WildOaths
Professional Phantom
WildOaths
Professional Phantom
WildOaths
Professional Phantom
WildOaths
Professional Phantom
WildOaths
Professional Phantom
WildOaths
Professional Phantom
WildOaths
Professional Phantom
WildOaths
Professional Phantom
WildOaths
Professional Phantom
WildOaths
Professional Phantom
WildOaths
Professional Phantom
WildOaths
Professional Phantom
Paisley Rudyard
- At first glance the Oracle looked like a giant dragon sitting at the port, wings and all. In reality, the airship was built to look like a dragon, something Paisley’s family had commissioned many years ago. Truth be told, there was something much more interesting about the ship, other than its shape. The ship was made of a special wood, wood that contained special properties that made the ship a sentient being, meaning the ship could think, feel, and move its wings; the figurehead could talk. The ship also had four legs upon which to rest when it wasn’t in the air and when it was tied up at port. The wood the ship was made from normally took on a silver hue, but now that the ship had been quickened (a process that Paisley was glad she had never had to witness), the ship had taken on a deep, royal blue hue that glinted metallically in the sun, almost as if the ship were actually made of metal. Then again, this wood was so strong that it might as well have been metal.
From what Paisley had heard, the quickening process was different, to say the least. Three generations of her family (her great-grandfather, her great-grandfather’s father, and her great-great-grandfather’s mother) had to die on the ship, giving the ship their memories and souls. Once her great-grandfather died on the decks of the ship, the quickening process was finished and the ship had come alive moments later. Paisley had heard that the quickening of the ship, and the coloring of the ship, had been a sight to see. The color started at the tip of the dragon’s nose and spread slowly until the entire ship had been tinted the blueish hue it was today.
Another peculiar thing about this kind of ship was that it wouldn’t fly without a family member aboard, hence why Paisley was on board now. She wasn’t the captain, that was her father’s position, but he had taken her onboard to teach her the ways of flying a ship such as this in the vast skies. Not to mention, Paisley was the family’s only child. Paisley’s parents had tried to have more children, but the first two were miscarriages, then Paisley was born, followed by one more miscarriage. The last miscarriage was the hardest, because, not only did they lose the child that could have been a son and heir to the ship, Paisley’s mother grew sick and feeble and eventually she gave up the fight with life a year later.
Now Paisley was the only child that her family had, and her father felt the need to teach her everything with regards to flying the ship as well as everything with regards to the business. She would eventually inherit his estate and money, as well as her mother’s small fortune that she had brought into the marriage. He was going to make Paisley his pride and she would eventually become the Captain of the Oracle. A lot rested on her shoulders, and sometimes Paisley felt weighed down.
Tonight, they were in port. It was a clear night, the stars were bright, and the some of the crew was off doing what they do best while in port. Paisley, however, was sitting on the deck, her back against the figurehead with a sigh. “I just don’t know… Sometimes I think that all of this is worth it, but sometimes I wonder if the pressure of Captaining you will end up being too much.” She closed her eyes, thinking of all the things she was missing. She was still young, too young to be cooped up on the ship. But at the same time, she enjoyed it. The ship was her home, and she wasn’t sure she would change it if she had the option to.
The figure head laughed a very quiet laugh, almost too soft to hear, but Paisley could feel the laugh deep within her, thanks to the bond she had with the ship. “You still have quite a few years before your father hands the ship over to you. Don’t worry yourself, just learn what needs to be learned first.” The dragon’s head was turned just enough that Paisley could see a broad grin stretching across his features. Paisley couldn’t help but smile, and she stood, facing out toward the port town they had stopped at. She had spent quite a few years of her life on this ship, her father teaching her everything he could. Despite that, she still felt under-equipped to take over the title of captain when the time came. Hopefully she wouldn't be taking over that title any time soon, though.
“Thanks for the advice.” She smiled and rested a hand on the side of the figurehead’s neck, feeling the thrum of the living wood beneath her skin. The feeling was something she actually found amazing, almost intoxicating. She wondered how her father resisted the urge to stay like this all day. The feeling of sharing everything with the ship was something both violating and mutual. She had to be careful not to lose herself in the feelings and memories of the ship.
SharpGn22
Jonas Orvelleos
Along the pier beside The Oracle, a cold voice snapped aloud,
“You assume I know not what I speak of?” Jonas’ gaze was particularly unkind, and shared an icy chill as did is voice. He was not in the mood, with the recent rebellious behaviors of the crewmen, and the ultimate purge of a good portion of men from the ship. Gazing down at the Foreman, he continued,
“In case you were unawares, I am the Sail Master of this ship – I am knowledgeable of the displacement of The Oracle. You will continue to load what I have asked, or you will not receive a single coin of payment.”
With a shake of his head, he turned away and moved a few paces, his thoughts running calculations. He found that, indeed, he was right, and the Dock Foreman had miscalculated. It would be close, but it was exactly what would be needed, should the crew leaving tomorrow morning be at able capacities.
This was not the first voyage Jonas would take as Sail master, and he had high doubts it would be his last. The anticipation many felt prior to going underway was a memory to him. He looked forward to it, and did not care so much for the liberties to be had in the small port town before him. His eyes scanned the people moving about and working at the piers. He did not know what he was looking for.
WildOaths
Professional Phantom
Paisley Rudyard
- Paisley remained where she was for quite some time, eyes closed as the cool air flowed around her in a light breeze. The figurehead fell silent as well, unmoving as it seemed to revel in the joy of being so connected with one person. While the ship was connected with Paisley’s father on a deep level, there was a different relationship between Paisley and the Oracle. Ever since she was a baby, the ship had been especially fond of her. It had soothed her when she was fussy on the ship, sending waves of calm to her through their emotional and mental connection. While the other members of the crew bonded with the ship as well, their bond was nothing like her own. They could only converse with the figurehead and learn the ship’s quirks when it came to sailing the skies.
“I think there’s a problem on the pier… The figurehead nodded in Jonas’ direction. Paisley’s eyes shot open, relinquishing the enjoyment and pleasure she had been reveling in only moments before. Her gaze shifted toward the pier where Jonas’ voice seemed to be elevated. He had been a little more on edge since the purge of her father’s crew before their arrival at Denna. There had been quite an uproar on the ship when her father discovered the rebellious plot being developed among a group of his crewmen. There had been rumors that they had plotted to kill both the captain and Paisley, but no one had confessed to anything quite that traitorous. Mostly it had come down to disappearance of cargo and the payment for that cargo at other port towns along their path to Denna.
While most of the traitors had been new to his ship in the last year or two, there were two that Captain Rudyard considered seasoned veterans of the Oracle. One of whom had served on the ship for close to ten years prior. Captain Rudyard had executed both veterans on the deck of the Oracle to set an example. He had also explained to Paisley that the execution was justified simply to keep valuable information about the ship out of the hands of pirates. A traitorous mouth bares all secrets, her father had told her, stating that as justification for the executions.
That was, perhaps, one of the most difficult parts of becoming captain that Paisley wasn’t sure she would ever be ready for. When the time was came, would she be able to execute someone for the sake of saving the ship? She had no idea, and she hoped she would never have to face that option.
“I’ll go see what’s going on…” Paisley patted the figurehead’s neck before making her way to the gangplank. “Is there a problem here, Jonas?” She stepped onto the pier and walked over to where Jonas was standing, eyeing the transaction that was taking place. “Do I need to retrieve my father from his quarters?”
sharpgn22
SharpGn22
Jonas Orvelleos
“Southern Lands are a softer, kinder place, and can stand the likes of you.” The voice, and sneer that came with it, were a distant, distasteful, memory.
Jonas had a distinct frown. Was he in distant thought, or was he filled with a misery? Glancing down, the Sail Master noted his notebook and pen floating before him. His power of Telekinesis was considered rudimentary in the Northern holds of Asgard, but here it proved useful.
Scribbling away a few notes and calculations, Jonas felt the small hairs on the nape of his neck rise, just before Paisley spoke. Snapping the notebook shut and tucking it away, he unconsciously pulled and straightened his Obsidian-colored overcoat, and then turned.
“There will be no need of the Captain for this matter, miss Paisley. The Dock’s Foreman was incorrect in his assumptions to the displacement of The Oracle. I’ve reminded him of his misunderstanding and urged progress. Should you see the Captain before Light’s Out, I’d have you give him a report that adequate provisions for the crew amount he preferred are being loaded as we speak…” with those words, he glanced beyond the young woman to the dock workers, and verified the progress. They were indeed doing what he asked of them – excellent.
“Do you have any progress to acquiring new crewmen?” The question was stiff; Jonas did not like to think on the situation caused by the traitors. In his mind, he applauded the Captain for his actions, though he would have like to punish several others.