7:49:00:<Rowyn> [Put on your seatbelts people, and keep all hands and feet inside the naval vehicle.]
7:49:55:<Virgil> (This vehicle is not reminicent, does not resemble, and does not travel in my belly button!)
7:51:57:<Rowyn> [We join our crew in a most predicamental predicament.  Namely, the fact that, for one reason or another, Vithril ships patrol these waters.  While ordinarily, that wouldn't be good news, it's made even worse by the fact that one of your passengers you met specifically running *away* from Vithril soldiers.  Which is ungood for one and all.]
7:52:23:*** JexSchool is now known as Naiya
7:55:04:<Rowyn> [Virgil just tried to put up a fog smoke screen to hide their ship in the midst of the storm.  While it makes them hard to see, it also makes it a bit hard to see for the crew as well.  Will they be able to slip past?  Or will they just be too suspicious?  Time will tell shortly as those asked to go below deck are shuffled below decks...]
7:56:22:<Rowyn> [Ah.  Session start!]
7:57:25:* Naiya worries. She's good at that.
7:58:23:* Lucas checks the cannons with his crew and is seriously rethinking his plans to go south.
7:59:07:* Virgil looks on, closing his book and placing it in his robes while he carefully mantains concentration over his spell.
8:00:02:* Nasira stretches and paces and bounces a little, loosening up for the inevitable fight.
8:00:19:* Shan guides the ship, keeping careful watch on the incomers.
8:00:58:* Naiya clinks while worrying.
8:03:09:<Rowyn> [Even Shan finds it hard to keep track of them with the fog.]
8:06:36:<Shan> Having a rough time, Virgil? Your concentration seems to be slipping.
8:06:59:* Virgil frowns and motions to keep the sound down. "Someone's trying to dispel my magic."
8:09:54:<Naiya> ...
8:10:10:<Naiya> From where?
8:11:20:<Virgil> The other ships, I think.
8:14:25:* Naiya frowns. More.
8:14:45:<Rowyn> [All of the sudden, there's a loud call into the fog.  Well, it sounds as if it's supposed to be loud, but still seems a bit of a ways off. It's deep and male. "Ahoy to ship!"]
8:15:04:<Rowyn> [You can't tell whether they can really see you or are just guessing.]
8:15:21:* Nasira squints that way.
8:16:23:* Naiya slowly turns that way.
8:16:58:* Lucas moves his crew to that side of the ship, but he's hardly going to fire first.
8:17:53:<Rowyn> [Nasira's squinting does not produce a ship.]
8:18:10:<Nasira> (Nuts!  There goes my master plan!)
8:18:23:<Lucas> (Crush it with your eyelids?)
8:18:26:<Nasira> Someone gonna answer that, or does it go against the whole sneaky smoke thing?
8:20:22:* Virgil speaks quietly. "It kind of goes against it. Anyone think they know we're here?"
8:20:34:<Naiya> I do not know.
8:20:35:<Shan> Yes.
8:20:48:<Shan> If they're dispelling your magic, presumably they know there's a source.
8:21:15:<Virgil> If they're trying, they think there's a source.  But it could very well be a magic anomoly, too.
8:21:17:<Rowyn> [The call continues, "Freakish weather we are having, eh?"]
8:21:48:* Shan nods. "It could. How likely is it to run into one? I must confess, I haven't a clue."
8:21:51:<Nasira> Oh yeah.  That sounds anomalous.
8:23:16:<Shan> At this point, I believe our cover is blown.  Plus they know we have at least one magician on board.  Better be cautious.
8:23:51:<Naiya> It is still in our best interests to avoid a fight. If they are calling out, they do not know our exact position yet.
8:24:07:* Virgil shrugs. "Fine, fine."
8:28:44:<Virgil> Who wants to call out to them?
8:30:48:* Nasira grins. WOULD she.
8:31:08:* Lucas 's not captain and not there!
8:31:22:<Shan> I suppose I had better.  Someone take the wheel.
8:32:19:* Virgil nods. "You're a diplomat, right?"
8:32:36:* Virgil goes over to the wheel to hold it steady.
8:33:43:*** Naiya has quit IRC (Ping timeout)
8:33:54:* Shan nods and makes her way to the side of the ship. "Greetings!" she calls.
8:36:51:<Rowyn> [The voice calls out from the fog. "Ah.  Are you a captain then?"]
8:38:30:* Shan calls back. "Indeed, I am."
8:39:20:<Shan> "I must say, I did not expect to run into anyone out here.  Who are you?"
8:39:31:* Virgil grins. This should be good.
8:40:51:* Shan looks back over her shoulder. "Virgil, keep that fog up, for now. Don't let them dispel it."
8:41:03:<Virgil> Like I was about to.
8:42:44:<Rowyn> [The voice booms out gruffly over the fog. "Me?  I am Captain Leon Solveth of the flagship Red Duke.  That is all you need to know for now."]
8:43:03:<Rowyn> [There are no further attempts to dispel at the moment that Virgil can feel.]
8:43:52:<Rowyn> ["Did you happen to find refuge in the fog?"]
8:44:42:*** Naiya (MALLET@pool-68-238-131-208.sea.dsl-w.verizon.net) has joined the channel
8:46:58:* Shan calls back, "A refuge of sorts. Our mages created this fog to keep the storms at bay. I'm sure you'll understand if we do not wish to remove it."
8:47:27:<Shan> "Might I ask where you are headed?"
8:47:32:<Rowyn> ["Yes.  But why fog, I wonder?  Why not clear sailing?"]
8:48:24:<Shan> "An unfortunate side effect.  They cannot calm the storm without the fog.  But better fog than storm, don't you agree?"
8:48:33:<Rowyn> [He makes a slight tsk sound.  Like half of a tsk tsk, but he only does the first part. "I have introduced myself.  It would be prudent for you to do the same."
8:51:29:<Shan> "Ah, forgive me.  I am Shan Dian Biao, Imperial Minister of Chu-Lin."
8:52:11:<Rowyn> ["A minister?  What would a minister be doing travelling out here?  I was not aware that they left their country much as of late."]
8:53:06:<Shan> "I could ask you the same question."
8:54:43:<Rowyn> [There is a low chuckle from the fog. "Right to the point I see.  Quite honestly, one of my companions think you sound familiar..."]
8:55:12:<Shan> "Is that so?"
8:57:20:<Rowyn> ["Yes.  Perchance were you in the city of Port Rio not long ago?"]
8:59:18:<Shan> "Indeed, I was.  There was quite a commotion there, which left me seperated from the rest of the 6th fleet for some time.   Fortuantely, I was just recently able to rejoin them.  And so, you have your answer.  We are returning home to Chu-Lin.  Now, what about yourselves?"
9:00:33:<Rowyn> ["You are a long way from home going this way.  Things could happen..."]
9:00:43:<Naiya> ...
9:01:05:<Nasira> If he's going to threaten your ship being set on fire, that's *my* job.
9:01:14:* Virgil snerks.
9:01:16:<Nasira> (your ship -> the boat)
9:01:38:* Naiya looks ever more worried.
9:02:29:<Shan> ["I hardly think there is much to threaten an entire fleet of Chu-Linese ships out here."
9:05:49:<Naiya> ...
9:06:56:<Rowyn> ["Indeed.  That is why if we can solve this peacefully, it would be in better interest for both of us.  In truth, we are looking for an escaped prisoner."]
9:07:38:<Shan> "I should like that very much, indeed. What sort of prisoner?"
9:07:41:* Nasira laughs. "Hey, send me over. I'm an escaped prisoner."
9:08:02:* Naiya frowns, looking for Filis.
9:10:13:<Rowyn> [The man grunts, "Female."]
9:10:52:<Virgil> I think he's going to need to be more specific than that.
9:11:19:* Nasira looks over at Shan with a grin. "Come on. I qualify!"
9:11:22:* Shan echos Virgil. "I'm afraid that's not specific enough for us to be of any help."
9:11:25:<Rowyn> [Filis is one of the "sent below decks" people.]
9:16:17:* Lucas comes up from below decks with a worried look on his face. He walks to the nearest person, who's probably Naiya, and whispers. "Just out of idle curiosity, what have I gotten myself and my men mixed up in?"
9:17:15:* Naiya whispers back, "Someone is unduly interested in us. Or one of our passengers."
9:17:23:* Shan turns around and holds a finger to her lips.
9:18:41:<Rowyn> [The man sighs in annoyance. "I am sure you have her.  She claims to come from Zaxon."]
9:18:52:<Rowyn> (err, seen her.)
9:18:56:<Rowyn> (Sure you have seen her.)
9:19:28:<Shan> "There are thousands of Zaxon women.  Might I ask what this prisoner is accused of?"
9:19:53:* Naiya frowns, and asks Shan (quietly), "Can you get more information from them?"
9:20:14:* Shan glares at Naiya.
9:20:48:* Naiya doesn't flinch from the glare. She just meets it with own worrisome gaze.
9:21:16:<Rowyn> ["When I say "claims," I mean claims.  She seems to be disoriented.  Though I doubt she has ever really seen Zaxon.  She is a runaway."]
9:21:59:<Shan> ["A runaway? Sounds a little familiar.  From where?"]
9:22:12:* Lucas looks out into the fog for moment and then goes back down.
9:22:24:<Rowyn> ["As for what she is accused of, I am sure Chu-Lin does not wish to involve itself with Vithril affairs."]
9:23:19:<Shan> "If you will not tell me whom you are seeking, how am I to help you find her?"
9:23:38:<Rowyn> ["She goes by the name of Filis.  That is all I can say."]
9:23:57:* Nasira muses. "Guess I could change my name."
9:24:11:* Naiya hisses.
9:24:24:* Shan pauses a bit, to give them the impression she's trying to recall. She also waves harshly at Nasira to be quiet.
9:24:44:* Nasira glances at the boss, then shrugs.
9:24:47:<Rowyn> ["By the way, it is regretable that Port Rio fell upon such hard times, is it not?"]
9:26:14:<Shan> "Quite. I should wonder what happened."
9:27:00:<Rowyn> ["A few of my crew were almost trapped there at the time.  We are just as shocked as you."]
9:27:24:<Shan> ["I see. It sounds like you made it out alright."
9:27:45:<Rowyn> ["Indeed.  As did you."]
9:27:53:<Shan> "Fortunately, yes."
9:29:37:<Rowyn> [There is a passing silence for some time.  Then... "I don't believe you have an entire fleet with you."]
9:30:20:<Shan> "Why would you think that?"
9:32:06:<Rowyn> ["Because not that many ships left Port Rio.  Do you think me a fool?"]
9:32:47:<Shan> "When did I say our ships were in Port Rio? I'm afraid you're mistaken."
9:33:14:<Shan> "As I mentioned, I'd been seperated from the fleet for a time."
9:34:51:<Shan> "Do you really think an Imperial Minister of Chu-Lin would travel without an escort?"
9:35:02:<Rowyn> [There's some walking on the deck. "Regardless, I care not to take my chances."  Louder, "Prepare to open fire!"]
9:35:17:* Naiya thinks, and appears almost ready to say something.
9:35:34:* Nasira looks to Shan. "Boss?"
9:36:23:* Naiya goes over to Virgil, and quietly tries to get his attention.
9:36:47:* Virgil growls. "Okay, well, if they really want to do this..."
9:36:58:* Shan curses. "You DARE attack us, unprovoked? You will regret this decision if you do not reverse your course of action immediately!"
9:37:04:<Naiya> Virgil... how much control do you have over the fog? Can you make shapes out of it?
9:37:47:* Lucas tells his men to get ready for it.
9:38:09:* Nasira walks over to the edge she heard the voice coming from and stands there, peering with her one eye into the fog.
9:38:45:<Virgil> It's a bit harder, but I can probably push enough wind into their sails to make them break, or shove people off decks.
9:39:06:* Naiya nods. "Is it within your power to try and scare them? Ghosts and warriors made of fog."
9:39:47:<Virgil> ...  No, not really.
9:40:15:* Naiya nods. "Thank you."
9:43:07:* Shan adds, happily, "I hope Vithril is prepared to take on the combined forces of Chu-Lin, Dunlor, Zaxon and Malta!"
9:43:32:<Rowyn> [Shan ship first, Ship 1, Cannons 1, Ship 2, Your cannons, Flagship cannons, Cannons 2, Flagship]
9:48:13:* Shan takes control. "Can we outrun them?"
9:53:54:<Virgil> Not flat-out, but we can out-manouver them.
9:54:14:* Shan nods. "We'll do that, then."
9:55:39:<Rowyn> [Pause for next time, then.]