The Raiders of the Scarlet Sails (IC)

[Aussie_Wolf]

Wulf had tried a few swings with his massive warhammer and realized it would be almost useless in a fight underwater. The one good thing about it though was that it was very heavy and kept him close to the bottom. He kept it strapped to his back and pulled his two small hand hammers. Each of them had a head half the size of his warhammer and he normally kept them on his belt only for emergencies.

As he swung them he smiled.They were better but still not great. He thought about ways he could improve as they moved down the passageway when they were set upon by the sea devils. Wulf had more time to react than the others as he had been swimming much closer to the bottom than the others. As the sea devils attacked he swung his hammers and felt their weight tug him first one way then the other as he connected with a couple of them. They were thrown back in a cloud of blood. and he smiled as he looked ahead of him but failed to see the one coming at him from above.

The first he knew about it was when he was hit from behind and flung forward. He somersaulted through the water and righted himself before glancing back, spotting a large devil glaring at him. It held a trident and glared at him. "Lucky human. Face me and die."

Smiling Wulf shifted his grip on his hammers and placed his hands just below the head of his weapons. Swimming forward he blocked the thrust of the trident with the hammer in his right hand, deflecting it away and then launched a punch into the devils eye. The hammers head crashed into and then through the crazed creatures eye, covering his hand in ichor as it plunged deep inside the things brain.

Pulling it out he winced and then searched all around him. he spotted several more of them and laughing swam towards them. It was time to treat this like a barroom brawl. No more swinging widely with his weapons, he would just use them to make his hands more powerful.

 

[milkmaiden38]

Front Guard

Red looked over to Blade. “What took you so long?” She asked as she deflected one trident thrust at her and cut the arms off that were holding it. Then she grabbed the trident and threw it upwards into the sea devil attacking her from above. The weapon went right through its skull, killing it dead. Unfortunately, it also made it heavier, and body floated downward bumping into Blade.

“Oops sorry about that” Red said as she noticed all the Sea Devil had been killed in front of the group. The last one was fighting Wulf, who surprising was in a boxing like stance. She watched as he ducked a trident thrust and got inside the weapon’s reach right in the Sea Devil’s face. Then he boxed the creature’s ears with both his hands. She was not expecting his punches to cave the creature’s head in. But they did. Then she noticed the small hammers in his hands.

“WOW… Wulf really does not fight fair” She commented to Blade

Rear Guard

Silver Tooth, Borba, and Aguk were holding their own, but just barely. Silver tooth was bleeding from an arm cut and Borba had taken a trident spear in the thigh. But both continued to fight. Jura was in the middle of the defensive line and filled in some to help Silver Tooth and Borba. Jura had not killed any Sea Devils, it was clear he was fighting a delaying action until more help came. Jabnil was the first to add numbers to their defense. She was a faster and more nimble swimmer than the sea devils. That was deadly by itself, but her sword “beacon” with its intense light blinded the demons, so they could not defend themselves correctly. She took out three of them so quickly that Jura was not sure who had done it at first.

When Nye showed up that was the end of the sea devils. Octofolk know how to fight under water and with so many ways to attack a foe, they were very deadly. Nye cleaned up any remaining Sea Devils, Jabnil had missed.

The team reformed

“Ok great job everyone, that is how to fight underwater! Let keep moving” Red ordered. Jabnil had used a healing spell on Silver Tooth and Borba, which stopped any bleeding and got them back up to 90%. The team moved on into a large room which was clearly a barrack for the Sea Devils. The room housed hundreds of them at one time. Since the plant creature killed most of them and they had killed the rest during the ambush, the place was empty. There were two side chambers on either side of the room.

“Blade, you and Nye check out the right hand side room. Wulf and Jabnil the left” Red ordered “everyone else search this room. I guard the main entrance” She said as she swam to it.

 

[Aussie_Wolf]

Wulf had got a handle on this underwater fighting. It was much easier thinking of it as tavern fighting than actual weapons fighting. He could still use the heads of his small warhammers to block and turn aside the tridents of the sea devils, but he much preferred getting in close to them so they could no longer use them.

Of course that meant they could then use their powerful jaws and talons on him but he had been avoiding blows from peoples heads and hands in bar room fights for years so it was second nature to him.

As they regrouped and Red gave him and Jabnil their new orders he smiled. He swam over to the door and gestured for her to take up a position behind him. "You and your swords protect my back beautiful, let me go first. I can scare them away with my ugly face," he chuckled.

Opening the door he swam through expecting to come upon more enemies but he saw nothing. Shrugging he gestured Jabnil to follow and he slowly swam further in. The place didn't look like much, a decent sized room with shelves and hooks on the wall. On some of them hung tridents and on one a large set of keys. Wulf thought about the layout of the room and he brightened. "It's a guard room," he said turning to Jabnil just as a shadow passed behind her.

He swiveled and noticed several more on the floor and then glancing up on the ceiling. He couldn't make them out and he gestured Jabnil to approach him and they moved back to back. "Can you use your sword to create some light in here?" Jabnil nodded and soon a glow lit up the room revealing 8 large eels gliding around them.

Actually large was not the word, they were huge. The smallest was the size of his leg in both size and width while the largest was almost his height. He watched them and was just about to lash out at one when he noticed small discharges coming off it. "Oh hell, electric eels and this big. No wonder the Devils had no fear leaving this room."

Wulf had no choice and gripped the ends of his hammers handles again. The wooden leather wrapped handles and granite heads would protect him from the electricity of the eels as long as they did not touch his skin. He only hoped Jabnils enchanted swords and her natural Angelic powers would do the same for her.

Smiling grimly he hefted his hammers. "Okay you slippery fucks, who's first?"

 

[TertiusHuman]

"Aye cap'n"

With Nye's help the door swung open and Blade entered. Some light filtered in from barred windows, but the room was gloomy and dark. Blade casted about, looking for a way to add more light to the room, when movement caught his eye. Nye's warning coming almost too late.

A huge claw slashed at Blade from the darkness, it looked like a normal crab claw, but the mottled grey surface and protruding spikes looked like that of a rock crab. Blade used his feet against the claw to push himself away from the attack. Loud clicks sounded in the gloom and half of the room shifted.

"Oh shit."

Nye was beside him, "Oh shit indeed. I thought the Giant Rock Crabs were all gone."

"Clearly not. Watch out!"

They split up as a claw lashed at them, then the claw snapped closed with a loud snap, the sound enough to almost knock Blade unconscious. He hated underwater fighting!! His blades would be useless against the creature. They needed somebody like Jura or Wulf, but he was sure they had their own worries.

"Nye, the eyes or belly?"

"Belly! Don't try the eyes!!"

Great! Now fucking what?

As the crab shifted to track Nye, Blade noticed huge harpoons stacked in a corner. Well that gave them a chance if the wooden shafts had not rotted away. He swam down to inspect the harpoons as the crab attacked the ellusive Nye.

The harpoons turned out to be metal and they had to be newly purloined as there wasn't even a speck of rust on them. "Nye! Harpoons!!"

The massive crab whirled to locate Blade, "Aw shit."

 

[milkmaiden38]

Wulf and Jabnil

“Electric Eels, are you kidding me?” Jabnil complained as her back was against Wulf’s.

“One shock will knock you on your ass, bitch” The Healer Sword told Jabnil.

“I know that… tell me something useful” Jabnil asked her two swords.

“The electric eel formal name is Electrophorus electricus” The Beacon Sword stated in his pompous voice.

“Ok you two are useless. Just shut up!’ Jabnil ordered her swords and then said to Wulf. “Ranged weapons are the only way to go here.” Jabnil suggested as the eels started to circle closer to them. The only good ranged weapons in the room were the tridents on the wall. Unfortunately the circling eels made it hard to get near them. “I’m going to make a break for the tridents. Cover me!” Jabnil said and took off before Wulf could agree to her risky plan.

With her powerful angel wings she shot across the room as the eels circled. Her timing was good as she only ran into two eels as she tried to get to the tridents on the wall. Her swords killed the first eel even before it had time to react. Jabnil had sliced the monster in half and then in half again. Unfortunately the creature released a massive surge of electricity before it was dead. The result was Jabnil screamed in pain as a spark jumped from the eel to her swords. The electric shock did blast Jabnil across the room. She impacted against the wall near the tridents. The weapons all came off the wall and fell on top of Jabnil, as she sank down, her knees no longer willing to hold her up. The second eel approached her, its body starting to spark!!

Nye and Blade

Nye was as surprised as Blade to see the monstrous crab in the armory. She concluded almost right away that she needed to distract the crab while Blade found some weapon useful to fight it. She was a great swimmer and in an open space she would have had no difficulties staying away from it. However, the room was pretty small and the crab was quick.

Nye had parried a few claw attacks, avoided a few others, but she was running out of places to escape. A huge snapping claw came at her and she dodged away from it. The claw missed her upper arm by inches. Nye only place to escape as a corner of the room. The creature made a strange clicking noise as it now had Nye trapped. There was no place for Nye to go. The massive claws snapped with menace as Nye got behind an empty weapon rack. But the crab grabbed the rack with both claws and torn it apart. Pieces of the rack floated slowly down to the armory’s floor.

Nye released her octopus black ink cloud to hide herself, but it was no defense. The crab knew exactly where she was. Then Blade yelled "Nye! Harpoons!!"

Nye felt the massive crab whirled about to face Blade. Followed by Blade's "Aw shit."

 

[TertiusHuman]

Blade threw two harpoons in quick succession. But not at the crab, at Nye. As he dodged the massive claws, a harpoon in his hands, he just hoped that Nye would strike the soft underbelly from behind. It was only time before his luck would run out...

Speaking of luck...how long did underwater breathing potions last?

That thought spurred Blade on, since he had no intention of drowning and since Red would actually face the same dilemma and his bag of tricks wasn't really all that hot on the underwater game since he's been above water most of his life, he knew they had to come to a resolution of their problem and fast.

 

[Aussie_Wolf]

Wulf yelled to Jabnil to wait but the silly woman jetted off. Damn Angel. At least her wings let her swim bloody fast down here. Of course that just meant he was alone surrounded by eels with no backup.

Sighing he moved as fast as he could after her, which wasn't that damn fast. He had to keep looking all around him as the sneaky bastards darted in as soon as he took his eyes off them. Luckily a swift blow to the body or head drove them off. As he thought, as long as he held his hammers by the shaft he received nothing but a mild tingle. However his blows were much slower and he was not doing much damage. Still he was sure he was giving them a few headaches.

Suddenly he heard a scream and he looked up as a flash of light lit up the room and he saw Jabnil fly across the room and into the rack of tridents she had been aiming for and slump onto the ground slowly. The tridents lazily fell around her, some coming close to stabbing her and he barely had time to register the floating remains of one eel and another moving towards her before he had to turn and beat off another that had gotten too close.

Damn he would never make it too her in time. Thinking quickly he swung his hammer in his right hand up and then threw with all his might. He barely had time to register the head hitting the eel in it's flank and driving it into the wall before he again blocked another attack. Unfortunately he was too slow and the eels body grazed his knuckles.

He cried out in pain as he was blasted backwards and he crashed into the same wall. The good news was he was now close to Jabnil and the tridents. The bad news was that every nerve in his body was screaming at him, he could hardly control his movements and six hungry eels were approaching them.

 

[milkmaiden38]

Nye and Blade

Nye grabbed the harpoons thrown at her. She saw her opening with the giant Crab facing Blade. Its back faced her. She took advantage of the situation and slammed both harpoons into the soft underbelly of the creature from behind. The creature screamed in pain and whirled around to face her. Blade now sprang up on top of the Crab’s back and cut off its eye stalks. There was more screaming, but with no eye sight, Nye and Blade quickly finished it off.

Nye grinned at Blade “You know what Red would say right now…”

Blade groaned “That monster was very Crabby?” he guessed

“That pun sucked… but it will do in a pinch.” Nye said back to him. He groaned more.

“You clawed your way out of that situation” Blade said to continue the puns. Then he got a serious look on his face. “Hey, how long do these underwater breathing potions last?”

Nye smiled “usually 24 hours, but the powerful potions can last a week or more.”

“That makes me feel better” Blade said.

“You can breathe easier now…” Nye said, making another bad pun.

“Just stop… Let’s search the room” Blade suggested.

Jabnil and Wulf

Wulf had provided just enough time for Jabnil to recover and regain her feet. But she knew one more shock like that and she’d be out cold. Her focus was clear and she knew what she needed to do. She grabbed a handful of tridents and started to throw them at the approaching eels. It was like shooting fish in a barrel… or maybe a better saying might be… it was like spearing giant eels in an underwater guardroom? Not sure that saying is going too caught on. Anyhow, Jabnil took out 5 of the approaching eels when she ran out of tridents.

“Shit! I miss counted!!” She gasped as the last one zeroed in on her. She darted away at the last second using her angel wings. That was when the eel found out Wulf was standing right behind Jabnil, and when she darted away, Wulf threw the trident he was holding. It plunged right through the surprised eel’s face, killing it dead.

“Ok, let’s search this room” Jabnil suggested.

 

[Aussie_Wolf]

Wulf grabbed Jabnils arm and swung the angel around and then pulled her too him and kissed her hard and fiercely then pushed her away to arm's length. "Don't ever do that again you stupid woman," he yelled at her. "You almost got yourself killed and I don't know what I would do without you..." Suddenly he blushed fiercely and let her go. "Ah that is we wouldn't know what to do without you...you know the whole crew...not just me..ah whatever..."

He blushed even redder as she grinned even wider and then he threw up his hands. "Ah so I have feelings for you you stupid woman. Don't get a swelled head."

As they started searching the room he looked at her and realized just how much this Angel had come to mean to him. Damn he had never felt this way before about another crew member before and he wondered if it was going to change anything. Still he didn't care. He liked her and he was no longer going to hide it.

He opened a rusty chest by smashing the lock and looked inside. Two more tridents were inside and he wondered why they had been locked up when the others had been in the rack, then he caught a faint glow around them. "Jabnil can you come over here. maybe you or your swords can tell if these things are magical or not," he said as he pulled them out.

 

[TertiusHuman]

The search was hampered by the carcass of the huge crab and already minnows were showing up to feast on the bounty of meat. The room appeared to be empty and just as Blade were about to call it a day and get out of there, a rippling in the water caused by the carrion eaters caused a dim ray of light to glint from something.

Blade swam closer and found a ring lodged inside the carapace of the crab, it was something strange to find, but Blade decided that it could only have belonged to a victim of the crab. He slipped the ring onto his finger and felt a slight surge of energy rush through his body. He didn't feel any different, so he just swam out of the room, "Nothing but a big fucking crab in there and please no puns."

 

[milkmaiden38]

Jabnil

There was very little Jabnil had not seen before. She had been an Angel for many many years. However, she had never been in love before and she had never had someone love her before. Wulf’s words and his kiss had thrown her for a loop. She was in shock, and it was not from the giant eels! She went about searching the room, but it was in an autopilot way.

Wulf’s voice called her over to the magical tridents. Jabnil swam over.

“Wulf… I don’t know what to say. I have never experienced human love before.” Jabnil said is a quiet and confused voice.

Wulf smiled at her “Jabnil, I’m not sure any of us, humans understand love any better. But I know how I feel about you.”

Jabnil kissed Wulf full on. It was a passionate kiss with both of their feeling flowing between their lips. Jabnil realized that this kind of kissing was different then the casual kissing and sex she had before. This kiss had feeling behind it. She wanted to experience love, but there was no time right now. As they broke apart Jabnil whispered “I think I need to explore my feeling for you back on the ship!” She gasped.

Wulf smiled “I’d like that” He answered. He pointed to the magical tridents “Back to work?” he asked.

“Yes” Jabnil answered as she looked at the tridents. “These tridents were crafted by Cecaelians or Octofolk.” She said as she picked one up. “Shit… This one has some pretty strong magical powers.” Jabnil noted. She picked up the other one and added “This one too. The full extent of their powers, I cannot fathom. But the wielder of these weapons will gain a dramatic increase in strength and speed. I also think they can only be welded by those fighting Sea Devils.” Jabnil concluded and handed the tridents to Wulf.

Everyone moves forward

The two of them joined the main group, trying to look natural. Red was too busy talking to Blade and Nye to notice their return. “We are looking for the treasure, not playing with sea life… remember. Let’s stay focused.” Red said to Blade and Nye. Then she looked over to Wulf and Jabnil.

“Ready to move forward?” Red asked in a sarcastic way to Jabnil and Wulf.

“In more ways, than you think!” Jabnil whispered to Wulf, then louder for Red to hear “Aye Captain”

“Ok… Let’s get that treasure!” Red said as she opened the door.

They entered a chamber filled with bones. It looked like a shark holding tank, but there were no sharks in it. Red entered the chamber. There were two ways out of it, a normal door or an opening in the facing rock wall. That opening looked like a secret door, which had been left open for some reason. Red took that opening and it led to a secret crypt.

In the darkened cave, a ship’s anchor was driven into the ground. The heavy chain from the anchor was coiled around the skeletal remains of a murdered sea captain. The rotten remains of the captain’s coat still hung from the skeleton’s frame. Dangling from the skeleton’s neck was a strange looking silver pendant. Who this betrayed captain was … could not be determined.

There was a very strong aura of despair near the skeleton. The water was also cursed and so foul that nothing could breathe near the skeleton. Red did not get that close.

“What is this?” She asked

Nye answered “It looks like The Ancient Mariner… of legend” She gasped in amazement. “Killed by his own crew for his misdeeds, and left to rot on the bottom of the sea”

The skeleton’s eyes glowed. “Ahoy… Captain Red, you busty sea slut! If only I were a thousand years younger!! I’d be bending you over the wheel house! ” The skeleton said laughing at its own joke. The despair in the room seemed to lessen. “I cannot harm you or your crew, I’m a bit tied up, you see.” the skeleton joked as he rattle his chains. “Anchor to my work, you might say!” The skeleton joked some more.

“He is harming me with these puns! They are as bad as yours, Captain” Nye commented. Red ignore her statement.

“Legend has it, you can grant wishes!” Red said in excitement to the skeleton.

“I wish I could plunder yer booty Red!! But nay, ye lily-livered swabby... that is just a sea story. But I can provide insight to the future. I shall grant each of ye yellow-bellied privateers a single answer to a question.” The skeleton offered.

Red thought for a second and asked “What will make me truly happy?”

The skeleton smiles in a ghastly way “Red, you already know the answer to that question and he is standing beside you. You wasted your question, you silly sea bass!”

Red looked over to Blade, who was next to her. “I guess I did” She said with some confidence as she kissed Blade.

 

[Aussie_Wolf]

Wulf was pretty happy with his life. He had an arranged marriage with a woman that made him the king of the sea and gave him access to a secure fort and a relatively large fortune. His 'Wife' was also good looking and very sexually active and did not mind if he had other partners. Really what more could a pirate ask for.

He had also just found another perfect woman to hopefully share his bed. Jabnil was truly spectacular in both beauty and fighting ability. He knew with her by his side he could take on the world.

So when the Skeleton said he could answer any question he pondered long and hard. He hardly needed to ask anything for himself. What more was there besides the location of some vast treasure to search for? Then he looked at his love and he knew what to ask for.

"Very well then, answer me this then my boney friend. How can Jabnil regain her spot from whence she was banished?"

He knew he might just have wasted his question but he didn't care. Maybe Jabnil did not want to go back, maybe if she did find out how easy it was she would not hang around and he would loose her. However he loved her and he wanted to see her happy, and regaining her rightful place was something he wanted her to do.

 

[milkmaiden38]

The Ancient Mariner busted out laughing. When he stopped he looked at Captain Red “Capt’n Red… are ye the captain of the love boat? Ye crew are giving pirates a bad name. Wulf ask a question about another not himself!!”

Red smiled and pointed out “Ye still need to answer it”

The skeleton grumbled “Wulf, ye scurvy-infested salty kraken, Jabnil can become a Solar Angel again as soon as she truly learns from her experience as a mortal.”

The Ancient Mariner was going to say more, but stopped as a small silver fish swam into the darkened cave. Strangely everyone in the group noticed this small fish as it swam closer to the skeleton. It was a completely ordinary fish in appearance, but there was a sense of something celestial about the small thing. The fish seemed to also be smiling as everyone watched it.

“Chauntea?” Jabnil asked almost in a whisper. The fish looked at her and gave her a little wink of acknowledgement.

“It be the goddess of life!” The Ancient Mariner gasped.

Then everyone heard the voice of the goddess of life. “The Ancient Mariner or should I call you Captain “Rough Dog” Townend?” The goddess asked the skeleton.

“Shiver me timbers… the Goddess of life is here!” The skeleton said in awe then he answered her question “Captain Rough Dog, died many years ago… but I enjoy hearing me old name.”

“Captain Rough Dog's answer was only partially correct. I have been watching Jabnil and I have been thinking of her ideas to improve how people worship me. I believe Jabnil’s ideas have merit. I will speak more plainly to my worshipers. No more riddles and hard to read symbols. I have directed all my priests, ministers, cult leaders and clerics to focus on my goals, to preserve life, and to fight those that end it without cause. Sex and love will be a staple of my churches and temples. Increasing happiness will be the goal. I have directed the priests to stop recruiting and converting people into being my worshipers. Their good work and the joy in my temple will draw those that wish to follow my teachings. I do not wish or desire their worship, instead they are to direct their energy into improving the world.” The Goddess of life stated “For the courage of telling her goddess these improvements, Jabnil is free to become a Solar Angel once she finds the Captain Cyrus Wolfe treasure.” The Goddess paused for a second then said with some urgency “Now make haste as the Sea Devils are about to hatch their most terrible plot against this world”

The small fish started to swim away.

“Goddess, can ye give me the life that was cheated from me?” Captain Rough Dog asked before the fish was away.

The fish shook its small head “No, only Lady Death can release you. But ask her, she may say yes.” And then the fish was gone.

Captain Red regained everyone attention. “Ok everyone, you heard the goddess, it time to go. We only have time for one more question. Who wishes to ask it?”

 

[TertiusHuman]

Blade smiled slightly, more fighting.

He didn't have any question, he was content. He was alive, he had the love of the woman he had loved for years and he had gathered enough wealth in his life to live peacefully if he ever do leave the boats. He was a simple man with simple needs. Or a man so complex that he only wanted the little things.

"Tell me Mariner, who or what awaits us at the treasure we seek?"

 

[milkmaiden38]

The Ancient Mariner seemed to be thinking of other things when Blade asked his question. It took him a moment to refocus and look at Blade.

“An excellent question, ye scrappy swine, there be no grog nor bottle o' rum, that I can tell ye for sure.” The old dead sea captain explained. Then he became more serious.

“Thee treasure is not important. The world, all yee see around yee, is in danger.” The old captain said as he spread his arms wide. “Thee Sea Devils are not from our world. They be demons, from another dimension. They are trying to form a large portal beyond that door. Ye can think of it as a hatchery. If ye do not stop the sea devils from hatching… millions of demons will enter our world. Stop the sea Devils and then you wil have the treasure you seek.

The hatchery is guarded by the king of the Sea Devils. A huge Sea Devil with 4 arms, named Huzti, soul reaper, his assistant, Basram, and an evil human sorceress names Luccaria.”

“Only three, that’s good” Red said with confidence

“There only be three… but they are very powerful. Remember to use what you have and your surroundings. Lastly, sometimes you need to save that which you wish to kill” The skeleton stated.

“Now be gone ye yellow bellied swabbies!” The skeleton said.

“Thank you ancient mariner. I wish I could free you, but that anchor chain is too thick.“ Red said as she looked at the heavy chain from the anchor which was coiled around the skeletal remains of the murdered sea captain.

“Jabnil has a weapon which can cut through the chain” The ancient captain suggested. Red looked over to Jabnil.

“My swords are sharp, but I do not think they can cut through the chain” Jabnil said.

“Use the beacon” The ancient mariner advised. Jabnil pulled the golden sword out. It was a gift from the god of dawn. “I don’t think this will work” Jabnil said again.

The sword spoke “It is quite axiomatic” and suddenly the blade was glowing like the sun! (OOC think light sabre here!) Jabnil sliced through the thick anchor chain like it was made of butter.

“SHIT” Jabnil gasped. “I wish I knew you could do that earlier!”

“You are risible… if only you would have inquired...” The sword started to say but could not finish as Jabnil put it away.

“Good luck” Red said to the Ancient Mariner as it began to free itself from the chain. Red's team went through the door leading to the hatchery as The Ancient Mariner could be heard requesting help from Lady Death.

 

[TertiusHuman]

Blade

Blade watched the Ancient Mariner go, there was something just not right about the answer. Why would the Mariner want to help them? Warm them against the things to come even if it did bring about the end of the world, it would not affect the Mariner here in his domain. Since Red decided that the answer was all that she needed and moved on, he had no choice other than to follow the group, he glanced back at the skeleton as it started talking to Death. As Blade turned away, he noticed a darkening of the water in front of the Mariner and knew that he had to get out of there. If you caught a glance of Death, it could mean your own death was not far away.

 

[Aussie_Wolf]

Wulf had heard what the Goddess had said. Jabnil was free to return to the heavens once they had defeated the sea devils. In one way he was glad. She was going back to the place she was meant to be and her ideas had been ratified by the deity she served.

However he was also more than sad. He had just come clean about his feelings for her and she had agreed to explore them with him and now it looked like they were not going to get that chance. Still he would not stand in her way. What was mortal love compared to the love of a Goddess and a life in heaven?

Of course first they had to defeat the devils waiting for them in Hatchery. Taking his large warhammer off his back again, he gave a few practice swings and then began to walk forwards. This Huzti sounded strong as did his assistant. Well whichever got in his way first would get a face full of hammer. Smiling he just waited for Red to give the word.

 

[milkmaiden38]

“Ok, get ready” Red said as she pulled out her sword, then she pushed open the door to the hatchery.

Before them was a vast under water cavern filled with thousands and thousands of glowing shapes that looked like eggs. Each egg was the size of a full grown human. The glow of the eggs was the only light in the cave as it was completely cut off from the surface. Between the eggs were gold and silver coins, gems, jewelry and a few swords and magical items. It was the treasure of Captain Cyrus Wolfe! The light from the eggs reflected the eerie light off the treasure but Red and her team could tell the treasure was as massive as the legends foretold.

Before them however stood two Sea Devils and one human just as the ancient mariner had told them. The huge Sea Devil with 4 arms spoke.

“I am, Huzti, soul reaper, this is my assistant, Basram, and I believe you have already met sorceress Luccaria.” The king of the sea devils said. “We will need to kill all of you for seeing our hatchery.”

“Why?” Red asked.

The Sea Devil laughed. “Because this hatchery will soon bring thousands and thousands of Sea Devils to this world. We shall use that army to destroy the armies of this world. ”

“The same old evil conquest scheme… UGH I just get tired of hearing it every time!” Jabnil grumbled. Jabnil’s two swords were in her hands and ready for action.

“There is more… but that is for a later time to explain” Huzti answered vaguely.

“Well, you have made one, small, mistake. You are between Captain Red’s crew, and a really BIG treasure!” Red remarked. “I cannot be held accountable for the crew’s actions when there is that much gold and silver lying around!”

“HAHAHAHA” Huzti laughed “YOU Captain Red are the one that has made the mistake!! None of us…” Huzti stated as he point to Luccaria and Basram. “can die!”

“We’ll see about that, now won’t we!” Red concluded and then yelled “ATTACK!!”

Huzti, Basram, and Luccaria seemed totally unconcerned about Red and her attacking crew. Huzti and Basram pulled out their swords, (4 and 2 respectfully) and Luccaria fell behind them. Luccaria prepared to cast a spell.

 

[Aussie_Wolf]

Wulf looked at the Devils and decided he would take on the larger one. His decision was purely based on size alone. He doubted any of the others would be able to stand up to the power the big devil could bring to bear. At least he would have a fighting chance of standing up to it, or at least he hoped so.

Striding forth he again placed his larger warhammer across his back and drew forth his two smaller ones. He would need speed to counter both his power and the fact he had another set of arms to use against him.

Eyeing him up Wulf stayed just out of reach of the swords and then rushed in, punching the huge devil in the gut and then the jaw, rocking him backwards. He followed it up with a haymaker that sent him flying and retreated expecting to see his opponent dazed if not knocked out. Yet the big creature got calmly to it's feet and grinned at him.

"Worthy blows my friend," Huzti said as it limbered up it's arms and glared at him. "But as I said, we can not die."

Wulf just grinned back. "You may not be able to die, but I bet you can still feel pain. Let's see just how much punishment you can take."

So saying the two big men clashed again, the waters around them churning as they traded blows with one another.

 

[milkmaiden38]

“I want to fight him!” Red grumbled as Wulf took on Huzti soul reaper. She was smart enough not to get between the two large combatants. So she turned her attention to Basram, a more normal sized Sea Devil. The problem was Jabnil pushed her out of the way “He’s MINE!” Jabnil declared and with her wings propelling her through the water Red could not reach Basram before Jabnil.

“DIE FUCKER!” Jabnil yelled as she swung her golden beacon sword. It was glowing like the sun again and as Basram attempt to block her overhead blow, Jabnil sword slice right his sword and cut the sea devil in half.

“I LOVE this sword!!” Jabnil said in total excitement. She turned toward Luccaria. “Your turn to get slices and diced!”

Luccaria was just smiling “Look behind you!” She said to Jabnil. Jabnil knew that was trouble and ducked as she turned. A sword blade just passed over her head. She was shocked to see two Basram facing her.

“What? I killed you!” Jabnil gasped

One of the Basram laughed and said “Every time we die… two come back to replace us!”

While the two Basrams were facing Jabnil, Red had arrived behind them. Red’s cutlass took off both Basrams’ heads, killing them both. “Trying coming back from THAT!” She said with finality.

But as she finished her statement, now four Basrams stood facing Jabnil and her.

“SHIT!” Red gasped block multiple attacks. Luckily, Jura, Silver Tooth, Borba, and Aguk showed up and engaged 4 Sea Devil. But it was a weird battle as Red’s crew was not sure how to fight an enemy that when you kill them more appeared!

“Blade, kill the sorceress that will end the spell!” Red suggested.

 

[TertiusHuman]

"Death? Ah know ye be followin' them, ah know ye c'n hear me."

The water grew cold and a dark portal started to appear, as Blade closed the door behind him, the water in front of the Ancient Mariner seemed to solidify and then a pale hand brushed through the darkness and Death in female guise stepped through the dark portal. She gazed coldly upon the skeleton in front of her.

"What is it that you want Marcus?"

As the cold water wafted over the skeleton remains of the Ancient Mariner, flesh and hair appeared again over the bones, but the flesh and hair moved along with the movement of the water, proving it to be an illusion, even if it felt real. The Ancient Mariner looked up at Death,

"Please, I have nothing to live for, but I am doomed to live forever. Please end my suffering."

She leaned in closer, her eyes cold and dead as she stared at the image in front of her. "In life you sent many souls to me, but never for me. You treated men and women to be beneath you and as you were in life, so you are in un-death. You believe that all is answerable to you only and that you owe nothing to anybody. Why would I want a creature like you in my domain?"

He hung his head, knowing that he could offer no defense as Death knew all about him.

"But you did one good deed, not for yourself, but for billions of creatures that you know nothing of."

He rose his head at her words, could that mean?

"Embrace me Marcus Greenwood. If you can truly embrace me, I shall free you."

Without hesitation he stepped into the coldness of her embrace, her slender arms folding him close to her, her dark robe billowing and then they were gone, leaving behind only the silver pendant which hung around his neck and one set of metal cuffs.

 

[TertiusHuman]

Blade

He saw the others take on the seademons and within moments they were outnumbered. The magic which fueled them seemed quite powerful and that meant one of two things, either the sorceress was extremely powerful or she was so focused on keeping them alive, that she would be easy prey. He was set to find out.

Even as Red suggested that he should attack her, he was on his way, swimming with more alacrity than he knew he had. The sorceress turned to face him and fired a ball of pure energy at him, which he ducked and he swerved with amazing speed out of the way of a ball of lightning. He wasn't sure why he was faster, he just enjoyed it. He closed in on the sorceress and she drew dual daggers, their dark blades testament to their deadliness.

OK so she is extremely powerful, with that answered, Blade drew two blades. They shone brightly in the gloom and he could see the sorceress' eyes widen.

"Cuchillas de Muerte"

Blade grinned and twirled the blades with practiced ease, "Exactly."

They attacked at the same time, knowing that the first one to strike a blow will kill the other. Blade found himself outmatched in skill and strength, but his new agility and speed really made up for that big time as he kept coming close on numerous occasions.

Cuchillas de muerte or Blades of death are the very same blades he wore on the leather armor. Yes the blades which could kill anything if struck right and Blade had an inkling of an idea what her blades were, but he could not say for sure until he could test them himself. The Blades of Woe, one cut could either burn like fire or freeze like ice and the effect spread through the body so fast that your body would go into complete shock, leaving you defenseless. But again, he could not vouch for them, until he had tested them and during a fight, you did not want unknowns tested on yourself by yourself.

 

[Aussie_Wolf]

Wulf was having a hard time. No matter how many times he knocked his opponent to the ground, he just kept getting back up and laughing off his blows. He also did not appear to tire, yet he definitely was. The effort he was exerting in having to avoid four blades was taking it's toll. He was cut in several places and on one occasion only a lucky, desperate, last second swipe with his hammer had saved him from being disemboweled.

At the moment he was sucking in a few deep breaths as once again Huzti prepared to climb to his feet. The stupid thing was, he was so full of openings as he relied upon his strength and his magic so much he had virtually no defense. At any other time Wulf would have claimed victory long ago.

He was able to observe how the others were doing and saw the trouble they were having. Where there had been only one Basram there were now two and even as he watched Red killed them. Smiling he was about to congratulate them and ask for help when four of them stood up.

As Hutzi pulled himself up and stood ready to face him he grinned. He had a plan. It seemed that Basram could not be killed or two more would spring up in his place, and Hutzi could not be hurt. Still they could both be stopped if the put their minds to it.

"Red, Jabnil, switch partners. I will take those Basram's. If we can't kill them, then let's just knock them out shall we," he said holding up his hammer's. "You two should be skilled enough to take on 'Ol four arms here, and even if he can't be killed, perhaps he can be trimmed down to size if you get my meaning."

As he went to swim off and switch he remembered something. "Nye, remember those tridents we found. Try pinning these bastards to a wall or something but don't kill them."

 

[milkmaiden38]

Luccaria and Blade

As Blade and Luccaria traded blows, she gave him a relaxing smile.

"Cuchillas de Muerte" Luccaria cooed “I'm certain you are aware there is a magical defense against the weapons' power.” Luccaria explained as her body glowed for a second and then returned to its normal color.

“I now have that defense. I’m afraid you and your friends are going to die” Luccaria gloated. Then she pressed her attack. Her attacks were even faster than before. He had been outmatched in skill and strength before, but his agility and speed had saved him. Now the evil sorceress seemed as fast as he was.

“I know what you are thinking… and you are correct… I weld the Blades of Woe, one cut and you will die.” Luccaria laughed as she saw the terror in Blade’s eyes.

Wulf and the Basrams

Wulf had switched with Jabnil and Red in the fight with the Basrams seamlessly. His plan to solve this puzzle was a solid one. As he parried a sword strike from one Basram with his hand held hammer, and then gave that same Basram a counter punch. It slipped under its defenses and crushed the sea devil's rib cage. The punch was so powerful it propelled the sea devil backwards into the cavern wall as the sound of more broken bones could be heard. The Sea Devil head had also smacked into the stone wall, knocking the creature out, as it slumped to the sea floor.

Jura, Silver Tooth, Borba, all cheered, as they continued to fight their Basrams. But the cheers stop suddenly as something unexpected and awful happened. The three remaining Basrams suddenly committed suicide!! And now there were six of them!! As Red crew looked on in shock the Basrams did it again… and sudden there were 12 Basrams!

“FOLLOW WULF’S EXAMPLE… KNOCK THEM OUT OR DISARM THEM OR PIN THEM DOWN!!” Nye yelled as she picked up one of the magical tridents Wulf and Jabnil had found in the guard’s room. She had no idea what it did or how it worked... but as it turned out all became clear as the one trident suddenly became 8 tridents. One for each of her tentacles! She began to throw the magical weapons with speed and accuracy.

Jabnil and Red

Huzti soul reaper laughed.

“Two weak women to fight ME, this must be some kind of a joke!!” Huzti laughed deeply.

Red and Jabnil were already pissed about making their situation worse by killing Basram, only to have more appear. Now the massive 4 armed sea devil Huzti was laughing at them.

“We are not here for your entertainment!!” Red said in a low threatening voice. “You picked the wrong bitches to mess with!!” She added.

“I cannot be hurt or killed… I do not tire… I can defeat an entire Army. Your little words do not scare ME… they make me LAUGH!” Huzti replied in total confidence.

Red knew deep down the demon was right. She had hoped killing the sorceress would dispel the magic, but the demon knew their plan, she had yelled it across the cavern and Huzti did not seemed worried. She had no idea how they were going to defeat Huzti. She knew that just attacking would not work. She needed to at least to get Huzti off balanced, mentally, before they attacked. But what could she say to do that? A twinkle appeared in her eyes as she smiled. She was going to do what pirates do best!!

“You know it's over, Huzti! This battle was over before it began, time to just give up.” Red said with much more confidence then she felt.

“What?” Huzti gasped.

“The Ancient Mariner has already foretold of our victory.” Red explained.

Red's statement had the effect she wanted, Huzti was totally off balance. Somehow she had hit just the right nerve in him. As it turned she had also hit just the right nerve in Jabnil!

Jabnil listen to what Red said and thought back to the Ancient Mariner advice. His words replaying in her mind. “Remember to use what you have and your surroundings. Lastly, sometimes you need to save that which you wish to kill”

Jabnil looked at Huzti and smiled. “HEY ASSHOLE… I HOPE THIS MAKES YOU FEEL BETTER” She said sarcastically. She cast her more powerful healing spell on the Sea Devil. Huzti SCREAMED in PAIN as the spell that protected him reversed the healing spell and caused him damage vice healed him.

 

[TertiusHuman]

So the sorceress was just that powerful, not that it helped Blade, but it did give him an idea. He avoided one of her attacks and kept retreating, the two blades winking as he sheathed them. Two new blades flashed into his hands and he met her renewed attack with blades of dull grey, they looked like normal steel, but they clearly handled a lot lighter than steel or silver. It was of course enchanted blades, but they didn't seem to have any offensive powers.

Luccaria attacked with arrogance, knowing that the time of her killing Blade was near and then her sights were set on that wench called Red.

The problem with planning ahead without knowing all the factors made those plans your downfall. Blade met a slice with his blade, let go of the hilt and flicked his fingers. Something struck Luccaria against the head, it really hurt, even with her magical warding, it hurt a lot. She had no time to dwell on this as Blade had grabbed hold of the hilt he had let go less than a heartbeat ago and pressed an attack.

She met it with disdain and suddenly realized that something was terribly wrong. Blade was again faster than her and the dull grey blades were suddenly glowing a sullen gold color.

"What? What did you do?"

And then one of the blades nicked her on her wrist and instantly fire spread through her body.