Revision [5287]
This is an old revision of ArrivalAI1 made by FalconNomad on 2009-03-04 20:02:38.
Date: December 1615 CE
Location: Southern coast of Australia
Participants: VirgilBelmont Virgil Belmont, Raven, SebastianNemo Sebastian Nemo, DeviWong Devi Wong, TomoLuKang Tomo Lu Kang, Alaistar, Winter, RenjiYoritomo Renji Yoritomo, Hugh, Miyen Mi-yen, Wraiths, Yu, Pascle, OrderoftheThorn The Order of the Thorn
Summary: In response to reports of Wraith activity on the recently discovered continent of Australia, most of the TheNine Nine, TheOrderoftheThorn The Order of the Thorn, Miyen Mi-yen and Hugh land to deal with the situation.
The wooden vessel rose and fell in the clear blue waves that frothed around the bow and drifted behind the stern in a long straight wake. Passengers milled about the deck, the low warm sun and gentle breeze that filled the sails doing little to calm the tension that had taken hold ever since land had been spotted.
At the helm the discussions and plans continued to be formed. The last reports from Devi's reconnaissance flights had shown the situation as she and Alaistar had left it months before. The Wraiths still had strongholds in the center of the huge continent and were constructing a structure within the interior. Renji had spotted the towers, but the area was thick with Wraiths and Hollows and he had not investigated further, the caution scratching at his pride. But it wasn't just the land, the Wraiths had taken over the scattered and nomadic groups of people that spotted the continent, ruling them like shepherds over sheep, feeding from them at will. What was left was to determine how those on this vessel would deal with the situation.
Over the past two weeks of sailing Virgil, Alaistar, Devi, Tomo and Yu had solidified their objectives, to infiltrate the center stronghold and contain the Wraiths as they had done before. The details of this assault had faced them and had developed into fortifications to protect them once they made landfall where Alaistar and Devi had determined earlier. Now that site was looming close, the sound of waves on the shore filling their senses again.
The narrow, white barked trees with canopies of green leaves littered part of the shore, accompanied by rougher land with thick dry grass and brush. Nemo's telescope and remote cameras, had enabled those who were confined to the vessel a glimpse of what lay past the beaches. Hints of larger creatures had attracted their attention and the white plumed birds that called out to one another high in the trees that hugged the coast softened the foreboding landscape. The sea itself was lush and the Thorn had freshened their skills at subsisting on the water and had fallen into a rhythm of daily chores under Virgil and Yu's watchful eye. Winter had joined in their efforts as a way to pass the time. Throughout the journey she had enjoyed the change of scenery as they sailed further and further south and she had not yet tired of the trip. Her light heartedness had helped buoy the rest of the passengers as the days lengthened but even she had tempered once their landing site had come into view and the full moon had started to rise.
Renji for his part was miserable. Being trapped on a boat for so long was eating into him, and he was dark and gloomy, keeping to himself with his eyes on the horizon hoping for a change in the ever constant stretch of waves. He lept at every chance to fly off and scout the land, and he was glad they would be making landfall soon.
Landing at dusk would allow them enough time to set up the fortifications that had been drawn out with cover of bright moonlight for the next few days as additional protection. Surprise and stealth would be their main assets. The earlier excursions had avoided exposing the awareness of this stronghold and Virgil was determined to maintain that situation as long as feasible.
As the sun dipped deeper, Alaistar swung the boat towards the shore, Nemo's spotlights making bright circles on the dark water, an necessary evil to help Alaistar avoid the reefs and rocks that rested below the surface. Amid the frothing waves that pounded against the rocky outcroppings, there was deeper water that let the vessel nearly pull up to the open expanse of beach. Its heavy wooden frame rested in the shallow waves, its bow sunk into the sand.
The rhythmic surge of the waves was cut short by landfall and Yu and Devi moved first and in tandem, Yu jumped from the deck, landing heavily on the beach with parts of his body already turning to stone even as he began carving out a perfect circle in the sand. Meanwhile, Devi floated off the wooden planks, her power arching though her small body as she deposited and pushed salty water through Yu's growing threshold and kept it churning. Seconds after that was set, Renji was off the vessel, a wide grin on his face as his feet planted themselves back on land, his bare toes digging into the cool sand. A group of the Thorn disembarked right behind him, spreading out on the beach and positioning themselves along the perimeter, eyeing the tree line with wary eyes. Virgil joined them, his sword drawn and shining with the eerie white light of his power as it flowed though the blade. With a series of silent hand signs Virgil motioned his soldiers to spread out and secure the beach head. Raven slipped off to join them, working her way into the dark shadows provided by the rocky outcroppings.
The rest of the Thorn created a quick and efficient chain in order to transport supplies down from the boat while others spread out to start gathering driftwood and tinder for the small fires that were to be set at intervals within the camp. Winter joined in the efforts, her pink eyes flickering with reigned in anxiety from the crates and sacks out to the growing shadows along the shoreline.
The rest joined in the effort to establish their camp and protect the area, each taking a final sweep of the boat that had housed them before slipping down one of the rope ladders, into the shallow water and onto drier land.
Nemo had gathered his scrolls, satchels, equipment, and bags on to his shoulders, back and hands and headed to the railing, pausing uncertainly as he contemplated the trek. Mi-yen walked up behind him, rested her hand on his shoulder, and unintentionally made him jump. "How about this?" she offered with an apologetic smile.
He blinked at her for a moment, and then at the rope in her hands. "Yes...yes, good." He said, continuing to mumble about other methods to waterproof his baggage. With nervous excitement, he started to quickly pull off the most bulky and ill packed bags and handing them over without a second thought. Freed of some of the weight, he swung his legs over the edge, grabbed hold of the rope ladder and made his way down to the water. He looked up and caught the first of the bags she had tied to the end of the rope heading down towards his head. He untied them quickly, careful to keep them from getting wet and resorted them on his shoulders. After running through a whispered list and determining that everything was in place, he made his way out of the surf towards the growing camp where Tomo was already starting the first of the fires.
Mi-yen slung her own bags and unstrung bow onto her back and swung over the side, behind Nemo, descending quickly and landing with a splash in the knee deep and salty water.
From over head she saw Alaistar come to the bow of his vessel, step out into open air, and walk down an incline towards shore. With a flick of his wrist the now empty boat detached itself from the beach and started sailing out towards the horizon, moving quickly to help keep their arrival from drawing too much attention. Alaistar made it easily onto dry land and headed off with determined strides to check on the fortifications being strengthened by Devi and Yu.
The fires begun by the Thorn provided a light to the growing gloom. The flames and bustling soldiers were working quickly to spread the light to every edge of the circle built by Devi and Yu.
The water pulled back from the beach in its ever present surge as Virgil moved through the camp, observing the Thorn and the rest at work at their assigned tasks.
Suddenly a reverberation pulsed through the land and air. Like the shock wave of a bomb going off but without the explosion, the sensation took everyone's breath away. It nearly blew out the flickering flames of the torches and campfires, the crackling flames dipping towards the ocean then rapidly inland. Tomo turned quickly, looking back to find the source. His elderly eyes locked onto Mi-yen, her body frozen as she stood with a single step onto the dry sand of the beach. Her gray streaked face was drawn and pale and her silver eyes focused on the interior. Alaistar and Devi turned in the same direction, their minds calculating the path of the pulse, knowing that the Wraiths lay in the distance. Renji's hand went to his blade, ready to attack, but his eyes flashed around, unclear on what just happened or the location of the nearest foe. When he caught sight of Mi-yen, his brow frowned with concern. Nemo, who had been rambling about the unique vegetation, mollusks, the trajectory of the sunset and the hydrodynamic properties he observed on the vessel, stopped in mid sentence. His shaggy brown hair head turned inland and then back towards the shore where his voice caught up to him, "That felt like a threshold breaking..." he began, leaving his belongings scattered on the sand in an order only he could comprehend and heading over to Mi-yen with his brow furrowed and dialogue running. Virgil motioned for the Thorn and Winter who had also turned to find the source of that strange sensation that even they felt, to remain on task. Although startled, the Thorn slipped back into their obligations while Winter looked on nervously. Renji moved back towards Nemo and Mi-yen, a guarded look on his face, his eyes scanning the darkness beyond the fires and his hand still on the hilt of his blade.
"Did you step on..." Nemo continued, looking around Mi-yens feet and scanning the sand. She turned her gaze from the trees and distant land to meet Virgil's.
"They know I'm here." she said softly.
Belongs to categories: AllEvents
