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Coils of Scuttlecove (Evil Campaign, Mature, no spoilers)
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<blockquote data-quote="Ipissimus" data-source="post: 3625538" data-attributes="member: 41514"><p>Aaron's hands clenched into fists. "Didn't you do anything to help her?"</p><p></p><p>"Nieve little man," Shae shook her head, "you don't interfere with the Crimson Fleet in Scuttlecove. Half of the pirates in port belong to their club, a quarter have ties to the Crimson Fleet and the last quarter wished they did. The Holy Triad doesn't care about justice, the Fleet paid them good gold for the use of the Plaza. And that's all that really matter in Scuttlecove: gold. The Skindancers lodged a formal protest at the death of one of our members then let the matter drop. It wasn't like she was entirely innocent in the whole affair anyway."</p><p></p><p>"How can you live like this?" He muttered. "Without justice or equality? Without law?"</p><p></p><p>Shae scowled. "Like any of us have a choice? I grew up in Scuttlecove as an orphan. No parents, reliant for everything on a pack of slave traders. When I reached the age of majority, I was traded to the Skindancer Academy for a favor. I was lucky, they gave me a chance to work off my contract and now I'm free. It's more than alot of them can say."</p><p></p><p>He sniffed. "What sort of work?"</p><p></p><p>"What sort of work is a pretty 8 year old girl good for?" Shae sneered.</p><p></p><p>It took a while for realization to dawn on Aaron's face. "That's monstrous!"</p><p></p><p>"Yes. But that's the way the world works. Everyone holds a monster in their hearts, it's just a matter of putting it to good use. Could you take the reins for a moment, Aaron? My arms are a little sore."</p><p></p><p>He took the reins impassively, too deep in throught about other things to protest. She leaned back against his body lightly and subtley, looking up at the canopy of leaves overhead. "You know, i don't think I've ever told anyone that before. Strange."</p><p></p><p>He shifted in the saddle, suddenly uncomfortable.</p><p></p><p>"Halt!" Jacith called from the head of the column. Shae cursed silently as they pulled up behind Zeladi. "What's wrong?"</p><p></p><p>"Haven," Jacith pointed out over the valley, "is on fire."</p><p></p><p>The five of them gathered atop the scarp where Jacith had stopped. Flickering flames licked over the jungle down below as black smoke obscured the town. Jacith took his eyeglass from his saddlebags and surveyed the scene. "They're still under attack, I can see archers along the treeline."</p><p></p><p>He handed the eyeglass to Dukar who quickly scanned the area. "Goblins. What are they doing this far down from the mountains?"</p><p></p><p>"We should go help," Aaron urged, "at least we could evacuate some of the civillians."</p><p></p><p>"Be quiet," Jacith dismissed him, "and be thankful for what freedoms I choose to give you. This whole area is riddled with smuggler's tunnels. The villagers are probably safer than we are. Still, we need to question any survivors. Thoughts, Dukar?"</p><p></p><p>"No way the five of us can drive off an army," he assessed, "and it's still a good hour or two's journey by horse in this sludge. But, if you insist on going in, I say we dismount and make our way to the south east corner we can bypass the archers. There's still fighting in the streets, if we keep to cover and use the confusion maybe we can force a retreat and buy the villagers some time."</p><p></p><p>"Ok, you heard Dukar," Jacith ordered, "Shae, you're with me, we'll scout ahead. Dukar and Zeladi, find a nice hollow and tether our horses, then follow. Dukar, give Aaron his weapons back but keep an eye on him. Right, move out."</p><p></p><p>#</p><p></p><p>Jacith and Shae moved swiftly through the jungle. Away from the road, the ground was more solid, packed with roots and boulders though the occasional pool had to be avoided. Still, they made better time. Finally, they crept toward one of the larger buildings on the eastern edge of the town. The township didn't have walls, which considering their current position might not have been wise, but allowed them immediate and unfettered access.</p><p></p><p>Two goblins muttered to each other in the back yard of the building ahead as they piled anything that could possibly be construed as loot near the back door.</p><p></p><p>"You know Goblin?" Shae whispered into her companion's ear.</p><p></p><p>He nodded, stringing his longbow. "Nothing important, just complaining. I can take one from here. Wait until the first one goes back inside then make a run for it."</p><p></p><p>Shae nodded. It wasn't long before the first Goblin growled an order and smacked the other, smaller, Goblin over the head before going back for more. She was running moments before it sprouted an arrow between the shoulder blades, falling with a clatter into the pile. It was too late to stop, so she drew a dagger from her belt as she ran, praying that the other Goblin hadn't heard.</p><p></p><p>Her prayers weren't answered. The first Goblin threw open the door with Shae still ten feet away, eyes wide with surprise as it drew in breath to shout. Thinking fast, Shae threw the dagger, scoring her mark directly between his eyebrows. The creature fell forward onto the stone steps with a low sigh, and twitched once before going still forever.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Ipissimus, post: 3625538, member: 41514"] Aaron's hands clenched into fists. "Didn't you do anything to help her?" "Nieve little man," Shae shook her head, "you don't interfere with the Crimson Fleet in Scuttlecove. Half of the pirates in port belong to their club, a quarter have ties to the Crimson Fleet and the last quarter wished they did. The Holy Triad doesn't care about justice, the Fleet paid them good gold for the use of the Plaza. And that's all that really matter in Scuttlecove: gold. The Skindancers lodged a formal protest at the death of one of our members then let the matter drop. It wasn't like she was entirely innocent in the whole affair anyway." "How can you live like this?" He muttered. "Without justice or equality? Without law?" Shae scowled. "Like any of us have a choice? I grew up in Scuttlecove as an orphan. No parents, reliant for everything on a pack of slave traders. When I reached the age of majority, I was traded to the Skindancer Academy for a favor. I was lucky, they gave me a chance to work off my contract and now I'm free. It's more than alot of them can say." He sniffed. "What sort of work?" "What sort of work is a pretty 8 year old girl good for?" Shae sneered. It took a while for realization to dawn on Aaron's face. "That's monstrous!" "Yes. But that's the way the world works. Everyone holds a monster in their hearts, it's just a matter of putting it to good use. Could you take the reins for a moment, Aaron? My arms are a little sore." He took the reins impassively, too deep in throught about other things to protest. She leaned back against his body lightly and subtley, looking up at the canopy of leaves overhead. "You know, i don't think I've ever told anyone that before. Strange." He shifted in the saddle, suddenly uncomfortable. "Halt!" Jacith called from the head of the column. Shae cursed silently as they pulled up behind Zeladi. "What's wrong?" "Haven," Jacith pointed out over the valley, "is on fire." The five of them gathered atop the scarp where Jacith had stopped. Flickering flames licked over the jungle down below as black smoke obscured the town. Jacith took his eyeglass from his saddlebags and surveyed the scene. "They're still under attack, I can see archers along the treeline." He handed the eyeglass to Dukar who quickly scanned the area. "Goblins. What are they doing this far down from the mountains?" "We should go help," Aaron urged, "at least we could evacuate some of the civillians." "Be quiet," Jacith dismissed him, "and be thankful for what freedoms I choose to give you. This whole area is riddled with smuggler's tunnels. The villagers are probably safer than we are. Still, we need to question any survivors. Thoughts, Dukar?" "No way the five of us can drive off an army," he assessed, "and it's still a good hour or two's journey by horse in this sludge. But, if you insist on going in, I say we dismount and make our way to the south east corner we can bypass the archers. There's still fighting in the streets, if we keep to cover and use the confusion maybe we can force a retreat and buy the villagers some time." "Ok, you heard Dukar," Jacith ordered, "Shae, you're with me, we'll scout ahead. Dukar and Zeladi, find a nice hollow and tether our horses, then follow. Dukar, give Aaron his weapons back but keep an eye on him. Right, move out." # Jacith and Shae moved swiftly through the jungle. Away from the road, the ground was more solid, packed with roots and boulders though the occasional pool had to be avoided. Still, they made better time. Finally, they crept toward one of the larger buildings on the eastern edge of the town. The township didn't have walls, which considering their current position might not have been wise, but allowed them immediate and unfettered access. Two goblins muttered to each other in the back yard of the building ahead as they piled anything that could possibly be construed as loot near the back door. "You know Goblin?" Shae whispered into her companion's ear. He nodded, stringing his longbow. "Nothing important, just complaining. I can take one from here. Wait until the first one goes back inside then make a run for it." Shae nodded. It wasn't long before the first Goblin growled an order and smacked the other, smaller, Goblin over the head before going back for more. She was running moments before it sprouted an arrow between the shoulder blades, falling with a clatter into the pile. It was too late to stop, so she drew a dagger from her belt as she ran, praying that the other Goblin hadn't heard. Her prayers weren't answered. The first Goblin threw open the door with Shae still ten feet away, eyes wide with surprise as it drew in breath to shout. Thinking fast, Shae threw the dagger, scoring her mark directly between his eyebrows. The creature fell forward onto the stone steps with a low sigh, and twitched once before going still forever. [/QUOTE]
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