Do you have a problem with how I play Isako? Comment over here. Anon is on and ip logging are off on my crit journal. However, anon is OFF and ip logging is ON in this journal to avoid spam.

[trying to shout over the rumbling of the island] How many more people can we fit?! It's going to collapse! Crap!

Damn it...! Just try to get as many as you can on board! We have to go or we'll get caught in this too!

[Log is still open here for anyone who needs some logging opportunities with other people (I know it can be hard to get CR sometimes). I'm gonna try to tag some stuff in that log tonight, but I'm in the midst of finals so it's a little difficult. Otherwise, we're going to head back for the long night soon! If you want to go ahead and assume they're back in Colvus, that's fine. They'll manage to save most of the island, but... it will be a bittersweet celebration.

Due to Holidays the Long Night event will be going on until the end of December, so there's plenty of time if you guys want to do things. Feel free to throw up a log or a CR request in the ooc comm for Long Night shenanigans. This would be a good time to interact with characters you don't normally.]

You all heard Kensei. The pilots are going ahead to see what they can do to help. In the meantime, let's get out of this damn hole.

Everyone who was going to the caves! You better have those ropes and first aid kits by now. We're going to need them. All who are able report to the deck immediately. Marluxia, Shinji, I'll need you to help organize the groups. We'll need people on all parts of the deck and I'll need our strongest crew members to hoist up people.

We're headed for the school first.

[Edit: Log up]

That's really not sounding good. I'm on my way to the deck now, but I want all groups to begin a survey of the area around the cave. We want to make sure it's safe to go in--

[is abruptly cut off by a loud crack in the background. There are also sounds of a crash and static.]

Ow! Damn it! Just as I started oh the stairs... What was that?

[ooc: Oh why hello there 4423. The ground has now just given way below the ship and they are currently ~sinking into the abyss~ although not really since it's not a terribly thick island. Still, everything on the ship has now shifted so you can bet your characters felt that one.]

[There are still some slight tremors in the background] We picked a bad day... this had better be worth it.

Listen up. Everyone grab some rope and get a first aid kid from Penelo. For the more accident prone, take two.

I'll let you all separate yourselves into groups. Remember, two or more. No one is by themselves. If you get hurt then it's your own damn fault.

Meet up on the deck later for further orders.

[ooc: Plot is gonna really, REALLY start tonight! Sorry for the delay, guys. Thanks college :| Watch this space for more details. Feel free to start sorting out groups now, though there will be a chance to pair up later. Oh, there most definitely will be :]]

Alright, we're here. Now everyone get ready while we land and--[There's a loud rumbling sound as the ship touches down] What the hell?

Damn. Listen up! This cave we're going into might be unstable. No one goes in alone. The first sign of trouble we're out of there, got it? Now, we'll need to split up into teams. Anyone got that rope I asked for?

I think we're getting close now. Dimo, can you confirm that we're headed in the right direction? Hopefully that man gave us the right coordinates if he ever wants to see that finger again.

I'll give more precise directions once we've arrived, but ( I've copied the basic map of our landing site )

Set a course for the southeast. We're headed for a small island a little ways off Vohemar. Dimo, I'll need your help on this one.

Oh, right, Penelo. You can keep this for the time being. Make sure it stays frozen at all times.

[ooc: Annnnd here we go! A small plot but it should be interesting, nonetheless. As always, backlogging stuff in Colvus is fine.

Ah, what's that? You want to know what Isako is talking about? Well, I'm sure Isako would never do something like cut off someone's finger. And she definitely wouldn't take it and say she would give it back on the condition that that person be completely truthful about the treasure's location...

Yeah, I'm sure she'd never do anything like that.]

Listen up! I have another job for you idiots.

This time we're going for treasure. I've managed to get a map to the location. There should be something good here...

Yeah, yeah, hokey pirate stuff. I know that. But I have this all on good authority this time, you can count on that. If there's nothing there, I get to keep this as collateral. [something clinks in the background]

So, who knows how to preserve things for a small amount of time? Ice? Just in case I do have to give this back.

We'll leave as soon as we've done repairs and stocked up on supples. I... talked to that damn mayor, and he'll give us what we need for now, but we'll have to pay him back sooner or later. Later, preferably, but we have to at least pretend we're tryng to pay back our debts.

[ooc: Whooo treasure hunt, treasure hunt! Like real pirates! *bricked*

Just to give you guys a time-frame, this next event will likely take place sometime after Thanksgiving since Americans (like me) might be rather busy during that time. But this should also give people some time to do some leisure threads in town before we ship off.]

We're almost back to Vohemar! Any way we can shake the rest of them? How much ammunition do we have left?

It looks like they're really gone now. Hah, we have a clear break for it. We're probably the only ones who can say we've come up against the Victoria II twice and lived--

...

What is that? I thought they were going after those kidnappers. They shouldn't be back this soon! Shit, get us going fas--

.... that's not a ship.

.....

GET US THE HELL OUT OF HERE NOW.

[HEY GUESS WHAT 4423, SOME SKY SHARKS ARE COMING YOUR WAY TOO. IF YOU DON'T WANT TO BECOME THEIR MIDDAY MEAL THEN YOU'D BETTER START MOVING.]

[Slow clapping]

Well done, old man.

[Filtered to the 4423, unhackable]

Let's use this opportunity to make a break for it. Messing up the Victoria II's mission is victory enough for one day. I'm sure that old captain is blowing one or two blood vessels right about now. Maybe if we're lucky he'll just keel over. No, that wouldn't be good. Then who would we have to annoy?

You all held your own out there. I'm... [pauses] not disappointed. I can even forgive the fact that we gained nothing out of this but our own satisfaction. But for pirates that's worth a lot. I'm sure we'll have a story to tell when we get back home.

I wonder who they were... who cares, they gave us our break and we're going to run with it. [clicks off]

Alright, we've got their attention! Get that smokescreen up and bring us to full speed, now! We've got to surprise them. That old captain probably thinks we intend to ram them, but we'll be going underneath and doing a turn around. Gunners, get ready! Even as slow as the Victoria II is you won't have time to screw around while they get their bearings.

Everyone, prepare for boarding! We're taking them down one way or another.

Damn, looks like they managed a hit. Anything we can do to patch things up for now?

We're heading towards them now. Shinji already has you gunners set, and it looks like Reno and Kensei are working to distract the Victoria II's attention further. If anyone can get a hit, great, but the main objective for now is to keep them from realizing we're not going at our full speed. That way when we fly underneath and do a turn about they won't even see it coming.

Here it comes...! They're aiming for our right flank. Evasive maneuvers, now! Try to avoid as much damage as possible!

Hiruma's got our strategy down. He said most of the Victoria II's firepower is in the front, so what we need to do is get her from behind. Once we've evaded their attacks we'll move in at a half to three quarters speed. Make it look like that's as fast as we'll go. We have the advantage of speed here, and once the Victoria II gets going it's hard to stop.

We'll head straight for them, but before we get there we'll throw up a smoke screen and duck right underneath them at full speed. Then we should be able to fire some quick shots from behind before they turn around. Hopefully it'll be enough to immobilize them.

Shinji, have the gunners ready. You can all fire some shots as we approach them, but save your heavy firepower for when hit them from behind.

Souji, do we have enough power to bring the engines up to full speed? It will only be for a short burst, so hopefully we won't overwork them.

Pilots! We may need you for a further diversion. I'll also need blacksmiths and carpenters to report to any damaged areas on the ship. See what you can do to patch us up. We need to be in as good of shape as we can get. Quickly!

Boarding party: Hang tight. If this works there may be a job for you after all. If we could actually take down the Victoria II... no... shouldn't be so optimistic yet. Let's just get out of this alive!

Hah--

Well, that didn't take long.

Time for a little "self defense." Got a strategy for us, Hiruma? Otherwise, Shinji, you may direct the gunners to fire at will. Ignore the other ship unless they target us directly. Let's head for the Victoria II first.

Everyone who was supposed to be a part of the boarding party: keep on your toes. We might still need you.

Ah, right, Dimo. You can work out a navigational plan for retreat if we need one with Hiruma, but you can join the rest of your group after that. I'm sure they'll need you if it comes down to it.

Let's see if we can pull this one off.

It's as Hiruma says. Everyone, hold your positions for now. Be prepared for them to fire, gunners especially. This is the Victoria II we're talking about. With their captain it's only a matter of time before they fire. Let them be the ones to start the fight.

Don't provoke the other ship unless they fire on us as well, but keep them in your sights. We might have to fight them, too.

Damn it! They weren't supposed to be here! Is that Erealian ship contracting an Ivonian military ship?! Damn it, damn it! Last thing we need.

We're going into defensive mode, now! Forget about the boarding! We'll worry about that when--and if--we have a chance to. Gunners, you had better be ready! Shinji--I can't direct the gunners right now so I'll leave it to you.

Don't fire until they give you a reason to! The last thing we need is to provoke a fight with the Victoria II. For all they know we're just doing some business not that that captain will believe us.

And keep an eye on that other ship, too. What was it again? Like hell I can remember, but we're at a disadvantage if it turns out we're going up against two armed vessels.

We're entering Erealian airspace now.

Keep your eyes open. We're not going for the small fry today. We're looking for a gaudy ship with a convoy of some sort. Once we spot them I want an immediate assessment of any weaponry that can be seen or deduced from the exterior. We need to know what we're in for. Maxim, you're still up there in the crow's nest, right? I'll need your eyes here. Anything you can tell me will be needed if this is to go well.

Those who can spare it can search for ships from the deck, but don't stray far from your positions. We have to be prepared. Make note of the number of ships you see in the area. Hopefully we'll be able to hit the ship we're looking for quickly before any others have a chance to react.

Let's hope this ship is as well endowed as those messages made it out to be...

Quartermasters, boatswains, I want you all to make a last sweep of the ship to make sure everyone is prepared. Report back to me when you do. I'll also need one of you to be in charge of the boarding party. Any takers before I start assigning? Then another one of you needs to take charge of the gunners. I'll relay orders to you when I can, but I trust you to make your own call. The rest of you should be prepared to take command as needed from either myself or the other quartermasters and boatswains.

Everyone else should have your orders already. If you've forgotten, go back and listen to my previous posts.

[ooc: Oh ho ho, and they inch ever closer together. We're almost there, guys! I'm just waiting on a few things from the other captains. Use this time to have your characters prepare themselves. Characters may also be up on deck keeping an eye out for other ships. Have them tell Isako if they see anything. I'll have someone announce when they see the ship.]

We'll be moving into Erealian airspace soon.

Everyone, prepare yourself. Gunners, make sure your stations are ready to go. Pilots, check that your planes are in top shape. I don't know if we'll need them but we want to be prepared. I also need my mechanics, blacksmiths, and shipwrights to be ready at all times. Same goes for the infirmary.

Shinji and Marluxia will see to it that you all complete your pre-battle tasks. They have the authority to punish you in any way they see fit, so don't fuck it up. Our lives may all be on the line here.

Hiruma, Dimo, I need you up here with me just in case we need to make a quick exit.

The rest of you, prepare to board at my order.

I'll also need a lookout up in the 'nest to look for the ship and any guard ships. Any volunteers before I start picking myself?

You all better not screw up this time.

...

Good luck.