The Spirit of the Words

[rassafraggin]

Evening has settled over Amber like a cloak of diamond chip studded velvet. A faint breeze ruffles pennants and sails, rigging and cloaks. Maggie is half leaning against the railing up near the ship's wheel, though the wheel itself is lashed down while in dock. She holds a mug of hot coffee in one hand, the scent of the good brew floating out over the ship toward the dock. It is a friendly smell, homey, rich and welcoming.
Robert is prowling along the docks, looking just like he fits in here. And he does, the Kite blood means that the man has walked far too many decks. SOme his own, others not. He glances up as he catches the scent of coffee and pauses near the ship, watching.

Quinlan doesn't prowl. With a brightly shining crystal on the tip of his staff, he can just walk. Pausing near Maggie's ship, he doesn't need to shout. He just points the shiny staff toward the ship, and silent sparkly illusory fireworks glitter into life over the deck, spelling out, "HI!"

With most of the crew taking their shore leave after leaving the ship in readiness, there isn't much of other noise to be heard on deck.. not much. Unless one is listening for it. Merrisol comes up from below decks, restless himself, but his booted step is deliberate and gives warning of his proximity. Looking across the stretch of deck to the rear castle, he inclines his head in greeting to the Captain.. then winces, ducking away from the manifestation, brows slamming down over his glare as he reads the glitter letters. Gosh darn, but he loves Quinlan's magic.

Robert's attention switches to the sparkly antics, (thankfully not vampiric or as yet emo) that his brother throws out and he sighs. "Quinlan. I have business here. I take it you do too?"

Quinlan smiles. "Was asked to drop by. I kind of hate shouting if I don't have to." A gesture, and the 'fireworks' disappear. You've business? I wonder if it's some kind of family trouble. Again. It's not like we've got a lot of common ground between our skills."

"Yet, it is something I aim to fix." Which no doubt bodes trouble. "Mother and I talked about it." By which Robert means argue, of course.

Quinlan notes, "Well. That gives you and Maggie common ground. Is that why you're here?"

Robert shakes his head, this is news to him. "A Feldane matter. But that is interesting to hear. Thank you."
Lifting her mug in a quiet return greeting toward Merrisol, Maggie is about to speak when illusory letters burst into glowing life above. She looks up, startled, then begins to laugh, "I would say that at least one of our guests has arrived." Turning, she angles for the stairs down to the main deck. "Do you know if George went with Mouse into town? He did want to say hello to Quin..." She walks with some speed so by the time she has finished speaking she is also at the top of the gangplank. Looking down, she waves her coffee mug and calls, "Quin? Come on up, please. If Robert is with you, he is also welcome."

Quinlan nods to Robert. "...Sometime, I'd like to learn more about Feldane," he says, and gestures to him to precede him up the gangplank. "But I'd guess today would be a bad time."

Robert nods. "Of course, I am happy to divulge anything that won't get me mercilessly slaughtered by my wife. She is far too talented in that regard." At the invite he starts to board the ship, only to come to a rapid and abrupt stop when he gets far up enough to see the deck. "By Odin!"

Merri straightens up, composes himself, walks over to the rail where he can look out over the pier that runs alongside the Dancer. No need to confirm her guests' arrival, since Maggie beat him to the planks. "I don't believe he did, tonight, Captain," he relays. "The lad doesn't have space to stow him at home." He starts over to be able to stand by Maggie and greet those coming on board, then stops in his tracks. By.. Which-din?

Quinlan follows Robert up, noting, "I'll talk to her and find out where those lines are." Setting foot on the deck, he offers, "Evening, Maggie. Merrisol."

Maggie nods to Merri, "Okay. I'm sure he will come up shortly, then." She turns a smile to Robert as he comes aboard. The smile pauses at Robert's exclaimation. She blinks at him, "Um... Hello to you too, Robert. This is my first mate, Mr. Merrisol. Robert here is Taleyn's husband and a first rate Feldane... Um. What is the right term? Mage?" Quinlin gets a smile, though it is tentative, "Hey, Quin. Welcome. Um... Is your brother okay?"

Robert is watching something moving around the deck, a something which isn't there as far as anyone else can see. Which can mean only one thing. Only from his rapid head movements there is not just one, but lots. He clears his throat. "Crowded ship you have here. And I am fine. I just did not expect so much company to be present. And no, Feldane's are not mages but necromancers."

Quinlan watches Robert curiously. "...Spirits on board?" he asks. "Not unfriendly, I hope."

Merri nods, "Honoured to meet you, Lord Robert. Quinlan," he adds simply. His gaze slips away again to Maggie, brows off-kilter while Robert delivers the bad news about their long-suspected stowaway situation.
"Many," Robert informs Quinlan. Something slides neatly into the palm of his left hand. An obsidian blade.

At that, Merri steps clear of Robert and takes a position at Maggie's side.

A large blue head with black horns rears up from below decks and turns to survey the group near the gangplank. Spotting the thin mage, a smile warms his face and the nine foot tall minotaur climbs up, "Quin!" His voice is a bass rumble that shivers through the deck to tickle the bottoms of the feet.

Quinlan smiles. "Hey George," he greets. "Debt not paid yet, huh? How are you handling the seafaring life?"
Maggie's hand lowers to rest on the hilt of her sword and her gaze darts about the deck, then slids back to Robert, "Many?" She nods to Quin's question, "Are many of them unfriendly?" She looks brieftly to Merri, her smile quick though brief.

Robert comments idly. "I hope I am not the only one seeing the minotaur, otherwise I am worried. As for the rest? You have a few malevolent types and there may be more below deck. The blade is purely ritual, have no fear of it."

George walks with the swinging gait of a sailor now, placing his feet carefully so as to avoid jarring things with the force of his movement, "Yeah, not yet, no. Though I ain't lookin' t' be finished none too soon. I like bein' a ..." He sidles Maggie and Merri a glance, "Er. Not bein' a pirate. Though I think we could do a few pirateical thin's. They ain't for it." He comes to stand near the gangplank then and looks over Robert, "Who's th' dude with th' pig-sticker?"

Merrisol is armed at the hip but doesn't move to draw himself. He glances towards the minotaur with a simple hand gesture, cautioning him to tread carefully over if he moves at all. Listening to Robert, he relaxes at little. "If you see any holding tools, tell 'em to stop monkeying with my winch?" he requests feelingly.

Quinlan smiles. "Well, for one valid answer, one of my brothers," he says to George. "For another, a bounty hunter for Hades. The knife's not for you. He's looking for spirits that have been avoiding the crossing. I've got interesting family, don't you think?" To Robert, he says, "Everyone sees George. He's a friend of mine, since I made him some shorts." The mageling seems to feel this is an entirely adequate explanation.

Robert replies to Quinlan. "I did not know you were a tailor as well, but it makes sense." There's the tilt of the corner of his lips, perhaps the Kites sense of humour showing through. "As for your winch? I suspect you have a serious problem on your hands with that one and I am ill equipped to deal with it just now." And finally to George. "I am Robert Feldane, of that House. And my so called pig-sticker is a hard won obsidian blade which I am rather attached to."

Relaxing when Robert explains the significance of the blade, Maggie motions for the brothers to come on up. "Some malevolant spirits?" She darts a worried glance around, then asides to Merri, "They must hate the winch..." Not a joke, really but at least lighter. Stepping back, she smiles up at George, "They are cousins of mine. Those two." Quin and, by adoption at least, Robert. Over her shoulder, then, "Would you like some coffee? You can get a peek at the rest of the ship. Oz Mordecai mentioned that the ship collects spirits? Something like that. We'd like the ones here turned loose or crossed over or... Whatever. And if possible, figure out what is making the ship act like a... ghost trap and make her stop..."

Merri sighs and nods, at first imagining Robert refers to a failing of the mechanical aptitude with which he's already tackled the assembly, several times. Then... "Ahh. Damn it." He glances at Maggie for her remark, then goes back to frowning at the mechanism. "Then it has to go." Maybe. It knows too much..

Robert glances about the ship as he listens, chuckling softly to himself. "That might take a while to be honest. I can help them cross over, give them a push if need be. But you are not short on number. It would be good to know the full extent of the problem and perhaps get another Feldane to assist with what I may suspect ends up being warding your ship."

Quinlan finds a seat, noting mildly, "I was heavily motivated to learn really really quickly. It happens." To Maggie, he says, "What's the next move?"

George nods to Merri's gesture, perhaps a bit belatedly. He gives the First Mate one of those looks filled with respect and a friendly sort of nonchallance. Looking back to Quin, he beams, "Yer kin? Now, ain't that somethin'? Good t' meetcha, Robert. I c'n call y' Robert, right? Or Rob? Rob's easy." His beaming shows off his tusks, though he does seem amiable enough, "So. What'cha'all doin'? C'n I help?"

Maggie glances around again, her expression oddly empty, "Okay." Her tone is quiet, as though afraid of being overheard. "Okay. Let's see. Can you send the malevolant ones and the ones monkeying with the winch on? Maybe we can set up a time to deal with th erest? I'm... really out of my depth here, gentlemen. What are your suggestions?"

Merrisol lowers his head and says softly to Maggie, "There also remains the question of what became of the former crew, Captain.. the damage all about the ship when we found it, but of them, no trace? Mordecai claimed to have seen some in the mess hall, dead by poison, but it wasn't clear which was their Captain." He glances up at George, "Not sure if any of us can yet, except for Lord Robert."

Robert nods to George. "I have many names, but then I have a good five centuries under my belt. RObert or ROb will do just fine. Well met." He even goes so far as offering his hand to the man. "As for a plan of action? I can start with the winch and work from there. When they don't want to cross each can take some time." There's a cough. "Your former crew are present and correct." He pauses to watch something come through the floor and move up to the winch. "This is going to be interesting."

Quinlan smiles. "Let us know where we can be helpful. Including getting out of the way."

Maggie stiftnes at that and looks up to Merrisol. She nods, "Oh... right." Turning to Robert she motions to Merrisol, then pauses, "Ah. You can see them already?" She follows his gaze toward the winch, then back again. Her attention focuses on Quin then and she nods, offering him a quick smile.

George accepts Robert's hand in his large, furry blue one. "Good t'meetcha then, Rob. Five... Gosh yer an old dude. Is Quin th' bull-calf of th' clan then?" He eyes Quinlan a bit dubiously, remembering a comment about being older than he looks.

"I think Quin is more the young slip of a girl of the family," Robert jokes. "Though he is his Mothers' favourite too." And enough about that. There's a sigh as he looks to the others. "I am to have an audience? Well beyond the other dead present. Can you give me any information why a group of ghosts have so much interest in your winch? As I do not think it is just one."

Quinlan smiles, rather wryly. "I'm not as old as Robert, no. Just older than I look. And not a girl, thanks so much there."

Oh... good. After catching Robert's words on the very subject, Merri's gaze flickers across Maggie's features while she's looking winch-ward. Not too surprising her newest First Mate might have some invested interest in knowing why the former is now a ghost. Or maybe he's just concerned for his Captain. Or something. His attention roves briefly to the interaction between the 'brothers', a bit of interest sparked by that as well. But mostly... the winch. He says to Robert, "It was in pieces when we found the Wave Dancer ailing on Minoan waters. I had managed to get it in operable condition for the purpose of moving ruined cargo and... other unwanted wreckage."

George gives Robert one of /those/ looks. As though he has just discovered that his new friend is impared. "Dude? He's a dude. Girls smell different." And enough about that. Turning to look over at the winch, George frowns, "That thing? It's been givin' Mr. Merrisol here fits. Seems like 'e's rebuildin' th' thing alla time."

Robert chuckles at George. "He does not smell like any man I have ever crewed with." And that is that as far as he's concerned. "Names. Write down as many names as you can remember. Of the old crew, of anyone who is likely to have an issue with that winch. It is much easier with names."

Shaking her head, Maggie frowns and looks down. Her arms cross slowly in front of her and she slowly shakes her head, "Well... Not really. The ship has been mine for... A long time. I don't... really remember where she came from. I... still have gaps in my memory. But, I know that I used to run bounties for my mom. She works for the Navy." Well. Sort of. "Anyway. I imagine that some of the ghosts are of people who died aboard, one way or another. But the crew? No, I have no idea. I think they died after I was transported to Arden. Can you find out? Oh, sure. I have a crew roster down in my cabin. Excuse me?" Leaving the railing, she turns to head for the stairs, "George? Did you finish with the galley? Shao-san will want it spotless when he gets here."

Quinlan shoos George below in a friendly sort of way. "Go on. I'll be around for a while, we can catch up later."

Robert is still distracted by watching the ghosts on the deck, shaking his head as he notes in Kite. "There has to be a lot wrong with this ship for so many to accumulate."

Robert comments to Merrisol. "They're very busy up there. You have your work cut out. Again."

George's smile fades and he sighs, "Aye, Captain." Turning, he beams at Quinlan, then nods, "Aye aye, Quin. Catch y'later."

Merrisol glances at Maggie, but she's already on the roster-fetching. And yay, George cleaning the kitchen? Hopefully he doesn't come across the ox-tail stew bones. Looking back at Robert, Merri wonders, "Again?" He inclines his head as he recalls, "Oh, and.. after the first fix.. it broke again after the ship was assaulted by a pack of giant sea devils, and one of them expired upon it. A trickier repair, to be sure, though I'm certain I cleaned out all the sludge jelly from the parts."
Glancing at the winch, George heads down the stairs.

Robert pauses as he notes something else. In a second the black blade is back in his hand. "She is being followed," is noted of Maggie and he too takes after her.

Quinlan tilts his head. "If she was their captain, perhaps it's gotten personal?"

Merri's shoulders jerk at the newest report, and he falls into cautious step behind Robert. "Does it mean her harm?" he hushes, thereby keeping the growl from entering his tone.

Robert comments. "Hard to tell, but it checked to see if I was watching first. Hence I am curious as to it's purpose."

"So, communication?" Quinlan guesses.

"I can hope," Robert replies, unsure of quiet where he's going to end up.

George has been given his marching orders and he amiably marches off down the steps. He tries to whistle a Penglai tune he heard someone singing a while ago. Maybe Mouse. Maybe Shao. Anyway, it is a cheerful thing even with the wheezing his tusks cause. After a while, he vanishes into the galley. Oh the scrubbing thte galley will be subjected to.

Robert comes to one of those stops again, letting out a small hiss of breath. "It's a wonder you have space to move in here," is noted to Merrisol. "You are full of ghosts." He keeps going though, heading for the cabins.

"Does sharing space with so many ghosts leave people open to altered behavior?" asks Quinlan curiously.
Robert nods. "Such close proximity over an extended period of time? Yes. And apparently they like playing piggy back on your friend too."

The group does not have to go to the cabins. Maggie is standing pressed to the wall just as though someone held her by the throat. She holds the roster in her hand and carefully slides it toward the others. The thing is, there is no one visible holding her there. Her gaze flickers toward them, then down to the list, then up again. A voice sounds, though Maggie's mouth does not move, "Stop there. Tell me why you have come, magelings."

Merri stops short, head tipped to the side while he attends Robert's aside remark. A disquieted look makes itself known as his frown slips a notch. "Do they make way for the living, or are we just... forging through them? Wait, who.. they're climbing on George?" he grates out, despite his hushed tone. He looks over his shoulder at Quinlan, "Have you noticed.. altered behavior?" is whispered, but the question is forgotten.. or answered.. as Merri's focus jerks back around to the way ahead.

"They seem to like the whole crew," Quinlan observes quietly, watching. "I think I'll leave spirit talking to you."

No one visible to anyone else, but Robert knows what he is dealing with. "Let her go, we mean you no harm." is spoken to the entity that currently has hold of the ships Captain. The knife is well hidden in his hand by this point, not at all visible to casual observers. "Quinlan, take the roster but do no more than that."
Quinlan moves to obey, doing exactly as asked and no more.

When it is made clear what keeps Maggie so immobile and limited in gesture, Merrisol's gaze darkens beneath his brows, scanning the space beside her futilely, then returning to the woman's face, intent on her own eyes. While Quinlan goes for the roster, Merri's hand slides not for his sword, but into his cloak, seeking a pack of playing cards.

A shimmer comes then, outlining a man who stands a bit over six feet in height. He is powerfully built and bald as can be. There is the sparkle where a piercing might be in an eyebrow, though the ring that once filled the spot is gone. It is his voice that rumbles through the hallway. "She's not goin' anywhere. Not 'till we've had a chat, mageling." He turns to eye Quinlan, fingers tightening about Maggie's throat. She passes him the roster, then lifts her hands to scrabble futilly at her throat. Nope. she is not making contact with anything and when her fingers pass through his, they turn a bit blue. Her gaze floats over each, then settles on Merri's and stays there.

Quinlan blinks. "...All right. What is it I've done that offends you?" he asks, surprised.

"Let her breathe." The statement is a command, there's nothing subtle about it in the slightest as Robert talks to the figure, even as the man becomes more visible to the others. "There will be no conversation until you do that. And I can keep her from dying so long as I choose, so don't even bank on that bargaining point."

Behind Robert and now Quinlan, Merri continues to sort with his fingers by touch, through the fanned deck of normal cards in his cloak pocket. Not because he's heard ghosts like card tricks, but because there are a couple of irregular cards in there, denser but more refined. He can see the big dude materializing in his periphery well enough, but foregoes focusing on actual details in favour of keeping his gaze locked intently with Maggie, counseling calm and readiness for the first opportunity of escape. Finding both cards, he draws them from his pocket, palmed. "Is it Weiss? Mr. Weiss," he murmurs to Robert, not needing to consult Quinlan's roster for that much.

The ghost rumbles laughter, though it is unpleasant, "If you c'n keep her from crossin' over, little man, I've no reason t' let her breathe. Seein' her suffer? That's the fun part." If anything, his hand tightens, though not enough to snap her neck. His attention turns to Quinlan and he narrows his eyes, "Yer attitude, Mageling. Yer too damn flippant." He jerks on hearing Merrisol's words, then steps toward the group, dragging Maggie along the wall, "How'd'you know my name?" Outrage flickers in his eyes. Maggie keeps her attention focused on Merri's eyes, though by this point it is through force of will. Spots must be swimming in her eyes by now.

"Weiss." Again, the word is a command and there's no negotiation to be found in the tone. "You will take your hand off her now and step away from her." There's a cold, hard edge in his tone, as if all the living warmth had been taken out of it suddenly. "And if you want torturing I'm sure I can make your unlife far worse than it was when you were living." It's a promise as well as a threat.

Quinlan blinks. "...Actually, I'm being very polite," he says mildly. "You realize you're hurting my cousin for kicks? Is that something to respect, where you come from? I assure you. You should listen to my brother, he argues with people a lot more dangerous than you are. You're...really not in a good position here." And if the ghost could only see his spectral forehead, and the words "I Blow Goats" forming there...

Merri doesn't reply to Ghost-Weiss's pointed query, leaving it to the mage and necromancer to cajole and command, respectively. His hand comes up where Maggie can see it, producing the trump of her image with a glide of his thumb. His eyes drop from hers to pour his concentrate into the card, in spite of Weiss's closing fist around the woman's throat goading direct action. He holds his other hand out, looking for the connection and the signal to pull her through to him.

As the ghostly letters appear to write themselves across the spirit's forehead, shivery gaffaws can be heard wafting from here and there. Snickers carry through the woodwork and soon the ship seems wreathed in ghostly laughter. Weiss looks at Quinlan but is then caught in the web of Robert's command. Clearly he does not want to do as he is told for the spectral remnants of muscles ripple as he tries to fight the compulssion laid on him. Still, he complies grudgingly, slowly. Maggie's eyes unfocus either with the trump contact or succumbing to the gathering darkness. As Weis' hand falls away, hers lifts. She shimmers with rainbow sparkles, vanishing from the wall. In reverse order, the sparkles appear next to Merrisol, behind the two brothers. Her hand is in Merri's and her gasp of air is ragged and deep.

Weiss glares daggers at Merrisol, then turns to Quinlan and Robert. "Your cousin? I shoulda known." Focusing on Robert then he growls, "You think you know how bad life was? Workin' f'r her? I'm s'prized she's gotta crew left. Most took th' walk like th' horseman an' left."

Robert expects to be obeyed and there's no acknowledgement or approval at the ghost doing so. He doesn't even startle as as Maggie vanishes in rainbow colours, the cool gaze still resting on the ghost as he fingers the blade in his hand, which is slowly turning red from small cuts. "Tell me about it." Again, another command. "What happened to her crew?"

The ghost's spectral uniform is sort of looking...spangly, as the mageling's illusions overlay it with what looks like a costume better suited to a magician's assistant. "It's a wide and varied family," Quinlan says mildly. "But you should take the opportunity to air your concerns. I have a feeling the opportunity is of limited duration."

Privately, to Merrisol, Maggie almost collapses against him, murmuring in a very low, hoarse voice, "Remember when told you that I love you? Still true. Thank you."

Merri isn't seeing what is happening between Robert and Weiss, or Quinlan and Weiss, the two interactions being very different but pretty nifty things. He only knows he's in Maggie's foremost thoughts and she in his, for just the right sort of moment, and his hand closes on something immaterial that becomes her own hand, and she is there. He closes his fingers over the card, breaking that contact immediately so he can see to the here and now, and also because he as no clue whether Weiss might still be holding on in some way despite her transference. Of course he isn't though, Robert saw to that. He fetches Maggie up against him, folding the card arm around her shoulders and keeping her other hand tight in his, for he's become aware of the standing question. Weiss' answer won't be pleasant.

Privately, to Maggie, Merrisol's grip is constant on her hand, his arm curled around her shoulders steadying and protective. He bows his head over hers, smooth-shaven jaw resting on her temple, listening to the soft rasp, then murmurs back, "Save your breath, Captain Obvious.."

The ghostly sniggering grows as more unseen, but no longer unheard denizens of the ship begin to cluster around to witness the transformation of the erstwhile first mate into a sparkly disco-god with that particular phraze blazoned across his forehead. He growls at the assemblage, arms crossing in front of his barrel chest, "Shaddup!" Okay, so it is aimed at the throng not Quin or Robert but still. Looking down at his newly bespangled getup, he releases one hand to gesture to his uniform, "Really? C'meon... Really!?!" But again the compulssion settles and he looks at Robert for a while. This time, he isn't trying to resist. This time, he is seeking words. Another voice begins instead. This is a softer sort of presence, "Go on, Mate. You've been wanting to do this for months." A hand reaches out from nowhere to pat the big man's shoulder.

Weiss glances to the right, then nods and growls, "Right, then. Dunno when it started an' that's the truth. Things were great back'n the day, y'know? Cargo runs were profitable. We hadda good crew. Th' Cap? She was fair an' pleasent t' be 'round. Life was good. She'd take a job from 'er mum every so often t' buy special stuff f'r th' crew'r the ship. Weren't no big deal. Just extra money. But she took a job trackin' down a mage an' shite began t' go wrong." THat is when he glares at Quin once more. "We wanted 'er to give't up. But, she wouldn't listen. Said she'd giv'n 'er word. That's always been important t' her. Her word. Crew started vanishin'. We'd look for 'em but couldn't find 'em. Finally, we tracked th' mage t' an island. It was wreathed'n fog an' mist. She went ashore. I went with 'er, but we got sep'rated. She was lost f'r a week an' when she came back, she was dif'rent. Mean. Hard. Drove us like slaves. It jus' got worse an' worse. People started dyin'. She didn't hold trials no more. Folks she captured'd just be summarily ended. We... d'cided t' mutiny. Take th' ship. Well. Some d'cided. Them as wouldn't? Well, cookie poisoned 'em. That's when th' monsters attacked from th' sea. They... ate th' dead bodies. Fights broke out. Y'know? We tried t' save ourselves but th' monsters? They gathered up all th' blood. It just sorta bounced to 'em and made 'em stronger. So, our mage? He opened a portal t' another place an' those still alive went through. I think it's still open somewhere. Trouble is, 'e powered it with us. We can't leave 'till it's closed. An' it can't be closed 'till th' living're back."

Privately, to Merrisol, Maggie smiles against him, but slowly stiftens as Weiss speaks.

Quinlan lets his illusions go, then, looking toward Maggie curiously. Waiting for her side. It seems whatever innate need it is in him to humble the proud has been satisfied; no more tricks. At least for the moment.

Robert doesn't look over his shoulder as he listens, nor does he appear to hold any judgment over what he is hearing. But then he's a Kite and what Kite hasn't been a pirate or faced hardship in their life. They're raised on it. "Do you know where the portal is? Do you have co-ordinates? And what do you think would happen if I tried to send you over now? I can."

Merri supports his captain, helping her stand apart if need be, to face the former mate as he outlines a tale that grows increasingly odd and dark. He lifts his head slowly, and turns slightly to watch Weiss speak, curbing his fury. Some parts don't appear to surprise him, others are so new and unsuspected that he loses focus in trying to make sense of it within his general understanding of Maggie's life and the woman herself. Robert brings up the practical questions, fortunately, leaving Merrisol to sort through notions internally. One thing he doesn't do is turn a look of adjusted esteem on his Captain. His hand remains grasped around hers, either forgotten or fully intentional.

Maggie is sort of curled against Merri while she struggles to get her breath. She listens to what Weiss has to say. Slowly she turns her head to look at him. If the tale told seems incredulous to the others, the horror of it rests in her gaze. Not so much because it sounds implausible but because it sounds familiar. The color drains from her and her hand tightens within Merri's. She makes no move to extricate herself from him though she does speak, softly, "Weiss. I don't remember." Her voice is hoarse, still and hollow, "I've read my journal." And his, though she does not mention it, "I am sorry for whatever harm I caused you and the crew." Slowly, her voice grows a bit stronger, "I do not remember what happened. I don't remember doing any of it. Well... I do, but as though I wasn't in charge. Like I was watching someone else act." She falls silent, her gaze flickering to Quinlan, then Robert and back to the ghost. Clearly, at a loss.

Weiss stops trying to surrupticiously brush the sparkles off of his clothing as the illusion dies. He goes back to crossing his arms over his chest, "Oh. We fig'erd there was one other way t' close the portal." He fixes Maggie with a stare, "If she dies. 'Cept she's damn hard t'kill." Meaning they tried? Meaning they tried. He turns to refocus on Robert, "Sure. S'in th' winch up on deck. Th' portal's anchored there. No friggin' clue why th' little weasel put it there, but that's where't is. Where it goes?" He looks over toward Maggie and Merrisol, eyes narrowing, "That island, maybe. She hired th' little mageling. Maybe she knows." His dark gaze meets Merri's fury with an icy calm though he turns to look at Robert, "Send me over? Over where? To hell? Through the portal? It won't matter. In ten minutes or ten years I'll be back here again. Unless you close that portal first. Then? I'll go and gladly. Anythin' t' get away from her." Fury laced with hatred is then darted toward Maggie.

Robert's tone is still formal when he speaks, that cold edge cutting through it as he seeks his brother's opinion. "I know nothing of this portal nor what has caused it. I can force him through if you wish and we can see if his words ring true?" Something from the sounds of it he's more than prepared to do, no matter what distress it causes the ghost. "But as Taleyn would say: They need laid to rest."

Quinlan nods agreement. "That they do. But," he looks toward Maggie, "I suspect his words *are* true. Or at least as true as he knows himself. He's not a Feldane. Maybe you should see this winch with your own eyes and see what your Feldane side has to say about what's going on?"

The door to Shao's quarters opens ajar for a hand holding a small piece of mirror. The hand moves, pivots, trying angles for the mirror to give the hand's ower a peek at one side of the corridor, the 'ghost story side'. The hand goes back in its hiding place and the door opens and closes for Shao, whose hands are now shaking so bad, he drops his room's key once, can't pick it up, picks it up, drops it midway to the lock, can't pick it up, picks it up and drops it... He is not out of here any time soon.

Merri might be motivated by an insensible urge for vengeance when he shrugs insouciantly in reply to Robert's proposal. "Wherever you go, for however long, Weiss, know this: you failed your Captain when you knew she wasn't the same as you'd come to know.. and didn't do what it took to put it aright." Upon saying that, he appears more calm himself, and after a moment adds, "You said Horseman.. the crew followed a Horseman away to the other side?"

Weiss jerks as though slapped at Merrisol's words and glares at the man, "You weren't here. You wouldn't know. How...dare you." But, there are ghostly murmurs around him that echo the sentiment. And others that support him. The tumult grows heated with Weiss in the center of it. He looks between Robert and Quinlan, and if possible grows more pale, "Don't push me through there, gents. It ain't natural." Backing a little he almost misses Merri's query, "Uh. No. No. The horseman. The friend'f the Cap's? He went through last."

"You," Robert points at Weiss," will take no action to harm a living person on this ship again." And that is a command, the ghost can be left in no doubt of that. "As for pushing you through? I'll be kind. This time." He looks to Quinlan and nods. "We should go and look at that portal." Though there is also one last rejoinder to the other ghosts. "Any of you dare touch her again and there will be more than seven levels of hell for you to go through."

Quinlan nods. "There's magic in the winch. Don't know why."

Shao's legs want to give up and he reaches down to sit against his door. Holding his hands together in his lap, he closes his eye, jaws shut tight to avoid chattering. The keyring lays forgotten by his side, so close and yet so far.

Privately, to Merrisol, Maggie tightens her hold on him as Weiss continues.

Robert pauses to note the man on the floor as he turns to head out again. "Someone tidy him up." So much for sympathy. And the he's turning for the deck again.

Weiss snarls at Robert for that command, then turns to look at Merri and then at Shao seated where he is by his room. The snarl deepens and he begins to swell then to deflate for a command is a command. "Fine." Sulky ghost.

Maggie watches him and there are complicated emotions flickering through her eyes. "I am sorry, Mr. Weiss. For whatever I did to you and my crew. For all of it." She looks over to Robert, "Thanks." Then Quin is given a ghostly smile, pun intended. Turning, she glances back and spots the man on the floor, "Shao-san?" Her voice remains hoarse and soft, but fills with concern, "Are you okay?"

Hearing that tone, Weiss startles and stares at Maggie as though he... Well... as though he has seen a ghost.

Robert walks over to Shao and offers him a hand. Of course it's his left hand, the knife having slipped away, but it is covered in blood. His own blood at least. "Time to get up. The ghost will not bother you now."

Merri stares at Weiss through the bluster, then shakes his head slowly at the additional explanation about the 'Horseman'.. um.. durr.. for some reason, he can only picture George with a horse's head for the moment. Too much to think about.. particularly now that poor Shao is in their spirit-heavy midst. His arm starts to drop from Maggie's shoulders to extend to the cowering Penglai, but Robert beats him to it. "They will not harm -anyone-.. it is understood?" he glances between Rob and Weiss. "And no using George as a pack animal."
Quinlan smiles a bit at that addition. To Robert, he says, "The winch holds some kind of permanent enchantment." Then, to Maggie, he asks, "Are you collecting magic things?"

Shao opens his eye. He looks between Maggie and Robert. He swallows hard and nods, offers his hand. He wants to say something but it stays stuck in his throat. He pulls himself up the best he can, using the door as a ramp. He quirks his eyebrow at Merrisol's 'pack-animal-George' and for a moment, his hands forget to shake.
The keyring at Shao's feet is lifted by an invisible hand. One key is selected and slipped into the door's lock. It is turned, locking the door. Then the key is extracted and the entire ring floats over toward the Penglai man.

Weiss reluctantly nods to Robert once, and drifts upward from the floor toward the ceiling and; perhaps the deck above. As he drifts he becomes more and more indistinct, then vanishes.

In the galley, the ghosts who were using George for piggy-back rides drift from his back, though one sticks his tongue out at Merri before vanishing. George? He clearly feels better as he begins singing sailor songs he has picked up on the dock. His voice is booming, low, and sadly, off key, "Brandy! You're a fine girl. What a goooood wife, you would be." Then in falsetto, "Such a fine girl..." Yes. Flee to the upper deck. Flee....

Shao shrieks and drops into a backward tumble, his boot kicking the keyring off the air in a lob. When he jumps back on his feet, the key ring falls into his hand and Shao runs for the stairs.

A ghostly gasp is heard from below, then a higher pitched giggle. A female's voice, wavery and soft calls, "Oy, mate! That one's fun!" Poor Shao.

Robert does not waste time, but then nor does the man mince his words either. He proves that he's spent more than his fair share of time at sea by deftly beginning to climb the rigging in order to reach the winch. No rigging? Then a simple trip over to where the winch sits and Robert merely shoos the ghosts out of the way with the air of a man who is bored of such things already. "What do you think, Quinlan?"

Merri disengages from Maggie enough so they can get up the stairs after Shao and the others. He casts a weird look to the galley, then around at the unseen, assuming they are gathered about still. Apparently 'Do no harm' is out, and 'Kill 'em with kindness' is now in. On deck, he takes a moment assess what the plan might be.

Quinlan is still sniffing the air thoughtfully. "Maggie? Did you keep any mirrors, pieces of mirrors, that might be magical?"

The gaggle of ghosts near the winch have continued swinging their impliments of creation or destruction at the winch in an effort to either destroy it or repair it. Yay. Weiss has semi-materialized on the deck and cups his hand to his mouth, "Ahoy! Cut that out, you lot. The mageling and his friend are going to try to do something perminant." He looks like he might enjoy the 'kill 'em with kindness' option.

Maggie rolls her eyes at the ghosts antics but does not resist Merri releasing her. It takes her about half the flight of stairs up before 'horseman' and 'The Captain's friend' strike home with a thud. "Bashar." She is about to run up the stairs when Quin stops her. Looking down she nods, "Aye. Shao brought one back with him from helping with Lady Vialle. It is locked in my safe."

Where has Shao gone? At first, he is nowhere to be seen on deck. Only when one walks past the stairway Shao is found, perched some eight foot high hugging the main mast and watching.

Merri sidelongs a glance at Maggie and Quinlan. "What else is in there with it.. aside from my coat?" he wonders aloud, clearly unhappy with the idea that the shard is suspect in these doings somehow. He does look around for Shao, puzzled, and starts for the gangplank to see if he can spot the clouds of comically raised dust leading down the pier and across the harbour into town. Then, he sees his friend. "Aw.."

Quinlan frowns, thinking things over, but finally shrugs. "...Keep it covered, and away from people," he advises. "I don't understand mirror magic well, but there's some bad ...potentialities, I guess you could say." He turns his attention back to Robert's work with the winch. "I can tell you it's magical, enchanted. I suspect it's a portal. I think your Feldane senses would tell you more. Does it hold necromancy?"

Robert stares at the winch with an air of confusion about him. He paces around it in consideration, brow furrowed deep in thought. "Yes," he finally declares with a vexation about him that ill suits him. "A place of waking dead lies through here."

Maggie says, "I guess it's a bad thing that I looked into it then." She sighs but does not stop her climb. Reaching the top, she turns to watch the brothers working the winch. Her gaze flickers over the deck searching... searching... "Where is Shao-san? Is he okay?" Finally she looks up and spots her friend. "Oh. Um. You can come down now." And then Robert makes his pronouncement, "A what now?" She turns and starts to head over toward the winch. "Robert, I think Bashar went through there. I think that is the horseman Weiss refered to."

Merri seems to decide it's better to let Shao does what he has to, to be comfortable, even it means clinging to the mast like a misplaced figurehead. He walks past it to join Maggie by the winch.. giving it the usual adversarial glower. "Sir Bashar.. yes. That would make more sense than... nevermind. So that's where he got to. Do you want me to take it apart again?" he asks Robert. "It's always something going on right in there with the gear wheels. One or another gets compacted somehow."

Come down now, that is an order from the Captain herself. Shao climbs down, carfully, slowly. When he rejoins the ghost hunting crowd, he shows he has learned his lesson by choosing a place behind Quinlan. Magic is not his scene.

Quinlan gives Maggie a look of wide-eyed surprise...and then facepalms. "Note to self, study *harder*," can be heard by those standing near him. Then he takes a deep breath and lets it go, returning his attention to Robert and his work. "Your call, Robert. What's our course of action?"

Robert beckons Merrisol closer apparently for his advice. "I wish to take it apart, which bit of it is what causes the problems every time you fix it?" He beckons Quinlan closer to watch. "I would have your magical opinion close at hand for this. Lest I do something stupid." He winks at his brother.

Quinlan shrugs, heading over to join Robert. "You're the Feldane," he says. "This is beyond my field. I can just smell magic."

Maggie steps up with the others. She pauses by Shao, one hand resting briefly on his shoulder. "They will help us get rid of the ghosts, Shao-san." The touch is light and intended to be reassuring. Then, letting him go in case he would prefer it, she moves to stand where she has a clear view of the workings of the winch.

Merri nods readily, divesting his cloak and folding his shirt-sleeves back in a kind of by-now ritualistic preparation. He pushes aside the cargo-hatch covering and reaches down for the toolbox he keeps close at hand for this pet project.. or pet-peeve project. Kneeling by the cylindrical housing, he opens it up with speed and precision born of deep familiarity with the mechanism.. though obviously not deep enough. There's a moment of trepidation before he reaches bodily into the mechanism, as though now with the clear confirmation that the aberration was always something beyond his control, and therefore EVIL BAD, the winch assembly has become that much more.. unpredictable. He double-checks the safeties, then reaches inside with a couple of custom tools to loosen various bolts. A number of cogs and screws are deposited onto the deck in a methodical row. Then: Deeper.

Robert chuckles at Quinlan and shakes his head. "I have no doubt you have more expertise in dealing with problems of a magical nature than I do. And this feels odd to me." He watches with care as Merrisol undoes the various implements, also keeping an eye on what is happening with in. "Slow down now, with caution. I suspect we are getting close."

Shao nods to Maggie, finding courrage under her reassuring hand. He remembers to breathe, deeply. He watches Merrisol undo the winch's guts in silence.

Quinlan stiffens. "Robert. Careful. It's...I think it might explode, magically speaking. It's destabilizing. Anyone that can, should back away. Maybe find cover, if it doesn't offend your pride." It certainly doesn't offend Quinlan's; he starts looking for something to put between himself and the winch.

"It's always one of these ones," Mecha-Merri explains to Robert, as though the necromancer could see right through to the one he's currently working at. He doesn't seem to be hearing Quinlan's urgency as he goes stubbornly at the notches of the trapped gear wheel. "The teeth bend, and it gets jammed until I get it loose... like... so." The winch shudders as something is forced manually within.. an oily fragrance fills the immediate vicinity, and on the other end of the cylinder, a slick black shape seeps, coalesces, and expands.

Hearing Shao breathe, Maggie lifts a hand to her throat where the bruises left by a rather solid ghostly hand remain. She swallows and smiles at Shao once more. Then as the winch is dismantled with such alacrity and familiarity she shakes her head and steps forward. An aside to Quin, "Study?" But she does not actually expect an answer. Not now, anyway. Quin's explaination causes Maggie to... yup. Step forward. "If it is going to explode, Mr. Merrisol, please get away from it." She stops and stares at the oily shape, "Um... It hasn't done that before, has it?"

Robert nods to what Quinlan says and tells Merrisol. "Retreat." He shows no sign of doing so himself, mind you. Nevermind the fact his brother is already looking for cover. He looks up to Weiss. "Thoughts?" The substance soon has his attention but once again he is not retreating it, watching it with a critical eye. "Someone get me a glass." Maybe he takes after Brand really. Surely he can't be wanting to collect the stuff?

Quinlan finds cover. The look he turns on his relatives is somewhere between "I thought you'd do that" and a wince. Watching Robert's work from said cover, he doesn't look all that happy.

Shao nods to Robert and leaves for down below, jogging. His voice can be heard ordering for a glass, double quick. Soon enough, Shao climbs back on deck, still jogging, glass in hand for Robert.

It's not the drinkable oily ooze slick, silly. Hanging in the air just above deck, the mottled colour patterns within swirl the growing perimeter, expanding it and thinning the viscosity of the substance itself. It is becoming... doorway shaped.

Merrisol cranes back from his work and looks up and around at the people backing away, Maggie calling for him to do the same. Then he sees what they see, on the other side of the winch, and he disgorges the rest of his arms from the mechanism with a few agonizingly slow twists and slithers, like a farmer about to birth a calf. When he's free, sans calf or cog, he scoots backwards.

"Interesting," Robert notes with an air of someone who is perplexed and far too curious for anyone's safety. In fact his next action is to reach a hand towards the doorway, holding it a little away to see what he can sense from the thing. The glass is indeed forgotten about.

Shao change the glass from his right to his left, so he can rest his good hand on the butt of his tanto knife. He focuses his eye on Robert's hand. Again, he breathes deeply.

The winch stops shuddering. Fully formed, the filmy 'skin' of the slick has become transparent, only looking through doesn't show the port side of the Wave Dancer, of course. The portal leads into what looks to be a dark passage of rock, subterranean in nature, that takes a bend to the left.

Robert chuckles at something and then glances to the others. "Who is game to step through?"

Weiss has been watching. He swoops down, becoming more and more solid as he does. "Yeah, that's it. Only it ain't usually that strong." Coming up behind Maggie he pushes her firmly, propelling her not only toward the portal, but through it. Then he swoops up and back out of the way.

Maggie can be seen falling to the cavern floor, hair wildly fluttering. Looks to be about a four or five foot drop. Rising, she dusts her hands off and turns to look down the corridor, then forward and finally up toward the opening, "Bloody hell."

"Didn't the ghosts have something to say about what's on the other side?" asks Quinlan.

"Weiss!" Robert's voice is as cool as ice and dangerously soft. "I command you to cross into the afterlife!" And then he too hops through the portal, landing with a thunk on the other side.

"Captain!" Shao lets out. He spits in Weiss's direction, frowning with powerless anger. He really wants to go in there but finds himself unable to, so he paces in a tight full circle. "...give me rope..." he mumbles.

GRR, WEISS! Curse your sudden but inevitable betrayal! Merrisol doesn't even follow the Ghost's retreat with his gaze, but goes from zero to sixty as he lunges for the portal himself. He pauses at the entry, sense prevailing. "Shao-san!" he utters, noticing the Penglai hanging back. "Don't let them near the winch! The door must remain open until we get her back out," he orders. Then plunges through the permeable slick himself.

With a shriek that rises from a low, gutteral cry to an anguish born of pain and horror, Weiss leaves this plane for a far far worse one. The lick of flame that touches his form spreads until he is suffused and is gone with only a smear left behind to dissipate on the wind.

Take that, Weiss! Bolstened by the banishment of Weiss, Shao moves closer to the portal itself, to stand, his hand still on the pommel of his weapon. "Hai, Mister Merrisol." He remains there, still and stolid, between the portal and the haunted crane gizmo.

Quinlan isn't going anywhere near the portal. "...You know, I'm pretty sure it's our sense of immortality that gets us in the most trouble," he notes.

"Kites do not have morals, just survival instincts," is commented from the Kite who is not showing any of those either. Robert looks around himself in the tunnel.

A length of rope floats up from the deck, the end flipped toward the portal. It falls through and is then played out and down until it tap-taps Robert on one shoulder and Merrisol on the other. Then it stills, held by nothing at all. Oh, it does tie itself to the mast. Y'know. The helpful ghost who gave Shao his keys, maybe.

"Yeah? You just let me know when those start kicking in, okay?" asks Quinlan, from cover. "It'd be very nice to see those working properly."

When it starts raining men and men Maggie happens to care about, she ducks out of the way. Waiting for the sudden deluge to lessen, she returns along the tunnel. "Well... Now what? This is clearly where the crew and maybe Bashar went. I'd like to see if they are alright, but don't want to be trapped here." She looks up as the rope begins to be lowered and gives Shao a thumbs up, "Good thinking," she calls, clearly not aware that he is not lowering the rope itself.

Merri might have become aware of the first First Mate's fate (now say that five times fast), but he shows no satisfaction as he gets his bearings within the tunnel, and reaches Maggie's side, head ducked a little until he can get a better look at the tunnel's ceiling. Might need a light down here.

Robert laughs at Quinlan. "Just because I am not scared of our Mother?" He shakes his head, gets his bearings and then regards the rope and looks up to see who cast it. There's another chuckle. "Let us go find them then."

Shao watches between Quinlan and the floating rope, growing somewhat whiter but nothing else. "I am more afraid than you are," he informs Quinlan, matter-of-factly.

Quinlan sighs. "It's not terror. It's simply that I know just about nothing about *that*." He indicates the portal. "Including who made it, or where it goes. I'm fine with exploration, but this smells more like 'trap', and I'm less keen on leaping into those."

Merri stands below the portal, looking up at the beautiful late evening sky above the ship, through it. "Shao-san? Quinlan? I know the winch won't work anymore, but you can release the safety catch on the spool and play the rope through from the derrick!" he calls upwards. "Then we can climb back out and get better prepared." Right? No bloody-minded Kite blood in this practical-minded guy.. none. Well, maybe just enough to give him that barbarian physique.

Maggie walks a few paces down the tunnel to where it curves. Peering around to see what might be on the other side, she stays there for a moment or two before returning, "We will need light at least. I think the tunnel opens into a cavern, but am not sure how big it is. I think Mr. Merrisol is right. We should go back and get supplies. Unless Quin wants to come on down with his staff? He is good at producing light."

Robert comments wryly. "I think the chances of getting Quinlan down here just now are fairly low." He eyes the ropes and shrugs. "Then back it is. After you."

Shao nods to Quinlan. "You do not see me going in there," he says in complete agreement. He cranes his neck to listen to the voice of the people down there. He looks back to Quinlan. "If they cannot manage light and forget to ask me, I am not in the mood for initiatives."

Quinlan - back on the ship, yes - is growling a low growl, but oddly treble in timber; not the deep growl of a wolf but closer to an angry cat. "No, I'm *not* going down there without preparation. I smell *trap* all over this. You guys come back here and gear up and *then* we talk exploring. You know, like sane people not being influenced by unidentified enchantments."

Maggie calls up, "We're coming!" Nodding to Robert, she eyes the rope, then reaches up to grasp it above her head. Now, some people have difficulty with rope climbing. Maggie, it appears does not. Having climbed endless miles of rigging from the time she was small on, this is pretty much a no brainer. The rope wriggles and twists below her as she climbs, but nothing impedes her progress. When she reaches the top, she looks back onto the ship, then uses the winch housing to climb up and out of the portal. "That is one of the strangest things I've done in days..."

Robert watches as Maggie climbs the rope, then takes the second spot and climbs up after her, again with an air of practice about him. He appears back on deck and dusts himself off. "Happy now?" is enquired in amused tones of Quinlan.

Quinlan nods. "Happier, anyway. Not everyone is as hard to kill as a Kite, you know." To Maggie, he says, "Where did you *get* that winch? Do you remember? Does anyone?"

Shao steps aside to give them climbers more room. He nods to Robert, to Maggie. He looks down to assess where Merrisol is. "Good," he says to Quinlan. As for the answer about the crane's origins, he looks to Maggie.

Merri wipes grease from his hands on his trousers, then climbs up and out, hand over hand, natch.

Maggie stays by the portal, ready to offer a hand up if needed. She glances back down to see what is keeping Merrisol, "The winch?" Her brow furrows and she shifts her gaze briefly to the mechanism, then back, "I am not sure but I will have the purchase records in the office." Although she sounds a little hesitant and is speaking the truth as she believes she remembers it, there is a hesitancy there. "Wait. That... does not feel right. Let me think." Once Merri is out too, she smiles and turns to the rest.

Robert nods to the group. "I should return back to the House. Please forward me any information you consider pertinent."

Quinlan nods. "You think about it," he says firmly. "And when you do go back in you should probably have a Feldane with you, since it apparently affects the dead. Research is best done *before* the risk, cousin, if you want to survive taking a lot of them. For all you know this thing is a setup to lure you far away from any possible help, and if you're lucky the plan after that's just to kill you. It's better to be ready, okay?"

Drawing in a breath Maggie sobers as she listens to Quinlan. Slowly, she nods, darting a glance over her shoulder toward the portal. The look lingers as though there is a draw there, a tug that she might not be aware of. Looking back slowly, she blinks, "I did not buy the winch. But, I do not think it came with the ship." She frowns, lowering her gaze, "But... I do not remember." Stepping deliberately away from the opening, she rubs her hands on her trousers, then dusts them together, "So... We need light and water. What else? Rope..."

"Stretcher," Shao says. "Two poles and a sheet. Lord Bashar should not have to walk out of his own rescue."
Quinlan frowns. "So ...someone's already been trapped?" he asks. "I'd guess weapons and food, maybe emergency medical supplies."

Maggie nods to Shao, then to Quinlan, "We think so. The horseman Weiss kept talking about might be Bashar. He's a friend of mine and Martin's from way back." She clears her throat, then adds, "He came with us when we went to find the ship but has been missing since. I didn't initially think much of it because he does that. Walks off one day and returns months later. But, this time we've been worried because he vanished off the ship in the middle of the ocean. So... Yeah, it seems logical that he would have fallen in. Or, jumped in to see where it went. You can never tell with Bash."

Merrisol nods from where he's kneeling by the winch again, gathering up the odds and ends and dumping them into the toolbox. "Or he was pushed in by Weiss, who seems to have had practice giving folks the heave-ho."

Shao angles his head to spit but does not, since Maggie is right there with him. "Let us hope Bashar has not come down the stairs with Ma... his horse."

Quinlan frowns. "Good point. A good preliminary step might be clearing this ship of spirits, if possible. Reduce the risk of someone inclined and able to close the portal behind us being left behind to do so."