but I am the captain of the 'Daedelus,' and I will not be questioned in my decisions by my hirelings, particularly the dozen new men who we took to replace those lost in that storm we had to go through in order to return here.


The captain's handwriting was long and flowing but not particularly difficult to read, allowing Skye to be done with the three entries just before Korelin announced; "Captain, these charts are almost identical to ours, except.... There are islands marked on here that aren't on ours! They look like they've been drawn in by hand, and recently too, within the last two weeks I'd guess off hand. We're within another day or two of one of them if this is accurate, but I don't know how we could have not known about it. This is a well traveled shipping lane, surely someone would have seen it."

[Ranger Princess]

Skye opened up the journal and flipped to the last entry. She cocked one of her red-orange eyebrows and snickered at the old captain's handwriting. It fit the type of man she thought him to be to the T. The vampire mused thoughtfully, her signature smirk growing as she read.

Ah so my new vixen is an adventurer! Sponsoring such a big mission all by herself... heheh. How ironic... and fortunate that she's managed to outlive her mercenaries. The crew will love the idea of a hidden treasure trove, and I could use a new adventure. We'll see if she keeps her secrets so close once I get through with her...

As she read, Skye took a short break to wander over to the storage chest, opening it up to find the captain's treasured elven wine. After a short perusal of the chest's contents, Skye scooped it up and set the bottle down on the desk to keep reading. The redhead grinned excitedly at the idea of strange monsters, but didn't give it much thought for the moment. Instead she eagerly turned to the previous entry.

Ha! Not just an adventurer I see... Well mannered, pleasant, and companionable. Ohoho this is going to be fun. Polite, driven, and willing to do anything for what she wants. ....I can taste her already! And once again those pesky secrets. Easy enough for me to acquire. Unmarked islands, mounds of treasure, and mysterious gems. This is almost too good to be true! My, my I've been looking for a good quest for a while now and a good reason to avoid making port to boot! I'll have to warn Davek about these creatures, however. Don't want the crew to wet themselves on night duty.

Excited to get moving, Skye skimmed through the third to last entry, chuckling at one line in particular. Ward off pirates indeed! If only you knew how wrong you were my dear captain... But then I wouldn't have this interesting adventure on my hands and this fine lady to drink from. Thanks I guess!

Skye looked up, snapping the leather book closed just as Korelin exclaimed about the islands on the charts. "Aye Korelin! It's confirmed in these here journal entries as well. It says here our new guest is quite the adventurer and claims these islands contain ancient artifacts and boatloads of treasure. I will most certainly have her come talk to you... once I've finished with her. If she is in anyway secretive, let me know. For now, take the charts and adjust our heading to the closest island. I'll inform Davek of the news. Now just see if there's anything you want in these drawers and we'll be off."

[Tassadar]

Skye: HP = 74, PP = 38, EP = 64, Status = Fine


(In the endless quest for treasure, Skye has found a bottle of elven wine, a dagger and 10 denarii in the chest, and Korelin turns up a chest filled with money and a silver spyglass and compass. Don't worry, silver doesn't hurt Skye :p)

The chest took a moment to rummage through, but eventually Skye managed to dig out the bottle of elven wine. There were mostly worthless nick-nacks besides the bottle, but she also found an ornamental dagger that looked fairly old but showed no hints of rust, and a small bag filled with coins as well.

Korelin nodded at Skye's orders, and began opening the drawers and sifting through them after she'd packed up the maps and charts. The aging navigator, ever the multitasker, talked while she worked; "I've never heard of or seen any of the islands marked on these charts, but the nearest one at least is close to a shipping lane. It should have been seen by someone, and the fact that it isn't marked worries me. There could be reefs or some other natural hazard around it, so we'd best be very careful as we get closer to it. With your permission captain, I'll make sure the men on night duty are kept away from the booze we've no doubt just acquired until we can be sure that it's safe to approach."

In her search, Korelin turned up a silver case containing a matching spy glass and compass, which she promptly turned over to Skye, as well as a small chest that was filled with neatly stacked rows of coins. "Looks like this man's personal payment. Should I put this in the crew coffers, or would you like this bit for yourself captain?"

Once that had been decided on way or another, Korelin announced that she was finished, gathered up their loot and headed out of the captain's quarters. Back on deck, Skye's crew were carrying crates and barrels across the gang planks, rum and ale aplenty along with some food. Her first mate quickly came forward and said; "Captain, we found excess stocks of food and other supplies, but few valuables. It almost looks like an exploratory voyage rather than a merchant vessel. Anyway, I took the liberty of having a good portion of it carried over to the 'Seawolf,' along with all of the drink we could find! We should be good to sail for another six months so long as it all holds out, at least at our present rations. Though, I doubt the booze will last that long!" Davek smirked as his comment brought a round of raucous laughter from the sailors around them.

With her first mate right there, Skye could easily inform him of the change in course, and once they had scuttled the 'Daedelus' she would be free to retire to her private chambers, where Lady Alvarien and all of her secrets awaited the pirate captain. "We've got a powder charge rigged in the cargo hold captain. We're ready to sink her as soon as we've got everything carried over, just as soon as you say the word."

[Ranger Princess]

Skye pulled out the elven wine and the dagger each with one hand and glanced down at them with a triumphant smirk. "Special occasion indeed Captain, heheh." Perhaps I'll save this for a happy day, like the day I sink my fangs into Lorelai again. The Captain tested the dagger in her hand, appraising it with the keen eye of the blacksmith she was originally meant to be. Not much use for battle but surprisingly durable. This steel should be more than suitable to add to my collection... to help craft my legendary sword of the ages.

After slipping the dagger into her sash, Skye dropped the bag of coins into the chest Korelin was holding. She took the spy glass and looked into it curiously then put that and the compass into her pocket. Skye walked over to Korelin and squeezed her shoulder, grinning. "My navigator that's seen it all is scared of a mysterious island? Remember you have me, my dear. There is no monster who will stand against Skye Seawolf and live to tell the tale!" As they turned to walk out, Skye looked back, "Put it all in the crew's coffers but make sure some of it goes to the upkeep of our lovely ship. We must take care of her if she's to lead us to glory."

Skye nodded to Davek, "Aye Davek! It was an exploratory vessel indeed. It seems a journey to mysterious islands and lost treasure has fallen right into our laps!" When Skye finished relating what she learned from the journals to Davek, she grinned, copper eyes gleaming excitedly. "Finally a real adventure. This should be far more interesting than Viorica. Korelin of course worries of coral reefs around the island, so make sure the night sailors don't get drunk. Anyone responsible for damaging my ship will answer to me. Adjust the course with Korelin, and sink this ugly thing just as soon as everyone is back on the Seawolf."

Skye jumped up on the railing of the 'Daedalus' and grinned at her crew.

"We have a new mission ladies and gentleman! It'll be a dangerous quest to unmarked islands, but the reward is said to be mountains of treasure! I do not know what manner of beasts or obstacles we might find on our journey, so stay ever vigilant. Only the heartiest men and women can acquire the greatest treasures, and that's what we are. These sailors of the Daedalus were unworthy and pampered brats fed with a silver spoon. We are the strongest, and we'll take all of the treasure they yearned for. We'll bask in the gold and gems and share the glory. Because we are pirates! Not just any pirates either, we sail under the flag of the Seawolf, and NOTHING STANDS IN OUR WAY!"

Skye pumped her fist into the air and grinned then hopped down from the railing of the ship. She walked briskly through the gangway, swaggering confidently. "Now let's sink this bitch and find us some treasure!" She called out as she returned to her ship. She scooped up her overcoat, putting it back over her shoulders as she headed straight for her quarters where Lady Alvarien awaited. This was going to be a fun day, indeed.

[Tassadar]

Skye: HP = 74, PP = 38, EP = 64, Status = Fine


Korelin, at Skye's reassurance, smirked broadly and replied; "Oh I'm quite sure we could handle any monster, captain! I'm just worried about having to clean up all of the goo and body parts when you're finished chopping the thing up! The ship will stink of fish for weeks afterwards!" Upon her command to distribute the discovered coin to the crew and the upkeep of the ship, Korrelin simply nodded her assent and proceeded to carry the chest under her arm. Davek smirked broadly, clearly enjoying the idea of a real adventure more than a quiet return to port as well, and quickly replied; "Aye captain, the night crew will be kept off the drink."

As usual, when Skye hopped up onto the railing of the defeated vessel and began to speak she received her crew's full attention. Predictably, at the mere mention of treasure every one of them grinned broadly, and the mention of unknown dangers seemed to hold no sway upon the experienced crew of the Seawolf. Each of them raised a fist and cheered as Skye's speech reached its concluding crescendo, and as she hopped down and strode off of the Daedalus Skye received a number of thumps on the back and several lesser rounds of cheering.

As she retrieved her overcoat from the bridge of her own vessel, the last of her crew cleared from the Daedalus, and Davek lit the long fuse he'd rigged to the other vessel as the gangplank was lifted. The Seawolf started moving again while the Daedalus remained in place, and just as Skye was about to head into her private quarters she might pause to watch as the powder charge went off. A tremendous BOOM that caused the Seawolf to rock back and forth sounded, nearly deafening at this range, and the bottom of the Daedalus exploded in a shower of wood shards. Water flooded into the massive hole in the ship, and within moments the vessel had sunk beneath the waves, the last two portions to disappear being the ship's mast, and the statue of the vessel's former captain, which still stood exactly where it had when Skye's gaze had turned him into it, the stone sword still clutched in his grasp.

Entering her cabin, Skye found Lady Alvarien seated in a chair, her hands folded in her lap as she waited for the captain of the Seawolf. The noblewoman opened her eyes as Skye strode in, and she looked both confused and slightly uncomfortable at the vampire's presence. "What are you doing here? Does your captain fear to meet with an unarmed woman alone?" Her words might be a bit more brazen, but from her tone and the tension in her body it was obvious that she was still uncomfortable around Skye.

[Ranger Princess]

Skye swung her overcoat over her shoulders. The crimson fabric billowed out behind her in an arc as she veered straight for her captain's quarters. The only reaction the exploding ship got out of the captain was a crooked smirk. It was quite a scene behind her with fire, smoke, and a cloud of wooden shards erupting from the explosion. Even though most of her crew turned to watch, Skye just smiled as she headed for her quarters. She had the look of a woman who'd seen it before a hundred times. The Daedalus, as impressive as it looked, was just chump change to Skye. Just another ship fallen at the hands of her insatiable bloodlust and quest for power. Her smirk was the sign of of her victory. Other than that, the captain had already moved on to bigger and better things. She was focused now on her new adventure to the hidden islands for hidden treasure. And the pretty little treasure waiting for her in her quarters where she was heading right now.

Pushing the double wooden doors of her quarters open with a thrust of her tanned arms, Skye walked right inside, leaving the sinking Deadalus behind. The redhead only slowed when she found Lady Alvarien seated in a chair. Skye smirked mischievously. Now that she'd won the battle, she intended to have fun with her prize. A juicy prize it was too, sitting there in an expensive dress with her wavy brown hair.

Skye could just taste the fear in Lady Alvarien's eyes as she set her other trinkets down on a desk at the side of the room. She could barely contain herself from laughing at the woman's response. Skye turned and arched an eyebrow at Lady Alvarien. "Any good captain sends someone to scout out their guests before showing themselves. Can never be too careful ya know? Of course as a novice at sea and a dainty little girl like yourself, I wouldn't expect you to know that..." The bandanna clad redhead grinned and walked straight to the lady. She pushed Alvarien's hands aside and sat down right on her. Skye invaded the lady's precious personal space, straddling her lap with her own leather-clad thighs, staring into Alvarien's eyes with her smoldering copper irises. Skye's face was just centimeter's from Alvarien's, close enough that the woman could feel the captain's warm breath as she spoke, the gleam of her golden nose ring flashing before her eyes almost hypnotically. "What's the matter my dear?" Skye's voice was like a low growl as she taunted her new guest. "Are you afraid?" The vampire whispered, opening her lips to show Alvarien her fangs, snake like tongue whipping across the tips of her ivory fangs. "Going to cry out for the big bad captain to save you from the scary vampire?"

[Tassadar]

Skye: HP = 74, PP = 38, EP = 64, Status = Fine


Alvarien watched with guarded eyes as Skye set down her assorted prizes from the fallen merchant vessel, but she scoffed in an affronted manner as Skye referred to her as dainty and inexperienced. "This isn't my first time out at sea." Of course, when Skye strode over and casually planted herself in the noblewoman's lap, Lady Alvarien's expression became carefully neutral once more, but as close as she was to the woman Skye couldn't help but notice the slight loss of color in the woman's face. And, with her superhuman senses, she could hear the woman's heartbeat speed up just slightly as her nerves rose.

Even with her evident discomfort and fear at Skye's proximity, however, Lady Alvarien still met Skye's copper eyes with her own deep blue-grey ones. She remained perfectly composed even after Skye whispered and gave a show of licking her fangs, at least outwardly, and her voice didn't tremble when she replied; "Am I afraid? Yes. Yes I am afraid. I would have to be stupid or insane to not be, after what I saw you do to those men on the deck. Doesn't mean I'm going to collapse into a helpless weeping sot like the witless sheep that make up the majority of noblewomen, and it won't turn me into a constantly cursing, rum swilling nitwit like it does to some others either. I'm not stupid enough to attempt to harm the one man on this vessel that I can reasonably expect to keep me away from you, especially when all it would gain me is being fed to you or thrown off of the ship after the crew had their fill of my body anyway. I'm no more a threat to him than I am to you, and you have Lady Felicia Alvarien's word on that."

She paused to glare at Skye after she'd said that, but out of the corner of her eye Skye noted that the woman's hands were clenched on the arms of the chair that she was sitting in, to the point that her knuckles were white. Her heartbeat had quickened further, though it couldn't yet be called racing. Though she had kept her face largely composed, even looking back at Skye with a defiant and angry glare, her body language was enough to tell the vampire in her lap how frightened she truly was of Skye. Of course, she still didn't know that Skye was the captain of the Seawolf, and that no help would be coming for her. She did seem to understand just how helpless she was, however, and rather than attempt to protect the pristine flesh of her neck should Skye decide she didn't like being spoken back to, Alvarien had effectively chosen to try to look like something other than food to the hungry predator before her.

[Ranger Princess]

As Skye sat atop her captive, straddling her thighs, she could sense the woman's heart thumping more quickly. The beast within her sundered soul relished the sound of the thump-thumping pulse. Even though she hid it well, Skye could just taste the fear emanating from the lady's form. Quickened heart beat, pale skin, white knuckles - it all meant that sweet blood was rushing through her veins. Delicious, decadent blood of a pampered noble. It didn't taste any different sure, but Skye loved to feed from soft, lofty people like that nonetheless. Their realization that they were totally under the vampire's power made it ever more entertaining.

Skye smirked at Lady Alvarien as she began her defiant, preppy show of confidence. The vampire's predatory eyes slowly moved down the woman's face and to her pale neck and shoulders. She brushed the lady's chestnut hair behind her shoulder slowly, totally exposing her captive's neck. Skye's fingers stayed laced within the hair as she held it behind the woman's back. Her eyes scanned across Lady Alvarien's shoulder blades, over her neck and to the other side, as if feasting on her with her eyes. It was like the vampire wasn't even listening to her! Lady Alvarien might have even wondered what Skye was thinking as her whip tongue snaked along her lips.

Finally Skye replied, though her gaze was still on the lady's neck. "A pity... quite a pity. I had thought that by letting you live, you might entertain me..." Suddenly Skye's fingers gripped Lady Alvarien's hair and tugged backward hard. Her other hand shot forward and gripped her captive by the jaw. Skye's smoldering copper eyes bored into Lady Alvarien's as she held her head tilted back, exposing her throat even more. This time, Skye's voice was venomous. "I do enjoy a helpless weeping sot you know?" The vampire leaned forward so their bodies were pressed together and her face was just inches from Lady Alvarien's. Her smirk was as crooked as ever but there was definitely a glint of malice in her eyes. "What do you think I am my dear Felicia? The loyal first mate? A brawling brute adept at bashing skulls but little else? Or maybe a mercenary on a contract for the captain? A humble ship's blacksmith perhaps? ....Or am I monster on a leash?" Skye spat out the last words angrily. "Bound by some primitive oath to the glorious captain?"

Skye leaned forward and dragged her whip tongue all the way up Felicia's cheek slowly and then stared right back at her, copper eyes burning with fiery hatred. The vampire whispered, low and malevolent. "Let me tell you something little girl. You aren't in your little Badarian estate anymore. You may think this is all some game, some fantasy world where you get your little treasures. Is that right? Hmm? In the real world, pirates are dangerous, people die, prey is eaten by the predator." Skye leaned even closer until their foreheads were touching and she could feel Felicia's heart racing against her chest. "Learn this and learn it well. No one. And I mean no one. Puts Skye Seawolf on a leash!"

Without warning Skye suddenly growled ferociously. Her fangs bared in their ivory white glory, and her copper eyes seemed to glow like the fires of an ancient forge. The vampire grabbed Felicia Alvarien and whirled out of the chair. She spun in the air with the poor woman in her arms, with the grace of a panther and the ferocity of a bear. Skye slammed Felicia onto her back on the wooden deck and pounced on top of her. Her hands held the woman's arms over her head, pinned to the floor. Her thigh pressed between the woman's legs, pushing right onto her core as her other leg curled under one of Felicia's legs, trapping her like prey beneath a predator. Skye hissed viciously, making a display of her fangs right in front of Felicia's face. "Answer me!"

[Tassadar]

Skye: HP = 74, PP = 38, EP = 64, Status = Fine


Skye felt Felicia Alvarien tense beneath her as the vampire's fingers brushed the hair away from her neck, exposing the soft pale flesh of her throat fully for Skye's predatory inspection. Her eyes, as sharp as those of a hawk, could see the veins of her neck throbbing in time with the beat of her increasingly frantic heart. The discomfort in Felicia's features continued to slip through her attempts at stoicism as Skye's inspection of her neck continued, the woman no doubt feeling like a piece of choice meat about to be devoured.

Felicia opened her mouth to speak just before Skye suddenly shot into motion, her poker face break completely into a look of terrified panic as the vampire yanked her head back by her hair and gripped her by the jaw. The woman's own arms came up to paw at Skye's chest and sides seemingly in an attempt to push her away, but she wasn't even particularly strong for a human, her attempts having no effect upon Skye. Despite the venom in Skye's voice as she spoke, however, a hint of the panic in the noblewoman's incredibly wide eyes gave way to thought, and in a position that would have seemed so intimate were it not for the terror present on Felicia's face Skye could practically see the woman connecting the dots in her head.

As Skye's long tongue slithered across the girl's pale cheek, she felt the woman shiver in horror and revulsion and attempt to push her away again, proving no more successful this time than the last. In pain, horror, and terror now, Felicia was utterly helpless beneath the seemingly enraged vampire. And she most definitely knew it, Skye could tell that much in any number of ways, from the frantic pace of her heart to the emotions evident in the depths of her blue-grey eyes. The intense closeness between them only seemed to make the noblewoman even more uncomfortable, and the addition of her chest pressing against Skye's, resulting in her hands being stuck between the two of them as they pressed against Skye's bare belly, caused her to try for another futile push. She'd begun to whimper weakly, and tears had formed at the corners of her eyes.

Skye's captive noblewoman let out a weak choking gasp as she was lifted from her seat by Skye's powerful arms, and it was followed by a loud cough as she was slammed onto the hard wooden floor. Gasping desperately to replace the air that had been knocked out of her lungs, Alvarien couldn't muster much in the way of resistance as Skye maneuvered her right into the position that the vampire captain wanted her in. Seemingly coming back to her senses as Skye hissed and demanded an answer from her, she stared at the sharp fangs evident before her eyes for a moment, her heart still racing and her eyes wide with near blind terror as tears streamed openly down her cheeks. Felicia's thighs clenched weakly around Skye's leg as it pressed up against the meeting place of her legs, the defensive act almost completely nullified by the fact that she was shaking with fear and one of her legs was wrapped in Skye's other limb.

Lying helpless beneath Skye, Lady Alvarien was the perfect picture of prey. A helpless, terrified, quivering mass of flesh utterly at the mercy of the predator that had claimed her. It took her a while to muster up the courage to answer Skye, but during that time she never once stopped squirming. Though her efforts were weak and completely hopeless, she didn't stop trying to struggle even as she finally replied in a loud but trembling shout; "Y.... You're the captain of this ship, aren't you!?"

[Ranger Princess]

Pinning Felicia to the ground, Skye's rage seemed to subdue at the noblewoman's revelation. Her fangs stayed extended, but she smirked so that one of the fangs stuck out the corner of her crooked grin. "What a clever little girl you are!" Skye stared into Felicia's eyes for a long moment before leaning close to slowly lick up the woman's salty tears, whip tongue slithering on Felicia's smeared cheek. Even Felicia's crying served Skye's whims. "Why yes I am... Aye. And you, my dear Felicia, are at my service. You have the rare and distinct honor to meet me and live to tell the tale! Impressed?"

Skye stared into Felicia's weeping eyes with her malevolent, victorious gaze. "It has been a long time since I had cooperating, delicious meal like yourself. I suggest you don't ruin my appetite." The vampire moved her head down to Felicia's neck and nipped at the side of her throat, just barely puncturing the woman's flesh enough to draw out a rivulet of blood. Skye wiped the blood onto the tip of her finger and then held it for Felicia to see. "Looks exquisite doesn't it? ...No?" The captain slowly wrapped her lips around her finger. As she sucked up the small drop of Felicia's blood, Skye groaned and her eyes rolled up under her lids. "Mmm... You certainly are a tasty one." She muffled out as she continued to suck on her finger until finally pulling it out from between her lips with a soft pop. "We have much to discuss Felicia, and you have much to tell me. All of it... with no holding back. But right now, I'm hungry, and you are my meal."

The redhead slowly grazed her fangs along Felicia's neck and offered her captive one last comfort. "Do not fret my little weeping sot. You will not come to harm in my care so long as you cooperate fully and totally. I want to feed from you again and again after all." Skye laughed to herself as she continued to tease her new guest's throat. "Welcome to my beautiful ship. You can start your cooperation by stopping this amusing squirming and give in to me." Skye purred before sinking her fangs into Felicia's neck. The vampire pirate captain didn't waste anytime to start sucking up that delicious human wine. Groaning in pleasure like someone tasting a decadent meal for the first time in a long time, Skye's hands slowly trailed down Felicia's arms, releasing them and sliding her hand beneath her captive's neck and scalp to support her. Once again, her eyes rolled under their lids as she set herself free in the wave of delicious sensations. Felicia Alvarien was her's.

[Tassadar]

Skye: HP = 74, PP = 38, EP = 64, Status = Fine


Felicia continued to squirm weakly beneath Skye as the pirate held her down against the floor, giving a particularly violent shudder and a squeak of revulsion as Skye's tongue came out and licked the tears from her cheek. A hint of anger at being so humiliated briefly touched upon her features following the vampire's brief explanation of her new position, pushing past the fear and despair that Skye had so far inspired within her. Letting out a choking gasp, she managed to incredulously retort; "Impressed?"

She bit off whatever she was going to say next, her face becoming an impassive scowl as her struggles ceased. She shivered lightly when Skye nipped at her neck, but that was her only reaction and she wore a scowl when the vampire presented the small drop of her blood before her eyes. Skye was momentarily unable to see as she put on the lewd display of sucking the blood from her finger, but found that Felicia's blood was unusually rich and sweet, and though the taste of blood did vary slightly from person to person Felicia's was the most unusual she'd had up until that point. The only blood she'd had up until that point that held a candle to it had been a high elf she'd tasted once and Lorelai, the latter of whom had been the best she'd ever had up until now.

When Skye looked down upon Felicia next, the woman had mixed disgust into her scowl, no doubt in response to the show that the pirate captain had just put on. Though she was still obviously afraid, afraid enough the tears still occasionally dripped from her eyes, the woman's pride had seemingly reasserted itself enough that she could maintain control of herself. When Skye said that she would say all that she knew without reservation, Felicia's expression hardened but she said nothing in response. The feel of Skye's fangs against her throat caused her to start squirming slightly, the beat of her heart rising steadily toward the level that it had reached before as panic welled within her, but she recognized now that there was nothing that she could do to resist the powerful vampire who had taken her.

Only when Skye's fangs sunk into Felicia's flesh did her countenance finally break, the brief pain of the vampire's fangs sinking in causing her to gasp and her heartbeat to rise. After the initial pain of the bite came euphoric pleasure, however, and not only for Skye's victim. Feeding like this, on a seemingly willing subject, was always more pleasant than satisfying her hunger in a more violent manner was, the sensation that it brought up within her almost as euphoric as she knew it to be on the other end. Felicia quite apparently hadn't been prepared for the pleasure she experienced after those ivory fangs pierced her neck, as she let out a soft gasp and shuddered lightly beneath Skye. Her thighs squeezing more tightly around Skye's knee while her hands, released from Skye's grip so that the vampire could better hold her quivering prey's neck steady, scratched desperately against the floor at her sides.

The rush of delicious carmine into Skye's mouth was sweet and delectable, swiftly sating the gnawing hunger that her damaged spirit had cursed her with in exchange for all of her supernatural abilities. What little strength that her feeding upon the fool who had dared to come between Skye and the prize currently lying helpless beneath her hadn't restored was granted in full by Felicia's delectable blood, the rush of her heart from arousal and terror causing her to deliver plenty of that which Skye savored so into her waiting mouth. As Skye continued to feed, Felicia began to emit a soft sound somewhere between a moan and a gasp, her eyes widened and heavily dilated from the arousal inspired by Skye's bite. Her hips began to squirm lightly, and rather than keeping Skye's knee away from her core the woman's legs now seemed to be trying to draw her closer to it.

[Ranger Princess]

Her fangs buried deeply in Felicia's neck, Skye kept sucking up the woman's blood slowly. Unlike her binge on the sailors a few hours earlier, the vampire drank more slowly this time, not only savoring the taste but also preserving the life within her captive. She didn't want to suck Felicia dry after all. Besides, this blood was to die for! One does not simply guzzle down such delicacy and spit it out. At least not unless one is unusually stupid. Skye knew to savour something like this when she found it. She was a civilized pirate after all not some barbaric brute. Sort of.

As she continued to feed, Skye's fingers clenched tightly in Felicia's hair. She groaned hungrily and sank deeper against Felicia's body, her thigh driving against the woman's core tightly, occasionally grinding up and down from Skye's movement. The euphoric taste drew Skye in more closely than even she intended. She curled her other arm under the curve of Felicia's back and pulled the woman up in her arm, holding her tightly so that Felicia's neck tilted backward against her first hand. Her lips sucked hungrily on the lady's neck, encouraging more and more blood to flow into her awaiting lips. The blood tasted so good, better even than Lorelai. So good that a moan of ecstasy escaped Skye's lips as the blood kept rushing onto her tongue. So good even that she wanted more, all of it. Luckily for Felicia, Skye knew better than to trust those instincts.

Just as she felt herself start to spiral away, gradually losing control to her beast within, Skye pulled back slowly, drawing her extended and bloodied fangs from Felicia's neck. The redhead set Felicia back down...sort of... lightly and pushed herself up onto all fours. Skye sucked up the last of the blood that remained in her mouth, a couple drops falling down from her lips and fangs to Felicia's nose. After Skye sucked up the last of the blood, she gasped and panted heavily. Her eyes looked wild like an animal, staring off into some other world until she finally looked down at the woman laying beneath her once again. Skye actually looked a little bit awed, as if she found a new treasure that she didn't know about before.

"Holy shit lass...what...are you?"

[Tassadar]

Skye: HP = 74, PP = 38, EP = 64, Status = Fine


As Skye continued to feed from Felicia's delicate throat, carmine red flowing freely into the vampire's hungry mouth and filling her with a deeper sense of satisfaction and power than she'd ever received from feeding, the noblewoman seemed to break completely. She offered no resistance to the vampire's hunger and the only sounds that she made were ecstatic cries of pleasure. Her hands ceased to scrape against the floor only to claw into Skye's back, tiny pinpricks of pain easily drowned out by the pleasure that the blood flowing into her system provided. Her hips began to shift back and forth as the piratess dug her knee into the noblewoman's groin, effectively grinding her petals through their clothes against Skye's leg.

When Skye withdrew her fangs, however, Felicia collapsed limply against the floor, her breath coming in great heaving gulps. For a long while she laid beneath Skye as the pirate captain cleaned up the last of her blood, the wounds on her neck already healing due to the magical nature of the bite. The question that Skye presented the noblewoman with initially went unanswered, but she could tell that it had stirred something within Felicia as she opened her eyes and stared up at Skye, seemingly formulating a response. Her pupils were heavily dilated at first, but as she recovered from the vampire's embrace she could sense as much as see the woman calming as her eyes returned to normal.

Or almost normal, at least, as those deep blue-grey orbs seemed to have brightened slightly since Skye had last seen them. "I....." she began in a weak quiet voice, her words slurred as if she were heavily drunk. "I am...." she continued a few seconds later, and her voice had gained back some of its strength. The second pause was longer, and just before she opened her mouth to speak Skye saw something else break loose within the trapped noblewoman's eyes. Suddenly, Felicia was shouting up at Skye in an angry and defiant voice, "I am Lady Felicia Alvarien, daughter of Elric, god of the sea!"

An invisible hand suddenly grabbed Skye around the waist and wrenched her upwards, slamming her into the ceiling of her cabin hard enough to dent and splinter the wood. She was flung diagonally into the corner of the cabin, smashing through everything in her path, and then lifted again and smashed into the opposite wall. Felicia had risen to her feet, and was stretching out her hand toward Skye in the shape of a fist. She moved her hand, and like a puppet on strings Skye moved as well, slamming into the first wall again. All of this was causing a great deal of damage to anything she had in her room, not to mention putting dents and cracks in the walls that would probably let rain in unless she got them fixed immediately, but though they were painful and jarring the rough treatment wasn't doing much to Skye herself. Or, at least not physically.

"I will not be bullied and terrified by a base creature like you!" Felicia roared furiously while clutching at her neck, power radiating from her body as she continued to manipulate Skye around like a ragdoll who, despite all of her strength, was helpless against whatever was being done to her. She seemed about to say something else, but just then, Skye saw Felicia's eyes suddenly drupe, and the pirate dropped to the floor purely under the effects of gravity as whatever magic had been made to work upon her was released. Felicia stumbled, her eyes closed, and then she fell sideways back onto the floor of Skye's cabin, apparently unconscious.

[Ranger Princess]

Bind Demon ritual: cost 50 Denarii Purple haired demon is named Tonja. Pink haired is named Sonja

Skye pushed herself up after crashing into a wall for what felt like the thousandth time. Her eyes were blazing with hatred. Her growl, inaudible, was apparent on her vicious scowl as she stalked over to the slumped...thing... on the ground. The pirate unsheathed her scimitar and held it over the unconscious Felicia's throat, glaring down at her for a long moment. This was certainly not how one repaid the captain's hospitality if one wanted to live, she thought to herself. Skye probably would have killed her right then. She wanted to kill her, and she would have until she remembered the journey she was on. She cursed Felicia, her quest, and her stupid secrets as she withdrew her scimitar and put it back in her sheath.

Grumbling to herself, Skye strode over to her bookshelf and slid free an old black book with strange markings on it. The bandanna clad redhead flipped through the pages until she found what she wanted. A ritual to summon hellish sorceresses. This situation called for supernatural intervention, Skye was sure, and the pirate was more into the demonic side of things. Demons were more fun. Besides, they were more likely to identify with her ways. Who knows, maybe they'd get a kick out of playing with this demigod. More importantly, Skye hoped they could spare her from having to look at this wretched woman ever again and without endangering her crew.

The ritual was complex, but demonology being one of her main hobbies, Skye had everything she needed. Votive candles, parchment, blood, five onyx stones, and a hint of ancient ashes that the captain kept within her skull pendant she wore around her neck for just these purposes. Skye sat at her desk, setting the parchment in the middle of the table. She arranged the onyx stones in five points around the parchment like a pentagram and placed the votive candles around the stones in the same fashion. Skye then punctured her wrist with her fang and let her blood drip into an ink goblet until there was enough to use to write with. As she pulled her fang out of her wrist, the wound resealed itself. Skye began writing on the parchment with her own blood, scribbling the ancient language of the ritual in vivid crimson letters on her yellowed parchment.

When Skye finished the last word and dotted the sentence with a period, the parchment suddenly set aflame with a supernatural purple flame. Skye got up from her desk and stepped back slowly. She sprinkled some of the ashes from within her pendant onto her palm and hurled the stuff into the flame, causing the purple flames to jump and rage wildly as Skye watched with interest. The flame didn't harm the wood on the desk or her ship, but it grew larger, consuming all of the parchment and growing to cover the whole desk in the shape of an upside down diamond. When the diamond flame grew to its full height, a purple haired demon sorceress with an eyepatch stepped out of it and hopped down from the desk. Right behind her was another sorceress, identical in appearance except that her hair was a more vibrant shade of pink, also hopping down to join her twin sister before Skye. The two stood together, a hand on their hips as the three supernatural beings stared at one another.

The twins, Tonja and Sonja, looked like this.
http://ulmf.org/bbs/picture.php?albumid=670&pictureid=9779

[Tassadar]

Skye: HP = 74, PP = 38, EP = 64, Status = Fine


Rolls

Resistance (Tonja) : Enemy wins.
Resistance (Sonja) : Skye wins.


Felicia lay inert upon the floor at her feet as Skye stood over her, blade in hand. It would have been a trivially easy thing to do, to plunge her blade into the woman’s flesh and take her life, but Skye chose not to do so and instead retrieved a grimoire from her book shelf. Such things occasionally fell into her hands when they raided a vessel, particularly if that vessel contained another practitioner. Such people were always exceedingly dangerous, particularly at sea when such magics could easily damage a ship enough to sink it if one wasn’t careful, but those few magi who were willing to brave the seas were rarely attached to the crews they sailed with and thus often willing to make a deal for themselves when Skye and her crew attacked.

The materials needed for the ritual were always on hand, and soon enough the violet flame burned upon her desk as Skye stood back and watched her handiwork take shape. Two demons stepped forth from the temporary portal she’d created, which then sealed behind them and left her desk unharmed but the materials she’d used consumed utterly. The mental battle for control that always came after such a summoning began immediately, Skye forced to test her will against that of her summons as a part of the ritual itself. Truthfully, it wasn’t necessary. She was not wrong in thinking that demons were more likely to identify with her methods, and so long as she kept them happy and fed no demon had ever complained about Skye’s summonings. Besides, it wasn’t like they could easily go elsewhere. They were out at sea on a vessel controlled by their summoner, any misbehavior on their part was liable to end in a nothing more than trip to the afterlife for them.

And thus the dual battle of wills commenced, Skye battling the two sisters for dominance in a brief invisible struggle as she stared at them and the two eye-patch wearing demons stared right back. Few wounds could permanently claim the eye of a demon, so the patches were most likely purely cosmetic, but that didn’t stop the two sisters from smiling and squinting their sole visible eyes at Skye in a manner that resembled the looks often worn by members of her own profession readying themselves for battle as performed by amateur stage actors. Perhaps because she had to fight two battles at once, Skye felt the brighter haired sister’s will slip from her grasp before she could take hold, but the darker haired girl remained purely under the half vampire’s control.

Her lips upturning in a cocky smile, the one whom Skye had been unable to control via the summoning contract rolled her eyes at the pirate captain and said in a mockingly reverent and sarcastic tone of voice, “What are your desires, oh great and powerful master?” The girl tittered to herself for a moment, but went silent as her sister threw her a reproachful glare and said; “Now now Tonja, you must be properly respectful! It’s not often we get a trip to the mortal plane, and you don’t want to go ruining it by angering our mistress now do you?” Tonja rolled her eyes and replied, “Always the obedient servant Sonja! Honestly, how you ever manage to have any fun when you’re always so busy brown-nosing is beyond my ability to comprehend!” Sonja haughtily ignored her sister as she instead looked to Skye and said, “What are your orders, master?”

[Ranger Princess]

Skye gritted her teeth for the briefest of moments as she felt the purple haired demon, Tonja, break free from the invisible tendrils of control Skye was attempting to lasso her with in their supernatural mental battle of wills. Fortunately for Skye but perhaps not for Sonja, the pink haired sorceress was not so lucky, entwined in an intricate knot of Skye's controlling tendrils so to speak. Confidence bolstered by her at least partial success, Skye walked right up to the two until she was just inches away. She smirked at the pair of twins, lingering her coppery gaze on Tonja. "You're a sassy little one aren't ya? That's fine. You may be as saucy as you like... so long as you do what I say in the end, we'll get along juuuust fine" the pirate declared with finality to lay the ground rules for their cooperation.

"But where are my manners? I suppose introductions are in order!" Skye announced, moving between the two sorceresses as she spoke. The vampire wrapped an arm around the shoulders of each one, pulling them closer as she spoke. "I am Skye, captain of my glorious ship The Seawolf for which you two are now members of its notorious crew. Judging by your admittedly stylish attire, I'd say you'll fit right in!"

The captain gave Sonja a grin and Tonja a decidedly more crooked grin. "Like every member of my crew, you will have an important duty..." Skye's copper eyes darkened as she looked toward the slumped Felicia on the floor of her cabin, voice trailing off. "Your duty will be perhaps the most important. See that little strumpet there? The bitch claims to be the daughter of a god of the sea... ridiculous I know, but I have learned first hand that it's true.... or it may as well be true if it isn't. You're chief responsibility above all else is to protect me from her by any means necessary short of killing her." The captain grinned darkly enough to show her fangs to her new demonic bodyguards. "Don't harm her too badly now though unless my life is in danger."

Images of being hurtled about in her cabin still swirling in her mind, Skye's grin waved and curled into a frown. "She might not look like much, but you best not underestimate her. The lass packs a vicious punch." The vampire paused for a long moment with a scowl until she managed to shake the memories from her mind, arching an eyebrow at the twin sorceresses. "Feel free to do whatever the hell you want with her really. So long as she is on this boat, alive, and providing the information I want, I care not."

Suddenly the vampire's expression turned thoughtful as if a light went on in her shadowy mind. "Ah yes, that reminds me." She said as she let go of the twins and walked over to a table on the other side of the room, picking up the unfortunate former captain's journal and flipping to the last three entries as she walked back to the demons. "See these here journal entries? We have... co-opted... this man's quest to find these mysterious islands, promising to be filled with great treasure and power! If you could persuade her to be less tight lipped about why she is so interested in these jewels as well as the origin of our map, that would be a great boon to our mission."

Skye moved closer to Sonja, wrapping her arm around the pink haired demon's waist with her signature smirk. She gazed into her eyes and winked.

"And great boons provided by loyal friends please me immensely~"

[Tassadar]

Skye: HP = 74, PP = 38, EP = 64, Status = Fine


Tonja seemed to take Skye's words as compliment judging by the cocky grin that came over her, and she rolled her eyes and replied, "Guilty as charged! Understood~" She paused and quirked an eyebrow at Skye, and her sibling smiled meekly and awaited Skye's word as well as the captain proclaimed that introductions were in order. Despite her supernatural nature, something that the two demons could no doubt sense in some manner, neither of the strange girls seemed anything but delighted when Skye placed an arm around each of their shoulders, and upon being introduced to their new leader the two replied with their own names in turn, the more rebellious sister first, "Tonja's the name, and trouble's my game!" Followed by the more agreeable one, "I am called Sonja, my lady."

They both glanced as one toward Felicia as Skye glanced toward the fallen demigod, following the half-vampire's gaze and regarding her with appraising looks. Tonja grinned broadly while Sonja looked speculative, but they turned back toward Skye and waited for her to finish outlining their responsibilities while on board the SeaWolf, and after Skye released them to retrieve the captain's journal Sonja said, "It would be my pleasure, my captain!" Tonja quickly added, "This'll be fun!"

They each glanced at the diary in Skye's hands for a moment before shrugging, and Sonja wore an apologetic look while her sister explained, "We don't know anything about the islands ourselves, obviously. Still, we can try to get it out of her! That sounds like good times! Do you want us to make her scream for mercy, or...." a sly grin crossed Tonja's face as she completed her question, "Scream for us to do more?" The purple haired twin frowned slightly as Skye embraced her sister closely and gave the other demoness a wink, jealousy stamped blatantly on her features for a moment. "It would be my greatest pleasure, my captain!"

She pointedly didn't specify what her greatest pleasure was, and Tonja frowned and moved over to the unconscious woman and examined her for a moment before proclaiming, "Well, I don't know about half god, but she's definitely half daemon. She's got none of our blood in her, and no faerie blood either. Doesn't look to have any dragon in her lineage either, so some sort of daemon is probably the most likely candidate. She's certainly no human!" She glanced back at Skye, "Do you want us to wake her up and start interrogating her now? She's powerful, but not too powerful for us to control. You don't have to be present for that if you've got more important things to do... Captain." Skye's title was added somewhat hastily at the end of Tonja's sentence, but it still held enough respect to indicate that the demon wouldn't betray her orders.

[Ranger Princess]

Arm still wrapped about Sonja's waist, Skye pulled the sorceress against her hip tightly. The redheaded vampire quirked her eyebrow and gave the woman a crooked grin. “You bet your pretty little ass it would be!” Skye said with a playful growl before releasing Sonja from the embrace. The half-vampire turned, walking toward a wardrobe on the side of the room, offering Tonja the same crooked grin. “And your's too lass.”

“That is, if I don't have to pound it into line first.” The redhead snickered as she untied her tattered tunic and tossed it onto the ground, standing in front of her wardrobe. After considering a new outfit for a moment, Skye bent down to remove her combat boots. Her toned back and arm muscles rippled, powerful but still sexy as she went on to remove her leather pants until the captain was clad in just her black bra and panties, along with her customary bandanna, golden nose ring, and skull pendant of course.

Not seeming to care in the least that she was in plain sight of the demons, Skye turned to Tonja. “Impressive analysis, but she may as well be half-sludge as far as I'm concerned. She is no longer a guest on this ship. As such, you shouldn't make her feel welcome. How you go about doing that... is up to you.” Skye smirked with a hint of malice in her fiery copper eyes. “I trust you'll have some fun, hm?”

Turning back to her wardrobe, Skye found a pair of rocker black cargo pants. She stepped into them and hiked them over her hips snugly before tying a studded leather belt about her waist. A couple thin chains hung loosely from D-rings about her thighs, various zippers hiding pockets that she didn't intend to use beneath her knees and down her calves. Bending down, Skye pulled her combat boots over the ends of her pants, fastening the buckles tightly over them. She completed her new outfit by hanging her scimitar and badarian revolver on either hip before pulling on a black t-shirt. It fit snugly over her b-sized breasts, ending just at the top of her studded leather belt. The t-shirt declared “Fuck the Rules!” to the world in big red block letters, and that's just what Skye intended to do.

“I thought you might appreciate the zippers.” Skye remarked off-hand as she turned toward the exit, only stopping just before the large wooden double doors. “Just remember to clean up your mess. I have to sleep in here.” With one last scowl and a nod to the demon sorceresses, Skye pushed the doors open so hard that they rebounded back and slammed shut just after she strode out of the cabin, leaving Felicia to her fate. She had uncharacteristically restrained herself for the sake of the mission for long enough. It was time to to get out some pent up frustration.

A crazed, malevolent glint in her copper eyes, Skye headed straight for the prow of the ship. Her heart thudded in her chest from adrenaline, breath coming in angry heaves. She would stop for no one. If anyone was in her way, they would get out of it if they knew what was good for them. Breezing past anyone along the way without so much as a glance, the vampire leaped up the stairs leading to the prow. She strode up to the prow, hopping onto the very tip of the boat with the agility of a cat and stared fiercely into the oncoming wind. Holding on with one hand, Skye unleashed a furious, blood curdling roar to the heavens. Mouth open wide from the roar, fangs extended, and eyes totally crazed with rage, no one on the SeaWolf would have missed the piercing screech, even within the depths of the ship as it echoed outward over the sea.

Skye stayed on the prow for a moment longer, panting from the horrible scream and relishing the feel of the air rushing over her, red-orange hair fluttering with the wind until slowly, she looked over her shoulder with an ominous glare. The redhead hopped down from the prow and glanced around like the predator she was. “Anyone who wants to challenge me, STEP FORWARD!” the captain shouted almost as viciously as her feral roar just a moment earlier. She was practically daring someone to challenge her, but if no one did, she would growl softly, “No?” and then slowly stalk over to her first mate. “Davek, find me something to kill.”

[Tassadar]

Skye: HP = 74, PP = 38, EP = 64, Status = Fine


Sonja smirked broadly at Skye's remark as she broke away to change, but Tonja, not even missing a beat, offhandedly remarked, "Oh I'd never bet my ass against you captain. I'd be too tempted to lose on purpose!" The casual assertion that she'd pound the darker haired sorceress into line if need be was met by a giggle and a fairly teasing response, "Stop trying to excite me captain~ I might be tempted to earn a "pounding" just to see what you can come up with!" And, last but probably not least, as Skye bent over in her panties the purple haired demoness wolf-whistled at the pirate's back, her lewd grin unmistakable and unhidden. Sonja merely frowned at her sister's back, but at her command to treat Felicia as anything but a guest it was the pink haired girl's turn to smirk, "We'll see it done properly, my captain!" Tonja nodded in agreement and added, "No foolies! She won't be troubling you anymore."

Both of the sorceress sisters watched without even a hint of shame as Skye dressed herself once again, taking in the details of the muscular woman's physique hungrily as only a demoness could. When she turned and gave them a complete view of her new outfit, they both responded as once; "We do!" They watched her depart without moving from their positions, and at her pause at the door to deliver her final instructions regarding Felicia they both responded, but separately this time. "We'll leave it just like it was when we found it Captain~" Sonja said somewhat solemnly, "You won't find her the way you left her though, not after we're done with her~" Tonja continued with a malicious giggle.

When she left her cabin and strode angrily across the deck, her crew very quickly made sure that they were out of her way. Many of them had sailed with her before, and those that hadn't had been present for the month in which she'd been without anyone to feed off of, so they all knew when she was in a foul temper. As such, Skye was largely left alone as she strode across the deck and leaped up to the forward upper deck of the SeaWolf before finally climbing onto the prow. Her crew had pretended to ignore her up until that point, even Korelin who had looked as if she'd had something to say to her, but her loud, powerful, heart stopping roar banished that facade completely.

When she spun about and leaped onto the deck a moment later, Skye found some of her crew staring at her in awe, some in fear, and the rest simply dumbstruck save for her officers, who both managed to keep a level expression even in the face of her truly frightening rage. Unsurprisingly, not a soul stepped forward at the chance to challenge her for captaincy, and once she had turned to Davek and issued her order to find another vessel to prey upon she heard them go back to their assorted tasks. "Yes captain!" Davek replied evenly as he turned the wheel of the SeaWolf, turning the ship back towards a shipping lane so that they could hunt down some more prey.

Unfortunately for Skye's boiling anger, it was another four hours before they spotted another vessel. By then, night had begun to set, though the sun still hung low in the sky off to the West, a brilliant bright orange that turned the black clouds over them into a deep bloody red. It had started to rain, the storm that had been over their heads for some time finally breaking, though the clouds didn't stretch far enough to block out the setting sun. The winds had risen, and the tossing of the waves had the SeaWolf bucking wildly. Davek kept the vessel under firm control, however, and by now the merchant galleon they'd spotted was close enough that they could see her with the naked eye. The sea was ocher from the reflected sunlight, its glassy surface occasionally lighting up as lightning flashed overhead and was followed shortly thereafter by a rumble of thunder. Skye could see the sharks gliding beneath the waves in those moments when lightning split the air above them, their eternal hunger visible even from above the waves as the promise of the seas becoming as red as the clouds above the two vessels drove them to flit around both vessels.

The merchant vessel, somewhat bigger but not nearly as well armed as the last one they'd targeted, had seen them but wasn't visibly reacting. They were flying the colors of a Badarian noble house that Skye didn't recognize immediately, but she heard Davek mutter the words, "House Gerestral..." under his breath as he caught sight of the flag at the top of their mast. Even from here and in the somewhat dim lighting Skye could see the men scurrying about on her deck, at least twice as many as she had on hers. They hadn't wheeled out their guns yet, but that didn't mean that they weren't going to if the SeaWolf got any closer. Esmeraldis was printed in shining golden letters on the side of the ship.

At this point, Skye had a number of options. She could try to slip in further to board the vessel without opening fire first, or load the cannons with grapeshot to thin their crew or chainshot to cripple their sails, or even standard balls to aim to sink the thing. Of course, with the storm brewing over them, it might be prudent to call off the attack without breaking her cover, as they likely just thought that the SeaWolf was another merchant vessel or perhaps a pirate hunter, judging by the way they weren't yet preparing for battle. As with her guns, she could have her crew prepare to unleash a volley of rifle fire over the side of the ship to weaken their lines before boarding, or perhaps try to pass off their approach as looking for news or somesuch rather than an attacking pirate vessel. "Your orders captain?" Davek grunted quietly as he steered the SeaWolf towards the other ship.

[Ranger Princess]

As soon as Davek went about setting the new course, Skye began wandering the deck of her ship impatiently. She paced back and forth, stood at the bow and starboard railings, dragging her finger along the wood of her ship, a ship that she helped build with her own hands. It was one of the few remaining shreds of her former humanity. She even relieved Davek of his spyglass, hopping back up onto the prow and looking off into the horizon with it.

It wasn't until much later when the Sun had begun to sink toward the awaiting horizon, wind and rain kicking up, when Skye finally spotted the ship. Seemingly unphased by the storm around her, Skye was standing on the prow once again. Seeing something shimmer in the distance, she pulled the spyglass to her eye and focused it ahead. "A-ha! There!" Skye called back to Davek, pointing as she hopped from the prow. Davek likely already saw the ship. He had a way of these things, but Skye informed him of the news anyway, handing him his spyglass back.

Seeing the shining golden letters and flying colorful flag, the Captain of the SeaWolf twisted her lips in thought. She turned to Davek with a smirk. "I bet they're holding some interesting cargo! Do you know them, the House Gerestral?" The redhead considered all the possibilities as the ship bucked and swayed in the storm. With a ship carrying such interesting possibilities, there was no sense in sinking it. Nobles were a bunch of dandies, but if anything could inspire them, it would be to protect their gold. Despite that, Skye was sure that her experienced and dastardly crew could take them, both in a sea battle and a deck skirmish. On the other hand, this was one vicious storm, and they already had one victory under their belts this night. The captain knew that some of her men might be superstitious about such things. They were pirates after all.

Skye turned to Davek, rain dripping from her red-orange hair, a hand at her hip. "I have an idea that I think may just work, but I want your honest assessment of the situation. I might perhaps be a wee bit overzealous..." The captain leaned close and told him of her plan to disguise herself as an ordinary peasant, using a tattered brown hooded cloak. She'd hail the ship while the crew lies in hiding, informing them that her poor captain and crew is dreadfully ill with scurvy or some such, and do they possibly have a doctor or medicine that could cure her woeful crew? Once they'd boarded, a signal from Skye or Davek would trigger the ambush.

"Well, whatdya think my friend? Use the ambush plan, fight them head on, or turn around and wait for a better day?"

[Tassadar]

Skye: HP = 74, PP = 38, EP = 64, Status = Fine


"By reputation only captain," Davek replied when Skye questioned him on House Gerestral, though something in the man's tone suggested that he wasn't being completely honest with her. "They produce mostly military goods, 'tis how they made their fortune, so I'd be surprised if they didn't have some fine toys onboard. Problem is, they might have 'em ready to use on us if we come up looking for a fight!"

Korelyn came up to stand beside them as well while Skye explained her plan to disguise herself as a beggar and approach under no flag. "We'd have to get everyone we didn't need belowdecks right now, before they get a good look at how many we have on deck. The three of us and one other can crew the ship well enough in the short time it'll take us to get close to them, and that way we don't have to worry about any cannonfire tearing a hole in our ship!" the navigator said once Skye had finished telling of her plan.

Davek considered for a moment and said, "It's a good plan captain, I'd much rather we find out what they've got in that ship when we're stealing it than when they're wheeling it out to shoot it at us!" He pulled his own somewhat ratty cloak off of his shoulders and offered it to Skye, "Go with Mindrot, they'll believe that taking down a whole crew over scurvy. Causes a nasty fever and pustules on the face, spreads wicked fast in a cramped deck too. We'll be ready to advance on your orders captain!"

[Ranger Princess]

Wrapping Davek's ratty old cloak around herself and pulling the hood over her head, Skye smirked at her two officers. "Yes that's the idea," Skye said patting one of the masts of her ship before clapping her hands. "Let's get to it then, get everyone below decks and prepared for the ambush!"

Once they were ready, Skye walked toward the railing of the SeaWolf. She looked out through the rainy night sky toward the ship as they drew slowly closer, rocking against the sea. The vampire stared down at the railing for a moment, a malevolent smirk on her face, rain drops dripping down her hood. With one arm, Skye made sure the ratty cloak was wrapped around herself tightly, hugging it to her body as if she was cold.

When she finally looked up toward the approaching ship again, Skye's smirk was gone replaced by a beseeching expression. The disguised captain waved her free hand wildly toward anyone she could see on the approaching Gerestral ship.

"Oh thank the gods! Hail! Hail good strangers! Please we need help! Our captain is sick! Please help us! Oh gods I don't want to die out here alone! Please!"

[Tassadar]

Skye: HP = 74, PP = 38, EP = 64, Status = Fine


"Aye cap'n," said Davek. "Aye captain!" Korelyn said simultaneously, and then two of them went through the process of ordering the other sailors below-decks. The surface of the Seawolf was soon bare save for Skye herself, the fearsome woman covered in a concealing brown cloak.

The pirate vessel drew up alongside the other ship slowly, allowing Skye a few moments to observe the other vessel's crew. Unlike the last bunch she'd attacked, they all wore the same uniforms and seemed to have the same equipment. Each of them had a saber hanging from a black leather belt that held up their crisp blue trousers, and thick blue overcoats each with some sort of insignia on the shoulders signifying each man's rank. On the bridge of the ship was a man clad in a full suit of blue steel armor, a rare sight at sea, and he was the one who answered Skye, in a firm, commanding tone; "Under what flag do you sail? Imperial, Privateer, or Local?"

He ignored both the desperation in Skye's tone and anything she might say until she had answered those questions, and when she did the speaker brazenly demanded; "What ails you?"

[Ranger Princess]

Skye was not impressed by these uniformed men. In fact, she frowned upon it. It just meant they were mindless fools unable to think for themselves or to stand up for their own freedom and liberty. She didn't let them see her disdain though, and the hood further helped to hide any sort of expression she may have had. The captain kept up her act of an earnest sailor, thinking quickly through the implications of the man's question.

"Oh thank you thank you! Gods praise thee good sir! We fly under the flag of the privateer. Please gods help us. Our poor captain and the whole crew, they've been overrun with the foul mindrot! They lay below decks at this very moment praying for recovery because that's all we can do out here. Please! We need a doctor, medicine, a blessing of the gods, Elric perhaps? Anything good sir! We're at your mercy! I'm sure the captain would be ever so grateful..."

[Tassadar]

Skye: HP = 74, PP = 38, EP = 64, Status = Fine


There was a pause, a look of noticeable contempt on the armored commander's face, before he said; "We will send over our physician to give what aid we can, escorted by four of my sailors. They are not to be touched, as we will not risk the contagion spreading to our vessel!" The man climbed down from the bridge, which Skye noted was guarded by a pair of guards also clad in metal armor at each of the two stairways leading up, before heading bellowdecks. He emerged once again a few minutes later alongside a thin figure clad head to toe in thick clothing, complete with a plague mask with a long beak. The doctor carried a bag under one arm, and was followed by a quartet of men in standard uniforms wearing wraps around their faces.

At any point, Skye could signal for the ambush to begin, but if she waited the doctor would clamber across a gang plank that was quickly lowered between the two vessels, followed by his four guards. "Where is your captain miss? I'd like to treat the officers first before seeing to the enlisted men," the doctor said in a muffled voice as they approached Skye, their sex indeterminate even to the half vampire's sharpened senses. From there, Skye was free to reply however she wished.

[Ranger Princess]

Skye raised her hands to placate the opposing captain. "Why we wouldn't dream of such a thing good sir! I assure you that you're doctor will be safe and sound in my care." That was the only thing Captain Skye was willing to assure this disgusting filth wrapped in sugar coating. The SeaWolf could use a doctor after all!

The masquerading vampire almost laughed when she saw the doctor's get up as well as the masks worn by the sailor escort. She did manage to keep a calm, welcoming expression on her face however. Skye prided herself on being quite the actor when she needed to be. It was something of a hobby really. As the masked escort came upon her, Skye clasped her hands over her hips and smiled. "Thank you for coming so quickly! Please come. We haven't much time. The captain will be so relieved to see you I'm sure."

Hunched over in her cloak a bit, Skye led the group toward one of the entrances to the lower decks before stopping and turning toward the doctor with an apologetic look on her face, really very much too apologetic. "This won't be a sight for the faint hearted my dears. I'm afraid that most of us will be beyond your care, as skilled as you may be. Our depravity is just that great you see."

Smirk curling at her lip and a gleam in her fiery copper eyes, Skye suddenly grabbed the doctor, pulling him or her back against her fiercely, securing them with her arm, and thrusting the point of her badarian revolver against the doctor's head. "One false move and the doctor dies noble filth!" If her men hadn't yet started charging out of the decks, Skye would roll her eyes. "Don't just stand there and enjoy the show! ATTACK!"

Chaos reigning on the SeaWolf now, Skye shifted her eyes toward the doctor in her grasp looking prepared to enter into a nuclear wasteland. The captain couldn't help but smirk. They were either super prepared or afraid with such an outfit, maybe even a little of both. Of course, Skye didn't really know what the mindrot was, just taking Davek's word for it that the plan would work better that way. Maybe even she would be afraid enough to wear a mask like that. Somehow she doubted it, but one never knows. Skye couldn't help but feel curious who exactly she was holding hostage and by extension offering clemency. "Let's see what we have here, hmmm?" She whispered as the arm wrapped around the doctor's shoulders and neck slipped fingers up under the mask, quickly pulling it off, revolver still pressed on their head the whole time.

[Tassadar]

Skye: HP = 74, PP = 38, EP = 64, Status = Fine, Grappling


Rolls

Attack: Hit. Yon doctor is grappled.

Twenty pirates against four guys isn't really worth rolling in my eyes, so I won't bother doing so.


"I'm sure I've encountered worse," the muffled voice of the suit-clad medicine person replied at Skye's false warning, their lack of suspicion readily evident even if the armor clad man was still glaring at her from across the gap between their two ships. "Just open the door so that-" the doctor began, but was then cut off as Skye suddenly grabbed him, pulling them against herself and pressing a gun to their head. They went still suddenly, and the captain of the other vessel immediately shouted; "Traitorous curs! I knew it! Ready the guns!"

Skye's men storming up from below-decks and making short work of the four men sent to guard the person now held in Skye's arms. "Wh...What are you doing?" the muffled voice asked as Skye moved to pry off their beaked mask, and when the protective garment came away it took the hood with it, the two pieces attached. When it came away, Skye found herself holding a person with auburn hair, and a pair of fox-like fuzzy ears sprouting from the top of their head in the same color. They had fairly soft, angular features that edged towards feminine but were still near enough to androgynous that Skye couldn't tell for certain whether they were male or female. Not until they spoke, their frightened squeaking far too feminine to be coming from a man, did Skye realize that it was a woman that she was holding; "No! Don't show them... Are you trying to get me killed?"

Her men, having mopped up the four men on their deck in short order, started toward the gang plank, but were forced to dice for cover as a volley of rifle fire came from their opponents. Bullets splintered over the deck of the Sea Wolf, some even coming within a few feet of where Skye stood with the doctor, and several of her men went down under the hail of gunfire. Davek came bounding up the steps, pausing momentarily as he spotted Skye and turning to her while moving so as to not block the way up as more of Skye's crew came pouring out onto the deck only to take cover as another sweep of rifle fire came sweeping across. "Captain! We've got to thin their numbers or we'll get shot to pieces!" he said, and then turned his gaze to the strange woman that Skye was holding, "What are we going to do with her?"

Skye's men, in the meantime, were starting to shoot back at their foes haphazardly, but they were using handguns and handcannons, weapons ill suited to accuracy compared to the rifles of the men that were crouched beside their own railing while others scurried about behind them, readying their cannons. The man in armor was still standing on the deck, his gaze fixed on Skye even as bullets occasionally sailed his way. One even pinged off of his armor, bouncing off of the steel plate harmlessly, something that shouldn't have happened given that the rounds had been made to pierce heavy armor. The armored guards also stood by the stairs despite the carnage and the rounds that occasionally smacked into the wood around them, likely the man's personal guards. Lightning flashed overhead, and thunder cracked the sky as it began to rain harder, the sea beneath them beginning to roil and tumble more furiously than it had during their approach.

[Ranger Princess]

Skye's eyes widened when she saw the furry fox ears atop her captive's head. The mystery doctor turned out to be more interesting looking than she imagined! "You're my doctor now Foxxy. Don't worry about your little ears or that silly oaf of a man in the blue armor. He is going to die. No one will harm you so long as you're completely loyal to me. Now don't try anything stupid."

With a quick twirl, the half-vampire pulled the doctor behind her, shielding the foxgirl from the battle with her superhuman body. Skye's hand was still fixed to the doctor's wrist to keep her from running away. Eyes darting around her, the Captain called out to one of her crew. "Jenkins! Come here! Take the doctor here to Bertrand below decks. Tell him to watch her, but she isn't to be harmed then return to the battle."

Foxgirl secured and handed off to Jenkins, Skye's gaze turned back to the burgeoning battle about her. Even though they'd taken the Gerestral ship by surprise, the Captain could tell that her men were at the disadvantage. They were pirates, mercenaries, and brawlers. Strong, frightful, and cunning, but ill-prepared for a fire fight with trained, outfitted soldiers. Unfortunately for the Gerestral ship, pirates do not play fair. Skye had an idea that she thought could tip the odds in her favor.

"Aye Davek, but we're just getting started!" Skye replied to her first mate, signature crooked smirk curling at her lips. "I'm going to give them a taste of the swarm. Order a volley of grape shot to thin the enemy ranks once I'm upon them then charge in while they're distracted. See if you and the stronger men can push some of those blue armored bloaks into the sea." Skye grinned wickedly, copper eyes beginning to gleam. "They'll sink like a stone!"

Skye's stare burned right back into the eye sockets of the opposing captain. Shedding Davek's ratty cloak, the bandanna-clad redhead pointed right at the armored man, slowly dragging her finger right across her tan-skinned neck - from ear to ear. As she taunted him, Skye's eyes suddenly went totally black like a pair of onyx stones.

Smirking like a crazed woman, Skye's newly onyx eyes continued to stare at the man blankly. She thrust her hand toward the stormy sky, a single vampire bat appearing there in a puff of black smoke. It fluttered there for a moment, flapping its wings wildly and sent an ear piercing shriek into the night. The shriek sparked a cloud of rippling black smoke that engulfed Skye's whole body until she disappeared into the rain and darkness.

The black cloud grew amorphous as it shot up into the pelting rain, filled with a horrible buzzing sound and hundreds of flapping, leathery wings. As the cloud hurtled upwards, it spread out until it dwarfed the entirety of the Sea Wolf. Spread out across the sky, it became obvious that the cloud was composed of thousands of bees, giant wasps, hornets as well as hundreds of shrieking bats. The swarm hovered for a short moment as if taunting the opposing captain when it short forward toward the Gerestral ship, descending right at the captain and the rest of his soldiers!

It filled the enemy ship with a cacophony of shrieks and buzzings, terrorizing the pampered noble enemy with the size and number of scary creatures. Stinging and scratching, the wasps, hornets, and bats swarmed about as many enemies, including the captain of the ship, as it could, potentially engulfing everyone on the deck that carried a weapon. They went mainly for the heads, necks, and shoulders, of the enemies, only sparing those that were unarmed and seemed non-threatening. Tonight, House Gerestral would experience a new kind of rain, terrible and demonic, filled with a legion of bats and bees.

[Tassadar]

Skye: HP = 74, PP = 38, EP = 59/64, Status = Fine


Rolls

Skye assumes form of the swarm and then provides her distraction. Grapeshot sweeps the enemy deck, killing or wounding a full third of the enemy. Her troops come storming over during the confusion.

Resistance: Enemy wins, Skye is reverted back to her normal form.


The fox girl's ears gave a quick twitch when Skye referred to her as "Foxxy," but she paled and stiffened at the half vampire's casual proclamation that the man in the blue armor was going to die. It was in that state that she was handed off to one of Skye's crewmen, Jenkins, who responded with a crisp "Aye captain!" before grabbing the terrified woman by the arms and manhandling her down the stairs and out of the line of fire. Luckily, Skye didn't end up having to take any bullets for the comparatively fragile physician, and thus turned to Davek with her crooked grin without a blemish on her despite the chaotic exchange of gunfire that her crew and the men across the plank continued in the background. Davek, ducking as a dozen or so rounds smacked into the wood in his general area, dove for cover before giving Skye a nod. "Aye captain!" he said, and then turned to the crew and barked; "Get a volley of surprise ready boys, we're gonna clean the deck on the captain's signal!"

It could be said that the Gerestral sailors were clearly disciplined and experienced men, skilled at both seacraft and combat, that much was plain to see. Their officers, crouched out of the line of fire, commanded them sharply and efficiently while their captain watched unphased by the battle unfolding before his eyes. They were brave men all, perhaps a match for the courage of Skye's own soldiers even. That much was clear.

But.... when lightning split the sky and thunder rumbled angrily above them, and the two entangled vessels tossed and turned upon the rough seas, even the bravest of hearts were made more vulnerable. The armored figured turned his head slightly as Skye gazed at him, and the man sneered back at her dismissively as she shrugged off her cloak. There was no fear on his face, not even a trace of it even when she conjured the single bat in her upraised hand, accompanied as it was by its puff of black smoke.

But.... When lightning spit the sky and thunder rumbled angrily overhead, and Skye transformed into that horrible legion of shrieking and buzzing things as the last rays of the sun illuminated the cloud of horror that descended upon them.... Well, there were few men who could handle that in all the world, and apparently none of them were on the Gerestral's ship. The soldiers screamed and flailed, many breaking from cover in order to try and dive below-decks, but none made it time. Even if they had, that wouldn't have protected them from Skye, and even the officers were caught in the vision of hell that suddenly descended upon the unsuspecting soldiers. The men in blue armor alone kept a degree of composure, each of them quickly donning a helm that managed to protect them from the brunt of it, and for some reason even Skye's smallest insects couldn't seem able to get into the armor of the other vessel's captain.

The sudden alleviation of the fire that had kept her men pinned down initially gave them a few moments of free reign in which to load up and take aim, which they did with startling efficiency as the hapless bluecoats were unaware, Davek's voice drowned out by the buzzing and shrieking and screaming. They didn't drown out the sudden roar as the Sea Wolf's canons let loose, accompanied by a twenty one gun salute. Flame and iron tore across the ship, carving holes in wood and flesh alike, and half of the men present on the deck dropped in gruesome eruptions of blood, the few pieces of her supernatural form that were sundered by the explosion of fire no real loss to Skye. Their way cleared, Skye's soldiers charged across the gangplank under cover of the swarm of dark pestilence that she had become, laying waste to those few that still stood in their way and moving to take the top of the deck.

But then, a voice round out, crisp and clear above the descending chaos; "Rally! Don't let them take the deck!" It was the other captain, the man in the thick blue armor, and suddenly a burst of magic emanated from her, reaching out and surrounding his vessel. For a moment Skye had no idea what he'd just done, but then she felt as if she had suddenly been... Constricted, the sensation akin to being caught in a net. And that net tightened quickly, dragging all of the separated portions of her inwards and forcing them together. Within only a few moments the swarm was gone, and Skye stood whole in the center of the blood-soaked deck, reverted by force to her human form by the older man's magic. "Repel borders! Now!" he called, and raised a sword that gleamed with bright blue light high into the air, joining the last rays of light emanating from the setting sun in illuminating the carnage.

There was a roar from below, and doors burst open as more soldiers came charging out of the three stairwells leading down into the belly of the ship, bayonets affixed to the ends of their rifles. They came largely from the left where many of Skye's own sailors were ready to meet them, and Davek quickly shouted; "Plug the hole! don't let them surround us!" Her men surged to his call, moving to form barriers around the two stair wells to keep them from re-securing the deck.

Skye, who was caught more or less in the middle, was left with many options in the brief moment of peace that she enjoyed at the eye of the storm. She could easily link with her own men and slaughter her way below-decks, clearing out those below before coming back up to deal with the clean up. Of course, while the brunt of the opposing men were coming from the left where most of her men were ready to meet them with blades and hooks drawn, there were still a few groups left after the barrage from the Sea Wolf's cannons, and the men streaming in from the right were linking up with them. Though the barrage had taken out many of the Gerestral officers, enough were left to at least direct if not control their men, and that could spell trouble for her own sailors.

Even so, only two of them captain's personal guard remained on deck, one of them wounded and limping, and they were staying near the stairwells leading up onto the deck. The enemy sailors seemed happy to give Skye herself a wide berth, still gazing on her in fear and horror, and she could probably charge through them to go for the guards. If she could eliminate their leader her foes might easily break before her and her men, and at the very least he wouldn't be doing any more magic (or speaking) if she went up there and cut his throat. Whatever she wanted to do, Skye would have to decide and execute on it quickly, as the battle was about to be joined in full bloody melee all around her within the next few seconds.

[Ranger Princess]

After throwing the cannonball, use Full Defense mode.

Bats screeching and flapping, wasps and hornets buzzing and stinging, Skye's mind had been mostly occupied by providing direction to the swarm. It didn't stop her from noticing the sudden spark of new emanating magic about her though. At first she was confused, but the Captain quickly felt the constricting sensation about her. It pulled at the extremities of the swarm, tugging them back inside until with a final last distressed screech of a flapping bat, voicing its displeasure at the magic, Skye appeared in a poof of black smoke.

Copper eyes slowly staring about her, burning with hatred, Skye crouched on the deck. She let out a vicious hiss, baring her fangs at anyone around her. The setback, though annoying, was only that - a setback. It made her even more determined to win and to make those that resisted her to pay. And they would pay. She'd make sure of that.

Quickly assessing the situation as the battle developed around her, Skye decided that she needed to take care of the captain's personal guards, perhaps even create a distraction for the coming reinforcements while her men pushed on below decks creating havoc. As long as there was no order on the ship, the pirates had the advantage. They were the only resident anarchists after all.

Spying a loose cannonball nearby one of the ship's cannon's Skye slinked off to pick it up. Feeling the heavy ball with her fingers, Skye's toned muscles rippled. Then as soon as she found an opening, she moved straight toward a stack of barrels behind the guards, just beneath the bridge. At a run, Skye pulled the cannonball behind her head and launched it forward like she was throwing a soccer ball. She hoped to topple the barrels on top of the guards and any other reinforcements in that area and generally create chaos.

[Tassadar]

Skye: HP = 74, PP = 38, EP = 59/64, Status = Fine, +32 Body (Fireheart, from Tonja)


Skye's hurled cannonball smacked into the stack of barrels, shattering one and causing the whole tower to collapse and begin rolling out onto the deck. The soldiers on the right hand side of the ship (from the Sea Wolf) were caught completely unawares, having not suspected such a tactic, and both of the knight's primary guards were buried under a pile of barrels. Several other men were knocked down as well, but a half dozen still blocked the pirate captain's path to the bridge, having avoided the cascading barrels. That is... Until an orb of flame floated across the water and exploded just beyond the second mast, turning the dozen or so enemy sailors into piles of charred meat and setting the sails aflame. The armored man turned his gaze toward Skye's ship, and there at the railing were the two demon sisters.

Locked arm in arm and completely naked save for their hats, their boots, and their eye patches, the two demons were grinning widely at the carnage on the other deck, and the second sister flicked a hand at Skye. Power suddenly exploded through her as the demon's spell took hold, granting her enhanced strength and speed, and the demonic sorceress called out; "Don't use it all at once captain!"

Her men, now no longer flanked, were holding the deck admirably and even pushing down into the hold, the sounds of the wild melee now occurring below audible from the stairwell and the main loading hatch. The knight who seemed to command this vessel reached over his back and drew a long blade, one that he took up in both hands as he descended the stairs. Kicking aside a stray barrel, the man strode over one of his unconscious guards as he advanced on Skye, muttering beneath his breath all the while; "If you want some thing done right... You've got to do it yourself!" Even in that armor the man seemed to be fairly spry, and his face was now hidden behind the facemask of his helm, but she still had plenty of time to close in and get in the first strike. The deck was scattered with dead men and broken barrels, and its surface was slick with blood, thus making the footing very unstable.

[Ranger Princess]

"Strike! Haha!" Skye exclaimed, pumping her fist victoriously from the outcome of her cannonball toss. As the barrels topples onto the guards, the captain grinned. The sudden explosion of fire that followed startled her a little and made her jump but only for a moment. When she saw the sorceresses there on the Sea Wolf, Skye rolled her eyes. "You sure took your sweet time to get your lazy asses out here!" She called out, but the smirk on her face suggested the captain wasn't really that upset.

She was even less upset when she started to feel the fireheart boost flowing through her veins. Skye rolled her shoulders, flexed her arms, and stared tauntingly toward the approaching captain as he bemoaned the apparent incompetency of his soldiers. She circled him, walking carefully on the slick deck, copper eyes constantly watching his every move, smirk growing as she approached. "Afraid you're going to get hurt without that armor? It looks ridiculous ya know!? I'm just wearing a t-shirt and pants, and I bet you won't even give me a scratch!"

Just when it looked like Skye might not draw her weapon at all, her hand suddenly shot like lightning to the hilt. She swung out her scimitar in a twirling motion to try to disarm the opposing captain. If it didn't work, she'd counter with yet another disarm attempt and then follow with a strike toward the vulnerable areas of his armor if there were any. If she managed to disarm him, Skye would quickly kick at the sword to try to knock it off the deck...maybe even into the ocean!

(Lightning Strikes - Disarm - Death from the Draw: Use the first two strikes to try to disarm and the third for a regular attack. If the first disarm works, follow with two attacks. Kick the sword away).

If I'm calculating things right Skye should have 60 dodge if he has no weapon and 64 dodge if he has a weapon (Duelist/Fencer)

[Tassadar]

Skye: HP = 74, PP = 38, EP = 59/64, Status = Fine, +32 Body (Fireheart, from Tonja)


Rolls

Skye strikes!
Attacks: Disarm Attempt Hits
Resistance: Skye wins, disarming him and knocking his sword off of the deck.
Attacks: Her other tow attacks both hit.
Damage: 6 + 6 + 20 + 16 + 2 + 4 - 24 = 30 damage per hit. Total of 60 damage.

The captain, disarmed, responds using Leech Life X = 11,
Attack: Hits everyone except for Skye.
Damage: 3 + 1 = 4 * 11 = 44 damage.
Six of Skye's crewmen are killed, and he regains 2 * 11 * 6 = more than 60, so just 60.


"We were busy!" Sonja called back, and Tonja finished for her; "Just following your orders captain~ Dear Felicia won't be troubling you for a while!" The opposing captain came to a halt as Skye began to circle him, remaining in a steady position and simply watching her. It was impossible for her to tell at any given moment where his eyes were, but his footing remained sure despite the blood-slicked deck. The sounds of her crew mopping up his down below and the continued cackling of the two demons as they sadistically cleaned up whoever was left of the enemy crew up top using spikes of black energy made for an energetic backdrop for their battle, but didn't prevent the two from conversing over their coming battle.

"This armor.... It's a symbol of status," he replied calmly, his voice cold, "It shows that I am above you.... In addition to keeping you from getting off a lucky strike. Such things do happen, of course, and one must be prepared~" He moved to deflect Skye's blade when she lunged in at him, thinking that she was trying to strike at him, but with a twirl her scimitar rang against his blade instead, twisting the weapon until he was forced to drop. Then, Skye simply stepped forward and kicked the discarded weapon away, the sound of it skidding off the deck and plopping into the ocean just barely audible beneath the roar of combat now coming largely from belowdecks.

Her second and third swing, courtesy of Tonja's magical boon, found chinks in his armor, and soon the armored man's blood joined that of his minions as her blade tore into his shoulder and then into his throat. Gurgling and stumbling backwards, the man seemed about to topple over backwards, dying as so many others had before him to Skye's skill, but then a deep, dark blackness suddenly encircled him. The emanating energy washed over Skye before she could stop it, but her own supernatural power and the potent fiery magic coursing through her allowed her to resist whatever effects it might have wrought. Unfortunately, her men were not possessed of her vampiric endurance, nor her demonic magics. Six of them, the nearest to Skye and the man that she was fighting, toppled over, their bodies utterly lifeless.

Her opponent straightened and cleared his throat, rubbing at the now healed wound, and then said; "That was quite impressive... But I'll have you know that those swords don't come cheaply!" He paused and glanced about, having killed the rest of his own men on deck, and thus he was now the center of attention for not only Skye, but the rest of her crew and the two demons standing on the deck of the Sea Wolf. "Hrm...." he said thoughtfully, "How would you like a job? You and yours seem surprisingly capable... A rare trait among thieves! And your clear demonstration of fairly.... Esoteric... Rituals is a rare bonus. I can pay you two thousand now, plus ten thousand when you get the job I have in mind for you done, as this lot has clearly failed to do. What say you, pirate?"

[Ranger Princess]

Merely rolling her eyes at Sonja and Tonja's excuses, Skye continued to slowly circle the opposing captain like a predator stalking its prey. Her eyes took in his whole form, watching especially his footwork. Her smirk grew, black energy spikes erupting around her, demons cackling, and rain dripping from her hood. None of it phased Skye because she knew the key part of the hunt was about to start, and she would prove that she was the huntress not the other way around.

The enemy captain's words didn't phase Skye in the least except to make the half-vampire's enigmatic smirk grow even wider. As he stood there gloating, Skye had found her moment to strike. And strike she did! Lunging forward as her fingers gripped the hilt of her scimitar, she swung it out, almost instantly wrenching the great sword from the enemy's grasp. To Skye it felt almost as if in slow motion but in reality the moment happened in a flash. It wasn't until Skye had kicked the sword into the ocean, whirling around for slashes at his shoulder and neck before she jumped back, malignant grin highlighting her features. "And that's what happens to those who feel themselves above me. First rule of combat, don't underestimate your opponent!"

She was about to lick the blood from her sword triumphantly when Skye noticed the swelling black energy surrounding the supposedly dying man. The cloaked redhead glanced about her in confusion, her smirk wavering. When she heard the last dying yelps and slumping collapses of her six dying men, Skye's eyes darkened, her smirk turning upside down into a scowl. It wasn't necessarily that Skye cared much for the crewmen that died, but they were still her men, and that meant she didn't take kindly to them being killed needlessly.

As she pulled back her hood, Skye glanced back to the demon sorceresses. "I'm going to need you for just a little bit longer Tonja, so don't run off yet!" She called out enigmatically, meaning to imply that she still wanted her to maintain the fireheart boost if she could. After that, Skye turned back to the defeated but still dangerous captain, arching an imperious eyebrow.

Lives do not come cheaply either my friend. Skye thought to herself darkly before continuing, her voice showing interest in the man's proposition. "Come now, if you wish to discuss business with me, won't you at least show me your face and tell me your name? It's only fair considering I freely show you mine. I must say though that you intrigue me. What mission could possibly be worth so much gold to you?"

Skye would wait for the man to respond to her question about the mission but regardless of his answer, she would reply by staring at him deeply, smirk twitching at her lip as her eyes turned to orbs of pure white, shining brightly like beacons on her otherwise tan face (gorgon's gaze). Someone who could kill 6 of Skye's men in one go was just too dangerous to let survive if it could be helped. Perhaps Skye would gladly take on the mission anyway if it suited her though!

[Tassadar]

Skye: HP = 74, PP = 38, EP = 54/64, Status = Fine, +32 Body (Fireheart, from Tonja)


Rolls

Resistance: Skye wins!

Skye gains 6 exp for successfully felling ye enemy captain and taking the ship for herself!


"Excellent... I knew you would be reasonable about this!" the armored man said smoothly, "But of course! It is only proper courtesy that a knight should remove his helmet in the presence of a lady...." Slowly, he reached up and removed his helmet, revealing a head that had been shaved bald save for a short stubble. His face was tanned and weathered, but it was impossible to accurately determine his age or origins through his features. A single scar ran down his left cheek, though it erred on the side of handsome rather than garish, and and a pair of sky blue eyes met Skye's with the ease and confidence that noblemen seemingly always looked upon others with.

"Now, as for the mission..." he began confidently while holding his helmet under one arm, "My task was to seek out a small island to the South and West of here! There is a man there, a madman, and I was tasked by my order to bring him to justice for the crimes of witchcraft and grave robbing. My father spared no expense for this, and I'm sure that he would gladly spare the coin for one who helped me in such a vital task! So long as the man I seek lives, he will continue to harm the innocent, backward villagers living on the island with him!"

He grinned broadly at Skye in a manner that he likely thought was charming, and it was about then that the vampire's eyes flashed white. His grin vanished, replaced by a horrified expression as his body began to harden into stone. He raised a hand and gazed at it for a moment, watching it turn to stone before his very eyes, and then looked up at Skye. "Interesting...."

His last words spoken, the captain of the enemy ship turned fully into a statue, just like the man she'd done the same to earlier that day. There were none of his own men left to see it, but with the death of their captain the crew of the opposing ship was as good as dead. They simply didn't know it yet. That said, Skye's crew had things well in hand already, and she could easily opt to start the looting early instead of going below-decks to finish off the remaining sailors. The captain's cabin was sitting across the deck from her, essentially unguarded unless there was someone hiding inside, and her own crew were now mostly beneath her feet, fighting and killing. She could issue orders to those still left on deck, though that currently didn't include any of her officers. Tonja and Sonja, seeing Skye victorious, began to dance in circles with glee, singing a pirate chanty as they flung themselves in circles. The sky rumbled and lightning flashed above, and the light drizzle turned suddenly into pelting rain, something that didn't seem to bother the dancing demons one bit.

[Ranger Princess]

Victory Dance~! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Ei3nLvuuD4)

The captain grinned widely as she watched her opponent slowly turn to stone, her eyes only reverting back to their usual copper when he was fully stone. Walking up to him with swagger, Skye patted the newly minted stone cheek of the statue. "Second rule of combat: Never trust a pirate! I might pay your friend a visit but to congratulate him on riling up your snobby family so much. Witchcraft is just my kind of thing!"

The battle was harder than she imagined for sure, but once again she was victorious. Skye grinned happily as she found one of her men on the deck, clapping him on the shoulder. "Find me a sledgehammer!" was all she said before moving to the railing where she called out to the demon sisters. "Tonja, Sonja! Good work! Come over here with me, so we can search the ship for loot together!"

Skye waited until her personal demon sorceresses came to join her before heading toward the Gerestral ship's captain quarters, wrapping an arm around the shoulders of each one as she went. "We've conquered a mighty fancy ship today. I wonder what kind of interesting treasures await us inside. Let's be the first to find out. Any guesses?"

[Tassadar]

Skye: HP = 74, PP = 38, EP = 54/64, Status = Fine


(Lol)

The statue, unsurprisingly, offered no response to Skye's advice, and the man she turned to grinned and nodded, hurrying back to the Sea Wolf after he'd offered a quick; "Yes captain!" in response to her order. The two demons strode across the gang plank after the sailor had cleared it, the man slowing briefly to ogle the two naked beauties before going about his business while the sister, still nude and still smirking victoriously at her, moved to join their summoner. Skye felt the demon's magical boon leave her just as Tonja and Sonja reached her, and the latter said; "Nothing too difficult for you I expect, dear captain~ Will you be keeping him, or is such a gaudy garden ornament not to your tastes?" Tonja rolled her eyes at her sister's query, "What do you think the sledge hammer is for, dummy?"

Sonja blinked and then smirked sheepishly, "Ahhh.... I had expected she wanted it for, errr... Looting purposes!" Tonja rolled her eyes again as Skye embraced the duo, and the two of them wrapped an arm around the half-vampire's midsection. "Oh my favorite, treasure! Maybe we'll find something in our size!" Tonja said half jokingly, and Sonja quickly quipped; "I doubt he'd have anything that would look nice on either of us~ Unless he was hiding all of his jewelry in his quarters or something!"

As they strode over to the captains cabin, Tonja grinned mischievously and cooed; "Ooooh~ She's trying to get us all alone sister! I think we might be the plunder she's after today!" The more adventurous demon's hand slunk south of Skye's waist and gave her bottom a soft pinch before returning quickly to its earlier position, and Sonja just blushed and looked away.

The door into the captain's cabin wasn't locked, and the two demons proclaimed it clear with a quick glance, something that Skye agreed on by her own eyes. The room that they strode into was similar in many respects to the last captain's cabin that Skye had plundered, though it was a tad more sparse than the last. There was a bed, which Tonja immediately jumped upon while laughing, in the far left corner of the room, and there were shelves on the right that looked mostly empty. A cabinet stood in the far right corner, and a wooden desk stood in the center of the room. "Where would you have me search first captain?" the pink haired demoness asked quickly, pointedly ignoring her sister's antics on the bed. Tonja, in the meantime, was getting herself coiled up in the bed's sheets as she made herself a little nest, momentarily covering her nudity. "He likes his bed soft~ And it's so big! It must have been very expensive!"

[Ranger Princess]

Skye grinned as she wrapped her arms about the two demons. "Nah not too difficult at all Sonja. The trick is to out-think them. These panzy soldiers always play by the book, and a quite out-dated and well known book it be. We, on the other hand, have every option in the world available to us! Though I admit, performing all that black magick has made me kinda tired. I could go for some nice R&R when we get back to the ship, and maybe some blood... hmmm..."

The captain just smiled, rolling her eyes a bit as the demon sisters squabbled. Sometimes not saying anything was just the best course of action in situations like these! "Well if it's clothes and jewelry you want, I'm sure we can find something you like next time we dock nearby a big city. We should have enough money that's for sure, especially after this next adventure. Personally I was hoping to find more women aboard, but alas it seems more like a police ship than the luxury liner I hoped it might be."

Skye jumped slightly at the quick pinch, first looking surprised, then angry, then smirking devilishly. The captain responded with a quick, hard swat to Tonja's rear. "Silly girl, why should I have need to plunder you when you're already mine, heh." Skye smiled mischievously as she looked around the cabin, arching her eyebrow slightly at Tonja's excitement. The cabin seemed a bit sparse, but could still contain some treasures hiding around somewhere.. The captain smiled at Sonja and gave her a pat on the butt. "Why don't you try that cabinet to the far right lass?" Meanwhile Skye moved to the desk at the center of the room, starting to open the drawers to look through them, rolling her eyes at Tonja as she did so. "You could make your sexy ass useful over there and look under that bed you're rolling all around on."

[Tassadar]

Skye: (http://www.ulmf.org/bbs/showpost.php?p=318929&postcount=47) HP = 74, PP = 38, EP = 54/64, Status = Fine


Rolls

Perception: Success.


Both demons emitted a soft glow from their eyes as Skye mentioned getting some R&R when they were back on the Seawolf, their grins broadening even as she mentioned blood, and it was obvious that both sisters would be happy to help her relax once their business on the other vessel was concluded. Later, Tonja received the swat on her rear in response to her pinch with a an inflated gasp, and her eyes rolled at Skye's words. "I know, but a girl can fantasize can't she?" the demoness quickly replied, smirking.

In the cabin, Sonja took her pat on the butt with a soft blush and nodded, "Right away captain!" She strode over and opened the thing, beginning to rifle through its contents while Skye went over to the desk. There were five drawers, a middle one and two on each side, plus a cabinet on the right side past the drawers. The left hand drawers were largely empty of anything of value unless Skye was looking to write a book, as they were filled with blank paper and assorted writing supplies, while the middle drawer contained a bit more of the latter plus some drafting and navigation tools. The top drawer on the right was empty, or at least so it seemed at first. Feeling along the ceiling of the drawer, she felt a piece of paper taped to the top, and when she withdrew it she found a letter that felt as if something heavy was inside of it. The cabinet and the bottom right drawer were both locked.

Tonja, in the meantime, had given a soft giggle at Skye's orders and curled up further within the blankets, momentarily acting as if she were going to ignore Skye's orders, before slowly crawling out of the bed and sinking to her knees. "Right away, captain~" she purred softly, arching her back as she bent down to check beneath the bed and making the already fairly suggestive pose far more erotic than was really necessary. Her bottom waved back and forth invitingly, the red marks on her pale skin still visible from when Skye had smacked her, but after a moment she paused and actually reached under the bed, withdrawing a small chest. "I wonder what's in here?" she said, curiously, but a moment of prying on hands on knees proved that the box was locked. "I can fix this~" she muttered with bemusement, preparing to cast a spell to open the box.

Sonja, in the meantime, had largely just turned up a bunch of men's clothing. She did pull out a small box of her own, however, one that was identical to the one that Tonja had recovered from underneath the bed, which proved to be likewise locked. "Why would he keep two of these in different places?" the pink-haired demoness asked curiously, and began doing much the same as her sister, preparing to simply magic open the box she'd found.