Here there be pirates, (better keep a close eye on your gil)

[Parado)(]

Berdont looked from Harmon to twinblades. "Well... i'm not too keen to volenteer for this,..." he walked over to the holes and looked at them closely. "But i have an idea" he said. "If i can use my magic to see inside there and gain knowlege of how this place works, give me a minute"

Berdont closed his eyes, took a deep breath and focused on the surroundings, muttering under his breath.

(Sight, White Magic, self)

[Dungeon Master]

The first thing Berdont noticed was that it seemed the ship was, indeed, a living creature of some sort. Or at least, it was more organic than mechanical. There were parts of metal and machines, and blood and organs...and a huge number of nerve endings centering on the two holes he was inspecting.

[Parado)(]

Berdont blinked a few times. "Whoa" he said looking around him. "This... thing is crazy, the whole things a living creature, theres, organs and, blood all incorporated with metal, and nerves, all leading to those" he said pointing at the two holes. "I think this whole ship is controlled from there, it seems safe enough"

[toilet_duck]

Sanji wandered into the control deck drinking heavily from a mostly full bottle of rum. He had been looking around the ship hunting for something to fihgt, drink or steal and his poor sense of direction had let him to the entrance three times, into a wall twice and now to the other three on the control deck. After another large swig he looked around before speaking to the others.

"I see ya waited for me ta fly this thing maties" he said with a grin, "So wheres tha controls?"

[Dungeon Master]

When Sanji stuck his hands into the ship's holes, the results were instant...and dramatic. Burning, searing agony shot up his arms starting from his fingertips as millions of tiny tendrils worked their way deep into his flesh. He shrieked in pain, then abruptly went silent as the nerves connected to his. Drool began to dribble down his chin as he stared blankly ahead, apparently comatose...

Just as abrubtly as he'd stopped shrieking, however, he blurted in a strange-sounding, almost feminine monotone "Brrrrr-grrrr-wrrrr-ack! Ca-ca-cancel! Abort! Toxins found...neutralizing. Phhbbbbbbbt...Wha-wha-at-at are you driving at? The art of three plus venom equals vodka. Apple pie is a wonderful lubricant! Eat lead, you bastard woodpot! No, no, dear, no cookies for you. Oil is a poison! Ga-a-a-a-ak! A hundred bottles of rum on the wall, a thousand jugs of beeeeeeer...erk! Brrrrrrrrr...pilot assimilation complete. Vessel ready. Waiting for instructions. "

(ooc: Sanji is not in control of himself anymore. He is still in his mind, so to speak, and can still hear and observe what's going on around him - and think. And probably has the presence of mind to be annoyed that the ship has detoxed him, making him no longer drunk. He cannot speak or move of his own accord, however. His body is entirely under the ship's control.)

This post has been edited by Dungeon Master on Mar 23 2008, 08:59 PM

[Parado)(]

Berdont stood there and blinked a few times staring at sanji. He seem'd to be under the influence of something else but right now that wasn't important, they'd figure out how to help him later.

He bellowed "Get us the hell outta here!" at the top of his lungs, Then braced himself on a wall just in case.

Why me? he thought to himself.

[Beane]

Captain Twinblades gave the panicky mage a look of disdain. "The ship probably needs more... precise instruction than that I think." He turned to Sanji and spoke in a clear voice. "Ship. Take us up into the air and plot a course away from the city on a heading of North by Northeast. Full speed if you please."

He regarded his drooling comrade in amusement. Drooling and talking in gibberish weren't really out of character for Sanji most days. Waiting for instructions was new though. It would be interesting to see if the ship would obey without some kind of password or security check.

[toilet_duck]

Garrr what the hell yah doing to me ya sorry excuse for a boat! wait did i just say or think that? why can't i move? who changed how the world look? wheres my drink!? the pirates internal struggle raged on as the ship intoxicated him before something made him speak and he heard the white mage and the zombie captain speak to him. How dare that mage bark orders at me, he aint no pirate! and that's right the captain died... i saw it... i could use a drink... doesnt this ship... drink... have some form of defence system... ship im guessing your in me head matie, point some weapons at tha captain and mage, threaten don't kill, an scan the cap'n for life, then get us outta here all guns blazing! YAHAHARR drink

[Dungeon Master]

"As you command," the ship responded through Sanji. With a slight lurch, the odd vessel was airborne...however, its acceleration was metered for the four-legged beings which had previously occupied it, who were considerably better able to keep their footing than the two-legged beings now aboard. A deep, throbbing hum signalled the ship's forward motion...that, and the sudden pressure that threatened to throw the crew off its feet.

"Heading of north-northeast established. Maximum velocity will be reached in approximately one minute and thirty seconds."

[Beane]

Captain Twinblades stubld over to a wall and lent on it for support. This ship was moving considerably faster than the water going vessels he was used to. He had flown in airships before, but they were all sluggish things. This ship zipped about like a fly. Still atleast it had obeyed the commands and they were heading away from the war-torn city.

Seems a shame to leave without looting anything... probably for the best though. We don't know how many of those things there were around, and a good pirate always knows the best time to run away.

He gave the cabin and the rest of the 'crew' a slow, careful look. They had one pirate who was currently drooling and gibbering to himself under his breath, although this wasn't unusual for any pirate after the rum had been around. They had one white mage who looked lost and confused, like some small rodent caught in the open without cover to run to. That left the guard they had picked up at the inn... she was an unknown.

Harmon and Berdont looked like the sort of people who liked to think they had morals, using this ship to launch pirate attacks on merchants might make them cry.

It's best to pretend to be friendly until we can ditch them. And who knows, they might suprise me and want to join in the fun

He walked carefully over to the two coherent members of the party. He gave them a friendly smile and spoke up.

"It looks like we got away from the city. But what do we do now? Any suggestions?"

[Parado)(]

Holding onto the wall had been a good plan. As the ship lurched beneath him he steadied himself as best he could. The shacking was causing his teeth to rattle as the ship sored over the patchwork of orage glows interwoven into the overall chaos. As quickly as it was there the panoramic view had gone as they soared into the night. He was vaugley aware of someone talking to him.

Then the adrenalin hit...

"Wow... that was increadible! I've never had such an expirience... err what did you say?" he gabbled in a rush, stammering off at the end, his head was spinning and swimming in fear, exiliration and a deep feeling that at any minitue they were going to crash into a mountain.

When he regained his footing he gingerly took his hands off the wall and balanced himself.