The Aerandir and the search for the Black Moon (ORP)

[Tuvoria]

Tuv chuckled and smiled to the thought of what Wyl was suggesting. While the thought was interesting, Tuv just pulled her tight, enjoying the feel of her in his arms. He laid her into the bed, and crawled into the bed with her and pulled the covers up. He then kissed her and held her in his arms against himself. The next thing he knew was that we was being woken by the sounds of Doron crying. He got up and quickly changed the lad as Wyl began to stir.
Hi my love. I hope you enjoyed that nap like I did. I was thinking, lets go have a picnic. If you get Durie ready, I will gather up some food and get one of the wagons ready. Let's head out to the orchards and enjoy the afternoon.
Tuv then headed downstairs put in an order for some ale, milk, cheese, bread, and smoked pork. He then headed out to the stables and got Rex and then harnessed Tank to one of the wagons as he awaited Wyl and the boys. He intended to give Wyl at least some sense of normalcy and peace, if just for the afternoon.

[Wyllow]

She giggled as he pulled her in close. She was glad to fall asleep with a smile upon her lips, tucked in close to her husband. It was a nice change from the norm. Getting a nap in was, as it turned out, amazing.

She rubbed the sleep from her eyes when she heard him speak. She perked up at the thought. Oh that sounds like a lovely idea. We havent done that for ages. She scrambled getting up. You mean out into the Pear orchard? She clapped excitedly, coming around to attend to Durie. She smiled down as she did so. Soon both boys were ready to go, as well as a blanket or two.

The babes swaddled and in a blanket wrap around her body, one on her front, the other on her back, she was nearly ready to go. It was the simplest way of moving about and traveling with small children. When they were smaller, she was able to carry both in the front. Not so much anymore. She also took up the leather pack she used for the children's items, she made sure she had what she needed inside, then headed down the stairs to meet Tuvoria outside.

[Tuvoria]

Tuv was walking back into the inn when Wyl came down the stairs with the twins and a backpack. Tuv took Doran and the 4 of them made their way to the wagon. Soon the four of them, along with Rex, where headed out of town to the pear orchards. They quickly found a nice clearing with a stream nearby and decided it was the perfect spot. Tuv set down the blankets and set about getting things set up. The day was nice and comfortable for a midwinter day and the sky was clear with but a few occasional clouds. Tuv smiled to himself as it was nice to be able to put the worries of the world aside for a bit. He helped Wyl get the twins settled and he put them both on their stomachs for some tummy time and laughed as they both squirmed and shimmied about. The outside world and the Red Claws were far from his mind as he just enjoyed the day and his family.
I am glad we did this my love. I think we all needed this. in a few days the boys will get to experience some time at sea. It should be an interesting experience. Do you have any idea what the Ancient Luana might have meant when she said all of our destinies were tied to the Northlands?

[FirstmateJim]

Jim was glad to sail past the hulk of the black ship they had encountered before and he only hoped that the ruse he and Captain Tuvoria had put in place would go well. As soon as the Aerandir was clear of the inner bay, he gave the command to the crew to come to port and head to the port of Safine. The plan was to meet with the Captain and his family there and then head to the Zion-Suxfaria border. After that the Captain would hunt inland as he and the Aerandir sailed along the Western edge of the continent and they would reunite on the horn of Bercaria. The rest of the sail into Safine went smoothly and Jim decided he would give the lads a 24hr furlough until the whole crew set off again.

[Tuvoria]

The time in the orchard was a relaxing time for Tuv filled with giggles and delights as he and Wyl enjoyed the twins and spent time without any cares just wandering about and gathering a few pears. As they dinned and watched the boys, Tuv informed Wyl that Jim and the Aerandir should be pulling into port on the morning tide. The plan was to have them board the Aerandir and sail North into Suxfaria. They would drop hints and rumors that we have decided to sail back toward Pax and home. The plan was to set a false trail in order to give them a good lead over Marcus and the Red Claws should they discover the truth. Jim and the Aerandir would sail along the West coast and meet them in Bercia in a few months. As it got closer to evening, Tuv loaded up everything and helped Wyl get the twins gathered up before they all headed back to the Inn and the impending sail on the Aerandir.

[MarcusRedClaw]

Marcus and the Red Claws with him were growing impatient. As they continued to track and hunt the Ralathondors, it seemed they kept encountering delays or unexpected tidings. The most recent of these came on the outskirts of Rome. The hunting party discovered the head of one of their scouts affixed to a stake on the side of the road, with an acorn shoved into one of the eye sockets. Marcus knew it was a message to him, and he knew the elf had left it for him. He swiped the head off of the stake with one swipe as he howled in frustration. His anger was only fueled to a higher level when another scout returned saying their ship, Goblins Tooth, had been set a fire by the Aerandir and survivors were shot with arrows as they lay in the waters. Marcus shouted into the air "If it is war you want elf, WAR it is."He then instructed his horde and his scouts that if they come across anyone who might be connected to the elf and their queen, to kill them and feast on their blood. Then he and his horde set off at a full sprint to the east with blood lust and vengance in their eyes.

[Tuvoria]

The morning found Tuv, Wyl, and the twins, along with an assortment of animals and wagons firmly aboard the Aerandir as they set sail on the morning tide. Tuv found it good to be on his ship again, easily moving about the deck and the rigging. He made his way up to the wheel deck and soon he took his normal spot. The wind was in their favor and in looking at the maps and consulting with Jim, they figured it would be a three day sail to do what they wanted and to make it look like they were indeed going to head towards Paz instead of Akrahm. Tuv smiled at the plans they had laid and how much his crew had improved. The salt air and the waves putting his mind at ease. He was truly at peace for now. He thought about Wyl and her love of cooking and turning things over to Jim headed out to his cabin to take watch over the twins and to let Wyl go and work in the galley with Sam.

[Tuvoria]

The morning dawned with an eerie mist hovering just above the waters. The wind seemied to have also slacken off significantly. Both Tuv and Jim were a bit at unease with things. Tuv ordered the sails to the quarter level, lookouts to all posts, and post lights lit. Tuv also ordered battle stations as a precaution. Things seemed to be going quietly when in the third hour, as the mist began to clear somewhat, the scout in the Crow;s Nest yelled out "Black sails ho. 2 O Clock off the Starboard bow." Tuv and Jim both grab their looking glasses and spotted the ship. The distinctive Red Claw fist on the mainsail. Tuv then barked out commands to raise full sails, light the pitch pits and prepare to come to Starboard.
The Aerandir picked up speed as took full sail and turned to engage the Red Claw Ship. The other ship also turned to engage. Tuv scouted the decks and knew that he had an advantage as he could not see any visible ranged weapons on deck. He did see two individuals in robes that he figured to be Shamans or magic wielders of some sort. Jim also spotted them and agreed with Tuv's assessment. Tuv ordered the foredeck trebuchets to be loaded. He then had Jim set course to take them bow first into the enemy vessel. He also ordered the Port side artillery to be prepared to fire and for the sail and rigging crew to prepare to come hard to Starbord. When they were just out of range, he ordered the Port side and Bow units to light their weapons and for the bow gunners to let the trebuches launch. He immediately then yelled out hard to Starboard. Jim and the rigging crew pulled hard to Starboard as Tuv yelled for the Port side batteries to let loose. He then ordered the Aerandir to come full about.
As this was happening he looked back at the Red Claw Ship. It had been caught off guard. The trebuches hit with force. The foredeck was on fire , the main deck was smoking, and the fore sail and main sail masts, along with the sails, were ablaze as well. The Red Claw ship stood still in the water and a few arrows were launched but fell into the water. As the Aerandir came about Tuv ordered the aft ballista to fire. The loud thang and following thud brought a smile to his face as Lewis had aimed for the wheel deck and it appeared the wheel itself took a direct hit. Tuv then ordered the Starboard batteries to light their weapons and fire when they have a target. In less than a minute the Aerandir was broadside with the Red Claw vessel and opened fire. The screams of creatures being hit and or caught up in the fire could be heard clearly. At this point most of the rigging was on fire as well as the main deck.
Tuv spotted one of the robed figures approaching the side of the ship to possibly cast a spell. In a quick flash, Tuv had his bow in his hands and two arrows were on their way. Both struck true. One appearing to hit the left eye of the magic wielder, the other sticking mid chest. The magic user stumbled and his fire ball fizzled into the water just before he fell overboard into it. Tuv ordered the Aerandir to come about for another pass and to go to half sails.
As the Aerandir came around for another pass, Tuv directed his crews to aim for the water line or just above and his bowmen to aim for the main deck. The crews barked back understanding. Soon several holes were in the enemy vessels hull and several screams could be heard on the main deck. Tuv ordered a full halt and for his men to shoot anything that moves. This lasted for about half an hour before the enemy Red Claw vessel began to seriously list and truly sink. The Red Claw crew did manage to get a few shots off. Only two arrows did any minor damage. One of the Starboard gunners took an arrow in his foot, and another was grazed in his shoulder. In under an hour from the start, all that could be seen of the Red Claw vessel was some burning debris and a few bodies still floating on the surface of the water.
Tuv gave the orders to stand down, had Jim set course for Akram, ordered the sails to full, and then went to check on the injured and thank the work of his crew. He knew the war with the Red Claws had truly and fully begun and that this was most likely the first of many battles to come.

[Tuvoria]

Tuv and the crew of the Aerandir stayed on edge for a few hours after the encounter with the Red Claw vessel. Soon though everything settled back into the normal routine of life at sea. As they made way with a now favorable wind, they Aerandir began making good time. A few other boats where spotted as they neared the Port City of Akram, and most of those were fishing vessels. They entered the port in the late afternoon as the tide came in. Tuv asked for the Harbor Master and gave a Fr to a lad to send for him and to ask for a healer from the temple to come to the Aerandir. He wanted to ensure his two slightly injured crewmen were taken care of and no infections were to set in. Tuv then headed off to talk with the Harbor Master, letting them know of the encounter with the Red Claw vessel and to see if any other reports were available. Nothing solid had been reported but there were rumors of raiding vessels off to the west. Tuv thanked the Harbor Master and then headed out to secure rooms and lodging for his family and horde of animals. Once this was done, he headed back to the Aerandir to unload things and to discuss what he had learned from the Harbor Master with Jim. As evening time was nearing, Tuv, Wyl, and the twins were sitting in a rather large room inside the inn, The Purple Porpise.

[FirstmateJim]

Jim was proud of the crew as they quickly responded to Captain Tuvoria's commands as they quickly took out the Red Claw vessel. He only hoped that this encounter did not draw to much attention and affect their overall plan. Still it was good to put yet another enemy vessels at the bottom of the seas. As the Aerandir picked up the wind and headed towards Akram, Jim asked his Captain if they should continue as planned. He was relieved when Tuv said yes. The rest of the day continued in normalcy as they sailed on. As they entered into the Port of
Akram, Jim started barking out the commands needed to dock the ship. Soon the ship was securely docked in port. Jim set the watch and gave shore liberty to all who were not on watch duty. He then called for the ships Quartermaster, Jamisen, and set him about ensuring that the ship was properly restocked with all supplies. Jamison set off to ensure things were done. Once things were in place, Jim saw Tuv returning. They went to the Wheel room and he listened as Tuv relayed what the Harbor Master had stated. They confirmed plans and agreed on a time and place to reconnect as they both were about to begin a true hunt on the Red Claw's. Once plans were in place, Jim helped Tuv and Wyl get their things unloaded so that they can begin the land based hunt. He then went off to grab some dinner and listen to a local bard before heading back to the Aerandir so that things could be ready to go on the morning tide.