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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Joshua Randall" data-source="post: 739644" data-attributes="member: 7737">At that moment a dense fog appeared as if from nowhere, almost completely enveloping the Cardonal. It was as thick as the proverbial pea soup and restricted vision to a mere five feet. Moments later, a tremendous jolt ran the length of the ship as something rammed into it. All of the Kestrels save Banda lost their balance and were knocked off their feet."We are the Sea Ghosts!" yelled someone from astern. "Surrender and you will not be harmed!"Madrak swore (using several colorful words he had learned from the Cardonal's crew). "We've been sold out by that cur, Marrero," he yelled. Peering through the fog, he adopted a ready posture and hefted an enormous cudgel in his hands. Just wait for someone to show themselves, thought Madrak, and I will crack his skull open. He advanced warily along the port rail from bow to stern.Banda had been on her way to the poop deck when the attack came. She saw three shapes looming up through the fog. Two bore cutlasses and were garbed as seamen. The third was a tall, pinched man in outlandish purple robes with a high collar. Without warning, he pointed his long index finger at Banda, and she felt a wave of magical energy wash over her. The sorceress frowned and fought off the effect. She lashed out with her spear, catching one of the pirates in the leg and opening a shallow wound.Meanwhile, Quaddla put her back to the Cardonal's mast and readied herself. She could hear the sounds of a scuffle taking place astern. Cautiously, the Knight of the Moon edged around the mast, straining to see. She switched to darkvision, but it was to no avail; the fog obscured all types of sight.Amidships, Bilt found himself next to the hatch leading to the cargo hold. He hefted his crossbow, but couldn't see or hear any targets nearby. Hmm, wondered the rogue, what's in the hold? Taking care not to make any noise, Bilt eased open the hatch and slipped below decks.The purple-garbed magician frowned and pointed insistently at Banda again. Submit! a voice seemed to say to her. Banda felt her will weaken. She stared, slack-jawed, as one of the pirates advanced and trussed her up. How shameful, thought the sorceress idly, as she was forced to the deck.Completing her circuit of the mast, Quaddla came upon the aftermath of Banda's defeat. A pirate interposed himself between Quaddla and the magician. His cutlass in a guarding position, he parried Quaddla's thrust. She frowned and pressed the attack, trying to get past the man's guard. But he was obviously trained in the ways of defensive fighting, and turned aside most of Quaddla's thrusts with ease.Madrak made his way amidships. The fog was thinning, borne away by the wind. He could just make out a curious scene up ahead: Banda, hog-tied upon the deck. Quaddla fencing with a pirate while another moved into position on her flank. And a tall man in purple robes, making gestures in the air before him."Brillante!" screamed the mage. A burst of glittering colors exploded in space between Quaddla and Madrak. They were so bright, so compelling. Madrak tried to look away, but it was too late. Colors swam before his eyes until he could see nothing. Madrak cursed again and advanced, swinging his club blindly. All he had to do was connect with someone….Below decks, Bilt saw sacks of grain heaped willy-nilly in the hold. Realizing that he had wasted his time, Bilt climbed back up on deck and moved slowly and (he hoped) quietly through the mist. There, up ahead – was that a pirate, or one of his friends? Bilt couldn't be sure. He gripped his crossbow and swore under his breath.As suddenly as it had come, the fog was gone. Quaddla, who had avoided the effects of the glittering colors, shook off another attempt by the mage to distract her. If only she could get to him to disrupt his spellcasting. But one pirate blocked the way ahead, while another had slashed her twice in the back when her guard was down. Cowards! she thought.A plan occurred to Quaddla. "Madrak!" she yelled. "In front of you, the wizard—"But Madrak was already there, his cudgel sweeping clumsily from side to side. Miraculously, he connected – a solid blow the caught the wizard in the head and neck. The mage grimaced, fell back, almost lost his balance, but somehow maintained concentration on his spell. A evil-looking bird appeared in the air nearby and the wizard sent it into battle. How ironic, thought Banda: we're being attacked by a hawk.Bilt could see now: the man ahead of him was a pirate who had snuck down from the poop deck. Bilt leveled his crossbow and fired, but the bolt skidded uselessly along the deck. Frowning, the rogue took shelter behind the hatch cover and reloaded.By this time two more pirates had joined the fray. One of them fought with snarling fury. His left hand was missing, replaced by a stump knife. He fell upon Quaddla and began hacking away futilely at her armor. The Knight of the Moon was worried: she was beset by three foes and of her two nearest companions, one was helplessly bound while the other was blinded by magic."Yeeeeeargh!" roared Madrak, as his sight returned, just in time for him to avoid the screeching bird that was trying to peck his eyes out. He brought his club down in a huge overhand blow, braining one of the pirates assaulting Quaddla. The pirate fell to the deck, his head caved in. At the same time, Quaddla dropped another pirate, her crescent-shaped sword catching him under the armpit. The man's eyes grew wide in terror and then glazed over. Slowly, almost gently, Quaddla eased him to the deck and withdrew her sword from his body.The purple-clad wizard scowled. He had not expected armed resistance. Furthermore, the brute with the huge club was liable to take his head off if the fight continued. "Withdraw immediately," Porfirio ordered. "Get underway at once."The Kestrels managed a few parting shots as the pirates retreated, but none of them was inclined to pursue. The pirate ship disengaged from the Cardonal and tacked about, sailing off into the gloom. Quaddla glared after it. "We will battle them again. I know it," she averred."Damn right," Madrak agreed. "And next time, I won't be blinded." Cursing, he looked around for something to clobber.</blockquote>

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