Towards The Bloody Harbour (closed to jdd)

[Philomel]

Gazing up at the vast white cliffs before them Philomel pursed her lips and considered the options.

One would be heading straight up the cliffs. As an earth-mage and summoner she knew automatically that there were ways to climb a cliff. As a faun such a thing was not beyong by pure nature - fauns shared their goat kin's ability to scale almost sheer walls. It was a mixture of raw strength plus the secret of softer underside on the hoof. Her eyes spied enough nooks and ledges to be able to heave her body up it, weapons and all. However, beyond hoisting herself and Veridian on her shoulders it would mean leaving any others behind, and Philomel had a very large feeling that Captain Cain wanted to be part of the group to explore the castle.

What he offered also was for the Peregrin, his other, smaller ship, to take them into shallower waters. Indeed, it was a possibility but as the mist had settled around them it had been hard to see currently where even land began. The cliffs were clear themselves - they and their monolithic castle rose from the greying fog like a creature from hell - but actually where their feet were was somewhat difficult. Smaller boats, the ones that Cain had described as 'jolly' and Philomel preferred to simply say 'rowing', would certainly be their ally here to get them closer to it. It would indeed lead to the higher chance of finding a beach, but one that led to a path up to the castle itself was another question. Would the great vampire lord who had once lived here really provide such easy access to his domain? Would he even need a castle if he could fly, as the legends went. How many sailable beaches truly gave a steady and safe route back to the mountaintop that they rested by, if any at all?

Philomel considered her options for a moment, then a small smile came to her face as she simply gave in, and decided to show off to the Captain. Such was her personality.

"If neither you, nor I, Captain Cain, know these waters then finding a beach could take a fair while. Instead, I offer something that will be a little unusual for you, but will get us to the castle much quicker. All we would need to do is get to the edge of the cliff. The bottom of it, and I believe there your happy boats could help us," she smiled.

And she perused her mind, heading deep into the recesses of her community. Skimming over the edge of Veridian's presence she let him know of her exact intentions. Curious, but excited, the fox swung his tail, his own eyes staring at the heavy, dark castle above them with intrigue. Truly, he wished to explore also. Onwards, Philomel went, ignoring the small rabbit who scurried around, somewhere, in the recesses of her ship, and sank into the belly of the earth. Once there she called out, waited - and she was answered by a mental roar.

A roar which was then echoed over the mile of rock, water and wood that separated faun from her dragon, and who would be their key to climb the great white wall.

"I hope you like dragons," she quietly said.

As Delath the earth-beast began to rise from the foundation stones far beneath the cliffs themselves. Physically eating his way through the rock to come to the surface and to the aid of his mistress.