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Post by Alkonost Storm on Aug 27, 2012 14:15:02 GMT -8
Foamborn saw the ship sailing near her rock and quickly moved to hide under the water, hoping if anyone spotted her silhouette through the waves, it would simply be mistaken for a fish. She had gotten her launch ceremony so there was no need to linger around, and yet... Curiosity is known for killing the catfish... She thought to herself as she trailed after the vessel.
Out of all the ponies, Zephyr was the only one walking about the gently swaying deck as though it was solid ground, even hopping at times in excitement as he investigated the Illuminating Mares. He did settle down enough to find a place to bunk and store his belongings--the stall closest to the hatch leading out to the deck--only to quickly go back to roaming the ship again. Perhaps it was his work but there seemed something very wrong about having been grounded for so long without work.
The damage to Seablossom had been substantial, and since he volunteered to guide the team to the area where most of the wrecks occurred, that had meant staying onshore longer while the Mares was being built.
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Post by Penny Royals on Aug 28, 2012 12:07:49 GMT -8
Bright was exploring her surroundings, looking in every nook and cranny on top of the ship. They hadn't been invited below yet, so she wouldn't go down there- even as a natural explorer, she had manners.
Of course, she was curious as to one thing. She stoop at the ship's prow, and gained herself some sort of footing, pushing herself into the deck and lowering herself into an almost racing position. Then, all of a sudden, she lifted into the air, just barely hovering, her wings spreading out and her cape falling backwards onto the ground below her where the other ponies were at. She stayed hovering for a moment, and then dropped back down- to find herself a few feet away from where she was the previous time she'd been on the deck.
She grinned. This might be fun after all.
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Post by Alkonost Storm on Sept 1, 2012 11:54:45 GMT -8
"You're the guide, right? Any chance you've got charts and maps on you?" The captain asked Zephyr as the younger stallion approached the ship's wheel.
"Yes. If it helps, I've drawn my own and have copies of the maps used by the Seablossom." The captain nodded. "Good! Bring them up to my cabin and we'll chart a course. Helmscolt Arryn, take the wheel and keep her on a steady course for the moment."
The sandy-brown pegasus nodded, quickly assuming a position at the wheel as Zephyr left for the section of the hold that housed the crew while the captain went to the cabin.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
In the meantime, Foamborn still tailed the vessel. She wasn't sure why but something about it unnerved her. Perhaps the name? A pair of steel, copper-plated mares to shine light on the mysteries of the deep...
The moment that thought formed itself in her mind, the matter was decided: she would have to find out more about this ship and its purpose. Fortunately, there were ways to go about that.
"Laas Yah Niir." Generally, this Phrase of Power was used to reveal lifesources in one's surroundings, and was usually one of the first phrases learned by hippocampi that weren't native to the Deep Sea region but had to travel often through it for whatever reason.
A few subtle changes in her delivery and pronunciation of the Phrase ensured she would be able to glimpse the inner workings of Illuminating Mares.
At first glance everything seemed to be in place: the tiller, sails, water pumps, rudder and ship's wheel all matched what you'd find on any regular sailing vessel. But there's...more. What's up with that machinery? The ominous feeling in her gut increased as the spell's effect faded, and Foamborn clenched her teeth with resolve as she continued to follow it.
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Post by Anya the Purple on Sept 3, 2012 6:23:08 GMT -8
Particula blinked a few times, trying to take in everything the filly had said. "I'm Particula. I guess I'm a stranger, but we're stuck on a boat together anyway, soI don't think it matters much. Yes, I do feel a bit seasick. I've never ridden a cloud. It's nice to meet you, Miss Sparrow." She avoided commenting on Jadewise, whom she was beginning to dislike.
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Post by JW% on Sept 4, 2012 16:44:50 GMT -8
"It's a neat boat isn't it? I've never been on a boat before except one on a river and that wasn't really a boat exactly, at least not like this one or maybe we should be calling it a ship because I heard that you're supposed to call a boat that's on the ocean a ship with the general rule of hoof being that a boat is what a ship carries, and I saw that this ship has life boats on it so we must be on a ship, otherwise..."
"There you are." Jadewise shouted out, walking across the deck cautiously. He hadn't quite gotten his sea legs yet, but wasn't doing too badly. Not quite as good as PrettySparrow, who was still bouncing around Particula in a circle. "I hope she's not bothering you. My daughter can sometimes be quite a maneful."
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mekasoundwave
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Post by mekasoundwave on Sept 8, 2012 19:44:26 GMT -8
Tick Tock kept quiet as the launch ceremony went underway and the Illuminating Maresset out on it's maiden voyage. Now, the clockmaker had never been on a boat before, and he had been worrying about seasickness since he decided to join the expedition. But luckily for him, he seemed not to be that queasy. Maybe it was the size of the boat, the sea being not too choppy yet, or having his mind elsewhere. Either way, he was feeling pretty good.
Leaning against the railing as the boat rocked, he looked over the bow of the ship, he was amazed by the beauty of the ocean. He could see why sailors called the ocean a lady. Beautiful, deep, graceful...Tick Tock thought the sea was his kind of mare.He preferred his ladies to be a little more solid, though. Speaking of which, he'd have to try and keep his playcolt tendencies under control for this trip. Making a move on somepony you're stuck on a boat with didn't seem like the smartest idea, regardless of whether it payed off or not. He'd save his charm for when he was back on dry land. For now, he'd just admire the sea's beauty instead...
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Post by Anya the Purple on Sept 8, 2012 20:37:08 GMT -8
"It's no problem," said Particula, giving Jadewise a slightly green smile. "But, to continue our conversation.. Frankly, I have to ask what in Equestria could make you think so lowly of Professor Meditor."
~~
Meanwhile, a young sea pony was heading home from her singing lesson when she bumped into an old friend - quite literally. It was the first time she'd swum home on her own before, and she was looking back to see if the turn she'd just passed was the one she was supposed to take, when she smacked, rather hard, into Foamborn.
"Oh, hey," said Deep Melody absentmindedly. Then, seeming to realize who this was, she added, "What are you doing all the way up here?"
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Post by Alkonost Storm on Sept 9, 2012 4:33:37 GMT -8
((Poor Tick Tock. Thoughts like that are ASKING for Princess Tempest to go "So, does that mean that I'm your type, Mister Clockmaker?~" *eyebrow waggle*))
Zephyr and Cpt. Saltpans had just finished charting a course, and so Zephyr then left the captain to make whatever minute adjustments to the ship as he needed to get them going in that direction while the dapple gray stallion went over to where Tick Tock stood against the side of the ship.
"Perfect day for sailing: clear sky, strong winds and the water's smooth as plates. It doesn't hurt that we left on a Friday, either. Is this your first time out at sea, Tick Tock?"
~~~~~~
Foamborn blinked and shook her head to clear it of the daze as Deep Melody voiced her question. "Following the Princess' new bride." She replied, motioning to the ship ahead of them with her hoof. "There's something different about it. I mean to find out its purpose, Deep."
((Seafaring trivia 1: One reasoning in logic for reffering to all sailing vessels as "she" may have been due to treating them as brides to the sea god. So yeah, the phrasing's not off XD))
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Post by JW% on Sept 9, 2012 13:39:56 GMT -8
((So... it's not a Princess Bride reference? Drat. The Dread Pirate Roberts will not be dissauded so easily however!))
Jadewise gave a snort and a shake of his head. "I wouldn't say I think all that low of Meditor." Jadewise mused. "He had a passion about his work, and his lessons were well recieved, if perhaps not as informative or concise as they could have been. It was his habit of trying to... balance I suppose, every problem he came across, even if he wasn't involved with it." Jadewise seemed a little lost in his memories as he gazed out across the sea. "Like the time I was debating the magnetudes of force that Princess Celestia is required to exert each day in order to raise the sun, and if, theoretically speaking, such a power to could be raised with a suitable population of unicorns attempting a similar feat. Entirely a thought exercise really, given the non-linear nature of combining magical power, but my opponent for this matter insisted that both the moon and the sun were of equal inertia and suffered an equal amount of friction within the atmosphere, despite the observable instance that the moon is closer to us than the sun."
"Your Professor Meditor brought it on himself to shout both of us down from our stances, never answering the aetheric principles of solar inertia, which I'll admit weren't in either of our fields of study at the time, but did apply to the case if one had bothered to study. I never did get to see Mister Whooves break down into tears from my rending his dissertation into the meaningless drivel that it truly was because of Professor Meditor insisting of a less exacting critique of his works. Certainly Mister Whooves has gone on to get his doctorate, but he could have done so much better with a little more pushing I'm sure..."
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mekasoundwave
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Post by mekasoundwave on Sept 9, 2012 17:13:37 GMT -8
((I'm pretty sure Tempest would be VERY much Tick Tock's type. Majestic, beautiful, classy...))
Tick Tock's ears perked up, hearing another pony's voice over the sounds of the surf slapping against the ship's hull. Zephyr, the experienced seastallion of the group was remarking on the favorable conditions for the trip.
"Indeed it is," the Clockmaker said to the sailor. "Hence why I'm kind of relying on the rail for balance. I don't QUITE have your sea legs yet."
Tick Tock gave a small chuckle. He wouldn't have legs to the degree Zephyr did for some time.
"But, I don't need experience to agree with and say it's a good day. Anypony could take a look and see how gorgeous a day it is. Speaking of day, what was that about Friday? Is that one of those old sailor's superstitions, like how bringing mares on a boat is bad luck?"
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Post by Alkonost Storm on Sept 9, 2012 17:24:32 GMT -8
"It is good luck to launch a ship on fridays. And yes, save for the captain's wife there shouldn't be mares on the ship; mainly because it's felt they could be a distraction to the crew. Pregnant mares on the other hand, are welcome. Still, these were handpicked by the Grand Admiral himself, or so I've heard. They'll mind themselves." A pause as he looked around. "So far no signs of flowers or ponies wearing black all over. Well, that Jadewise fellow IS black but he was born that way and can't help it."
((Seafaring Trivia 2: "By ponies wearing black all over" Zephyr is talking about priests. Both priests and flowers are heavily linked to funerals in sailing superstitions and therefore seen as bad omens.))
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mekasoundwave
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Post by mekasoundwave on Sept 9, 2012 17:47:41 GMT -8
"Huh. Guess this trip's going to be quite the learning experience," Tick Tock said as Zephyr taught him about sailor's superstitions. He wasn't a particularly superstitious pony, but Tick had a feeling sailors had their reasons for superstitions, the ocean being as unpredictable and unforgiving as it was.
"Flowers and ponies wearing black?" Tick Tock asked. "Just how many of these superstitions are there? On second thought, don't answer that second question. I'll figure them out as I go."
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Post by Alkonost Storm on Sept 9, 2012 18:01:45 GMT -8
"There's a lot of them, that's true..." Zephyr said as he shuffled his hooves a bit, feeling restless. And some contradict themselves... He thought, thinking on the superstition of how beautiful mares as ship figureheads were supposed to calm a storm.
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Post by mekasoundwave on Sept 9, 2012 18:44:04 GMT -8
"Oh, don't worry about it," Tick Tock said, small smile on his face. "I get it. A lot can go wrong out here, so you do whatever you can to feel safe. Speaking of which, what the sailing plan or itinerary for our trip? I'd like to know our schedule so I can hopefully get a handle for being on a boat before we really get underway. First time and everything."
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Post by Alkonost Storm on Sept 9, 2012 18:59:57 GMT -8
"There is a schedule but it mainly applies to Saltpans and his crew, and then it mainly involves what time they must get up as well as what stops they'll be making while taking us to our destination."
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Post by mekasoundwave on Sept 9, 2012 19:55:56 GMT -8
"I see," Tick Tock said, using his magic to adjust his monocle. He wasn't too fond of not having a schedule, but he figured in this case, it was really out of his control. "Well, that's all up to them, I suppose."
The Canterlot native pushed off from the railing and took several unsteady steps away from the bow.
"I'll get the hang of it. Just a matter of time, really."
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Post by Alkonost Storm on Sept 11, 2012 13:02:30 GMT -8
"I'm sure you will, just give it time and practice."
~~~~~~~~~~~
"I have to keep following that ship." Pause. "Want to come along, Deep? It wouldn't hurt to have some company."
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Post by mekasoundwave on Sept 11, 2012 14:41:44 GMT -8
"Time?" Tick Tock said, turning back to look at Zephyr with a smirk. "Time is the one thing I've got more than enough of."
"That and charm and style," he thought to himself before taking a step and stumbling a bit before righting himself and continuing to walk. He'd just keep that thought to himself. Didn't want the other ponies who'd be stuck on a boat with him to think he had a big ego.
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Post by Anya the Purple on Sept 12, 2012 16:54:15 GMT -8
((I c whut u did thar, Per.))
Particula nodded, mulling this over. "Well, Professor Meditor is very fond of balance. He spent his earlier days researching the Fall of Luna and the Elements of Harmony. I think it left a pretty deep impression on him." She didn't want to admit it, but she'd often found he would ironically be fairly extreme about his hatred of extremism. "Though, personally," she added, unable to stop herself, "I have a hypothesis that the sun is connected to Celestia herself, and no amount of magic would raise it without her unique signature."
~~
DeepMelody shook her head. "You know very well I don't want to come along," she said. "You know how it is with land ponies. All those horrible rumours about them eating Seaponies for breakfast and using their bones for toothpicks? Wavesong says they're all true. I think we should just let Princess Tempest deal with them."
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Post by Alkonost Storm on Sept 12, 2012 17:56:32 GMT -8
"You're assuming the land ponies know about us to begin with...I'm not sure that's the case. And do you really believe everything Wavesong says?" There was a pause as her voice took on a serious tone. "There seems to be some extra machinery on that ship, I mean to find out what it does. And once I do, warning the Princess may be vital."
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Post by JW% on Sept 14, 2012 18:38:24 GMT -8
Jadewise nodded, having heard that theory before. He wasn't entirely sure about it, given the events with Luna, but that could have been a special case that wouldn't work towards the theory of Celestia and the sun.
"Balance does not always need to be stagnant. You can have balance and order while still retaining motion, life, and passion and... PrettySparrow get down from there this instant and stop chewing on that!" Jadewise glanced at Particula with a somewhat apologetic look. "Could we perhaps talk later?"
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Post by Anya the Purple on Sept 14, 2012 20:40:12 GMT -8
"Of course," said Particula, standing up shakily. "It was nice talking to you."
~~
"Yes, I do," said DeepMelody defiantly. "She knows things. She can get in on the big political discussions. And whatever extra machinery is on that ship is probably going to get you killed!"
After a pause, she added, "But I'm only coming to make sure that you don't do anything TOO crazy."
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Post by Alkonost Storm on Sept 15, 2012 14:43:43 GMT -8
~Somewhere in the sea, same day~
Another night had gone by where Tempest had done what she could to reinforce the seal over Karybdis. It was all she could do at the moment, delay what was to come. "Salt mother, watch over us all...ensure that he sleeps more deeply." Tempest wasn't confident her prayer would work but there was no harm in trying either. Quickly assuming her courtly mask of the ideal princess, she sent a summons for her hoofmaiden.
~Illuminating Mares~
"Lunch is ready! Come get yer eats, all of ye!" Called out the ship's cook Skillyduff as he yanked at a bellrope to get the crew's attention. "Zephyr, you can help serve the grub!" Zephyr nodded and rushed into the galley to help out the cook.
((Sorry not much of a scene change...Any ideas for something that could liven up their first day at sea?))
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Post by JW% on Sept 17, 2012 14:13:43 GMT -8
Jadewise had managed to extricate PrettySparrow from the tangle of ropes she'd caught herself in, without making any knots or chewing through them, both of which she had attempted.
"They tasted hemp-icky." She said sticking her tongue out while Jadewise pulled her down to the galley for lunch.
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Post by Penny Royals on Sept 18, 2012 16:36:24 GMT -8
ThunderBright, down at the lunch table, ate a little bit before looking up at everyone else.
"So... what brings you all on this anyway?"
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Post by Alkonost Storm on Sept 18, 2012 16:48:12 GMT -8
Zephyr looked up from his plate. "Well, I was one of the sailors at the Seablossom so I was asked to help guide you to where the ship went down." A pause as he ate his meal. "What about you?"
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Post by Anya the Purple on Sept 18, 2012 19:29:14 GMT -8
"I was referred by Professor Meditor, head of Manehattan University's science department," said Particula, somewhat haughtily, cutting a glance at Jadewise as she did so.
~~
Wavesong quietly entered Queen Tempest's throne room. "You called, your majesty?" she said.
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Post by Alkonost Storm on Sept 18, 2012 20:07:20 GMT -8
Tempest flashed a graceful smile. "I feel up for a swim, Wavesong. You will accompany me." Tempest said as she moved off the throne and swam down a hallway, stopping to wait for Wavesong to catch up.
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Post by JW% on Sept 18, 2012 20:39:08 GMT -8
"I thought that this would be a good way to test some of my theoretical models on the so called 'wild' magic of the sea." Jadewise gave a shake of his mane for a shrug. "Might be of some use in my books. Besides it's good to see the world and learn new things. I would think this trip would give me ample new things to learn."
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mekasoundwave
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Post by mekasoundwave on Sept 18, 2012 20:56:45 GMT -8
Tick Tock had spent much of the time between talking to Zephyr and Lunch trying to get a handle on walking while at sea. He felt like he pretty much had it by the time the cook called out and rang the bell. Taking his new sea legs out for a test drive, he trotted over to the lunch table and took a seat. He was kinda hungry, so he was happy to get something to eat. As he took a bite, one of the other ponies asked what they were all doing here. When it came time for him to answer, he used his unicorn magic to levitate his napkin and wipe his mouth before answering.
"Honestly? I joined because I was bored," he said. "My job isn't exactly the most exciting field of work. I mean, I love it and everything, but this sounded exciting and fun. And I'm all about those sort of things, so I jumped at the opportunity."
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