Fantasy RPG Forum - Standing Trials

How many people came close to dying tonight because of what had occurred? How many times would the lives of his peers be in mortal danger, all because they were in it for the sake of some wretched treasure. Truly there had to be concern but deep down Patrick enjoyed the thrill of all this, the dangerous nature of their schemes felt like something he thrived in. Even now when he plummeted into the icy depths below, the freezing cold bubbles that felt like needles to his skin... were unusually exhilerating once he rose back up to the surface.

The Rharnian gasped hard for air as he felt his muscles tighten and cramp from the cold, but then the sudden blast of fire from behind changed practically everything. Never before had he seen or expected anything to occur from a heist such as this, but sure a sonic boom rocked the waters around him when the hull of the ship exploded. From within its core a fiery blast obliterated the entire interior hull and engulfed the majority of the ship, with screams from those still too close to the ship heard as they were hit hard. Fire and wood then rained from the sky as the mast of the boat seemed to heavily groan, and tumbled down into the fiery river as everyone escaped.

There was no point in the survivors scrambling for the ones responsible for this, not when survival was the more important thing to worry about now. The others with Patrick knew what to do next, but there were others that needed to be guided back with the group... somehow. "First things first... Get to shore." This was the second time he'd dove into freezing cold water, something he didn't suspect doing again up until this point in time. Yet still he felt... alive, increasingly pumped with adrenaline as he kicked hard at the depths of the river. It took a hard bit to get to the shoreline where some of the burning debris had fallen, but after a frigid army crawl to collect some of the heat; Patrick observed the result of what had just transpired.

A burning heap of the ships remains sizzled as not all of it could sink to the bottom, with an incredibly black plumage of smoke rising from the center. Mercenaries and sailors alike scrambled for whatever supplies they could scavenge, and finally after the Rharnian had warmed up enough to move he stood. Still frozen and shaken by what they had done, he gulped hard and headed deeper into the vegetation past the shore. Once there he began to whistle in hopes that everyone would return as planned. Slowly but surely they came at their own pace, Oberan and Crowley the first two for arriving while Ellen and Niv joined. The lone soldier Peleus joined up with them shortly before Finn decided to show, resulting in a bit of a nasty debate as misunderstandings were prevalent between them. It was a natural result of the cause honestly, two sides racing for the same thing and neither wanted to lose.

But at the end of the night when they surrounded a warm fire all became clear. Patrick and Crowley told the newest three why they targeted the ship, and why Raimeus wasn't one that needed to obtain the treasure. It was a lot of explaining to be sure but Crowley handled the important parts, the story of the Emean Jewel and where it resided. Before Patrick even knew it he'd found their little expedition crew grown in numbers, now that they'd convinced the newer companions what their cause was for.

It was truly the beginning of the race for the Emean Jewel, and without his black powder to help in his search; Raimeus was now another step behind the group Patrick led.