Unlucky 13 ((Stryker's Crew, Plot, OPEN!))

[Stryker]

It was perfect sailing weather. The foamy green waves glittered in the bright sunshine, the winds starting to pick up into something a bit stronger than a nice late-morning breeze. Used to the soft sway of the docked schooner, Captain Kohl Stryker would've slept right through it had today of all days not been so important. Slipping the long buccaneer's coat on over a white shirt and dark pants, Stryker exited the Captain's quarters, dark eyes narrowing against the potent glare of the sun. Though he was normally a very logical creature, Kohl had a few qualms about sailing with a crew as uneven as this one; they were 13 in all, including himself, Alykas Veer, Tulian Solum and a strange sea otter by the name of Petro. DeSoto always considered 13 to be a very unlucky number...

Careful to move out of the way of his crew, the Captain strolled out onto the deck, just about to remark to the crew when Petro, the strange otter from before, pulled him aside. Studying the creature's dark face, Stryker's eyebrows rose. ”What's troubling you?”
Petro glanced hastily to the side, the whites of his eyes bright against his charcoal fur. ”De're be sup'm very wrong 'ere, Captain Stryker. De air be foul wit some'ting awful.” The fox corsair's face remained fixed, his eyes narrowing as he took in Petro's words (in spite of the thick accent) – before a little light was shed on the truth to the otter's words of caution.

”You there!”

Kohl did not turn around, instead, he turned his head to one side, ear flicking in the direction of the stuffy, authoritative voice nearby.

”Is this your ship?”

Kohl still didn't turn around. Instead, he studied Petro's face again, watching the sea otter grow from nervous to slightly agitated. ”It be dem guards. Fram up'de coast.” He whispered out of the corner of his mouth, and Stryker almost smiled. But of course. It would truly be a stroke of luck if he could recruit a pirate crew, dock his ship (pirate flags and all) and then leave on schedule without any interference whatsoever.
”And what if it is?” Retorted the fox, still not turning around.

The guardsbeast did not look too happy about Stryker's obvious disrespect. ”Then you're under arrest – you and your filthy crew, pirate. These are free waters, and I will not be having them defiled by the likes of you!” Kohl Stryker turned around, his luminous orange eyes boring holes into the irate watervole, armed with a saber and about 20 other guards. The fox's dark bushy tail swept side to side with agitation, almost cat-like, actually.

This wasn't going to be pretty.

(( and yes, to anyone wondering, xD Petro speaks with a Jamaican Accent.))

[Cross]

”Then you're under arrest – you and your filthy crew, pirate. These are free waters, and I will not be having them defiled by the likes of you!”

A melodic, almost menacing laugh broke the silence that followed the water vole's words. Golden toe rings clicked against the wooden decks as Alykas Veer stepped up beside Stryker, an unnecessarily unpleasant grin on her face. Having shed her traveling cloak, the muscular black and white stoat wore only her violet butterfly shirt and her dark blue skirt, her knives still strapped to her thighs, and her tattered red ribbons still tied around her biceps.

"The likes of us," she repeated, her odd eyes cutting holes mercilessly into the lead vole. "The likes of us would prefer to leave your so-called 'free waters' on schedule. But apparently we'll be delayed by your pathetic display of fighting as soon as you try to arrest anybeast in this crew."

The stoat was feeling unbelievably good today. It was probably the salt air, or perhaps she was more affected by the prospect of adventure than she'd let on. Whatever it was, she felt adrenaline threaten to ramp up her system at the thought of a fight. She realized the vole guard might be unaffected by her cynical tongue, but she couldn't resist.

"Personally," she went on. "I was under the impression that 'free' actually meant as much. But clearly you've redefined it to mean 'controlled by imbeciles who dress up in uniforms and pretend to be guards.' Don't bother to forgive me if I laugh." She chuckled darkly again. Riling her opponents up was as much a source of entertainment as it was a battle strategy. Anger made beasts careless. Careless beasts didn't win fights against calculated killers like her.

[Tulian Solum]

Blinking a few times Tul groaned quietly as he slowly sat up. Rubbing the side of his face that had been laying on the wooden table he rolls his neck and arms a few times to get the kinks out from his unplanned sleep. Rubbing his eyes he glances at what remained of the candle he had been using...well that told a lot didn't it. Moving his half finished map of their journey so far to the side he frowned a little at the dark spot of drool he had left while sleeping...praying it would go away with time.

Grumbling a little he hopped off the chair and nearly fell flat on his face as the feeling came flooding back. "Owowowowowo." He muttered quietly as pins and needles ravaged his lower body. Rolling onto his back he mumbled a few other choice words before he was finally able to get up. Shaking out his arms a few times he opened the door into a world of BLINDING LIGHT.

Staggering forward a bit as he clutched his eyes Tul just avoiding slamming into the back of 'Miss Alykas' before he stopped himself. Rubbing his stinging eyes he finally looked up to offer a hello to her before he noticed the large contingent of voles that were on their ship. Standing mouth agape for a few moments he took a step back as they talked back and fourth...This wasn't going well, especially the arrest part.

"Oh....Gulls."

And then Miss Alykas had to go and insult them?! Groaning a little Tul looked skyward, wondering why some beasts couldn't just leave well enough alone, for both the voles and Alykas...

[Stryker]

"The likes of us would prefer to leave your so-called 'free waters' on schedule. But apparently we'll be delayed by your pathetic display of fighting as soon as you try to arrest anybeast in this crew."

"You're all a bunch of dangerous, filthy, murderin' thieves! We can't have you on our coasts! You--"

The vole leader's words were abruptly drowned out by Alykas Veer's scathing, mocking tone, the guards' face turning red with indignation. "Now you listen here vermin, by order of the West Coast Guard I--"

With his eyes on Alykas, the vole leader hadn't be aware of Kohl Stryker's approach, the silver fox's mouth near the creature's ear. Though his tone was low, the message was clear enough. "Then why did you get on a ship full of dangerous, filthy, murderin' thieves and expect to get off alive?" Stryker had no real intention of killing the voles, they were only doing their job, and besides, they'd probably need to defend themselves against worse pirate crews than Stryker's down the road. Ones that would actually burn their villages, kill their families and steal their things. Stryker wasn't interested in ceaseless pirate-mayhem. He had a clear goal in mind, and this obnoxious vole wasn't going to stand in his way.

"You have 10 seconds, Vole, to get off my ship, or else we're raising the gangplank."

The leader was clearly stuck for a solution, struggling to regain control of the situation, the status quo having shifted immediately to Stryker once they stepped aboard his ship. Though Stryker's crew counted 13 in total, and the voles were closer to 25 in number, the close proximity coupled with the fact that Alykas Veer, Stryker and several other skilled fighters were on board, things weren't looking too good for the vole guard.
"Everyone off the ship!" Cried the vole leader, his ears pressing flat with humiliation as Stryker gave a mocking wave goodbye.
"Good choice, vole. I knew you weren't too keen on your creatures dying on my ship. We just cleaned her."

[Cross]

Alykas only laughed all the more as the voles scurried to get off the ship. She set her paws on her hips and raised a brow at Stryker. "I admit that was priceless to watch," she remarked. "But you wouldn't even slay one of them? I'd have been happy to do it for you." She wouldn't go chasing after the annoying voles now, but for future reference . . .

The stoat let a few more moments pass before venturing another inquiry. "Not that I'm superstitious, but I've heard most captains are," she began. "Why are you letting us leave with only thirteen crew members? I personally don't believe in luck, but it's bad for crew morale when superstitions start this high."

It wasn't that she cared about the beliefs of each and every crew beast. But she knew how intense creatures could become when religion or superstitions or the boogey-man were involved. That kind of thing could throw things completely off-balance. Somebeast's head had to roll for imbalance . . .

((Ugh, not happy with this. >< I blame watching the Sing-Off for two hours straight.))

[Tulian Solum]

Holding his breath as his cap'n and the voles argued back and fourth Tul did his best to stay well back but still in sight if it would help. Thankfully most of the rest of the crew had now gathered on the deck, making it a little cramped with all the voles and crew but it at least seemed to help with making the voles look jumpy.

But finally, after a few whispered words from Stryker the voles soon all high tailed it and ran from the ship. Letting out his breath Tul smiled a little as some of the rest of the crew tossed a few choice words after them before going back to their duties. But Tul stayed where he was, looking out over the little town and Stryker and Alykas. Frowning a little as they spoke about superstitions and the crew count Tul would have to admit that he was pretty worried himself for a few...good reasons for the state of this vessel.

Thirteen was indeed an unlucky number but not only that with only thirteen crew beasts the vessel was understaffed, and that didn't bode well for any situation at sea. Well...food would be easier to keep but in any kind of dangerous situation it would be bad. Biting his lip a little he turned away from the town and looked to his cap'n and Miss Alykas, clearing his throat before he ventured his opinion, but made sure that Alykas was finished speaking before he did.

"An' wit only thertean Cap'n, we not lookin' sa gud of ta storm's or ta othah ships come...Just mentionin it Cap'n..." He quickly averted his eyes from both creatures after he spoke, and instead focused on Strykers tail, which wasn't that good of an idea as now his eyes and head were swaying slowly from side to side as he stood there.

(Ahhhh...the joys of playing a nitwit .)

[Stryker]

"I admit that was priceless to watch," she remarked. "But you wouldn't even slay one of them? I'd have been happy to do it for you."

The fox captain's dark orange eyes shifted over to the odd-colored stoat, her slightly disappointed tone bringing a half smile to his attractive face. "And where's the sense in that? I commend them for doing their jobs, and if we'd killed them, we'd gain nothing but maybe a good laugh or two and a story to tell later." Not to mention another pirate crew could always come along, with much more ill-intent then we have, in that case their families will NEED the guards to do their jobs. He wasn't the kind of Captain who took pleasure in taking life without any reason, though Alykas Veer didn't seem to have any morality when it came to such things.

"Not that I'm superstitious, but I've heard most captains are," she began. "Why are you letting us leave with only thirteen crew members? I personally don't believe in luck, but it's bad for crew morale when superstitions start this high."

"An' wit only thertean Cap'n, we not lookin' sa gud of ta storm's or ta othah ships come...Just mentionin it Cap'n..."

"I'm aware that it's bad luck," answered Stryker, who honestly didn't really care about superstitions and such -- bad things happened with or without superstition having anything to do with it, and if the fates decided to blow his ship off course, damage it, kill some of the crew, well then that's just the hand he'd been dealt. Glancing to the swaying rat, the silver fox's eyebrows rose with intrigue. What is he-- Oh. Kohl stopped moving his tail, turning back to Alykas. "We'll be making another stop along the way, the port town of Los Lobos, to pick up a few additional crewbeasts. I just need everybeast to get the StarDust that far, then we can truly get started."

Not about to linger in case the voles did decide to come back and a more drastic measure needed to be taken, the Captain placed two paws into his mouth and whistled, long and loud, catching the attention of everybeast aboard his ship. "Everyone listen up! Let's get this craft moving -- Mr. Tulian, give us a heading for Los Lobos, Alykas, make the rounds to see if everybeast is doing their duties. The rest of you, hoist the main sail and get ready to push off!" Raising his voice above the sounds of the crew snapping to, Stryker shielded his eyes with a paw as he looked out across the horizon, a nearby peninsula in sight. If we get there before next morning I'll give them a chance to stock up at Los Lobos, then we'll set sail for the Black Channel.

[Cross]

"We'll be making another stop along the way, the port town of Los Lobos, to pick up a few additional crewbeasts. I just need everybeast to get the StarDust that far, then we can truly get started."

Alykas only nodded. Well, at least her captain wasn't a superstitious old codger. Not that she had suspected him of being such, but one could never be too careful around the seafaring types. She glanced over at the rat navigator. Take him, for instance. The sea's already gone to his head. Can't even speak right, the little--

Everyone listen up! Let's get this craft moving -- Mr. Tulian, give us a heading for Los Lobos, Alykas, make the rounds to see if everybeast is doing their duties. The rest of you, hoist the main sail and get ready to push off!"

Alykas gave another curt nod and pushed past Tulian, her claws and toe rings clicking against the deck boards as she moved between the crew members. With her sharp tongue and all around sharp demeanor, she was able to get every beast moving who wasn't. Not that she really needed to. Stryker was a captain these beasts were willing to listen to.

((Sorry for no dialogue. I'm trying to keep the thread moving, though. It counts, right?))

[Eastpaw]

Lorna watched the confrontation on the other ship, standing at the stern of the Vixen. She was heading out to sea, her destination unknown to all but a few. The vixen smiled to herself and ran the smooth leather of the bullwhip through her fingers. Made from the hide of a seal, the whip was twenty feet long and cracked like thunder when she swung it—or whispered like a summer’s breeze.

Lorna was an expert.

She had heard tales of Desoto’s treasure since she had been a child, but only once he and his crew were lost had she given thought to procuring that treasure for her own. Of course, she knew now that not all of the crew had been lost. A little cabin cub had survived, along with the Quartermaster, the black rat responsible for the spark that brought mutiny to a head.

Of course, Fleabait had not told her all this explicitly, nor was he her only source. She had gathered bits of information over the years, hoarding them like precious treasure to use at the proper time. It was what had prompted her to believe the rat’s claims in the bar a mere month ago. The Vixen sailed out to sea as Lorna watched her enemy and waited. Let the heroic pirate captain reach the Channel of Monsters first. Let him clear the way with his blood and blade. She could wait.

((If anyone wants to NPC some crew member, ever, in this plot, thats fine with me. Otherwise I talk to myself.))

[Tulian Solum]

(Could you give a little brief of your characters objective and history East? So we know what kind of creatures she would have on her ship.)

Blinking as Strykers tail stopped moving Tul finally looked up and listened. Nodding a little as the cap'n spoke up with a destination Tul smiled and gave a sharp salute. "Aye aye Cap'n! Wus jus' workin on ta map yesturdey." Turning around to head back to the hold to grab his map he flailed his arms in an attempt to stay upright as Miss Alykas pushed past him. Wisely keeping his mouth shut Tul shrunk back to make sure he was out of her way before swiftly heading to the hold.

Grabbing his map, compass, and spyglass he smiled again. Here he was, finally doing what he loved again on a smaller ship than last time, but that meant less creatures to possibly annoy...Just have to watch out for Miss Alykas...Pushing that from his mind Tul sauntered back out onto the deck and headed up to the steers beast who nodded under his wide hat and asked; fer a headin'

Holding up his map Tul turned around a few times as he looked from it to the horizon. Squinting he slowed his turning and pulled out his compass as he checked his intuition. Good, he hadn't lost that. Giving a big silly grin he pointed off a little left of the small speck in the distance. "Ta, ben' word ta shallows on ta straight, so take 'er a smig left." Nodding the other rat spun the wheel a little as the Schooner caught the wind and began to sail. Tul Leaning back against the railing near the helm, tossing a silver coin into the sea as they set off.

She had been kind to him so far, letting him get back to what he loved, but he would have to work if we wanted this good luck to keep. But for now he enjoyed the breeze that ruffled his fur and the soft splash of the sea, just lovin' life.

[Eastpaw]

[[Lorna is demanding and exacting. She asks loyalty of her crew and gives loyalty in return. She reigns with fear, but her crew know she can be counted on. She is after the treasure, and has recruited the Quartermaster to help her find it.]]

Lorna patted the black rat reassuringly on one skinny shoulder. "So far your information has proved correct, Fleabait." The rat's eyes narrowed at the term, but he wisely kept his tongue. The vixen turned, leaving him standing at the railing as she addressed her crew. "We're on our way lads, the treasure will be ours!" There were no cheers-- everybeast on deck was at work, but grins could be seen briefly on grizzled faces.

"Slack sail slightly," she ordered the first mate. "Let the Noble Stryker," her words were laced with sarcasm, "get ahead of us. If he insists on clearing a path for us, let him. It will only make our task easier." And if they seemed to be following the other fox, he may get suspicious. And it would never do to have him aware of her intent, so far he was unaware of any threat to his acquiring the treasure. His suspicions would remove her advantage.

Lorna's whip slithered through her paws again as she dismissed the mate. She liked having the advantage.