Uhh! She exclaims, exacerbated. What is wrong with you! She throws up her hands, giving up and moving away.
Noticing Krislyx, the swarthy man cries out in surprise! ”Ah! What the hell kinda thing are ye?” he shouts, fumbling for his weapon. He doesn’t notice Thomas sneaking up behind him...
Thomas sneaks up behind the man, readying himself to strike. Just as the pirate manages to free his weapon, Thomas strikes him in the hand!
Caught off guard by the sudden attack, the pirate drops his scimitar! Thomas snatches it up before he can grab it back. ”Oy! I don’t wants no trouble!” he says nervously, raising his hands above his head.
"Well then, I want some answers. Who the hell are you? What are you doing here?" Thomas says, with the other's scimitar pointed at his throat. His eyes dart to Krislyx and the boat before focusing on the pirate again.
Kris "Eeps!" as the strange sailor calls out to her. She turns around to see Thomas already in position and before she can blink he has his weapon! How did he do that?
Raven was ecstatic at their find. It was no king's ransom, but it was a sum of wealth that only a handful of people could have believed or held. After hours of digging in the rain, he'd finally gotten something good in his life. He was beyond tired though, exhausted really.
Even as he and Chirrut counted the coins he chuckled.
"Well now, seems you know your wealth at least. Still, the silver shillings are worth 10 times the copper penny's. Maybe I'll be willing to spare a little of the copper with the others, assuming they find us a boat out of here." he picked up the bowl he'd brought with him and tossed the water out. Instead he scooped it into the chest, collecting a random pool of coins.
"This isn't a dream. I feel pretty miserable but I'm happy too. Between the two of us getting this back to the village shouldn't be too hard."
”We serve under the command of Anne the Red, cap’n of the Orphanmaker,” the pirate says proudly. [b]”Our cap’n sent us here to dig up a treasure chest she buried here long ago. Once we nab the booty, we’re to take it back to her. She’s not the type that’s keen on delays, savvy? Ye’d best let me go and let us complete our task, lest ye incur her wrath!”
***
Raven hears a rustling sound in the jungle around the clearing, and spots some flickering lights. Somebody is coming!
The rainwater flows off Chiruut's hardened back as he looks over the loot.
"Coin is useful! Now, we secure it."
Chiruut examines the coin while examining his own backpack, trying to work out if he can pack away his share.
Fear suddenly takes hold of Raven and his eyes go wide as a new surge of adrenaline hits him.
No, not now!
He reaches out for Chiruut.
"Damn it, someone's coming and I don't think it's either Krislyx or Thomas!" he hissed. "Quick, grab what you can and we'll spill the rest. Let them sort it out. Hurry!"
With that, Raven grabbed a handful of coins, shoving them into his bowl and put it against his stomach before upending the chest and started to run.
A ploy? No, Ven leaving coin behind!
Chiruut seizes what he can grab in his four arms, and likewise flees, hot on Ven's tail.
Chiruut and Raven make a break for it just as five swarthy men emerge into the clearing. "They're stealing the cap'n's treasure! After them!"
Two of the men draw their scimitar and give chase, crashing through the undergrowth behind the fleeing pair!
Hearing the shouts, Chiruut increases his pace!
"To village! The bodies may scare them!", Chiruut says quickly to Ven!
Pirate treasure, eh? Those other two are probably in trouble. "Well then. Seeing as we have no other way off this island, I'd like to charter your captain for passage back to the mainland. We'll work if necessary."
Thomas plants the scimitar in the sand, leaving it for the other to grab. "Word of warning though. We encountered some kind of demon upon this island. Your men are in danger." He watches the pirate carefully, making sure the scalawag makes no sudden moves.
Ven says nothing but nods at Chiruut's suggestion as he also makes a break for it. His adrenaline holds and he keeps running.
The pirate stares at Thomas before guffawing. ”Har! Ye wish to parlay with Anne the Red? There’s a reason they call her that, ye know. There’s nothing ye have that she wouldn’t just kill ye and take for herself. Ye’d have better chances dealing with this demon o’ yers than trying to get on her good side, cause she don’t have one!”
***
Ven quickly outpaces Chiruut as both race pellmell through the jungle, the angry pirates hot on their heels. Thunder booms overhead, and flashes of lightning briefly illuminate the path ahead.
After several minutes, Ven bursts out of the foliage and into the abandoned village. Chiruut trails behind him by several seconds, but they both have a few moments to do something before the pirates emerge from the jungle!
Thomas's face hardens almost imperceptibly. "Then our business in concluded." he says as he takes the scimitar once again. He points it toward the forest, "Run along now. We'll be taking that boat."
Kris just looks back and forth from the two men, clearly worried that yet another has seen her. And she doesn't know what to do! I just... she says to herself, I just need to ask the Holy Matron! That's what I need to do! I'll ask her!
She starts.maming her way towards the rowboat, intent on taking it.
Raven burst into the village area. Knowing they would check the village he turned and ran into the nearby shrubbery to hide. He hoped Chiruut would also be safe.
Chiruut runs past the bodies, and into bushes past those, seeking a hiding place.
Hopefully softskins or whomever will be squeamish!
”You’ll regret making an enemy of Anne the Red!” the pirate promises as he flees into the jungle, leaving Kris and Thomas with the boat.
***
The two pirates burst into the village, hesitating slightly when they see the dead bodies. ”They gotta be here somewhere. Spread out!” one snarls, and the pair split up to search for Ven and Chiruut. The first man walks by Ven’s hiding spot without spotting him, but the other one notices the glint of torchlight off Chiruut’s shell. He levels his scimitar at the yerathi. ”You! Bug-man! Give back the loot or I’ll run ye through!”
Kris moved to the boat and gets in, waiting for the human to push the boat out and start rowing.
Damn. The game is up. Not worth my hide for coin.
"Ah, no need trouble. Where do you want it?"
With a grimace, the old man tries to push the six-person boat out into the sea again.
But, by himself, and with the heavy reptile already in it, he makes no progress. Scowling, he says, "Come on then Princess, help me push this thing!"
I don't know how to work these things! Kris says. What do you want me to do?
"Get out and push, dammit! And keep an eye out for the pirate's ship, I don't like our chances if they spot us!" The old man strains against the boat's weight until the reptile finally comes to his aid. Together they push the vessel into the water, and clamber in.
The old man takes the oars and begins rowing, slowly moving the towards where they first crashed onto shore. He searches the shoreline for good hideaways, but has little success.
Uch! Fine! Kris says, throwing her hands up. She gets out and helps push the boat into the waters.
Scimitars, damn. They have real weapons! This isn't good. Can't show myself to them. Hope Chiruut can convince them not to kill him.
He supposed he could have tried to fight them off, come out of hiding and hopefully take one by surprise. But if he messed up, they would likely just chop him to bits. Better for him not to agitate them further.
Kris and Thomas get the boat into the rough waters around the island. Despite the driving wind and raid, they manage to maneuver it to the beach where they washed ashore, concealing the boat among the flotsam from the wrecked ships.
***
The pirate gestures for Chiruut to hand him the backpack. As he is counting the coins, the second pirate joins him, shaking his head. "That other slippery bastard must have run off."
"No matter. We got back a good amount of coins. Plus, take a look at this freak of nature." He gestures at Chiruut. "It'd probably fetch a high price as a slave. We'll take it with us back to the Orphanmaker."
The backpack contains coin, packed amid a coil of rope attached to a grapnel and and empty flask and pouch.
Back to servitude and under softskin criminals. Blast it! But I can escape again. Or...
"I am Chiruut! I am a Yerathi. I could join crew, help you plenty!
The pirates mull over Chiruut's offer. "Maybe. You'll have to talk to Cap'n Anne. Maybe she will--"
The rest of his statement is cut off as a spine-tingling shriek echoes above the village. Both pirates turn and gape as a horrible creature swoops down into the clearing. It has a vaguely human-shaped form with great feathery wings, similar to those of moths, spreading from its back. It has shriveled arms and legs and a heavy abdomen distended by the eggs it carries. Its stares at Chiruut and the pirates with large, unblinking black eyes, then shrieks again as it unhinges its jaw, revealing a long, barbed tongue!
"Ahhh! What the hell is that?" one pirate cries in terror.
"Who cares? Run!" the other wails.
The monster begins to flutter towards the trio!
Horrendous thing!
"MONSTER!!!", yells Chiruut, wondering if his softskin companions might hear, as he runs at full pace, hoping to outrun the pair of panicking pirates. His aim is to loop around, and circle towards the direction two of the softskins went searching.
But for now - escape!
"So he wasn't making up the monster part at all!" he hissed, as he saw the horrible flying creature and began running along with the others.
The pirates manage to keep their wits about them as they make a run for it. Chiruut and Raven prove to have iron wills, not flinching in the slightest even as they run as well.
The winged monster flutters through the air before swooping down at the pirate holding Chiruut’s backpack. Its long tongue whips out and stabs the man in the back, terribly wounding him. He cries out in pain, dropping the backpack to the ground.
You have a chance to run back and grab the pack if you are feeling brave...
Thomas wiped water from his eyes, and the salt stung him. He was certainly not enjoying his time on this island. He looked at the serpent with a tired look in his eyes. "I doubt they'll find it anytime soon. We should find shelter, get out of the damn rain."
That sounds good to me. Do you suppose the others are ok? Do you think those men found them?
Chiruut keeps running and running fast.
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Unable to stay quiet, Kris continues to chat idly, What do you suppose those men wanted? Who do you suppose is Anne the Red? That man said she wouldn't help, but do you think he was truthful? Will we ever find a way off this island? On and on she prattled with commentary and question as her own mind raced through thoughts and emotions. Like a coping mechanism against the immense change she was forced to face.
Raven continued to run. He had never felt so calm when he was certain he should be scared for his life. The Inquisition had always been scary to him and the things they had warned of; devils, demons, and monsters, all of it had seemed so ephemeral and removed from his reality and everything else he'd seen for so long that it had simply become background noise to him.
He had only thought the real danger was the evil in one's heart. But now he knew he'd been wrong.
Just hope I don't end up dead wrong yet! His goal was simple, stay alive for now, figure out what to do later.
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Thomas trudged through the jungle, soaked to the bone and sore from rowing much more than the noble was used to. Meanwhile, the useless reptile had filled his ear with endless prattle. Had he not been exposed to years of abuse at the hands of the faeries, Thomas might have lost his temper. But nothing compared to those faeries.
Thomas sighed. "They said they were here for treasure, and I doubt the owner of the Orphanmaker is going to be helpful. We have a boat, perhaps we can make our way to another island if the storm lets up."
They'd burned the preacher's home and the village was still a ways away. Finding shelter was foremost on Thomas's mind.
As the second pirate runs back towards his companions, Chiruut and Raven continue in the opposite direction, towards where Kris and Thomas went. The anguished screams of the monster’s victim abruptly cut off, hinting at a grisly fate.
Meanwhile, Kris and Thomas head inland, looking for shelter. As fate would have it, after nearly thirty minutes, the two groups’ paths intersect! Chiruut and Raven are out of breath from fleeing through the jungle when Kris and Thomas happen upon them.
"Th- Thomas! ... There was a monste- rr. There was a monster!" he breathed heavily, as he spoke. "... some men found us and... uh. They're dead now. Pretty sure, at least one. We need to go!"
Chiruut is surprised that he feels glad to see familiar faces, even if they are softskins.
"Big demon. It ate pirates. We need to get away, fast!"
Observant eyes may spot that Chiruut now lacks his backpack.
We found a boat! It's back that way, hidden in all the debris that washed up on the shore. And there's a pirate ship out there! Kris says, a bit excitedly.
A sinking feeling started to take hold of Thomas, he didn't like this news, not one bit."Monster? Damn, I hoped the thing died after spawning. Can it chase us out into the water? The boat should easily hold the four of us."
The old man was already making his way back to the boat as he talked. There was no time to waste!
"It can fly. Hope it eats other softskins before us."
Chiruut also begins to move swiftly in the same direction as Thomas.
Wasting no time, you hustle through the jungle and out onto the beach where the boat is waiting for you. As you push the boat out into the rough water, you hear an eerie shriek from behind you! The bloated, winged monstrosity flutters out of the jungle, barbed tongue tasting the air as it stares in your direction. But you do not hesitate, quickly rowing out to sea to take your chances with the angry ocean rather than the horrible creature!
Fortunately, the storm begins to abate somewhat, and while the wind and rain makes the experience miserable, soon enough the accursed island recedes into the distance. After a tumultuous night, the clouds part and the sun shines down upon you the next morning. You've survived! Now, you have to hope you can find civilization before your food runs out...
Damn, at sea again.
Raven didn't particularly like being on a boat for an extended time, but this is how it was for him. And after everything I did too. he sighed. They'd been forced to leave the food behind. His life was one of constantly being forced around by one circumstance or another.
Tax collectors for his childhood home, state investigators at the orphanage, rival gangs on the streets, bandits burning down the town, recruiters for the peasant militia against the uprising. Orcs. The Inquisitors... the list kept going. But through it all Raven had kept ahead of them.
.... .... ....
"Keep flying, little Raven."
The words had come back to him, unbidden. He woke blearily. The nightmares had not stopped during that time, every time he woke there was something dark, just out of sight that filled him with dread. This one had ended with something he'd thought forgotten. The name he'd been given from his handler at the orphanage, and something he used as a mantra for most of his life. He'd been a pickpocket then, always tried to grab the shinier things. Just like a raven, he supposed.
He wasn't little anymore, just Raven. He'd chosen to forget his previous given name, but for some reason his family name remained. He supposed he shouldn't care, there was nothing for him in keeping it, but it was still something he wouldn't let go of... Just like the wealth he'd managed to snag. It wasn't much, but maybe enough to push on.
He'd finally had a chance to really look over his map again and had found that, thankfully, it hadn't been the treasure he was looking for. It was still out there to find.
He looked again at his current companions, unlikely though they were, they were the ones he had for now. If they helped him get to the real treasure, he could help them make their lives better. They'd helped him survive some crazy things for now, so he supposed he would keep them.
As the storm cleared and they rowed out into the ocean looking for a civilization, Kris let her worries and thoughts and observations known to all.
Do you think we'll find someone soon? How much longer until we find civilization? How will I keep myself hidden and my people unknown with so many having seen me? Have I ruined my people's secret?
Suddenly, an explosion of psychic energy blasts out from Chiruut and visions of Kris' memories become shared amongst everyone in the boat. A temple of Naga, snake-people of all different colors, arranged in a circle around a single egg, prostrate in worship. A male dressed in elaborate clothing speaks, "We have come from our world seeking refuge in this world, carrying with us the egg of our savior. The demon lord devoured our world, and we were the only survivors. In this new world, we found warring people coexisting in a strange chaos. They Fey and the Trolls and the Humans all warred against each other, lying to each other and betraying each other. So we have stayed hidden. We shall stay hidden until we are needed. When the Demon Lord comes to devour this world, we shall emerge and lend our strength to save this world. It is prophesied that the Shavra shall hatch when she is needed the most - when the Demon Lord sets its sights on this world and seeks to devour it."
The image shifts. The same temple, but a new creature is wearing the priestly adornments. Then again. And again. Over and over it shows the different priests holding the same worship with new worshippers. Time passes.
"Look!" Someone cries out. "The Cosmic Egg! It is hatching!"
The current priest gasps. "It has been a thousand years! The prophecy is coming true! The Demon Lord is coming!"
Time shifts again, and scenes play out showing a young naga with alabaster white scales and obsidian black spikes emerging from the egg. The child is raised by the temple, taught the ways of the Naga people and their religion. As she grows, debates amongst the elders are frequent - should they reveal themselves? Should they stay hidden? When will the Shavra be ready?
And then the nightmares start. A decision is reached - she will be sent out to gather all their people across the islands and bring them home. Afterwards, they will reveal themselves to the world and unify with those born of this world to fight against the Demon Lord, in whatever form he may show.
When the psychic event is over, Kris is pale. "It was me. It is me. I am the Shavra. I am… I am going to be sick. She turns and vomits outside of the boat.
Once the impact of the news finally settles within her, she pulls out her holy symbol, the stone egg hung like a censer. And she grabs the locked book. She gasps. "The lock! It is open!"
Two days ago...
Chiruut stared out at the sea as if he would finally see something different.
But that was not what he was doing.
He did not move a muscle but his mind was exerting itself.
Finally, a fish neared the surface.
Chiruut concentrated his power swiftly and the bands of invisible force seized the fish!
Just a little more...
Then, the fish imploded, just as the bands collapsed, leaving the red mess to sink towards the depths.
The yerathi buzzes with delight then says:
"Hah! My focus grows! No mere tricks now but the beginning of real power! The power of my mind!"