driftfleet | don't fear the reaper

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don't fear the reaper

[The First Battle]

[They come shooting out of the great dark. Guns blazing, no warning. The enemy ships are ragtag, mismatched, and cobbled together from spare parts. But that doesn’t make them weak. No-- years and years of scavenging have turned them into raiders, and they carry their scars with pride.

The battle is more aggressive than previous attacks against the Fleet. Nothing deters the raiders because they’re tough, and if they see a wounded ship floundering, they have no problems swooping in and boarding. Those crews will soon learn the meaning of teamwork if they want to bring the attackers down. They infiltrate the Iskaulit as well, just in case people try to hide there. At this point they are very, very used to tracking down women and children for their slave trade.

If asked why they’re doing this, the answer is simple.

Spare parts have to come from somewhere.

Don’t worry. Nothing on your ship, and no one, will go to waste.]

[A Few Hours Later]

[The raiders are too strong and the Fleet is failing. After what seems like an eternity of warfare, static comes in, broadcasted to the fleet at large. Something or someone is hailing them…

The signal is untraceable and the video is complete static, but they tell the Fleet they are here to help. Ships come swooping out of the black and they open fire on the raiders. They number a dozen, maybe more, and the ships look eerily similar to the ones currently used by the Fleet, if not a bit older and battle-hardened. Their shielding and weaponry is much, much better, however-- and most of them have custom paint or other touches on their hulls.

They’re not invincible, however. A few may end up between a rock and a hard place when the raiders surround them.

Some older residents may remember this particular group of ships. They’re obviously helping out now, but there’s nothing stopping Fleeters from firing on their would-be saviors save a complete lack of weaponry. You do have a Security officer on board, don’t you? They’ll defend themselves by seriously injuring your ship, but they won’t destroy it for some reason. Small mercies.

The raiders soon realize they’re outgunned and jump ship, taking their dead with them. The intercepting fleet pulls back, too, and both parties vanish back into the dark as silently and swiftly as they came. There’s a lot of cleanup to do whether your ship is disabled or you’re preparing to tow someone else.

Hopefully, the people who saved you don’t change their minds.]

[Plot info is here! Feel free to make your own toplevels with fighting, barricading, being boarded, saving others, the aftermath, etc. There's lots to do!]

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Gods be good!

[The shock ruins any attempts she might have made to mask the severity of Riona's wounds. The blood seemed to be everywhere and the color of Riona's face was chilling. But the way she clutches at her gut makes Jeyne's heart drop. They needed to staunch the blood flow and quickly.

Riona had been on her mind since she had fearlessly rescued Jeyne. It wasn't until now that she could seek her out, having helped administer some first aid. Quickly, Jeyne rushed over to her friend, ripping at the hem of her skirts. It would have to serve until they could move her.]

Let me bind it first. [Otherwise the movement might make her bleed more.] I will need to have a look.

Personally, I think they're being assholes right now.

[When in doubt, resort to sarcasm. Especially when possibly bleeding to death. Frankly, she's rather surprised she's still conscious, but her head feels a little lightheaded so it may only be a matter of time.]

I got careless and one almost gutted me. Are you hurt at all? [She moves her hand away from her wound gingerly, her breath hissing through clenched teeth at the movement. The wound goes deep, and she can feel it with every breath she takes.]

I hit my head when the ship was first fired that, but nothing beyond a few scraps and bruises.

[Thanks to Riona.

She's careful to conceal her thoughts as she looks over the wound. The medics would have to look after her. This was beyond Jeyne's knowledge. She could at least find a way to get Riona to the med bay and keep her from bleeding to death.

Wrapping the cloth around Riona, she tied it tightly, watching as the silk became stained with blood.]

We will need a stretcher for you.

I am glad it wasn't more serious.

[She worried about her and Sansa, the two on this ship who could not fight. The rest of them could defend themselves and were likely used to taking hits.]

Mmf. I should be able to walk there, though I may need your help in keeping steady.

[She doesn't trust her legs to keep her balance.]

Don't worry for me.

[She tied the makeshift bandage tightly. It wasn't wise to let Riona move, but she needed urgent care and it was unlikely they could wait for Jeyne to locate a stretcher.]

Wrap your arm around my shoulder. I will try to move you quickly.

[Riona nods, grimacing as she shifts to get up. She slings her arm around her shoulders as instructed, using her other hand to brace against the wall. It's not a great feeling, the sensation of blood beneath her hand. Her legs tremble from the exertion.]

I am ready when you are.

[Jeyne tore another strip from her dress, quickly rolling it and holding it out to Riona.]

Bite down on this. It will hurt.

[Pride almost compels her to refuse; she's endured worse. However, Jeyne is merely trying to help. So Riona leans over and bites down on it. She nods, gesturing for her to start moving whenever she was ready.]

[Carefully placing Riona's arm around her shoulder. Using all of her weight, she helped lift Riona and slowly started to lead her to the med bay.]

Lean on me if you start to black out.

[Which was possible.]

[Riona grunted, placing her other hand against the wall again for additional support. Her steps are stilted and slow. For all her bravado and insistence on walking there, she slowly begins to wonder if it really was a good idea.

Perhaps a distraction of sorts is in order.]

Those bastards ruined my armor. And they tried to steal our food. Sort of makes me wish I could drag them back and kill them again.

You were very brave.

[She understood that Riona needed a distraction, but the subject of killing the men only churned Jeyne's stomach, reminding her of what she had done.]

You mentioned before that you could fight, but I never thought I would see it. You are very skilled, I'm envious. Did your father teach you?

I'm sorry you had to see it like this.

[Of course it's not something she ever wished for Jeyne to have to see. Or if so, in a tournament or something safe. Not when it was a fight to the death, for the sake of protecting the ship and those on it.]

He did. At least in the art of swordsmanship. My mother taught me archery.

I shouldn't be such a coward, not with a soldier for a husband.

[Yet somehow she was still weak.]

Your world must be very accepting to women warriors. When you are better, I should like for you to teach me. There is no better instructor I could find.

[Slowly, they approached the med bay.]

Hold on a moment longer.

Coward? Didn't seem cowardly to me when you refused to be dragged off easily. And hardly cowardly now when you're half carrying me to the med bay.

[She nods.]

I can definitely teach you. In Ferelden, while it varies from family to family, it is not seen as odd to teach daughters how to defend themselves. It boggles me that it is considered so strange in Westeros.

[Maybe she was right. It was just difficult to believe it to be true.]

I hope that is true.

[As they arrived at the med bay, Jeyne slowly eased Riona onto one of the beds.]

I should be grateful. Ladies are expected to be demure and proper in Westeros. War and fighting are a man's realm. We are expected to maintain our home and raise the children. If we are lucky, we will oversee a great keep with bannermen at our husband's disposal, as I was.

[Riona winces as she is helped into the bed, though it's no fault of Jeyne's. Laying down does help once she's stretched out fully, though the pain still makes her clutch her wound.]

It's not all that different in Ferelden. Women, especially nobility, are expected to marry another noble man and bear him a family and oversee his estate. But I don't think it's quite as strict as it is in Westeros. While it's considered a little odd, depending on the family and circumstances, women do join the army or somesuch. I suppose the difference is, in Ferelden it's expected that we should have some idea of how to fend for ourselves. Can't always rely on the guards, and frankly, I think it better if we don't.

There are houses that are more tolerant in Westeros. The Mormonts train their women to fight. There were even some marching with Robb in his army. I thought it was shocking when I first met them, I suppose I was still shocked by the concept when I came here.

[It won't be long until Riona is tended to. For now, Jeyne can at least keep her company while the others are getting what they need to help her.]

You should rest and save your strength.

Ah, good. At least it's not across the entire board. I imagine it would be rather strange if you're not used to such. Like seeing men embroider or something.

[Riona groans a little in protest.]

I hate this. I'll be confined to bed for who knows how many days.

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don't fear the reaper

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