Welcome to Gaia! ::

Things may be peaceful in Tendaji these days, but that doesn't mean that trouble doesn't suddenly appear out of nowhere. In fact, you just happen to stumble upon trouble and must figure out the best way to step in and help (or not, if you're more of the troublemaker type).

[ This is a roll and react event. So roll the dice and react to the prompt below depending on your number. If you're RPing with more than one person, have one person roll and all players react. ]

1 - 5: Fire! A small fire has broken out at the local village. But what is on fire and who might be involved is up to you in your prompt response. Find a way to help keep it under control and get anyone out safely.

It had been a nerve-wracking journey, but Honi had managed to contact someone willing to transport Eli and herself to one of the larger ports. She had spent a hot minute debating what might be best to try. While there would be plenty of guards, there would also be plenty of customers and travelers around. A crowd would be easier to hide in than a handful of people at a smaller dock. Still, it didn't mean finding a ship to sneak onto would be any easier.

She peered out from the alley with a sharp gaze.. but she didn't know what she was looking at. Which one would be best? With a sigh, she stepped back into the cover and shook her head. "There's a lot going on out there. Lots of boats. I can't tell which one to pick." She chewed on her lip and glanced down at Eli's thigh. Sneaking would be extra important here. "How is your leg holding up?"

Honi gave him a small smile. They should have been able to get Eli some real treatment for that leg... but stopping at a clinic was simply too risky. That woman would have been able to tell that her shot hit its mark. They would be watching the clinics. She could only pray that the ship they got onto had a healer of some sort that they could bother on the trip.

Red? She signed it back for the sake of practice before she turned to seek out the color. The sails stood out in stark contrast to the other ships with their mostly beige sails... It made her wrinkle her nose. She didn't like how it looked, but Eli would have a better idea than she would.

Now, how would they get to it?

Guards patrolled up and down the docks, keeping order and looking at the faces. How many of them knew to look for their faces? She spotted a wagon full of boxes a few buildings down... and felt her cheeks flush with heat.

Lips pressing, she turned and watched Eli a moment. "We'll need a distraction for all those guards. I.." she shifted uncomfortably and fiddled with her dress. "I could make one.. A wagon down the way. I don't know what it's carrying.... but it's flammable." She didn't want to add onto her list of trouble, but she was still determined to see this situation through. They had to get on that boat.

Honi peeked up at the touch, her lips pressed with uncertainty. Sure, they could figure out another way.. but they were so close! They needed something that would be certain to grab everyone's attention while they snuck around.

It wasn't as though it would be a whole building anyway. Just one little wagon. Surely no one would get hurt.

"FIRE!"

The holler made Honi pause with confusion and look down at her hands. She hadn't even done anything... When she stuck her head out, shocked would be an understatement at the sight that greeted her eyes. One of the ships further down the dock had black smoke billowing up from within. People were hurrying back and forth and everyone else was either helping or gawking at the scene.

She looked back at Eli. "I didn't do that.. right?" she asked hesitantly. It was impossible, but she couldn't help wondering... What sort of coincidence was this?

Honi's hands rose to clasp over her chest, gaze darting between the ship they were planning to board and the one currently burning. She could see the glow of fire through a couple portholes of the hull, and it was only getting brighter far too quickly. Could she let them risk their safety for the sake of an unknown ship?

When she saw Eli's note, she felt a wave of relief wash over her. At least she wasn't the only one debating... but knowing that also ended the debate. "I should blend in a little, but you be sure to keep your head covered. We'll just help them make sure it doesn't get out of control." Brow knitting, she reached out and squeezed his arm. "If anyone notices you the wrong way, you just get out of there. Get on that red ship."

Though her nerves wore on her at the risk, she hurried over toward the smoking ship. It looked like the majority of patrons there were scrambling for buckets while a pair of mages summoned up water. She hadn't fully explored her own abilities, but she was going to try!

She focused on mimicking the motions of the other mages, gasping softly when a bubble of water began to grow where she was focusing over the ship.

Used to working on a much smaller scale, Honi felt the energy rapidly draining from her body. After dropping another pool of water onto the ship, she paused to get her breath back. Dang, she was going to have to do a lot more practicing. The others there weren't even breaking a sweat!

Her next pools were aimed to appear within the ship, using the portholes to see her target area. The pools would be smaller, but it would be more direct on the fire and easier on her skill level.

Then a hand grabbed her arm and she yelped with surprise. Her head snapped up to look into a face peering suspiciously at her own.

"Honi?" the guard asked.

For a moment, her mind went blank. Then, an old and overdone joke popped into her head. "I don't have any honey right now," she blurted out. The gears started firing again and she shook her head roughly. "Now's not the time! Can't you see the fire?"

The guard blinked with confusion before connecting the dots. He bashfully released her arm and stepped back. "Sorry, ma'am. I mistook you for someone else. Keep working." He turned quickly and disappeared into the crowd.

Honi gasped out and hugged her arm. That had been close. Too close. She couldn't stick around. Her eyes darted back and forth for Eli, but she couldn't see where he had gone. She chewed on her lip a moment, and then turned to walk for the red ship. It looked like the fire was calming down, more smoke than flame by now, making it a little easier for her to turn away from. She couldn't stay if that guard decided to change his mind about her.

Honi headed slowly through the crowd, eyes sifting through the faces surrounding her. Walk calmly, don't look around too much, don't make a scene... The red ship was getting closer and her heart was thudding in her chest. What if Eli wasn't there yet? What if that guard had seen him? What if-?

A shriek caught in her throat as her hand was taken, instantly thinking the guard was back. Her breath escaped in a relieved rush, and she squeezed Eli's hand in return. He seemed unharmed. Thank the gods.. She spared one more look at the ship that was still smoking a little, but it was more from smoldering than flames. That was a relief, too.

"They're looking for us." She turned back and hugged herself against Eli's arm. "One of the guards checked on me.. even with the fire going.." she pressed her lips and shook her head with a light tug on her companion. They just had to go.

Though distracted by her concerns with the guard, having Eli at her side again helped her to relax back into a state that was more alert than fearful. She paid attention to their surroundings but kept her head down. She didn't want to draw any more eyes to them as they hurried away from the chaos. It was almost more worrisome to be where it was so calm in contrast.. but even the few earthlings that remained on and around the ship were still distracted watching the last of the chaos caused by the sudden fire.

Once they got below decks, she let out the breath that she hadn't realized she'd been holding. Rather than straightening up, she dropped and laid her head back against the hull. It was dark and quiet.. and safer than outside.

"We made it," she murmured softly, trying to add a little encouragement to her tone. Her eyes closed with relief, and she was able to relax further. After the trip to the dock and the surprise disaster they'd helped with, she was drained.