• Graded • The Door of Spirits

[Wald Lowca]

Wald searched the ship, as quick as he could. There were ropes, and all over equipment a boat of this size would hold for around a cycle. Wald ran up to the deck with a large quantity of rope. When the Ship took a dip down. Wald was not ready for that dip, his legs gave way as he slipped on the deck, just catching himself. Gaining his balance once again Wald looked ahead, as he saw the empty blackness ahead for a moment. Watching as Laughing dog moved Wald ran back down to grab the lantern.

While Wald was gathering items, seemingly at random. Rabu Had a small burp and spoke. "Deh bubbles say it in tum tum of deh big beast."Wald questioned that. What is in the belly of the beast?

A loud roar rang out as he gathered what he could up. Wald felt it in his bones, as he looked forward to where laughing dog was. The beast stopped where it was, And a odd glow came over it.This was an unsettling sight, as it unfolded Wald saw the Mer gather around. The beast was surrounded by them. The Mer entrapped the beast, they began to throw spears. For a moment Wald thought he wanted those spears.

Rabu cried out to help the beast. Wald thought for a moment as he messed with the items he gathered. "Laughing dog here!" Wald shouted to his assistant. Wald had tied the lantern to the end of the rope, and began to weave many other ropes together. "What is in the belly of that beast? And before I come up with a way to leave." He asked Laughing dog quietly. Wald was tightening the ropes into something close to a net. Though it was very messy, And he applied some of the Tar the ship had for repairs. Covering the rope with nails. This was all he could do right now, he didn't know if he was hunting the Mer or the beast now.

[Ricky]

The Windrunner's response to his command felt much like second nature now that Enrick's hands rested at the wheel, with their course back on track in almost no time at all after an adjusted course. Now they were following the beast deeper into the abyss below, where darkness steadily shrouded them from the front and below.

The hues of Enrick's eyes turned to a deep turquoise color the further they traveled, as the tail of the beast remained in sight for just a little while; before they found themselves in total darkness within the sea. Almost no light traveled down into the depth they reached and for a moment, Enrick's skin prickled with cold sensations at the thought. They were literally in the dark down here, where only water and pressure waited to swallow them all. If anything went wrong and the Windrunner...

No.

He couldn't let doubt sway him from the course now, his ship had become a living entity now so he'd stay determined. Whatever was down here wouldn't be anything the Windrunner couldn't handle. "We can do dis." He promoted the thought mostly to himself but also, in secret, to every living thing on board as well. Sure enough a loud roar which rattled not just the frame of the entire sloop, but everybody's as Enrick knew he wasn't alone when he felt it, caused the fisherman to look wide eyed at what loomed before them.

The gargantuan beast emitted an impressively eerie green glow to reveal an army surrounding it, what had to be an entire horde of Mer determined to put the beast down. "Shit!" Not only were they closing in on this hunting party but bound for a collision with the sea creature, which had to be avoided on Enrick's behalf otherwise his earlier worries became real problems. They had to help the beast though! Somehow they had to save their massive sea creature from a terrible fate, meanwhile Enrick quickly turned the wheel so that the boom swung counter-clockwise to another degree.

With little draft or whatever pulled them before to catch the sails now, Enrick piloted the ship to turn sharply so that the beast and Mer were at starboard side. "Grab anythin' usesful from te cargo hold!" Not that there was much of anything to begin with, only the fishing gear that was left when the ship went down. The nets could have been useful for snaring some of the Mer, but there were just too many to trap in a couple of nets! Enrick's bronze eyes fell towards the wheel before him, his heart drummed almost as hard as thunder as he tried to think up a solution.

Rabu asked the bubbles to help and hopefully they'd pull through, but what good could the land dwellers here do? They were meant to fight underwater at this depth! The Windrunner though... "C'mon girl..." He muttered to the wheel with an affectionate hand gripped at it's wood. "Surely y' got some sorta new trick up yer sleeve? Yer alive now, show us and t'ese Mer what y' can do!" The plea was only just that, a plea that something would occur. Enrick wasn't sure what the Windrunner's new capabilities were now, but if there was anything then now was the time to utilize them.

"Enrick", "Ẹrọim", "Follower", "NPC"

[Aegis]

Ashan 30, 719 Perhaps

Things began to happen quite fast for the impromptu crew of the Windrunner. But the first of these rapid events seemed rather simple. A heat plume from the ocean floor bellowed, and thick curtains of superheated gases began bubbling up. These heated bubbles rose, and rose rapidly, forming a temporary shield between the beast and the attacking Mer. The few that charged through the bubbles rapidly boiled and burnt and died, carried to the surface by the deadly bubbles. This stalled the attack of most of them, save for the few that had already reached striking distance of the beast.

During this moment, Laughing Dog disappeared, following Wald's desire. A moment later, there was a laugh in his head, followed by "Close your eyes." Should Wald follow that command, he'd fine that while both of his eyes were closed, he could see exactly what Laughing Dog saw. The spirit was moving along spongy flesh, clearly inside the beast's large stomach. It was dark down there, with Laughing Dog not able to see any better than Wald could. He could see clearly for roughly three feet in front of him, and that revealed liquid and another fleshy lump within. But it was cavernous in there. "I feel alone in here, Pack Leader."

A ship requires a captain, for ships without captains are little more than driftwood. And even though the Windrunner had become more than a normal ship, she still required a captain to do captain like things for her. But she knew she could help him. Enrick would be able to feel that the wheel that controlled the rudder also controlled the direction of the current the ship flowed upon. Additionally, he'd know that if he adjusted the sails to match the strength of winds, he could control the strength of the current.

The Windrunner whispered into Enrick's ears, "Guide me, Captain."

Meanwhile, Rabu would find a bubble encapsulating him, one large enough to do so, and carried him off the ship. Bubbles and him were in tandem now, Bubbles willing to carry out Rabu's will. Rabu simply had to think it, and if able, Bubbles would do it.

!	Message from: Aegis
	If you have any questions, you may ask, I may answer. I may not. I will post again on April 29th.

[Wald Lowca]

Wald watched the events that had transpired in front of him. First seeing the Speed of the ship moving forward, Then the giant plume coming forth from the ocean floor.Seeing the bubble shield the beast, as the Mer charged and emerged boiled alive. As the bodies of the dead Mer floated up, Laughing Dog disappeared from visible reality.

Wald was finishing work on the spiked net, as in his head he heard Laughing dog. “Close your eyes.” In that moment Wald had sat down. Closing his eyes he took slow breaths, going into a meditative state. This allowed him to see clearly what Laughing dog saw. There was nothing? The what did the bubbles tell Rabu? After a few moments inside the animal Laughing dog spoke again. “I feel alone in here, Pack Leader.”

Without leaving his meditative state, Wald spoke to the animal letting the words be said aloud. “Laughing dog come back. You will be needed for another task.” As he stayed still for the moment. He began to focus on something else. “Ylfa! Can you hear me?” This dialog was not external. Wald began to contact the spirit wolf Ylfa, who was left to guard his animals in Viden. As he did he sent a situational report to her. And asked one last question. “Can you contact Karem? This situation is very strange.” All of this had occurred in a matter of moments.

Once Wald was ready to leave his meditative state, he rose up and readied his bow. He was ready for what was to come. When Laughing dog returned, Wald pointed to the net’s lantern. “Take that and slice the Mer apart as they come upon the ship.” Notching an arrow on the ready. “If the beast attacks the ship, I want you to go into its heart and cause damage.” Wald left the driving to Enrick, and ensured for his safety as long as he could.

[Ricky]

Enrick watched the event unfold as the current drifted the Windrunner around the phenomenon, a surge of bubbles created a immensely heated wall which seared and practically incinerated any Mer that drew too close in. Had this been the result of Rabu asking the bubbles to help? Wald's hyena friend vanished momentarily afterwards, while he took to sit in one place and meditate for whatever connection linked the two.

Sure enough Rabu himself became encapsulated with a bubble, and floated beyond the boundaries of the Windrunner's deck into the fray on his own. Which left Enrick to focus on the main task at hand instead of the fighting... though if he paid closer attention earlier he would've noticed.

The direction of the ship seemed to determine where the current flowed somehow, or so he started to realize when the Windrunner veered a little off at his turn. Looking from the wheel to his sails his eyes darkened to a Turquoise hue, the words the ship whispered through to him received with a hard and determined look.

"Aye aye!" He confirmed with his hands looser on the wheel, both used to rotate it clockwise for a change in direction. Sure enough the ship responded as it sailed through the water, it's path set towards the left side of the great sea beast they'd followed. He only needed to build up a strong enough current to deter a number of Mer right? Chances are he'd put the Windrunner and everyone aboard at risk, but Enrick was willing to bet that the sea creature wouldn't attack.

It very well could've earlier after all, maybe he or she would know those on board sought to help it. "Let de Mer try!" Enrick roared in response to Wald after Laughing Dog returned, while he stepped towards the mast to loosen the sheet. "T'ey'll 'ave t' hang on tight 'fore ever gettin' aboard!" Whether he sounded confident or just plain cocky, Enrick didn't really care as he fed the line to release the sails more.

They weren't quite full mast but somewhere close to it, since he wanted to make sure he maintained some idea of control. Enrick worked quickly to redo the knot at the mast, and then moved back to the wheel as he felt the current that pulled them pick up more. It looked as though they were headed right for the beast instead, but the closer they drew the further to the side he piloted the Windrunner. With a steady and drawn out clockwise turn the ship drifted to where he wanted, and Enrick hoped it'd miss the giant they approached while the current caught as many Mer as possible.

"Enrick", "Ẹrọim", "Follower", "NPC"

[Rabu]

A stream of bubbles shot from the depths of the sea and completely blocked off Rabu’s sight of the spear wielding fish people. Rabu eyes and mouth opened wide in awe at the grand spectacle before him. “Did you do dat bubbles?” He whispered under his breath but a part of him knew it to be true. Had Rabu also known that he had led to the death a few spear wielding fish people, he wouldn’t have pranced about with quite as much vigour as he did. He was just glad the beast was safe from its attackers and had assumed the other side was also safe from harm.

Rabu stoped in his tracks as he felt himself begin to lift off the ground and his vision became blurry. He reached out and his fingers met a translucent barrier, he was inside a bubble. The bubble began to float outside the ship and into the outer ocean.

“Where we go Bubbles?” Rabu then looked back at the best to see that there was still a few stay mer attacking the poor sea beast. “Aww I see, job not done.” Rabu replied with a determined look on his face.

“Bubbles! Immobodi..Immob..” Rabu shook with frustration. “ Stop dem fish people from dere attacking.” The mortal born had no desire to hurt the fish people he simply wanted them to stop. “Carry dere spears away wit your powers!” Rabu quickly added as the idea entered his mind.

“I not wish to fight only protect dis beast. Please leave with peace in heart and I not harm you.” Rabu called out as his bubble took him in closer proximity to the mer. Whether they heard him was another story, they didn’t exactly seem like a peaceful sort.

[Aegis]

Ashan 30, 719 Perhaps

Ylfa contacted back to Wald, but Ylfa's normal voice was also overlaid with that of Karem's, her voice was quite stern, though there was a subtle wavering of concern too. She'd gotten the entire report that Ylfa had given her, but it just... didn't make sense, and that showed in her voice. "What is going on Wald? Just... how are you where you are? Is this part of that... disturbance not long ago? You need to find the cause of that. It... it was something not felt for a long time."

But the connection didn't last long, and soon it was radio silence with the Immortal.

Laughing dog took the net Wald had made, and set to work, defending the ship. The ship that had just started picking up speed, as Enrick set the Windrunner to work. And as it did, Rabu, who had been floated off the ship by a bubble, was left behind, alone in the dark waters.

The Windrunner sped about the large creature's flanks, mowing down Mer that were too slow to get out of the way. Some managed to stab their weapons into it, and a few others managed to get tangled into the rigging. Soon, there were a handful of Mer on the deck, attacking at Laughing Dog, who was attempting to use a net he had never used before, and it was not going well for the canine spirit, who let out a pained yelp as a short spear pierced his back hip.

And the Mer pressed their attack, eyes on the man commanding the ship.

Meanwhile, Rabu was floating about aimlessly in his bubble. Bubbles bobbed in assent at Rabu's command, and another surge of bubbles came up from the ocean's floor, not boiling this time. They snagged on the weapons of all the Mer not on the ship, and tore their weapons away, carrying them to the surface.

Most of the now disarmed Mer growled and turned tail, fleeing into the darkness of the ocean. But one in particular pointed at the floating Tunawa, having heard his words, said something in his native tribe's tongue. He then bit a gash in his hand, his blood flooding the water, and wiped it across his face, before swimming away.

And then the bubble surrounding Rabu began to sink. Rabu would be able to feel that Bubbles was very tired from having controlled so much, and wished to continue protecting the young man. But there was just not enough energy for the spirit. It was depleted, and so, the pair began to sink deeper into the ocean, and the walls of the bubble began to squeeze in closer.

The monster though, still thrashing in pain, no longer appeared to be under attack.

!	Message from: Aegis
	I will post again on May 8th

[Wald Lowca]

Wald Could hear the ringing of Karem’s voice going through his head. It showed that this event was definitely not done by the immortals. Or at the very least not the ones that like humans. Though the last part was a cryptic message. “... it was something not felt for a long time.” The connection was lost after that, what kind of events had Wald got caught up in.

Laughing dog seemed to struggle with the net, Wald decided to shout out to the spirit. “Laughing dog, toss the net on the ground in front of them.” As Wald shouted he readied to fire his volley of arrows. He had been practicing in the wilderness for a long time. And he knew he could fire five or six shots accurately within a breath. Though he had no clue how many he would need for the Mer. The net on the ground would slow their approach to Enrick.

While the fighting ensued Wald could not hear the squeaks of Rabu any longer. This could be bad, but there was no time for Wald to stop the fight. Wald began to tell Laughing dog how to use the net. “Knock them down on the net, It will dig into their skin!” Wald’s main objective was survival, Enrick was the only one who knew how to operate a boat. That meant he had no time to try and save Rabu.

The bubbles around the beast managed to disarm the Mer surrounding the beast. Those that the bubbles disarmed ran, that lowered the numbers of Mer that would need to be fought off. Though before Wald was done with the next volley the Mer made their way across the net. Wald quickly shouted again. “Laughing dog, Spirit below deck, and come up for their feet!” Wald needed to use the hyena as best he could. Due to the small connection he couldn’t easily think for the spirit, like he could for Ylfa. Wald gritted his teeth, he thought about calling for her. Though doing so could leave his family in danger…

Wald would continue to fire arrows as fast as he can into the Mer. Using Laughing dog to slow them for better shots. Having the Spirit go under the deck, and back up for surprise attacks. The net would be laid across the ground to slow the advance.

[Ricky]

It felt incredible to not only witness but be a part of the power that propelled the Windrunner in that instant, to see the result in the generated current as they glided through water. Sure enough they were steadfast into a collision course with Mer all around, some latching on while others hit the hull with thunks against the wood. Shit... He'd hoped that none would have the moment to board the ship when they sailed right through, and while they had to an extent helped with saving the sea beast; those aboard the Windrunner certainly had their own hands full now... And not everyone was accountable either since the little rabbit guy floated elsewhere.

Shit, shit, shit. Coppery hues merged and melded with the turquoise in his irides as he saw the fight unfold, between his sailing companions and the Mer which were aboard the ship now. "Fek!" He swore under his breath as Laughing Dog already yelped in pain, and a few of the Mer closer to his side seemed intent to attack. What could he do in order to throw them off? The ship was still bounding forward at a accelerated speed with the beast behind them, so maybe if he paid mind to how sharp he turned, then maybe he could throw the Mer off enough to buy time.

Time for him and time for the others, but the other problem being that Rabu wasn't floating anymore. Bubbles floated while other bubbles drifted down on their own, clearly tired from the skirmish they had launched against the underwater army. "Ain't gonna make dis any easier on me huh." It became clear what he had to do, he just hoped that with the right amount of tact he'd pull this off... with minimal damage done to everything he currently worried about. "Bear wit' me girl!"

Just as he issued the statement Enrick turned the wheel hard and fast, continuing its rotation in a counter-clockwise motion as the ship responded. The Windrunner veered and for a moment it felt slow, due to the momentum, until at last he hit the sharp angle he'd hope to find in turning the ship around. "Hang on t' somethin'!" He barked aloud in hopes that Wald and Laughing Dog would hear, as the current behind them caught up and knocked against the sails of the ship. With the mast hit hard he felt the entire ship tilt hard, and with hands gripped on the wheel hard he held it there to keep the turn sharp. The Mer that approached him with bone carved spears suddenly slipped and lost their footing, and fell flat on their faces as they slid towards the rail of the ship.

He could feel every piece of wood and nail groan and rattle from the force felt in the current, and all while he held on firm and strong Enrick gritted his teeth in hopes that the ship wouldn't topple over. When the brunt of the current passed and the ship seemed to have slowed from it's complete U-turn, Enrick knew now had to be the best time to react before too long. With the direction of the ship pointed back towards the sea beast and the bubbles surrounding it, Enrick rotated the wheel clockwise once more several paces to realign it's direction. Now that it had slowed from probably the sharpest turn he'd ever dared to make, the current rushed back into the worn sails of the Windrunner; and thus propelled them forward with incredible velocity once more.

If he had timed it right and he could make it, Enrick would hopefully reach the bubbles in their descent; and give Rabu a chance to rejoin them also. As for the Mer that lost their balance and fell, surely they'd be regaining their footing by now and well enough; attacking Enrick if they sought to continue that pursuit. In which he'd be ready to try and avoid them, but only when the moment came and it really counted at best. Right now though he needed to pilot the Windrunner, and that meant holding on for as long as he possibly could.

"Enrick", "Ẹrọim", "Follower", "NPC"

[Rabu]

Rabu exhaled in relief as the Fish people swam away in defeat. The victory was unfortunately short lived, as Rabu’s eyes met the menacing glare of one of his retreating foes. Rabu felt an unsettling feeling rattle his soul as the creature filled the sea with its own blood and smeared his face with it. The tunawa couldn’t begin to understand the words the fish man was speaking but by the way it seemed to snarl and expose its blood stained teeth made it clear this was a threat. It swam away with its people but left the seed of lingering uneasiness with Rabu.

The sea creature could still be seen writhing about in the distance but Rabu couldn’t do anything to help. He could feel the strength in the spirit fade and know that he was in danger. The protective bubble was slowly shrinking and Rabu found himself struggling to breathe. A single tear fell down his face as his surroundings dimmed and the bubble was close to bursting.

Just when all seemed lost, Rabu’s crying eyes saw the ship rocketing in the water towards him. The corners of his lips formed a smile as steams of water sprang forth. The bubble filled quickly despite the Diri’s efforts to keep it at bay.
“Be strong Bubbles.” Rabu whispered with a shaky voice. “Friends coming, we soon be safe.” They would make it in time they had to, then he could help the sea creature and all would be well. It had to be.

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