Welcome to Gaia! ::

With prompting from Bit and yelling from others John manged to haul himself up and out of his hut. Never a morning person he glared in the direction of the others as if it was there fault he was awake as this ungodly time. Still this was an adventure and he'd have to suck it up and deal if he wanted to make it through unscathed. Somehow John doubted that stumbling about half awake would keep him unharmed or for that matter even alive.

((ciorrawolfmage I hope you didn't take personal offense to what Nicolas said! The man just happens to be a jerk! Also: Your writing in the post after mine turned out great!))

The night had passed far too quickly for the man's taste and soon the sky was growing lighter and the voice of Rachel could be heard throughout the area the huts were located on. With a groan and disturbed expression, the man rolled onto his side and pulled on his trousers in a hurry. From the sound of shaking huts and grumpy pirates, Nicolas had assumed the master-at-arms had been barging into the sleeping areas and personally began waking them up. Another growl left the elf's mouth as he wondered what right the pirate who was in charge of keeping track of the weapons as well as the condition they were left in had such a control over everyone at the moment.

With every word Jamie spoke, the male felt his blood rise slightly. The woman may have had a way with words that Nicolas clearly understood. Slipping out from the hut after her, he looked out towards whomever may be outside. He hoped they could make their way quickly to the temple and actually gain something of it. The small monkey did not seem like a good enough prize for venturing onto the island, he would have much rather downed a tall pitcher of ale or a flask of rum. Once he got a good stare around the hut area, he had realised no one had even begun to leave. A weary expression had him quickly cracking his knuckles and approaching Rachel with a grin, "I can't say you play captain very well, lass.." His words were clearly disrespectful, but what could she expect after waking the man and keeping him from his true treasure.

Stepping out before the crowd and looking at John, Catherine, Rachel, Jamie and Arrin, he continued to grin, "That's enough of us, lets make our way to the temple. Quicker we get inside, quicker we can leave.. and by now, i'm about ready to leave this go-" The man coughed slightly and continued, "-island."

Katherine watched with half lidded eyes as Rachel stalked off to speak with natives, taking in the tense lines that the master-at-arms body had taken on. She might act the fool often enough, but the Captain was perceptive enough when it came to her crew's behaviour; if she didn't pay attention there could well be a mutiny.

Which was almost what the rotten little elf had started with his chipper morning speech. Katherine stepped close to him, hand on her cutlass. "You might want to watch yourself, elf. Don't fool yourself into thinking you have any sort of power here."

She spoke softly, but even so the venom in her voice was clear. The Captain would not have her officer's undermined, even by something as trivial as a deckhand assuming command.

((Nicolas is lower ranked. Would you like some discipline?))

Katherine glared cooly at Nicolas. "You're forgetting one thing -I would trust the most bloodthirsty barbarian before I trusted an elf."

She sneered at him before softening her gaze to look at Rachel. "But perhaps our master-at-arms would be kind enough to share her intentions with us, if we simply ask?"

The Captain struck a casual pose, careful to look as though she didn't care what came out of the islander's mouth, because she had such implicit trust in her. Truthfully, she was as curious as the insolent elf, but she wouldn't give him the pleasure of knowing that.

"Well, since some of you believe I am conspiring to kill you all, I am not conspiring anything. Though there are a few things I haven't told you yet." She looks over to Nicolas, then to Katherine.

"Last night, I was at the Elder's Hut. He asked me questions of how I found my pendant, and if I knew about it's past. So I told him how I found it, and that no I knew nothing about it's past on this island until that day."

She pauses to take a breath, "This morning before waking you all I went to look at the temple. I was able to read the characters carved in the stone of the first door." She takes another breath before continuing.

"I planned on telling you at the temple, but I might as well thell you now." What the door said wasn't the most cheerful thing, but they did need to know about it.

"The door read, 'Three paths to the border of Heaven and Earth, three doors to test one's purity, The pure will triumph, and the impure will be punished!' there were a few lines that were worn away and I coul not read them."

Jamie had rested hearself against a young tree. Leaning against it she adjusted her clothing as well as fixing her dagger under her small skirt. Her sky blue eyes glanced upwards at Nicolas as he spoke to Rachel, commenting on her behavior. His words rang true. Even so, they had him in a slight pickle with the Captain quicker than one could blink. The one eyes woman had leaned close to the male, whispering so as they rest of them could not hear.

Nicloas spoke loudly though, causing a large smile to drift across the tanned womans features. He had accused Rachel of plotting behind Katherines back. This would certainly be interesting to watch. Not only had the elf stated such things he had then proceeded to call Katherine weak.

His look towards her then followed and Jamie returned it. Her sky blue eyes searched his own. Why did he look her way? The young gypsy gone pirate then caught the odd look from Nicolas. It was almost as though he were giving up. Now that was out of character. He didn't seem like the man to let others ideas and thoughts, as well as actions,. trouble him or knock him astray of his goal.

Rachel spoke up and Jamie found herself rolling her eyes as she listened. They closed and she shook her head. She had been planning to tell them at the door? Well, that would have given them plenty of time to go over their situation. Taking a deep breath Jamie then stood upright and began to follow Rachel, the Natives and the Elder.

She brushed her shoulder into Nicolas and she gave him a sly smile. " Now, let's try to get through this damned temple without you pissing off the brabarians, savvy? I wouldn't want to end up impaled on a wall because of your little tongue." What she said was serious, yet stated in a more teasing manner.

Rachel follows the elder, she was rather silent, She plans on trying to read the last two lines on the door once more, maybe she could make something of the worn down characters.

Gabriel is rather confused at the commotion, and then what Rachel had said afterwards. 'Three paths to the border of Heaven and Earth, three doors to test one's purity?' What did it mean? Were they going to be able to reach the border between this world and the world of the dead? Would there be something waiting for them if they were able to pass it's tests?

Now noticing he was falling behind Rachel and Katherine, he darts to catch up, his boots sloshing in the mud on the path. Now why would they use a muddy path to a temple? Couldn't they possibly make a better path, one with less mud...