Welcome to Gaia! ::

((Kya....he just said he is traveling to a city many people do not know, he knows how to gets past its defenses so it can be assumed he has traveled there before...this city is known for its magical artifacts...would someone really go around threatening mages if he did not have a means of defending himself against them? This is fun ^^ but Stoic should really post something before we continue this I think...)

Vilya was already suspicious of Damiano since their previous discussion in the forest clearing. Now her hand shifted ever so slightly to her side, brushing against the hilt of her scimitar. The words hurt, she certainly did not know him that well, but more importantly she was prepared to defend Sai against either the captain or Damiano now, whoever made a move first.

The old man turned to Damiano fully now, his face suddenly looked tired.
"I'm sorry te hear ye'd condem yer travelin' companions so readily...You really don't know how te play this game..."

Vilya felt Tura tense beside her.
Vilya could feel a protective spell envelop her. She touched the magic gently with her mind and watch it flow about Sai and even out towards Damiano.

Vilya sent a mental nod, not taking her eyes off of the captain but making sure Damiano was in full view as well.

The tension that had been building in the room and had risen so thick it could almost be seen suddenly evaporated at Sai's words.
Vilya took an involuntary breath and the captain turned to him with a start.

"Well...much obliged." the captain tipped his hat and rose. He winked at Damiano before shoving the gold over to Sai and reaching for the other two pouches.
Vilya stopped him by placing her hand on a pouch first.
"I'm with you." she said to Sai, there was a resolute smile across her bright face.
"This city sounds like fun...I'll bet the sage is something...besides, Tura wants to go."
Tura blinked at her companion before flattening her ears and looking away.
The gryphon said, flicking her whip-like tail.

"Well then! It's settled just about. Young master magus after you're wonderful words I am disinclined to think you would accompany me." here he spoke to Damiano. "My offer for pay is over, but ye can still come along fer the ride if ye'll defend the ship.
Right ladies and gents! Finish yer break'fastin' an' we're off. An not a moment too soon I might add."

Damiano's tense look faded in an instant. A smile coupled by a light chuckle all that remained. He was glad he didn't have to act any further, he was beginning to hate himself! "Well Captain, I must still say you have no judgement in character. My experiences and the knowledge I gain are far more profitable than heavy sacks of coin, not that I mind having some spending money on occasion. I'm with my comrade, and quite frankly I still expect payment after the trip is done," Damiano's tone was relatively calm as he spoke, though his tone changed when he mentioned his fee. Nothing was done for free in any age, there was always a give and a take. He would accompany his companions as he said and he would make an effort to help them. However, if he was not getting paid, his work would be as he said before, sloppy.

At this point the magus sat down, letting his staff go. He watched as it faded from existence as it fell to the floor, making no sound as it did. Taking an apple, he bit into it as savoured the juicy flavour. "How long will the trip be? An estimate of time would be in order since we aren't moving yet."

((I would note that regardless of the destination Damiano wasn't entirely out of place by saying what he said. After all, he is part of a unique mage order that isn't widely known. razz ))

Carryway laughed at Damiano's remark. "We'll see lad, I'll judge wha' yer pay is afterwards. An' blow me down...if I catch ye slackin' it'll be a kick in the pants! Magus or no." As he said this he pointed a worn old finger in the mage's face, then grinned.
"Should take a day." He said to Sai's question, "We should be there soon as the sun goes down, this 'ere's the closest land town te the floatin' city...most of the time."
Vilya waited for him to elaborate, but he didn't. h simply clapped his hands and shouted; "All right then! We're off!"

Vilya felt a jolt of excitement run through her. The foundations of Tura's guard spell fell away like an unwanted cloak as the creature returned to the stone in the hilt of her sword.
"I'm not sure I really know what to make of this guy..." She whispered to the other two casters as the captain lead the way out the door. She felt a little relieved as she realized Damiano's previous temper had been just an act.
Shouldering her pack which up until now Tura had carried for her she made for the door.

her companion said from the stone,

The main street was filled with sunlight and Vilya had to shade her eyes after being in the inn's hall. Everywhere people were bustling about, getting ready for another day. The sounds and smells came to her from every direction; the farrier's hammer and the scent of hot iron, the sweet spices from merchant carts and the cries of children as they played. The sheer number of people still amazed Vilya, there weren't anything like as many people in the grasslands.
The captain moved at a swift walk and if Vilya didn't pay attention she would lose sight of him. Even from where they were now, the masts of the huge floating ships stuck up through the cityscape like so many spines on the back of a fish.

It wasn't long before they reached the docks themselves and there, rearing proudly between two humble little vessels was a three-masted ship that was built much like a racing schooner. It was shallow for its size, indicating a long but thin hold under the varnished deck. The body was left mostly unpainted, but thin lines of gold and blue ringed it's sides just under the rails. The figurehead at the bow of the ship was carved to look like a lion's head which had its mouth open in an eternal roar, a challenge to the skies it sailed. Vilya's gaze lingered on the sails which glittered with an unnatural brilliance.

"Ladies and gents...welcome, te the 'Destiny'." Carryway stood for a moment and admired his vessel, suddenly he caught Vilya staring at the sails.
"They shimmer like that when they've been enchanted." Carryway commented before moving closer to his craft.

The shadows of the other, much larger boats consumed them as they neared the 'Destiny'.
Underneath its belly Vilya could see extra sails, one main one running right along the ship's spine and two on either side of the stern, where the rudder would have been had this been a sea-faring ship. They stuck out at odd angles and reminded her of the tail flukes on a shark.

To reach the docks proper they had to climb a flight of wooden steps, were the ships were actually tied was a platform built on stilts so they wouldn't damage their belly-sails on the earth below. Vilay marvelled at the setup...like many things this far north, she had never seen anything like it.

The gangway to the Destiny was down and Captain Carryway stepped onto it with every air of command its true captain would possess.
"All hands prepare to sail!" He bellowed before motioning Sai and the others on board.
"We'll be ready te leave shortly, once we get a ways away from the docks ye can all summon yer creatures back."

((stoic go beat the s**t out of creed for waiting and waiting and waiting to post when he's had plenty of days off of work.))

(( Alright. >.> ))

Kin knew much of what was going on already since he had been listening in on them as best he could through the thin window. When everyone appeared to me leaving, Kin nodded to Sai in acknowledgement.

Kin thought to Vix.

Vix replied.

Kin warned. Vix thought a groan to Kin and slithered out of a new gap in the earth.

((Hey, guys, just thought I'd let you know that I posted a new note on the main page. It's got some more information on incantations. You should each read that and then send me a PM with a list of the spells that your character knows. In the essence of fairness each of our characters has 5 spells that they know by heart, that they have memorized. They should also have 10-15 other spells, besides basic elements, in a spellbook or on a scroll or something. Characters can memorize more spells as we go, but they must spend time in character to do this.))