Table for One Options

[fistandantilus4....]

Lu takes a flying leap off the side of the ship. The first second is exhilirating. Then she looks down. Her stomach leaps in to her throat as she falls straight at the ground below. No way she can survive, and only a bunch of wound together threads keeping her from that fate! idiot!

She falls fast, the wind whipping through her hair. Then the rope catches, and she starts to swing. She sees the bottom of the air ship!

How in the hell does that thing stay up there anyway?

Briefly Lu wonders how she can be wondering that while she's swinging to her doom.

Then she's swing ing upward. Almost instinctively she twists her body, giving her more momentum. She grabs the rope with her hands and pulls t okeep her self swinging the right way. With another lurch, the rope goes slack....

Then she falls...

and plops on the deck.

There's a cheer from the sailors as she lands on the deck, Vincentruns over to where she landed.

See! Nothing to it! Wanna try again?

[Lady Door]

Exhilirated, Lu just smiles from ear to ear, hugging Vincent and kissing him passionately...
Oh, Yes!
If Ky could see me now!

[fistandantilus4....]

Vincent, completely shocked, just stands there for a moment. But , being a sailor, he recovers quickly and makes the most of the short moment.

Alright, well, since the ropes aroudn this way, ti's easyy, jsut get a running start, and jump the other way.

He checks the harness, taking his time to make sure all the knots are tight still and that nothing ahs sliped ot of place. Once he's .... satisfied, he gives her the go ahead.

[Lady Door]

Still feeling that rush, Lu nods. Running, she leaps again.. .

Dexterity Test

[ Spoiler ]

Dex: 17 {+2 RA} = 19, Step: 8, 2d6, Result: 5,5 Total: 10

[fistandantilus4....]

Swinging back around, Lu has the chance to enjoy the rush this time around. The stomach swalloing feeling of weightlessness, evertyhing crashing down, the wind howling, the swing, the flying upward, and then dropping back to the ship. Almost too quickly it's over, and she's back on the ship, feeling wildly exhilerated. She pants for breath as crew men rush over to her. At elast this time she landed on her feet.

[Lady Door]

I can't believe people do this! How do you stop? It's amazing! How can you even bear to land?Lu laughs, her eyes wild with delight.
Grabbing Vincent's arms, she spins him in a circle.
Show me something else... show me something else you do. Lu's eyes cast around for something to try, finally settling on the rigging lines.
Show me how to do that!Lu points.

[fistandantilus4....]

I was just going to. Uhhh... most of the men don't wear shirts because it can get caught in the lines or a pulley, but worst, it catches the wind. Maybe you should change in to something .. tigheter first?

He had the decency to look embarassed at least. He had a point, that was true enough, but he didn't have to look so excited about it.

[Lady Door]

I think I have something that will work. I'll be right back... Don't go anywhere.Lu practically flew down the stairs and into her room. Going through her bags she finally found what she was looking for. It was a thin leather halter style top with thongs that wrapped around her waist. Ky had a matching one, they often wore them to practice as it gave them complete freedom of movement. Donning it, she hurried back upstairs.
Will this do?

[fistandantilus4....]

Vincent smiled Yeah that'll do. Come on!

A practiced sailor, he scurried up the rigging lines. p the main netting was simple enough. Just like a ladder that bounced .... 5,000 feet off the groung. He showed her how to climb through it quickly, and then went out on to the main mast. He showed her which lines to hold, which knots would stay, how to move your legs to walk comforably. Soon the pair were standing on one of the battons, a rope one hand, staring out in to forever. She could see for days, literally, as the groudn they covered and coudl see acros would take days to cross. To the East lay the great Servos Jungle, a great green swathe. It stuck out to the morth as well, with mountain tips far in the distance.The south was the great storm clouds of the Mist swamps, and she knew, Death's Sea. Up here was true freedom in the world.

[Lady Door]

Lu sighed, her eyes scanning the horizon.
Vincent, how do you ever even come down? It's beautiful. It's so... free. I feel like there's nothing I couldn't do.
I feel like I'm on the edge of some truth up here. Like there's more to this world then all I've seen, there's more to this world then I've been taught. I don't know what it is I'm feeling, but I feel like it's something big, something more then me.
Lu's arms ache from all the climbing and swinging, but she can't seem to make herself want to go back down.

[fistandantilus4....]

Getting down's the eay part. It's staying up that's hard. Your body just gets too tired after a while. It's best to go down before that happens. otherwise a a high wind can hit you just when your hand isn't gripped enough, or to tired, and that's it.

Come on, we should head down. You're not used to this yet. We'll come up again later.

[Lady Door]

Reluctantly, Lu nods and begins the climb down. When she finally reaches the deck, she hugs Vincent.
Thank you. That was amazing. I would have never thought I could do something like that.

[fistandantilus4....]

Yeah, well, falling is the easy part. come one, let's get something to drink. And get some water on your hands so they dn't blister too much.

The rest of the day passes with various crew member showing Lu the tricks of the trade. Kyla accompanies her, genuinely interested. The crew seems to have certainly warmed to the pair. The swordmaster isn't seen as much however, while Ordet stays on deck, watching Lu.

[Lady Door]

Lu, noticing Ordat watching, scrambles down the rope she's currently swinging on.
Walking over to him, she smiles.
Vo'harr, Ordat.

[fistandantilus4....]

Vo' arr Luthielien. You learn quickly. You elves pronounce your "H's" to ostrongly for smooth trollic, but that is all right. You seem to be enjoying your self. Maybe you should go to a troll clan to learn to be a sky raider.

[Lady Door]

I am enjoying myself. Things are different here in a way that I didn't expect. I'm enjoying the freedom. A sky raider? I can see it. Lu smiles and moves closer to Ordat.
Are you enjoying the journey?

[fistandantilus4....]

I am.. more so now. I am hoping for some battle though. It is strange for me to be in the air for so long and not smell blood. I do hope they plan to raid something soon.

Why did you expect something different? Or I should say, what did you expect?

And would you like to be a sky raider?There have been a few elf raiders, in other clans. They are very rare, but they are usually well respected, because they have earned it.

[Lady Door]

It is not something I have ever considered. Within my family, my people, we follow the way of the Sa' mistishsa. Within the Way, you follow only one discipline at a time. It is believed that by following only one discipline at a time and progressing through the ascribed disciplines that we ascend through our path with a higher knowledge of all things. Right now, I am following the Way of the Mes ti'Meraerthsa or the Way of the Warrior.
It is what has been done for as long as I can remember. It is just that since leaving home and seeing more of what the world offers, I have wondered if the way I have learned has limited us. Has confined us within our traditions.
Lu laughs. Listen to me, I am even speaking of philosophy, something a Warrior does not have time for. Perhaps, I am a different kind of Warrior then...For a moment, Lu seems lost in thought before smiling and continuing.
To answer your question; I don't know. The idea of earning the right to be called Sky Raider is thrilling. But, I must temper the idea with the knowledge that such a departure from my path would divide me from my Father and my family.
Lu's face is troubled. In her eyes, it's as if a sadness settles.

[fistandantilus4....]

By honoring your father's wishes, you show great honor to your family. Within troll culture, the three great honors are the honor of self, family , and clan. If I were to suggest you become a sky raider, knowign what I now know, I would be insulting your family honor. I apologize for suggesting otherwise before. Perhaps, after you finissh your path.

But do not trouble your self for being a philosophical warrior. A warrior who does not think will not be a warrior, or living for long. A Warrior must think on such things , such as why he fights. The Why is as important as the Who. The Where and When are not what matters in a battle, although many young warriors seem to think it is everything.

KNow they Why. Know the Who. Then when you learn those, you can move on to the How, Where, and When. These five great questions are the secret to winning a battle, but they must be asked and addressed in this order if the Warrior is to be vistorious. Other wise he is not a warrior, only a killer. That is what seperates a Warrior from a name Giver holding a sharpened piece of metal.

[Lady Door]

Thank you for your wisdom, Ordat. Lu smiles but it doesn't quite reach her eyes.
He's right. The three great honors.. honor your parents. What have I been thinking? Giving up my path just because of one flight on an airship? What's wrong with me? But, still... stop it.
Ordat, it has been a while since I have had the opportunity to practice my skills. May I borrow your cabin? You have more room then I do.

[fistandantilus4....]

Of course, although truely it is not mine to give. It is the captains. You may have better room for your blade on the deck. If you remember, there is not quite so much room in the hold for wide sweeps.

[Lady Door]

Distracted, Lu just nods.
I'll wait until later. Thank you.Lu turns and heads downstairs, heading for her cabin.

[fistandantilus4....]

Ordat looks confused but says nothing.

[Lady Door]

Back in her cabin, Lu lies out on her bed. Her thoughts are chaotic. Staring out the porthole, Lu can't help but wonder if this is part of it all. The wondering, the discovery, if this is all supposed to test her. The thoughts carry her through long into the evening.

[fistandantilus4....]

Sometime after dark, kyla comes in to the cabin.

You looked upset. I thought I'd give you some time , but you've been down here a while. What's up Lu