The Broken Ship, The Imperieuse.
Ominous creaks accompanied a nauseating rise and fall as the stricken ship was beset by the black Atlantic waters.
The surviving crew and passengers had sought sanctuary in the aft upper quarters beneath her wheelhouse, the creaking came from the crack in her starboard side, running the height of her hull, her starboard holds and compartments and bow now filled with water.
The only thing keeping her from being sucked into the depths was miraculously her port and aft remained buoyant but for how long, the crew had tried to set the lifeboats out but the rolling waves had swamped them one full of passengers, never to be seen again.
Captain Oltent looked out at the walls of black water that rose on all sides, every sailor knew this day might come, they preyed to the heavens above, the saints of the seas and even the old gods, but the prospect of a green grave was ever with them, he could feel the fear of the survivors, but what could he say, nothing now The Imperieuse was holding on but only for so long.
Sooner or later the upper compartments would give way, she was an old wooden vessel someone must be looking down on them, no reason why simple wooden walls and doors would hold back the sea, and when they did her hull would be full and down she would go.
Bertrum De'Goise winced the scars across his stomach still tender and sore, not that he would worry about such things for long it seemed, the crews silence and more importantly that they were doing nothing other than curse the women and boojum passengers for bringing bad luck upon the voyage, told him there was nothing more to be done, than wait for the the inevitable.
He squinted shielding his eyes
"What the hells up with you" growled a sailor who stank of body odour "Bloody half-legs"
"That's enough" snapped the Captain "Everybody is scared"
"An leave half-legs alone" growled a dwarven sailor, however Bertrum ignored them the light that blinded him wasn't earthly, he choked down vomit as the ships stern rose on a tower of water before descending, his vision blurred and passed to the other side and again he was blinded by a bright light.
Then the lights moved off, he concentrated reaching out with his extrasenses, calling and before long he was answered, in the mirror a ghostly watery man floated up from the turbulent waters.
"We are not alone" he asked, the spirit regarded him solemnly, he frowned reaching into his pocket and retrieving a dull silver coin and handed it to the phantom.
"A flying ship of metal and spirit has come" it replied rubbing the deadmans coin between its watery fingers
"What else" his Willforce pushed the spirit, its eyes widened slightly, Bertrum's eyes bored holes through it
"One of its passengers is in the water, but she will join us soon, there are things from the deep"
'Merde' De'Goise mentally swore, it was just as he had dreamed, he hated that
Vapor & Tenebrae
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arcanus
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Vapor & Tenebrae
"Agnes take the wheel" said Sabbath as he pulled the Cambion free of the astral waters, grateful to be away from the frigid black waters the Goatfolk had swapped places with the Lord in a flash.
He quickly pulled his Sonic Neuraliser Gun from its brackets, pulled on a somewhat uncomfortable rubberised suit and donned a diving helmet complete with a curious bellows like box on the back.
Sabbath figited in the suyit as he picked up the rifle and trudged towards the open hatch, it was a curious thing the suit and helm were constructs, script encoded into the etheric by magnetic patterns, yet his brain treated them like itchy wool lined rubber.
'Ah well, bollocks to it' he thought as he put one forward into think air and plunge down into the depths, his body bucked as he hit the water, lights on his head and shoulders stabbed down itno the darkness.
Laid on his front he rocked backwards and forwards in the rough seas, the surface waves above see-sawing the waters below them and him, despite this he peered down and saw the problem four serpentine humanoids all wrestling Sam down, she was fighting, managing to free one arm she rabbit punched the closest the blow illiciting a wave of power through the water and sending the creature into the darkness.
However the other three quickly restrained her, Sabbath knew the blast would affect her, but it wasn't the first time he'd shot her and he ws risking his life after all.
Shouldering the odd cone ended rifle he aimed and fired, a surge of water rocketed down to the group concentric rings of flooding out from the pulse and then impact, the four figures were violently flung apart, Sabbath looked somewhat shocked as the water began to calm, the serpentine creatures were all floating completely limp, however Samantha Brockelsbury nonchalantly swim pacst him kicking her way to the surface.
He quickly pulled his Sonic Neuraliser Gun from its brackets, pulled on a somewhat uncomfortable rubberised suit and donned a diving helmet complete with a curious bellows like box on the back.
Sabbath figited in the suyit as he picked up the rifle and trudged towards the open hatch, it was a curious thing the suit and helm were constructs, script encoded into the etheric by magnetic patterns, yet his brain treated them like itchy wool lined rubber.
'Ah well, bollocks to it' he thought as he put one forward into think air and plunge down into the depths, his body bucked as he hit the water, lights on his head and shoulders stabbed down itno the darkness.
Laid on his front he rocked backwards and forwards in the rough seas, the surface waves above see-sawing the waters below them and him, despite this he peered down and saw the problem four serpentine humanoids all wrestling Sam down, she was fighting, managing to free one arm she rabbit punched the closest the blow illiciting a wave of power through the water and sending the creature into the darkness.
However the other three quickly restrained her, Sabbath knew the blast would affect her, but it wasn't the first time he'd shot her and he ws risking his life after all.
Shouldering the odd cone ended rifle he aimed and fired, a surge of water rocketed down to the group concentric rings of flooding out from the pulse and then impact, the four figures were violently flung apart, Sabbath looked somewhat shocked as the water began to calm, the serpentine creatures were all floating completely limp, however Samantha Brockelsbury nonchalantly swim pacst him kicking her way to the surface.
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arcanus
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Vapor & Tenebrae
Agnes glanced aft as Samantha Brocklesbury hauled herself from the frigid waters, quickly followed by Lord Sabbath “Agnes take her up quickly” he shouted
She needed no second command as she pulled the Cambion clear of the water grunting as something struck the hull, and then again.
The hatch was pulled shut as the ship was battered “Ocean Spirit” said Agnes as the pair gathered at the back of the cockpit, both seeing a trail of flowing green energy arc though the black night sky.
She needed no second command as she pulled the Cambion clear of the water grunting as something struck the hull, and then again.
The hatch was pulled shut as the ship was battered “Ocean Spirit” said Agnes as the pair gathered at the back of the cockpit, both seeing a trail of flowing green energy arc though the black night sky.
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Keeper
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Re: Vapor & Tenebrae
With the Cambion airborne Sabbath removed his diving helmet.
“Holy hells!” he cursed.
“Don't even start!” Brockelsby fumed.
Ignoring her anger, as that was the solution Sabbath could come up with now, he looked out the window at the stricken vessel.
“ Vote!” he declared.
“Do we carry on and try to rescue these people, or leave them to their fate?”
Brockelsby and Agnes remained silent.
“This has to be a group decision. We all get a say, majority wins. But, if we choose to rescue we’re going to have to come up with a better plan than jump into the spirit infested ocean!”
“Holy hells!” he cursed.
“Don't even start!” Brockelsby fumed.
Ignoring her anger, as that was the solution Sabbath could come up with now, he looked out the window at the stricken vessel.
“ Vote!” he declared.
“Do we carry on and try to rescue these people, or leave them to their fate?”
Brockelsby and Agnes remained silent.
“This has to be a group decision. We all get a say, majority wins. But, if we choose to rescue we’re going to have to come up with a better plan than jump into the spirit infested ocean!”
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arcanus
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Re: Vapor & Tenebrae
New Shoreham - British US Territory.
It was safe to say that relations between the British Empire and Northern American Union or Union as it was commony referred, were tenious and one of conveniance rather than alliance.
The War of 1812 had occured right in the midst of the First Mystrial however in such early days its effects were largely apparitions and phantoms, both nations had there share of challenges as the Century had progressed and further Mystrials had changed the world and its peoples, the US was halted in the majority of its Western Expansion by the Great Plains spririt forces, creature and the land itself, States had either refused to join the Union or Suceeded.
In 1864 the American Civil War was grinding its way across the East Coast and Atlantic, the Union had successfully starved the Southern Slave states of raw materials and trade provoking war, throughout the 1820s and 30s the growing US had suffered numerous setbacks, apart from in two narrow strips of land its Westward expansion had been halted west of the Mississipi by the returned spirits, cryptids and shamanic magics of the escaped native tribes and resulted its failure to claim California, the Northern States fortunes rescued by its discovery of the Netherworld Fumis.
From there the division between the North and South only grew wider, by the time of the inevitable Civil War the British refused to aid the South largely due to the Empire being spread so thin and the pretense of the Souths refusal to abolish Slavery.
However the boarding of British vessels by the Union Union, notably the Trent Affair prompted a retaliatory response from the British Navy the seizing of New Shoreham off the South Coast of Rhode Island.
At the same time the Plains Spirits began to harrass the Unions Eastern Mississipi and North Reach settlements, although Washington accused the British of instigating the latter there was never any evidence of such, more likely the Plains Conferation using the Unions precarious position of a three way war as an opportunity, however this gave the British ample time to secure the Island with Etheric weaponry.
Rather than face this weaponry and further provoke a British attack from Canada, the North reinforced Block Island Sound, as the Souths northward push for Pilot Mountain was defeated and the Western settlements reinforced, the Union government parlayed with London, however the Empire was resolute in its claim to New Shoreham, which it now marked as a British protectorate for the Kings Own, Loyalist Americans who had fled to Canada during the War of Independance and sought to reclaim American lands.
In reality the British had secured the arcane site known as the Sacred Labyrinth on the North Island, in later years the Union had needed to call upon the Empires assistance particularly with Chicago and New shoreham was deeded to the British.
It was safe to say that relations between the British Empire and Northern American Union or Union as it was commony referred, were tenious and one of conveniance rather than alliance.
The War of 1812 had occured right in the midst of the First Mystrial however in such early days its effects were largely apparitions and phantoms, both nations had there share of challenges as the Century had progressed and further Mystrials had changed the world and its peoples, the US was halted in the majority of its Western Expansion by the Great Plains spririt forces, creature and the land itself, States had either refused to join the Union or Suceeded.
In 1864 the American Civil War was grinding its way across the East Coast and Atlantic, the Union had successfully starved the Southern Slave states of raw materials and trade provoking war, throughout the 1820s and 30s the growing US had suffered numerous setbacks, apart from in two narrow strips of land its Westward expansion had been halted west of the Mississipi by the returned spirits, cryptids and shamanic magics of the escaped native tribes and resulted its failure to claim California, the Northern States fortunes rescued by its discovery of the Netherworld Fumis.
From there the division between the North and South only grew wider, by the time of the inevitable Civil War the British refused to aid the South largely due to the Empire being spread so thin and the pretense of the Souths refusal to abolish Slavery.
However the boarding of British vessels by the Union Union, notably the Trent Affair prompted a retaliatory response from the British Navy the seizing of New Shoreham off the South Coast of Rhode Island.
At the same time the Plains Spirits began to harrass the Unions Eastern Mississipi and North Reach settlements, although Washington accused the British of instigating the latter there was never any evidence of such, more likely the Plains Conferation using the Unions precarious position of a three way war as an opportunity, however this gave the British ample time to secure the Island with Etheric weaponry.
Rather than face this weaponry and further provoke a British attack from Canada, the North reinforced Block Island Sound, as the Souths northward push for Pilot Mountain was defeated and the Western settlements reinforced, the Union government parlayed with London, however the Empire was resolute in its claim to New Shoreham, which it now marked as a British protectorate for the Kings Own, Loyalist Americans who had fled to Canada during the War of Independance and sought to reclaim American lands.
In reality the British had secured the arcane site known as the Sacred Labyrinth on the North Island, in later years the Union had needed to call upon the Empires assistance particularly with Chicago and New shoreham was deeded to the British.
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arcanus
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Vapor & Tenebrae
The Feldstone Institute of Escoteric Studies, New Shoreham - British US Territory.
An older man in his early fifties, tall and thin hurried into the the Studium, a cross between a library and laboratory.
Clad in a fashionable brown waistcoat and trousers he was amiss his jacket, although with the damnable heat and how bothered he was he was as well without it, he looked at the three figures awaiting him, both stood near to the artefact examination table closest to his desk, framing the desk was an enormous floor to ceiling leaden glass circular window set in the heavy wooden paneling, lightning flashed across an uncommonly blue night sky turning the window and the room momentarily blinding white.
Assistant Curator Randolph Blakely cursed as the flash made him misjudge navigating the desk and its corner caught him in the thigh
"Hells teeth" he said pained "This is an unmitigated disaster" looking at one of his chief Arcanists, an Eldren called Hermaris
The elf or Eldren as they referred to themselves as, cleared his throat "The rescue vessel has reappeared it has landed on The Praxis"
"Yes but how did anyone know the cargo was aboard, this was a matter of upmost discretion and secrecy!"
"That I don't know sir, every care was taken"
"And this" he shook a long message strip from a recent Ethergram "Informs me that Professor Heriot has been found dead in his cabin, we dont appear to be out of the woods yet!"
"Sir I understand your concern, the cargo will soon be sent through the translation chamber and the rescue ship on its way"
"Do we know if the cargo will transit, its all very well bringing items through but sending them the other way is another matter entirely"
"Etherium is frequently transited from the material"
Blakely scowled "The cargo isn't Etherium" he said bluntly, another lightning strike whcih came from behind him as he'd made his way around his desk made him jump "And these two?" he asked questioningly
"Local consultants, I thought they may be able to offer assistance"
"Haven't we got enough consultants" he looked a the man and woman, the former in his thirties unkempt the picture of a traveller from the amercian West, the other an Indian woman, dressed in a traditional Dupatti and Sari, a jewel of some description on her forehead.
"Well?" said Blakely
The woman smiled her eyes glowing a pale blue "The ship The Praxis is hunted, by a beast not a vessel, its drawn to something a trail"
"How could you possibly know that"
"Its my gift" she replied
"So if thats the case why have other ships gone down and why hasn't it got the Praxis"
The man answered "Because it takes an effort for it to enter the material world and your wards have been confusing it, I think thats why its attacked the other ships"
"Thats very helpful information but it dosen't resolve our predicament" he said turning back to Hermaris
"Mr Regan has certain talents with the astral plane, he might be able to assist the safe transition"
"Protect the cargo"
"Yes" replied the Eldren
"And your talents Mr Regan?
The younger man smiled and a small statue formed of flowing blue energy formed on the examination desk beneath his hand
"Ectoplasm, how did you do that within our wards"
"As I said sir Mr Regan has rare talents with the astral plane and it substances"
Blakely scowled "And you" he directed at the woman
"Miss Tevatia, pleasure to meet you Mr Blakely, I will get Mr Regan to the Praxis and the Rescue ship in one piece"
"Right get on with it, I'm going to message those infernal lawyers in Edinburgh keep the pressure on" he said marching around his desk and striding somewhat painfully out of the Studium
An older man in his early fifties, tall and thin hurried into the the Studium, a cross between a library and laboratory.
Clad in a fashionable brown waistcoat and trousers he was amiss his jacket, although with the damnable heat and how bothered he was he was as well without it, he looked at the three figures awaiting him, both stood near to the artefact examination table closest to his desk, framing the desk was an enormous floor to ceiling leaden glass circular window set in the heavy wooden paneling, lightning flashed across an uncommonly blue night sky turning the window and the room momentarily blinding white.
Assistant Curator Randolph Blakely cursed as the flash made him misjudge navigating the desk and its corner caught him in the thigh
"Hells teeth" he said pained "This is an unmitigated disaster" looking at one of his chief Arcanists, an Eldren called Hermaris
The elf or Eldren as they referred to themselves as, cleared his throat "The rescue vessel has reappeared it has landed on The Praxis"
"Yes but how did anyone know the cargo was aboard, this was a matter of upmost discretion and secrecy!"
"That I don't know sir, every care was taken"
"And this" he shook a long message strip from a recent Ethergram "Informs me that Professor Heriot has been found dead in his cabin, we dont appear to be out of the woods yet!"
"Sir I understand your concern, the cargo will soon be sent through the translation chamber and the rescue ship on its way"
"Do we know if the cargo will transit, its all very well bringing items through but sending them the other way is another matter entirely"
"Etherium is frequently transited from the material"
Blakely scowled "The cargo isn't Etherium" he said bluntly, another lightning strike whcih came from behind him as he'd made his way around his desk made him jump "And these two?" he asked questioningly
"Local consultants, I thought they may be able to offer assistance"
"Haven't we got enough consultants" he looked a the man and woman, the former in his thirties unkempt the picture of a traveller from the amercian West, the other an Indian woman, dressed in a traditional Dupatti and Sari, a jewel of some description on her forehead.
"Well?" said Blakely
The woman smiled her eyes glowing a pale blue "The ship The Praxis is hunted, by a beast not a vessel, its drawn to something a trail"
"How could you possibly know that"
"Its my gift" she replied
"So if thats the case why have other ships gone down and why hasn't it got the Praxis"
The man answered "Because it takes an effort for it to enter the material world and your wards have been confusing it, I think thats why its attacked the other ships"
"Thats very helpful information but it dosen't resolve our predicament" he said turning back to Hermaris
"Mr Regan has certain talents with the astral plane, he might be able to assist the safe transition"
"Protect the cargo"
"Yes" replied the Eldren
"And your talents Mr Regan?
The younger man smiled and a small statue formed of flowing blue energy formed on the examination desk beneath his hand
"Ectoplasm, how did you do that within our wards"
"As I said sir Mr Regan has rare talents with the astral plane and it substances"
Blakely scowled "And you" he directed at the woman
"Miss Tevatia, pleasure to meet you Mr Blakely, I will get Mr Regan to the Praxis and the Rescue ship in one piece"
"Right get on with it, I'm going to message those infernal lawyers in Edinburgh keep the pressure on" he said marching around his desk and striding somewhat painfully out of the Studium