Raiders of the Lost Arts Log Exploration Log for Jan-15 to Feb-22

[yuezun]

Who: The Raiders of the Lost Arts + friends they might bring to the ship
Status: Closed
Where: Exploration on the High Seas! + An island stop
What: With the Leviathans leaving Avaleci on the 15(ish), the Phantom Moon also undertakes it's first long voyage of exploration and discovery.
When: Jan 15 through Feb 22
Warnings: Include any content warnings


First Week: Ship Life
The first week of travel didn't see them stop at any islands. Everything they passed was already labeled on the map with a name, a small description, and sometimes a settlement. It seemed the path they were taking was one taken often enough by the leviathans that it saw quite a bit of traffic. While these islands might be worth stopping at another time, the crew had expressed an interest in islands less traveled and known. So that meant it was mostly just ship life being ship life.

Second Week: Land ho!
The second week was also mostly ship life, but about halfway through they had left the common shipping lanes the Leviathans dictated and entered an area where fewer and fewer islands on the maps were given names. Mostly just descriptions and more than a few marked as 'last expedition not heard from again' with a date. Those were examined through spy glasses at a distance for the various things the crew had expressed wanting to explore or encounter on their first expedition. Space to continue live testing outside of the ship without causing harm to the scenery was also taken into consideration.

And near the very end of the second week an island was finally selected. This one had a name: Leasknom Reef. But otherwise there was no settlement noted and the only exploration notes that could be found was 'fucking seals'.

Third - Fourth Week: Leasknom Reef
Well... 'fucking seals' was accurate. It seems Leasknom Reef was a seal mating ground and was (probably) largely left alone because of that. There was, however an expanse of the island's shore that was mostly left alone by the seals. It lay outside the protected bay that the seals definitely called their own and was deep enough for larger predators (sharks) to get too close to the shore for the seals' comfort. Which made it a perfect mooring ground for the Phantom Moon.

Otherwise the island boasted a wide variety of plant life, much of which was as unfamiliar to the hired sailors as it was to the riftfares. There was space for testing experiments. And the island was close enough to a few others that the longboats could be rowed (or pushed with magic) to them for smaller groups to explore and make notes.

Fifth Week: Return Sail to Nogard
While the Phantom Moon could realistically stay out from it's main port for much longer, the first sail was not intended to be a very long one. They had only packed enough supplies for a couple months of travel and communication with the port authority on Nogard said the Leviathan would be passing close enough to their waters (assuming travel trajectory didn't change) for them to meet up near the end of the week and follow the leviathan to it's next place of rest. Which would make resupplying and deciding on their next destination (or return to Leasknom Reef if they chose) much easier.


OOC
Treat this as you would your own logs. Top level for your characters with prompts and tag around. We have 10 people on the crew and friends are welcome to be brought along for a few days or a week or two via teleports with the ring of returning tuned to the ship.

Comments

[emet_sulk]

What do you mean, why this location? Is the corsair's creed not to explore uncharted lands?

[ He watches as a particularly lusty male seal tries to make his appeal to some of the females. It's not going very well. ]

[afflatusexarch]

Ah... I don't mean us. Rather, I was referring to the seals.

[ As in why this place? What draws the creatures here? ]

[emet_sulk]

Oh.

[ He takes a sweeping look at their surroundings. He's not an expert at animal behaviour so he can only guess based on his memory of old, old studies. ]

Mayhap the climate makes it ideal for their breeding season.

[afflatusexarch]

Hmmm. Mayhap that's why we hadn't seen anything of note anywhere nearby.

[ Wow. This is almost a pleasant, normal conversation ]

[emet_sulk]

[ Truly a momentous day. It should be marked on the calendar. ]

There are oft predators lurking nearby hoping to prey on the young when they're born. You should tell the others to take care if they intend to go for a swim.

[afflatusexarch]

I would have thought the temperature of these waters leaning towards "too chilly" for that particular activity. Though I wouldn't be surprised if there were individuals that wished to try regardless.

[ His tail is moving back and forth. He's actually quite excited to be somewhere new. To get out and explore.

Oh G'raha is quite the adventurer at heart. And this place is only enabling it. ]

[emet_sulk]

[ He turns to G'raha with eyebrows raised. ]

After all that time spent in Sharlayan, you've never even tried to swim in its waters? I thought you scholarly types would embrace the thought of exercising both body and mind. The two oft go hand in hand after all.

[afflatusexarch]

The Students spent just as much time in Sharlayan as they did the Isle of Val. Even so, you know it is not where I was born.

[ You know. Considering the whole "G" and Allagan Eye ]

[emet_sulk]

[ He shrugs, turning back to the seals. ]

And how long did you live in those warmer climes? One doesn't become an Archon overnight and you are far from your previous age of over a century.

[afflatusexarch]

Physically speaking, yes.

[ Not so much mentally. It's... Complicated. That's all. ]

I certainly did not have the luxury of taking a dip on the First. Usually I was quite busy earning that Archon title. That's not to say I wasn't... A handful.

[emet_sulk]

Ah-ah! [ He wags a finger. ] Save your life story for the Warrior of Light. I'm sure they'll be more than happy to listen to it.

[ He wanders over to the shoreline. Stares out over the sea. If not for the seals and the silhouette of their vessel not so far away, he might have been able to pretend he was home.

He heaves a quiet sigh. ]

[afflatusexarch]

Then do not ask questions.

[ Easy enough! He won't answer thigs if you don't ask them, old man. G'raha huffs. Tail swishes a bit in irritation. ]

[emet_sulk]

'Twas a rhetorical question as I'm sure you knew.

[ He half-turns back, levelling an impassive gaze at the other man ]

Unless you think there is some merit to us growing familiar with one another?

[ It could have sounded sarcastic...but it doesn't. The Ascian waits with an inscrutable expression to see how G'raha responds. ]

[afflatusexarch]

I'll have you know that no, I didn't realize it was rhetorical in the least.

[ His tail doesn't stop moving. In fact, the fur has bristled a little. Red gaze meets gold as the other question soon follows. ]

Is it really a surprise that I might not desire to be constantly antagonistic towards one another?

[emet_sulk]

I was your enemy before and I could be again. 'Tis better to not take the chance, isn't it?

[ He holds their gaze a few moments longer then turns away again. When he thinks about it - really thinks about it - he doesn't hate the Exarch all that much. It's just...easier to maintain a status quo. A distance. Because then it doesn't feel like more of a betrayal of his people than failing them already does.

He rubs at his eyes, suddenly feeling very tired. Living is difficult and he's done enough of it for one lifetime. ]

I'm not Azem. I don't take joy in wandering.

[afflatusexarch]

[ It is easier, yes. However, there are times when maintaining it when one's heart isn't actually in it becomes just as tiring. Exhausting. It's also not as though their bickering needs cease either.

Instead it could simply just take another shape. Another form.

For a moment, G'raha shakes his head. He doesn't answer, if only because the look he gives Emet-Selch speaks volumes. G'raha doesn't believe it for a moment. Not any longer. That's why he's surprised when this little bit of information is given to him. ]

Yet you wandered the star all the same. I suppose we're different in that sense. There were many places I wanted to go but could not.

[emet_sulk]

Yes, and I spent every moment of my travels wishing that they were there with me! [ he snaps irritably. ]

[ He can't really claim to have enjoyed the journey when it was missing the core part of what made travelling a joy. ]

Even here, now, it should be them on this ship. They would fit right in with this motley crew. They would have befriended everyone here already.

[afflatusexarch]

[ Why is he trying again? It feels like the man is just dead set against everything. Which he supposes makes sense. It's not as though G'raha himself cannot relate a little. ]

Your point? Mayhap your companion would have. I do not know them as you do nor will I make assumptions.

[ He stays silent about his own experiences feeling much the same. Thinking about the Students, his second family, and after the Isle of Val disappeared - the moment where he had thought himself essentially alone. And then traveling to the First. Leaving the First. Sometimes it feels like he begins to find himself settled with something new before he has to leave it behind.

not that he'll say it. Emet-Selch won't take too kindly to it. ]

You are the one that chose to be a part of this crew. From what I've come to understand, you've fostered some semblance of friendships for yourself and are just as much a part of this ship as anyone else is. I think you are where you should be.

[emet_sulk]

[ He voices some kind of unwilling grumble. He has made a few connections, it's true, but it's difficult to avoid when you share a ship with them for weeks at a time. Or so he tells himself.

Rather than answer directly, he decides to return to an earlier point. ]

...Where did you plan to go on our star?

[afflatusexarch]

[ Whatever he expected to come next in the conversation, it isn't that. His ears wiggle a little while he debates on his own response.

And then G'raha decides to not push. ]

Ishgard first, truthfully. 'Tis a place I have not been and after spending some time in Garlemald, doubtful that the cold would put me out too much.

[emet_sulk]

[ A scoff. ]

Ishgard is not nearly as harsh as the north Ilsabard mountains, despite what its people would have you think. You'll be fine.

[ A calamity of Darkness means great upheaval and change. So much of the land around Eorzea's three continents is unrecognisable... ]

It used to resemble Il Mheg, somewhat. With less fey mischief of course.

[afflatusexarch]

There were moments where I felt as though the very air in my chest would freeze.

[ He doesn't know how it is that they could so readily survive in such a clime. Garleans are a hardy bunch, to be sure. There is an aspect that is admirable, G'raha will admit.

Instead he tilts his head towards Emet-Slech. ]

I had heard that, yes. Though, personally, I always enjoyed the company of Feo Ul and their people.

[emet_sulk]

Aye. In Garlemald, not a few men and women grew sick from working in the cold air for too long.

[ He sighs. He never liked the cold, and somehow he had found himself emperor over a people exiled to the coldest region on the three great continents. ]

Where else besides Ishgard?

[afflatusexarch]

In truth, I admire their resilience and adaptability. While I know you had something to do with it in recent years, Garleans are truly a skilled people.

[ Yes, Solus might have set things in motion, but it's not like the man can create sharp and creative minds. G'raha thinks of Nero and Cid. About the numerous scientists and creatives. People capable of doing great things.

But where else... ]

Y'shtola has it in her mind to make traversing the shards possible. I would like to revisit the First, of course. The others are in the process of going back and forth between the Source and the Thirteenth. Naturally, I think of Corvos as well.

[emet_sulk]

They are.

[ He says it simply and with no ego. Part of the reason he had chosen them for his next empire is that very resilience. ]

If you do manage to find a way to traverse the shards...

[ He trails off. It would be more than what the Ascians have managed. Although to be fair, they did have other priorities. ]

I wonder if there really was another way.