More Talk, Even More Action

[rassafraggin]

Ryika climbs up onto the deck, helping folks up as needed. "So.." She starts as they finally gather again. "We're going through hordes of those to get to the bigger blob and hope that there's something there?"

Quinlan coughs. "Something IS there," he says, certain. "I can smell it. There *is* a source, to all this magic and all these undead. I can point the way. But what it is, what we do when we get there? That I don't know. We'll have to decide if the work is worth the reward."

"I'm afraid that I doubt I can determine much from this distance. I could try doing a divination, perhaps..." Lisette shrugs uncertainly. "I suspect I'm mostly along to provide a little back-up against the dead."

Merrisol gets out the map in case anyone wants to look at it some more. It is a fine illustration rather than a realistic aerial illusion of Quinlan's visual experience, however. "You said this is a job for a taskforce of larger, more powerful resources, Quinlan. If you still think so, then perhaps we had better take it to the Commodores or the Ambassador or even Robert to enlist his contemporaries for a major operation."

"Which is challenging, when we don't know what the reward is. We don't know what, if anything.. and the if anything is a really major and valid possibility, we can do against the source of undead in Minos." Ryika leans against the railing with a soft hmmm. She nods to Lisette at the mention of divinations. "I can try and poke fate into sharing her thoughts with me, but usually it's fairly random when I get slapped upside the head with a vision. Rarely is it actually relevant. If you've a better means, please.." She looks over to Merrisol and nods there too. "It feels like we're in over our heads more than usual here."

Quinlan shrugs. "I still think this is a major operation, yes. We'll need round the clock vigil once we go far enough inland that we can't retreat to a boat. At the very least, an airship that we can anchor without zombies climbing up the chain. More likely, fortified camp nightly, with guards. We're going to need healers, and Feldanes, and anyone who can possibly help. And definitely trump-artists because once we go in, that's the only safe way out and back."

"Ideally, I receive from the subject something that I can then use as part of the ritual," Lisette says ruefully. "Right now... I'm not even sure what might count as relevant, let alone closely-connected, that I might substitute for a gift. I doubt that what I can offer will be any better than your efforts. I might perhaps be able to provide a divination to assist one of us with something specific, with a rather greater chance of my efforts proving useful."

"I can still leave by mirrors, even in that sort of situation.. it's not as fast as trumps. A few minutes, not a few seconds, and it's just me and then trump as usual. But it's something else to add to the list." Ryika notes on the notion of travel and then mmms softly and nods. "That's bigger than a half dozen of us." She looks over to Lisette and considers. "Can you do a divination using one of the artifacts and see what that tells you?"

Lisette coughs sheepishly. "I'm a Feldane. Even though I didn't know it when I learned this, it... rather coloured what magics I could pick up. I'm a haruspex: I can perform entrail-reading. So... in theory I could probably divine something relating to this curse by using a zombie, but... not one of the artifacts."

"I might, however, be able to offer another option for an emergency evacuation. Even of a substantial group, if I have some time to set up a spell beforehand. It'd be a last-resort evacuation, but... better than being over-run by undead."

Quinlan nods. "And those are all important things for such a trip," he says. "Transportation. Warding. Supplies and safety and scouting..." he shrugs. "I'd be more in the scouting end, I think."

Merrisol is silent over there, turning the pages to his journal and browsing notes, while the discussion goes on. "Princess Amethyst got in touch while we were out and about," he says when there's a lull. "I'll see if I can bring her over for a Mandrake's point of view."

"I can do tea leaves. Stars.. my step mother and I still argue about portents in the stars. She wins." Ryika doesn't seem bothered by the notion of entail reading. "I get visions periodically. Like drop your coffee cup mid sip and shiver looking like an idiot sort of visions. I'd far rather entrails." She looks over to Quinlan and nods. "If you need things expertly stabbed, I can ask Corwin to come. Granted, some folks get weird about working with Corwin, so I do understand if its a no." She looks over to Merrisol as he adds in a couple of coral and nods.

To the image of Amethyst, Merrisol appears to be on the Wave Dancer, main deck, this time not swinging a harpoon around. "Amy, hullo again. Forgive me for not being able to concentrate on the call earlier. Do you have time for me, now?"

"Each of them is draining, and can be time-consuming to prepare... but I //can// do a certain amount in advance, usually... but, ahh I might be able to provide some larger-scale support if required. Perhaps undead-slaying, if I can figure out how to get it to work en masse in this realm. Perhaps other options - such as a divination for the whole expedition, once it's assembled. Or the mass-evacuation option I mentioned earlier, though that really would be a last ditch one. Sadly, I've nothing that lets me scry out distant sites I've never been to, or the like. Give me the blood of something, and I can use that as an arcane connection to track it... but long-dead remnants of a goddess, I suspect are far beyond my talents to use."

"I go places, and can't even take people with me. So I'm very specialized support." Ryika nods to Lisette as she details out some of her skills. "Right. I expect if we're at mass-evacuation stage, it's probably really very much last ditch sort of effort." She glances to Merrisol as he trumps Amy back and then muses thoughtfully. "This is going to get really chaotic, really fast if it end sup becoming the sort of scale Quin was talking."

ooc> Maereina says, "The area over which Quinlan sensed the contagion becomes less and less pack sized as it approaches the area where he sensed the ancient power. Your map would show an area of suspected contagion large enough to put a million or more of those zombies in surrounding the Source he is referring to. Since you have a map I thought I should make this clear. There are actually FAR more around the source than near the cities."

To the image of Amethyst, Merrisol pauses... then nods a touch, studying the trump with a frown. "Very well, Your Highness. You mentioned that Maggie asked for your aid. Our group, comprised of Quinlan, Dame Ryika Ygrayne, and more recently, Lady Lisette and Lord Robert of Feldane, has been looking at the Minosian mainland as the next logical goal in freeing the realm from its stormwall. As you might be aware, the land itself is choked with undead, but we have good evidence that the source of the storm's power lays far inland. Quinlan has detected a magic breed of contagion that would seem to be infecting the zombies. With a viral epidemic involved, we thought it prudent to call upon an ally from Mandrake for her expertise. Will you come and have a look, Princess Amethyst?" he asks, with a sort of grim humility.

"Well... I mentioned arcane connections?" Lisette's pitching her voice low, lest she distract those participating in the Trump call. "I work best with death, blood, and such lovely things. I can potentially lift us out of a hopeless battle with the undead into one we can survive. Or that's the theory. Truly last-ditch as far as escapes go."

"As long as you drag us from a hopeless battle to one with fresh reinforcements.. we're good." Ryika manages some tiny bit of optimism at that particularly not optimistic notion.

"That's the hope," Lisette says dryly. "Even if it 'just' shunted us to Whitehold as the nearest battle-site, it'd be better than being overrun out there. But... the numbers suspected around the target..."

"Well, if it's a more normal battle site.. something that can be stabbed, then I call Corwin and hide behind him." Ryika quirks a grin a that notion. "These zombies? They don't seem much for the stabbings. Or the on fire. Or the anything."

"If I can cut one significantly, I should be able to drop it there and then," Lisette says, striving to sound reassuring. "So... just do that a million times or so, right?"

"Exactly. No problem." Ryika quips and then shakes her head. "I think the scale is beyond our capabilities, honestly. Mine at least. I'm not sure the fact that we don't know what's there, or what needs doing at that source of power.. it doesn't make the risks worth it yet. Then again, I'm not sure where else to go. I hope Quin does. Or Merri."

"Perhaps someone who can have an actual conversation with the goddess?" Lisette shrugs. "I don't know what Robert heard, or saw - it was clearly something. But... it didn't look like much //information// was being exchanged."

The gang is back on deck of the ship, Merrisol is on a trump call. Robert is elsewhere. Quin is apparently back from distraction. Ryika and Lisette are chatting quietly. "When Quin tried to talk to her on Antika.. it was like a massive game of really angry twenty questions, where she threw him around vaguely one direction for yes, and vaguely another for no. I don't know if Robert had more luck sweet talking her or not, but she didn't exactly /chat/ last time either."

Lisette nods pensively. "So there's clearly a... mind in there. And one capable of recognising and responding to questions. That //should// mean there's some way to get a more... useful connection going, I should think. Though I don't have one, myself."

Quinlan grins. "Mind doesn't necessarily mean intelligence. I offered a ouija-board approach, something that'd allow words to be spelled out, but she stuck with strict yes-no spin cycles."

"You'd think so.. but she doesn't seem to generally /want/ to talk. Compel. Force. Cajole. But communicate? Not really something she feels strongly about." Ryika shakes her head a little.

To the image of Amethyst, Merrisol listens, then nods slowly to the response. "Your candor is very much appreciated, Highness. And your reluctance is understandable," he adds softly. "Minos has been broken for a very long time, and when it is just a few attempting to fix things, the complications become overwhelming. I do hesitate to bring in others into such things. It's not fair to them. And it's on me, if they come to harm." He thinks on that himself for a few seconds, then shakes his head. "It's also on me, if I could have asked them, and didn't. Anyway. You know what I'm talking about." Probably. He narrows his gaze a bit while he considers that he might be speaking metaphorically for nothing.

Maggie climbs up on deck from below. Looking around as she reaches the top of the stairs, she spots the gang a bit forward of her position. Walking toward them, she catches some of the conversation and her expression turns wry. "Hello, all. She, meaning the storm, answered based on most literal interpretation of the question. If there is an imagination in there, it is not one I recognize."

"I'd expect whatever's in there to be... limited, given how fractured she seems to be," Lisette concedes. "But she does appear to both recognise a question and give a response to it in particular. Perhaps we can determine - rather than just by trial and error - what might happen if she //does// get to grips with one of the artifacts."

Quinlan mmms. "I'd say, honestly, that it's beyond her capability. And, not to sound like a complete *jerk*, but...when you ask people to do things that make them aware that they're just not *bright* enough to do it, they tend to get pissed. Which she very definitely did. Get pissed, I mean. Yes-No seems to be the *limit* of what she can handle. And not complex questions, either."

"Doing what she wanted with the artifacts.. well one of them at least, prompted Antika to be devastated by storms and largely cut off from the rest of Minos while she basically beat the almighty living snot out of it." Ryika explains to Lisette, glancing to Maggie and Quinlan for confirmation on what she's saying. "I mean.. don't get me wrong. I'm pretty sure that we're overlooking something, not making a connection somewhere, or have completely misinterpreted something that we've now decided is fact, but figuring out the what of it? I don't know how to do it. It just has that sense of 'we're missing something' about it all."

Maggie says, "I've been wondering about that, Ryika. Actually. When the heart, which as it happens is the seat of her anger, was buried, anger amplified was the result. The other one is a head. Well. A skull, really. I can't help but wonder if reason would be equally amplified if the skull shell was buried on an island." She pauses to look to Quinlan, then back to the others, "I... kind of feel for her. I mean... Assuming someone hacked her to pieces; whether justified or not, then scattered the pieces all over Shadow... That's got to hurt. On a lot of levels. So, the other question we are hoping to answer is why that happened."

To the image of Amethyst, Merrisol looks mildly bewildered by the first statement. "But..." Oh, nevermind. He smirks at Amy, "Well, yes, of course I do. At the very very least, we'll be able to check off that box on the list that says: 'And Amethyst wasn't any help at all.'" He pauses, takes a breath, and tilts his head. "Think you could exchange that paintbrush for a weapon, and dress a little more securely against bites.. before I hand you through?"

Lisette nods worriedly. "I agree we seem to be missing something. And anything practical that we try will be a gamble. But right now... either burying items or delivering them to the storm itself seems our best bet for //changing// things. Sadly, that might be for the worse. Still... I could do with a rest, I'm afraid. I'll see most of you when I wake, I suspect."

Quinlan looks up as one of Robert's quite distinctive knotwork birds approaches. "Guess he wasn't ready to come up yet," he muses, as he holds out his arm for the bird to land and deliver its message. Unfolding the letter, he purses his lips. "Robert's willing to take responsibility for doing what the goddess wants," he says. "Says to trust him on this. So far, crazy as he can be sometimes, he hasn't given me reason not to."

"It.. hunh." Ryika starts and then pauses to think about Maggie's words a moment. "Y'know, at this point.. I'm not even sure that it's not just worth trying, because we're out of what feels like sensible things to try. It's true, the skull doesn't make anyone lose their brain for grrr rarr, or anything." She looks to Quinlan at Robert's message and nods. "Hey, I'm just the transportation here. And now that we can sail between islands fairly easily, I'm not even terribly useful for that."

To the image of Amethyst, Merrisol is staaaaring at the trump card, and the other side of the dialogue might be running a little long, because he doesn't say anything for a little while. Talk about captive audience. After a while, he shakes his head minutely at her, several times. "All set?" he asks presently, even-toned, and almost pleased with himself for not just hanging up in a fluster.

Maggie watches Ryika for a moment, then turns to look up at her tall cousin, "Hrm. Well. I am inclined to trust Robert, Quin. And if my reasoning is not full of muck and assumptions, then... I think we should go ahead and bury the head. Er. Skull... shell. Does Robert mean all of what she wants? Heard and head?" She looks vaguely bemused as her attention drifts over to Merrisol and his trump conversation. "Why does that sound like one of those things? You know..." Looking back, she adds, "Some things come in threes. Head, hand and heart is one of those threes. Maybe what we are missing is the hand. So, burying the head, we might get reason. Burying the heart, passion. If we had the hand, we might get action... Or... something. It sounds like part of a prophecy."

Quinlan nods. "He says items, plural. So yeah. Both of them. And maybe we'll find the hand as we go?"

To the image of Amethyst, Merrisol looks curious as he observes, "It looks fine. Not the loaner from Celeste, either." While he determines there's enough space before him for the transport, the scope of his awareness broadens to realize Maggie has joined the group. Deep breath, and he smiles, a hint wrathfully. "Come on through, Amy." He extends his hand to her.

"I can go retrieve the heart. I can't say as I'm as enthusiastic about adding /it/ to things, but apparently she's fond of Kites, or something." Ryika comments to Quinlan and Maggie with a bit of a shrug. "I'm not saying don't do it, because well. Honestly, I'll try anything at this point, but there's some portion of me that.." She trails off and shakes her head. "Never mind. I'll go get the other piece, then?"

Maggie lifts a hand, "Wait on that, Ryika, please. Before we do that, we need to find one of the uninhabited islands. If... there are any. I don't want to unleash more devastation on people and evacuating one of the larger islands is not likely to be a viable option. Especially not at short notice. Just because Robert agrees with the goddess does not necessarily make it safe." Looking up at Quinlan, she inclines her head toward Robert's missive, "Did he happen to say whether she would be kind and gentle this time around? Or can we expect more of the same?" Her gaze flickers to Merrisol a couple of times, curiosity hovering behind her gaze.

The image of Amethyst certainly didn't know Maggie is there, nope. She nods, as she reaches forward to take Merrisol's hand. "Alright then, let's see what's going on over there. Her guards, on the other side of the door just outside her quarters? They're not going to be happy.

Quinlan shakes his head. "His entire message was, 'give the goddess what she wants, trust me on this'. Which is pretty wordy for him, really."

Merrisol gives Amethyst's hand a quick squeeze, then turns her loose on the rest of the company on deck. The Wave Dancer is anchored off the coast of the mainland, about five hundred meters of sea and shallows between the ship and the shore. Towering, angry walls of dark churning stormy weather angle in from both the east and the west, ending abruptly at the lapping shoreline, of which a good rambling, angular strip exists between the two oddly stationary weather systems.

Also present is a parchment map, unrolled and secured to a frame for easy viewing, that appears to represent the long-range view of a good, wide, north-south strip of mainland beyond the coast. The map is a quick, clear illustration, based off Quinlan's illusory image. Details of ruined cities in decay, tracts of wasteland, hills and marshes, indicate possibly days of travel time over land. Overlaid in a tinted wash are spots of gold, which the legend says is ancient magic source. A red-tinted wash covers more of the area, and indicates large concentrations of undead magic contagion. Farthest north, the details thin out, but the presence of both red and gold are well saturated, representing both a great power and a thick infestation that far outstrips any of the threats present around the cities.

Amy is in adventure mode - no guards, hah! don't tell Dad. Ahem. She flashes a wide grin at Merrisol and then turns to look around. Map - ooh, neat. A frown, as she tries to decode it. "Hi," she says, sort of distractedly. "Are you sure this is the right place? And that you really need a Mandrake?"

Quinlan indicates the expanse of mainland. "You'd know better than us," he says. "There's a magical contagion making zombies out there. We just need to know if it makes zombies out of the living, or the dead. But also, really, someone who can fly and thus scout ahead is very helpful. Right now there's just me."

Maggie glances over as Amy is handed through. She smiles and waves to her cousin, "Hey, Amy. Uh. Yeah. We're sure and yes. Absolutely." Drifting toward the map that is on display, she motions toward the mainland, then to the map. "We're... Uh. Here." Her finger lowers to point where the ship rests. "We have been presented with a conundrum. There may be information on the mainland about the Minosian storm goddess who has been..." Looking up, she grins as Quinlan gives the short version, "YEah. What he said."

Amy's smile for Maggie is warm, and also for Quinlan. "Right," she says, as she looks up, spying the big stormy clouds for the first time. "Oh," she says, totally not eloquently. Her eyes gleam slightly, as she looks at the clouds, and then turns to follow them, actually spinning in a full circle to see what she can see. As she spins, she says, "I can fly, yes, but I am not so sure anyone wants to go for a ride yet."

Ryika wanders off a little from the group, mostly watching the stars and then going down below decks for a short time. She returns a little while later with a shallow bowl filled with water. She settles away from the group, resting it in her lap as she sits cross-legged to watch the reflection of the water within.

Quinlan shrugs. "Well...if you're willing to overfly the land? See what you can see, and how it might relate to these?" He indicates the bands of color on the map.

Ryika is ignoring the rest of those on the ship, her entire attention is upon the bowl of water in her lap. The movement of the deck making her, and it, rock gently, but not enough to spill. She frowns a little, still watching the water.

Maggie smiles again at Amy and falls back to watch Quinlan fill her in. Spotting Ryika with her bowl of water, she considers moving that way to see what is going on, but comments to Amy, "I'd go. You might want to practice before hauling Robert aloft. Besides, I understand fire kills the zombies." Fire. The cure-all. Sort of.

Amy's still staring at the stormwall, spinning in a circle. "The storm is blazing with life. It's like the whole storm is alive, almost. The life force is flowing from the storm, to the mainland, I think. That way - " with a hand gesture in the right direction. "And back to the storm. Storms. What, by the unicorn's bushy tail, is going on?" That last is totally rhetorical. She takes a breath, and gives Maggie a fleeting grin, attention moving so that she spies Ryika as well, offering the Rebman a smile of greeting. "Maggie, you - are a very brave woman, if you're going to chance my flying."

Quinlan smiles. "See, that's what we're trying to find out, Amy. Oh, and be careful of using fire. The zombies may well notice you, flying. They'll follow you right back to the shore if you let them. If anyone here has your trump, pick one to keep in contact with. Let them pull you back to the ship directly, when you're done scouting, so that you don't leave a trail the zombies can follow. They *swarm* to living beings. We really want to avoid that."

Ryika blinks, her usual composure apparently lacking when she's staring at a bowl of water in her lap. She leans in a touch, as if to look at it closer, wahtever she might see. Amy's greeting, lost upon her as she stares. She'll have to apologize later. "Uhh.."

Maggie moves back to Amy and Quinlan, nodding, "We do want to figure this out, but not by endangering people overly. Me? I've been wondering if the zombies and the goddess share an origin. Or, maybe she's feeding on their life energy. Or... Maybe she created them with a death curse. Though we have no evidence for any of that... Anyway. I'm willing to fly with you to help keep you safe, Amy. I'm not sure what weapons you have in dragon form other than teeth and claws and I suspect that you don't want to use either on a zombie. Fire or wind may give us a way to make a distraction if we need one." She flashes Quinlan a querying glance, "Not use fire? Hmmm. Well, I can move some amounts of wind. Enough to strike a punch, anyway. Maybe that would help. Or... Maybe it would be better if Amy did not have a passenger." Hearing Ryika, Maggie turns to watch the Rebman, "Uhhh? That does not sound good."

Amy turns her attention to Quinlan, and then to Maggie, as they both give a bit of information. She glances over at Ryika at the sound, and frowns. "Zombies - do they fly? Or rather, how intelligent are they?" she asks, first, just to check. "I'm guessing the idea would be to not let them know there's a ship out here. So if we're flying over head, landing anywhere there are zombies to see us would be bad. But flying above the storm might not give us any information, yes?" As she speaks, she drifts towards the edge of the deck, still looking out at the walls of stormy cloud. "This would make a phenomenal painting," she murmurs and then her eyes widen as she stops cold. "The life force just pulsed, over that way." Off, maybe on the mainland? Maybe.

"Not very intelligent. And no, they don't fly. But they *can* see you, flying up above. And statistically speaking at least one or two *will* notice you, and follow you from the ground. Like ants, thus making a trail that draws other zombies after them. Thus, fire doesn't help - it just turns the zombie following you into a beacon that draws a lot more attention." He winces. "Found that out last night. Use wind, or ...anything else, really, but not something that makes light or sound."

It can't be all bad, there's just a flicker of a smile that touches Ryika's face as she watches the plain water in the bowl. Plain to everyone else, at least. She mmms softly and then waggles a hand. Some tiny bit of her is paying attention, ish at least. "It gets better."

Maggie nods to Quinlan, then follows Amy's direction. Her tone is almost wistful, "I wish I thought that there was a way to cure them all and give them back their lives. But... maybe I'm being overly pessimistic..." Or realistic. Maybe that. "But, I don't." And that clearly makes her sad. Looking over toward Ryika, Maggie tries a bit of a smile, "If we do as the goddess asks? That is good to know." Looking back to the mainland, then to Amy, she nods, "Well. Ready when you are, Amy."

Amy frowns, though that expression doesn't last too long. She takes a breath, and looks at Quinlan. "Right. Seems flight might be the best thing to do. Should I be trumping you?" That asked, she looks to make sure there's enough room. And then she concentrates. It only takes about a minute or so, and then there's a flash of heat, a wavering of form, and then there's a large purple - yes... Purple! dragon. Big as a large warhorse.

Maggie turns to watch Amy turn all dragony, but has to turn away at the flash that marks the crucial moment. Then, she steps closer, eyeing her cousin, "So... Personally? I'd like to fly in the direction of the life-energy flash. See if it is leading you somewhere or giving us clues. Um. Can you carry me this way? Or... I don't want to hinder you." Weird to be asking a /dragon/ if she is too heavy or awkward to carry. Sheesh, Maggie.

"Good.. ish? It's not the smoothest thing, but I think she's hoping to cleanse, and hve it renew?" Ryika answers to Quinlan with a little frown. "It's omens. Clarity is not the strong suit of omens. Nor visions. Nor necessarily accuracy. Omens are better than visions that way though."

Quinlan exhales. "Good. I'd hate to have to I-told-you-so at my brother for the next decade because he got an island charred or power-scrubbed."

"Power-scrubbed is still on the table. But power-scrubbed to let it flourish after? At least that's what I got from the omens." Ryika notes to Quinlan. "We might have to extend her an apology by the end of it. Paranoia is strong.. or we might yet be snookered and it all goes horribly horribly wrong."

Amy rumbles without realizing. "No saddle. I'm not worried about the weight, just my flying skill," she says. "But c'mon, you should be able to balance, right? And hold on? if I go sideways?" Cause this being Amy - she might. "Cleanse and renew? Wait, sort of like Kitezh?" Blink. Amy rumbles slightly, her voice slightly deeper in dragon form. "Oh. You don't? Someone remind me to give Quinlan a trump." Cause that's a bit difficult in dragon form. "I have one, just can't get to it at the moment."

Maggie nods and her smile is grim, "I can balance, Amy. That is something that I am pretty good at, what with one thing and another." After taking a moment to plan her approach, she climbs up onto Amy's back, then pauses, "Wait a sec... I have a trump of you that Quin can have, Amy. I can paint another." Her hand dips to her belt trump pouch. Opening it, she fingers through the available cards until she comes to the one she wants. Lifting it out, she turns to offer the card to Quinlan. "Here you go."

Quinlan accepts it, nodding. "I'll trump her, and you can share the contact, once you're airborne," he says. "Then when you're ready, I'll pull you back here."

"I'm really hoping that we skip some of the mess that Kitezh was. Cause I swear, the raining blood still figures in some of my nightmares." Ryika comments on Amy's comparison. She watches the trump exchange and nods. "I can grab too, if need be."

Amy admits, "I didn't see much of what happened to Kitezh - I was sent to Lyonesse at the time." But she's certainly heard many things. She crouches down so Maggie can climb up, and then she waits for the trump to exchange hands. Her wings flutter slightly, as she waits. And then she twines her neck so she can tell Maggie, "Here we go."

Quinlan steps back, to give the dragon space to take off. Once they're airborne and steady, he opens up the trump contact with Amy.

Maggie nods to Amy, "I'm ready." She turns a glance back over the deck, her expression calm and confident. Merrisol is offered a smile, though it is broken off when Amy begins to move. Facing forward then, she allow a bit of flexibility to enter her spine and hips as she prepares to go where the dragon goes.

Quinlan takes the time to get a writing board, some parchment and a pen, just in case there are any *immediate* notes to take.

As soon as they move over the mainland, both Maggie and Amy can see the random packs of zombies on the ground along with a large scorched spot on the ground from where Quinlan torched one such pack previously.

Merrisol gives both Maggie and Amy a 'safe flight' wave, then settles against the port rail to watch the dragon and rider swoop across the water and then over land. He pulls out his deck and selects Maggie's card, extra insurance for a pull-back, since Quinlan has Amy's now.

Maggie waves back to Merrisol and the others, then nods once, laughter soft on the wind, "I kind of got that feeling, Amy. No worries, though. You're doing just great." She looks down as they approach the mainland, trying to see if the zombies are describing some kind of pattern or apparent migration flow. Do they mix and mingle or stay segregated into packs. "Are you headed for where you felt the pulse of life? Can you tell where it was now?"

"Make sure you keep an eye out for landmarks, when you use your life-vision," interjects Quinlan. "Helps when calibrating the overlay."

Amy is following the flow of the life force, headed towards the mainland. "Uhm, well, I tried to stay facing it, so it kind of depends on if I'm flying straight or not," she replies. She continues to go, wings strong as they beat against the air. She's obviously improved significantly. Quinlan's note gets a thoughtful rumble, and then Amy says, "There are pinpoints of life - small - moving bits of - life."

After a bit of studying the pattern there seems to be a good bit of mingling. When two packs come together they rarely split off the same as they were before. Some of it seems random but the further they fly toward the area where Amy saw the pulse of life force, the more organized the mass of zombies appears. The movements no longer look so random closer to the pulse of life force until finally they see an area where they cannot even see the land because there are so many zombies below.

Quinlan readies the pen. "Any commentary?"

Merrisol shades his gaze to keep sight of the duo, or at least Amy, as they range out further. Quinlan's green stormsilks might be flashy, but the dragon's purple wingspan is just more visible. Once they are too far away to see well, Merri goes over to Quinlan's off-hand side and places a hand on his shoulder. "Are you over that massive clot of undead yet? Can you tell if they are facing inward, or outwards?"

Maggie sits in silence for a while, studying the zombies below, "Uh. Kerf? Quinlan?" Her tone sounds faintly disturbed, "Guys? The zombies are... Well, I don't know about are, per se, but they seem to be more organized in here. Closer to where Amy saw a pulse of life. I can't tell if they are more alive or not, but maybe? What do you think, Amy?"

Amy might be flying a bit lower, so she can get a better look. "It's like there are stars in my eyes," she replies. "There is life force - a very tiny point - in each of those beings moving down there. I am seeing signs of life, for sure. And they are gathering, maybe? I don't know which way they are facing, but I don't think I can see the ground." Course that might just be the life sense stars in her eyes.

Quinlan mmms. "Well. That does at least confirm that Feldane isn't wrong to consider this their turf. Also, that I wasn't wrong in thinking the forces in play might be multiple. What kind of life are you seeing?"

Merri mutters to Quinlan and the others as well, "Specks of life? This is different from the contagion, which accounts for the whole animated corpse. What counts as life?" he adds curiously to Quinlan's question. "A little brain activity? A bit of remnant soul?"

Maggie waits for the others to have their say, then speaks softly, "No...no. You are not star-blinded, Amy. I can't see the ground either. But, I can't tell if they are going in toward the center or out or both. I'm not sure that we can tell whether they have brain activity or whatever without cutting them open to see, Kerf. I don't think that any of us are up for that, though. Hey... Can you tell if the life is being renewed or fading? I mean... is it growing when they move in one direction as opposed to another?"

"I don't know what it is, exactly, but there is something alive inside the zombies," Amy says. She banks to circle around, so they can hopefully see more. Or learn more. "Good questions - I'm not sure of the answers yet. Maybe if we circle, we can learn more?"

"Take your time," advises Quinlan. "Answers are important but only if they're the right ones. Maggie, take note of where you are. And the dominant movements. We'll need that."

The mass of zombies seems to be partly focused inward and partly focused outward. At one point a small animal moves into range of the mass of zombies and they literally fall on it and tear it to pieces.

Merrisol falls silent so the questions so far can be focused upon.

Maggie nods, "Okay." She lifts her gaze and looks around to gauge their location and fix it in her mind for later. When she looks down again, she balks a little without moving. "Oh, man. They just... shredded something. Uh. They... other than the ones destroying the critter, are not all going in one direction, Quin. they are sort of going either in or out. I'll let Amy look at the life sense."

Amydragon continues to fly, circling. She watches, wincing a bit, a slight flinch noticeable in her flight as she spies that poor animal - life sense snuffed out there. "That was probably something tasty," is her comment. Sigh. "And I think - the life force is strongest here. Like maybe it's a source or something." She evens her flight back out again. "Right, the ones that are closest to the strongest life force spot, they seem to be the most alive, the most organized and more active."

Quinlan jots this down, asking, "Any notes about landmarks? Or do you want to mark the map yourself when you get back?"

Maggie says, "I'll mark the map, Quinlan. Amy? Could it be that the storm's pulse put life into here for them? Could she be keeping them... Well, maybe not alive, but with life? Or do you think the life pulse came because she pulled life from here into her? Or can you tell?" She feels the wince and one hand drops to rest on her cousin's hide. What an odd thought... "K. Weird question, Amy." What, another one? "Assuming the zombies gained sustenance from the... animal down there, is it the same kind of energy as the life sparks? Or not? Can you tell?"

Merrisol murmurs in dubious wonder, "How can any critters still be alive in all that." He pauses, frowning at himself for even thinking it, before he says, "Do you think that if you attracted their attention, they'd try to get at you? Even just enough to see what it is they're standing on?"

Amy twines her head a bit, glancing at Maggie. Is there /that/ expression on Amydragon's face? "That is a weird question. I'm not sure I can answer it without some more study. And Merrisol, are you asking me to divebomb them?"

Quinlan blinks at Merrisol. "From a rabbit's point of view, zombies are probably *less* dangerous than the average human," he says.

Maggie shrugs, "Yeah, but... But. I'd love an answer to it if we can find one. The other question is kind of a corollary. Or, the other weird one. If she did not leave the energy for them, did they feed her when they hit some kind of critical mass of life energy." She nibbles her lower lip, trying not to think too much about the poor ex-creature down there. Instead, she draws in a breath and nods to Amy, "Let's dive bomb them. See if we can see what they are on."

Merri sideglances at Quinlan. They're still alive because they don't think zombies are dangerous..? That's what he thought he heard, but probably best not to linger on such questions when there is the question of divebombing. "No, Amy," he breathes, and repeats, "No," when it seems like they are really seriously considering that. "I can see a stunt like that going very wrong," he winces. "What about a.. roar..? Or Maggie, could you pluck some away with some wind.." No wait, that's Quinlan's power... umm. "Maggie.. you have a good hold on Amy. Right?" Just.. not the membrane bit. Kitezh. Remember Kitezh!!

Amy laughs softly, stretching out, and flying a bit lower, as she considers. "Let's see. Hold tight, Maggie, and cover your ears." She picks up speed and then drops, not down to zombie touching range, but down to where she can roar, with all the lungs, sound and power of a Mandrake Dragon.

The zombies are clearly not intelligent enough to realize they should be frightened of a Mandrake dragon. Rather than scattering, they pull inward, packing into a mass of hunger that reaches up for the dragon as she flies low.

Quinlan winces and offers his hand to pull Amy through, just in case one of those zombies actually snags her.

Hold on /and/ cover her ears? Oh, Amy... the things you expect of your two handed cousin... Still. Maggie does hold on, leaning low over Amy's back and hooking her arms along Amy's shoulders. She meticulously keeps her arms and hands away from Dragon Membranes! By concentrating, she does two things. The first is to control the air about her ears to keep it from vibrating with that mighty roar. The second is to gather some of the air that they fly through. She compresses it into a ball that she then sends crashing into the reaching mass of zombies to see if she can knock them aside like bowling pins in an overfull alley. Just to get a glimpse of what they are standing on.

As the wind bursts down toward the ground, it is blunted by a matching burst of wind tossed back up at them from the ground, much like the burst of wind that slammed into Maggie when she air punched the storm on Antika.

Merrisol stops breathing for a few seconds when he understands they are not simply divebombing or roaring, but dive-roaring. He grips Quinlan's shoulder a little tighter, and also reflexively raises Maggie's trump. Before he can attempt some mind-pummeling triplevison, he sees Maggie beyond Amethyst, lashing out at the swarm from a good mid-range, only to have the wind buffeted back. These two are going to give him an aneurysm. "Maggie-..!" he gasps, "Trumping - catch my hand!" He drops his hand from Quinlan's shoulder and focuses on Maggie's trump instead.

Quinlan offers his own, to pull Amethyst through if she loses control. Wind and flight by wings, not good, not good.

Okay, so maybe that was contradictory advice. Amy is trying to see what the Zombies are walking on. She raises her tail as one of them gets dangerously close to grabbing it, lashing it swiftly. That has her wobble a bit just as that wind gust slams back at them. Wobble slide and Amy goes sideways, nearly to a ninety degree as the wind gust pushes her nearly over.

While trying to see what the zombies are walking on, Maggie feels the ripple of energy or muscle movement that sends Amy's tail snapping like a whip. She holds on as the wobble flutters through Amy. But, when the air slams back at them from the mass o'zombies just the way it did when she sent a similar blast up into the storm, Maggie is kind of stunned. Not because of the force, though that was significant enough to send Amy into a sideways near-roll. It is because the reaction was the same. Her momentary distraction by that realization is enough that Amy's movements are almost lost on her and she teeters, then tightens her legs on Amy's sides. The wind buffets her hair, sending strands of dyed brown glory fluttering about her head like mini-flags, tendrils or the normal Rebman look. Her hands scrabble for purchase, still trying to avoid that membrane. Merrisol's offer of a hand is met with wild, wide-eyed gratitude, "Amy? I'm going back. Take Quin's?" Her hand leaves Amy's hide to meet Merrisol's. The loss of contact definitly could feel as though she slipped off. Maybe the loss of added weight will give Amy enough lift to regain her equalibrium.

Merrisol knows the feel of Maggie's hand well, and through trump connection it is warm and willing. He tugs her through across the span of miles, onto the deck and instantly hauled into his arms. A second or so goes by and then he's expectantly looking at Quinlan, reaching for the other cousin. Amy, damn it.

Quinlan is reaching for Amy, but waits until Maggie is safely pulled through. Wouldn't want her ride to vanish from under her, after all. "Come through!"

Maggie's fingers lace with Merrisol's, her willingness to be pulled to him clear in every fiber of her being. She stumbles onto the deck, but glides into his arms with an equal willingness. Holding him close, she thrums with energy for several seconds before she turns her head expectantly, waiting. "Come on, Amy. Come on."

Amy's struggling to not lose Maggie. The sound she emits is more a whimper than a roar as she feels Maggie sliding off, sudden fear that she's lost her making her miss Quinlan's offer at first. And as Maggie's words sink in, the relief has her whimper turn into a roar, as her wings strain to keep her up in the air. Beating hard, they pull and stretch, lessons from chasing Chase coming to play, as she manages to even herself out and get back into flying. She still doesn't take Quinlan's hand just yet, instead arching up to rise above the zombies, and then as she gets her flight into control, she flies straight in one direction, her gaze honing in on Quinlan, and one forelimb reaching for his hand, as she already starts to backpedal, beginning to stop her flight even as she comes through the trump.

Oh. Why did Merri think Quinlan was going to pull on a dragon's talon and end up with a small, albeit buff, chick on this side of things? As soon as the back-flapping purple Amybeast appears, Merrisol is too busy backing away from Quinlan himself, with Maggie still ensconced. His hair goes whipping back, and hopefully that's the only thing that takes flight from the crash impact.

Maggie has turned a little to watch for Amy's appearance, though she remains infolded in Merrisol's arms. Her relief on being pulled from the clutches of ravenous, pitiless zombies has not yet registered as Amy is still out there over the roiling mass of undead. She holds Merrisol more tightly as Quinlan's offer seems to be accepted. Relief melts away as Amy appears through the rainbow-hued two-to-three dimensional space of trump transportation. Then Merrisol is moving back quickly to get out of the way and Amy's back-strokes from her powerful wings sends wind to push them all hither and thither. Maggie's hair flutters against Merrisol's sides and she dances to keep up with Merrisol without stomping on his feet in her haste to scramble out of the way. In case of Dragon colliding with Mage? Flee.

Amy's wings give a large hard backpedal, and then she concentrates, letting go of Quinlan's hand and changing shape as momentum carries her - whichever way it goes. There's that flash of heat, and then whatever Amy ends up smacking against, with all that has happened, it's enough to snap her head back and knock her out. Thud.

Now, Maggie should go check on Amy. She should. And she heads for the stairs down. Or, maybe she is guided that way by Merrisol. Either way, she stops sort of dead, forcing whomever is with her to skitter or sidestep or move on. Turning, she looks at Merrisol first, "Oh... Oh. I know. I know what is going on. Maybe." Then her eyes turn to Quinlan and Robert in turn, "Her body is buried on the mainland and the zombies are the result... or maybe the manifestation... of her hunger. It is a thoughtless, emotionless hunger. Just as the storm on Antika was the result of her unfettered rage. It is the skull that will give her reason. So, yeah. She needs all three, but I think we should bury the skull soon and the heart after." While she pauses for a moment to let them think about that, she does not wait long for reactions from them as adrenaline only lasts for so long and her knees are growing weak as awareness of how close she came to being zombified as zombie-food kicks in.

Quinlan sighs. "My brother is asking me to take an *unusual* amount on faith, I swear," he says. "A corrupt hand. A heart full of rage. And we're hoping adding *intellect* won't mean unleashing nine kinds of hell on this Shadow."

Maggie inhales, "Well. We don't want to do that. I'm... I'm Minosian. Probably susceptible to her manipulations. So, I'm going to try not to say that we need to bury her bits anymore. I can't guarantee that the feeling that we should do so is not coming from her. I truly do not want to tear Minos up any more than it already has been. But. Yeah. Anyway. Body on the mainland. Head and heart elsewhere. And... I need to lie down before I fall down. I am sorry."

Quinlan shakes his head. "No. For good or ill every Shadow has the right to its own choices. I think it's insane. But really, rocks and very *thin* glass houses on that front. We let Caine live. We let Corwin live. I bet you fifty nice fat geese, too, that Benedict turns out to be alive somewhere *really weird* after a while. I've got no room, not even tiny wiggle room, to go telling other people how they should live their lives or govern their Shadows." He shrugs. "So I won't. I'm just...going to feel really bad about it if my help turns out to be 'help sending this Shadow to Hell'. 'Cos I try not to make things worse, you know?"

Maggie nods, the faint chuckle that sounds both wry and thin. "Yeah. I know. Ditto, Quin. All the way." With that, though? She waves and heads down the stairs and away.



Morning. It generally turns up at least once a day, often unreasonably early. It also often finds a Ryika settled under a blanket on a deck chair, hot coffee in a thermal carafe nearby and fresh pastries nearby waiting for anyone else who happens to be up and wandering out to end up in the usual deck gathering place for conversation, catching up and copious amounts of random and wild speculation. She's sipping coffee and writing in her notebook, not that the ink leaves any traces on the page that can be generally seen.

Merrisol walks across the deck, dressed in his red. Seeing Ryika, amongst the chairs, he joins her with a quiet word of morning greeting, and settles in when invited. The coffee he takes is simply out of habit, as he looks particularly well-rested for the first time in a while. "Been by Alhambra yet?"

Robert pads slowly up on deck, looking about to see the state of both it and the weather around them. There's a thoughtful look on his face as he heads towards the pair already there, cloak wrapped around his shoulders to keep the worst of the winds at bay. "Good day," is greeted in the usual gruff Kite tones.

"Mmmm. Hmmm mmmm." Ryika answers indistinctly to Merri's question, with a little nod and then gestures at coffee and baklava and other Alhambran pastries. "Breakfast, if you're interested."

Merrisol acquires a sampling of breakfast things. "Never can tell. Mouse is a quick study," he kids. "Good morning, Lord Robert. Won't you join us," he glances to the dour Feldane. "Quinlan got your messages.. they could use elaboration."

Robert locates food and gains some, moving over with his plate to take a seat with the others. "Elaboration? I'm not sure what else you require. The artifacts belong to the storm goddess and should be appropriately re-united with her." That's it, as far as he's concerned.

"The last time we tried that particular game, she nearly destroyed Antika. Or so it seemed. Which has made us spectacularly leery of giving her more." Ryika answers quietly, still writing. "It's starting to seem like a better idea every minute, however."
Merrisol pauses for Ryika's comments, then asks evenly, "When the artifacts are returned to her, will she cease the cordon aroundMinos? Not that it has to happen in that order, necessarily."

Lisette approaches, at least half her attention firmly fixed upon breakfast... though she does manage to bow to the gathering before moving to fold herself into a vacant spot. "Wasn't the last effort to 'return' one a matter of burying it? If she's in the storm rather than the ground..."

"Oh? What happened? I know little of prior efforts. BUt I am convinced it is the appropriate course of action. As for what will happen?" Robert shakes his head. "I have no set idea. But I understand some of her sentiment even if only expressed in rudimentary ways. And will take all blame should courses go wrong."

"I'm not so concerned about blame or the assigning therein. It'll be a hollow comfort if we manage to destroy the shadow in the process." Ryika mmms softly. "Dirk and Maggie were both strongly compelled to retrieve artifacts out of shadow and bring them to islands here in Minos. Dirk set his under a tree, if I'm remembering correctly.. do correct me if I'm wrong Merri.. and Antika ended up cut off in a hideous storm that felt like it was going to take the island apart. Maggie's never got set on an island, because after that first one, strangely enough, we were really not interested in giving her /more/ power." Ryika is thoughtful a moment. "But we're out of other options, to my mind. Short of a million Super Undead, or other even more suicidal plans."

Amy comes up from below, quietly joining the group. She nods her head to the group, but doesn't interrupt the conversation under way.

Robert frowns as he listens to Ryika. "I heard someone make mention of the fact that the relics appeared to wish to be brought together? I suspect that might be part of the issue as well." For some reason the Kite sounds like he has sympathy for the goddess, nodding to Amy as she joins the group.

Merrisol drinks coffee, and never loses the mellow look entirely in spite of Ryika's pointed retelling of recent days of mayhem and wrath on Antika. He stands as Lisette joins them, greeting her, then resettles and nods presently to his fellow Rebman. He closes his eyes and leans more solidly against the backrest, reciting, "Captive ships sent to the bottom of the harbour, well over one hundred. A portion of the sailors from each one, dead. Twenty ships hanging on by way of stormcraft would have gone down if it had kept up. Impassable wall of storm for shipments, other than what a mirror mage could deliver. As well - once the heart had been laid on Antika, the storm around Minos, once navigable, became impassable to all but the shadow-capable vessels. Attempts to remove the heart from the ground into which it had sunk were repelled with desperate determination on her part." He looks thoughtful, gaze roaming from face to face, as he adds, "On the other hand, after Quinlan was allowed to express concern over her treatment of the populace, the storms in the harbour lightened enough for the last twenty to make their escape. Her anger renewed when we were finally able to get our hands on the heart, and when it was removed to Alhambra, Antika was freed from storm. The Minos Wall, however, held and became stronger still."

Merrisol headshakes over Robert's mentioning the attraction between shells. "I don't know why that would be at this point. When the heart was in Antika soil, we tried a few times to bring the skull through the wall into the interior. Once successful, Stormy was decidedly unpleased; tried to blow the holder off the island, manipulated and compelled the Storm-bloods to see it done."

"I think the notion of bringing them together was ours, not hers. To the best of my recollection, she wanted different pieces on different islands, which to the perspective we could manage, felt like it was just going to go to hell in a handbasket and we'd have two devastated islands rather than one." Ryika frowns just a touch. "I can accept that we've been wrong the whole damn time, but I support our earlier choices. I'm delighted that it's all tea and scones and adoration between you and her, Robert.. but I can't say as I actually /trust/ it. There's just a resigned portion of me that thinks we might have a better hope of fixing it after it all goes to hell rather then preventing it.. whatever it is, at this point. I really do have sympathy for her. If she's a goddess who got shattered in the sundering and she just wants to put herself back together.. that's a long time to be in pieces, and yep.. I expect she /really/ would like to get herself back together. The omens I got last night were of a period of terrible storms, but prosperity afterwards, all lush and green and with people on the islands. So perhaps I'm trying to push the paranoia down just a little to be open to the idea."

"Could we perhaps warn the islands to prepare for severe storms, before we try anything?", Lisette suggests. "Try to reduce the casualties?"

Robert frowns as he listens, trying to put the pieces together though there's a slow shake of his head. "I would go alone and offer her the heart. On the whole I don't feel all of us risking our lives is something that needs to be done without a severe amount of thought. But I do think this is something that should be tried. Hence why I am prepared to do it myself." Something about all of this has apparently resonated on some level with the Lord Feldane. "I understand there have been issues trying such things in the past which would make this hazardous, but I am prepared to put my life on the line for it. As for warning others? I do not know what systems are in place for such a thing."

Merrisol listens to Ryika, then Lisette, and nods. "I believe Maggie's talk with the Minos Ambassador, Maereina, came away with the opinion that the goddess should have been let to conduct her business as well," he says. "Along with your vision, Ryika, I now agree there's nothing more to discuss. Lord Robert, the goddess's want all along was that the shells be set on two separate islands.. she had plenty of opportunity to take the heart from Dirk when he brought it into Minos. If you will speak with the Ambassador and have her communicate with the Commodores of the islands, selecting two of them to be evacuated, then seeded.. that would be the more sensible course of action. Simply holding the shell out to her leaves a lot to chance, if it accomplishes anything at all," he points out.

"By and large, when she's decided she's pissed off.. it's not really a solo experience, even if there's but a single person in front. It's more of an 'attempt to remove the observatory from the mountain' sort of experience. Which we all get to share in." Ryika mmms softly. "Although with some of the crap she did to Quinlan, I can't dispute that its a whole lot more hazardous for the one in front doing the talking. For a while, the heart brought with it an emotional response as well. I think that's fading, or we're all just getting more accustomed to it."

Robert frowns and shakes his head. "I made no mention of putting things on islands at all. And as I have previously stated my knowledge is based on what I experienced last night, not drawn from what you have experienced over the past weeks. As for communicating with the goddess? As things stand and I am sure my brother has mentioned? It's nigh on impossible. There is a visceral need for these things that I doubt any of you could or would truly understand. The desire to be whole trumps just about everything you are likely to experience. Believe me, I know. I have felt it. And it is that experience I draw from when I speak of this. And indeed risk again when I offer to do this alone. As for contingencies? I am not a great believer in complicating matters. This land is already under threat."

Merrisol considers Robert as he speaks more lengthily and even offers a glimpse into his personal hardships. He inclines his head, glancing over the bow towards the nearest storm wall. "Your estimation of our capacity to understand longing or despair notwithstanding, as long as the people 'under threat' are duly warned that things are about to get worse for an indeterminate period, you may as well attempt this thing your way, Lord Robert. Your personal risks are small, compared to one for whom death is a permanent state," he says, apparently impressed by everything except the claim of noble sacrifice.

Lisette offers Robert a rather concerned look, studying him for a few moments before nodding slowly. "How much notice will be required to give the islanders proper time to protect themselves?", she asks quietly.

Ryika has settled quiet at this point. Her comments made, she tucks the blanket more firmly around her legs, her pen just resting on her page rather than taking more notes.

Robert nods. "A warning can easily be sent to those who need to know and time allowed to accommodate. ONe trick of royal blood is at least the ability to send birds if little else. Therefore they can be dispatched in all due haste once names are given to me."

"And I can send birds as well," Amy says. "If it would help to have me make an effort to speak to this goddess, as well, I am willing to do so."

"I can trump Mae if that is helpful, or loan that off to someone who wishes to talk to her. Warning the Ambassador seems polite." Ryika breaks her silence to note and then frowns a little. "I need to return that to Dirk after this, come to think of it."

"Perhaps consulting with the Ambassador might provide us with a list of people to contact, and recommendations on how much time to grant them?", Lisette suggests.

Merrisol drinks coffee, then notices Amy when she speaks. "Good morning," he says to her, then nods to Ryika. "Start with the Ambassador. It's your call to make, Lord Robert," he says simply, in at least partial agreement with the rest.

Robert looks around the assembled people with a thoughtful look and nods. "I would advise that we get this done as soon as possible. So the more of us that prepare messages and warn those on the land the better."

Ryika digs into her trump case, coming up with Maereina's trump and offers it over to Robert. "It's on loan from Dirk."

Robert accepts the trump and takes a few paces away from the others in order to concentrate his attention there, staring absently at the thing.

Merrisol volunteers wryly, "I'll warn Manzanil. Oh, and Antika. Commodore Eamonn will enjoy hearing from me again, I'm certain. Maybe you should, Ryika. I'll see if Maggie wants to take Cameron." He sits up, snags another dish of pastries, and excuses himself to go below decks.

"Feisty." That is probably not something Robert should be saying as his trump is answered. There's a low chuckle in reply. "I am Robert Feldane, Lord Seneschal of that House and currently on my cousin's expedition to Minos where I have spent some time speaking to the goddess who is giving some issue. The others have bid me contact you in regards to action I wish to pursue."
Amy just sits back and rubs the back of her head. At least the bump there has just about vanished.

Robert smiles at what he's hearing. "Spoke is putting it somewhat strongly. Indicated would be a better supposition to go forward with. I wish to return the skull and heart to her."

Robert nods. "I would mean the shells yes, I wish to try presenting them to her myself. Because it has been indicated to me somewhat forcefully that will aid the situation. Call it a gut feeling, if you will. The others here present wish warnings issued first for obvious reasons."

Robert nods to the trump. "Hence why I am contacting you. How quickly can something be put in place to let the necessary people know? I can dispatch birds myself in order to facilitate things if need be?"

Merrisol returns without pastries, but with a portable writing board and inkwell, and some paper with a formal letterhead. He glances at Robert deep in trump convo, before settling down in his chair again. He sidles a look towards Amy, shuffles his papers into a clip to hold them down against the breeze. With great deliberation, he begins jotting a list.

Robert asides to those who are waiting. "Commodore Eamonn, Commodore Ian, Commodore Armando and Commodore Deadeye." He focuses fully back on the trump. "A potential worsening in the storm and all fall out that that may bring."

Ryika is totally attempting to listen in on Robert's conversation. She's not even being that subtle about it. Perhaps a little, but not much. She glances over to Merrisol at his list and then looks back to Robert, to jot down those names in her notebook.

Lisette is also listening intently, though in her case she's observing Robert over a mug of coffee that she's cradling in both hands.

"Currently we are located near the main land, which is where I spoke with the goddess and where I was to make that attempt. UNless there are objections?" Robert asks of the figure in the trump

Robert chuckles at that and replies smoothly. "Feldane's are made of sterner stuff."

"Emma? Once again a free agent too, I hear. And yes, she is a stalwart sort. I have great respect for her." Robert replies to Maereina. "Will there be anything else you require, Ambassador?"

Robert frowns as he listens to something which takes it's time from the looks of things. He notes to the others there present. "If another piece of land is required the Ambassador recommends Hacha as the next est choice to the mainland as they are most prepared." He nods to the trump. "Thank you for your time, Ambassador."

Merrisol taps his pen on the board. "Right. If your offering doesn't do the trick," he nods.

Robert nods to Maereina. "I have no desire to upset my uncle, I assure you."

Robert shuts down the trump connection and offers the card back to Ryika. "My thanks for it's use."

"My thanks for calling the ambassador to explain your plan." Ryika smiles a touch as she leans over to accept the trump back from Robert. "Playing middle man interpreter isn't always efficient."

Merrisol pauses in writing. "How much time are you willing to give the islands and ships' Captains to prepare. Did you make any firm promises to the goddess about that?"
Lisette remains quiet for the moment, sipping at her coffee - though she watches carefully.

Robert frowns as he looks around the ship and shakes his head. "Non-verbal communication. Which means no time was agreed. We can afford to allow those on shore to make adequate preparations, but do not mistake me for I would not wait too long on pursuing this path."

"For vessels it is more a matter of ensuring things like the bilge equipment is in working order, and the crew is outfitted and prepared.. but mainly to get out of the harbours where the danger is in being dashed against one another," says Merrisol, finishing off a letter to Commodore Flanagan of Manzanil advising of the strong possibility of severe weather of the type observed in Antika, and a list of important cautionary measures, also based on observations in Antika. Captain Midnight's name is dropped in there as the authorizing party, though Merrisol willingly assigns his own name to the bottom. He offers it to Robert to send away with one of his scrolly birds, as that would be most expedient.

Robert nods to Merrisol as he lets loose a low pitched whistle and one of said birds swoops down to perch on his arm. The note is attached to the multicoloured beast by the leg and then he launches it upwards, as one would do a bird of prey, concentrating on the person whose name he is sending it too. Once it is out of sight again he looks back for more.

"I can get to Antika and Cameron very easily. I've mirrors on both." Ryika comments thoughtfully. "Although those damn birds are even easier, so I'll go back to drinking coffee with my eternal jealousy."

Lisette flashes an amused and sympathetic smile at Ryika. "I'm rather behind you, at the moment, in terms of what I might offer," she murmurs.

ooc> Merrisol assigned Commodore Brion's letter to Maggie if that's okay to assume Robert gets that one send off too. She is likely acquainted with the fellow.

Merri ponders over the letter for Hacha's Commodore Deathfist(??), and decides to leave out the page that reveals his island is next on the chopping block, should initial attempts at a shared stormy experience flounder. If and when, that news. He hands that one too to Robert. It's more considerately worded since Hacha already has its fortifications and emergency measures refined.

Again that low whistle breaks out once Robert has taken the note and folded it to his satisfaction. There's a pause as the bird swoops, the letter is tied and he launches it again to fly off into the distance. "My apologies ladies. Or at least the appearances of one."

"Why are you apologizing? Or making the token appearances of apologizing?" Ryika asks of Robert as she sips her coffee.

Robert replies smoothly. "Invoking jealousy."

Merrisol offers paper and the board to Ryika. "Would you like to write to Commodore Eamonn, Acting Ambassador? You and he seemed to hit it off out of the rest of the team."

"I've been jealous of the birds for a year solid now, it's hardly new, and somehow, I manage to cope." Ryika certainly doesn't look unduly upset by her 'jealous'. She reaches for the paper, able to set it on the notebook in her lap. "My charm works better in person, than on paper, but certainly. I'm not sure there's enough of Antika that's rebuilt from the last time it got hammered to be much to prepare there."

Lisette cracks a grin at Ryika. "I think that the birds are rather lovely, too."

Robert chuckles at Ryika and shakes his head. "Feldane has been looking to learn a similar trick too, Lisette. You might think on that. See if anything springs to mind."

Merrisol considers who to foist Saman's Commodore La Garza off on. He ends up writing much the same one sent to Manzanil, and signs it 'Yo Mama'.

No, he gives it to Robert to sign off. Robert's plan, Robert should put his name on /something/!

"For everyone's blood pressure, perhaps not a ghost popping out saying 'BOO! You've a message!'" Ryika quips as she settles to writing the poor beleagured Commodore Eamonn a letter. "It doesn't sound very Feldane, anyhow."

Robert slides Ryika a look, as a brief inscription in runes is scrawled on the bottom of the letter. Hello! Kite! And then it too is sent with a bird off to the correct personage, the man watching until it is well clear of the boat. "Any ghosts around Feldane are revered ancestors. My brother in law dwells in a sword above the fire place, for example." How cosy!

"I can exploit personal arcane connections to pass messages with the assistance of pre-prepared items," Lisette answers her House regent... and perhaps attempting to distract from relatives-as-furnishings. "But nothing that can compare with the apparent ease and efficacy of the Birds of Desire. Nor Trump, for that matter."

Amy must have wandered off - we'll just blame it on the head. She returns now to take a look and see what is going on.

Ryika hunhs softly at the notion of having one's brother in law in a sword. Thoughtful, rather than horrified. "Fascinating. There's some reverence in death in Alhambra, but it's less about keeping the dead near and more about ensuring they have a good journey and afterlife. It's interesting." She looks down at her letter, adding a bit more of it.

"House Feldane's duty involve showing people the Door, as we have done in the Lower City of late. Our own ancestors are allowed the option of eternity above if they so wish." And if that's not creepy, then what is? Robert looks amused.

Yup, Feldanes are creepy, but so are some of the Mandrakes. Amy stays quiet, mostly just listening.

"Eternity above..?" Merrisol looks puzzled. "Above the mantelpiece?" He's, like, serious. He waves Amy into a nearby chair.

Robert chuckles at Merrisol. "Within the confines of House Feldane. And of course he may travel further should the item be taken on trips to places." Outings with the in laws! Whole new meanings!

An observant eye will begin to notice lights flashing between the various lighthouses of Minos.

Amy takes the seat, relaxing her petite form into it. "Sounds exciting," she says softly.

"I am going to say that it sounds perfectly awful to consider some relatives as potentially being there for all eternity." Ryika offers a rueful smile. "But if pressed later, I will never admit to it."

Lisette flashes a grin, slightly shaking her head, before leaning forward to set about sorting herself some breakfast to go with her coffee.

And so it is, after preparations have been made that Robert Feldane, beloved husband of Taleyn Feldane, adopted son of Fiona finds himself heading towards the mainland with the skull. It does not go well. Every seen a royal fly? You have now.

Once Robert has gotten himself back in mostly one piece he approaches the goddess again, but this time the action is less gung ho. It's the old push-me-pull-me trick again as he tries to discern what is wanted of various things by a long series of yes and no questions. It takes some time, but the Feldane finally has his answers.

Quinlan emerges on deck, stretching sleepily. "Afternoon everybody."

Merrisol is on shore as well because, well, that's just how it works. He keeps from interfering since it looks like Robert has a.. /process/.. for succcess.