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Message: <blockquote data-quote="talien" data-source="post: 4465886" data-attributes="member: 3285">Belly of the Beast: Part 10a – The RescueAt length one o'clock sounded. At five minutes past a guard went down the gangway with fixed bayonets, followed by one of the principal warders.    "Now, then, turn the hands out, Mr. Webb, and man the gig!" was shouted.In a few minutes the prisoners began to stream up the deck from the hatchways, and to move down the gangway in single file, to the cutters, as they had in the morning."Oars up, here! Oars up!" shouted the guard in the cutter to the rowers, as the first prisoners reached the water's edge. The boat carrying the guards, their bayonets sparkling in the sun, and some officers too, was already off to receive the men on shore.All the prisoners were arranged along both sides of the ship, chained to each other in two long lines.  The iron golem stood watch at the center.  The ship was already heavy enough with all the prisoners. Two red-cloaked captains stood watch at either side of the boat, while several guards kept the prisoners in line. Also enforcing the authority of the captains were two wand guards, who wielded dragon-shaped pistols that spat lightning. And all the while, Clank’s menacing shadow reminded everyone that no disobedience would be tolerated.Aggro was on the opposite side of Kham and Scarbelly, rowing along with a pair of nervous-looking humans to either side of the hulking orc. Aggro whispered something to the prisoner beside him, who passed it on to another prisoner, who passed it another in turn.“It’s happening.” Kham took the two rings out of his shoe and put them on.  “Get ready.” Scarbelly nodded and kept rowing.The whispers made their way around the rowers.  Until it got to Krysos.Krysos nodded.  He slowly turned around.  Kham caught his gaze.Krysos smiled. “MUTINY!” he shouted at the top of his lungs.  “It’s a mutiny!” He stopped rowing and stood up to point at Kham. “The val’s trying to make a run for it!”Black clouds of smoke appeared by the wand guards and in front of the golem.  Clank lumbered over towards Kham, only to slide forward as magical grease slicked a path right off the side of the ship.The prisoners on Aggro’s side dipped their oars hard in the water while the prisoners on Kham’s side let go of their oars and leaned to.  The net effect was that the boat rocked hard.Clank’s bulk, normally an advantage in intimidating a prisoner, was a liability.  It smashed right through the deck rail and over the edge.“The Bloody Vengeance!” shouted Scarbelly. Standing at the bow of the legendary ship of captain Drak Scarbelly was a slim, feminine form.  It was Ilmarė.With the aid of his ring, Kham easily slipped free of the manacles.All hell broke loose.  The prisoners shouted and hooted, some trying to free themselves from the chains, others cowering.  Lighting blasts and flintlocks fired across the deck.  A blast of flames engulfed the center of the deck, setting it on fire and incinerating some of the guards.Shimmering forms became distinct as Beldin, Vlad, and Sebastian dropped their invisibility. A thunderous cannonade echoed across the ocean.  The Bloody Vengeance let loose a full barrage of cannon fire.“They’re firing on us?” shouted Kham.  “Why are they firing on us?”Scarbelly looked like a proud father.  “This be how orcs stage a rescue!”There was a high-pitched whine near the deck rail.  Kham looked down.“Ah crap,” said Kham.  The chain had snared on Clank and was shrieking through the many iron rings that bound the men to each other.  Including Scarbelly.Kham sighed and looped one foot around the length of chain before it snapped taut. He took a deep breath.Then one by one, Kham, Scarbelly, and all the prisoners on their side of the deck were yanked into the sea.</blockquote>

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