Thanks to Wynona, the captured airship picked up enough speed that the Rakhtors could be unhitched. The former raiders that were still leery of magic where a bit cowed by it.. especially when it was clear that trying to flee the ship at this point would mean flying through a zone of wind-shear that could definitely cause some injury.
The lights of Babel become more prominent as the sun sets over the mountains that they are leaving behind. This also has a chilly effect on the men, as they rush towards their fate, good or bad. The ones that have lived the longest under the thumb of the doctor are the least effected - while Razor, who supposedly cooperated openly with the doctor - has become very quiet indeed.
"For good or bad, home calls. Well, not really; this isn't my home," Willow mutters to herself from the ship's bow as she looks out towards the city ahead. "This will all be over soon. My part, anyway. I hope most of those here will be exonerated given the threats on their existence, but ... I really don't know."
A new set of lights suddenly appears ahead, as lanterns are lit on a large airship not too far off. The wind-bubble around their own ship dies down with a bit of turbulence. "Prepare for transfer!" one of Yodh that came with Wynona calls out, and her sisters get to work bring men to their feet.
"What about me? Do I get off too?" Willow asks. She isn't sure what her status actually is after all.
"Everyone gets off," the nearest Yodh explains. "This ship isn't going into the city. Can't risk it being recognized."
"Are you going to crash it, then?" Willow has to ask, curious what will happen to it. Maybe Tulani would want it? They could become pirates together! Or, maybe not.
"It will be brought somewhere else for study, especially with the magicked chest on it," the gruff woman explains. "It'll have to be examined where we can be prepared to deal with whatever happens."
"Like a portal to another world opens up, and hordes of polymorphic brain-eaters swarm through to devour us all?" Willow asks helpfully. She also somehow manages to maintain a straight face.
"That was a few weeks ago," the Yodh claims, with an equally straight face. Flyers carrying lines land on deck from the other ship: only these aren't Yodh, they're men, and not in the livery of barrephaths but of the old Air Guard.
"That explains my headaches," Willow adds; may as well stick with the story. "How are we transferring over? Surely we aren't going to be carried."
Once the lines are secure, a lighted open appears in the side of The Vigilant Eye, and a boarding ramp begins to extend towards the captured ship. It's a rather long ramp, but the sides of the ship project out just to make it more practical - unlike the spiny bits that extend from the hull to supposed prevent.. who knows what.
"How good is your sense of balance?" the Yodh asks Willow.
"Great, a rickety bridge. That's so much better," Willow remarks, then gives the Yodh a look. "Look at my hooves. I walk on points, and have no grip. That won't be fun."
"We'll provide safety lines," one of the airmen notes. "You're the biggest person here, right?" he then asks.
"Ah, no. There is at least one Rhain far bigger than me. And another Aeonian bigger than me," Willow notes.
"Oh.. that means bigger feet," the man notes, looking unhappy. "We may have to fly the heavies over on Rakhtor-back or use the crane."
Some of the 'heavies' are coming up from below deck now, along with the 'tinies' and 'mediums'.
"Did anyone ever tell you it's not nice to comment about a woman's weight?" Willow points out sourly.
"Well, we can have you carried across if you like?" the man suggests, and actually reaches and puts his hands to either side of Willow's hips. "You're pretty lean compared to a Rhian. Sort of willowy."
"Given my name is Willow, yes," Willow remarks a bit dryly. "I'll try to walk it, just be prepared to catch me if I fall. Or if you don't suffer the curses of one very angry Sylvanian."
"We'll do the rackheads first, they're more top-heavy," the man claims. "Well.. higher up than you anyway." Mr. Velvet and Mr. Sprocket are lined up first.. stripped naked. They aren't taking any chances with might-be-pirates apparently. "Be glad," the airman tells them. "The original plan was to blindfold you too."
"Oh, good. And here I was considering punching your heart out and eating it," Willow says, sounding irritated now.
Wynona arrives from the stern, and seems to studiously look away from the naked men. "Do you want to go over on a Rakhtor?" she sideways-asks Willow.
"I can go over however is simplest," Willow admits, "And what happened to Mercy? She was worried you hate her now, or somesuch."
"Who?" Wynona asks. "Oh... Mercy. I assume she's supervising her team. They need to take this ship to.. someplace. I only had to get it here."
"You two seem like you would make good friends," Willow notes, and shrugs a little. "Anyway, bridge or Rahktor, whichever is easiest."
"Bridge is faster," Wynona says. "I can cross over with you," she offers.. as if she could keep her from falling. But the wind is calm (possibly due to Wynona?) enough that the two Cervani aren't having problems. There are guide ropes to either side of the bridge, one with several little clip-on straps that must be the safety lines.
all right. Bridge then," Willow concedes. She heads over to where the bridge is anchored and waits for her turn...
The inverted heart shape of Mr. Velvet's butt vanishes at the far end of the bridge, and the airman holds out a leather strap. "Just need to put this around your waist," he explains, and attaches the belt. "I'm right behind you," Wynona promises.
"Huh, his butt looks like a heart," Willow comments as she takes the strap and secures it around her waist, then double-checks it's secure to the bridge like. "God, I wish I had my wings back," she thinks, closes her eyes and takes a breath. When her eyes open again, she starts her way across.
The flashy dear-riere may be why Wynona is behind Willow. But the Eeee does keep her hands on the unicorn's back to keep her steady.. and is muttering a cantrip over and over under her breath as they go. So there isn't any wind, but the bridge does creak and shift just enough to be nerve-wracking until they reach the other end. Willow is unhooked, and the pair is ushered off through a different doorway than the Cervani took. And once inside, Wynona has her sneezing fit.
Willow's own heart is pounding a bit harder by the time they make it across, but at least they did make it. "Are you okay?" Willow asks the sneezy-bat. She even pats her on the back a little. "There there?" She also suddenly wonders why Wynona is being nice to her.
"Ah, I'm.. fine," the bat claims, stowing her hanky. "I only get the sneeze fits after I've cast my spells now. No more ending up on the other side of the planet for this Mage!" she claims. "Follow me, I'll get you something to wear that might fit. So long as you don't mind skirts."
"this may be an odd question, but why are you being nice to me?" Willow has to ask as she follows behind Wynona now.
"I was asked to look after you by High Priestess Koldesh herself," Wynona says, leading the way down the cramped corridor. There are lots of unmarked doors, until they reach an identical unmarked one after making a sharp turn deeper into the ship. The bat has to pause inside to get a lamp lit.
"And I like to think of myself as a nice person," she adds as the lamp lights.
They're in some sort of store-room full of lockers it appears.
"Yodhrepath and nice don't usually go together," Willow remarks. "Also, how do you know which room is which? Nothing is labeled down here."
"Everything is labeled," Wynona insists, as she examines the lockers (which also aren't labeled in any obvious way). She finds the one she wants and removes a heavy coat that looks like it belongs to the captain of an ocean-going ship. "Here, try this. And I'm nice, and a Yodhrephath. We aren't all meanies."
"How can a daughter of vengeance be nice?" Willow has to asks as she takes the coat. She pulls it on, then has to fiddle a bit with it, and roll up the sleeves so it fits 'okay'. Sailors aren't the lithe type, after all.
"I'm new," Wynona admits, and helps tie off the front of the coat. It comes down to mid-thigh on Willow, which is probably as low as things are going to get. "I don't know if there are any pants that will fit you," the Eeee admits. "Your hips are wider than what we're used to here. I can probably make you a skirt out of a blanket though."
"That would be fine, thank you. Even if you did just say I have a big butt," Willow comments, a little amused over the hips comment.
The bat's ears blush. "I.. I didn't mean that!" she stammers. "You.. have your own proportions that are fine for you, but.. are hard to match up. We don't have Cervani-style clothes that might fit."
"Oh, so you're saying my butt is deficient then?" Willow asks next, the Aeonian amused by her reaction. "So, to make this skirt, do you need to measure me?"
"I was just going to wrap it around you and use a pin to hold it," Wynona notes. "I've got sewing kit in my quarters. By the time we've got you sorted out, the last of the transfer should be done and we can meet with the captain."
Willow holds her arms out. "Why do we need to meet the captain?" she has to ask, one ear canted a bit sideways.
"Because he wants to know what's going on," Wynona explains, and finds a small blanket. She wraps it around Willow's hips and ties it off like a sarong. "Maybe that'll hold," she says. "Saves a trip, unless you'd rather go with the clothes pins?"
"Too much of a risk in poking myself. Tying it is fine," Willow admits after some thought. "I only need one pointy thing on me, after all." She pauses, then adds, "Or in me."
Wynona blushes again once she deciphers that, and says, "Follow me again, please. You don't seem much like other Aeonians I've known. They are usually a lot more dour. Or crazy."
"Ah, well, if you like I can act all moody and self-important," Willow offers and shrugs a little. "Lead on, sneezy-one."
"Just.. be diplomatic?" Wynona suggests. She leads Willow to a ladderway leading up. And then up again, until they reach the deck. It looks like there are Rakhtor roosts attached to the side of the deck itself, since several of the giant avians are perched and hooded, with a few more coming in for landings. Willow spots Sackcloth and Mr. Straw being brought down from the newly arrived birds. But Wynona turns toward the rear of the ship.
"I've spent a lot of time in a cell, and around brigands. It is hard to retain one's composure," Willow notes as she follows Wynona towards the back of the ship. "And then when Mercy showed up, she seemed impressive at first ... then that fell apart quickly. Didn't exactly make it seem like I was particularly valuable."
"I'm not sure why Mercy was sent first," Wynona says, in a tone that suggests she does know why Mercy was sent first. She stops at the heavy door to the stern superstructure, and knocks on it. A slit opens, and then closes almost immediately before the door is opened by a guard.
"Look, I know I'm an ambassador of a small county in a country all of you wrote off long ago," Willow remarks a bit dryly. "No one is going to bother sending their elite for someone like me, Aeonian or no. What I represent simply isn't worth the cost."
Once they're inside, Wynona says more quietly, "They were meant to see if it was a trap. We were close behind them to.. clean up, if they fell. This whole affair has the Yodhrephath a bit shaken."
Willow snorts a little at that. "I see," she remarks.
"This is serious," Wynona says, and looks a bit hurt by the Aeonian's reaction. She brings her to another and raps on it, saying, "I've brought her, captain." A moment later the door opens, revealing the somewhat severe looking Captain Karada. "That will be all, Yodhrephath Storm," he says. "Please prepare us to make haste to Mr. Rephath."
Willow pats Wynona's shoulder. "Thank you," she tells her, "I appreciate all your help. Perhaps we will meet again." She then turns to the captain and bows her head slightly. "Captain," she says politely.
Wynona nods, and gives Willow a brief smile before heading back toward the deck. The captain holds the door open, and says, "Please come in, Madame." His office is not big, but there's a room enough for a chair in front of his desk.
Willow enters, then gestures to the chair. "Do you wish me to sir?" she asks. "I am not quite sure why I am here, truth be told."
The captain closes the door before answering, and then gestures to the chair. "Yes, please have a seat," he says. There isn't room for him to actually hold the chair out for Willow though, so he returns to his own side of the desk. "You're Koldesh's 'mare inside', so I'd like to know more about the situation from you."
Willow settles herself into the chair and folds her hands in her lap. "Ah, so that little bit of the story has been told to others," she notes as she observes the Captain. "I don't know as much about the situation as I'd like. But here is what I do know: The raids were funded by some of the former Royal Mages. They in turn are backed by a being known as Amenlichli. I don't know if you know of her or not, but if you do not, consider yourself fortunate. In any event, they have been forcing people into acting as raiding fodder against the Yodhrephath to study their tactics and devise a method to either defeat, or at least occupy them. Most likely they want something that is still in Babel, and wanted to do a strike-raid to get it. As for what it is, I do not know."
Karada remains stone-faced as he ponders this. "The asset being retrieved now is one of the Royal Mages?" he asks in measured tones.
"Three of them, actually. Three beings somehow in one body. Two makes, and a female. Three distinct minds," Willow adds. "I neutralized him from being able to cast any magic, that I know of. But, he, er, it, should still be treated as extremely dangerous."
"Things seemed bad enough before you told me this," Karada says. "How did this being control the men we're bringing aboard? Are they dangerous?"
"No, they're not. The mage rescued some from the brink of death, by binding them to other, healthier people. Apparently these mages specialize in life magic, and can either transfer, or take it away. The removal part is more painful than the worst torture you can imagine, and it's either the fear of that, or that happening to someone they care for, that kept these people 'in line'. Would you fight against a master that could simply reach into you and turn off your heart, then let you feel yourself die and rot?" Willow explains. "Not many would. But, with that threat removed for now, and distance in place, they should be safe. Most just want to be free and have a simple life again."
"We'll need to find their families then," Karada says. "The tri-mage was the one coming up with the attack strategies then?"
"No. They had captured another Aeonian, and were using him to create strategies. Ah, another thing to be aware of, there also has been some mind-magic performed on many of them. Their memories are broken or hazy," Willow adds.
"We'll have to call in favors from the Guild then, if we have any," Karada notes, and then taps the top of his desk with a clawtip. "Or perhaps not. They're the ones putting out the highest bounties on the Royal Mages after all. Another Aeonian. I'll want to interview.. him? Her?"
"Him. Goes by the name of Mr. Bright. He's ... a decent sort. Seems more of a historian type, but he was used because of our ... well, we live long, and thus have a lot of experience. Granted we also forget a lot of our experiences over time, but all in all, our minds for fact are probably the best in this world," Willow says with a small shrug. "You may also need the guild to deal with the enchanted chest on that ship. Iron bound, too, so it keeps out magic and beings like me."
"Once we get word that the prize ship is ensconced safely away from the city we'll see to that," the man says. "I don't suppose Mr. Bright confided any insights into what the mages might be after?" he asks next.
"Well, he seems to be as in the dark as we are, as he's been there longer. But, even if he did know at a time, they've messed with the memories of them, so possibly erased it. I honestly don't think he knows, but I could be wrong. Only a mind mage would really know for sure," Willow says.
"What can you tell me about their tactics?" Karada asks next, leaning forward and steepling his fingers. "They were up against single warriors, but they must have been fearless. We had high hopes they'd have all been wiped out in the last attack, given how that Yodh prepared."
"That's the thing. They were fearless because dying by a Yodh's hand was prefferable to dying by the mage's hand. If you were in that position, and had to pick your death, which would you choose? The faster one is what most would pick," Willow points out and leans back a little. "And worse, the collected dead, if there was any spark of life left, could be brought back again, and again, as long as they had others to bind and sacrifice for it. That's why they took prisoners. They were used to fuel their 'army'."
"Which of those we're bringing aboard were prisoners?" Karada asks. "We'll want to keep them separate. Do you suspect their memories would have been tampered with?"
"I suspect all their memories, really," Willow admits, "As for the ones who were prisoners .. those are the ones that can barely walk."
"Hmm," the captain says, "Just to be clear, was the tri-mage there this whole time, overseeing everything?"
"No, the mage only came for visits. The raiders kept things 'in line'. Mainly the raider tied to tme mast; that one seemed to be operating of his own volition. The rest kept at it out of fear," she explains. "And the mage did have spies there. Indirect ones; he enchanted the eyes of one of the skeeks to watch things through. No one ever knew who could be trusted or not, so no one risked anything."
"Then we need to move quickly, which means involving the Yodhbarada," the captain notes, not sounding too keen about it. "They'll have the resources in Saskanar to follow up on things. But if these men can't trust their own memories, finding their families will be hard. Assuming they actually have any, and weren't just made to think they have loved ones at risk. I want to know if this ties into the earlier attacks on.." he pauses to shuffle some papers on his desk until he finds the one he wants. "Fruitalia Farms?"
"Yes, it ties in. It was to draw the Yodh in; the implication that it was a dispute between two companies was part of the blind," Willow notes. "To make it seem like it was just some sort of company rivalry and not something deeper."
"I hate conspiracies," Karada growls. "Babelite sport among the nobility though. The Coalition should have everything recovered from the Royal Mages. This time they can't avoid letting us know what they have locked away."
"Focus on any artifacts that have connection to Aztepa, those are likely what are being sought," Willow notes. "I wish I had more information about what specifically they were after; it would make this simpler."
"Thath will know," Karada claims. "I'll ask to speak with him directly. I don't trust the Council. I don't trust Thath, but I know he won't risk Babel again."
"Does anyone trust Thath?" Willow has to ask. "I've heard nothing good."
"I'm certain he was privy to the Boomer plot, if he didn't engineer the whole thing," Karada growls. "That's.. no relevant to this situation though. We'll be heading straight for Mt. Rephath, I'm afraid we don't have anything we can offer you in the way of comforts aboard ship. And I'm not sure the Temple even has cushions."
"Right now this is better than where I've been staying," Willow points out, "So, I'm fine right now, though Storm may be a bit annoyed with me."
"Oh? It isn't easy to annoy her," Karada notes. "You can stay in my quarters until we arrive, unless you want to check on the others?"
"That would be fine, but would anyone comment that I was in your quarters?" Willow asks.
"Why would they? I won't be in them with you, after all," Karada points out. "They aren't much, but they're private and you might have room to stretch out on the floor if you need to get a nap."
"Because people like to talk about such things. Gossip spreads faster than even a yawn," Willow points out, "But I would appreciate the chance to rest quietly fot a bit. This has been a trying time."
Karada rises and goes to the door. "It's close by," he notes, holding the door for Willow.
"Is it labeled? Nothing on this ship seems to be labeled," Willow comments.
"Everything is labeled," Karada insists. Not that it matters, since it is literally the next door in the hall. But it does have an actual lock on it, since Karada has to unlock it first.
Willow follows. She now wonders if there are sonic labels or something, since she can't see them, or hear them. "Thank you again. If you need your quarters back, I'll vacate," she promises.
"We'll be docking in under two hours, most likely," Karada says. "I'll inform you beforehand." The room is narrow, with a hanging perch and not much else. Karada must live in his office, and out of the single locker. An enclosed bookshelf holds a few tomes.
Willow goes to check the bookcase in case there is anything to read to pass the time. "Thank you again," she says. "I appreciate your hospitality."
Karada closes the door and gives Willow her privacy. There's a one of the dim ship's lanterns in here. For an Eeee, it would be plenty sufficient to read by. The books all have something of a military theme: silhouette guides to ships of the various military powers, maps, 'Tactics' by Dronnel (allegedly).. and a book of noble family lines of Ashdod.
Willow, being the curious sort, actually takes out the family lines as she's curious to see if Thath is listed at all in it. The one about Dronnel's tactics could be interesting barring nothing interesting in the family lines one.
It takes some searching. Thath doesn't use a family name (that anyone knows). But eventually he's found, as the husband of Melisandre Ioulias, who herself was 'adopted' by her own family. The artistic cameo of her hints strongly at Yodhinala heritage.
Willow tries to now track that back, wondering if Thath ever had a family name ... or if there is any other relatives, or if there are any other descendants, cousins, and so forth.
The Ioulias family is an old one, certainly - not 'high' nobility, but on par with Karada's standing as minor nobles. Thath may well have appeared out of thin air, but he's not young in the portrait next to Melisandre.
"Where did you come from, Thath?" Willow wonders as she starts tracking through Melisandre's family tree, "And why did she marry you?"
The Ioulias line ends with Melisandre though. Her date of death is only about a year before Alptraum's birth. A loose piece of parchment at the end of the book has a hand-written list of Houses wiped out in the Boomer attack, and the Ioulias family is listed as one of them.
"Heh, so Alptraum is the end of the line," Willow remarks as she flips. "So much for being able to find other connections in this city."
There are other familiar families in the book. She even finds some of Mave's daughters listed, adopted into prominent families. The Velkarnos are there, with Hastur looking smugly unmelted. And there's Abednego bar Abbas, the frustrated vampire and former opera singer. Quite a few other disreputable families that managed to survive the Boomer - by dint of not being there the night it was dropped, so likely those in the High Princess's favor at the time.
Willow tries to see if any of the singer's family is still listed as being in Babel. "This is like a book on the villainy of Babel," she mutters.
Herod bar Abbas is still listed - the book certainly isn't a recent listing, sine Willow knows Herod is dead, along with is disturbingly close sister Anina. The youngest, Mahalia should still be alive and far from whatever is left of the family.
Dimity bar Abbas is also shown, although nowadays she looks very different, as Penance.
"Hopefully those two are happy in whatever life they have now," Willow remarks as she taps those names, then closes the book. "I still don't feel like I really belong," she mutters, "That everhting I've done has been because of a child's desire to belong to something and womewhere."
Sylvania is the home Alptraum probably feels the most kinship to, after all. And that, presumably, is where Thath is from originally as well. Vampire Eeee don't rise to positions of power in Babel, where it would be hard to hide such a background - unless one came from outside.
"Heh, maybe that's why I wear all these disguises all the time. I don't really belong anywhere, so I borrow a place from time to time, before I go back to being a mostly nothing," Willow comments to herself as she leans back against the wall and looks up slightly; as much as her horn lets her anyway.
There must be irony in being an Aeonian - a race with no home, and such a low population they're considered mythical in places. At least she can get some rest before she has to deal with Koldesh.
"I really need to quit poking Koldesh with the proverbial sharp stick. One of these days she's going to snap, and then snap me," Willow remarks to herself and sighs softly. "Stupid defenses, always wanting to make things into a joke so I don't feel scared. I'm such an idiot."