On a Wine Dark Sea
On a Wine Dark Sea[edit]
The Pangolin makes good time that day. She surfs down long glassy waves with a following breeze, slightly heeled over to port. The cordage creaks and the mast groans. You've come to learn the ship's language. She's feeling happy and energetic, you can tell by how when she crests one of the two yard high waves she shakes her head a bit. The crew are alert but the rig needs no changing so they rest by the higher rail and chat. The off watch have come out from under the arch and a fiddle is produced. The sing and dance. During the long transit they have accepted you as one of their own. You chat and come out into the warm sun, the tilted deck no concern to your acquired 'sea legs'
A young man leans, with his back on the rail, watching the sailors sing and dance. He even makes an effort himself, picking up the choruses of the songs and joining. He does not, though, join in the dancing. He is wearing a pair of light trews and a light tunic. His fair hair is cropped quite short and he is clean shaven. His blue eyes are never still, alighting briefly on everything and everyone.
Haren too enjoys the singing and dancing, however he has no reservations about joining in. His short frame is solidly built and his dancing is as enthusiastic as the sailors, though some of the movements hint of a knowledge of more graceful and cultured dances. His dark hair, normally bound tightly at the nape of his neck, is wild and free. When still it falls past his shoulders, in the dance it whips about him as if it has a life of its own. In contrast to his hair his beard is neatly trimmed it frames an honest and open face, though at times his pale blue eyes show the toughness of diamond. He is dressed, as always, in high quality clothes that fit him well and show off his muscular body to it's best.
Haren pauses in his dancing to talk to the man leaning on the rail. "Not joining in? It's great to iron out the kinks in your muscles and expend some energy. Otherwise it's a cramped life on a boat. My name is Haren by the way."
The young man flashes a smile. "I just sing, dancing's not for me. I've two left feet and more often than not end up on me arse. I'm Gatrenus, pleased to meet you."
Redjack, the captain, and Orlfinn, the bosun, wander over. The crew don't go to attention or anything as life on the merchanters is more like a big family.
"I checked the rutter and I'd say we're a day out of I have the course right. We should look out for pirates though as these are strange waters to us."
An unhappy look develops on Haren's face. "I'm fine with keeping a lookout but you don't expect us to climb the mast, to do it, do you?" he shudders gracefully.
Orlfinn grins and looks aloft. Redjack says "oh no good friend, my crew will do this. You can keep a private watch if you like, I like to have as many eyes on the horizon as possible, but we should forewarned in plenty of time to prepare. When we get into shallow water we must be careful, armoured and armed. Many loathsome monsters lurk beneath the surface."
Tall and dark skinned Yahliz stood out from most of the crew and passengers, he lent against the rail and watched the crew cavort as the ship rose and fell with the waves. He smiled to himself before turning to Gatrenus and saying "We are making good time, I spoke with Ulfhedin and he tells me we expect to make port slightly earlier than expected as long as the wind hold true." He reaches up and makes a slight adjustment to the red turban he wear.
"Well that's good news at least. I'd better get my armour ready if we're to expect pirates though." Gatrenus says "So, where are you from? You don't see a great many hats like that where I come from."
"I hail from fair Pithdaros, city of a thousand delights." Yahliz says with a smile and looks to the west. "What of you my friend, where do you call home?"
"I grew up in Petela, so I guess that's home. I have moved around a lot since mainly working in rich houses as a servant, but I fancied a change from that so I'm looking for something different at the end of this voyage. I'm not certain pirates are what I was thinking of."
"Me neither." Haren sympathyses. "I guess that's why sea trading is so risky, but the potential rewards are great for an appropriate cargo. I never thought that I would be involved with sea trading and certainly not actually defending my investment! But then Tarsh is a long way from the sea." he says in a somewhat wistful tone.
"I think I might give my armour a quick once over as I'll need to be putting it on at some point in the near future. I'm not a fighter though, I'll just have to hope I don't chop my own leg off."
"The trick is to hit the other guy. If your sword is in him it can't be in your own leg!" Haren laughs, but he too goes off to don his armour and collect his crossbow. He returns in a few minutes the rings of his mail glinting in the sunlight and crossbow clipped to his belt.
Yahliz grinned at the interplay between the other two passengers Äah yes, pirates can be most worrisome. I have served aboard a pirate hunter when I was a younger man, we fought against those who raided our coastline." He follows the others below decks and returns wearing a Brigandine Hauberk and a scimitar at his hip and shield which he places nearby.
Gatrenus too returns to the deck clad in armour. The bronze discs of his bezainted armour glittering in the sun. He lays his shortsword and coif on the deck next to him before he resumes leaning on the rail, this time watching out to sea for hints of sails on the horizon.
Haren spots the forecastle and decides this is a good place to watch from as it is slightly elevated. It also gives him a great view of the rest of the ship so that he can cover it with his crossbow. He ties his quiver securely to the rails ready to hand but not in the way if it comes to hand-to-hand. Once settled he start searching the horizon for any signs of boats.
A curious things happens. Redjack summons all the watches and soon all twelve people are standing in a line in their armour. Redjack opens a small chest and takes out a heavy book. It is filled with pictures of two men fighting. He starts shouting commands to the crew and they undergo sword and dagger evolutions. It's quite a martial display.
After this tubs of crossbow quarrels and bundles of javelins are brought up from below. Many of the javelins are sent up to the crow's nest on a winch. The crew then brings up wooden boards that slot into the rails. They have a diamond shaped hole in them for crossbow shooting. Orlfinn comes out and nods to the players "I see you have made ready as well. If you can cast long duration spells you may want to consider when you cast them, it may be a long night and day"
"I have no such luxury, just short term stuff." Haren replies. "I hope some of those bolts are coming forward?" He asks hopefully. "I've only got the one quiver full and if it is going to be as long a day as you say then I will run out far too early."
Gatrenus shrugs, "Just got ignite. Might be handy to set a pirate ship alight but that would require touching it. I guess it'll just be short sword and slingshot."
"My spells could last for some time but I lack the power to do so and remain combat worthy. Thus my friends I shall wait until their is a creditable threat. May the Prophet send us safe seas though." Yahliz looks out to the eastern horizon and utters a silent prayer that it be so.
Gatrenus moves to the fore deck to stand with Haren. He checks the sling stones in the pouch at his belt and then carefully closes it and makes sure it is properly shut. He smiles somewhat weakly at Haren before gazing forward at the distant horizon. "How long do you think we'd have from spotting a sail in the distance to being close enough to shoot at them?" he muses.
"I have no idea." Haren replies, "I have never been on the sea before. Though I guess it is like it is on the ground. If they come from behind it could take a while, whilst from the front it will be very quick."
Yahliz continues to stare out to see watching for a sail whilst he strings his bow and checks the fletching on his arrows. Once he completes the task he continues to stare out to sea.
Something fires in Haren's brain. "Ignite. Yes! How about we create some fire arrows. I saw some in court for a demonstration. They had a point that had a cage to hold burning charcoal. We can wrap small wire cages round a bolt to do the same thing. We can then use them to take out their sails, then they may stop chasing us. Just a minute." He dashes off to gather the supplies he needs.
Haren returns after a few minute with wite and a few tools and a leather clad man. "This is Orvenn everybody. I found him below completely unaware of the excitement topside. So I brought him up to see."
Vorazang hurries up to the deck. He is also clad in leather, some of it boiled, some of it reinforced with chitin disks. His skin is brown, his eyes are dark, and his black hair hangs at shoulder length under a helm made from strips of chitin affixed to leather. Upon his back he wears a round chitin shield and a war maul, and he carries a large mace in his right hand. His somewhat homely face shows a look of concern. "What going on up here? Last thing I heard the sailors where singing, and now there's armed men rushing to the deck!"
Orvenn looks around nervously, his beady but shrewd eyes darting from one face to another. Even though he is in full view of everyone on deck, he seems to be instinctively trying to hide and is clearly uncomfortable with being the centre of attention. His entire appearance seems to be designed to avoid attention or notice. His dark hair falls untidily down to his shoulders, while his large beard shows signs of needing a trim. His Cuirboulli armour has been dyed black, but is otherwise unadorned - as are the crossbow, gladius and knives he carries.
Orvenn notes how many of the assembled crew and passengers are watching him and tries to subtly put Haren between himself and as many people as possible.
"H-hello," he stammers, in a voice that is barely audible. "I didn't realise we were arming ourselves. What's going on? Are we under attack?" His own question seems to alarm Orvenn, as starts looking around the Pangolin for another ship, nearly dislocating his neck with the violence of his head movements.
"Not yet but Redjack says we are entering waters where there may be pirates. He wanted all eyes and swords on deck in case we are attacked." Haren relays his previous conversation to the newcomers. Then grinning he can't help but add. "Isn't it exciting."
"NO!" Orvenn shrieks at Haren. "It is not exciting at all! I hitched a ride on this river wagon to avoid all this 'keep-watch-just-in-case' bullshit. I did not come here to ..." Orvenn pause for a second as he catches sight of Redjack's face, before changing direction instantly. "Did not come here to be drowned by pirates because I refused to protect this very lovely boat. Where do you need me? Somewhere safe I hope?" Orvenn laughs nervously, as if at his own joke, but his last comment still has all the hallmarks of a plea.
Redjack smiles and adds "oh, it's not just the pirates you have to worry about. No, the Kraken can haul you off the deck and into it's maw with it's mile-long tentacles. Sea-dragons can reach you in the hold or even right aloft with their long necks and the mighty Roc can sink us with one mighty boulder dropped amidships!" He theatrically shakes his head. "Perhaps it's best not to dwell on that."
Vorazang frowns. "Captain, are you expecting an attack or not? Stop trying to frighten the Sartarite and tell us what you need of us." He holds out his mace. "I'm up for smashing a few heads, if it comes to that."
His smile drops. "We always go to quarters a day out of land, but these are unknown waters. I prefer to be prepared and uncomfortable to the other option." Redjack looks across his ship, his eyes taking in tiny details. "Most pirates will sheer away with just a show of force unless they're desperate. Some, however, are just crazed."
Orlfinn comes up and reports that everything is in order. "Bloody Carrowise is pissed again," he grumbles. "I sent him below as usual. I thought we already had a bloody mascot." Redjack compresses his lips and says nothing.
Orvenn has been nervously checking the skies for Rocs, but peers shrewdly at Orlfinn and Redjack at the mention of Carrowise.
"Trouble Master Redjack? Should someone go and assist this angry young man with his duties. Enraged men are likely to make mistakes - look at the Uroxi." Orvenn slides closer to the Sailing Master and asks him in a low stage whisper, loud enough for everyone nearby to still hear, "will the hold be safe with this Calloweeze guarding it? Should one of us see to the safety of our goods? I'm sure there's many an investment in the hold that could be lost with a bad man on guard."
"Well, if Carrowise manages to break the eggs I brought aboard while he's stumbling around drunk, I'll break his arms!" Vorazang turns to Redjack. "Do you know what kind of pirates there are in these waters? How disciplined, how well armed?"
"I know what kind of pirates, the kind that would appreciate being branded and whipped in the punishment legions, a few could lose an eye so the others can learn of their own errors. Maybe the imperial navy should take a trip across this bit of sea one day." Gatrenus muses.
Various crew members nod in agreement with Gatrenus. It's unlikely they've ever seen the Empire's punishment corps but even they have heard of them and their dire discipline.
Strange Lights In The Sea[edit]
The evening light darkens and the wind drops. The sailors go aloft to bring in most of the sails as The Pangolin doesn't make way at night, it would make navigation impossible and this far out at sea with no navigation marks uncertainty as to the course could be disastrous.
The red moon rises to the north-west and the late evening crew take a sight. The moos, small and far off, leaves a track in the water like a trail of blood.
Suddenly the lookout shouts "There's a green light in the water! About two points off the port bow, a mile out."
Gatrenus clambers out of his hammock and pulls on his armour. Making sure he has all his weapons and foci with him he makes his way onto the deck. "Do pirates usually come with lights? I would have thought sneaking up unnoticed would have been a better plan."
He slips a sling shot into the sling and readies his ignite spell.
Green Pera clutches her crossbow and looks forward. "I've never seen anything like this. If it's a monster it's one I've never heard of." She looks extremely worried. "A big green light under the water? What can it be?"
Haren comes to the deck ready with two quivers one of normal arrows and one full of fire arrows. He has also brought a small brazier and large bronze tray to put it on. He is slightly disappointed that he can't test out his fire arrows. But readies his bow with a normal bolt and studies the green light to see if he can spot anything about it.
Orvenn keeps to the shadowy parts of the deck, crossbow in hand, his eyes fixed on the green light. Peering into the glow, he desperately tries to identify the light, or whatever is making it.
Yahliz rolls out of his bed grasps his scimitar and prays to Malkion to guide his blade before getting his armour on and venturing above deck. There he will String his bow and await the mysterious lights.
Vorazang invokes Gorakiki to protect him and grant him the might to strike down his foes. He then puts on his armor and readies his shield and mace before heading up to the deck.
The officers come bolting out and while buckling on armour shout orders to sheer away. The two helmsmen lean on the long tiller and The Pangolin, barely making way, starts to pull to starboard. By now it is obvious that the large green underwater glow is moving towards the ship. Redjack, wearing entire bronze plate, shouts "BATTLE STATIONS!"
The glow gets closer to the surface and then the prow of an ancient ship, glowing with phosphorescent light, breaches the water like a whale, its rotten sails swaying drunkenly and water pouring out of hatches, ports and gaping holes in the hull.
Even Orlfinn, that long traveled sailor, is taken aback at this horror. Now figures; rotting and skeletal figures, draped in rags and seaweed clamber onto the ship like spiders coming out from under a rock. The mixing of the putrid glow and the Red Moon's light makes a bloody-purple coloured scene. Foam splashes away from the hell-ship's bow as it comes forward on a breeze straight out of hell. A horrid keening/moaning cheer comes from the malformed throats of the demon craft's 'crew'.
"Haren, tell me when it's in your range and I will light up your arrow."
"Light the brazier if you would then I can use the coals for many arrows." Haren replies. "That thing is in range now, though I am not sure that it will burn, given that it sails under the sea."
"No problem." Gatrenus turns his attention to the brazier and casts ignite upon it.
"You having fun yet Tarshite?", Orvenn yells at Haren, before taking a look at the Dead Ship's hull.
"It all depends if this works or not my skulking friend." Haren replies whilst carefully picking out a couple of pieces of burning coal, keeping over the bronze tray, and puts them in the wire cage he has constructed with the tongs he borrowed. He then squeezes the wires together to prevent the coal from escaping. He takes aim at the approaching nightmare ship's sails and looses. The passage of the bolt fans the coals into flaming life.
Yahliz unconsciously made the three pointed symbol of Malkion as the ghost ship rose from the waves. "By the One true god what is that!" he exclaimed as he put an arrow to string and took aim at figure unsure if his shot would do any good. "Guide my arrow Lord of Light" he whispered as he let loose.
Vorazang's skin now looks slightly chitinous, and the bronze head of his mace now seems to radiate shadow. He turns to the crew "What manner of horror is this? Do the gods of the sea send forth the drowned dead against us?" He then raises his shield and prepares for the attack.
"Captain!" Comes a hoarse call from Porsides on the Tiller, "we're speeding up!" Redjack looks over the side and sees the water foam along the side of the hull. He looks at your group and shouts "do any of you know how that's happening?!
"Hey Redjack, that hell ship look seaworthy to you, or just held up by magic?" Orvenn looks at the sailing master. "Have we even got anything to sink it? Or do we have to sit here while you all stain your britches waiting for them to reach us?"
You can't see Redjack's eyes narrow but he stiffens in his armour. "I can't think of a way to sink a thing that pops out of the water fool! Standby for close combat!"
Arrows, slings and bolts start to fly out towards you but land feebly short. Gatrenus and Vorazang see that most of the bows and crossbows used fail after the first shot, falling to bits in the hands of the furious demons.
Haren's fire arrow sticks in the rotten sail but the saturated cloth doesn't catch fire. Gatrenus and Yahliz shoot at the packed figures on the rails and rotten rigging, hardly needing to aim. Gatrenus' stone smacks into the upper arm of one creature and it howls in pain. Yahliz' arrow goes right through an eye socket and the monster tumbles into the water thrashing in its death throes.
"Well, they feel pain and they die. Have you got a barrel of rum or brandy? We can set fire to them if we've got something flammable to throw on them." Gatrenus says "Anything more powerful than ignite might do it too, who can summon salamanders?"
Haren replies in a grunt while he reloads his crossbow. "Don't think we have time to fetch one now." His eyes remain alert searching for the opposing captain wanting to put a bolt in his head to see if that stops the attack.
Vorazang tries his best to shout over the clamor of the battle. "Does anyone want me to cast a spell of protection on them?"
"Yes, that would be great." Gatrenus yells in return.
"Then I'll do what I can!" Vorazang shouts, and begisn to call upon Gorakiki to provide her protection to Gatrenus.
"Yes please," Orvenn yells from somewhere behind Vorazang, watching as Gatrentus', Haren's and Yahliz's missiles hit home.
"So they're not undead and die to crossbows," Orvenn mutters to himself, "maybe we can survive this." Orvenn looks again at the mass of demons and shudders, "but only if we kill them all and hope that hell ship isn't sentient too." Orvenn shoulders his crossbow grimly and takes aim. "Better get started then and hope for a miracle." Muttering a prayer to Lambril in the Thief's Argot, Orvenn fires at the nearest foe.
As the opposing ship sails closer Yahliz will continue to put arrows into the ghost ship's crew. "I know not what manner of devils these are but as you say they die! So yes we will survive this my friend"
The enemy ship closes half the distance, now the 'crew' of the demon ship start throwing heavy objects wrenched from their ship's decks as well as more normal weapons.
Orlfinn shouts 'shoot!' and the watches hit the trickers of their crossbows. Bolts dart across the water towards them and whip through convulsing shapes. Some of the other, less seen staff of the ship cast odd magics. Redjack calls "ready to receive boarders!" and the crew down their crossbows and ready hand weapons.
Gatrenus stuffs his sling back into his pouch and draws his gladius, he grins at Haren before adding "We'll see if I stick this in me or them now I guess."
Yahliz drops his bow next to the quiver at his feet he draws his sword and utters "May the Prophet protect us all" as he prepares to repel boarders by moving closer to his nearest compatriot.
"Then I'll call upon the blessing of the goddess once again!" Vorazang shouts back at Orvenn, before he call upon Gorakiki to protect him as well.
Haren identifies the leader on board the ghost ship but doesn’t have a clear shot so shoots his crossbow at the nearest enemy before drawing his swords ready for boarders. He shouts across the deck.
"Their leader is hiding below the aft deck. I can’t get a shot at him. Can anyone else get to him?"
"Not with my sling, I could try and get on board when the ships meet." Gatrenus responds.
"Lets go together then." Haren smiles grimly.
Gatrenus returns the grim smiles and nods his head. "Stand by to jump on."
As the hellspawn ship closes both ships shudder to a halt side by side. The monstrous enemy lunge forward over the rails and the crew shout "House Tolmandros!". As Haren and Gatrenus hurl themselves on to the enemy ship Orlfinn sees it and shouts "Third watch! To me! Board!" The third watch and Orlfinn leap after the two heroes. All jump effectively and some of the demons, seeing the force at their rear, pause in their charge and rush back to meet the intrepid boarding party.
Orven scrambles up the ratlines, his years of climbing not even taxed by the climb, and sees a member of the crew sprawled on the bottom of the crow's nest with a rotten arrow through his arm. He looks across at the opposite crow's nest and sees a rotting horror preparing to shoot him with a bow.
Vorazng stands to with the crew at the other end of the line. The sailors seem to find strength in his forbidding presence and wave their weapons in greeting. The undead things hop, leap and crawl over the railing towards the battle line.
"What do you think's controlling these things?" Gatrenus asks Haren as they hurry across the ship "Troll or vampire?"
"I'm sure vampires are supposed to be killed by immersion in running water." Haren replies. "Though I'm not sue that a normal troll would survive long underwater either."
"I've heard of sea trolls, it could be one of those, but I don't know if they follow Zorak Zoran or not." Gatrenus responds.
"Could this be some kind of sorcery?" ask Vorazang?
Orvenn Ducks behind the crowsnest, pulls out his crossbow and takes aim at the ghoul on the other mast.
Yahliz watches the others jump to the deck of the ghost ship and shakes his head, "Madness!" he says to himself as he continues to fend off the creatures attacking his section. He turns to the closest sailors to him "Shall we join them"
As two of your number leaps the rail and tries to get to the stern cabin a string of creatures breaks away from the main group and battle is joined. Third watch and Orlfinn clamber after you to bolster your ranks. The other two watches and the rest of the crew make a stand on the main deck and the sound of snarling creatures has battle cries and snarls of the crew added to the furore. Redjack shouts out "A Tolmandros! A Tolmandros! Keep the line!" and also adds "Hobrys, watch your bloody foot-work!"
Haren has a thing rear up before him. It has a sword with the end broken off about six inches below the point and is wearing the rags of mail, scale and a nasal helm. It swings at Horven and over reaches, allowing the Tarshite to step in and run it through. Rotten scales go flying and it drops to the soft deck, foaming at the mouth.
Another thing, its face just a sodden blank, swings a massive and mouldy hammer at Gatrenus. Gatrenus blocks it with his buckler and rolls his wrist over expertly to shed the force of the blow. A second later Gatrenus has leapt past and is at the door of the stern cabin.
At the rail between the stern deck and the main deck Vorazang stands proud and smites the first over the rail. His heavy chitin mace, no doubt weighted with lead, crushes the corroded helmet of a monster just as it scrambles onto the deck. The second watch sends up a roar of enthusiasm as the creature is flung overboard by the blow.
Standing beside Vorazang is Yahliz. He leans over to attack and knocks away a spear that splits as the shield batters it. The curved sword swings down and slices deep into his foe's left shoulder.
Orven squeezes the tricker of his crossbow. The bolt sings over to the other ship but buries itself in the wood of the enemy crowsnest. The horror there throws a javelin back but it bounces off Orven's right vambrace.
Gatrenus ducks low, to avoid potential crossbow bolts, and charges into the cabin looking for a target. Haren follows Gatrenus into the cabin. He quickly checks that there is nothing following them before kicking the door closed and looking round the room for any enemies.
Yahliz remains at the rails swinging down at the demonic creatures below him. He keeps on eye on what the rest of the crew is doing prepared to move should it be necessary. Vorazang laughs while swinging his mace at the undead. "Hah! The fiends crumble under our blows! Crewmen, take up the attack, don't let them get on to the deck!"
