Voyage of the Empress — Legacy Forums

Re: Voyage of the Empress

#81

"I think it was a fog bell." She shook her head. "I don't know. I'm out of my depth, as well." She sat down, absently pulling out her pad and pencil as she did. "Something isn't right, but I don't know what." Without really seeming to realize what she was doing, she started aimlessly. "I have the strangest hunch that we're in danger, but I don't know what from. Papa always said a hunch is an inference drawn from information you didn't know you had, but in this case, I'm at a loss." She thought for a moment, her pencil still working. "I think we should maybe do some... I don't know. Snooping, I guess, figure out what's going on. I don't like not knowing what's happening, and we'll probably both feel better if we know."

Re: Voyage of the Empress

#82

"It seems as good sugestion as any I suppose." he was still crestfallen. "Maybe we should pay a visit to Vivica again. Wherever we go, its time to start watching each others back, agreed?" Henri looked hopefully at Ilsa.

"And what do I do with this unico--er..goat horn?"

Rising, Henri stared at the bloody spar, but for some inexplicable reason, did not think it wise to toss it overboard

"Our one hope madame? Is that I do not think The Beast would write that message you discovered with lead, blood maybe. Pencil, doubtful. You may be correct, a bit of snooping might reveal some mundane trickery behind all this." Henri slightly recovered.

Re: Voyage of the Empress

#83

Ellie glanced at the bit of horn. "I wouldn't put it back in your pocket, that's for sure. I'm not squeamish, but if it decides to dig in again, it may hit something structurally important." She stood up. "We should probably go check on Vivica anyway. I have some... experience with hysteria, I might could help. But yes, you're right. I definitely want someone watching my back, and even though I just met you, I feel I can trust you." She smiled, them said in her accent, "Shall we go, Monsieur?"

Re: Voyage of the Empress

#84

Ilsa's demeanor brightened his mood considerably, and for a moment all his fears and conjectures seemed silly. Only for a moment.

"We shall madame", Henri gestured with a flourish and followed Ilsa out the door. once back in the corridor, he felt strangely a bit out of breath, but this new dilemna was manageable he convinced himself, and probably temporary.

Following Ilsa, Henri made his way back to the other side of the ship. It was soon apparent that there was a commotion o board. Several crewman, sweat glistening on their thick mustaches, ran by cursing, and other sounds of distress could be heard from other levels. Luckily, Abelard wasnt among the crewman, much to Henri's relief. In the distance he spied Brandford the Banker and the chain-smoking crewman from the Vivica Affair, leaning on a rail and conversing. He waved in their general direction.

"Now what?!", Henri asked loudly, noticing more and more commotion around them.

Re: Voyage of the Empress

#85

Frederic was silent for a while, observing the growing unrest on the ship.

"Then, it seems, our nexus of interest lies with the captain. We should pay him a little visit, and present him my theory. Independent of whether there is a grain of truth in it, we may as well ask on the general course of the ship."

Noticing Henry and Miss Ilsa coming, he added "...and if there are more of us, all the better."

He waved back. Come, Henry, you can talk a snake off his spine. We may need a little help with that strange captain.

Re: Voyage of the Empress

#86

Establishing eye contact with Frederick momentarily, Henri turned to Ilsa and motioned half-heartedly that they should make their way over to the pair.

Approaching them he said, "It is good to see a familair face, Mr. Brandford. I am afraid the lady and I are a bit spooked, for reasons that we shall soon divulge. We could use the steady mind of a banker to set our spirits straight." As soon as Henri heard himself say 'spirits' he regretted it.

He smiled at the two smokers...or the one smoker anyway, Brandford just kept twiddling with an unlit cigarette.

"We did not have a chance at introduction ser, due to Lady Cameron's fragile condition earlier", He extended his hand to the crewman, "I am Henri Lamorak, but I am sure Mr. Brandford has told you all about his new friend, eh Brandford?"

Re: Voyage of the Empress

#87

Ed did not flinch and looked Henri straight into the eyes. "I am enchanted to make your acquaintance, mister Lamorak. We were just standing here debating the odd occurrences on the ship. It seems that Mr. Brandford wants a chat with the captain after I mentioned that we were heading in the wrong direction".

Ed shook hands with mister Lamorak and then kissed the hand of the lady. "I am Charles Edward Dainty Wainwright, at your service madam". The words fell from his mouth and for a second he feared that she might recognize the spectacular Dainty Wainwright family name, now utterly connected with the story of the fall of a merchant empire. Some years ago the Empress had even flagged under DW Shipping and when his father went bankrupt the new owners had bought it cheap.

No. These are not of my former stature, but rather the upper middle class playing at being rich. Or... the banker might recognize it.

Ed broke his silence and offered cigarettes to the newcomers hoping that would derail their attention.

Re: Voyage of the Empress

#88

"I'll have one of those if you dont mind, Mr. Wainright, calm my nerves," He reached out for a smoke, hoping it was a turkish blend.

"Dainty?", Henri had a hint of a smile.

Re: Voyage of the Empress

#89

For a few moments silent, after the sailor and doctor finally introduced himself, Frederic returned to his original thoughts and plans.

"Yes, Henry, I was just about to call for you, and of course for our charming Lady Ilsa." *slight bow*
"We are in need of companions."

After a tiny dramatic pause, and a reassuring smile, he continued.
"As for the spook, I have already a little theory, that can explain that strange, ummm... _moment_ we all seemed to have. As a matter of fact, two theories: one of them requires a smoker of opium, or a similar substance, which would be hardly suprising on this ship. The other would imply that there is some spoiled food on board, which we have had for dinner or before. Any of them is a perfectly logical explanation for what happened to us."

...a small sigh...
"But then is here also, what here doctor has told me, and I find hard to dismiss: the ship seems to be heading into the wrong direction. The crew is already restless."
"Therefore, I suggest that we go straight to the captain, and speak with him. For the first matter, he should definitely know; on the second matter, _we_ have a right to know. I am certain that with such outspoken, I dare say, accomplices, " ...a wide smile on his face.. "we will easily learn all there is to learn from the captain, and have not to create wild tales and worry for the rest of the journey."

"Then, what do you say?"

Re: Voyage of the Empress

#90

"By all means, let us speak with the captain." Ellie nodded. "If we are not going the right direction, then the issue is compounded." There was a growing unease around them, and Ellie was trying as best she could to keep her mind off of it. She focused on the crewman. His name seemed to be ringing a faint bell. She mentally shrugged. It didn't matter. Frankly, she doubted the bankers possible explanations. They would be much easier to accept if she hadn't had "funny moments" before. But for the first time in her life, she was glad that bankers as a rule had little imagination. A logical, prosaic explanation was a comfort.

Re: Voyage of the Empress

#91

Henri chewed on Brandford's words...Any of them is a perfectly logical explanation for what happened to us he had said. If only opium or spoiled fish could explain unfriendly, animated, thigh-burrowing trinkets or wormy-mawed dogs.

Henri focused on the second more pressing comment, "Wrong direction? I dont understand. Why would we be going in the wrong--unless it is that malevolent Abel--" Henri paused, remembering Mr. Wrainwright was a member of the ships crew.

"Yes, let us all go speak to the captain. That would be prudent at this juncture", he garbled instead.

*To Ilsa* "Tell them the rest" he whispered

Re: Voyage of the Empress

#92

Ellie shook her head. "Not yet," she whispered. "When they are more likely to believe us, maybe. Right now, all telling them would do is damage our credibility." She considered. "Besides, it could have other explanations." She didn't sound confident.

Re: Voyage of the Empress

#93

Observing the worried look of his ever-optimistic companion, and the quiet exchange with the lady, even Frederic started to feel a bit sure.

But first the talk, then will be time enough for the doubts.

"Then let us go to the captain. Doctor, will you?"

Re: Voyage of the Empress

#94

Ed nodded politely and began walking towards the bridge. He had never talked directly to Saisong and he sincerely doubted that the sly asian would welcome a crew member meddling in his affairs.

"Oh, well" he sighed as he made his way up the metal staircase, the passengers in tow.

Re: Voyage of the Empress

#95

Before they reached the captain's quarters, the group was met by a duo of gruff looking sailors, some of the asians who had been long time crewmen of the ship, and both being decidedly loyal to Abelard, despite his bastard blood. "The captain isnt seeing anyone now." One said in thickly accented english. Ed was able to quite easily noticed that the two sailors were armed with clubs of sorts.

"You have to take your problems to Abelard, but he too is busy."

Re: Voyage of the Empress

#96

Ed arched an eyebrow and looked at the two sailors. "Put those away, sailors. These are passengers and if word came out you threatened them, the captain will have your hide!"

Re: Voyage of the Empress

#97

Something clicked. Ellie eyed the clubs, then the two sailors. After all, she made her living by drawing inferences from information people didn't mean to give her. "Perhaps we should let it alone," she said. "After all, it is of no importance, is it?" She met Henri's eyes, then glanced around at the others, hoping they got her meaning. They needed to leave, and now. She glanced at Ed again. He would probably protest, and that wouldn't be good right now. "Monsieur, you promised to have a look at that broken table in my cabin..." She sounded very silly, she was sure. She was hoping her behavior before had not given the others to think she was normally very silly.

Re: Voyage of the Empress

#98

At the mention of Abelard, Henri paled. He was about to say something to someone, he was sure of it, but now Ilsa seemed agitated and throwing knowing glances around at the foursome. She was looking to leave, and Henri wasnt about to argue. Something had spooked her.

Re: Voyage of the Empress

#99

"Is there a problem?" A voice said from behind them, it was Abelard, he furtively ran his hands together and it looked like there was a sheen of sweat on his brow. Two more asian sailors were with him. Most prominent, however, was the butt of the pistol that extended from his waistband. "If you wanted to see the captain, he has taken ill and placed me in charge."

Re: Voyage of the Empress

#100

Ed looked at the gun, then at Abelard and then at the sailors and their clubs. "Yes, first mate. Now that our doctor is indisposed it has fallen upon me to replace him. It has come to my attention that a number of our passengers are experiencing strange illnesses. Perhaps we should go to port with them. We are not that far at sea after all"

This is a mutiny if I ever saw one. The sailors have never been armed aboard this ship and Abelard definitely looks stressed. I need to get us out of this one.

Re: Voyage of the Empress

#101

Abelard eyed Ed closely, his breath reeking of strange spices. "Put into port for strange illnesses? I think no. We are making small detour, and what makes you think we are close to shore?" Abelard asked pointedly. "Maybe you should go back to infirmary and give aspirins and gin to the sick people..."

Re: Voyage of the Empress

#102

Ed nodded as the first mate spoke. "Yes, sir!" he replied and then he started escorting the passengers away from the first mate.

So this is what is has come to, eh? A small detour in the Atlantic Ocean and the Captain conveniently indisposed. Whatever for, I wonder? Oh, well, I have seen what Abelard does to sailors who don't listen the first time 'round. I need to get us away from him

Had it been five years ago, Ed could have snapped his fingers and a throng of men would have seized Abelard and put him in chains. Not so today; fortunes change and his was ebbing into nothingness. Still there was something very strange going on here, and Ed did not like it the least.

Re: Voyage of the Empress

#103

As Ed started shooing them back the way the had came, Ellie sighed slightly. She had been worried that that Abelard wouldn't let them go. Once they had gotten out of the hearing range of the armed crewmen, she said in a low voice. "I might could use a glass of gin, for real, Monsieur." They couldn't talk to the captian, and unless her fellow passengers had an unsuspected fondness for weapons, they couldn't do anything about it. She was starting to get a horrible feeling. Hopefully, it was just smuggling or some such thing, and once they had done what they meant to do, they would go back on course. But she could not forget that the ocean was a big place, and sometimes people... went missing.

Re: Voyage of the Empress

#104

Abelard walked into the captain's quarters, Saisong looked livid with the gag in his mouth. The wall safe was exposed, the trite painting covering it on the floor and broken into pieces. The mongrel glared at the captain, at the swelling that had started to close the man's left eye, the split lip, and the blood that had already dried on his shirt and face.

"I have the map, Chang." Abelard said. "We are already on new course and heading, full speed." The captain didnt try to speak, the strip of fabric cut into his cheeks as it was without trying to force sounds around the cloth. "Give me the combination to the safe." The captain shook his head in denial.

"Is it worth dying for?" Abelard asked, pulled the gun from the waistband of his pants. Saisong was silent, staring at his former second with an intensity that would have blistered paint from steel. "Or do you think that dead you will not be able to open the safe, and you will keep your secret?"

(sorry for the delay ya'll)

Re: Voyage of the Empress

#105

The scared passengers had been escorted to the restaurant where they were whispering fervently. Ed stood alone in the crew cabin, his chest now open and his father's revolver in his hand. Slowly he put golden bullet after golden bullet in the chamber. Hopefully there would not be any reason to use the gun, but from the latest experience he wasn't taking any chances. With the safety on he put the revolver into the doctor's bag, then he left the cabin, heading back to the passengers.

Re: Voyage of the Empress

#106

To say that Henri had a sinking feeling would be like saying the Ocean was quite deep. He was glad however to be out of range of Abelard's pig-like eyes, as he was gently prodded along with the others by this seemingly sensible crewman, Wainright, who had taken it upon himself to get them in front of the captain, and now seemed to be their last line of defense from Abelard and his cronies. As the 'companions-by-necessity' filtered into the restaurant, Henri looked from Ilsa to Brandford. He spoke in a low voice.

"I think it is quite clear by now, that we should have all waited for the Paris-bound Marie Antoinette and boarded her instead." Despite his own fears and concerns, Henri tried to sound light-hearted.

"So what do we do now? Pretend nothing is happening and try our hand at cribbage?"

Re: Voyage of the Empress

#107

Time passed as the new party found themselves with a variety of topics to discuss and very little that they could do about it. In the meantime the ship churned on, though with no more rammings. A little after 6PM, a strange fog was seen on the horizon. It was a menacing cloud that at first seemed like a storm, but laced with absinthian vapors, and a vague yet repellant odor reminiscent of freshly turned earth and wind dried salt.

Mr. Abelard and associates were later seen on the open bridge navigating with an antique astrolabe, though it was not being measured against sun or unseen moon.

Re: Voyage of the Empress

#108

"The first mate reeked of strange spices" Ed said as he pondered their predicament. He had noted that several of the on duty sailors walked around dazedly, unsure as to what they were doing and where the ship was going. This seemed so foreboding, like a giant wheel set in motion. A wheel they could not do anything about, but that carried them along against their will. Looking at the passengers he took another swig of beer.

"I smelled the same when we loaded the cargo. There are some spices, some strange herbs... Perhaps they could explain this. I... I visited a relative in an asylum once and that place reeked of such spices..." His voice trailed off as thoughts of his mother came haunting him. Devoid of their fortune, they also lost all social grace and one by one his mother's friends stopped visiting. She had been active in charity and involved in the Senate elections, but suddenly she had become a nobody and her world fell apart. She took their ruin hard and after a while she refused to move from her chair, neither washing nor eating. She began drinking heavily, but unlike the expensive licquor of her past, she now gulped down bottle after bottle of cheap whisky. In the end they called Hawkesby, their doctor of old; a kind man that was favoured by the wealthy, yet he had pity on them and came visiting one last time. Doctor Hawkesby had not been able to help mother, and in the end he had her committed to Lecheuvre Asylum for the Poor. When Ed came visiting she had been like a ghost ranting about hidden enemies that tormented her and did things to her.

The staff even restrained you mother, when you leapt at me and screamed that I must rescue you. But I did not recognize you, and I never visited you again

A sailor shook Ed trying to make contact, but Ed was too deep in thoughts to recognize his words.

"I beg your pardon. What did you say?" Ed had not heard so the young sailor repeated the question. Ed nodded in return and the young sailor then left in a hurry.

Re: Voyage of the Empress

#109

"Thorneapple has reckoned our course, and we are heading into pretty much uncharted waters. Moving way out of the shipping lanes. If the engines give out, who knows when or even if we will be rescued." The sailor said to Ed with a note of worry. "Worse still is you know how tight the boss is with fuel. If we head to far off course there is nothing that says we have enough coal in the bunkers to get anywhere besides Amsterdam. What in the bleeding hell is going on?"

Re: Voyage of the Empress

#110

Ellie frowned. She was getting increasingly nervous, and the news that they were heading for uncharted waters wasn't comforting. For a fleeting moment, she remembered some of the wild stories her grandmother used to tell her, when her father wasn't around to put a stop to it. "There are things in this world, girl, that can send a sane man mad. Always listen to your instincts, and stay away from the unknown places. Don't go lookin' for more trouble than you've already got." Ellie shook her head. Nonsense. This was probably just something to do with smuggling, opium or something more exotic. Hopefully, if they laid low and didn't come to that horrible Abelard's attention, everything would be all right.

Re: Voyage of the Empress

#111

Henri saw a chance and wordlessly glided out of the restaurant, returning quickly to door which led to the Captain's Quarters. Henri assumed that Wainright had left with Pig-Eyes and his lackeys, and there was now no one around. Ilsa watched him leave, but Brandford seemed lost in thought, still twirling that unlit cigarette in his thick banker fingers.

Henri neared the door. it was locked. he glanced around nervously. Still no one. Some spark of mischief had revived inside Henri. Whatever was going on he lectured himself, it all must have an explanation. After all, this was not the Seventeenth Century, and this was not the Barbary Coast. Everything would be explained eventually. Could be all kinds of reasons a ship would take a detour. Maybe we're taking on water, Henri thought. I certainly wouldnt want to be in the middle of the ocean if that ws happening. In the meantime, Henri got to the point with himself, chaos reigned and as 'Deadfinger' Ballard always said to him at the Five Points whorehouse, 'When pigeons run amok...is when yaz pick em' off. If yaz rob em' whilst them be feeding, the other pigeons will see yaz.'

Henri withdrew a long dull gray pick from inside his sleeve. One more looksee around, and he went to work on the door. "Open Sesame" he whispered. He had read that in a book. He didnt know what a "sesame" was, but he liked the phrase anyway.

Re: Voyage of the Empress

#112

That is it, I am going to get some answers

Ed rose abruptly and left the restaurant, bringing his loaded gun with him. He removed the safety but kept the revolver inside his bag, though still in his hand. Outside an odd mist had formed and he thanked the Lord that he had provided such convenient cover. Cocking his gun he started searching for a lone specimen of Abelard's goons.

[OOC: Tell me how Ed's search goes Scras. Are there any lone goons he can caress with his gun?]

Re: Voyage of the Empress

#113

The pick slid silently into the lock, and it was not quite a simple matter, but Henri was able to nudge each of the tumbler into alignment. With a click the lock opened and he was able to open the door. He was immediantly assaulted by the stench of blood and feces. There was gore scattered across the room, there were even sprays of blood across the ceiling. Saisong sat slumped back in the chair, his throat slashed deep enough that from his vantage point Henri could see the pale gleam of the spinal column. The man had been split open from the bottom of the sternum down, and there was a pile of viscera and organs spread across the room. For a sickening moment, Henri knew that this had been done while he was alive, before Abelard and his goons had slashed the man's throat.

"Alas, alas for the living..." Saisong said in a bloody whisper, his cold dead eyes fixed on Henri...

The wall safe was open, nothing inside...

*****
"Ah, Ed, there you are." One of Abelard's bodyguards said, "I was looking for you, need some stitches you see." The man, a shifty chinese named Han, held up his hand, a deep cut slicing through the meat of his palm and across the base of his thumb.

Re: Voyage of the Empress

#114

Ed smiled and nodded to the bodyguard. "Of course Han, I can help you" Ed looked at the wound then his eyes widened and he quickly said "That looks nasty Han, luckily I have access to new medicine. Here, let me inject this to relieve you of pain and stop any infections" Ed looked grim as he pulled forth a hypodermic needle from the bag. After a short moment of preparations he had the hypo filled with morphine. A quick sting in the arm and the small dose had been injected.

Charles Edward stepped away from the chinese and watched as he began swooning. "You have been granted an audience with Morpheus, God of Dreams, my friend. We will meet again soon enough. Give the arrogant bastard my best wishes!" After Han had fallen, Ed began pulling him towards the doctor's cabin. He met a passenger and requested help, telling him that a sailor had taken ill after a nasty cut. The nice passenger gladly obliged, lifting the blubbering Han by his legs, and after the passenger left, Ed bound and gagged Han and put him behind the doctor's desk.

"No one can hear you now, no one can help you" Ed said. It had been so long since he last had any power over others, Ed had forgotten how good it felt. There was a rushing sensation in his body and suddenly he was feeling aroused. "Bloody d**n" he whispered and went to the doorway for a few minutes, waiting for the small dose to wear off.

******************

After having spent a few minutes on the floor, Han came to his senses. Ed pulled the gun from his bag, pointing it between Han's eyes, then he removed the gag. "Scream and it will be the last thing you ever do! Now tell me: Where are we going and what the bloody hell is going on with Abelard and the captain?"

Re: Voyage of the Empress

#115

Still half dazed by the morphine, Han stared at the barrel pointed into his face, it was the lingering effect of the drug that kept him calm, instead of running and screaming as he had the last time a gun had been pointed at him. Han sniffed, wishing he could wipe his nose. "Ugh...treasure...he said there was gold..."

"The Captain knew about it, but he wasnt going to share it with anyone. Abelard wanted all of us loyal crewmen to have a share. We didn't know about you...we don't trust you white people very much...railroads.." he mumbled, probably a reference to the number of chinese who were working out in the American west laying rails and telegraph lines. "Some place called Rill-Yay, a hidden and forgotten place..."

Re: Voyage of the Empress

#116

They have all turned to madness. Another page of his diary was crumpled and thrown away.

The crew of this ship is clearly out of control. The captain is nowhere to be seen, his first mate is running the ship in a clear display of power. The sailors look like drunk or drugged, it seems they will obey any command. When they threatened us, ... Frederic breathed heavily for a while. It has to be written.

When they threatened us, I have withdrawn. Retreated. Escaped.

It was a reasonable choice against the odds, but also a cowardly one. Now they have the ship, and I am only one of many scared passangers, hiding in their cabin, awaiting what happens. But that will stop. It is time to act, not only react.
Another short break, Frederic threw a determined look outside of his small round window. A fog can hide many things.
They cannot simply become pirates of the tales of the past. They cannot sell the ship, without drawing attention to themselves. There must be a reason for their unusual behaviour, a profit for their little greedy souls. Treasures are stories for children, smuggling was always good business on the sea.
He smiled grimly.
And what happens to passangers, that know too much? They accidentally drown on the sea.

Stand, inhale, and move out. It is time to learn a bit more, and stop hiding... well, maybe a bit secrecy will not hurt.

*****

Not finding Henry in his cabin (Where is that man anyway?), Frederic carefully strode across the ship, finding surprisingly little activity. I should see after the doctor... he has a better contact to the crew.

Approaching the cabin, he heard some voices from inside, and slowed down... See how low you have fallen, eavesdropping like a criminal... gold? What naivete. Perhaps black gold, as opium is called by some. Smuggling. I knew it.
A board creaked slightly below his feet.
I sure hope the doctor won't sell us out.

Re: Voyage of the Empress

#117

Ellie had followed Henri shortly after he'd left, catching up just as he was getting the door open. For a moment she was too horrified to react. Then she turned around, refusing to look at the bloody scene any more. "We have to get out of here, off this boat, away from this place. If we don't, we are going to die." She wasn't bothering with her accent any more, and her voice bordered on quiet hysteria. A piece of paper found it's way into her hands, and she started twisting and untwisting it. She needed something to do with her hands. If she was honest with herself, it was because she was afraid of what she would write if they weren't occupied.

Re: Voyage of the Empress

#118

"Oh, Han!" Ed sighed. "Oh, Han. Look where your addiction got you" The doctor put the gag back in Han's mouth and pulled up the chinaman's sleeves. He quickly prepared another dose, a much larger one this time. Noticing the drugged fear in the chinaman, he soothed him "Ssssh, sssh, have no fear. You will survive. But I am afraid Abelard and the Captain will be very disappointed with you"

Ed injected the dose into the vein of the chinaman who quickly fell asleep.

A treasure. These chinamen found themselves a genuine treasure map. I heard about those sunken galleons that sometimes can be found in the Bermuda Triangle. So it is a mutiny then. Abelard captured the Captain so he could get his dirty little hands on the treasure.

For a few mere seconds Charles Edward Dainty Wainwright fell into daydreams of power reclaimed and women fainting at the mention of the fabled treasure hunter, then reality called and he lifted the chinaman onto the patients' bed. Quickly treating the wound he then opened the cabin door, peeking outside. Han's career as a morphinist had come to an end, and Ed sincerely doubted that Saisong or Abelard would appreciate a severe addiction in one of their crewmembers.

Damn, I am good!

[OOC: Okay, it is up to you Scras and manfred to decide what happens now]

Re: Voyage of the Empress

#119

Henri was a fearful fellow, but he had seen gore before. Growing up next to the butcher shop, Henri had witnessed both pigs and people trussed up on hooks. This scene before him was surreal however. The captain mumbled and stared. The stare was the most unnerving, more so than the blood, stench and viscera. Saisong stared at Henri with the eyes of a destroyed man who was aware of his own doom, but not quite dead.

Ilsa looked disgusted and shaken. Henri gave her a knowing look. It was too late to "run away". Whatever happened from here on out, they were deeply involved now.

Henri quickly scanned the room, as the bile slowly rose in his throat. He could not help noticing the open empty safe. A moment of indecision and finally Henri approached the captain with some trepidation, while taking in every detail of the room at once.

(OCC- roll my "perception" check if there is anything to see or be found)

"I --I --er.." Henri froze in mid-word, as a new horrifying realization dawned on him. The captain wasnt dying...he was already DEAD!

"Ilsa! he's dead...HE'S DEAD BUT HE JUST SPOKE!!" Henri was wild-eyed but frozen in place. He felt a trickle of piss on his leg.

Re: Voyage of the Empress

#120

Ellie still refused to turn around. "I didn't hear anything. It's probably... just the shock. I think... I think we need to go now. Hush up, or they'll hear you, and then we'll really be in for it." She glanced down at the paper wadded up in her hands. There was something written on it. She'd grabbed a used bit. But it looked unfamiliar. With a feeling of growing fear, she untwisted it and smoothed it out. In fine, delicate handwriting she'd never seen before was written two lines.

Alas, alas for the living
For their time is Nigh.

She dropped the note like it had burned her, and stifled a shriek with difficulty. Violence and blood she could handle. But this worked on her already badly frayed nerves. "W-we need to g-go find the others." For the first time in her life, she felt like she might faint. Her voice trembled, and she absently noticed her hands were shaking. She needed to get out of here.