[Audio]

[jadethenecromancer]

My, we seem to have quite a number of new faces around. This must all be a lot to swallow, but perhaps you might have room for one more little mystery?

[Jade sounds cheerful, and utterly unconcerned by the noise in the background. It sounds like thuds, clicking of insects and... are those screams?]

We found a library on the island called Manila. Sadly the, ah, owners are a touch reluctant to part with their books, but thanks to my dear crew-mates' negotiation skills, I did manage to get my hands on one copy.

[The shouts in the background grow more distinctive ("GET THEM OFF GET THEM OFF GET THEM OFF" "How are they getting bigger?!" "JADE, GET BACK HERE")]

This appears to be a genealogy of an old kingdom -- and judging by the volume of the book, it was a long-lived one at that. Most of the contents won't help us much without anything to cross-reference with, unfortunately, but there is one interesting bit at the very end.

[Jade clears his throat ("Get down!" "Yeeeooouch, c-cold!" "I'm sorry, I had to-- ACK!" "It's on my face") and reads out loud:]

"Ludovicus Marchineus Lockpost IV- Founder of the Tenstair Excavation Company, discovered the Heart of the Sea."

Now, this could mean anything at this point, but it does make you wonder, doesn't it? Why does the record end with this particular entry, and what is "the Heart of the Sea"...? Perhaps you are even thinking of the same thing I am.

[("Colbat, use Confuse Ray!" "Get your ugly bat away from me!" "Stop complaining and run!" "Sheba, now!") There is a sound of paper rustling in the wind, then running footsteps and shrieks coming closer.]

Ah, looks like my crew is ready to depart. Until next time~!

Comments

voice

[arcadiasailor]

[He's not part of the second wave but the exert does catch his eye. It does almost distract him from the fact that yet another crew is being chased off an island.]

Can't people leave an island peacefully? [ He is every annoyed. By the time he was confident enough to lead a crew of his own there's going to be no place to make port.]

There is such a thing as taking notes.

voice

[rebuildscience]

"Negotiation skills," huh?

voice:

[backstabbingsonofa]

You're thinking this "Heart of the Sea" is the same thing we're looking for.

[Harry... Well. He's not counting on that to be much help if it is the same thing. Because, well. They have current information that renders "last known place it was whole" irrelevant.

But always good to play along with people who might get more information.]

ACTION!

[lost_sailor]

[Jade. Jade. Piers has no idea about what happened or what you've done to cause this-- all he knows is that there are moths that are big enough for them to ride swooping through the air, trying to ram them as they ran out into the desert.

There would be time to figure things out after they made it to sea. As captain, Piers had more immediate priorities.

Like his crewmen's safety.

The sudden drop in temperature in the blistering heat brought clouds as he breathed and would have stung his lungs if he weren't moving on his combat instincts.

Piers let out a shout that could have been 'Jade' or 'Shade'-- the beating wings drowned it out, but it didn't hide the tiny creature or the thin, frosted barrier that formed around them all.

It would buy them a little time. For now.]