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Post by Stygg Whitefeather on Apr 9, 2014 21:26:10 GMT -5
In the early morning hours, the crew were roused from their sleep by the ship's bell on deck. The Golden Ursa had just anchored off the coast of the Northern Territories, just off-shore from the only ice-free landing closest to the reported sighting of the temple. The terrain was a white, inhospitable wasteland of snow and ice, with high mountain peeks and jagged, rocky valleys cut by ancient glaciers. The sky was foggy with icy mist which choked the valleys and shrouded the mountains except for their very peaks.
Though the sun had barely broke the horizon; the first duty assignments were beginning and the ship's tender was to be prepped for launch. This task was made all the more troublesome by the amount of ice and frost that choked the lines and rigging, which had to be chipped or broken away. Bay Lachance experienced cold, yet this place made Lachance feel like the tropics.
It was bitterly cold on deck, the type of cold that froze a pony's breath to their whiskers till tiny icicles had to be wiped away. All aboard were felling it, even below deck where cannon shot had been heated and placed in sand filled buckets. It was barely livable, and even with thick coats and other cold weather essentials, it licked at the hide like the tongue of a frost dragon. No heat or fire source could be maintained on deck for fear of it spilling to embers catching the sails ablaze, so warmed metal brushes were used to scrape away the lingering frost on the wooden deck and rails – the deck crews only respite from the cold being the buckets of warmed shot in sand that were placed just by the outboard hatches were they could heat their brushes and seek, even for a moment, some relief from the elements.
Shoal was already huddled around one, waiting as the others prepared themselves. Though cold normally didn't bother him, this morning proved even more biting than he could have imagined this far north. He shivered beneath his feathers and kept his tail wrapped closed around his side to keep in as much warmth as his body would allow. He kept making requests to the crew as they passed: grab this, check that, don't forget the D.B.A.R.S. The crew were being to despise the thing, it was cumbersome when not attached to the back and even then, its weight was a challenge even for an Earth pony. When they lifted into the pramm that is the ship's tender boat, the whole ship seemed to sway to that side before leveling off. All the while Shoal squawked at them to be careful with it. Once the pramm was loaded, a crew member called for the team to board the small boat so they can set off.
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Dusk Wing
Disciple Pony
You can always trust me to be untrustworthy.
Posts: 64
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Post by Dusk Wing on Apr 9, 2014 22:08:25 GMT -5
Dusk Wing had woken up early that morning. Not one to sleep in should he ever miss something interesting. Since waking up, he watched the crew work as they readied the supplies the small group would be needing. Though, he tried to stay out of the crews way as to not be a burden. This proved enough to distract him from the fact that he was shivering, despite him wearing his coat.
As the ship's crew got close to finishing prepping the pramm, Dusk went below desk to quickly make sure he had everything. A quick search revealed that he did, indeed, have everything. Just to be on the safe side, he removed his hat to make sure his lock picks were in the same pristine condition they were in the day before. Satisfied that everything was in order, he donned his saddle bags and made his way back above deck.
Apparently just in time too. For they had finished prepping, and were now calling for the group. "Time for this little band of misfits to get a move on. For the sooner we get this done, the sooner we can get out of the cold." He muttered to himself as he trotted over to the little boat. Realizing what he said, he paused briefly. "Misfits?... Yes that does seem to fit us quite well." He concluded with a smirk, not really caring that he included himself in that description, before closing the difference between him and the boat. Carefully he got aboard the thing and took a seat. Now he was simply waiting for the rest of the group and to see if Shoal had any other advice. Though, after learning he was lied to about what he would be doing on this trip, he was taking Shoal's words with a grain of salt. He doesn't like being lied to. Especially by politicians, whom he already has a negative view towards. And he felt that Shoal was up to something, but what it was he wasn't sure.
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Post by Julius Softpaw on Apr 10, 2014 12:18:54 GMT -5
Julius, having already been up and ready since before the sun was even up, stood at the helm, his staff propped up on his shoulder and idly fingering the hilt of his belt knife while he watched the crew work. Besides the padding in his armor, he also wore a thick wool cloak around his shoulders, effectively hiding his many small knives and the small pistol hidden securely under his wing. He had found the small anvil and tools the captain spoke of last night and had stayed up almost half the night fixing the bent blade of his. He had managed to at least straighten it to a usable length and sharpen it to a razor edge. Once this little excursion was over, however, he would definitely need to find a proper forge.
He watched the blue pegasus, Dusk Wing, if memory served, climb aboard the small boat and take his seat and decided to join him. After taking the seat opposite of Dusk and making sure to keep his cloak around him he turned to smile at him. "Bit nippy this morning, isn't it, my friend?"
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Post by Lucky Charm on Apr 10, 2014 12:59:43 GMT -5
Lucky Charm had been up for about half an hour so far. Not that he wanted to - much as he was a habitual early riser, he'd have been happy sleeping longer if his body had let him, but his blanket proved almost no protection at all against the freezing cold that penetrated even down into the depths of the ship.
Rather than bemoan this, he chose to take it in stride. Wrapped up in his best winter gear, which had previously gotten him through a two-month stint in the Northern Barrens, he kept himself warm by volunteering to help work the deck. Not only did this keep his blood flowing, it also gave him a few precious minutes by the heated sand-buckets to warm himself whenever he heated his metal brush.
When the bell tolled he knew the time had come. Despite his most charming efforts, they were not allowed to take one of the heated buckets on the boat with them, so it was with some reluctance that he dropped down into the boat right around the same time as Julius. He heard the tail end of Dusk Wing's muttering and smirked. "I like that name," he said brightly. "Tell you what, if this turns into an adventure that forges us into true companions bound by shared trauma, we're naming ourselves the Misfits." At the looks this garnered him he merely shrugged and smiled, not that it could be seen through the scarf. "What? It can happen. I've seen it."
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Kelp Cutter
Kelpie
New Kelpie
"No time for idlin'. Adventure awaits!"
Posts: 35
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Post by Kelp Cutter on Apr 11, 2014 16:47:56 GMT -5
Kelp had gone to bed in the cold-weather clothes he had worn the previous evening, and waking up, he had found himself freezing even with them on. He certainly had no intention of changing out of them. The adventuring kelpie rolled over in his hammock, wearily lifting his head to see if the others were still asleep. Their empty beds answered him with a unanimous 'no'.
Groaning as he slowly pulled himself up, the hippocampus took his time making the effort to get out of the hammock. After rubbing the gunk from his eyes, he hefted his bag and scabbard onto his back and made his way above deck. There, the kelpie bee-lined through sand buckets and bustling crew members towards the small boat where the others were located.
Kelp hopped right into boat with the others, sending it rocking unsteadily in the air above the icy waters. He took his seat next to Julius, and buried his head within his coat. He wasn't awake enough to care what they were talking about, and too cold and tired to have anything to say to them.
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Post by Stygg Whitefeather on Apr 16, 2014 0:04:36 GMT -5
With the pamm fully loaded, including need supplies, gear, and the radio, they four intrepid adventurers and one crewmember to row them out, a earth-pony of a salty orange coat and tousled yellow mane, were lowered into the water below. Shoal remained on deck, waving to the little boat as it disappeared. If they had been a team of pegasis and griffon, they wouldn't need such slow transportation, but since that wasn't the case, they were forced to glide across the the icy sea to reach the shore.
The boat hit the water, jostling those aboard and sending a freezing splash over its side onto those sitting aboard. The crewpony unhooked them from the Golden Ursa, pulled out the oars and strapped them to his forehooves. With a quick turn, he spun the bow towards the shoreline and rowed. It would take them a several, long minutes to cross the ice choked bay. About half-way between the ship and the shore, the D.B.A.R.S. speaker cackles alive as Shoal's voice comes through as clear as if he were in the boat with them – albeit with a certain mechanical whine behind it.
“This thing working *pzzt* Yes, hello? *throat clearing* I assume you're hearing me now – I think I can hear myself echoing out there. Echo, echo. This is kinda fun actually. *pzzt* Right, I forgot if I mentioned this earlier, but this region you're going into isn't exactly safe. *pzzt* Ah, I'm sure you realize that. Just, watch your back out there. Between the wandering band of Winter Wolves, frost dragons, draugrs, bajuns, trolls, you know, the usual things. Also, bit of bad news *pzzt* Well, really just a heads-up. The morning watch pony believes we may have a flurry on us sometime today. Says he can feel it in his hooves. I think it's silly, but thought you should know. If it happens and you're caught out in it, well, you'll all be pony/griffon/kelpie popsicles. *pzzt* One last thing. Try not to break D.B. A- thing, it's worth more than all four of you combined and I really don't want to explain to our Admiral sponsor why I ruined their new toy. Anyway, let me know when you've spotted the structure. Hold the little button I showed you as you speak, let up when you're done talking. Even a fledgling could figure it out. Good luck and I'll see you back here before dark *pzzt* Hopefully.”
The little boat suddenly stopped, jerking all aboard back and forth as the keel slammed into the rocky beach. “Here.” Said the crewpony, pulling in the oars before rolling over into the surf on his hooves. He winces as the water hits his hooves and fur, as he grabbed a line with his teeth and pulled the pamm up the beach till only the aft end of the little boat was still in the water. The crewpony would wait for the four to disembark, grab their gear and step up on the beach before sliding the boat back into the water and departing – the four could hear him snickering just over the sound of the chilly, whistling wind whipping through the cracks and crevices of jagged shoreline.
The team now found themselves on a rocky, icy shore. Desolate, bleak, a ever ending expanse of gray and snow. A simple map provided with the team's supplies indicated that the path to the east was the suggest route, albeit, longer, though it's climb up the hill leading to the valley where the unknown temple reportedly lay. However, there was another path that appeared more direct, perhaps even shorter to the north-east, directly before them. The map indicated it was steeper and lead up and over the hill. The path itself looked extremely rocky and the wind sped down from the hills side, through this path, coating the ground with frost and snow.
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Dusk Wing
Disciple Pony
You can always trust me to be untrustworthy.
Posts: 64
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Post by Dusk Wing on Apr 17, 2014 16:16:48 GMT -5
Dusk Wing was surprised when Lucky spoke up. More because of the fact that the purple pegasus didn't think anypony could hear his muttering than what the storyteller said. Judging from the green pegasus's smile, Dusk's surprise could be seen on his face. When he realized what it was Lucky said, his shocked expression shifted to a friendly smile.
He let out a cheerful laugh before responding. "That it could. And what an adventure it would be if that happened. Certainly it would be a tale to tell. Isn't that right storyteller?" He comments as he gives Lucky a friendly nudge. Julius's comment took his attention away from the other pegasus. "Is it? I barely noticed." A mischievous glint appearing in his eyes, despite there being a bit of truth to his words. "I guess I was too distracted by what the crew was doing to notice."
As they set off, he was a little surprised by the fact that Shoal didn't have anything else to say to them. After giving it a moment's though, he nearly facehoofed, stopping himself before he could. The griffon didn't need to talk to them face-to-face, they had the D.B.A.R.S. If he had anything else to say to them, he could contact them at a moments notice.
Apparently, Shoal had though about that too, for his voice crackled over the device. Personally, Dusk preferred to be left alone by his employer while he completed a job, but supposed it couldn't be helped. After all, this ins't a typical job for him. So, he patiently waited while the Ambassador finished his message. Though, his words didn't exactly have a positive impact on Dusk's mood.
As soon as the boat was ashore, Dusk quickly got off. He helped his teammates grab their gear, and then watched as the sailor rowed away once the pramm was unloaded. Though, he though he could hear the pony snickering as they unloaded. Something he thought did not bode well. However, he didn't put much thought to it.
Instead, he turned to the rest of the group. He saw they were looking at the map. Noting the two possible routes they could take, he recalled Shoals words about a possible flurry. Not wanting to be caught out in that, he rather enjoys living, he quickly though about which way would be the best to take.
"I think that we should take the longer route. It seems to be the easier path to traverse. Which, if we hurry, might make it take a shorter amount of time than the other." He looked up from the map to meet the gazes of the group. "I certainly don't want to end up a ponycicle. So, we need to need to move fast to avoid this flurry Shoal mentioned. What do you three think?"
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Post by Julius Softpaw on Apr 17, 2014 18:58:27 GMT -5
Julius sat silently as Shoal spoke over the D.B.A.R.S, holding his cloak close to cover the movement of him shifting the gun holster to a more secure and hidden spot under his left wing. Once the boat reached the shore, he was out even before the sailor, scanning the surrounding land for any form of danger. Only once he was sure there were no threats did he turn back to the rest, more specifically, to Dusk. "I believe that would be the wisest choice. That way," he said, pointing to the path to the east, "is much more open. There is less chance of an ambush."
Julius reached into the boat to grab his pack, his staff and the 20 meter rope he brought, which he then proceeded to coil around his chest. As the boat pulled away, Julius walked over to where Dusk stood, his head on a swivel for anything that could be a threat. "We need to get moving soon, if we are to make it before the storm."
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Post by Lucky Charm on Apr 17, 2014 20:13:16 GMT -5
Lucky nodded as the others made what he considered to be the sensible suggestion. "I third that," he agreed. "Looks like we might have a bit more shelter, depending on where that flurry comes from, and it'll definitely be easier staying upright in any case." He paused, glancing at the hill. "The longer path probably does have more living trouble, though," he continued thoughtfully. "Odds are they figure the same way we do. Even so, it seems safer to me."
He looked up at the sky, watching clouds both directly overhead and all the way to the horizon, and spread his wings to get a sense of the wind direction closer to the ground. Lucky was a Pegasus and often worked with weather to get by. He'd travelled the world for years, well beyond the borders of the more organized Equestrian territory. He knew more about the workings of wild weather than many who lived their whole lives under it. Figuring out which way the flurry would come from should be easy.
Once he had a good idea of which way to expect trouble from, the Pegasus glanced around at the others and his eyes fell on Julius, who was coiling a rope around his chest. "Wait," he said suddenly. "That rope looks pretty long. Once we reach the hill we should tie it around ourselves in a line to keep us all together. That way, even if the flurry still hits us, we can support each other if one falls. If we all carry knives we can cut the rope if we get attacked, free us up to maneuver."
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Kelp Cutter
Kelpie
New Kelpie
"No time for idlin'. Adventure awaits!"
Posts: 35
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Post by Kelp Cutter on Apr 21, 2014 23:27:56 GMT -5
Kelp kept his head buried within his coat during the boat ride, trying to rest his eyes until they had gotten to shore. He finally resurfaced from his lackluster refuge when Shoal's voice came cackling over the speaker device. The hippocampus drowsily looked at the mechanical box, not caring very much about what he was saying. Watch out for local wildlife, hurry up because of the weather, don't break my precious toy. Yeah yeah.
Getting jerked forward by the sudden lack of movement was indication that they had reached the shore. Kelp waited for the others to step out, letting out a yawn before doing so himself. The adventurer shook his head and blinked a few times, trying to wake himself up after a few paces onto shore. "Alright, lemme see that map."
The kelpie trotted up to the others, taking a look at what their options were. There was a much longer, less straight-forward path, and a shorter, more direct one. Well, that was an easy choice.
"I think that we should take the longer route."
Kelp gave Dusk a dumbfounded look. His eyes jumped to griffon and pegasus as the other two gave their verbal agreement. What? "...did you three forget that you have wings?" Could all three of them really be that oblivious? Lucky had even stretched his wings out to test the wind! "I'm th' only one here that has to travel by hoof, and I'm sure th' three of you together can manage to lift that 'thing' in th' air," Kelp spoke, pointing to Shoal's communication device. "Can probably do it with just two."
The kelpie turned to point in the direction of the shorter route. "That path will save us time, and probably get us back before nightfall. No reason why I shouldn't take it while you three fly ahead."
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Post by Stygg Whitefeather on Apr 22, 2014 15:56:04 GMT -5
As they debated on the shore, the sky above them was starting to turn more sinister and dark, as the heavy white haze that had once been sitting high on the mountains was now slow descending. Any pegasus worth their wings would see this as a warning for a turn in the cold, snowy weather. It would seem that Shoal's warning was coming to fruition - but they still had time before the turn in the weather would set in. They still could make it to the temple, based on the projected distance on the map, before the snow-fall and winds would set upon them.
A few meters above and to the left, on a rocky ledge lines with evergreens, a few loose rocks and snow gave way and rolled down the face of the low laying bluff onto the beach. It appeared to have been startled loose by something just out of sight, or perhaps it was the result of wind and erosion. After all, what could possible be moving about in this cold, barren land.
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Dusk Wing
Disciple Pony
You can always trust me to be untrustworthy.
Posts: 64
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Post by Dusk Wing on Apr 22, 2014 21:06:12 GMT -5
Dusk Wing was pleased that the others were agreeing with him. It meant that they would be able to spend more time getting to the temple and less time outside bickering. That is, until Kelp Cutter spoke up. Based upon the comments he made, he hadn't heard any of the rest of the conversation. A fact that rather irritated the violet pegasus.
"An astute observation Kelp Cutter." He said in a deceptively pleasant tone in response to his statement about wings, looking at the kelpie with a friendly face. "You have proven that I could never underestimate your intelligence."
Immediately after, Dusk becomes more serious, dropping his cheerful facade. "However, what you don't take into account is the terrain. The path you suggest is shorter, yes. But, the terrain will be far worse, and traversing it will be a lot more dangerous." He then looks up at the darkening sky before continuing. "Which isn't something we need at the moment."
Dusk threw a quick glance at the other two, before turning around and heading down the path he had chosen to travel. He called back before he made it to far, yet continued to look where he was going. "If you're going down that path Kelp, then I won't stop you. But know that I tried to warn you. And if you die on your way to the temple, then I might mention you in a foot note in my autobiography." Though he lied, he had no intention of ever writing an autobiography.
He continued his way along the snowy route, no looking behind him to see if the others were there. If they weren't and instead decided to join Kelp, then he had managed to look at the map long enough that he would be able to remember the path long enough to get to the temple. Though, he hoped they were behind him, so the trek wouldn't be so lonely. "The sky sure is getting bleak. I wonder if we'll make it there before the storm hits." He hoped there was somepony that heard him, otherwise he was just talking to himself.
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Post by Julius Softpaw on Apr 23, 2014 11:03:05 GMT -5
Julius was glad to hear that the others in the little group agreed with him and Dusk. That is, until he heard Kelp speak up. He turned to regard the Kelpie, not even bothering with the obviously fake pleasant tone that Dusk used. "Aye. But who would carry you? That D.B.A.R.S is pretty heavy, so it would take me and probably Lucky to lift it. That would only leave Dusk to carry you, and I doubt he is strong enough to carry you the entire way up." He flashed a quick smile to Dusk, an interesting feat with a beak. "No offence meant, of course..."
Whatever else he had planned to say was cut short when the rocks and snow to the left gave way. Julius spun on his heels, two of his sharpest knives already in his hands and ready to throw, and scanned ledge for any sign of danger. When he found nothing he shook his head, muttering something about never being too careful, and strode after Dusk. "As Herr Dusk has said, we are going this way. If you wish to go the other way, we shan't stop you."
He quickly caught up with Dusk and handed him one end of his rope. "Here. Tie this to yourself, mein Freund. It will keep us from getting separated, should the flurry hit us before we reach our destination." Once that was done, he turned to look at Lucky and Kelp, who still stood on the beach. "I would hope you see reason and come with us."
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Post by Lucky Charm on Apr 23, 2014 19:33:37 GMT -5
Lucky waited until Julius was finished before he cast in his two bits. Not so much out of meekness, he was just busy facehoofing. "Guys," he said calmly, "the only reason not to fly is that this would mean leaving one of us to face that mess alone. If you're going to rush off on your own, why would you do it on the ground?"
He turned to Kelp before waiting on an answer. "I know you're tough, Kelp. We all know it. But there's safety in numbers, and take it from somepony who's been through snowstorms in the Northern Barrens: You do not want to be alone when it hits. None of us are that tough. To say nothing of the-" He stopped, seeing the look on Julius' face, and turned to look at what he'd seen. Some snow and rocks were still tumbling, looking like they'd fallen. It could've been the wind... but probably not. "-of the dangers of standing around here any longer. Let's move."
He set off immediately after Dusk and Julius, still talking as he walked and gesturing for Kelp to follow. He kept one eye on that patch of snow that had shifted, though. Just in case. "I want to get back fast just as much as you do," Lucky continued, "but I also want to get back in as many pieces as I set out in, with companions in the same general state. The greatest danger of all is if we split or up stand around and argue. C'mon, if we keep a brisk pace we can still outrun the flurry."
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Kelp Cutter
Kelpie
New Kelpie
"No time for idlin'. Adventure awaits!"
Posts: 35
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Post by Kelp Cutter on Apr 29, 2014 21:57:32 GMT -5
"Why thank you," Kelp said with a grin, thinking at first that Dusk had been complementing him. But it was too quick, it soon seemed, to think that Dusk was not as absentminded as he had hoped. Kelp was almost in disbelief as the purple pegasus continued speaking. Did this guy suffer short-term memory loss? Kelp had just pointed out that he was the only one here without wings. He was the only one here who needed to go by land, and the only one who's opinion mattered in deciding which land path he should take. Had that completely gone over Dusk's head? The other three traveling by foot when they were perfectly capable of flying was one of the dumbest things he had ever heard.
Julius, meanwhile, had somehow reached the conclusion that Kelp was asking someone to carry him, making the griffon appear hard of hearing or hard of comprehending. Both he and Dusk seemed way too insistent on picking the 'right' answer and sticking with it. They probably saw two paths, and therefore decided that all they could do was pick one to take. Two stunning examples of simple-mindedness.
At least Lucky seemed to be grasping the situation. And what a relief that was. Kelp didn't think he would be able to tolerate three dimwits on this escapade. Even if Kelp didn't agree with taking the long route simply because Dusk and Julius insisted on it, at least wanting to keep the group together made sense.
A sudden sound up and to the left interrupted the group. Kelp turned to watch the loose rock and snow go tumbling down the hill, turning back to see Julius looking like he was ready to kill someone. The hippocampus rolled his eyes, unimpressed with the griffon's paranoia.
Soon after, Dusk and Julius had trotted off, likely proud of 'picking the right answer'. No, not likely. The autobiography and ironic 'listen to reason' comments made their self-confidence crystal clear. For that alone, Kelp was convinced to just take the shorter path and beat them there. Leaving behind Lucky, especially after the pegasus had shown some reason and solidarity, was tugging at him. But Kelp wasn't going to compromise for insistence on stupidity.
"I'm takin' th' shorter path," the hippocampus called out to Lucky. "Don't worry about me bein' stuck out here when th' weather hits. If you want to avoid it yourself, I'd try convincin' those two to just fly to th' temple. Walkin' that path's just gonna keep you three out here longer." With that said, the hippocampus made his way to the start of the shorter path. "More than capable of gettin' there in one piece, without someone carryin' me."
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