Out to Sea (con't)
Before I could even find out what the ‘somethin’ was, Dorbo bounded away and up the stairs. I made sure Honora was safely in her cabin then followed.
I half expected the deck to be ablaze. But everything looked normal.The ships were surrounded by a shroud of darkness;the night as cloudy-even the Ring above seemed faint. On the ships, continual light lamps dotted the rigging throwing light in pools across the deck.
To the starboard work continued aboard the Zephyr. But there was no crisis. I figured Dorbo was just overstimulated, what with the translation, the books, and the prospect of going home.
To the port side of the deck, I found the others. They were leaning over the side peering into the water. I tapped Dorbo on the shoulder. “Well?”
Dorbo shifted his feet from side to side. “Perhaps I was a bit hasty m’boy” he smiled, “looks to be just a shark the bird saw.”
“A big one.” Bynara snorted."At least we know the bird can see large objects in low light." She cackled at herself.
I snuck a peek. It was pretty big. A long grey black shape circled by the waterline of the galleon, occasionally making contact with the side of the hull. Even from above it looked ominous.
Anvil let out a sigh of sorts. “Corvo has been winging about the ship for some time. I had feared he did indeed spy a threat, apparently I misunderstood his intention. He said fish in the water.”
I chuckled. “Guess you should have gotten an owl, Anvil. They're smarter.”
I was preparing to head back to my cabin when we all heard a commotion from the direction of the Zephyr. There was the sound of running and shouting. Then everything happened at once, or at least it seemed that way.
The thing to realize about the Swiftsure is that, like many of the Lyrandar galleons, it was a piece of art as much as a mode of transport. The Swiftsure had an ornate prow, a carved figure of a half elf female jutting out from the bow. The castle of the galleon was painted in bright blue and white and had an elaborate balcony called a gallery that sat just above the rudder in the stern of the ship. The gallery framed several large windows that led to officers quarters.
I remember reading that many of the non elemental galleons had crews anywhere from 50 to 150 men depending on the voyage, too. The Swiftsure , I reckoned was on the low end of this spectrum, crew-wise.
All these thoughts were passing through my mind as I tried to explain the how and why of the dark figures appearing at the bow and stern of the Swiftsure. The figures were dark green with spots on their bodies. Most carried tridents.
“Fish men” growled Bynara though clinched teeth.
A hoarse cry went up from one of the crew. “Sahuagin! Sahuagin! We’re being boarded!”
I pulled my sword. "I owe Corvo an apology, Anvil."
Before I could even find out what the ‘somethin’ was, Dorbo bounded away and up the stairs. I made sure Honora was safely in her cabin then followed.
I half expected the deck to be ablaze. But everything looked normal.The ships were surrounded by a shroud of darkness;the night as cloudy-even the Ring above seemed faint. On the ships, continual light lamps dotted the rigging throwing light in pools across the deck.
To the starboard work continued aboard the Zephyr. But there was no crisis. I figured Dorbo was just overstimulated, what with the translation, the books, and the prospect of going home.
To the port side of the deck, I found the others. They were leaning over the side peering into the water. I tapped Dorbo on the shoulder. “Well?”
Dorbo shifted his feet from side to side. “Perhaps I was a bit hasty m’boy” he smiled, “looks to be just a shark the bird saw.”
“A big one.” Bynara snorted."At least we know the bird can see large objects in low light." She cackled at herself.
I snuck a peek. It was pretty big. A long grey black shape circled by the waterline of the galleon, occasionally making contact with the side of the hull. Even from above it looked ominous.
Anvil let out a sigh of sorts. “Corvo has been winging about the ship for some time. I had feared he did indeed spy a threat, apparently I misunderstood his intention. He said fish in the water.”
I chuckled. “Guess you should have gotten an owl, Anvil. They're smarter.”
I was preparing to head back to my cabin when we all heard a commotion from the direction of the Zephyr. There was the sound of running and shouting. Then everything happened at once, or at least it seemed that way.
The thing to realize about the Swiftsure is that, like many of the Lyrandar galleons, it was a piece of art as much as a mode of transport. The Swiftsure had an ornate prow, a carved figure of a half elf female jutting out from the bow. The castle of the galleon was painted in bright blue and white and had an elaborate balcony called a gallery that sat just above the rudder in the stern of the ship. The gallery framed several large windows that led to officers quarters.
I remember reading that many of the non elemental galleons had crews anywhere from 50 to 150 men depending on the voyage, too. The Swiftsure , I reckoned was on the low end of this spectrum, crew-wise.
All these thoughts were passing through my mind as I tried to explain the how and why of the dark figures appearing at the bow and stern of the Swiftsure. The figures were dark green with spots on their bodies. Most carried tridents.
“Fish men” growled Bynara though clinched teeth.
A hoarse cry went up from one of the crew. “Sahuagin! Sahuagin! We’re being boarded!”
I pulled my sword. "I owe Corvo an apology, Anvil."
Last edited:
