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Isabeau and the Stowaway (Dragonsong)

Started by Whim, January 31, 2016, 12:48:27 AM

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Whim

The cannon fire was met with a series of loud splashes. Whether something was hit was anyone's guess. The sharp turn to starboard, however, was answered with screams of rage as some of the boarding party splashed into the sea. There was now a fair distance, now, between the Poison Storm and the longboat.

"Ow! Hey! I can help! LOOK!" Ewan yelped indignantly, giving Isabeau a surly look as he was crammed into a hidey-hole. He uttered an old sylvan poem in demonstration. It was meant to conjure forth an angry spriggan, but here wasn't very much life at all to manipulate aboard the ship. There was a faint nimbus of green and a nearby barrel twisted itself into a tiny, thorny humanoid. It shrieked horribly before collapsing into a mound of rot and detritus. The boy turned red. "This' more than some weather spell. You've gotta get OUT of the fog!"

As Isabeau cleared the mist she could see some of the raiders made it aboard. There were three of them, taller than her biggest sailor, and twice as burly. Judging by their arms they were a proper war party. The Poison Storm's crew danced about the trio though none dared get in reach of their cruel-looking blades. Neil, a younger sailor whose burly frame made him cocky, lunged with a falchion. There was a scream as a shield smashed his head and a sword was driven into his belly.
Awesome avatar by Eckhart_von_Musel

Guilds:
Wyrdwood Academy of Arcane Science

Events:
The Midnight Harvest
Into the Mouth of Qokagax

Characters:
Ewan ap Rhys - once a great sorcerer, now a small boy
Anwen ferch Rhys - scholar of blood magic
Duke Blackthorn - Duke of Dawn and Dusk, Warden of Weal and Woe, and all-around evil faerie
"Kaliam" - magically conjoined apprentice wizards
Maergath - Magister of Soulshaping, necromancer, angry and hateful wizard
Narlis Thordane - Hero for hire, proud and unrepentant scumlord
Niamh Wayrest - trader in forbidden lore, purveyor of curiosities
OLIVER THE BARBARIAN - a very reluctant hero and monster-slayer
Sage Whitechalk - heir to the Whitechalk Family
Saoirse Nettlefield - Headmistress of Wyrdwood, conniving academic

DragonSong

With a wordless cry of rage, Isabeau jerked the wheel again. Reaching out with her magic, she called to the sea around them. They suddenly lurched forward as a current that hadn't existed before caught them up. The men on the deck staggered and she pulled away from the wheel.

"Oi, little mage," she glanced down at him, drawing one of her pistols from the holster at her hip. "You wanna make yourself useful? Take the helm, get us out of this damned mist. And don't get killed."

Without another word, she leaped over the rail and down onto the main deck, blade and pistol raised. "Farren, Colt, get Neil out of here!" she shouted, praying silently that the young man was even still alive.

Glaring at the invaders, she bared her teeth. "I'm the one you want, leave them out of this," she hissed.

Whim

"A bit late to lay down your arms, girl! I will lay you low before we take you," the shield-bearer growled, and advanced toward Isabeau. Perhaps he did not fear the pistol; or thought his shield would stop it.

To the left a gaunt swordsman faced off against three of the crew, swinging his greatsword in wide-arcs; a blow would surely mean death or dismemberment. One had already fallen. Two the right a younger, spry mist-raider fought Crag, two axes in hand.

"I'll try," Ewan cringed and gripped the wheel, trying to steady himself. A current tilted the Poison Storm back toward port... back toward the Longship. Ewan threw his weight onto the wheel to maintain a steady course. He was, however, just a bit too heavy. The ship spun starboard with a jolt.
Awesome avatar by Eckhart_von_Musel

Guilds:
Wyrdwood Academy of Arcane Science

Events:
The Midnight Harvest
Into the Mouth of Qokagax

Characters:
Ewan ap Rhys - once a great sorcerer, now a small boy
Anwen ferch Rhys - scholar of blood magic
Duke Blackthorn - Duke of Dawn and Dusk, Warden of Weal and Woe, and all-around evil faerie
"Kaliam" - magically conjoined apprentice wizards
Maergath - Magister of Soulshaping, necromancer, angry and hateful wizard
Narlis Thordane - Hero for hire, proud and unrepentant scumlord
Niamh Wayrest - trader in forbidden lore, purveyor of curiosities
OLIVER THE BARBARIAN - a very reluctant hero and monster-slayer
Sage Whitechalk - heir to the Whitechalk Family
Saoirse Nettlefield - Headmistress of Wyrdwood, conniving academic

DragonSong

The deck rocked beneath her feet and Isabeau stumbled back a step, cursing. She knew the Storm though, knew every roll she could make, and she found her footing more easily than the invaders.

"Lay me low?" she taunted, brandishing her cutlass and downplaying the presence of her pistol. "I'd like to see you try." Her face set in a snarl. "Come and get me then."

Whim

With a snarl the shield-bearer lunged at Isabeau. The rocking of the unfamiliar ship made it a rather clumsy charge, however.

In the distance came below of a warhorn. Pinpricks of light illuminated the misty sky, as flaming arrows rained on the helm of the Poison Storm. Ewan yelped and ducked into the hole Isabeau stuffed him into earlier; wood splintering all around him. The mist and seaspray dampened most of the pitch, but one arrow ignited a nightby coil of rope.

If he wasn't barefoot Ewan might have stamped it out. His eyes darted around for something not-wooden to smother it with, but there was nothing... except the mop mucket! Ewan scampered down the stairs. Heft the bucket with a grunt. His ascent was much slower as he struggled with the heavy bucket, "Fire! Help!" the boy shrieked.

With the boy no longer at the wheel, the ship began to veer toward Gulbrannd...
Awesome avatar by Eckhart_von_Musel

Guilds:
Wyrdwood Academy of Arcane Science

Events:
The Midnight Harvest
Into the Mouth of Qokagax

Characters:
Ewan ap Rhys - once a great sorcerer, now a small boy
Anwen ferch Rhys - scholar of blood magic
Duke Blackthorn - Duke of Dawn and Dusk, Warden of Weal and Woe, and all-around evil faerie
"Kaliam" - magically conjoined apprentice wizards
Maergath - Magister of Soulshaping, necromancer, angry and hateful wizard
Narlis Thordane - Hero for hire, proud and unrepentant scumlord
Niamh Wayrest - trader in forbidden lore, purveyor of curiosities
OLIVER THE BARBARIAN - a very reluctant hero and monster-slayer
Sage Whitechalk - heir to the Whitechalk Family
Saoirse Nettlefield - Headmistress of Wyrdwood, conniving academic

DragonSong

Easily dancing out of her opponents reach, Isabeau used the rocking of the ship to her advantage. Taunting him, trying to get him to overextend or leave an opening she could exploit.

Then she heard Ewan's scream and she whirled around, eyes flicking from the fire to the unmanned helm. She gritted her teeth and cursed, lunging out of the way as the shield-bearer made a move for her back.

She didn't have time for this. "Crag!" she shouted, calling for the massive pirate to distract her opponent as she leaped for the wheel. She barely cast a glance at the boy tucked away in hiding, gripping the wheel and clenching her jaw as she strained against the pull of the sea.

She managed to get the Storm straightened out, but they were still far too close to Gulbrannd's boat. "Cabin boy, get below deck," she barked out, not looking at him, all her attention focused on piloting the ship. There was a set of stairs from the upper deck, he wouldn't have to brave the fighting. "Get some water from the gally and take care of the fire!"


Whim

The shieldbearer missed Isabeau entirely. Slamming into a nearby crate. It smashed to pieces, spilling canvas meant to patch the sail every which way.

"Aye Captain!" the axeman swung for Crag. The sailor was quicker, though, and raised his harpoon like a boar spear. The axeman sank his weight onto it and was down. And without skipping a beat, the hulking sailor slid a falchion from his belt and leapt toward the shieldbearer.

A second went flying overboard in a spray of blood; the gaunt swordsman slew him with a deft pivot. Farren was above deck now to replaced at least one of the fallen men.

Ewan dumped the mop brine onto the rope. It drenched part of the deck and coil. The boy scrambled down the stairs and toward the galley. He paused on the landing amidst the frey. The mist raiders were inhuman. Surely another spell woudln't hurt? He'd do something simpler and get it right. He uttered another verse; in a flash of green a pair of crabs sprung from his palm. He scowled. It was supposed to be bees!
Awesome avatar by Eckhart_von_Musel

Guilds:
Wyrdwood Academy of Arcane Science

Events:
The Midnight Harvest
Into the Mouth of Qokagax

Characters:
Ewan ap Rhys - once a great sorcerer, now a small boy
Anwen ferch Rhys - scholar of blood magic
Duke Blackthorn - Duke of Dawn and Dusk, Warden of Weal and Woe, and all-around evil faerie
"Kaliam" - magically conjoined apprentice wizards
Maergath - Magister of Soulshaping, necromancer, angry and hateful wizard
Narlis Thordane - Hero for hire, proud and unrepentant scumlord
Niamh Wayrest - trader in forbidden lore, purveyor of curiosities
OLIVER THE BARBARIAN - a very reluctant hero and monster-slayer
Sage Whitechalk - heir to the Whitechalk Family
Saoirse Nettlefield - Headmistress of Wyrdwood, conniving academic

DragonSong

Swearing colorfully, Isabeau jerked the wheel, shouting to anyone who was listening, "Reload the guns and fire!"

Keeping one hand on the wheel, her eyes flickered over the chaos on deck and she hefted her pistol, took aim, and fired.

Damn! She hadn't managed to kill the swordsman, but she at least clipped him in the shoulder.

With a cry of pure anger and exertion, she threw her hand out toward the sea, raising a wave between the Poison Storm and the longship. The ship rocked beneath them but she held her ground and pulled, forcing them further away.

Whim

The swordsman bellowed in pain as the bullet grazed him; Floren used it as a chance to rake a harpoon across his back. The mist-raider spun like a wounded bear and backed toward the bow of the ship, severely weakened. Meanwhile Crag and the shieldbarer were dueling. Crag was a good fighter, but had little choice but to hack at the shield with his heavy blade. The shieldbarer rushed forward, shield out, and slammed Crag, unwounded, overboard.

Ewan searched below-deck in a panic.  Nothing was labeled, likely because no one could read. And the other sailors were tending to Neil or at the guns. He turned the tap on a nearby keg, rum, that wouldn't do. He tried another; more rum. Finally, he reached the drinking water. It was better than nothing and a lost bucket-full was better than burning to death. The newly minted cabin boy lugged the bucket to the upper deck. His arms ached and he was panting as the last of the fire was quenched. "S-sorry I'm late. Do you want me to steer... again?"

With some distance between the Poison Storm and the Longship the canons were lined up to fire. Sure enough, one shot clipped the mast and tore off the sail. There would be no pursuit at least! In the distance Gulbrannd could be seen waving his hands... the mist seemed to retreat and thicken around the vessel - obscuring it.
Awesome avatar by Eckhart_von_Musel

Guilds:
Wyrdwood Academy of Arcane Science

Events:
The Midnight Harvest
Into the Mouth of Qokagax

Characters:
Ewan ap Rhys - once a great sorcerer, now a small boy
Anwen ferch Rhys - scholar of blood magic
Duke Blackthorn - Duke of Dawn and Dusk, Warden of Weal and Woe, and all-around evil faerie
"Kaliam" - magically conjoined apprentice wizards
Maergath - Magister of Soulshaping, necromancer, angry and hateful wizard
Narlis Thordane - Hero for hire, proud and unrepentant scumlord
Niamh Wayrest - trader in forbidden lore, purveyor of curiosities
OLIVER THE BARBARIAN - a very reluctant hero and monster-slayer
Sage Whitechalk - heir to the Whitechalk Family
Saoirse Nettlefield - Headmistress of Wyrdwood, conniving academic

DragonSong

"Aye," Isabeau grunted, beckoning him forward. "Put all your weight in it, lad, keep us on course."

Without another word she swung herself over the rail and back to the main deck. He took aim with her pistol again and let off another shot. This one lodged in the shieldbearer's shoulder, but she didn't wait to see what became of him.

With a snarl she lunged toward the bow, cutlass raised and slashing at the swordsman, driving him back step by step with a fierce clanging of steel against steel.

Whim

Ewan gripped the wheel again. The subtleties of the rudder below were unfamiliar. The ship zigzagged slightly as he put his weight against the pull of the current, practically hanging off the wheel at times.

Tight-lipped and stealy-eyed the swordsman fought Isabeau hard. He stepped back, to the very edge of the ship, and raised his weapon high to bring down. There was no way the captain would be able to parry such a tremendous blow... but he missed, leaving himself wide open.

The shieldbearer was surely the toughest of the three. Even with failing strength he was formidable. Shield-dropped from his wounded arm, his face twisted in pain, he fought off two crewman who broke off from the swordsman. He managed to land a brutal cut across Finn's left shoulder and the boy fell back with a scram. The mist-raider was unable to finish him off, however, as Floren pierced his chest with a harpoon from behind.

"Oi! Man overboard!" Floren belowed, rushing to the edge where Crag had fallen minutes earlier.

How do you stop a ship? Ewan pondered. There were no reins to pull. He gave the wheel a hard spin to the right and the vessel jolted.
Awesome avatar by Eckhart_von_Musel

Guilds:
Wyrdwood Academy of Arcane Science

Events:
The Midnight Harvest
Into the Mouth of Qokagax

Characters:
Ewan ap Rhys - once a great sorcerer, now a small boy
Anwen ferch Rhys - scholar of blood magic
Duke Blackthorn - Duke of Dawn and Dusk, Warden of Weal and Woe, and all-around evil faerie
"Kaliam" - magically conjoined apprentice wizards
Maergath - Magister of Soulshaping, necromancer, angry and hateful wizard
Narlis Thordane - Hero for hire, proud and unrepentant scumlord
Niamh Wayrest - trader in forbidden lore, purveyor of curiosities
OLIVER THE BARBARIAN - a very reluctant hero and monster-slayer
Sage Whitechalk - heir to the Whitechalk Family
Saoirse Nettlefield - Headmistress of Wyrdwood, conniving academic

DragonSong

Isabeau knew she'd gotten lucky, but she wasn't about to question it. She lunged forward and drove her blade through the mist raider's side, the force of the blow driving him back against the rail of the ship.

"Go to hell," she hissed, jerking her cutlass back and planting a foot in his chest, toppling him overboard.

She spun to observe her crew, feeling a flash of relief as the shieldbearer was dispatched.

But Crag was still in the water. And the cabin boy didn't know how to steer- or stop- a ship. "Bring her about!" she shouted, racing back across the deck toward the helm. She reached out with her magic at the same time, bending the currents around them to spin and slow the Storm.

Whim

"I'm trying!" Ewan kept his weight on the wheel, scowling a bit as he was shunted aside.

The ship made a hard turn, creeking to a halt as it lost momentum and the ocean stilled. The mean gathered ropes and nets to toss overboard toward Crag, who bobbed up and down the calmed sea. The misty silhouette of the longship seemed to fade.

"We're getting Craig out now, Captain," Floren ascended the steps, spitting a wad of blood from his mouth. "Got two wounded. Two goners. Gonna rummage the last bastard and tosss 'im overboard. Less ya want his ugly mug to mount.

Relief and good spirits settled over the crew as the mist raiders were vanquished. But there was confusion in the air; they were used to boarding, not being boarded, in the lawless Tuor oceans.
Awesome avatar by Eckhart_von_Musel

Guilds:
Wyrdwood Academy of Arcane Science

Events:
The Midnight Harvest
Into the Mouth of Qokagax

Characters:
Ewan ap Rhys - once a great sorcerer, now a small boy
Anwen ferch Rhys - scholar of blood magic
Duke Blackthorn - Duke of Dawn and Dusk, Warden of Weal and Woe, and all-around evil faerie
"Kaliam" - magically conjoined apprentice wizards
Maergath - Magister of Soulshaping, necromancer, angry and hateful wizard
Narlis Thordane - Hero for hire, proud and unrepentant scumlord
Niamh Wayrest - trader in forbidden lore, purveyor of curiosities
OLIVER THE BARBARIAN - a very reluctant hero and monster-slayer
Sage Whitechalk - heir to the Whitechalk Family
Saoirse Nettlefield - Headmistress of Wyrdwood, conniving academic

DragonSong

Isabeau nodded tiredly, finally moving forward to take the wheel. "Let the sea take him," she told Floren tiredly. "Get the wounded below decks. We will honor the dead when we've got that ship far to our aft end."

Her eyes flicked back to the receding mist. Without looking wat Ewan, she said gruffly, "Not bad, cabin boy. You hurt?"

Whim

"Snails! Who were they?" his tone grew more gentle. He supposed even pirates, privateers, or whatever Isabeau was had mothers, "And's your mother in danger from them? Is she like you?" Passage back to Serendipity, and jumping ship at port, seemed a dim possibility.

Cabin boy. He wrinkled his nose at the title.

"And I'm fine. I just almost got shot, is all..." Ewan replied, peering onto the deck with a shiver. Maybe it was some inborn jumpiness, or being smaller than everyone, but violence never ceased to be frightening.
Awesome avatar by Eckhart_von_Musel

Guilds:
Wyrdwood Academy of Arcane Science

Events:
The Midnight Harvest
Into the Mouth of Qokagax

Characters:
Ewan ap Rhys - once a great sorcerer, now a small boy
Anwen ferch Rhys - scholar of blood magic
Duke Blackthorn - Duke of Dawn and Dusk, Warden of Weal and Woe, and all-around evil faerie
"Kaliam" - magically conjoined apprentice wizards
Maergath - Magister of Soulshaping, necromancer, angry and hateful wizard
Narlis Thordane - Hero for hire, proud and unrepentant scumlord
Niamh Wayrest - trader in forbidden lore, purveyor of curiosities
OLIVER THE BARBARIAN - a very reluctant hero and monster-slayer
Sage Whitechalk - heir to the Whitechalk Family
Saoirse Nettlefield - Headmistress of Wyrdwood, conniving academic

DragonSong

"I have no idea who they were," she muttered, still glaring at the band of fog in the distance. Then she stiffened a bit and looked down at the boy.

"My...mother is beyond harm," she said gruffly. Tilting her head, she gave him a quick look up and down. "Well, as long as it was almost," she muttered.

With a sigh she ran her hand through her hair. She wanted to check on her wounded crew, but she couldn't leave the helm. "Get below deck," she told Ewan. "See how my injured are holding up and report back."

Whim

Ewan nodded and turned to go. Then the boy paused midstep, asking with hesitation. "Do you have a healer on board?" Might not be scrubbing decks if I can prove useful. "My, um, my spells work better when no one's trying to kill me."
Awesome avatar by Eckhart_von_Musel

Guilds:
Wyrdwood Academy of Arcane Science

Events:
The Midnight Harvest
Into the Mouth of Qokagax

Characters:
Ewan ap Rhys - once a great sorcerer, now a small boy
Anwen ferch Rhys - scholar of blood magic
Duke Blackthorn - Duke of Dawn and Dusk, Warden of Weal and Woe, and all-around evil faerie
"Kaliam" - magically conjoined apprentice wizards
Maergath - Magister of Soulshaping, necromancer, angry and hateful wizard
Narlis Thordane - Hero for hire, proud and unrepentant scumlord
Niamh Wayrest - trader in forbidden lore, purveyor of curiosities
OLIVER THE BARBARIAN - a very reluctant hero and monster-slayer
Sage Whitechalk - heir to the Whitechalk Family
Saoirse Nettlefield - Headmistress of Wyrdwood, conniving academic

DragonSong

She stared at him for a moment. "If you think you can help, do it," she said briskly, returning her attention to the sea. "I don't want to lose anymore of my crew today."

Whim

Ewan toddled down to the lower galley where Neil was splayed across a table, moaning. Bloody linens were wrapped about his midsection. Floren had given him liquor to dull the pain; the older pirate sat in silence.

"The captain sent me to help. " Ewan sidled near the pair. The wound to Neil's gut was deep. A good healer might stitch it well, but even then it might turn if it wasn't washed; it'd be a miracle of this lot remembered to heat the needle. Ewan felt officious enough on the matter of wound closure to dispell his usual shyness, "You should wet the cut with some rum."

"Ain't stupid, kid, I know that. Go make yourself useful"

"Well, I know some sorcery, you know. I could fix him. Is he stitched?" the boy replied haughtily. Could he heal him?

Floren just grunted in bemusement. The boy stepped forward and peeled back the linens, crusted to Neil's skin. He wondered if there would be a fountain of blood, but rags and rum wouldn't do here. The odor was horrible. Just then, Neil stirred, making Ewan recoil in fright. "I don't meant to hurt you! I can do a spell to- to make your skin grow back. It'll close up properly! I promise!"

Meanwhile Crag, recently hauled from the ocean, climbed to the upper deck. "Men want to know if you're going back in for the kill, Captain. Though I reckon we can't handle a sorcerer," Crag laid a hand on his knife-hilt. "Though we'd ought to return the favor. Lost my damn sword! Funny thing is I think they got the wrong ship. Lady they describe don't sound like your ma."

"Orders?" the big man straightened his posture, wincing at a wound.
Awesome avatar by Eckhart_von_Musel

Guilds:
Wyrdwood Academy of Arcane Science

Events:
The Midnight Harvest
Into the Mouth of Qokagax

Characters:
Ewan ap Rhys - once a great sorcerer, now a small boy
Anwen ferch Rhys - scholar of blood magic
Duke Blackthorn - Duke of Dawn and Dusk, Warden of Weal and Woe, and all-around evil faerie
"Kaliam" - magically conjoined apprentice wizards
Maergath - Magister of Soulshaping, necromancer, angry and hateful wizard
Narlis Thordane - Hero for hire, proud and unrepentant scumlord
Niamh Wayrest - trader in forbidden lore, purveyor of curiosities
OLIVER THE BARBARIAN - a very reluctant hero and monster-slayer
Sage Whitechalk - heir to the Whitechalk Family
Saoirse Nettlefield - Headmistress of Wyrdwood, conniving academic

DragonSong

Isabeau was silent for a long moment.

Eventually she murmured, "They'll be back, we don't need to hunt them down." Somehow she was sure of that. Setting her shoulders, she watched the sea ahead with flinty eyes. "And next time we'll be better prepared."

Glancing at Crag, she considered for a moment then said, "For now we stay the course. Find a place to make port, resupply, let the wounded recover." She looked away again. "Cabin boy's below decks with Neil. Go see if he's actually making himself useful."

She needed to be alone, needed to think.

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