Floating Island - The Midlands

A Gaulish air frigate skirts above the clouds. The wind caught in her sails, and her crew milling about the deck.



"Land ahoy Captain!"

The cry came down from the look out, and Captain Blake looked up in surprise. Land? What in the blazes was the man talking about? They were above the clouds, how could their be land? The captain of The GRA Intrepid, grabbed his telescope and searched.

"Sky! A floating island."

Blake grinned with excitement. Now this was worth investigating. Who knew what kind of treasure could be lurking there. He would investigate and claim anything he found... For king and country of course.

"Bring us in lads!"

The military frigate skirted in close, and the mooring lines where cast. Which is too say, two men with a slow fall spell on them jumped to the ground. Then tethered them to the island. Not long after Blake joined them. This was quite the find, a feather in his cap for sure. Time to explore!

Captain Blake made his way steadily through the forest. They had spotted what looked like ruins further in, situated on the top of a rise. That was the best place to look for treasure. They come to the edge of the treeline, eyeing the slope. It looked steep and rocky, good thing they had rope. He cocks his head, was that... It sounded like rocks clattering. Shading his eyes as he glances up he spots a figure. A native? So perhaps not ruins after all. Blast. That meant establishing contact, no treasure for him.

"Bonjour! I am Captain Devrin Blake of The Gauldin Air Force. We mean you no harm, we are simply exploring."

"Sky!"

Blake cursed as he saw the figure begin sliding down the hill. Without a moments hesitation he begins scrambling up to meet her. The military man easily clambers up the hill, used to far more unsteady terrain. His men were not far behind him, as concerned as he was. The mage he brought with him stayed at the bottom, prepping a spell to catch them should they fall. It takes a few minutes but he reaches the woman. She looked terrible, and pregnant? Who let a pregnant woman wonder around on the side of a hill.

"Mademoiselle are you alright? What has happened to you?"

Blake looks down at the water. He hesitates for just a moment, but not for long. Airships captains weren't known for being indecisive. He needed to get her help, and he needed to do it fast. He scooped the woman up into his arms, and turned getting carefully to his feet. This was fool hardy even for him, which brought a wide grin to his face. He barked out his orders.

"Doctor Os! Meet me at the bottom as soon as you can. Mage Nelmoy, catch me!"

Blake began running down the side of the hill. Right before he would inevitable trip and fall, he leaps. Magic coils around him, and his passenger. The aeromancy caring them safely to the bottom. He lands with a little oof, and grins at his mage who stares back at him.

"Captain that was reckless, you could have both been hurt. What if I was not ready?"

Blake flashes the mage a roguish grin.

"Bah Nelmoy, you are always ready. Now this woman is about to give birth! We need to make her as comfortable as possible."

The mage nods his understanding. They haven't brought any bedding, but Nelmoy conjures some blankets. Within a minutes a serviceable, if slightly lumpy cot is made. Blake settles the woman in it, just as Os gets to the bottom. The doctor assesses the situation and swears.

"Damnit Blake! I am a military doctor, not a midwife!"

The captain, doesn't even dignify this with a response. Os sighs and gets to work, ordering the captain to get a couple of rags. These are soaked in water, one is laid on the woman's head, the other to dribble drops into her parched throat. The crew gathers around to watch nervously. This was an odd turn of events, but that was common with Captain Blake.

After the birthing, Blake had seen the new mother and he babes cleaned. With that out of the way, he had ordered a litter built. The mother and the crying children were seen to the ship. They would need to get back to Niréal with all speed. He wasn't sure the woman had the strength to feed her children. Without a wet nurse, they may be lost. Fortunately The Intrepid was the second fastest ship in the fleet. If the flew all day and night, they could be home in two days.

The mother was settled in his cabin. She was tethered to the bed, to ensure she wouldn't fall out during transit. For the babes, they had emptied a small crate. Filling it with pillows and blankets, and securing it to the floor not far from their mother. Doctor Os was watching over the three, and when the mother began to stir he fetched the Captain. Blake came in just as she woke up, and he pulled up a seat next to her. His voice is low and gentle.

"Bonjour Mademoiselle, how are you feeling? What do you need?"

Memory loss? Well that certainly made things harder. Captain Blake, considers the woman carefully. She was uncommonly lovely, but in the way of nobles. The kind of woman one courted, not one you bedded. She wasn't a Gaulsih noblewoman, that was for sure. She did not have the accent, and Blake would have heard of such a beauty. Perhaps from the kingdoms across the ocean? He had a ship load of questions, and wasn't likely to get any answers soon. He mulls over how to answer her questions.

"Unfortunately I do not. I will tell you what I do know, perhaps that will jog something loose. First introductions, I am Captain Devrin Blake. You are on my ship The GRA Intrepid. We were doing a scouting patrol, South East of the Gaulsih coast. There we found a previously undocumented floating island. I elected to explore this island, where we found you."

Blake pauses to clear his throat.

"So far as we could tell there were no other inhabitants. Currently we are on course for Niréal, cruising above the clouds at 21 knots. We should arrive before tomorrow evening. I will have food and water brought in for you."

Blake throws a meaningful glance at the crate, where the twins currently lie.

"I hate to ask... But are you well enough to feed? They have been quite so far, but that will only last so long. Also I would guess you would want to see them, I can bring them over if you'd like."

Blake obliged the young mother readily. He moves to the crate, gently scooping up an infant in each arm. He hands one to her, the other he keeps for the moment. Cradling it against his shoulder, running a soothing hand over it's back. He manages to calm the hungry child, speaking to it gently.

"Hush now little one. It will be your turn soon enough."

Blake turns his back on the woman, giving her privacy so she can what she needs.

Outside the door it the deck of the airship. The sun is just setting over the horizon, and below verdant fields sprawl endlessly. One of the crew members calls out, and the captain comes down from the stenrcastle. He eyes the woman cursorily, though not judgmentally. He understands not wanting to be cooped up. He moves to her side, offering her his arm should she want the support.

"You are just in time, we are almost at Niréal. You will be able to see it soon. It is quite the sight."

Indeed soon it loomed in the horizon. Niréal the heart of Gauldins air force, a city in love with the sky.

Devrin nods his head, touched by her words. It was a great honor to have a child named after him. He gazes down at the city below. Niréal, a picture of order and beauty. The tall elegant spires of the ship yards dominated the skyline. They were practical, but also beautiful. As was the Gaulish way. They were approaching the docks, and soon they would be able to disembark. He was not certain what would happen to the woman. Arrangements had been made for her to be taken care of for a time, beyond that though... Well that would come later, now he had another rare honor bestowed on him.

"Ambre, or as you might say Amber. It has a golden hue, tinged with red like your hair. It is also a gem, a treasure. We found in an ancient ruin, when we were hunting for such. It seems appropriate non?"

As he finishes the lines are cast, and the ship is docked. It is time to see what fate awaits the newly christened Ambre.

<Exit to The Airship Yards.>