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[Asa]

Asa boarded his ship, took the helm and prepared for setting off, "Okay!" He yelled across the ship, "We're off to Nanuta!" He set the ship off and they sailed for the rest of the day, docking at Nanuta around 5 o' clock. It was smooth sailing all the way- no sea monsters, no storms, just a clear sky and a calm sea. Docking was swift- no problems. Things seemed to be going their way.

After paying the crew, he walked down the board of wood to the docks. He rubbed his chin and mused out loud, "Now which way is my house...ah! Of course!" And he set off through the streets until he came across the Hadrogyn Hope. His house was opposite. Number 32. He walked up to the door and looked up at the white flat-roofed house. He stuck his hands in his pockets and pulled out a small key attatched to a piece of string. He brought it up as far as the string would allow, placed it in the key-hole, and turned. There was a familiar clicking sound and the door swung open, "Everyone inside!" He called and walked in. He went into the kitchen, spirits high. He took 3 tankards and filled them with water from the water barrel. He turned and stopped. His eye caught the crack in the wall where the secret trapdoor lay. He shivered and the room seemed to go cold. He had forgotten about all that. He carried on and handed his guests a takard of fresh water each. He walked upstairs and muttered "Follow me. We can sort out your rooms," Between sips Asa would stroke the three scars running across his face.

Reaching the upstairs landing, he showed Ayira her room, a small room with a fair sized bed. "That matress on the bed is probably the softest in the house," Asa confessed, "It's just a shame it doesn't fit on my bed," The carpets were red and patterned, soft on the feet, and the walls had red silk hangings draping over the window, letting in a calming red glow. "So, enjoy. You can sort out the bed the way you like it, if you want. Have a little lie down or you can wait downstairs on the settee. I'll just be showing Vedisca his room," Asa told Ayira. He headed down to the opposite end of the landing and opened a door. "You can have the same room as you had last time," Asa sat down on the bed, "Come on, sit down," He patted the space next to him, "It's good to be home," He sighed, laying back, "It's just the trapdoor. It caught my eye as I was getting the water. I think I might get it covered up. Anyway..." He stood up and walked into his room. he unsheathed his katana and swung it in fast complex arcs. He placed it back on it's stand and took out his wakazaki, a smaller, dagger-sized katana. He jabbed the air and tossed it between his hands. "Haven't lost my touch," He chuckled to himself. He went back to Vedisca, "Come on let's go downstairs. We can discuss what we want to do now,"

[wolfenchantress]

Ayria loved the boatride, it being on the ocean. She trailed her hand in the water and held a short conversation with a dolphin in passing. She was almost disappointed once it was over, but obediently climbed off the ship and followed Asa to his house. It was huge (to her, who had never even seen a city so big) and she could only stare in awe as she was lead to her room.

Once Asa left, she surveyed the room, eyes wide. "I sleep here?" She wondered aloud, running her hand along the comforter on the bed. She fell back in it, and wanted to sleep right then and there, but after a minute rose again and wandered downstairs to wait for the others.

Vedsica nodded. "I know, I looked at it and it reminded me of that...that thing down there." He shuddered. I can help you cover it later if you want. Even if nothing else is down there, it still doesn't give me the best memories."

He then followed Asa back downstairs when he was fetched to find Ayria, standing like she didn't quite know what to make of everything or what to do. He sank into a chair and sighed, stretching a bit.

"All right. So, where do we go from here?"

[Asa]

"Well," Started Asa, "I was thinking that, maybe, we could go to Infrak Island. I haven't been there yet, and we may even be able to pick up some gemstones whilst we're there- I've heard they can be very valuable!" He stood up and refilled his tankard. Returning to the sofa, he sat down and gulped down half the mug. "So, my plans are, we could go in my ship, dock there and go on a serious gem-hunt!" He sat forward, "But we'd have to be careful- there's lava trogs and fire skinks in those volcanic tunnels. I want to set off straight away- I fear I might've caught an addiction to risks and adventuring. I'm going to pack some food and stuff- mostly for the journey, 'cause we can buy food when we get there. I'll get off packing," He stood up to return his tankard when he tripped, whacking his head on the wall. He rubbed the slowly growing lump and looked up. The small hole had opened up. Quickly, he whacked the side and it slid gracefully shut. He stood shakily to his feet, face white. He went and splashed some water in his face and ran off to get to packing. It occured to him that Ayira knew nothing of the hole underneath the house. He would leave the explanation to Vedisca.

He went into his room and grabbed a large backpack, filling it with spare clothes. He slid the katana, Dragonblade, into the holster down his back, his Wakazaki, Rising Sun, by his waist. He went downstairs again and collected up fruit, vegetables and some meat. He also packed a tinderbox and some kindling, should they need to light a fire. He doubted it, considering the climate over there, but he thought it might be useful, anyway. "I'm pretty much ready. I've got your swords 'n' stuff here, Vedisca..." He thew them to him, landing on his lap, "Ayira...you haven't really got much, have you? Listen, I can get you some clothes from a local store...some shirts and skirts? It'll do. I'll just go and get those...maybe some other supplies..." He trailed off and went to buy the items.

After buying a few black skirts and some tye-dyed t-shirts, he headed off to the more 'adventuring' stores. He bought some rope and some ice picks, although they'd be just as effective on rocks as they would on ice. He payed the merchant and ran off with his heavy bag down to the docks, "Men!" He shouted, "Prepare to set off- we're headed for Infrak. Payment will be sorted after the trip," He walked aboard and asked the skipper, "How're the skies?"
"They're looking clear. Theres a chance of a little storm, nothing worse,"
"That'll do," Replied Asa, "A little rain never hurt anyone," And he returned to his house to inform Vedisca and Ayira of their departure.

((You can do the start of the ship journey- maybe a little storm can start or something, but don't make them arrive yet- I've got plans...))

[wolfenchantress]

Ayria watched Asa go pale-faced at the hole in the wall. Vedsica didn't seem thrilled by it either - he'd tensed up when it was opened, and relaxed only when it was shut again.

"What is that hole in the wall?" She finally asked, and Vedsica was silent. She figured he was ignoring it until he spoke.
"That opened up a while ago. Long story short, when we went in there, there were demons. Lots of them. One really bad one. I was separated from my body, Asa died I saved him but he lost his magic. He saved me a few times too. Anyways, we killed the demon. And I learned to do this." He snapped and a short flame flickered into being above his fingers. She stared - she'd seen him use magic, but never actually seen it up close.

"He died? How is he still here? And how are you in your body? And-" He cut her off with a raised hand.

"He is still here because I went in and fetched his soul. I am in my body because of my magic. And I would rather not talk about it, honestly." It was still a painful memory.

"Is that how you got all those scars?" She asked, eying the dozens of pale white lines crossing his arms, and the one that left him blind. He rose abruptly, clenching his fists. "I told you to drop it," He growled, and she nodded, shrinking back a bit.

"I'm sorry, I didn't..." she stammered. Vedsica sighed. damn it, I hurt her feelings, didn't I? He thought.
Bingo. I swear, sometimes I wonder why I'm stuck with you. Despite the remark, his magic sounded amused.
"No, it's fine. Just..I'd rather not talk about it. okay?" He turned to her, and she nodded. "Okay. Then let's go."

Once on the ship, Vedsica eyed the clouds. They hung heavy and grey with rain.
"I think it's going to start raining," He commented, and almost on cue the sky started pouring. It wasn't long before the boat pitched from side to side and thunder rolled through.

"Asa!" He called, stumbling for balance as he ran over to Asa. "This storm might get worse. Shouldn't we start to send some of the crew below deck?" Right now it wasn't terrible, but on the sea, it could get worse just as fast as it could stop.

[Asa]

Asa nodded, "Yes, that's probably a good idea--" He was cut short by a flah of light falling simultaniously with a boom of threataning thunder, "Yes. We'd better start right away. Men! All below deck! This storm's only going to be getting worse!" Most of the men headed for the doors, except for a select few previously told to stay up in a storm situation, plus Vedisca and Ayira. "Captain," Asa gasped, running up the stairs towards him, "How long do you reckon you can keep her steady?"
"Not too sure, to be honest. Depends. This storm could accelerate any second now. Or it might just blow away. Not very likely but it's possible. But we should stay on track should our compasses..." He trailed off, staring at the wildly swaying needle of the malfunctioning compass. "It's...it's not working...damn it! How are we supposed to stay on track with the storm screwin' around with our navigatonal instruments? I'll try an' stay as straight as I can, but as soon as those winds pick up..." The captain left it hanging. Asa stood there in silence for a few seconds, muttered "Just do your best," and went off to find Vedisca and Ayira.

When he reached them, he told them the grave news. "So, we're going to have to do the best we can. I'm sure we'll wind up at Infrak eventually. I'll go get our stuff..." He ran down to the lower decks and grabbed his bags. The ship was rocking dramatically now, and several of the crew were turning green. However, as he was running back up the stairs, he heard a cry of terror from the upper deck. A second later, there was a crash and the ship stopped, throwing everyone forwards. Asa scrambled up the stairs and saw a huge iceburg shoved into the front of the ship.

"Captain?" Asa called, "What happened?"
"I saw it ahead of us, but it was coming toward us at such an amazing speed! The wind must've been carryin' us forward. I couldn't turn in time..."
"It's okay!" Asa called, "Get the men in lifeboats- quickly!" He ran to the side and threw his bag in one of the small boats in the side. "Vedisca! Ayira! Quick! Get over here! We need to get out of here. Jump in the boat!" He vaulted the side and landed with a thud on the swaying wooden row-boat. After the others had jumped in, he lowered it into the stormy waters and released the rope. They were instantly carried away by the raging wind. "Stay on the boat," Asa said in a low voice, "Stay calm- and don't worry. We're going to be fine," In the distance, Asa could see the sillhouette of the mighty ship sinking gracefully into the endlessness of the deep black sea.

After Assembling a sort of 'hood' over the top of the boat, Asa settled down to go to sleep, "I always could go to sleep in the most dangerous of situations. Just watch me," he muttered as his muscles relaxed and he left the other two to sort out their own 'watch' system, or just sleep themselves.

Asa awoke with a THUD. The wooden boat bashed against the cold rock. Asa looked up, wiping sleep from his eyes. His gaze fell upon the endless wasteland of snowy mountains and lifelessness, the frozen lakes, the treacherous caves, the occaisional tiny forest of evergreens, only just managing to survive in this desolate environment. "Bliztrok," Asa muttered, "At least we have magic," He clicked his fingers, but no flames appeared, "Damn, I forgot- magic only exists in a special few places- my house and that desert isle. Looks like we're on our own," And, as he expected, there was no remarks from his inactive magic.

((Do your next post in Bliztrok))