#ꜱᴜᴄʜ ɪɴꜱᴏʟᴇɴᴄᴇ ꜱʜᴀʟʟ ʙᴇ ᴘᴜɴɪꜱʜᴇᴅ ✦ duchess ic

[ashenwinds]

     Duchess remains in her spot, watching not only as he crew gets to work -- not the simple minded skellies but those who are her most loyal, ones who share her aptitude in magic. The four take their spots around the marks left on the ground, each raising the eyepatch over one of their eye sockets to reveal different shimmering gems.       “ If nothing else, they will be enough of a distraction for the ritual to be complete, ” she muses lightly, waiting until the others bow their head before she too lifts the eyepatch.      Beneath is a glittering purple-pink jewel, already starting to radiate a glow to match the light rising from her necklace. She raises her arms, “ I suggest stepping closer to me, ” originally, she would have them step further away but with the desire to bind the returning soul to listen to them without the use of a blood tie, they must be present, “ You will feel a pull, since I will be binding this one to follow your every command. ”

There's a slight hitch to Junior's step, an excited kind of anticipation as they follow besides Duchess. This is a moment they've been waiting for since they learned she was at the Sea of Thieves, to see who they consider to be their mother at work, doing what she does best.

"My Reapers will make sure none approach." The crew might be tired from fighting a kraken just now, but they'll obey Junior's orders. Or else. With some luck, passing pirates will just believe this is just Reapers being Reapers, and stay off the island for the time being.

They watch as the other skellies begin to draw the glyphs, paying attention to what goes where. So far it doesn't seem too different from the ritual they used to bring Flameheart back once they recovered his body, but they notice some key glyphs differing from their ritual. There's a soul to seek, after all.

[ashenwinds]

     sailor @fortheonetrueking sent a message in a bottle. . .

For Duchess and Flameheart :> About: Junior, on magic prowess

           ↪ Send me “About [NAME]” for my character’s thoughts on another character

     A hinted sigh, skeletal fingers tapping against the arm of the throne, “ Every lesson I taught was to teach the kid to hold their own in a fight. Not quite part of that to use magic. ” He will admit, the use of magic is not his preference -- not as hands on or personal. However, there is somebody are things that remind him magic has it's uses beyond what he uses it for.       “ At least they are using it properly to bring fire upon those fools. Those parrots are quite useful as well alongside our other methods of gaining information. ” A similar thing that he will never speak too much aloud the pride for his child -- just how strong Jr has become and how skilled they are with magic considering it was never taught outside of the Sea, “ Still have yet to see if that prowess has translated to their combat skills. ”

     “ Well, unlike that stubborn old man, I will admit they've made impressive progress on learning magic, ” Duchess chuckles, “ Reminds me of myself when I started learning after leaving those witches. The creation of those constructs is just the beginning and plans are at hand. Always refreshing to find another just as ambitious and scheming. ”      She is rather thrilled to have another interested in magic, to use it against those annoying fleshies. And well, feels nice to get some bonding going on, “ Perhaps they can give even those Ancients a rune for their money in due time. ”

[ashenwinds]

     anonymous sailor sent a message in a bottle. . .

About: Horatio

           ↪ Send me “About [NAME]” for my character’s thoughts on another character

     “ Heh, the old man? ” They chuckle, “ Won't say I was fond of him at the start. Would have rather stayed far away from him, but I will say it had been a long time since I've found somebody who can withstand a lot of my special techniques. ”       “ I can be a simple pirate: offer me a chance to exercise my torture and interrogation skills for some run, and that'll lighten the mood. ” Now, it's the same as they feel with the others: they would kill for their fellow Lords.

     Of course, for the captain himself, the words are spoken with a neutral tone, “ If he did not have usefulness he would have never made it beyond being part of my crew, let alone given such a gift as the Ashen Curse. . . ”      In his way, that is the closest he is going to get at giving a compliment. If you don't end up dead after a few days, either you are useful to him or Flameheart likes you enough not to murder you.

     “ Ah, I will say the two of us get along well, considering how often our skills cross over. It's rather thrilling to trade ideas on how to improve the ships and the weapons aboard. The Burning Blade little pirates face against in the Sea? That's our work accompanying those orbs. ” She muses, creating a bit of fire in her palm, “ Wouldn't be the same without 'im, just like the others. ”

     For Duchess, it is merely just a shrug, “ Never had too many problems with him. Mais c'est un connard jaloux. ”

[ashenwinds]

     sailor @sillymuses sent a message in a bottle. . .

Don't mind the specter. She's just entertaining the crew with her ghostly trail. The purple residue lasts long enough for her to make a pretty show for them as she hovers, twists, and turns all about before the trail all but vanishes completely.

           ↪ "unprompted" skellie ask

     The Duchess has been curious, considering the chitter of the skellies about this ghost that they were told not to harm. A ghost aboard the ship that was not to be attacked? What a ridiculous thought!      Has her king gotten soft in his growing age? Or is it true as she had teased him about claiming another lost soul as his legacy?

     She lets out a soft hiss, stepping out from the captain's quarters to have her eyeless gaze caught by the trail of purple. Well, a least this one is not one of those given that blessing. . . still, she is suspicious, “ As if these mindless skulls needed distractions from there duties. . . ” A louder growl this time, getting a few of the skellies to jump and chitter.      Her focus remains solely on the ghostly figure, “ So you are the one mon roi has taken an interest in. . . ”

[ashenwinds]

     “ As if we would ever be considered nice! ” A loud, boisterous laugh rises out of Chi, “ Who needs gifts from some old man that doesn't exist. We've got Horatio for that! ”

     “ I give better gifts anyways, ” Ruth gives a shrug, a smirk would be on his visage with the grunt and chuckle of agreement out of her fellow Ashen Lord.

     “ Hardly worth being nice. . . ” Duchess hisses, taking a long drink of her tankard of expensive rum, “ It's far more enjoyable to make people writhe than play nice. ”

     “ This time can be used for rest and our own celebration. . . and time for Ramsey and his followers to let their guard down. ” Flameheart gives his own chuckle and a raise of his tankard, “ Tomorrow, we shall see if those fools are ready for fighting once again, but for now we celebrate! ” There is a cheer amongst the gathered skellies, all raising their tankards before drinking.

Happy Holidays from the Skellies 🖤

[ashenwinds]

    ��@deathsdreaming -- Sibling Bonding time with Duchess and Grimm

     The skeletal lord huffs a bit, having just commanded her crew to get the supplies she had requested from the Reapers. Helios is not exactly thrilled to be near the Reapers due to their history, but supplies are needing for Duchess's spells and repairing the ship after dealing with some Athenas.

     She lets her mood shift, the huff turning it a laugh, “ Look who it is! ” The raise of her voice does startle the nearby mindless skellie, “ My little baby brother finally showing his ugly mug. ” She is thrilled to see Grimm after all the years since the Lords' deaths and her isolation. Pleasing to see he is still about the same even after all these years.

[ashenwinds]

     Anonymous sailor sent a message in a bottle. . .

ABOUT: Grimm!

           ↪ Send me “About [NAME]” for my character’s thoughts on another character

     “ Ah~ one of my partners in crime. Always a treat when the two of us get some time on our hands and go bother some pitiful little fleshies! ” The first out of the group they met, perhaps the one they bonded with the quickest due to the two having a chaotic side that clicked well at first encounter.       “ I'll readily admit Grimm is probably the more level headed one out of us, which is saying something -- and rather skilled with those traps. Always enjoyable to let a little prisoner think they've gotten free only to be testing the traps of the stronghold. ”

     “ Once again. . . he would not have become not only a General within my armada but an Ashen Lord if he did not prove himself to me. Not just because he is the younger sibling of Duchess. Such meant nothing when he was chosen. ” Not to mention even Flameheart had been impressed with Grimm's knack for traps and architecture. The Heart of Fire would not be as secure without Grimm's planning.

     “ Heh. . . just as inseparable as with the others. Wouldn't say we had the best start. Much like with Horatio, Grimm came around when I was, well, rather moody. ” The first meeting with Grimm had her being very short and snippy with him, “ I am glad he's part of the crew, been especially helpful for voyages, but he's also a doll to talk with. Wonderful to bounce ideas off of. ”

     “ My little baby brother. ” Duchess nearly coos out the words, knowing that it probably irks the Ashen Lord still to be called that, “ Doesn't matter if he's a powerful skeleton with a rare curse, he's still my baby brother. He's all I have from those years ago, and I'll be damned if he disappears again. . . ” The thought terrifies her, losing her brother again. . .

[ashenwinds]

     “ So, is this becoming a habit of yours, mon roi? ”

     “ To what are you referring to, mi reina? ”

     “ Finding some lost child aboard a ship and deciding to adopt them. Seems to be a trend now that it's happened twice. First the kiddo, now this ghost -- it's like you enjoy being a father. ”

     “ Don't want another calling you mum, aye? ” He chuckles, avoiding the skull that is thrown at him by the other skeletal lord, “ You seemed to be fine with Junior calling you that. ”

     “ I'm no mother, Asier, and you know that! ” She hisses, letting the anger simmer down just a bit, “ The kid got away with it because they were cute then. Not like they call me that now. ”

     “ The two of you have met again. . .? ” That's news to him.

     “ Oh. . . not at all, don't worry your head. It's not like they would keep secrets from their dear Papa. You should be worrying about how they'll feel being a big sibling to a ghost. ”

[ashenwinds]

The only sound out of the skeletal lord is a low growl, the hollow gaze fixated -- a glaring gaze despite her eye sockets remaining unmoving. A dare for the other to make a move or to speak why they are bothering her.

[ashenwinds]

     “ Disgusting fleshies and their lust. . . ” Yes, Duchess will be harshly judging everyone. Keep that shite away from her Fortresses -- the only thing that goes on there is fighting to the death.

[ashenwinds]

     “ I've seen an increasing number of insects pretending to be pirates. Fools run away the moment they are faced with a true pirate! If you are going to look like a pirate you'd better be ready to fight like one! ”

     “ I believe it is something akin to the Festival of the Damned here in the Sea. Although, I get the dressing up part, but the rest just perplexes me. Why give out treats without something due? ”

     “ Still idiots. Better to give the former with this trick-or-treat they ramble about. ”

     “ Such waste of time, playing pretend. . . . . ”

[ashenwinds]

     “ Care to be thrown, mon petit roi? It is in the fashion of a celebration. ”

     “ Pick me up and we will see if my fires burn your magical bones. . . ”

     “ That's not the response I used to get when I'd slam you into the ground~ ”

     “ . . . . . . ”

[ashenwinds]

          “ . . . kill for some good food. ” She may be a skeleton, but it still did not stop the occasional craving for something sweet.

[ashenwinds]

     @sillymuses has received a voyage -- Duchess

     There is a soft hiss out of the Duchess -- a familiar tingle and scent that she recognizes. Something akin to what she holds but yet lacks the same origins. Not as foul as her own magic, “ Smell of witches. . . ” and something else she cannot place.

[ashenwinds]

     Anonymous sailor sent a message in a bottle. . .

As weak as the fleshlings you lot fight are, It must be a little frustrating that they seemingly can just eat a pineapple and be perfectly fine no matter what you do to them. What gives? Are the pineapples just blessed or something? (Love SOT, couldn't resist making the comment haha)

           ↪ unprompted skellie ask

     “ They would find it better if they didn't use such methods and simply died. . . prolonging their life will only mean the fight continues! ” Chi lets out a low, unsettling chuckle, “ I encourage those insects to eat their food and prolong the fight. Every time they recover, it just means more life I can burn out of them slowly! ”

     “ It is rather frustrating, so close to claiming victory and those wretched fools snag it away with their pineapples and bananas. . . I have yet to see what it does to a skeleton, if it is similar to bananas, however. Since, despite lacking the fleshie needs of sustenance, we still can recover with the consumption of bananas. ”

     “ . . . . . . ” The deep, angry growl out of Duchess is enough to give her thoughts on it.

     “ A little trick of what grows in the Sea ; quite fantastic what it can heal, be it pineapple or something else. Yet, as the Warden pointed out, it will only cause more suffering for those who choose to go against my will. They will eventually run out of pineapples, but we never tire. ”

[ashenwinds]

     sailor @deathsbecome sent a message in a bottle. . .

“How do I know you won’t just stab me in the back?” (duchess)

           ↪ Suspicious Sentence Starters

     Duchess simply shrugs in response to the question. One of the things that arises with the skeletal curse is unpredictability ; that one thing can lead to a response the first time, but something new the next. It brings out the worst in people and she is one who could be unpredictable before.

     “ A risk if you stay. ” An equally simple response. Although, if she were going to stab, it would be from the front. Far more satisfying to see the shock in the target's eyes.