Isaac Fishblatt
The Greenways were eager to offer their help, as was Father Marek. The priest felt both excitement and trepidation at the thought of meeting fellow Vampires - excitement to see more of his kin after a long time, but worry about what sort they would be, having met both the good and the troublesome kinds in the past - but regardless, agreed that they should provide all possible assistance to the newcomers, at least until given a reason to do otherwise.
Searching for an antenna also proved a wise next course of action. It was difficult to spot out among the jagged rock faces, but Riff would see it eventually. The tiny stalk was surrounded by a small ring of tents and makeshift shelters, perched precariously out among the cliffs. He would be able to make a good guess that he had found the right place, based on the attempts at sun-proofing with dark tarps and added panels that would protect the UV-sensitive inhabitants.
The tiny settlement would be difficult to access. That was probably by design - it had been hard enough to spot, let alone to mount an attack against. The rocky cliffs would act as a natural choke point, limiting how many potential attackers they would have to face at a time. It would make it difficult to mount a rescue, though, too...
Yet Isaac found it oddly reassuring.
"Doesn't look like they're planning to make trouble for people, all the way out there," Isaac noted, also peering through the telescope after Riff. "I don't think they came to fight Lycans. It looks like they came to be left alone. I hope they'll change their minds about that once assistance is offered, but at least it doesn't seem like they're a major threat."
Other than the natural defenses of the location, there seemed to be little in the way of weapons or fortifications. These weren't mariners, and they didn't appear to be soldiers, either.
Camping Is Always An Option
Re: Camping Is Always An Option
Riff
"I think you're right - it looks like an outpost. Like the beginnings of a village."
Riff paused, contemplating the options.
"I think we might want to bring the vampires from the wreck to their friends on shore to avoid any misunderstandings. If we take them away, then bring them back, the people in the outpost may doubt our sincerity. I think we should throw a few extra coolers of blood into the boat as a gesture of good will. I mean, if we're right and they're peaceful."
While Riff wasn't a master sailor by any means, he didn't get seasick and he was steady on the tiller. If nothing else, he could play a support role. He had years of experience working with vampires and the temperament to keep his head around the historical enemies of lycans. It was a lot easier to help people move past old prejudices if they were in a position to understand that working together would improve the lives of everyone.
As they drove out toward the troubled ship, Riff tied weights onto the edges of a tarp. He was hoping there was enough ship left to toss the tarp up and over the space between the vessels. It would create a sort of corridor of safety. That is, if there were any vampires left alive above the surface once they got there.
"I think you're right - it looks like an outpost. Like the beginnings of a village."
Riff paused, contemplating the options.
"I think we might want to bring the vampires from the wreck to their friends on shore to avoid any misunderstandings. If we take them away, then bring them back, the people in the outpost may doubt our sincerity. I think we should throw a few extra coolers of blood into the boat as a gesture of good will. I mean, if we're right and they're peaceful."
While Riff wasn't a master sailor by any means, he didn't get seasick and he was steady on the tiller. If nothing else, he could play a support role. He had years of experience working with vampires and the temperament to keep his head around the historical enemies of lycans. It was a lot easier to help people move past old prejudices if they were in a position to understand that working together would improve the lives of everyone.
As they drove out toward the troubled ship, Riff tied weights onto the edges of a tarp. He was hoping there was enough ship left to toss the tarp up and over the space between the vessels. It would create a sort of corridor of safety. That is, if there were any vampires left alive above the surface once they got there.
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Monkey Kitty
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Re: Camping Is Always An Option
Isaac Fishblatt, Ellen and Nick Greenway
"I agree," Isaac said. "Once they're no longer in immediate danger, we'll take them straight back to their people. If they're a threat... well, we'll cross that bridge when we come to it, I suppose. But I like to think that once they see we're reaching out in good faith, they'll respond in kind. We'll see."
The Greenways rendezvoused with Isaac and Riff out on the water. Both boats were fairly small, so having the extra capacity would definitely be an advantage. The Greenways had been eager to help. Although nothing was said, Isaac got the impression that they were eager to repay the help they had been given a few months earlier when Nick had been captured. Not that any debt was owed, of course, nor repayment expected - but having neighbors willing to help was a benefit on both sides, and clearly all involved wished to maintain it.
As they approached the wreck of the Persephoneia, Isaac drew in his breath. The ship was still upright, and enough of her was still above the waterline that Isaac thought it was likely at least some of the people aboard were still alive. The issue was going to be getting to them. The ship perched precariously, ready to detach from the rock at any moment - and damaged enough that if she did so, she would immediately start taking on water and would probably sink rapidly. Too rapidly to save many of those aboard, if any. They needed to prevent that.
"We'll need to keep the ship balanced as we're getting people off," Isaac mused, half to Riff and half to himself. He wished he could have gotten a count of how many souls they had aboard before the radio went dead - that would make it easier to plan - but it couldn't be helped. "Hopefully they stay calm. If they all rush us at once, we're going to have a problem, whether they mean to or not."
"I agree," Isaac said. "Once they're no longer in immediate danger, we'll take them straight back to their people. If they're a threat... well, we'll cross that bridge when we come to it, I suppose. But I like to think that once they see we're reaching out in good faith, they'll respond in kind. We'll see."
The Greenways rendezvoused with Isaac and Riff out on the water. Both boats were fairly small, so having the extra capacity would definitely be an advantage. The Greenways had been eager to help. Although nothing was said, Isaac got the impression that they were eager to repay the help they had been given a few months earlier when Nick had been captured. Not that any debt was owed, of course, nor repayment expected - but having neighbors willing to help was a benefit on both sides, and clearly all involved wished to maintain it.
As they approached the wreck of the Persephoneia, Isaac drew in his breath. The ship was still upright, and enough of her was still above the waterline that Isaac thought it was likely at least some of the people aboard were still alive. The issue was going to be getting to them. The ship perched precariously, ready to detach from the rock at any moment - and damaged enough that if she did so, she would immediately start taking on water and would probably sink rapidly. Too rapidly to save many of those aboard, if any. They needed to prevent that.
"We'll need to keep the ship balanced as we're getting people off," Isaac mused, half to Riff and half to himself. He wished he could have gotten a count of how many souls they had aboard before the radio went dead - that would make it easier to plan - but it couldn't be helped. "Hopefully they stay calm. If they all rush us at once, we're going to have a problem, whether they mean to or not."
Re: Camping Is Always An Option
Riff
"Balanced, you say." Riff mused, squinting at the craft and its unfortunate position. Isaac was right - if that ship tilted, those vampires would have to get out in a real hurry and that meant they'd likely get exposed to light. How were they going to get in there and support... Get in there.
Riff pulled off his hoodie, then his shirt, before working at his belt. Belatedly, he realized he should explain what he was planning to do.
"So, I figure if I go in, I can swim up and hold the boat tight against the rock before they even notice we're here. I know you'll have to pull up tight in order to keep them covered, but I am sure I can hang on."
Riff dropped the rest of his clothes, looked down at the cold water, rubbed his arms twice - and changed. It was fortunate that he had the years and the experience to pull off the change in mid-day. It was going to be a challenge even with his enhanced strength. The cold of the Atlantic Ocean was not to be trifled with.
But he was going to trifle. Jumping in, he swam toward the boat, ducking around the rock holding it in place. Riff reached around with his long arms and dug his claws into either side of the bow, pushing the rock away with his legs in an attempt to hold the ship in place.
"Balanced, you say." Riff mused, squinting at the craft and its unfortunate position. Isaac was right - if that ship tilted, those vampires would have to get out in a real hurry and that meant they'd likely get exposed to light. How were they going to get in there and support... Get in there.
Riff pulled off his hoodie, then his shirt, before working at his belt. Belatedly, he realized he should explain what he was planning to do.
"So, I figure if I go in, I can swim up and hold the boat tight against the rock before they even notice we're here. I know you'll have to pull up tight in order to keep them covered, but I am sure I can hang on."
Riff dropped the rest of his clothes, looked down at the cold water, rubbed his arms twice - and changed. It was fortunate that he had the years and the experience to pull off the change in mid-day. It was going to be a challenge even with his enhanced strength. The cold of the Atlantic Ocean was not to be trifled with.
But he was going to trifle. Jumping in, he swam toward the boat, ducking around the rock holding it in place. Riff reached around with his long arms and dug his claws into either side of the bow, pushing the rock away with his legs in an attempt to hold the ship in place.
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Monkey Kitty
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Re: Camping Is Always An Option
Isaac Fishblatt
Isaac nodded. It was a good plan. He was impressed by Riff's quick thinking.
There was, of course, one potential snag. It couldn't be helped, and the plan was still, on balance, the best choice. And yet Isaac wondered what was going to happen if the Vampires attempted to flee their vessel and saw a fully transformed Lycan. He thought they had probably given enough hints over the radio that they were immortals too, but he couldn't be sure, and he was worried the passengers would either refuse to evacuate or would do something reckless like charge into the sunlight to try to escape.
Well, there wasn't time to wait till dark, and this was their best hope. He would just have to try to prevent that.
"Persephoneia!" he called. He wished the stranded Vampires still had a working radio. Or that he at least knew the actual name of someone he might be addressing. "Permission to come aboard if necessary? Or at least as close as I can? For purposes of evacuation."
He saw movement. Apparently someone could hear him. He heard an accented voice call back faintly, "Yes, okay."
Isaac took a deep breath and added, "We're Lycans. Despite the war between our species, we're not here to harm you. We're here to help you. I don't have any way to prove our intentions - I must just ask you to trust us for now. Your lives depend on it. Your vessel is secure now, but it won't hold for long. We need you to come across to us under cover as quickly as possible."
There was a hesitation, but only briefly. Then the Vampires seemed to decide that whatever risk the Lycans might pose, the sun and the relentless sea posed a more immediately and inescapable one. One by one, the tiny crew and handful of passengers began to disembark with Isaac's help.
The Greenways waited nearby, waiting to move their boat into position to take over when Isaac's was full. All seemed to be going well. Then there was a sound of cracking planking, and a splash. Someone was in the water. Isaac hoped they had gone completely under - a Vampire was probably more equipped to handle the cold water, at least for a short time, than the sun above.
Isaac nodded. It was a good plan. He was impressed by Riff's quick thinking.
There was, of course, one potential snag. It couldn't be helped, and the plan was still, on balance, the best choice. And yet Isaac wondered what was going to happen if the Vampires attempted to flee their vessel and saw a fully transformed Lycan. He thought they had probably given enough hints over the radio that they were immortals too, but he couldn't be sure, and he was worried the passengers would either refuse to evacuate or would do something reckless like charge into the sunlight to try to escape.
Well, there wasn't time to wait till dark, and this was their best hope. He would just have to try to prevent that.
"Persephoneia!" he called. He wished the stranded Vampires still had a working radio. Or that he at least knew the actual name of someone he might be addressing. "Permission to come aboard if necessary? Or at least as close as I can? For purposes of evacuation."
He saw movement. Apparently someone could hear him. He heard an accented voice call back faintly, "Yes, okay."
Isaac took a deep breath and added, "We're Lycans. Despite the war between our species, we're not here to harm you. We're here to help you. I don't have any way to prove our intentions - I must just ask you to trust us for now. Your lives depend on it. Your vessel is secure now, but it won't hold for long. We need you to come across to us under cover as quickly as possible."
There was a hesitation, but only briefly. Then the Vampires seemed to decide that whatever risk the Lycans might pose, the sun and the relentless sea posed a more immediately and inescapable one. One by one, the tiny crew and handful of passengers began to disembark with Isaac's help.
The Greenways waited nearby, waiting to move their boat into position to take over when Isaac's was full. All seemed to be going well. Then there was a sound of cracking planking, and a splash. Someone was in the water. Isaac hoped they had gone completely under - a Vampire was probably more equipped to handle the cold water, at least for a short time, than the sun above.