Characters:

Donverain the Magnificent
Belewyn
Keagan
Inarin
Aeandra
Israfel
Dismas
Alyndara
Adachi
Caldwell
Raissa
Caligan

Location: Southern Docks, Cairhien:

Donverain the Magnificent begins pacing back and forth across a portion of the docks. Back and forth, back and forth. After a few minutes, he pulls out three, foot long or so sticks. With a glance around at the others in view, he suddenly begins juggling them. He walks around now, juggling, and trying to get the attention of those around him.

Belewyn smiles at the young man who is juggling the sticks, pausing to watch, instead of continuing down the docks. She doesn't notice the Child nearby. He reminds her of her father, what little she remebers of him.

Inarin, of course, is walking along the docks quietly, another Child with him for a moment. The two are talking, quietly, and then the other takes off to go do something else, leaving poor Child Inarin alone.

Donverain the Magnificent puts on quite an act. After juggling for a little bit, he starts to act as if he is about to drop the sticks. He wobbles and leaps back and forth to keep them going. He smiles at those who have stopped to watch. A small circle of people begins to form around him.

Belewyn looks a little less sad than she ordinarily does. She sits down on a crate, hands clasped and laughs, watching Donverain with delight.

Donverain the Magnificent continues his act. From somewhere, he pulls out a fourth stick, and then a fifth, and they circle around above his head. With much concentration, he makes his way over to edge of one of the nearby docks. He steps up onto a crate, still juggling, and then with a little wobble, steps up again, onto the pier railing.

Inarin eyes Donverain, but he's moving closer to watch. It *is* quite an act, that's for sure, and he grins a little, eyeing the entertainer curiously.

Donverain the Magnificent precariously dances and steps back and forth on the railing, concentrating to maintain his balance. With a flourish he stops short, catching the sticks. Smiling he looks out at his audience.

The dark haired woman sitting on the crate gets up and follows the entertainer at a distance, all smiles. Its a shame she doesn't smile like that more often. All of her attention is focussed on Donverain.

Keagan looks around the street as he walks down... moving for a warehouse. Those who know him, would probably guess he is either checking on a shipment or getting ready to make an order. His eyes as usual move about with a casual grace as he takes in the area. Nothing really sticking out of the usual, but those truly know him, would know little surpasses his scrutiny

Donverain the Magnificent pauses for a moment. His eyes shine as he smiles at the audience, but he does not say a word. He holds the sticks above his head, three in each hand for all to see. Then, with a sudden flourish, he swings his arms down and poof, they are gone.

Inarin applauds at that, smiling. He takes another look around, though.

Belewyn gasps with astonished delight as the sticks are there, and then not there. She joins in applauding Donverain the Magnificent, who is perched up on the railing, as she hears someone else start clapping.

Donverain the Magnificent bows in thanks for his applause, but still does not speak. He then leaps down off the pier railing and steps up to a small child who has been watching him. He kneels down and reaches back behind the childs ear. With a snap he seems to pull out one of the sticks. He pats the kid on the head in thanks and smiles.

Keagan looks around the street as he walks down... moving for a certain dock that is currently. Those who know him, would probably guess he is either checking on a shipment or getting ready to pick one up. His eyes as usual move about with a casual grace as he takes in the area. Nothing really sticking out of the usual, but those truly know him, would know little surpasses his scrutiny or his attention.

Belewyn laughs, wondering how the entertainer managed that last trick, and takes a look around at the gathered crowd for the first time since the man started his juggling. She moves off a few steps, but is in no hurry, in spite of noticing that one of the Children has stopped to watch also. At least today, she is not trying to purchase something at a shop they are searching.

Belewyn spots a friend of hers, another healer and moves in that direction, smiling bright as days breaking. It probably has something to do with the entertainer lurking in the crowd. A close friend would find the presence of such a genuine smile unusual on her face.

Donverain the Magnificent continues. One by one, he makes the sticks reappear, and in a way that is quite comical. He looks around, scratching his head as if he's lost something. Then, as he scratches, one of the sticks seems to fall out of his hair. He catches it and begins juggling again, smiling now that he has found what he was missing.

Belewyn touches Aeandra on the arm and leans to murmer something to her, She mutters to Aeandra, "Aeandra,... lot... later."

A slender young woman catches sight of what's happening on the docks and speaks excitedly to her companion, a tall Saldaean man. She Her eyes sparkle with supressed laughter before she manages to pull him out on the docks.

Inarin grins up at Donverain again, shaking his head amusedly. He clasps his hands together behind his back and takes a step back, still watching the entertainer quietly.

Israfel steps reluctantly out onto the docks with his companion, the slender young healer. He looks at the occasion there, and a faint smile forms on his lips.

Donverain the Magnificent continues juggling, wandering around in the small circle of space the crowd has afforded him. He throws all the sticks extra high in the air once, and they all come down together. With a swing of his hand, he snatches them all up at once, but as he does so, somehow, the ends of sticks burst into flame. Donverain grins and begins juggling again, now with flaming sticks.

Belewyn glances at the man Aeandra is pulling along with her and grins, motioning to him, She mutters to Aeandra, "Who's..." She seems in fine spirits today.

Aeandra smiles excitedly at the other woman. "Oh Bel, I want you to meet Master Israfel."She turns happily to the warrior. "Israfel, this is Mistress Belewyn."

Alyndara meanders along the road, the crowd of people catching her eye. She looks up, grinning as she sees the performer, but then spots Keagan and makes her way over to him, although taking her time.

Adachi seems to caught a hint of the attraction down at the docks from somewhere, and never being one to miss some fun, he steps lightly down onto the wooden planks his eyes intent on the entertainer. He spots Alyndara and Keagan as well as Belewyn in the crowd, and offer polite smiles to all of them, before wandering in Alyndara's direction.

Israfel smiles politely, "Good Day Belewyn." he says, bowing slightly, "might you fill us in on the happenings here?" he asks, motioning to the entertainer, a slight smiles on his lips.

Belewyn has stopped noticing the other people gathered on the dock for the moment, her attention on the introduction being made. She curtsies, a minor but polite dip. "Well met, Master Israfel." She casts a mischevious grin at Aeandra, which seems to say teasingly, 'You have been hiding a man Aeandra.' She looks over her shoulder, "The man seems to be an entertainer. Quite good I might add."

Keagan is getting annoyed at the thickness of the crowd and starts to make his way to the outside of it and towards Alyn... not directly but in a rough line guided by the crowd.

Donverain the Magnificent performs all sorts of tricks as he juggles with the flaming sticks. He bends down and juggles through his legs for a little while. Then he stands, and juggles behind his back, though this trick seems to take an extra amount of concentration. Beads of sweat form on his forehead, but he still smiles at the audience.

Alyndara glances over her shoulder, her face breaking into a smiles as she spots Adachi. She quickly crosses over to him and embraces him in a hug. "Hey you! Thought perhaps you had left for good, this time.."

Belewyn reaches out for Aeandra's elbow, motioning to the other healer and the Saldean man with her. "We should go up closer, so you can see."

Aeandra laughs and nods, linking arms with her friend and moving forward in the crowd for a better view. Her big eyes fix on the performer, mesmerized, and she claps her hands in delight. "Oh, he is good!"

Israfel chuckles slightly and moves with the two women more towards the current performer, nodding in agreement with Aeandra's comment.

Adachi smiles and makes his way over to her, where he hugs Alyndara as well. He mutters to Alyndara, "I... not... at... goodbye..."

Several figures run into the area with torches. Most scurry over to nearby lantern posts and begin lighting them against the encroaching night. Most don't even pay attention to them thinking they are obviously runners from the lamplighters guild. Their torches, along with the flaming sticks of the performer, cast an eery light on the docks.

Belewyn leans close to Aeandra and makes some other comment, just loud enough for Aeandra, and perhaps Israfel to hear entirely. She mutters to Aeandra, "... have... looking for you... days!" Her eyes however, remain on Donverain.

Inarin, being unfamiliar with Cairhien's Lamplighting guild, certainly doesn't pay them any extra heed just yet. He straightens his white cloak, though, then takes another look around, up and down the docks.

Alyndara laughs, taking a step back to look her friend over with a smile. She mutters to Adachi, "... to be... piece after your... everything... You'll... me... about... sometime."

Keagan notes Alyn's change in direction and to where she is going and smiles in return to Adachi, he makes his way over yet gives them a little room to catch up before mocing to completely join in. Yet at the motions of the Lamplighters his eyes linger longer than most might think he should... After a few looks over each he seems to brush them off yet looks back on occasion as he seems to hang back near Alyn and Adachi

Donverain the Magnificent continues to juggle, now making two intersecting circles with the flaming sticks. In the process he manages to light the other end of each stick as well. He now is obviously reaching the limit of his skill, great though it is. He is sweating quite a bit, and his face is red, and his smile slips just a bit. It even looks like he misses once and grabs one of the flaming ends. Nothing but a brief wince suggests it hurt at all though. Soon he is right back into his act

Aeandra leans closer, her v crystal voice just as soft. She mutters to Belewyn, "... And..." The young woman looks fondly at her friend an flashes the tall man a brilliant smile.

Adachi smiles and nods, taking a step back as well. He looks to Keagan, and offers him a polite nod and smile He mutters to Alyndara, "... all is well, as... is,... it sometime.... you..."

Inarin offers Donverain a sympathetic wince when he grabs at the flaming end.

Israfel chuckles slightly at the other Healer's comment, but says nothing, his eyes still intent on the performer. He glimpses over at Aeandra and laughs lightly at the smile he is given.

Donverain the Magnificent begins the finale, and begins juggling the sticks extra high into the air. One by one, he carefully catches them. Holding them all together in one fist, he grabs one of the flaming ends with one hand, quickly extinguishing them. Only one end flaming now. He leans his head back and holds up the sticks. Slowly, he lowers them to his mouth...

There seems to be a dozen or so of these torch bearers around the area. After they finish lighting the lamps, they hold their positions at the edges of the crowd. They seem to be waiting on their leader to tell them which area of the city to go to next.

Alyndara can't help but to grin, shrugging her shoulders lightly. She mutters to Adachi, "... actually..and... atypical..." Alyn then turns so that her back is no longer to Keagan and offers him a light smile.

Adachi laughs and looks at the performer, his eyes huge. He mutters to Alyndara, "... he..."

Belewyn covers her mouth, as the entertainer lowers the last flaming stick towards his mouth. She cringes, hoping she isn't going to have to be treating mouth burns immediately after.

Donverain the Magnificent lowers the flaming sticks slowly into his mouth. Once they seem impossibly far in, he raises his free hand in the air, and suddenly flame shoots out of his mouth a few feet out in front of him. He closes his mouth and extinguishes the last flame. He seems to be fine, and turns to the audience smiling. He bows.

Israfel's eyes grow hugs as the man tries to eat the fire sticks. What is wrong with this fellow?

Inarin just stares for a moment, looking, well...rather shocked. Apparently, he's never seen a fireeater before. "I'd heard of it...but never seen one," he mumbles to himself. "Wow." he claps a bit as the Mangificiet bows, then clap a little louder.

At the exact moment the last flame goes out a tremendous roar is heard, followed by a quick BOOM as the ship 'The Nightrunner' explodes into flames. Apparently somebody liked all the tricks with fire.

Aeandra jumps with a small sound at the fanning flames, and then laughs. She claps and flips a few silver coins his way-perhaps a week's wage or more.

Alyndara turns and watches the performer, jumping as the flame comes from his mouth, grinning as she sees he is fine.

Inarin jerks back quickly, turning towards the source of the explosion, white cloak flaring. He looks around, quickly, "Light!"

Aeandra too spins towards the sound, her large dark eyes full of surprise.

Israfel spins quickly, not having expected this as part of the act, but wastes no time, in charging through the crowds towards the boat, perhaps to get anyone out that may have been inside.

Time seems to slow, and at the far end of the dock, a lone figure is silohuetted in the flames light...dark and menacing. He calls out loudly, his voice carrying over the dockside to all gathered there before anyone can react in time to reach him.

Keagan grins at the two returning the nods of greeting to each his left hand seeking out Alyn's right as he steps closer to the two... "Good eve, friend, how are you faring this day?" his eyes looking over the entertainer with an amused but bored glance... his interest however seem to be on the lamplighters more so than not...

Belewyn shields her head instinctively, the sound of her startled half shriek being more or less drowned out by the roar and explosion that triggered it. She peers through the night at the flaming ship.

Donverain the Magnificent jumps around as the ship explodes, his eyes filled with confusion. He surely didn't light the fire. The audience knows that right? He looks frightened.

Adachi blinks, dazed for a moment, perhaps still thinking it part of the act.When he realizes its not, he tries to fight his way through the crowd towards the ship.

"The wounded," Aeandra breathes, staring at the ship. "Bel, we have to get to them!"

Alyndara jumps, a squeal escaping her mouth at the blast as she turns to see what happened...

Keagan blinks at the explosion and instantly casts off his cloak and is running hard for the river, eyes searching out the area for what the cause could have been. "Get light on the RIVER!" currently running along the outer edges of the gathered to where more of the space is darting through the shocked/stunned.

Belewyn looks at Aeandra a little dazedly, trying to understand what she is saying before suddenly snapping into healer mode. She nods wordlessly and rushes along with half the crowd towards the ship, the entertainer forgotten immediately.

Donverain the Magnificent listens as shouts drift over from the Nightrunner. Some are commands, some screams of pain

Donverain the Magnificent 's eyes fill with horror as he realizes what is happening. He seems paralyzed though, and just stands there watching the ship burn.

Dismas says "Remember this warning!!" His hand flies back to point at the ship. "This is what happens to all who dare to defy 'The Hand'" His voice rings out clear. "We will seek you out, and destroy you. Cross us. Cross the Hand of Cairhien at your peril." He points to the crowd now. "We are here for one of you. And we shall have him before this night is over.""

Inarin starts to tell two of the burlier sailors, near him, to watch the perform, but it doesn't look like it's going to be necessary. As that voice rings out, he turns towards the person calling out, eyes narrowing. He begins heading in the direction of that voice.

Aeandra puts her hands to her mouth, her eyes tearing from the thick heavy tar smoke that begins to waft its oily way across the area. She breaks into a run, silently cursing her lack of foresight in not bringing her regular Healer's script.

Adachi seems to have made his way up towards where Donverain was performing. He does however, look quite blank at the man that he hadn't noticed earlier's words.

Dismas drops something onto the dock in front of him, and without hesitation and almost as one....all of the torch bearing people that entered the area flip around and hurl their torches into pre-arranged buildings. Coated with oil previously, the entire southern dock explodes. The shockwave and the noise deafening sending the entire area into chaos. Dismas exits 'stage right' using the commotion and new explosions to cover his get away.

Israfel stops his dead run towards the ship as the dock explodes under his feet and he is knocked into the water. Loud curses can be heard from that direction, as he was not planning to get wet this night.

Inarin's knocked to his feet as well, falling unceremoniously on his ass, stunned. He gapes for a moment, then clambers back to his feet. "Blood and ashes!"

Donverain the Magnificent actually falls down at the explosion and watches in horror as the city errupts into chaos.

Keagan comes to a skidding stop at the new explosions, staggering a bit, grabs a post to steady him and frowns deeply, he should have... he looks back towards where Dismas was and then the object he dropped and then to trace the route where the man fled hoping.... then growls not liking this... his eyes return to scanning for Alyn now... to make sure she is ok in all this.

Aeandra tumbles to the ground at the new blast with a cry of pain as a piece of flying shrapnel drags a bloody cut across her upper arm. Coughing, she staggers to her feet, holding her cloak over her nose as a shield against the deadly smoke.

Israfel uses all of his muscle to pull himself back ashore, although that meant holding burning wooden railing for much longer than his hands could handle. One back on land he stares at the ship, his eyes sunken with hopelessness, and his hands burned as it starts to slowly sink, its plank drifting away..

Alyndara is thrown to the ground by the explosion of all the buildings, covering her head as stuff flies everywhere.

Belewyn squints as she runs, jostled and bumped, nearly trod on in the chaos that engulfs the docks. The healer nearly falls down as the docks are rocked, but is saved from it by the crush of moving people around her. Everything seems a blur and she looks around frantically. Where is Aeandra?

Inarin manages to stagger to his feet. Three sailors, gaping in shock and horror are grabbed and shook, "Snap out of it! Grab buckets! Fill them with water! We'll need to clear a path out of here. You! Get that one over there and pour the water, form a line!" Sailors, of course, are at least vaguely familiar with how to do this and begin, with a lurch, obeying the Child's orders.

Donverain the Magnificent watches as timbers of the ship begin creaking and falling off into the water with a splash and hiss. Suddenly, the main mast of the ship cracks fiercely in two and falls over into the water, pulling up a few sections of the deck with it.

At the new explosion, Adachi leaps down from the performing platform back towards the crowd. Perhaps he can do more good down here now...

Caldwell wanders in, not particularly in a hurry, but definately curious. He pauses at the start of the docks and decides to figure out what is going on, before jumping into the scene.

A badly burned Sailor sees Caldwell approaching. "Run, run for you life!" he says, trying to stagger away himself.

Donverain the Magnificent notices there are still people screaming on the ship. Mortified, he shouts, "The ship! There are still people on the ship!"

"No!" Aeandra crie watching the ship go up in flames. She struggles through the smoke and flames to get closer, stopping only to beat out a small fire that tugs at her long soot-stained skirts.

Inarin's cloak is already darkening in spots from the smoke.

Keagan seeing Alyn safe for the moment runs to the dock edge grabbing rope as he moves swiftly and carefully dodging the fire, and produces a nice sized dagger from somwhere and ties the rope to it and flings it at a relatively solid peace of the boat and pulls it taught and to a dock mast uncaring of the warning right now... or so it seems...

Caldwell blinks at the sailor and shakes his head. Some people don't know opportunity when it jumps up and bites them. Of course, those people will also lead longer lives than him, but he can fret about that later. He starts heading down the docks, to see if where he can help.

Donverain the Magnificent watches as flames begin from the ship begin to nip the rope. The end catches for a moment and then is blown out. It is sure to catch soon again though.

Israfel thinks feverantly on what to do, but with his hands burned this badly burned he looks hopeless. He does however break for a run to where Belewyn and Aeandra have situated themselves. Perhaps either of them could give some quick first aid...

Alyndara slowly stands, having to brush boards and glass away. Her face and hands are coverfed in soot, a few scratches on her face and a growing bump on her head, but nothing serious. She waves at the smoke in the air to try to see around her.

The fellows who hurled the torches into the buildings now spin around, knives out, they begin moving their way through the crowd using their weapons to good advantage. They all rush towards the ship, trying to cut down anyone racing to help. Nameless, faceless people go down in heaps just for carrying a bucket of water to help. They seem quite intent that the fires should burn, especially those on the ship itself.

Belewyn pushes on, the screams drawing her on. She's pulling off her cloak as she runs, catching the nearest burned man as he falls, and beating out the flames with her cloak.

Well, that's cause enough for the Child to draw steel. Inarin draws his blade, moving to intercept some of the fellows about to cut down another innocent. His coughing, from the smoke, announces his presence easily.

Caldwell frowns as the knifes come out and reaches for his sword. Rather silly, one person attempting to fight the thieves, but hopefully most of them will be cowardly enough to run from someone trained. He moves towards the closest thief, his intentions plain on his face.

"A plank," Aeandra pants, skidding to a halt at the end of the dock. She shields her eyes from the burning conflagration, trying to see through the haze of smoke for something-anything!-that could be used as a bridge.

Israfel's look of hopelessness turns quickly enough to rage at the people now with knives going through the crowds. Despite his burned hands, he rips his large sword from its sheath, and proceeds to quickly remove one of the men from his legs.

Bill mutters to himself, "This... us."

Adachi is busy beating out small fires on people's clothes and near things that may go up in flame.

Donverain the Magnificent nearly vomits when the killing begins. It's all like a bad dream.

Israfel's eyes nearly tear up at the pain of holding the heavy blade in his hands. He does use it deftly though, seperating the mock-torch-lighters from vital parts of their bodies.

Caldwell tries to direct his efforts to protect those trying to help. Though some showy moves might impress someone, they'd also be likely to get him killed. So he keeps it simple as he moves from swordform to swordform against the thieves.

Belewyn takes the singed cloak and rushes a few feet to the dock's edge to douse it in the water and then returns to the person she is caring for, unaware of what is happening around her, intent only on the injured. Her face is sooty and dirty.

Aeandra ignores the swordplay behind her, her mind working swiftly. She peers down at the water and runs along the outer edge of the dock, looking for a small boat.

Keagan turns annoyed at the rope and hearing screams, he crouches low to be below a majority of the smoke and spots a hand holding a knife and wearing clothes of the lamplighters. A knife sails cleany from his hand and to his target with ease, hitting in the only spot that sure for it's location from the smoke settling over. Just below the hip and on the inner thigh. Most probably that theif won't do much any longer. And since he is on the dock the closest thief would be one advancing on Caldwell...

Bill stands in the backround, drawn by the flames he now stands in utter shock at the carnage he is watching.

Nimbly ducking away from a dagger thrust, Inarin steps to the side and brings his sword down to slash the man across his own. Though his manner is somewhat untrained, showing a distinct lack of knowledge in the forms, his own natural grace and speed carry him further than he would get otherwise. Turning to another, he recieves a Kirk Cut, a thin slash across the belly, for his troubles. Lucky for him it didn't go too deep and punches the 'villian' across the face once, then hits him over the head with the pommel of his blade, dropping him.

Alyndara stumbles away from the scene, looking a bit sick. She disappears down the street.

Donverain the Magnificent listens as the the organized shouts of commands drifting over from the ship slowly give way to screams of panic. Order is slipping aboard the nightrunner, it seems.

Israfel frowns and slips his sword through another thief, and then deftly replaces it in his sheath, his hands a bloody mess, and no longer able to handle it. He cringes at the pain, but seeing the Healer hunting furiously along the dock for a small boat, runs full speed towards her, also looking for a boat. They will need more than one boat for a ship full of people.

Caldwell turns as he hears a thief yell out, from Keagan's dagger. He frowns and puts the man out of his misery quickly. He mutters to himself as realizing just how lucky he was. Intent on not letting another thief take him unawares, he decides to attack more agressively, seeking out the thieves before they seek him out. A well-placed slash to the stomach fells another quickly.

Bill the tinker is completely dismayed by the brutallity of the scene. covering his mouth with his hands he backs into the shadows and is gone.

Inarin's expression is rather wild, and the adrenalin is flowing. To some, the more trained and experienced, it might seem obvious and likely that the Child really hasn't fought in all that many battles besides mock-ups and training, if any at all. He backs away, panting, from the unconcious thief besie him, glancing towards some of the people with their buckets, yelling at them to keep going. He remains where he is, trying to defend them from the thieves, and usher any injured people through any openings, away from the fires, that might be made.

"Here!" Aeandra calls, staring down at a small longboat and knowing that she can't possibly even man the oars in her weakened state. Blood stains the sleeve of her dress and begins to spread across the bosom. She looks desperately at Israfel. "Help me!"

Keagan frows at all the mess and the noise growing from the boat, he ties the end of the rope to his waist after guesstimating about 30 extra feet of rope, he ties it off on a post and dives into the water, swimming for one of the undamaged portions so far.

Few are the supplies Belwyn has with her, compared to so many wounded. The shouts and screams around her grate on her ears and she rushes from injured to injured, her eyes clouding with tears at the number of dead she finds. She dodges a thief who grabs for her and catches a glimpse of Aeandra through the haze. She scrambles in that direction.

Israfel makes it over to the healer in a few short steps, and forcing himself to, he grabs a dagger and slashes the boats binding, gritting his teeth at his hands. He replaces the dagger, and steps nimbly into the boat, pulling Aeandra in behind him.

Caldwell grits his teeth as the more experienced thieves are the ones left. It takes all his efforts to keep a pair of the hoodlums from finishing him off completely. He takes several slashes to the arms and a nasty one on his leg before one thief finally slips and gets run through the shoulder on what should have been a simple parry. Caldwell utters a prayer that the thieves aren't using poisoned daggers... that would just make his day.

Aeandra stumbles into the boat and sits as her legs give way beneath her, taking a blessed moment to rest. Only for a moment though. The scrip comes off her shoulder and she looks inside, trying to think how much she can spare for each of the wounded.

Inarin coughs a bit more, smoke obscuring his vision a little as well. A thief jumps at his side, letting out a yell. He staggers with Inarin, trying to stab at him. The hoodlum obviously overpowers the younger man, physically, and only sheer desperation keeps the dagger from being plunged through him multiple times. A sailor whacks the hoodlum upside the head with a half burnt board, sending him stagering. It gives Inarin the chance he needs to slash at him and drop him, a cut from his collarbone down to the middle of his chest.

Israfel's eyes are saddened by the carnage here at this merry event, and he sighs quietly, cringing at the pain in his hands. He leans over and looks in Aeandra's bag as well, hoping for some quick treatment.

Upon reaching the boat, Keagan flips two daggers into each hand and uses that to scale the edge of the boat. Knowing his daggers of strong enough quality to sport what he is doing. A couple tries shows him prying a board loose or two... but nothing major as good boats are reinforced beyond. Once to the top he halls himself over and surveys his new postion in the boat... and those near. He grabs a couple of sailors and orders them to secure the rope and keep it from burning as it maybe the only quick route out of here... Then remembering the name he heard earlier... "Israfel! DOCK EDGE! ROPE..." but once said he is trying to move to find those not sailors and free them and get to safety

Aeandra's eyes tear as she meets Israfel's sadly. "Anything I give you would numb your hands for rowing," she chokes, anguished at the fact that she can't help her friend yet. "We need to get to the ship!"

Strange sights aboard the ship are taking place, or maybe not so strange. A woman standing aboard the ship seems to have taken charge. She hollers to the men remaining on board to grab buckets and a rope. Those upon the docks might see a bucket tied to the rope be thrown overboard, filled and pulled up to the ship. Then 2 seconds later another gets thrown over. It seems like the men have formed an assembly line to splash water upon the fire to save the ship. All being led by a young woman that is about 20 yrs old.

Caldwell sheathes his sword as he runs out of thieves. The pain in his sides burns through him, but he tries not to let it slow him down. As he heards Aeandra's cry, he turns to her. "Do someone need a pair of rowing arms?" he yells, heading towards her.

Israfel sighs softly, his hand going to the oars, and his teeth gritting audibly. He shifts his powerful shoulder muscles and the boat sails into motion. The dock side was it, "Master Keagan!" he shouts, "Have you a rope up there?!"

Inarin wipes at his face with his once pristine cloak. It's sooty and darkened now, and flecked with a spatter of blood here and there. He hefts up an injured woman, carefully, guiding her towards someone else who can help her off the docks and through at least one path that's been created to lead at least a little further away from the flames.

Aeandra says "Yes, hurry!" Aeandra cries urgently, and then pushing Israfel back on the planks. She quickly brings out a salve and begins rubbing it into his left hand."

About three to four members of the Hand continue to scurry about trying to keep anyone from reaching the ship to help it. Their daggers take care of a great deal of the help that might otherwise reach the ship.

Belewyn scrambles around some burning crates and tends to several people of the crowd who have been cut down, badly injured, but not dead.

Caldwell enters the boat and reaches the oars. He grabs hold of them and after a moment's hesitation of trying to remember how exactly oars work, he starts rowing.

The crew of the nightrunner's valiant efforts at saving the ship with their bucket assembly line is interrupted periodically by a scream of pain. It seems there is fighting on the ship as well, but the young woman struggles to keep order.

Israfel, his hands numbed, rows the boat quickly to the other side of the ship, where a rope dangles in the water, leading up to the hull. He gathers it into the small boat and pulls towards the ship, until they are close enough to mount the huge vessel.

For those acute enough to notice, you will notice pattern to the thieves. The buildings that exploded and continue to burn were all but ignored after that first explosion. No one is being killed or hindered by them, including the healers, so long as they aren't trying to rescue the ship, etc.

Donverain the Magnificent watches, still not having moved from his original spot. His mouth hangs open as he gazes at the horrible scene. It is questionable whether he could help if he wanted to though, because it seems two large sailors are taking Inarin's advice and keeping an eye on him.

"Stay for a moment," Aeandra orders, moving quickly to take Israfel's hand in one of her own. A few seconds and one piece of cloth later a good bandage is in place.

Keagan moves from where the rope is secured to where the orders are given dodging fire and charging through flames his damp clothing keeping him safe... for now. His stay quick to note action or any in need of help if there are those there? "Israfel! stay on the boat... I'll guide people to you." he shouts out coughing in the same manner, but accustomed to smoke and heat... after all he is a blacksmith.

Caldwell rows with the second set of oars, and compensates for Israfel as Aeandra takes one of his hands. As the reach the boat, he looks up and sets a grim look on his face. "We're here."

Israfel smiles thankful for the brief treatment. He mutters to Aeandra, "... you..." with his newly bandaged hand, he takes the rope in one hand about to mount but hearing the order, he nods, and secures it to the boat. "Send them down Master Keagan!"

One more Hand member comes towards Inarin, but he notices a companion on the ground, beaten into unconciousness. He dives for him, dagger out to slice across the throat and make sure the man doesn't live to tell any tales. He's easily back on his feet and charging the Child, who took a second to gape before he brings his sword up to defend himself.

"Get the wounded down safely," Aeandra cries, finishing with Israfel's other hand and laying out the things she needs. She stares down at her meager stock, grateful that at least she had worked on making bandages all afternoon...

Donverain the Magnificent watches as strangely, heroicly, the crew do not take the chance to escape, but rather fight for their ship, some engaging the thieves, others continuing with the buckets, trying to put out the fire.

It isn't the crew that are having problems following orders. It's just mass chaos. The woman is being protected by one of the deckhands that keep her from being hurt. When she sees Keagan board ship, she nods to him about the rope. Then hollers for him to help by either protecting the crew or get in a bucket line and help get water to put the water out. She remains cool headed and trys her hardest to fight chaos. Occasionally, she'll take aim with a knife to try and kill one of those injuring her crew.'

Israfel nods quietly to the healer behind him, and looks up hopeful at Keagan to send some people down the tense rope.

Caldwell frowns, noticing thieves on the ship as well. He starts up the rope as well, and quickly finds himself on deck. Though he looses his footing at first, the sword finds it's way to his hands quickly. He says to Keagan, "I'll keep them away from you, if you focus on the wounded."

Keagan easily spots the difference from crew to troublemakers and steel starts to shimmer in the air for those who can see it. Lancing out from Keagan's hands and sailing through the sky to their targets. He seems to require little time to aim only to spot his target, "No need. I saw how you handle the sword... you get the wounded." He seems to have no hesitation in sending out daggers to take out those holding weapons. One may even think he is relishing the chance to actually create such chaos.

Israfel decides that Keagan has been too slow sending down ship patrons, and climbs onto the ship himself, his sword bared as soon as he set foot upon the deck.

Aeandra waits anxiously in the boat, listening to the sounds of chaos above in trepidation. She stares dully as a flaming piece of ship falls into the water with a hiss.

Caldwell frowns, but decides arguing can be held until a safer date. "As you say," is all he replies, and rather gruffly, as he reaches the first wounded and helps them over towards the rowboat.

Creaking woods and crackling flame mix with the sound of clashing steel and screams to create an atmosphere of total mayhem and chaos. Part of the deck that is burning suddenly gives way and falls through, creating a hole in the deck.

Several of the thieves stumble and fall into the hole.

Aeandra tries to lower the first man down as gently as possible, her arms visibly straining. She trembles from the tension, but finally manages to get the man to the deck, where she immediately starts working. A bind and a splint...

Several badly burnt bodies groan and writhe on the deck. Others suffer from stab wounds.

Israfel steps towards the hole, and looks down in hopes of seeing survivors. No such luck. He steps back and moves towards where the healer is, trying to see if there's anything he can do.

Raissa looks to those coming to help. She nods to them. "Help protect the sailors holding the fire or help put the fire out." She hollers to them as she herself goes down to a line and joins it. The buckets are passed quickly and the fire is being held off somewhat. There are others of the crew helping to fight the theives and protect their companions who are putting the fire out.

A theif falls to the deck, a knife sticking out from the base of his throat. Another with one from his eye. Then actually bypasses Keagan's defenses and slashes at his stomack making a nice little wound. But instead of slowing him down, he seems to only gather more fire to pursue and with an uppercut motion the thief, foolish as he was, goes bug eyed and falls away from Keagan a knife extending from his chest at an odd angle, but it was a death blow. And then more fall in similar fashions to the first. Once a knife, enroute to target engages a slice across a man's arm that stumbled into the way from where he was working. But a following up dagger satisfies the need for the first.

Caldwell mutters, and hurries his efforts as the ship starts to collapse. He picks up another of the bodies and returns towards the boat, lowering them carefully as Aeandra did. None of the thieves seem eager to challenge him yet, though that will probably change.

With the help of some of the people remaining on the decks, Inarin manages to dispatch another one of he thieves who lunges at him, and get a hold on another to capture...but he manages to wriggle free. Faced with his back to the flames, and the Whitecloak and two other men approaching...he turns and leaps into the flames, screaming as the fire overtakes him.

Seeing the visible strain on the small woman down in the boat, Israfel moves to the rope leading to the escape boat. Using the slick bandage on his hand, he slide down with ease, and lands squarely in the boat, his sword sheathed, and ready to have people handed down to him, so the healer can work her magic, and since it would appear the theives are being disposed easily enough on the deck.

Aeandra barely finishes with the first of the wounded before she takes a second. She blinks constantly, trying to clear her eyes of the smoke, but works with steady resolve. She slathers a weak salve across the gaping burn wound, and then sets to work with bandages. There's no time for finesse...

Israfel lifts the wounded from the rope to lie side by side on the small boat, waiting for medical assistance.

Caldwell turns around to find another wounded person, but notices the thieves advancing on the sailors. He mutters and draws his sword, heading over to assist. The thieves can create wounded faster than he can help them, he justifies.

Now that the last of the thieves on the docks is dispatched, apparently, Inarin strides towards the Nightrunner after giving people a few more orders, and getting them to work on the fires and getting the injured out of the area and so on, now unhindred by those with murderous intentions.

The hatch to the hold flings open and a single hand reaches up to grab the deck. With considerable effort, a sailor raises himself partially up. "Help." he says weakly in the chaos. It appears he is injured. "Help..The captain..he...

The man coming up from the hold loses his grip and falls back in.

Aeandra already has her hands full, it seems. The line of wounded seem to go on and on. "Light!" she mutters, tying off another bandage. A quick neat turniquet cuts off the flow of lifeblood from a limb that will never feel a foot again.

Raissa turns at hearing screams for help. She yells to her crew. "Keep putting out the fires and get rid of these men. I'm going for the captain." She falls out of line and heads for the hold as quick as she can.

Caldwell blinks and goes to the sailor coming out of the hatch. "Where is the captain?" Watching Raissa, he heads after her, letting her lead.

Israfel frowns up at the dock, He mutters to Aeandra, "... be..." he says quietly, beofre gripping the rope in one hand and climbing up onto the deck,

Raissa slips down into the hold, making sure to land a knife in one of the theives aboard on her way. She reaches the sailor. "Tell me where he is." She says very concerned. Then plops into the hold.

Raissa reaches down lifts open the hatch before descending down a narrow staircase ladder into the hold, and then pulls the hatch shut after.

Will the line of wounded never end? And just as suddenly it does, right when the young Reader is on her last bandage. She breathes a moment, holding the strip in her hand--and then goes back over the line, tightening bandages and adding salves that she cdidn't have time for before.

Caldwell reaches down lifts open the hatch before descending down a narrow staircase ladder into the hold, and then pulls the hatch shut after.

In the hold of the Nightrunner:

Raissa looks around, placing a piece of cloth over her nose and mouth. Quickly she looks around and follows the sailor, who knows where Caligan is.

There is water entering the hold somewhere. By now, it is about ankle deep. In a far corner of the hold Caligan lies in the water, unconcious. Boards burn above his head and ashes occasionally fall on him. The poor sailor who gave the warning has been stabbed in the back and lies dead in the water, eyes wide open.

Caldwell comes down after Raissa, and looks around as he hurries behind her. He glances around making certain that no one is waiting in ambush.

Caldwell frowns. "Stay back," he calls out to Raissa. "That sailor didn't fall on a knife." He looks around for the culprit, one of the thieves that must have fled below as well.

Somewhere in the hold, a thief is lurking...was that a scuffle you just heard?

A faint slosh of water behind some crates.

On the deck of the Nightrunner:

Keagan once all the thieves on deck are despatched... he moves back closer to Raissa watching for any other movements that dare threaten lives as he does so... He lifts the hatch and watches between it and the deck, hoping no trouble is below...

Israfel waits patiently on the deck, checking the dead, he looks to the Hold, hoping to see the people that went in there, come back out.

A huge mast comes crashing down in a fiery blaze, crushing through the deck boards, and setting the main deck afire.

There. There's nothing more to be done. Aeandra sits back in exhaustion, soot pooling across her face and smearing her skirts. "Is there anyone else hurt?" she calls weakly, prepared to go on deck.

On the docks:

Inarin catches a shiny something in his sight. He looks down at it, covering his face with his cloak for a moment as he coughs into it. He reaches down and plucks a ring from the ground, frowning at it.

In the hold of the Nightrunner:

Raissa turns to Caldwell. "Then you take care of him. I'm saving the captain." Though she does slow her speed and advances carefully, knife in hand.

Caldwell hears the slosh and the sword comes to his hands. He approaches the crates warily, and sticks a foot out, as if to push over the crate.

More scuffling, then silence. Is he gone? Or just waiting? The captain is turning a sickly color and still does not move.

Caldwell frowns. "This one doesn't want to show himself..." He peers around, moving closer to the Captain as he circles warily.

On the deck of the Nightrunner:

"This boat can't hold more than one more," Aeandra says, despair touching her crystal voice. She bends to cut at her skirt, and then realizes its far too dirty to use as a bandage. Resolutely, she lifts the hem of her skirt and begins making cuts out of her shift.

Israfel stoops to grab a sailor, missing the lower half of his right leg, and moves to the drop off to the boat. "I think this one's the worse--" he's cut short as the mast crashes through the deck. He closes the sailor's hands around the rope, and lets him slide down.

Israfel shouts down at the boat, "I don't know how many more there are in the hold," his voice being drowned out by the crackling of the wooden deck.

Israfel stoops quietly into the hold for a moment, his eyes surveying the wounded and dead, and his lips moving in a silent count, seeing the captain wounded, he stoops back out to take the information to the Healer..

Aeandra tears a large strip from the hem of her skirt. A tourniquet is required. She ignores the splash of warm blood against her thigh, and instead concentrates on staunching the wound. Deftly she wraps the cloth around the stump, and then pushes a stick through the knot, tightening with a few twists.

Israfel comes back out of the hold, having taken a quick body count, he leaps over the flaming mast, to the drop off point. "Bad News Aeandra, the Captain is still in there, wounded.... Are you sure there is no more room?" he asks, his voice solomn.

Keagan shouts over to Israfel, daggers now free of his hands at the sense that no more thieves are attacking, "Is the rope still attached to the dock?!"

"Yes, I'm sure," Aeandra breathes, finishing the complex knot. She touches the wiggling half-limb. "Hold still," she orders, pushing a wad of leaves into the screaming man's mouth. He gags, chews, and then collapses into unconsciousness.

On the docks:

Inarin goes back to staggering about the docks, or running around, and helping various people get further away from the fire. Eventually, his cloak, now a bloodied, dirtied thing, is used to beat away some flames. Imagine that. A whitecloak sacrificing his cloak.

In the hold of the Nightrunner:

There is a sudden thud near the captain, and by the time one can look over to it, they notice a knife lodged in the side of the ship near where the captain lays. The direction where it hit makes it hard to notice where it came from though. More scuffling

Raissa reaches the captain, but keeps her gaurd up. She jumps at the knife hitting the baords. "You protect us." she hollers. "I'm getting him out of here." She carefully wraps her arms around Caligan to where she can lift him up or at least move him. Hey...many years moving those crates...she's a tough woman. SHe uses the water to her advantage, floating Caligan to the hold's opening. She keeps watch enough, in case she needs to use the knife in hand.

Caldwell glares off into the darkness. It's probably the wrong direction, but he doesn't care. "I will," he tells Raissa, and takes a protective stance near her, moving as Raissa moves.

On the deck of the Nightrunner:

Israfel nods at Keagan, and shouts something that is drowned out by the flames.

Israfel cringes at the display in the boat, his eyes closing fiercly for a moment. "I'm going back for the captain..." he says... and turns, leaping the mast again.

Israfel reaches down lifts open the hatch before descending down a narrow staircase ladder into the hold, and then pulls the hatch shut after.

Keagan descends after... Israfel... needing to see to the full extent himself...

Keagan reaches down lifts open the hatch before descending down a narrow staircase ladder into the hold, and then pulls the hatch shut after.

"Someone row this back to the docks," Aeandra calls, standing in the tiny boat. "The wounded need to be brought to safety!"

In the hold of the Nightrunner:

Israfel growls, quietly looking towards the downed captain and then to Raissa. Seeing that she will take care of the captain, he says, "Don't worry about him.. just get the captain out. The deck is on fire outside, and we've lost the other mast. Let the thief burn..."

Israfel leaves and heads back up to the deck.

Keagan comes down behind Israfel scanning the scene and the trouble and any danger. "Caligan, Light blasted fool." he grumbles... and reaches a hand down wrapping it around Caligan under his arms... "I'll help... I can't let this dummy die... not yet at least."

The apparent thief suddenly leaps out from the crates, another knife in hand. He growls and throws another knife at Caligan as best he can around Caldwell. The knife narrowly misses Caldwell and strikes caligan in the stomach. No movement from Caligan, but a knife protuding from him now.

Caldwell growls and lunges at the thief, without thinking that their might be more than one. The sword in his hand comes down in a slantwise swing, across the thief's chest if he isn't quick enough.

Raissa looks to Keagan with a fire in her eyes. "That is my captain your talking about. And I'm perfectly capable of getting him out of here." She is quick to catch the theif and throws a knife directly at his heart. If it hits him, it'll stay. Her aim is well, but her knife throwing is sometimes not so good.

On the deck of the Nightrunner:

"Israfel!" Aeandra cries desperately. "The injured need to be rowed to the docks!"

Israfel hearing the cries of his friend, leaps over the flaming mast one last time, the the rope and slides down into the boat with the wounded and the healer. His hands go to the oars instinctively and with a great heave, he pushes the boat away from the ship and towards the docks.

Aeandra just barely manages to cut the rope and hold on to it in time. She dangles at the side of the ship, blood pouring down her arm as she tries to pull herself up. Her objective is clear. She has to reach the Captain.

Israfel pulls the oars fiercly to the dock, where bystanders unload the bodies in a hurry. He turns and leaps back into the boat, rowing with all his strength back towards the ship where he needs to pick up the captain.

Aeandra's grip begins to slip, and her big eyes fill with fear as she realizes that she can't hold on. An inch, two inches...

Just as she's about to fall, a hand reaches over the side and snags her arm. She cries out in pain, but holds still as she is dragged onto the deck. Panting, she staggers weakly to her feet with the help of the sailor.

Israfel sighs, and once again, grabs the rope and drags himself up onto the deck. where he pants exhausted. He stands, his eyes sunken with weariness, and looks at the flaming mast across the planks. "Hurry Aeandra!" he shouts, seeing as the planks are about to burn through.

Aeandra leans heavily on the sailor as they stagger towards the hold, but it is a quick stagger born of desperation.

In the Hold of the Nightrunner:

The thief is grinning as he sees the knife hitting Caligan and does not pay any attention to Caldwell. He is mortally wounded by Caldwell's sword. Before he can fall, Raissa's knife plunges into his heart. He stands for a few moments, and then falls back into the water with a splash.

Caldwell growls. "He may have done his job. If we don't get your captain up to the healer soon, he's gone for." He immediately starts helping to lift the captain up.

Keagan at the leaping he is to late to stop the knife but his hand supporting him releases and he stays braced against the ladder by Caligan's weight and the water... and with sureness from experience launches the dagger at the thieves Right shoulder to stop the man's momentum and hoping Caldwell can take care of him... "Trust me... you take him straight to the dock and he'll be dead before you know it. He maybe /your/ Captain but this is /my/ city." he says regripping the ladder uncaring and starts shifting and pulling up the stairs, carefully but with speed from necessity...

Caldwell shakes his head. "We won't be able to convince a healer to come down here, not with the flaming ship falling apart as it is." He usually doesn't resort to such profanity, but in this case, it's just too appropriate.

Keagan frowns, not hesitating in his motions... "Either of you good at swimming?"

On the docks: Inarin's among the bystanders, helping to unload the injured and move them, though signs of exhaustion are easily beginning to show in his weary expression. He watches Israfel row back, blinking at him as he goes back to the ship.

In the hold of the Nightrunner:

Raissa nods to Caldwell and then stops. Keagan is right. She nods to the man. "Aye, i can swim. Is it clear from this point to the escape rope?"

Aeandra's legs wobble as a sailor lowers her into the hold. She can't seem to take much more. With effort, she fociuses her gaze on the Captain and starts towards him.

Caldwell nods. "I can swim also."

Israfel steps in quietly behind Aeandra, looking to be of any kind of help whatsoever. He surveys the room quickly and frowns.

The water in the hold is slightly higher than ankle deep now.

The fire outside is slightly burning through the deck.

The young Reader seems almost to have bathed in blood as she falls to her knees beside the wounded man. Small crimson circles spread out from where her once-grey dress touches the surface of the liquid. She bends close for a quick examination.

Raissa looks at them. "Be quick. We need to get out of here."

Israfel pushes open the door to the hold, so that they can ship the body of the captain out quickly and get him to the docks with little trouble.

Keagan stops in mid haul at the healer... "Do what you can for him. Hold him... I'll be right back after I check the deck and the rest of the area... to see what is best to go..." Light I've done enough swimming injured with worse... The gash on his side is evident to any who watch yet Keagan seems to move as if it's nothing, possibly because of adrenaline? But he want keep up this pace much longer at his rate of action

"Knife wound," Aeandra mutters to herself, pulling out her last bandage and realizing taht it won't be enough. She grimly tears a larger piece from her fast-shrinking skirt. "Lift him," she orders, trying to slip the piece of cloth beneath his body.

Caldwell takes one of the captain's arms and holds tightly. "Alright." He winces as the water hits the slash across his leg. "Bloody cold..." he murmurs to himself. Obeying Aeandra, he puts his strength into lifting Caligan.

Israfel strips off his jacket and cuts a large piece out of its back. "Perhaps this will help?"

A thief peers down into the hold. "Redrin?" he says gruffly. "You down there?"

No telling how many more are up there, but trying the climb the ladder would be a risky business, especially with wounded.

Aeandra swiftly pulls the band of cloth beneath the captain. "You can set him down now," she says, reaching into her scrip for a nearly empty jar of moss. She begins spreading the dried lichen over the wound.

Aeandra nods gratefully at Israfel.

Caldwell nods to Aeandra and sets the captain back down into the water. "We may have company soon, if the thieves ever decide to investigate what happened to their buddy."

Raissa hollers after Keagan. "Is it clear or not? We are wasting time. Look, just say whether it is clear?" She sees the thief and decides not to wait longer. Finally, she hollers. Looking at Caldwell and Keagan. "This way," she motions. "Follow me. Hold the thieves off on the rear." She looks to Israfel. "Help me move him. And be quick." Raissa begins to move acroos the hold forgeting the ladder to the entrance of the hold. She moves to her room and open the door. "In here, now."

Caldwell nods to Raissa, and doesn't seem to have any qualms following her lead. He grips the sword and trails after her, making certain no thieves jump her or the captain.

Aeandra presses down on the compact, spilling some gray herb in her haste, the flames driving her on. Then she takes Israfel's cut of coat and makes a crude bandage, binding it in place with the swath of her skirt. "That will do for now," she says weakly, tying off the knot.

Raissa's Cabin:

Israfel stands aside, waiting for something to happen, not sure on what every one's doing.

Raissa gets inside and crosses over to the wall. She looks to make sure Caligan is being carried. She mutters a few cuss words under her breathe as she searches. "It's here somewhere. I know it is..." Finally she finds it and grins. She then searches to figure out how to open it. With a slight move of one of the boards, a door swings open. A hidden door that is.

Israfel finds a hidden doorway in the wall and opens it, stepping into an adjacent room.

Aeandra follows at the rear of the group.

Hidden Cabin:

Israfel stares in awe at the hidden door a look of worry on his face though. Will they get out in time?

Caldwell seems to be focused on the task at hand, entirely. He looks as though he expects thieves to jump out at any moment, though not disappointed that they haven't. The gash on his leg is starting to bleed badly.

Raissa points to the ladder "There. Get him up there." she starts up the ladder to open the hatch and to make sure all is well. Then she nods. "Let's go. Help get him up here."

Israfel moves to help lift the captain up the ladder.

Captain's Cabin:

The room is filled with smoke from the burning deck outside..

Aeandra climbs out last, her expression revealing the intense strain on her small body. It's a wonder that she's still going, but something about her speaks of steel.

Caldwell coughs as he comes out. "We can't remain in here too long, unless we want to suffocate." He moves to Caligan to help carry him.

Raissa looks to the others. "Okay, someone needs to make sure the deck is clear enough to escape and then let's get out of here." then she adds, "Fast!"

Israfel grumbles irritated at the time this has taken. He kicks open the door, and steps outside into the flaming deck area.

Keagan looks to Aeandra, "See to the others... then goto the broken bit stables. We'll await you there..." he looks to Israfel, "Both of you must act as if we're dead for now... be swift,"

Israfel nods as he re-enters. "No one out there... its going up fast though, hurry."

Caldwell nods to Israfel. "Right, I've no reason to stay any longer anyways." He assists Caligan towards the doors.

Aeandra nods, not understanding but willing to obey. She pulls herself up the ladder, a figure caked in blood.

Israfel follows up the ladder behind Aeandra and onto the deck

Deck of the Nightrunner:

Israfel holds a bandaged hand out from the drop off point to anyone he can take down onto the boat. "Come quickly!" he shouts, the deck a fiery blaze.

Aeandra's legs wobble visibly as she makes her way to the edge of the boat and looks out despairingly on the water. Without a word she puts her hands in Israfel's, trusting him to save her.

Caldwell draws his sword, on the lookout for any thieves that might still be alive, and that would attempt to finish the job on the captain. "Everyone off!" he yells, as the smoke increases.

Israfel wraps an arm around the fragile healer and slides down the rope, deftly, the bandage on his numb hand acting as a hold as he slides down.

Keagan motions to Caldwell, Caligan and Raissa, and to the quickest point to water... "Let's go." he says in a harsh whisper...

Raissa stays close by Caligan. Making sure he gets off the ship. She hollers to the crew left, "Abandon ship, get off." She thens follows Cadwell, the captin and Keagan to leave.

Israfel hits the boat hard, and snatches up the oars, waiting for anyone else who may still join them down there.

Caldwell nods to Keagan, and walks up to the deck. He turns back to make certain Raissa leaves safely, ladies first, after all.

Aeandra crumples as soon as Israfel sets her on the boat, a pitiful heap of blood-stained cloth.

Keagan dives over and comes back up motioning for them to lower Caligan, compared with the flames the noise is minimum.

Raissa hops into the boat only after Caligan is in it. She can swim if neccessary.

Caldwell tries to lift Caligan down to Keagon in the water. He's a bit heavy though, so it's a tough task.

Raissa helps lower Caligan down, making the load a little easier.

Israfel quietly takes a peice of his ruined coat's lapel, and dampens it in the water, and wipes some of the blood stains gently from Aeandra's face, as he waits for the other to get in the boat.

Caldwell gestures to Raissa. "I'll follow right behind. He glances back once more to make certain the thieves are gone.

Raissa shakes her head. "Nope you first. If anyone is going down with this thing it's me. Now go." She points to the boat. And prepares to board the boat as soon as he has gone over. SHe glances back to desk to make sure all the crew that is alive is gone.

Caldwell gives Raissa a slightly irritated frown but leaves. He's not stubborn enough to die arguing.

Israfel heaves his mightly shoulders and rows the boat away from the fire ship. He looks sad at the loss of life and carnage.

Raissa nods and follows afterwards, very quickly. Her men are gone and that is good.

The boat is rowed swiftly ashore.

On the docks:

Israfel is out of the boat first, and lending a hand to anyone who needs it.

Raissa allows herself to be helped out and keeps a close eye on Caligan.

Israfel gets back in the boat and hands out the wounded captain's body to Raissa.

Israfel stoops down and gather up the crumpled Reader gently, and carries her limp form from the boat as well.

Raissa takes the captain and places him down on the shore. She'll get him or will have help taking him to safety.

Israfel looks to Raissa, "Where are we meeting up M'Lady?" he asks, quietly, looking an, exhausted, bloody, mess.

Inarin has been busy while everyone's been on the boat. He's been running around, and it shows. He looks exhausted, skin blistered on occasion from the heat and so on and so forth. His cloak is missing, and his his clothes are torn and dirtied, spattered with blood. He looks towards the group as the last of the people get off the boat and so on.

Raissa shrugs. "I'm not sure. Anywhere safe that we can get help for the wounded."

Israfel sighs quietly and looks down at the woman in his arms. "I know she has a cottage not far from here..." he suggests.

Raissa nods. "You lead the way then.

Israfel nods quietly and turns to go.

Inarin looks down at his stomac, which is bleeding rather nicely from the cut across it, and then sitshimself down somewhere.

Raissa turns to Inarin. "I'm sure it's not far if you care to follow."

Readers Cottage:

Israfel moves quietly to the bed, where he lies down the Reader.

Raissa turns and finds a place to put the captain down.

Israfel turns a looks at Raissa and then at Caligan, "How is he?"

Israfel sits quietly on the end of the bed, and gently tries to wake the Reader. He mutters to Aeandra, "Aeandra...? Aeandra...you... to get... needs..." he sighs quietly, his eyes sad.

Raissa shakes her head and finds a place to sit next to him. "Not good, i'd say." she runs her hands through the Captain's hair. "Still alive though. Barely." She pulls a figure from her pocket of a dog wearing a hat. She looks down at it and becomes worried.

Israfel looks at the figure from his seat on the bed. "What is that?" He asks, quietly, yet curiously.

Aeandra stirs uneasily in her sleep, and then opens her eyes. Her gaze is disfocused for a moment before she brings it in line. "Help? Where?"

Israfel smiles quietly and whispers. He mutters to Aeandra, "... you..."

Raissa looks up and holds the figure up. "A dog wearing a hat." she turns to the little dog. "It's a good thing you made it. The captian will b happy to see you when he wakes." she says to the dog. Boy, has the looney man beside her begun to wear off on her?

Aeandra slowly pulls herself up and off the cot. "Can you get me that case on that shelf there?" she asks Israfel, pointing to a black box on a particularly high shelf. She moves over to the captain, blinking away her haze of exhaustion.

Israfel moves swiftly to the cabinet and retrieves the box, and places it on the foot of the bed where Aeandra rests, the bandages on his hands beginning to bleed through.

"Thank you, Israfel," Aeandra murmurs, opening the box. She carefully chooses some gut thread from the assorted spools inside and concentrates on fitting it to a needle.

Caligan is very pale and has not stirred since before he was found in the hold. He breathes very faintly.

Aeandra bends close and cuts the cloth away from Caligan's belly with a set of shears from the box. She bends close, pulling away the moss to probe at the wound tenderly.

Raissa peers over to watch Aeandra work. "He's going to be okay, right?" she asks with much concern in her voice. She herself has dark soot on her face and her dress is soaked and slightly burned, but she has hardly noticed.

Inarin looks towards Caligan as well, curiously. His own hands rests oevr his own wound, but it's nowhere near as bad as Caligan's. He wipes at his face, brushing away soot.

"It didn't hit anything vital," Aeandra says, looking relieved as she pulls the folds of skin together and begins to make fine even stitches. For a time the only sound she makes is the smooth flow of the needle. "It shouldn't kill him, but he's very weak from loss of blood." Aeandra closes the wound and ties it off, and then reaches for a jar of grey moss. "He should be well enough in a month." She sprinkles the herb liberally, and then ties off one final bandage. "There," she says, sitting back with a sigh.

Raissa nods and relaxs back against the chair where she sits. She is calm, but her mind is elsewhere. She has a month to patch the damage done, so the captain won't have to worry about it.

As time passes, color slowly starts to return to Caligan's face.

Keagan enters silently, wearing a black cloak hood up, he retrieved from who knows where. He lowers the hood and let's the cloak open once he's inside and the door is shut, "No one managed to follow us... I'm not sure if that's good or bad. Yet.." Once spoken to the room he seems to start off grumbling about other matters and looks about for others that are unneeded here?... And those who know him might think him a few shades paler than he normally is, and blood loss is starting to show physically but not through energy wise

Aeandra puts her hands in a basin of water, just staring at the rings of red that flow away from them. She turns her head slightly to look at Keagan, vague surprise in her eyes quickly replaced by concern. "Are you wounded?"

Inarin looks towards Keagan once he's inside. he blinks at him, then adjusts his burned, sooty once-white clothing. He peers at him, but doesn't say anything.

Raissa remains quiet and doesn't say anything.

Keagan looks to Aeandra and blinks, as if he is unsure... then he calms himself and realizes she is right as he remembers the incident from on deck earlier. He lifts up the shirt, and at the wound and frowns. The lack of the needed adrenaline to keep his focus fleeting he seems to get a fit of dizziness but the fact that he doesn't stagger would counter that thought as he regards the wound... "Nothing that can't wait to be tended..." to him it's minor, but it's a nice gash about half an inch deep around the bottom of his ribs starting just an inch to the left of his center line and is about 4-5 inches in length.

"Good," Aeandra murmurs, her eyelids drooping. "I think that that is about all I can take today..."

Raissa sits beside Caligan, never leaving him. She holds the little dog with a hat in one hand and a tiny wooden mouse in the other. She looks between them in thought and wonder. Her mind drifts as she shifts through the rush of thoughts. Every now and again, she glances to Caligan to make sure he's still breathing and alive. Finally, she puts the figures into her pockets and let's her eyes fall shut as she sits in the chair.

Keagan takes out a rag of his own and places it firmly against the cut, "I must be slipping..." he seems to be meaning about getting cut as he moves to sit near Caligan. "Caligan... I tried to warn you..." he sighs and just let's his words drift realizing Inarin is present.