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Message: <blockquote data-quote="peteyfrogboy" data-source="post: 1184975" data-attributes="member: 5677">Blood On The WaterThe surface of the water was calm, and the glow of lanterns filtered down beneath the gentle swells. They have light, thought Bubuduul as he floated beneath the air breathers' boat. It will not save them. He gave the order to begin the assault, his low murmur carrying easily through the water. His warriors moved as one, taking up positions all around the unsuspecting vessel.Bubuduul had recently been named Marr of the Western Reach, a prestigious office that would bring him much respect. To prove his worthiness, he chose to punish the air breathers who stole his people's food. Soon they would be food for the fish instead. Bubuduul swam upward toward the surface, his webbed hands wrapped tightly around the shaft of Breathstealer. The jagged edged spear was carved in a single piece from the bone of an ancient sea dragon and inlaid with rare corals, the sacred weapon of the Western Marr.Quickly and quietly Bubuduul and his war party climbed the sides of the boat. they leaped over the rail as one, claws and teeth bared to rend the flesh of men. the handful of fishermen on board screamed and shouted as they saw the attacking sahuagin, especially those that laid eyes on the fearsome Ulupoodool. The Marr of the West had chosen the four-armed savage to accompany him on his inaugural campaign. Ulupoodool's kind were unpredictable and hard to control, but once set loose among enemies their viciousness was unmatched. Bubuduul stood back and watched as his warriors advanced. The fishermen, armed with little more than gaffs and belaying pins, would not last long. Something caught the Marr's attention on the starboard rail of the ship. Two of his warriors were surrounding one of the fishermen. One of them, however, had an arrow sticking out of his back. Something struck the same warrior in the head, sending scales and blood flying. Bubuduul looked over the side and could barely see the stern of a boat being rowed up alongside. He could hear many voices and weapons being drawn. One of the voices was making a horrible noise that almost sounded like singing. Teeth bared, he hissed. He had wanted a quick and complete victory. No matter, he thought, readying Breathstealer, it will only increase my glory. One of the fishermen was standing amidships, shouting orders to the others. Bubuduul strode toward him and thrust his spear through the man's back. It emerged through his chest in a spray of blood and the orders ceased.Two humans climbed up a net that was hanging over the side of the ship, coming over the rail on the poop deck. One of them held a curved blade in one hand and a shield in the other, while the second had two straight blades. Their swords glittered in the moonlight like darting fish. Bubuduul hurried aft to aid his warriors against the swordsmen. He passed Ulupoodool, who was making a mad charge at one of the fishermen, presumably to push him into the water. The Marr felt another pang of concern as he saw how awkwardly the four armed creature moved; he had likely never been out of the water before. Even as this thought occurred to him, he saw Ulupoodool trip and fall on the rocking deck.As he arrived at the stern, his warriors were engaging the two air breathers. Now that he was closer he could see that the one with the curved sword was female. The females are weak, he thought. I will not waste Breathstealer on her. He worked his way around the melee to face the man with two swords. He thrust the serrated blade forward, piercing the human's arm. One strike from that spear was usually enough to fell a man -- Bubuduul had seen it many times -- but this one fought on. The Marr dodged a strike from the man's longer sword, but the shorter blade struck him in the leg. Now that he was closer he could see that the short blade seemed to be growing right out of the man's arm. He began to wonder what sort of creatures these were.Stealing a glance behind him, Bubuduul saw four of his warriors surrounding the female. He thrust at his own opponent again, drawing blood from his flank but still not slaying him. Looking back again, he saw two warriors lying on the deck and the other two bleeding badly. The female was untouched. Three more men had climbed up from below, joining Bubuduul's first opponent. He backed up toward the aft rail to keep from being surrounded.Breathstealer danced and weaved as Bubuduul tried to fend off his attackers, but one sword managed to get by and draw a stinging slash across his cheek. He watched as the female finished off her last two opponents and leaped down to the main deck. None of the fishermen were still standing, but that seemed a small victory at this point.Arrows and stones were still flying up from the boat, occasionally striking any sahuagin too near the rail. Bubuduul was fighting for his life, but part of his mind was mesmerized by the ballet of defeat playing out down on the main deck. Three of his warriors fired their massive crossbows at the female, but she dodged or shrugged off every bolt. Ulupoodool stabbed her with the trident in his upper hands, but then he lost his footing again and fell on one of the daggers in his lower hands. The savage rose again and surrounded her with the rest of the war party. He slashed her across the ribs with one of her daggers, but it was nowhere near enough. In only a few heartbeats she had finished her massacre.Bubuduul hissed with rage, plunging his spear into the chest of the sword-handed demon before him. Blood sprayed forth, and the Marr could tell the human was close to death. It was not close enough, though, and Bubuduul knew it. The water beckoned behind him, but he knew that no kinder fate would await him should he return home a failure. This is impossible! he thought. It must be Grupokul's doing. He put some sort of curse--</blockquote>

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