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<blockquote data-quote="Arabesu" data-source="post: 3742943" data-attributes="member: 534"><p><strong>Episode 1b</strong></p><p></p><p>Yens stirred the coals. The group had camped on the beach to recover from the various injuries acquired when they were shipwrecked. As per the norm, Yens had taken a watch near twilight when his night vision was at its most acute. Now several hours into the dogwatch, he was getting bored and his thoughts had grown dark.</p><p></p><p style="margin-left: 20px">He recalled the first ship he had served upon as a youngster: The liberator. He remembered the day that the stout House Lyrander vessel was taken and her mostly half-elven crew slaughtered by Reaver marauders from “Le Sanguin Enfant.” The tall and lanky Yens had only survived the attack by sneaking aboard their foul red craft and stowing away until they reached Reaver Island. Once there he hid and later was able to integrate himself into the chaos and pose as a Reaver in the hope of boarding a ship bound for civilized territories. </p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px">For two and half years he perpetrated the disguise, stoically witnessing horrible atrocities while deep inside he was losing himself to madness. Just before he lost himself completely he was rescued by an overmatched Lyrander ship in an escapade for which he had become famous: “Yen’s Maneuver.” Over time, he has returned to his former personality and outlook and yet there are moments when he would brood and consider his past and the cold darkness within.</p><p></p><p>He forced himself away from the dark thoughts of the past to concentrate on the dark thoughts of the present. The Sea Wyvern had left Sasserine with a complement of twenty-four. The ship had been part of a convoy intended to deliver Yens’ patron, Levinia Vanderborne, and several passengers to Farshore, a colony on the far side of the Isle of Dread. The Wyvern had been separated and rejoined to Levinia’s vessel, the Blue Nixie, several times during the trip, but in the storm the had struck down the Wyvern they had been separated for what Yens perceived as the last time.</p><p></p><p>Although the complement of the Wyvern was mostly travelers bound for the burgeoning colony, a few had skill with a sword or bow. The gifted artist and archer Skald had valiantly perished in the fight with the flotsom ooze. The rake Lirith Veldirose and the cook Yurianna Fens had died when the Wyvern was surprised by the nine headed cryohydra at the mouth of the Aticula River while they resupplied. </p><p></p><p>Yens had not known either Lirith or Yurianna, but he had gotten to know Skald, who had struck him as an odd and curious chap, part fey, with no one on the ship giving him much heed or notice as his temperament and personality was so unnerving. That is until he drew that splendid representation of the wyverns that had followed the ship for a league or two soon after they had set out. </p><p></p><p>The remaining eight passengers and the three mercenaries brought over from their earlier ship, Fen’s Revenge, had all died during the crash. Yens had been surprised when he learned about this a few hours after the dinosaur attack. <em>I guess I thought there would be more survivors.</em></p><p></p><p>So in all, only nine of the original twenty-four had made it to the Isle of Dread, and according to Urol they now had to cross an island full of terrible monsters to get to Farshore. <em>None of them will survive</em> he thought as he looked about at the ragtag group sleeping around him.</p><p></p><p>A shadow passed near the camp, but he took no notice, lost in his thoughts.</p><p></p><p>“Its time” said the Klem who was sitting opposite him at the fire.</p><p></p><p>“Sure. I’ll wake him.”</p><p></p><p>Yens woke Cyrus. The azurian needed only a few hours sleep a night, so he typically took the remaining watches along with Klem who needed no sleep. As Yens slipped into his bedroll, he thought he heard a twig snap, but again, paid it no head.</p><p> </p><p style="margin-left: 20px"> His dreams were surprising pleasant. He dreamed of the escape from Le Sanguin Enfant. He had been forced to man the rotting and filthy crow’s nest. The other Reavers had begun to suspect his less than genuine participation in their ways. He was too sane, too careful, and overcompensated with a feigned ferocity in battle: he slew his opponents too quickly and he didn’t savor his kills. Of course, he was aware of their suspicions and had taken to tasks where he could be alone and would be remote from those who suspected. From his rickety perch, he saw the approach of Lyrander warship; he nearly called out in foul Reaver pigeon to alert his “mates,” but checked himself at the last second.</p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><em>Now is the opportunity for which I have been waiting.</em> With makeshift signal flags he was able to discreetly signal the approaching vessel, now plainly id’ed as the “Solar Surprise.” In the semaphore of the Lyrander fleet he communicated: <em>Reavers. I ally. Ready hands on deck. </em></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px">At the last minute, just before those on deck would notice anyway, he announced the approach of the Surprise. As the Reavers squabbled, flew into frenzied action, and prepared to set Hell loose, Yens secretly cut four secure cables from the supports for the foresail and topsail. </p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px">Then as the two vessels neared, he carefully walked the three-inch wide topspar in the direction opposite of the Surprise, to get to a spot where he could gain momentum. Just as the Surprise and Enfant were positioning for a broadside, Yens leapt out over the element. With a jerk, he swung down through the throng of Reavers on his bundle of cable, careful not to get snagged or hung up as he passed through. He had guessed the length of the slack coiled around him just right, so that as he twisted in midair he unwound himself and landed with a thud on the deck of the Surprise.</p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px">Kaboom! Came the blast as the two ships’ heavy bombards traded splinters.</p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px">With his desperate hands tightly hanging onto his cables he was dragged painfully across the Surprise’s deck as the ships continued their slow relative course. Suddenly, he felt his cordage slacken. His heart sank as he thought he was cut free and that his plan would fail. Then he was next to Erus Lyrander, who had sailed with him briefly on the Liberator before being transferred to another ship.</p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px">The half-elf sailor had noticed Yens’ signals but knew not what to make of it. However, when he saw Yens land on the Surprise he new plainly enough what Yens was up to. Before Yens could be dragged to the Devil, he had grabbed hold of Yens’ bundle, calling to the ten other sailors on deck to get hold and heave. Then they began to pay the lines into the huge blocks on the larboard side…</p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px">Before she could fire another set of broadsides, Le Sanguine Enfant was heeling over so dramatically that the gunners could only shoot right into the deep blue sea. In short order, the Surprise had the deck of the Reaver vessel cleared of personnel with grapeshot bombard and ballista. After boarding, the marines only took two more minutes to dispatch the rest of Reavers, who of course fought to the bitter end. During the rest of the battle, Yens, under the cautious swordpoint of two Lyrander guards, sat grinning from ear to ear. As far as he was concerned he had done it; by his actions he had brought down the fearsome and terrible Le Sanguin Enfant… <em>and it had only taken him three years.</em></p><p></p><p>Suddenly, he was awake. Falling, he landed with a thud and a roll. Instantly he transformed his countenance. His face took on a lupine appearance and his legs seemed to extend a few inches. Using what little momentum he had left from his fall, he rolled to his feet and drew a knife.</p><p></p><p>Three large carnivorous birds had waded into camp. Klem was pounding at one with his hammer while he held Cyrus up with one arm. The azurian was flailing about with his good arm trying to contact the bird with his electrified touch, his other arm hung limply, nearly severed at the shoulder. </p><p></p><p>“Terror Birds… Uh…” moaned a delirious Urol, fastly held in the jaws of the central bird. The third bird, the one that had thrown him from his bedroll, was being harassed by Kira in predator form and Amella with her rapier. </p><p></p><p>Then Yens saw <em>a ghost. </em></p><p></p><p>She had crept out of the undergrowth and snuck up behind the lead bird to stab it with her rapier. It died instantly and Urol rolled free. The other two birds wasted no time, with their flock leader dead, they fled into the forest with all the haste of predator turned prey.</p><p></p><p>Yens stood there with his mouth hung open. Cyrus sidled up to him as they watched Rowyn Kelani clean and sheath her rapier. </p><p></p><p>“But we killed her, didn’t we?” the Good Incarnate asked.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Arabesu, post: 3742943, member: 534"] [b]Episode 1b[/b] Yens stirred the coals. The group had camped on the beach to recover from the various injuries acquired when they were shipwrecked. As per the norm, Yens had taken a watch near twilight when his night vision was at its most acute. Now several hours into the dogwatch, he was getting bored and his thoughts had grown dark. [INDENT]He recalled the first ship he had served upon as a youngster: The liberator. He remembered the day that the stout House Lyrander vessel was taken and her mostly half-elven crew slaughtered by Reaver marauders from “Le Sanguin Enfant.” The tall and lanky Yens had only survived the attack by sneaking aboard their foul red craft and stowing away until they reached Reaver Island. Once there he hid and later was able to integrate himself into the chaos and pose as a Reaver in the hope of boarding a ship bound for civilized territories. For two and half years he perpetrated the disguise, stoically witnessing horrible atrocities while deep inside he was losing himself to madness. Just before he lost himself completely he was rescued by an overmatched Lyrander ship in an escapade for which he had become famous: “Yen’s Maneuver.” Over time, he has returned to his former personality and outlook and yet there are moments when he would brood and consider his past and the cold darkness within.[/INDENT] He forced himself away from the dark thoughts of the past to concentrate on the dark thoughts of the present. The Sea Wyvern had left Sasserine with a complement of twenty-four. The ship had been part of a convoy intended to deliver Yens’ patron, Levinia Vanderborne, and several passengers to Farshore, a colony on the far side of the Isle of Dread. The Wyvern had been separated and rejoined to Levinia’s vessel, the Blue Nixie, several times during the trip, but in the storm the had struck down the Wyvern they had been separated for what Yens perceived as the last time. Although the complement of the Wyvern was mostly travelers bound for the burgeoning colony, a few had skill with a sword or bow. The gifted artist and archer Skald had valiantly perished in the fight with the flotsom ooze. The rake Lirith Veldirose and the cook Yurianna Fens had died when the Wyvern was surprised by the nine headed cryohydra at the mouth of the Aticula River while they resupplied. Yens had not known either Lirith or Yurianna, but he had gotten to know Skald, who had struck him as an odd and curious chap, part fey, with no one on the ship giving him much heed or notice as his temperament and personality was so unnerving. That is until he drew that splendid representation of the wyverns that had followed the ship for a league or two soon after they had set out. The remaining eight passengers and the three mercenaries brought over from their earlier ship, Fen’s Revenge, had all died during the crash. Yens had been surprised when he learned about this a few hours after the dinosaur attack. [I]I guess I thought there would be more survivors.[/I] So in all, only nine of the original twenty-four had made it to the Isle of Dread, and according to Urol they now had to cross an island full of terrible monsters to get to Farshore. [I]None of them will survive[/I] he thought as he looked about at the ragtag group sleeping around him. A shadow passed near the camp, but he took no notice, lost in his thoughts. “Its time” said the Klem who was sitting opposite him at the fire. “Sure. I’ll wake him.” Yens woke Cyrus. The azurian needed only a few hours sleep a night, so he typically took the remaining watches along with Klem who needed no sleep. As Yens slipped into his bedroll, he thought he heard a twig snap, but again, paid it no head. [INDENT] His dreams were surprising pleasant. He dreamed of the escape from Le Sanguin Enfant. He had been forced to man the rotting and filthy crow’s nest. The other Reavers had begun to suspect his less than genuine participation in their ways. He was too sane, too careful, and overcompensated with a feigned ferocity in battle: he slew his opponents too quickly and he didn’t savor his kills. Of course, he was aware of their suspicions and had taken to tasks where he could be alone and would be remote from those who suspected. From his rickety perch, he saw the approach of Lyrander warship; he nearly called out in foul Reaver pigeon to alert his “mates,” but checked himself at the last second. [I]Now is the opportunity for which I have been waiting.[/I] With makeshift signal flags he was able to discreetly signal the approaching vessel, now plainly id’ed as the “Solar Surprise.” In the semaphore of the Lyrander fleet he communicated: [I]Reavers. I ally. Ready hands on deck. [/I] At the last minute, just before those on deck would notice anyway, he announced the approach of the Surprise. As the Reavers squabbled, flew into frenzied action, and prepared to set Hell loose, Yens secretly cut four secure cables from the supports for the foresail and topsail. Then as the two vessels neared, he carefully walked the three-inch wide topspar in the direction opposite of the Surprise, to get to a spot where he could gain momentum. Just as the Surprise and Enfant were positioning for a broadside, Yens leapt out over the element. With a jerk, he swung down through the throng of Reavers on his bundle of cable, careful not to get snagged or hung up as he passed through. He had guessed the length of the slack coiled around him just right, so that as he twisted in midair he unwound himself and landed with a thud on the deck of the Surprise. Kaboom! Came the blast as the two ships’ heavy bombards traded splinters. With his desperate hands tightly hanging onto his cables he was dragged painfully across the Surprise’s deck as the ships continued their slow relative course. Suddenly, he felt his cordage slacken. His heart sank as he thought he was cut free and that his plan would fail. Then he was next to Erus Lyrander, who had sailed with him briefly on the Liberator before being transferred to another ship. The half-elf sailor had noticed Yens’ signals but knew not what to make of it. However, when he saw Yens land on the Surprise he new plainly enough what Yens was up to. Before Yens could be dragged to the Devil, he had grabbed hold of Yens’ bundle, calling to the ten other sailors on deck to get hold and heave. Then they began to pay the lines into the huge blocks on the larboard side… Before she could fire another set of broadsides, Le Sanguine Enfant was heeling over so dramatically that the gunners could only shoot right into the deep blue sea. In short order, the Surprise had the deck of the Reaver vessel cleared of personnel with grapeshot bombard and ballista. After boarding, the marines only took two more minutes to dispatch the rest of Reavers, who of course fought to the bitter end. During the rest of the battle, Yens, under the cautious swordpoint of two Lyrander guards, sat grinning from ear to ear. As far as he was concerned he had done it; by his actions he had brought down the fearsome and terrible Le Sanguin Enfant… [I]and it had only taken him three years.[/I][/INDENT] Suddenly, he was awake. Falling, he landed with a thud and a roll. Instantly he transformed his countenance. His face took on a lupine appearance and his legs seemed to extend a few inches. Using what little momentum he had left from his fall, he rolled to his feet and drew a knife. Three large carnivorous birds had waded into camp. Klem was pounding at one with his hammer while he held Cyrus up with one arm. The azurian was flailing about with his good arm trying to contact the bird with his electrified touch, his other arm hung limply, nearly severed at the shoulder. “Terror Birds… Uh…” moaned a delirious Urol, fastly held in the jaws of the central bird. The third bird, the one that had thrown him from his bedroll, was being harassed by Kira in predator form and Amella with her rapier. Then Yens saw [I]a ghost. [/I] She had crept out of the undergrowth and snuck up behind the lead bird to stab it with her rapier. It died instantly and Urol rolled free. The other two birds wasted no time, with their flock leader dead, they fled into the forest with all the haste of predator turned prey. Yens stood there with his mouth hung open. Cyrus sidled up to him as they watched Rowyn Kelani clean and sheath her rapier. “But we killed her, didn’t we?” the Good Incarnate asked. [/QUOTE]
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