S:4 Three Pirates and a Baby

The moon lit up the floating city, it will be at it's fullest very soon. Morrigan stared up to the sky for a moment as the night fully conquered the day, ignoring the nearly full moon as she does. A woman on a mission to convince the Captain to head toward Ifrit's Blade. The fauna of the city now actively giving her a wide birth, as well as the populace of the night life. Seeing no more creatures to interrogate in her exhausting search for the Captain. By simple luck Orri turned a corner and ran right into her goblin leader, unlike her faithful companion she was no hunter or tracker, she was however a very lucky individual. Flying through the seat of her pants has been a way of life for the budding warrior, luck and skill are what shaped her into the woman she is becoming. Her mother's learned early on to nurture and instill how Morrigan "picks things up." Which unfortunately to them was almost always the hard way, through dumb luck and a clever warriors mind Orri seemed to turn out alright.....if not a bit sheltered. Skill, compassion, kindness, and a fair amount of naiveté are what make up Orri's emotional intelligence. Her dear parents hoped very much to themselves that the naïve portion would break apart on her current journey of self improvement, only time and effort will tell.
 
Returning to her target and mind encompassing goal, the Captain now stood directly in front of the tired demi-human, as she firmly held four cats in her arms thinking one of them must be the shapeshifting goblin. Screeching to a halt, and releasing her feline captives she bombarded the poor goblin with requests and "solid" information about Ifrit's Blade. This excited onslaught was met with a simple phrase from the Captain, "I don't believe you." Taken aback but not deflated, Orri remarked that, "Of course it's true, north quick before he's gone, the ship is right over there!" The Captain had to take a moment and handle this as she always had to, distract the warrior, or give her some task that should take time. The Captain remembered that the forge must be installed on the ship, and found her solution, "Not until the forge is done, now if you'd like to hel..." Orri vanished down the road directly to the ship, where the materials for the forge were. Going at a normal pace after her the crew finally made their way to the ship to see a blur of red going from dock to deck over and over. Orri saw it as a form of training, as she did with everything, as well as way to speed up the process. There was an opponent waiting to be challenged! Taking advantage of her Crimson Ignition Drive transformation to increase her strength and haul more materials on the ship. It was a special hidden technique of the Blazing Edgeless Blade style, which was a massive burst of power, however it also required a massive amount of energy and strain. An amazing feat very few could ever even think to try, giving Orri the advantage, unfortunately Anaxa still outmatched her by picking up an entire pallet and bringing it on board. Construction began on the forge itself, with Orri mentioning the strong Ifrit guy every chance she gets, just to make sure everyone remembers he is out there. With Hephane's knowhow, Anaxa's strength, and everyone else helping out as large amount of progress had been made. "Is it done, is it done, is it done?!" The crew was tired of telling her no, so Zephyra attempted to distract her with a task or two.
 
The sweet regal elf appeared on board in her usual noble pace, "Oh you managed to get it all on board, well done." Zephyra's smug little smile reached everyone and they all gave up and waited to hear the news she found on her little journey to avoid manual labor. A few promising and informed odd things happening around town rang out to everyone from the elf. The only one Morrigan really resonated with was a small elf child has been roaming the streets by herself and trying to get into the tavern that Edea was holding a concert. A good chance to hear Steel Stinger's music and to help someone out. Morrigan enjoyed the chances she got to listen to Edea the wolf demi-human metal rock star's crazy music. Orri herself was also concerned as well as excited that she may have to fight someone to protect the young girl wandering the city. To think a small elf wondering around this crazy city might lead to something dangerous for the youngling. Just like home this floating city was a bad idea to walk alone, especially as a young girl unless you had the skill to fight.
 
Many years, and leagues away a memory of the Silver Seas presents itself. The roads and congested streets between villages and cities in The Silver Sea Isles were a fun and tricky place if you could not defend yourself. Every city, town, and village did NOT ban or outlaw fighting. In Morrigan's youth she was given a test of her progress, unbeknownst to her. Her Mother had sent her to the next city, following her the entire way. A woman of terrible stealth following her daughter, who luckily was of terrible perception. Just outside of the city gates were two small time "toll collectors". They saw the young child approach and saw nothing but gauld signs in their eyes, the slave trade was a gold mine. They had thought an easy prey, quickly approaching from the sides and towering over the girl. Years of training and reading her opponents, as well as growing up where she did she could get a fair sense of another mortals aura and strength. Someone had to have ki of course, but with these two she almost had trouble sensing them, maybe they could hide their strength? She took a quick glance at both of them, and quickly got lost in the possibility of a good spar. The lanky one on the right went to grab her and she adeptly swept his foot out toward the side making him drop to eye level with her. He blinked in astonishment now being level with the demi-human as a palm landed firmly into his forehead. The impact forced him back as he began to immediately snore. The portly one stood there almost unable to see how quickly she took his accomplice down, "What the fu.." His words suddenly muffled due to the girl suddenly leaping off his friend and grappling his neck with her legs. She spun her body around to his back, and attempted to force his head back and flip him to the ground as she spun. There was a serious silence as she struggled to rock him backwards, not quite having the force and the weight to bring him down. Regaining his composure he grabbed her ankle and threw her full force toward a tree. Flipping in the air and meeting the tree with her feet flat against it and using it as a spring board and landed a side kick to the man's shoulder as she passed by. Landing onto another tree and repeating the maneuver to strike him in the jaw. She found this exhilarating and attempted the action another three times, missing the last strike due to the man's impact onto the ground unconscious. "Hey, misters? Do you want to keep going? Are you that tired?" Her Mother watched on with pride as her daughter tried to help the men into the city, when she caught up with her child she was trying to buy them a room at the inn to rest, "We'll have to do something about that naive compassion, Sweet Warrior."
 
Through the city heading toward the tavern the three would be detectives Calliope, The Captain, and Morrigan walked with mild purpose. The massive fluffy dog Artemis following close behind picking up things he thinks might have value, and that are shiny. Rounding the corner they came upon the tavern with a man standing in front of it. Morrigan always thought that Anaxa towered over the crew, but as the group approached the bar there was a man the size of the building waiting outside. He had a pair of massive horns similar to the First Mate, and Orri attempted some kinship by showing him her horns....he seemed ill impressed. He would not let Artemis inside, so Morrigan agreed to wait outside for the girl. Calliope and the Captain went inside to get information and support Edea on stage. A decision that was very regretful to the bouncer, this poor man dealt with a strange horned woman who suddenly kept speaking to herself, claiming her Captain was talking to her but could not hear her back. The bouncer could only take so much until the girl, whom later would be introduced as Kaiko, much later, finally approached him. A sigh of relief at the distraction and a sigh of frustration that she returned, "Can I go inside?" Small pale, and very cute, this sweet little elf child now stood in front of the bouncer. Morrigan did not notice her until she spoke, "huh" she let out as the child stood there. Getting a good look now Orri was quite surprised that this little girl walked all the way here for a doll by herself. "I can't sense her?" she questioned to herself. Morrigan could not figure it out, but she could not sense the sweet little elf. It was so weird to experience, but she shook it off as something weird. She turned toward the child who was dwarfed immensely by the bouncer, "Hello little one, my friends are looking for your doll inside right now. Want to come wait with me and Artemis?" The little child bounded over with hope and excitement for her doll, and Orri found her quite endearing, almost forgetting about not sensing her.
 
Morrigan kept her occupied by having her play tik tak toe with Artemis in her sketchbook. The horned warrior found herself completely distracted making Kaiko happy and entertained. Orri did not even bother to learn her name until well after playing with her. They seemed to be enjoying their time together when a voice kept popping into Orri's mind. She was continually interrupted by the Captain attempting to get the demi-human to actually fulfill the mission by getting information. Wanting to keep watching Kaiko play with the furry Artemis she was sent prompted questions as to the doll's location, finally curtailing to her obligations she asked Kaiko where the doll might be specifically. Orri drew the directions to the doll for the captain and pressed them against the window. The bouncer, astounded by this simple warrior who sat here and drew out the directions, could take no more and spurted out, "Why didn't you just write it down instead of drawing it?!" Pondering this perspective Orri shrugged her shoulders and proceeded to lose another game to little Kaiko. The girl had dubbed her Big Sis Morrigan and the compassionate warrior was enchanted. Such a cute endearing child must be protected at all costs, this doll must be found! The Captain had found far to much troubling evidence to conclude the child was long deceased. Getting this information subtly to Orri was more troubling however for the warrior did not get the jist until the lack of sensing her life energy hit her. The spiral of realization collapsed in her mind and her eyes went wide with a thin glazing of future tears, she grabbed the child and hugged her sweetly and sniffed the tears back, "The Captains going to go get your doll now ok?" Sitting on her Big Sis Morrigan's lap she looked up at the demi-human with concern and happy excitement. Heading back inside the goblin ran back to the space with the doll leaving the ghost with her quartermaster. Nearly cradling Kaiko Orri fought back her realization and tears for the little girl, "Are you ok Big Sis Morrigan?" She said with her sweet little Felenian accent. It was almost enough to break Orri who pulled it together as best she could, "YEP, I'm fine." She sniffed the tears back. The Captain appeared outside once more with the doll in her rat forms mouth, returned to normal and handed it to Kaiko. The child beamed with happiness and the doll formed into it's former glory. Morrigan could not fight back the tears as she went to hug the child who was no longer there.
 
Morrigan was not deterred or changed, but this smack to the face by reality was only strengthened by the fact that the Captain was on the assumption that the bartender might be responsible. Orri would have been swift to act on emotion because of her quick connection with Kaiko. Captain Squeelob stopped her and threw reason at her, which she reluctantly accepted. Morrigan's experience with the ghost weighed heavy. The confusion of not being able to sense the sweet little girl was eating away at her now. Would a ghost not be easier to sense? are they not just all soul? Was it because it was an elf ghost? Is it because the spirit is still on Gaia? She learned this skill by....it had to be different from....they..... She stumbled with her thoughts as they tried to break through the emotion of helping Kaiko and wondering about the bartender. Inside her mind the image of her Mom became clear, her knowledgeable kind smile beamed down on her, yes of course, she would know. Orri will have to remember to ask her about this, next time she calls.
 
To make Orri happy and bring some closure, The group approached the bartender about the samurai sword on the wall. Morrigan sighed a breath of relief as the bartender went on about the past where he challenged the samurai to a duel because of what he did. Kaiko hopefully found peace. Then the Captain put on a coy smirk and told him a story about a group of people who did the same exact thing that they did not an hour ago. The Quartermaster listened closely to the tale and got more confused as it went on. There was no way TWO groups of people would handle a ghost child in the same exact bar, around the same time, right?! "Wait a minute Captain, That was US!" The bartender could not hold in a hearty laughter comparing Morrigan to his old friend Demetrius. "Every group has one, am I right?!" He declared and kept laughing.
 
He kindly offered them free drink, and Morrigan took his hospitality, "Thank you, can I have water...I mean do you have regular beer. Or do you have the good beer?" With a smile of confidence he looked the young warrior in the eye, "Oh you're damn right we do!" He poured her the good beer and the moment it touched Morrigan's lips, she was transported immediately back home. It was warm, and tasted like fresh bread, she felt so at home and couldn't help but pour the contents down her throat. The heavy and happy emotions of the night blending together as she drank a few pints of the wonderfully familiar brew.
 
"You broke the codes, Now I pull out all your bones, You damn malaka, You damn malaka!!" Edea's incredible voice and style rumbled through the entire bar. The tables shook, the liquid in the drinks waved with turmoil as if wanting to escape their containers, and the people found their heads bobbing back and forth. She had such a gift, a natural talent that reminded Orri of home. The quartermaster's musical mother could not have a more different style from Edea, but the two shared such a passion, such a natural beauty in their voices that Orri loved so very much. She was drawn to Edea's passion for music, combine that with the beer and it felt like home. Her song came to a resounding finish, she walked over to the crew's table as the drinks finally calmed themselves. The Captain and Calliope gave Edea the run down of what happened with Kaiko. Giving a sympathetic smile toward Orri she joined them with a drink, and started their way back toward The Hive.
 
GurgleThwap was the name Orri gave this little goblin that had a note pinned to his actual skin, came running up from the direction of the ship. The Captain read the note aloud as Morrigan fairly affected by the bready beautiful beer she was brought to life by one word in particular. Punch....punched......PUNCHED?! Anaxa protected the ship by punching the enemy to death?! In her buzzed and emotion filled stupor, her mind goes on a spiral of lost bullet points trying to figure out the loop hole of this city.
 
There are many advantages to hard work, to training with love and turning the body into a weapon. A warrior with the potential of even controlling what happens inside her body, but not today, nope this morning without any hangover was aided by how she was raised. Her basic tolerance for beer itself, she awoke like any other morning and went right into her morning training regiment. Her dramatic and chaotic kata covering the entire deck, her movements a dramatic dance. To an untrained eye, maybe even a trained eye her moves seemed random and inefficient. It drove other fighters crazy how her style seemed to work, but how. This was no more true than for the archeologist monk they beat and forced on their crew, Alcaeus. Orri continued her practice forms and come across Alcaeus doing the same. The poor archeologist is harassed for a sparring match, and knows full well he needs to relent or she will not stop.
 
"There is a sunken ship to the south that was full of copper ingots." Zephyra's pretty voice resounded to everyone on the deck. There were two very different and dramatic reactions from a particular pair at that moment. Hephane appeared with a massive and bright smile on her face, "ssssssshhhhhhhinies?!" A few feat away Morrigan looked on in despair as the crew saw drachma in their eyes, "NO, but north there is this guy, and merchants....ummm." Zephyra pipped up and told Ori that there may be strong opponents looking for that ship to the south as well, maybe a good warm up.
 
Disappointed, but rejuvenated by the prospect of strong people showing up to compete for the treasure. Orri never stayed disappointed for long, any chance for a challenge or to get better was welcome, her road was a long one, with really only one specific task handed down to her. That was going to be something she had to start thinking about, but not right now.