Along the entire eastern horizon an emerald coastline glistens in the sunlight. The gemstone-like shores, broken only by the sapphire rivers, catches your breath in your throat. Beyond the shimmering green treetops you see rolling hills, white, silken mist, and far, far off... you can barely discern the titanic peaks of the great Arkoshan mountains, ghostly sentinels holding upon their shoulders the vivid, azure sky.
Home.
Cheers and jubilation can be heard across all the decks of your ships, the men and women excited to finally see an end to their journey--or at least the start of it.
Sheila looks proud as a peacock, and her seemingly famous tiefling bard strikes up a pleasing tune. The song trails through the air with words you can't understand, but somehow feel strangely familiar with. It reminds you of this land.
The Reaver loops around as the other ships slow, taking its trip toward the coast. Vance stands with you on deck, watching with nervous excitement as his red tail swishes back and forth. Given their heritage, he is almost as tall as you are despite his age difference.
"I can't wait to see what we make of this place. Kyber is going to make both you and our father proud! And so will I!" His eyes burn as you both watch the Reaver reach land. Surprisingly enough, it rams into the sandy shoreline and sends great plumes of glittering mist up around it. The bottom plates of their ship are seemingly well-designed to beach itself without any harm.
"As much as I wish to see this pan out, we must travel north now, yes?" He turns to look at you, his eyes glittering with golden light much like his sisters did.
Atriox smiles at Vance
“I like you Vance. Have since the moment I met you. That’s why I chose you of Kybirus to come with me.”
Atriox puts a hand on the young Dragonborns shoulder
“ I know you have greatness in you and this will tell me just what you can do. There’s more to life than fighting young one. Much more.....though it is fun and a good way to prove yourself. Now off you go I must make the final preparations.”
He beams a huge, toothy smile. "Absolutely. I'm fully ready for anything thrown our way." With a sweeping gesture he excuses himself, retreating to one of the fancier rooms in the hold below.
Before you can make to move, a pair of arms wraps around your shoulders from behind. It's more dominating than romantic, but the hint of affection is there nonetheless. It's unmistakably...
"Land at last, Atriox. You finally got us here. How does it feel?"
Dorokor's voice slinks into your ear like a dangerous feline. The trip has gone better since her rescue. Her attitude has improved and she is all but healed from her kidnapping. The only lingering signs are faint scars around her wrists. Her hunger has only increased with the pregnancy, but frequent trips to the Nightingale has solved that issue. Her men are more than willing to help, as well as the unwilling captive who took her in the first place.
Atriox grunts and cant help but smile. He brings one hand up to rest on one hers affectionately before speaking
“Amazing, terrifying, and everything in between all at once. I can only hope we’re as ready as I think we are. To start this crazy thing.......”
He turns then and looks at her belly which has definitely grown. He places a tender hand on it
“I know you can handle anything but......will you be ok ?”
Atriox looks up into her eyes searching
Kora grumbles a little, a sneer on her face that is almost a pout. It's almost impossible for her to hide her stomach now, and it has forced her to be more accepting of it.
"Yes, yes... I've handled all the shit thrown at us so far right?" Her somewhat brown eyes meet yours, their vampiric tinge weaker at the moment. "You've been good on your promises so far. I'm sure I can handle what's coming."
You feel a strong kick against your clawed hand. She snorts and puts her hand atop yours for a moment. There's a teasing growl to her voice. "They'll probably be a little troublemaker like you."
Atriox grunts In amusement at her pouting
“Or a born fighter and leader like they’re mother.”
He nudged her gently with his face
“Before you land with the troops and we separate will you find Bitey down bellow for me ? I need to gather everybody else.”
With what you can only assume is a bit of an embarrassed blush, Kora steps back and clears her throat. The sentiment of your statement was not lost on her.
"Yes, of course. I know the scoundrel has been avoiding me."
There's a small glint of playfulness now, as if she's planning to give the thug a little scare. "I'll send him up as soon as I find him." With a final touch of her hand on your scaly arm she passes by, heading down into the hold.
As the three remaining ships glide to the shoreline, you see and hear a torrential scene come around the bend of islands near you. The noises of cannon fire and war.
One galleon, chasing another, fires blazing weapons toward their prey. The one in front has its sails stretched taunt, using the wind to its advantage. The shots just barely miss the hull, smaller ones whizzing past the main sail and flag--seemingly from the city of Chane nearby Satun--from where Bethrynna is from. It's in stark contrast to the blackened jolly roger flag of the pirate ship behind it.
Smaller, quicker boats break off from the vagabonds, chasing down and grappling to the other. Full of humans, half giants and goblin-kind, they look menacing and blood-thirsty.
The galleon of Chane fires off a shot into the sky, a white explosive powder by way of calling for help. It obviously sees your three ships. You're still not quite close enough to shore, and are about in the middle between land and pirates.
Atriox growls and curses. With a clenched fist he looks to Sheila and yells
“Bring us about Captain. All three ships. Prepare fore combat all .”
Atriox goes to take position where he can watch as they approach the pirates. As they do he looks the Sheila
“Use our size and numbers against them send the other two ships to circle them and attack from different directions as we move in for the attack.”
"Of course!" She shouts, excitement in her voice. "No honor among thieves, after all! I only waited to make sure you were alright with an approach."
Spinning the wheel she sharply turns, making headway back against the waves. A sharp whistle sends her men into action. One raises a flag of their own: a skull crossed with roses, red and black silk macabre that fits Sheila well. A smirk on her face tells you she's enjoying this, and the air about the ship changes in an instant. No more do these feel like only traders or merchants; they take on the air of pirates.
"They'll think we may come to help--or steal their catch." She laughs. "Tricks I learned from my own mentor, bless her black heart."
The helpless merchant galleon who called for your aid had started right toward you, but does not slow despite the flag hoisted among the glimmer-woven sails. Perhaps they did not notice, or are desperate enough not to care.
The Nightingale and Clover react to the signals. Turning about, they circle around and bear down on either side of the pirate ship, their speed their greatest asset.
Kobolds and orcs rally aboard each, weapons drawn. Vele can be seen prepping her new mount, ready to take flight.
Atriox grabs his Glaive off of his back and continues to watch and calculate on there approach
Atriox continues to fight with the teifling
Searching around the deck of the ship, you come across a strange sight. The helm, where the captain's wheel would usually be, is... Missing. The wheel itself is completely gone, as if removed by someone.
The Vessel lurches as water continues to flood in. The corpses of the pirates you both incinerated have now lit fire to the deck. All around you the sails begin burning, filling the sky with smoke.
You see the Annabel directly across from you, having listed away just slightly. It is thankfully still upright, despite the heavy hit. It is full of pirates fighting on both sides, tooth and nail against one another.
Your eyes land on Sheila and Randal, the man who helped you rescue the destitute people from the sea when you first left Dragonshore. The two of them are fighting against a massive foe.
A Minotaur pirate captain with a peg leg, long horns, and a grand, flowing beard. In one meaty hand he wields his ship's wheel as if it were a shield. In his other hand he batters his foes away with a cutlass the size of a greatsword. His voice bellows like a foghorn.
"Once we done taking ye crew and makin' an example out of ye, we gonna be takin' all that treasure ye be guardin' in those other two ships! Your half-assed pirating is comin' to an end, Sheila Coppertree, at the hands of the Great Captain Longhorn!"
With a swift thrust he pins Sheila against the mast with his massive wheel, and runs Randal straight through with his sword. You watch as his blood paints the deck of the Annabel.
At that moment he turns, and his eyes lock with yours-- standing atop his now burning, sinking ship. He looks wild with fury. Letting the two of them fall where they stand, he bull rushes the side of the ship before leaping clear at least 20 feet. He lands on deck in front of you both, his yellow teeth and red eyes malicious.
"How dare a couple of bilge rats like you damage a ship in my fleet!"
Atriox grunts,one of his eye brows raised ever so slightly before looking at the teifling next to him with a grin
“Bilge rats he says ? I personally think we’re to dashing and charming to be bilge rats, wouldn’t you agree ?”
Bareus grins wide, giving a flourish with his rapier as he runs a thumb along his chin. "Absolutely!"
Captain Longhorn roars with the indignation, standing to his full seven and a half foot height. "ARE YE MOCKING ME?!"
With clomping hooves he barrels toward you both. Wheel in one arm and sword in the other, he smashes it against Bareus' chest and sends him flying. You hear him crack against the mast, dazed and confused, struggling to stand up.
(20 total against Bareus as a strength check to knock him prone.. his dex save was a nat 1... bluhh)
"COMMERE YE YELLA-BELLIED WORM!" He growls at Atriox, bringing his massive sword around and lowering his horns in a blind rage. "YE BE FISH FOOD BY THE TIME I DONE WITH YE!"
(15+8 to hit, 23 total against AC, plus a 26 str check to shove you away 5 feet with his horns: 14 damage total)
Atriox grunts In surprise as he flys back a few feet. His body is hurting but for now it’s nothing he can’t handle. This hairy big lump of sea trash was about to find out just who he was dealing with
With his vampiric speed Atriox rushes forward and uses his sword to slash off the big oafs wooden leg
(17+7 to attack)
And before the Minotaur can even fall of balance properly Atriox strikes him in the chest with his free hand shooting out Eldritch blasts
(19 and 22 for attack 13 total damage )
(All of those hit, nice!)
Your sword splinters the wooden leg, completely taking the pirate by surprise. He lurches forward, and then is thrown back by your two caustic bolts of black energy. They've burned away the front of his leather armor, blistering and blackening his fur and skin.
"Ohhh, you gonna pay for that, BOY!"
He dashes forward on all fours, his stub of a leg making the effort difficult but feral. ( Half damage, 9 lol 😂 advantage against str check for prone)
Atriox sees the big oaf crawling toward him fast and comes up with a rather humorous plan again. First to distract the bastard the smacks him hard on the top of the head with the flat of his blade and lets the oaf slide on past him
(27 critical 😂)
Atriox walks over to the hopefully distracted and in pain captain and crouches down in front of him. He lifts the brutes head and stares into his eyes as he attempts to do what he did to the lovely ambassador in the alley back in dragonshore. Vampiric mind control
(Also 15 dex save to get out of the way as he slides by
( I will definitely say the critical hit makes contact, but the dexterity save isn't quite enough. You still take damage but the rest of what you said still happens because that's awesome xD and.... 14 raw roll for save)
All around you the ship is in flames as it sinks lower into the ocean. Bareus is finally able to stand up and, lifting his rapier, cautiously approaches from the side.
Captain Longhorn spits in your face as you tilt his head back. He seems slightly unnerved by the tingling, demonic connection you both shared for the briefest instant, but it not enough to enthrall him. He struggles to right himself.
(12 with disadvantage to hit you since he's prone too now)
"Ye damned dark magic beasts, ye dare taint my ship with such atrocity! A curse upon you both!"
(20 total to hit with his hand, 6 damage)
He brings around his arm to haymaker you in the face while he tries to support himself with his other arm and leg. In his other hand he continues to grip his sword, the steering wheel now discarded a few feet away.
Atriox curses and stands up. He is not pleased at all that this idiot was able to resist him even with a jarring head injury. He grumbles as he gets the spit of his face.
After a moment he curses again and looks to his friend
“Get back to Sheila and make sure she’s ok. Get the Annabel away from this sinking heap. I’ll finish this here.”
Atriox then runs back over to another canon. He unhooks it and aims it at the oaf.
“I’m sure all the little pieces of your body will provide good food for all the fish...... if they like the taste of pirate trash !”
(Boom)
(Rolled a dex save to avoid with disadvantage, got a 13 but pretty sure that hits regardless XD)
Bareus salutes and in a very showy sort of fashion, grabs one of the loose ropes hanging from the burning mast, and swings back over with ease. Water starts sloshing over the sides of the railing as you aim the cannon and light the fuse.
The last thing you see before the cannon fires is his furious rage, words that you can't quite hear exiting his mouth with guttural intensity.
As the ring from the explosion subsides, you find yourself among the final wreckage of the flaming galleon. Up above you still hear sounds of fighting about the Annabel and in the distance, cannon fire as your two ships assail the pirate galleon that started the chase.
(Feel free to do w/e you'd like here 🙂 )
Atriox grunts in triumph over that bastard and follows Bareus over back to the Annabel
Once over there he looks around to asses the situation better
(Investigation 13)
The enemy pirates are mostly being subdued by the forces aboard the ship. Sheila spots you as she cuts down another, making her way over to you. Her face is pained and terrifyingly stony. She claps her hand on your shoulder in gratitude for your help with the enemy ship. Behind her you see Bareus over Randal's body, shaking his head sadly. Several of her men have died in the fighting, but it seems to be waning now.
In the distance you see the other pirate ship still, your own forces having swarmed over it--kobolds and orcs alike. A pteranodon flies in circles above it with a torn pirate flag in its beak.
Sheila grunts as she looks over at the scene. "Mighty fine greetin'. Welcome to Arkoshia indeed." Turning her gaze back to you she manages a slight smile. "Ye be earnin' some reputation up at the Narder Stronghold for killin' off Captain Longhorn. He's been roaving the Sea of Mandre for decades."
Atriox grunts and gets a small grin on his face while looking sideways at captain mischievously
“We’ll I’ll cash in that reputation if ruling doesn’t work out and I try the pirates life out......again.”
Sheila, lost in her own thoughts, almost doesn't hear that at first. She does a bit of a double take as she processes it, her smirk growing back a little warmer again. "Ah, so the truth be coming out, it seems... I'll have to hear some of your old stories sometime."
Atriox laughs and begins walking away. Over his shoulder he says
“Not a chance Sheila. Now go claim your new ship will ya so we can get back to the invasion of my own home. Have the Kobolds loot this wreckage as well.”
Atriox goes off looking for Kora and Bitey
You walk across the deck and see some men being laid to the side, Dahlia helping to heal them. Oxious, having apparently been assisting her, has stepped away to talk to Bareus in hushed tones, looking apologetically at the slain brothers.
Up on the second landing, near the back of the ship, Kora and Bitey are both standing around half a dozen felled pirates themselves. She's resting against the railing, her large axe Wound in hand as it soaks in all of the blood around it. Bitey grins unnervingly at you, like he usually always does.
"Hello buccaneer." Dorokor grunts playfully, wiping some blood from her cheek. "Have fun?"
Atriox smiles at her glad to see them actually not trying to kill each other for once
“No not really but I’m glad it’s done without to much lose on our side. Now we need to speak about our real mission here. Bitey it’s time for your real job to begin. The real reason your here. Go with Kora and begin to build your empire of thugs. Once I’m at Skyhold I will reward you as promised, but I’m afraid I must ask something else of you my friend. Keep your eyes on Kybirus. I don’t entirely trust him.... he reeks of his fathers influence. Now go and prepare yourself. “
As he leaves Atriox playful kisses Kora. But when he backs away to speak to her his expression is serious
“This encounter is not how I wished to start this whole thing off...cannons are loud. When you lead the army employ stealth. I know you know how.....you hid an army from me in Dragonshore and made me think it was somewhere completely different. Move at night and no pillaging at all. Keep those Dragonborn In line. Once at Skyhold camp a ways off. Once I rejoin you I have an idea to sneak in with some others behind enemy lines.”
Dorokor nods, wiping off some of the blood from her weapon and drinking it herself. There is a hint of a smirk on her face, the memory of her evading you so long in Dragonshore an entertaining game of cat and mouse.
"Yes, most definitely. Stealth is my specialty, as is his." Her eyes follow Bitey as he heads back down below. "I will try to work with Kybirus to get him... more pliable and easier to work with." Her lips quirk. "Try not to dally too long though, diplomat."
The way she looks at you after hints she means more. It's her way of saying she'll miss you. The ship starts forward again, the anchor now raised. You'll be at the shore within a few minutes.
Atriox grunts while running his finger along the axe as well. He scoops some blood off of it and drinks it as well. It might just hold him at bay for a little longer though he will need to eat before Skyhold. He gives her one last wink and walks away. Over his shoulder he says
“I’ll miss you too, Kora.”
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