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Post by Claw on May 19, 2006 16:50:22 GMT -5
The sea was rough and whipping around the boat which was sailing across the sea. The storm itself was perfectly natural, with no eather magic involved, but seemed to be unordinarily powerful. The sails were furled so that the winds whipping across the craft would not tear the mast to the deck, most likely causing the ship to sink. Lightning bolts rent the sky as the crew battled to keep the boat under control. They were headed for the Yamani Isles, with a cargo (as such) of Tortallan diplomats. The bright sky a few minutes ago had betrayed no hint of the tempest they were now sailing in. The whole event seemed to be a bad omen about the upcoming trip. Nonetheless the ship ploughed on through the sea.
Claw was one of the diplomats aboard the boat as it rolled on the broiling waves. In his cabin when the storm had struck, he had been thrown against the wall with such force the wood had partly splintered and there was now a Claw-shaped imprint in the panelling. He had sworn, and instinctively reached for his belt were a sword usually hung, and grasped thin air. One of the disadvantages of being a diplomat was no weapons were allowed. He did still have his old armour, which was now thoroughly battered over several years of consistent use fighting large rampaging monsters. He slipped it on (with difficulty) and lurched for the door.
Currently he was on board the deck, fighting the wind as he slipped on the slick floorboards below him, which had at least an inch of water covering them. He swore again as he fell heavily, twisting his arm in an attempt to stop himself from hitting the floor. He succeded, but also landed on a locked elbow and felt a jolt run up his arm into his shoulder. It was incredibly painful. Pulling himself to the mast he stood up edgily, feet getting no grip on the deck at all. As he ran for the wheel the ship pitched and he was thrown into one of the safety railings at the edge of the ship.
The railing bent, and he scrambled away from it, taking a lower position to spread his body weight and improve his balance. Despite being a highly inexperienced seamen, he could tell that the storm was not a normal storm. It was more of a tempest, with winds whistling about the ship, screaming like daemons as they hipped past. Waves battered the edge of the ship, and Claw sent a quick prayer to Mithros. The ship was beginning to fall apart at the seams, and so Claw did what he could do best. Sending out tendrils of emerald magic, he wrapped them around the edges of the ship and used all his might to keep it together.
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Rose
Noble
Roseanna of Castlemaine - King's Champion, Knight, Mage
Posts: 231
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Post by Rose on May 19, 2006 18:20:48 GMT -5
Rose to was in her cabin when the storm began. She had been dozing over some paper work that she was sending to the Copper Isles and the Yamani Islands about the former Lady of Longlake, Cynthia, and she'd been thinking about this whole diplomatic trip to the Yamani Islands that she and some other diplomats had been sent on. The sudden outbreak of the storm had sent her sprawling to the flower. She winced as an old wound hit the floor, courtesy of Claw. She cursed and flung herself off the floor and grabbed some boots and pulled them on. Then she lurched to the door that led out into the hallway, which in turn led up to the top deck.
She flung open the door that led to the deck and scrambled outside, only to be met by the fury of the howling wind and the thunder and lightning, and the heavy rain that came with it. She was drenched in seconds. She battled her way to the center of the deck, slipping and sliding on the wet floorboards. She made out the form of someone with magic trying to keep the ship from falling apart. It was Claw. She stepped up the pace, making her way to him without killing herself at the same time.
"Need some help?" she asked, sending out her own silvery amethyst magic into the ship in hopes of keeping it together.
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Rhianna Kiandra
Royal
Rhianna of Queenscove - Squire, Mage, Wildmage Kiandra Tailor - Rogue, Seer NPC for Rogue Plot: Kyran Tierney - Rogue [uncertain rebel]
Injustice is not something easily tolerated, Freedom is not something easily won
Posts: 265
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Post by Rhianna Kiandra on May 19, 2006 20:47:14 GMT -5
Rhianna was currently atop one of the masts, arms and legs secure around the wood as she tried to untangle aome of the lines. The wind whipped tendrils of her soaked hair from their qeue and smacked them into her face. The gale force winds ripped at her tunic and breeches, pushing her painfully into the mast.
Out of the corner of one emereald eye, the young woman saw her knight mistress helping what looked like Claw with some magic. Grinning, the squire returned to her task.
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Post by Jazz on May 20, 2006 11:15:30 GMT -5
Jasmin was woken up rather painfully as the storm hit, and pain exploded in her chest and arm. Swearing, Jazz swung her legs around and sat up on her bed, massaging her ribs and assessing the situation as she stepped into her boots and made her way up to the deck. The Lady Knight had experience and expertise when is came to negotiating the seas. The daughter of Yamani and Tortallan diplomats, she'd travelled between the two countries since she'd been able to. And, in plain and simple terms, the situation was Not Good.
The storm was raging, winds whistling, rain pouring down. A crack of thunder drowned out all noise for a few seconds, the low rumbling eerie. She wondered if such a sudden, fierce change of the weather was natural, and how they would deal with it if it was. The ship groaned under the pressure, and Jazz positioned herself on the balls of her feet, quick to move if needed. But the wave passed, and Jazz resumed her somewhat hampered sprint up to the deck.
Emerging from below deck, Jazz squinted through the rain and wind that made it difficult to see. Roseanna and Claw were clearly doing soomething about the problem, which was good, but Rhianna... Rhianna awas up on the mast! "Rhianna, get down from there, for Mithros' sake! We can solve the problem without you dying!" she yelled above the noise of the storm to the young squire. The ship, as if to prove her point, swung violently and Jazz belatedly flailed to grab a handhold. She, quite obviously, missing.
Cursing, she picked herself up from the wet deck, and made her way towards her friends. "What's happening?" she asked, as she reached them. Then, What's happening?, she repeated as she realized they couldn't hear her above the screeching wind. Is there anything I can do? Unlike her fellow knights, and in this case, diplomats, Jazz was not Gifted. Her abilities lay in powerful wildmagic, though she doubted they'd be any help now.
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Post by Claw on May 20, 2006 11:41:52 GMT -5
Claw heard Roses voice vaguely as she stumbled across the deck. As her magic reinforced his, he eased the pressure a little and concentrated on not getting himself torn apart by the storm. Of course, knowing his luck, he most probably would get torn apart from the storm. He had a streak of being in incredible pain in situations like this. Usually life threatening. A voice entered his head, one that he had got to know quite well over the past years.
What's happening? Is there anything I can do?
Claw was unable to respond easily, but formed words slowly and carefully.
Help Rhianna.
Sadly, Claw had a tendency to only look upon the major problems, and ignore the small ones, which was to be his downfall. Whilst he stopped the main ship falling apart a spur from the one of the masts snapped and was thrown into his head, shattering his concentration and causing his magic to whip outwards in flailing beams. He hurled them back in with too much force, and as they re-entered him he was knocked off his feet and thrown into the waves.
The water was icy, and Claw immediately began to sink. He cursed, angry now that he had chosen to wear the armour which was now pulling him deeper into the sea. He battled up, trying to use his magic to help him but finding it sliding off his armour. He cursed in his head the fact he had made is armour magic resistant. Finally surfacing, he got a breath of air before a huge wave swamped him, and the whole worlds went dark, the boat unseen from his eyes. He began to fight his armour, tearing the braces off and pulling off his boots.
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Post by Jazz on May 20, 2006 12:09:42 GMT -5
Help Rhianna.
Jazz turned around to comply, but that was unfortunately all she could do before the mast splintered and came crashing down. Jazz threw herself to the side, wincing at the pain in her ribs, but mostly unharmed. Claw, on the other hand, was always a magnet for trouble, and Jazz got up off the deck floor just in time to see him thrown into the water. She didn't think, after that. All instincts - Knight, Wildmage, Fiancee - screamed at her. "Idiot!" she yelled above the noise, sprinting to the edge and kicking off her boots. "Gods-cursed imbecilic idiot!"
And she dived in, the icy cold water coming as a bit of a shock. But Jasmin didn't have time to hand about. Coming up for a breath of air, Jazz once again submerged herself in the waves. She didn't have the strength to shift fully, but her talents as a Wildmage didn't go unused; Jazz devloped gills on her neck, and shifted her eyes, the ocean depths suddenly clear to her eyes. Catching sight of the struggling knight she swam towards him with broad, powerful strokes. His armour was clearly hampering his attempts to surface, and, mentally swearing at that bloody magic-resistant armour, Jazz began to help him remove the heavy pieces, cutting at the laces with her dagger that she was never without. It was at times like these that she was thankful for foresight.
By the Goddess, she fumed, cutting through the straps, Why are you always in some sort of trouble? And armour? On a ship? In a storm? But her anger was nothing more than a front, a face that Jamin put up in defence. Her temper had somewhat been watered down over the years, but it was prone to surface when she was extremely annoyed, or concerned. She could never really be angry with him, not at a time like this.
[Short. And dramatic. Yay for the drama!]
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Rose
Noble
Roseanna of Castlemaine - King's Champion, Knight, Mage
Posts: 231
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Post by Rose on May 20, 2006 13:15:35 GMT -5
[yeah yeah]
"Rhianna, get down from there, for Mithros' sake! We can solve the problem without you dying!"
Rose looked up at the sound of Jazz's voice
"RHIANNA!! Get off of there!! Jazz is right. Come down here please!" she yelled above the roaring wind.
What's happening? Is there anything I can do?
Jazz's voice cut through Rose's mind clearly.
Yeah, help Rhianna. she said, echoing Claws thoughts.
She continued to keep her concentration on her magic, keeping it in check so that it wouldn't cause anymore damage. Then the mast had to fall. Rose threw herself aside as it fell, landing on her side. She rolled to avoid any major injuries, then lept up again, then ducked as Claws magic came lashing back at him, knocking him overboard. And he was in his armor, that was magic resistant! In the middle of a storm!!
"Is he nuts?!" she muttered under her breath as she stood up.
"Idiot!" and "Gods-cursed imbecilic idiot!"
There goes Jazz. she thought, rushing after her friend.
Normally Rose would've laughed outright, but this was a different story. As Jazz jumped into the icy water after her fiance, Rose grabbed a rope and tied it around her waist. Jazz's wildmagic wasn't very strong at the moment, since she was still recovering. Rose ran at the gap at where they had fallen in and dove in after them. As she dove, she shifted fully into a dolphin, swimming quickly and easily to where Jazz was busily trying to rid Claw of his armor. Rose shifted again into her human form, but kept her vision and gills.
Let me help. We'll get it off quicker. she said to Jazz. At the same time she scolded Claw for wearing his armor. Are you insane?! It's a storm and we're in the middle of the ocean!! she said, cutting through the leather ties with her belt knife.
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Lirael
Noble
Lirael Charter - Seer Una Cimmaron - Rogue (Thief) Kaidreni of Hollyrose - Music Mage Katya of Carmine Tower - Healer
Posts: 204
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Post by Lirael on May 20, 2006 14:16:45 GMT -5
Kaidreni
The girl sat huddled in the middle of the deck, her wooden flute making no sound against the gale. Kai gave up on her flute and put it back in her pocket. She took her lute off her back and tried to play that instead, she could hear little of it over the downpouring rain but a little was enough. Knowing singing would not be heard, she didn't bother to use her voice as it would be a waste of energy. It was farely difficult to keep from falling sideways and sliding right down to the rail. Eventually after hitting her head several times on a bit of rolling timber, she stood up and made her way gingerly down to the stairwell where she could make her way back to her cabin. Then the wind was overwhelming, she fought to keep herself in one place, grabbing onto the rail to stop herself being swept away.
But then she saw the man fall, and Jasmin jump in after him. She wondered if there was anything she could do to help. Maybe she could try to calm the weather... but obviously that would be too dangerous. She had not been trained to control her magic... but there might be a way...
Katya
Claw fell in... Katya wondered what had happened. Her sister jumped into the water too, obviously hoping to save him. Katya Ran to the rail and grabbed it just as Jazz hit the ocean, katya just spotted the skin on her sister's neck slit, when a particularly nasty gust of wind hit her and knocked her sideways onto the damp deck. She cursed, picking herself up- but glad that she did not have anything worse than bruises.
Spray whipped into her face, and Katya gripped a hand-rail for support. These were the times when she wished she was not a healer, but somewon with magic that could help hersister now, rather than waiting for injuries to heal. On the whole Katya was pleased with her gift, but always when things like this happened she wished she could stop the damage before it came rather than trying to help mend the peices.
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Avelia
Noble
Avelia Sarael - Rogue Queen, Assassin
.:Inside my heart is breaking/My makeup may be flaking/But my smile still stays on:.
Posts: 69
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Post by Avelia on May 20, 2006 20:21:09 GMT -5
Not being a carrier ship, there hadn't been many crates in which a stowaway might conceal themselves. Perhaps that was a conscious thing. The passengers on this particular boat had reason to be wary of unwelcome and unwanted tag-alongs. But tucking oneself in a crate had never really been Avelia's style. Having experience one too many shipwrecks locked in a crate, she knew the dangers as well as anyone.
It was the experience that saved her when the elements had decided to vent their fury upon the diplomatic mission. Biding her time, wedged between box upon box of bread and other food supplies, the violent pitching of the ship had knocked her into the wooden planks with a sickening crack that had luckily turned out to be splintering of the wood and not of her elbow. Nevertheless, the sharp pain had immobilised her for a precious few seconds.
She let out a long stream of extremely unladylike expletives. Then, her frustration vented, her mind immediately set to work. Even over the howling wind and the shrieks of the storm, it was not too difficult for her ears to discern the gist of what was occurring up on deck.
"Gods-cursed imbecilic idiot!"
That was Jazz. Avelia navigated the stairwell with ease, emerging on a deck slick with salty water. A tremendous wave crashed down on those still "lucky" enough to be on the ship. The following trough was enough to send the ship slanting to the side, rapidly accelerating downwards. By some miracle, the ship managed to remain intact, and Avelia thought she could see the traces of magic that held the vessel together.
With all the excitement of Claw being swept overboard, Rose and Jazz following him into the freezing waters, there remained no-one to steer the ship, and keep it from overturning. Avelia cursed their stupidity, and began to sprint the length of the ship, a difficult feat with regards to the tossing and turning and the slippery planks.
Upon reaching that gods-forsaken ship's wheel, she latched on to it with all her strength, solidly placing all her weight evenly on the whole of her feet. Her diminutive size meant the wind streamed over her head. It also meant that taking control of the rapidly turning wheel was an almost impossible feat.
With one last curse, she applied her whole strength to turning the wheel in the opposite direction it wished to go. A huge effort, but it worked. Now she had to make the ship go in the direction of the overboard nobles. A brief thought for how ludicrous it was that she was making an effort to save them, was replaced by the knowledge that their lives were required for the mission to take place.
"All right. Here we go then," she muttered, and focused her efforts on turning the ship.
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Post by Claw on May 21, 2006 5:11:58 GMT -5
As Jazz and Rose came down to help him, he heard both of their voices in his mind.
Why are you always in some sort of trouble? And armour? On a ship? In a storm?
Are you insane?! It's a storm and we're in the middle of the ocean!!
Jazz he understood, and Rose, but for some reason his temper flared up, angry rolling up in him as it hadn't done for years. The problem with Claw was the fact that he bottled up all the anger he ever felt so it came out in outbursts at times like these, usually when somebody was in danger. Quickly scanning the ship with a wave of magic, he felt a presence of top of the masts. Before he new it a stream of words were flying down the link to his friends.
Am I insane? This armour stopped me from shattering most of ribs in my cabin. And I was helping! I can get out of situations like these! But you've left Rhianna on a mast! IN A STORM! WITH LIGHTNING!
Glaring at them both for a moment, he swiveled in the water and launched him upwards, a flurry of bubbles rushing in his wake as he barrelled towards the surface in a emerald blur. He shot out of the water and landed on the deck, eyes rotating to take in the scene. He spotted a familiar figure at the wheel. Avelia. Hm. that was unexpected. Still it was useful. The crew were all too busy to steer the ship.
Next he saw Rhianna up the mast and swore at the top of his voice. Trying to cast a spell, the fire in his hand spluttered out.
"DAMPENING SPELLS??"
Claw span for some sign of a mage, but knew he wouldn't find one. Nonetheless this was terrible news, and Claw went for the one activity which could possibly help Rhianna. He began to climb the mast, calling for her to get down, fast, while stolidly ignoring his own advice.
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Lirael
Noble
Lirael Charter - Seer Una Cimmaron - Rogue (Thief) Kaidreni of Hollyrose - Music Mage Katya of Carmine Tower - Healer
Posts: 204
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Post by Lirael on May 21, 2006 6:47:47 GMT -5
Kaidreni saw the girl in the mast, was she absolutely raving? She must try and get the girl down. She ran as fast as she could clinging every so often to peices of deck, or rails. Once she reaches the mast she climbed too, trying very hard not to be blown away by the force of the gale. Maybe if she got high enough... She could get the girl down- and try and help the weather. A minute later she spotted the man a little higher than herself, the one that had fallen into the sea. SHe climbed all the faster. Come on! she screamed at her bones, willing herself to catch up with him. "Hey!" She called, trying to catch his attention, and then louder. "Excuse me.. down here!" She hoped he had heard her. She needed to tell someone she was a mage, maybe she could help. Was Sapphire aboard? Maybe she could help. Kaidreni knew little about the kind of magic she did- but maybe it could help. Most likely someone else would fall in soon, the storm wasn't showing signs of stopping. She smelt the air- trying to tell weather it was one of those quick-blowing-off storms. Several times she slipped in the rungs and had to cling on with all her might to the rope that was cutting into her hands and burning her.
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Rhianna Kiandra
Royal
Rhianna of Queenscove - Squire, Mage, Wildmage Kiandra Tailor - Rogue, Seer NPC for Rogue Plot: Kyran Tierney - Rogue [uncertain rebel]
Injustice is not something easily tolerated, Freedom is not something easily won
Posts: 265
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Post by Rhianna Kiandra on May 21, 2006 12:19:31 GMT -5
((sorry for not responding quicker guys))
Rhianna had just finished untangling a particularly nasty knot, and was about to comply with Jazz's request, when Claw fell into the ocean, a mast fell, and Jazz, Rose, and Kai all dove in after the falling knight. She swore loud and long, in the manner of her father, Kel, her cousin-uncle, and the sailors around her home. Shinnying down, her foot got locked in another tangle. "Dammit!" she shouted, voice hoarse. "This is not good!" Casting about for the offending lines, Rhianna saw Claw begin his ascension of her mast. Breathing heavily through her nose, the squire took a hold of her Gift and used it to untangle the ropes around her foot. When the emerald glow had dissapated fully, she continued her descent.
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Post by Jazz on May 21, 2006 12:46:45 GMT -5
Am I insane? This armour stopped me from shattering most of ribs in my cabin. And I was helping! I can get out of situations like these! But you've left Rhianna on a mast! IN A STORM! WITH LIGHTNING!
Jazz recoiled as Claw got himself out of the water, the stream of hot and angry words not having the chance to leave the boundries of her mind. Whatever it was that she'd been expecting, that definately wasn't it. She bit her lip, and started to swim up with strong, forceful strokes. She didn't say anything to Rose; she didn't think she could, and Rose would understand that. How dare he? she fumed to herself as she made her way to the ship. No one should have to got through what I've been through. Try to save his godscursed life, and what do I get? A bloody lecture! Ungrateful - Jazz surfaced with a gasp, taking in air as her gills dissappeared and her normal vision returned.
Grabbing hold of one of the roped the crew had thoughtfully let down in aid of their attempted 'rescue', Jasmin quickly and efficiently climbed up unto the deck of the ship, helped by whoever was on the other end. Although her body complained very loudly, Jazz was a strong young woman and years of training hadn't been for nothing. Soaked and very unhappy, Jasmin scanned the deck. Her temper was temporarily put under wrapps, not forgotten, simply ignored until a more appropriate time.
Avelia was at the wheel. Odd. But the small woman seemed to be doing fine for the moment, so Jazz wasn't going to adress that until she had to. Her eyes were drawn to three figures at various intervals up on the mast. Rhianna... Jazz felt a pang of guilt, perhaps... No. The situation called for a cool head, so that's what she was going to have. And Claw, climbing up after that, understandable, but her was injured... Cool head, Jazz, c'mon. And Kaidreni?
"By Gods, what is it with you people? Kai, get down from there! We need you to help us down here!" she called up at her. "You're going to get yourself killed! You're a mage, we need you here!" But Jasminai didn't have time to stand there and wait for a response. Once she'd asserted that she'd been heard, Jazz ran to the middle of the deck and started yelling orders to various crew member as well as passengers.
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Lirael
Noble
Lirael Charter - Seer Una Cimmaron - Rogue (Thief) Kaidreni of Hollyrose - Music Mage Katya of Carmine Tower - Healer
Posts: 204
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Post by Lirael on May 21, 2006 13:08:06 GMT -5
Kaidreni did not halt climbing up the mast, she heard Jasmin- but decided it would be best to pretend she hadn't heard. Maybe she could do something up here, hieght was usually an advantage. A memory stopped her for a second. She was eight and climbing up a rocky staircase, up to the top of a dry grassy cliff edge. When she finally reached the top, her hair was covered in white dust from the rock. Her hands where slightly cut, but she didn't care. She let her legs hang down, and she looked below her. Not daunted by how far she could fall. The sun beat down on her, but she could smell ain on the soft breeze. Clouds blocked out the sun, so quickly Kai could have opened her eyes in the sunlight, blinked- and then see the stormy sky. It rained, and Kai squinted and cursed the weather. Wind whipped her hair into her face, causing sodden chalk into her eyes. She was absolutely miserable- and then she heard something squeal- and she was back in the present. Puffing with the effort of Climbing to the top. She sat on a beam, looking into the stormy sky, wishing it to stop. But she knew it wouldn't. Wishing wouldn't help anything.
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Wayne
Noble
Wayne of Malorie's Peak - Knight Commander Meredith of Malorie's Peak - Priestess, Healer, Mage Garrett of Eldorne/Flynn Leilani - Noble, Spy, Rogue, Blacksmith
Posts: 81
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Post by Wayne on May 21, 2006 13:39:09 GMT -5
//Sorry about entering this so late.//
Wayne swore as he came around. The first impact of the storm had sent a massage barrage of crates flying at him and had knocked him out. He regained his senses and looked around. Things were frantic, and Wayne knew he couldn't get anything done by just standing around. He barked out orders to the people besides him, trying to restore order to the deck. He stood up shakily and clung to a nearby wall to steady himself.
Seeing that his lack of magical ability couldn't do anything for this, Wayne headed for the steering wheel, where Avelia was attempting to steer the ship. He blinked in amazement as he recognized the Rogue on board. How'd she get on board? He shook his head and knew he still should help her with the wheel. The slippery deck didn't help at all as he made his way to the wheel, and he added some more colorful language as he slipped a couple of times. Finally making it to the steering wheel, Wayne said to Avelia, while taking the wheel from her, "I can help."
He grasped the wheel with both hands and tried to stop the wheel from spinning out of control. The slippery floor and wheel didn't help, but he kept his mouth shut to avoid cussing in front of Avelia, a woman, even though he knew of her reputation. Wayne finally managed to stop the wheel and proceeded with keeping the ship steady.
Suddenly, he panicked. Which direction were they headed? The storm had spun the ship a couple of times, and he had no map or compass with him. They may be many miles off course and still not know it. He knew the people on deck had more important matters to attend to, so he refrained from asking them for help. Instead, he asked Avelia, "I need a map and compass here, quick!"
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