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<blockquote data-quote="talien" data-source="post: 2296687" data-attributes="member: 3285"><p><strong>The Children of Leviathan - Part 3a: Fort M’kimbe’</strong></p><p></p><p>The Shrike rounded a dark rocky peninsula covered in wind-twisted trees.</p><p></p><p>“Fort M’kimbe hooooo!” shouted Captain Bezyli. </p><p></p><p>As soon as the captain confirmed the sighting, the crew visibly relaxed. As the Shrike sailed closer to land, they could make out a small stout keep with a tall lighthouse perched atop a cliff, all of it fashioned of huge, dark stone blocks. The fort flew Altherian colors and was lined with several squat cannons mounted on towerlets facing the sea.</p><p></p><p>Captain Bezyli gave the order to weigh anchor and lower a boat to go ashore. As the men jumped to it, Bezyli turned to his first mate.</p><p></p><p>“Mister Baldric, I will go ashore with Bob and Edward to secure provisions. You have the ship.”</p><p></p><p>“Aye, Captain,” said Baldric with a look of distaste he reserved only for the captain.</p><p></p><p>A rope ladder was rolled down and secured. The captain and his two crewmen descended to the little boat. Ilmarė, Bijoux and Vlad clambered down into it. </p><p></p><p>Edward eyed Cal. “I don’t know if that’s such a good idea.”</p><p></p><p>Calactyte, claws extended, put one large clawed foot onto the rope. It creaked under the weight. </p><p></p><p>“So long as he doesn’t rock the boat….” said Bezyli.</p><p></p><p>Despite their concerns, Cal managed to not capsize the boat. He looked around at them all.</p><p></p><p>“What?”</p><p></p><p>“Nothing,” said Ilmarė. “Just don’t move too much.”</p><p></p><p>The boat pulled ashore at a long barnacle-encrusted stone dock that was streaked with rust. In the cliff wall was a carven doorway fitted with an oxidizing but sound portcullis. Beyond the doorway was a dark stairwell that led sharply upward. </p><p></p><p>Light flooded the stairwell as the sound of a stout trapdoor creaked open from above. The jingle of a key ring was followed by the appearance of a short, barrel-chested Altherian. </p><p></p><p>“Greetings,” he said with a slight Altherian accent. “I am Sergeant Chaga.” The portcullis winched up in front of him as he spoke. “I’m afraid the Captain of the Guard is away on official business.”</p><p></p><p>He led them back to the trapdoor, guiding them through a guardhouse to an outside courtyard. </p><p></p><p>“As you know, the Dauntless has been missing for nearly a month,” said Chaga. “I’m convinced that it was the Cult of the Leviathan that attacked it.”</p><p></p><p>“Did they know what was on board the ship?” asked Vlad. His eyes were on the oddly shaped interior of the keep and the towering lighthouse that jutted out of it.</p><p></p><p>“Normally I would say it was a random attack,” said Chaga. “But in this case they had help. One of our men doused the light from the lighthouse.”</p><p></p><p>There were many soldiers of the Patrol, men of every nation, whispering amongst themselves and eyeing them with curious glances.</p><p></p><p>Bijoux’s ears flattened against her head. “Why are they all staring?” she whispered aloud.</p><p></p><p>“Don’t mind them,” said Chaga. “Solitary station turns to comfortable solace and camaraderie here. The men aren’t much used to…” he looked Cal up and down, “visitors inside the walls.”</p><p></p><p>“I should like to have a few words with the traitor,” said Ilmarė.</p><p></p><p>“Wouldn’t we all,” said Chaga. “His name was Caskill.” He paused, shaking his head and chuckling to himself. “I’m sorry, you must understand that Caskill was one of us. He was a brother-in-arms, and although the man was strange looking, it was overlooked.”</p><p></p><p>Vlad was careful not to look at his three companions. “I know what you mean,” he said with a straight face.</p><p></p><p>“Caskill locked himself in this room.” He stopped at a stout wooden door with an inset iron lock. The door was marked with a small scarab beetle, the sacred symbol of Neroth. “He swallowed poisoned before he could be arrested and questioned.”</p><p></p><p>He unlocked the door, revealing a slim stair leading up to a square room, its confines dimly lit through the cracks of a high shuttered window. The room had a few shelves with chirurgeon’s tools, herbs and chemicals. The light fell on a table draped in a white cloth. Something large was beneath it.</p><p></p><p>After staring into the gloomy doorway for an uncomfortable moment, Chaga pointed and said, “He’s there.” </p><p></p><p>He turned on his heel and joined Captain Bezyli, Bob, and Edward at the bottom of the steps. </p><p></p><p>“So…” said Bijoux. “That’s him?”</p><p></p><p>Cal leaned down and sniffed the sheet. </p><p></p><p>“Well, I’m not touching that sheet,” Ilmarė said, crossing her arms.</p><p></p><p>Before anyone could say anything else, Cal yanked the sheet off of the corpse. </p><p></p><p>Caskill was monstrously large. At nearly seven feet tall and in excess of 300 pounds, his feet hung over the table. He was bald and covered with scars, his skin unnaturally pale and varicose. His extremities and mouth were tinged blue-green from the poison. Caskill’s mouth was agape and his teeth filed down to points. His wide blue eyes stared blankly upwards in a hideous expression.</p><p></p><p>“I liked him better with the sheet on,” said Bijoux.</p><p></p><p>“Look at his tattoo,” said Ilmarė. She pointed at Caskill’s chest. It was a large tattoo of a faceless demonic-looking man with webbed hands. Instead of legs, tentacles splayed out across Caskill’s broad chest. </p><p></p><p>Ilmarė turned to the others. “That’s the human god Yarris. They’ve twisted it into something else—“</p><p></p><p>Then Caskill bit her on the wrist.</p><p></p><p>The Elorii’s statement turned into a shriek as Caskill hopped up and grabbed her with one meaty paw. He hurled Ilmarė around like a rag doll, standing naked on the table. </p><p></p><p>Everything happened at once. Vlad drew his sword. Cal reached for his axe, but realized he no matter where he swung it; he would hit someone other than Caskill. Bijoux crouched on all fours.</p><p></p><p>“Somebody DO something!” shouted Ilmarė. </p><p></p><p>Caskill responded by worrying her arm like a dog. The Elorii shrieked again at the top of her lungs as she pulled a dagger from her belt. </p><p></p><p>“I can’t get a clear shot at him!” shouted Vlad, struggling to hack at a part of Caskill that wasn’t blocked by flailing Elorii.</p><p></p><p>“Me neither,” said Cal, gripping his axe tightly.</p><p></p><p>Bijoux didn’t wait for an opening. She leapt up on Caskill’s back, clawing at his face. </p><p></p><p>Ilmarė stabbed Caskill repeatedly in the chest and he finally let go, dumping her to the ground. </p><p></p><p>Caskill whirled, bloody foam flying from his mouth. He clawed at Bijoux over his shoulders, but his sheer bulk put him at a disadvantage. Blood dripped into his eyes from the deep gouges across his face.</p><p></p><p>With a roar, he leaped from the table through the shuttered window. As the wood splintered, there was a paralyzing moment when Bijoux, perched on Caskill’s shoulders, was framed in the window with a shocked expression. Then they both dropped from sight.</p><p></p><p>“Gods!” shouted Vlad.</p><p></p><p>Caskill’s hysterical laughter echoed in the room as he fell. It was punctuated by a horrible crunch. Then they heard no more.</p><p></p><p>Vlad slowly approached the window’s ledge, dreading what he would see when he looked down. </p><p></p><p>He nearly jumped out of his skin as Bijoux landed lightly on the windowsill, the skin flaps between her arms and hips extended.</p><p></p><p>Ilmarė tore a strip off of Caskill’s shroud and wrapped it around her arm. “Fihali can fly,” said Ilmarė, acting as if a supposedly dead man hadn’t just bitten her. </p><p></p><p>Bijoux smiled, showing her fangs as she hopped out of the window. “Can’t you?” she asked innocently.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="talien, post: 2296687, member: 3285"] [b]The Children of Leviathan - Part 3a: Fort M’kimbe’[/b] The Shrike rounded a dark rocky peninsula covered in wind-twisted trees. “Fort M’kimbe hooooo!” shouted Captain Bezyli. As soon as the captain confirmed the sighting, the crew visibly relaxed. As the Shrike sailed closer to land, they could make out a small stout keep with a tall lighthouse perched atop a cliff, all of it fashioned of huge, dark stone blocks. The fort flew Altherian colors and was lined with several squat cannons mounted on towerlets facing the sea. Captain Bezyli gave the order to weigh anchor and lower a boat to go ashore. As the men jumped to it, Bezyli turned to his first mate. “Mister Baldric, I will go ashore with Bob and Edward to secure provisions. You have the ship.” “Aye, Captain,” said Baldric with a look of distaste he reserved only for the captain. A rope ladder was rolled down and secured. The captain and his two crewmen descended to the little boat. Ilmarė, Bijoux and Vlad clambered down into it. Edward eyed Cal. “I don’t know if that’s such a good idea.” Calactyte, claws extended, put one large clawed foot onto the rope. It creaked under the weight. “So long as he doesn’t rock the boat….” said Bezyli. Despite their concerns, Cal managed to not capsize the boat. He looked around at them all. “What?” “Nothing,” said Ilmarė. “Just don’t move too much.” The boat pulled ashore at a long barnacle-encrusted stone dock that was streaked with rust. In the cliff wall was a carven doorway fitted with an oxidizing but sound portcullis. Beyond the doorway was a dark stairwell that led sharply upward. Light flooded the stairwell as the sound of a stout trapdoor creaked open from above. The jingle of a key ring was followed by the appearance of a short, barrel-chested Altherian. “Greetings,” he said with a slight Altherian accent. “I am Sergeant Chaga.” The portcullis winched up in front of him as he spoke. “I’m afraid the Captain of the Guard is away on official business.” He led them back to the trapdoor, guiding them through a guardhouse to an outside courtyard. “As you know, the Dauntless has been missing for nearly a month,” said Chaga. “I’m convinced that it was the Cult of the Leviathan that attacked it.” “Did they know what was on board the ship?” asked Vlad. His eyes were on the oddly shaped interior of the keep and the towering lighthouse that jutted out of it. “Normally I would say it was a random attack,” said Chaga. “But in this case they had help. One of our men doused the light from the lighthouse.” There were many soldiers of the Patrol, men of every nation, whispering amongst themselves and eyeing them with curious glances. Bijoux’s ears flattened against her head. “Why are they all staring?” she whispered aloud. “Don’t mind them,” said Chaga. “Solitary station turns to comfortable solace and camaraderie here. The men aren’t much used to…” he looked Cal up and down, “visitors inside the walls.” “I should like to have a few words with the traitor,” said Ilmarė. “Wouldn’t we all,” said Chaga. “His name was Caskill.” He paused, shaking his head and chuckling to himself. “I’m sorry, you must understand that Caskill was one of us. He was a brother-in-arms, and although the man was strange looking, it was overlooked.” Vlad was careful not to look at his three companions. “I know what you mean,” he said with a straight face. “Caskill locked himself in this room.” He stopped at a stout wooden door with an inset iron lock. The door was marked with a small scarab beetle, the sacred symbol of Neroth. “He swallowed poisoned before he could be arrested and questioned.” He unlocked the door, revealing a slim stair leading up to a square room, its confines dimly lit through the cracks of a high shuttered window. The room had a few shelves with chirurgeon’s tools, herbs and chemicals. The light fell on a table draped in a white cloth. Something large was beneath it. After staring into the gloomy doorway for an uncomfortable moment, Chaga pointed and said, “He’s there.” He turned on his heel and joined Captain Bezyli, Bob, and Edward at the bottom of the steps. “So…” said Bijoux. “That’s him?” Cal leaned down and sniffed the sheet. “Well, I’m not touching that sheet,” Ilmarė said, crossing her arms. Before anyone could say anything else, Cal yanked the sheet off of the corpse. Caskill was monstrously large. At nearly seven feet tall and in excess of 300 pounds, his feet hung over the table. He was bald and covered with scars, his skin unnaturally pale and varicose. His extremities and mouth were tinged blue-green from the poison. Caskill’s mouth was agape and his teeth filed down to points. His wide blue eyes stared blankly upwards in a hideous expression. “I liked him better with the sheet on,” said Bijoux. “Look at his tattoo,” said Ilmarė. She pointed at Caskill’s chest. It was a large tattoo of a faceless demonic-looking man with webbed hands. Instead of legs, tentacles splayed out across Caskill’s broad chest. Ilmarė turned to the others. “That’s the human god Yarris. They’ve twisted it into something else—“ Then Caskill bit her on the wrist. The Elorii’s statement turned into a shriek as Caskill hopped up and grabbed her with one meaty paw. He hurled Ilmarė around like a rag doll, standing naked on the table. Everything happened at once. Vlad drew his sword. Cal reached for his axe, but realized he no matter where he swung it; he would hit someone other than Caskill. Bijoux crouched on all fours. “Somebody DO something!” shouted Ilmarė. Caskill responded by worrying her arm like a dog. The Elorii shrieked again at the top of her lungs as she pulled a dagger from her belt. “I can’t get a clear shot at him!” shouted Vlad, struggling to hack at a part of Caskill that wasn’t blocked by flailing Elorii. “Me neither,” said Cal, gripping his axe tightly. Bijoux didn’t wait for an opening. She leapt up on Caskill’s back, clawing at his face. Ilmarė stabbed Caskill repeatedly in the chest and he finally let go, dumping her to the ground. Caskill whirled, bloody foam flying from his mouth. He clawed at Bijoux over his shoulders, but his sheer bulk put him at a disadvantage. Blood dripped into his eyes from the deep gouges across his face. With a roar, he leaped from the table through the shuttered window. As the wood splintered, there was a paralyzing moment when Bijoux, perched on Caskill’s shoulders, was framed in the window with a shocked expression. Then they both dropped from sight. “Gods!” shouted Vlad. Caskill’s hysterical laughter echoed in the room as he fell. It was punctuated by a horrible crunch. Then they heard no more. Vlad slowly approached the window’s ledge, dreading what he would see when he looked down. He nearly jumped out of his skin as Bijoux landed lightly on the windowsill, the skin flaps between her arms and hips extended. Ilmarė tore a strip off of Caskill’s shroud and wrapped it around her arm. “Fihali can fly,” said Ilmarė, acting as if a supposedly dead man hadn’t just bitten her. Bijoux smiled, showing her fangs as she hopped out of the window. “Can’t you?” she asked innocently. [/QUOTE]
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