Richard sighed. This goblin just didn't get it. The invisibility plan did sound rather interesting though. Wouldn't be able to explain how Swiftwind and the others would get aboard, but it was a start. "And...how do you plan on getting our dear beloved friends aboard?"
"In fact, how large is the effective radius of the cloaking device? Bah, I wish Jarlaxle was here. He has a ship and not one we would have to slink onto. Blasted elf is never around when you need him and always around when you don't."
There was a slight bit of hesitation, as Darth took out the tiny hourglass attached to his belt with a silver chain. "Everyone stay close to me, but try not to jostle each other and by all means avoid bumping into any of the crew. I will try to move quickly, but I will be avoiding them as well. Just stay behind me and don't talk!" .
"What? We're going now?" And the fellow moved. Well, he didn't have time to formulate a plan. "Just, follow me Synthara. Someone else figure out how to get Swiftwind on board or so help me I'm burning the ship down. Mr. Eager pants over here must be compensating for something to try and move us along."
He then shut his mouth as a crew member almost noticed them. Right, be quiet. The panther stalked beside Richard as they bobbed and weaved their way towards a hatch with a ladder.
Well, only one way to go now. He climbed down and soon after Synthara jumped down behind him. He looked around, spotting no real crew members in sight he went to address the guy with the invisibility whatever. "What now, genius? We just sit here till they find us? And then what, wait till they throw us overboard for being stow-a-ways. I've done it before when I worked on ships and I'd throw us out too if we were found, if we weren't just outright killed."
Morician perked up slightly at the mention of a cloaking spell. That would certainly be better than stowing away in a beer barrel. However, the weight of his armor and size of his mount would still make sneaking around somewhat difficult.
Kersia sighed and massaged her temples as the young Dart made a suggestion. "I rather like that idea myself. We can stow away on board under the cloak, and it would aide in getting the mounts on board as well. And we certainly wouldn't get wet doing so, with sticky and disgusting alcohol."
Vyn jabbed Kersia in the rib with her elbow and whispered to her. "Disgusting alcohol? Are you not-"
"Aha! I mean wonderful brew of course. Sorry the sleepless nights and worry fog my mind." Kersia chuckled. "Regardless, I am not excited about getting my fur coated in it, so I think we should save your barrels of grog and you can use them to distract the crew while we board under the cloak."
She thought about the other problem, those not being willing to trust their luggage and gear with the goblin. "I can have Sylstyx watch over our belongings below deck, we can stash them and the mounts in a storage bay. Even if the crew came questioning, people typically give up trying to converse after a few minutes..."
Sylstyx smiled. "I beink vary hahpziez tu beink duuink ziz chaarzink! Beink mi hoonuhrz!"
Kersia looked back at the goblin. "What say you? You keep your grog and we board invisibly. You can use it to entice the crew on deck to give us time to get situated below decks and changed. None will be any wiser... And hopefully the invisibility stunt throws our pursuers as much as hiding in the barrels would."
Fortunately, Kersia seemed to have things figured out. Thus, he elected to remain behind with her rather than follow Darthanion's lead. He stole a glance over at Sylstyx, eyeing the shaman up and down before turning his attention back to Kersia. The draenei seemed a little...out there, for sure. However, she had been nice in the inn, and still seemed fairly chipper now. Surely the mounts would be fine with her, right?
Frowning slightly in thought, he fished a couple of apples from his saddlebags before carefully walking Steel over next to Sylstyx. Clearing his throat briefly, he offered the fresh fruit to the shaman and motioned to his charger. "Er...well, if you're gonna be the one watchin' the mounts, these might be useful. In case Steel here decides to be ornery...again. Or any of the other critters too, I suppose."
Kersia followed behind Dart as he activated his stealth device. She channeled her own mana into the field and helped solidify their invisibility and muffle their sound. She glanced back at Vynianyx and Sylstyx, the pair has stayed behind. Vyn pointed at the mounts and winked like she had a plan. Kersia sighed and trusted the druidess to figure it out.
Sylstyx smiled at the deathknight as he approached and took the apple he handed her. "Zank yoo I zink. Ze punzie iz ded ja? Ez liek mi un punie. Ze iz ded du!" She smiled at him.
Vynianyx smiled at him and waited to see who boarded the ship and who didn't. She hoped most of the group went with Kersia. Even if it meant making things interesting later, she felt like just the mounts and a scarce few would be easier to talk the crew into.
Vynianyx approached the man guarding the entrance to the deck of the ship as Dart and the others slipped past. "Hello there, sir." She said, bowing slightly to the goblin.
"Oi, no tourists on this here ship, toots." He snapped at her, and pointed a finger.
"Oh I am no tourist." Vyn chuckled. She motioned at the mounts left behind. "I am a saleswoman of sorts, dealing in exotic and wild mounts. Of course..." She paused and smiled lightly. "Some of them are mundane as well, easier to sell when the others aren't moving." She chuckled. "I am sure a savvy man of coin like yourself understands."
The goblin scowled at her. "Your point toots? Tryin' tah sell a man o' the sea a landlubber's mount is poor tact." He snarled at her.
Vyn gulped slightly as she smiled. "Now now. That isn't what my pitch was at all..." She pulled out a pouch of coins, at least a few hundred within. "I wanted passage as a merchant across the sea. I've got a touchy buyer of that there spectrally winged horse and he has a tight schedule. I talk in coin... was hoping I could get passage...?"
A greedy grin crossed the goblin's face. "Let me take a cut o' that and run it by me cap'in." He took out a small clutch... maybe 20 coins... before darting towards the captain's quarters. It didn't take the goblin long to return with a smirk on his face. "Cap'in says you may come aboard... just keep your beasts under control."
"Will do!" Vyn smiled and motioned at Sylstyx and anyone else behind with the mounts for them to board the ship.
Once everyone was aboard... invisible and hidden or 'watching' the mounts... the ship began its procedures to set sail.
-----
"What now, genius? We just sit here till they find us? And then what, wait till they throw us overboard for being stow-a-ways. I've done it before when I worked on ships and I'd throw us out too if we were found, if we weren't just outright killed."
Kersia snarled at the human as they stood in their hiding area. "Shh. Do that complaining and we will be caught for sure. Just hold tight, we'll figure something out. That goblin threw a wrench in most of my plans, but we'll work it out... we'll have to." She frowned.
Torin sat near Kersia, this ship did not make his job easy. "It is hard to determine where we are in the dream on this ship..." He paused. Something gripped at the very fiber of his being. 'Not now...' He thought as he gripped his chest. The tightness held him before slowly fading away. 'So long after the fact and still I feel the effects of the Nightmare.' He pondered to himself. All he had to do now was play the roll of the blind old elf sitting in the corner of a ship going across the great sea.
He glanced at Kersia, no doubt the blue dragon figured out his true nature already. It would be good for the mortals here not to learn that fact... for the time being. In truth the reason he wanted to guard Vyn was more personal. He had felt a connection with the young elf when she lived with his clutch all those years ago. Something dark still remained buried within him and if it ever consumed him he needed someone who he could rely on to defeat him. He didn't want to cause harm to the world he loved. "I hope our trip is an uneventful one." He said as he leaned back against the wall.
Draco watched as the Goblin's silver tongue managed to allow himself and the young Nether Dragon safe passage onto the ship. Saddly the Dwarf had no such ability and he looked down at the gold pouch on his belt, The Gryphon ride down here did a number on his supply and what he had he'd need to keep in-case something came up. He did not think Sir Bowen would want him spending what little gold they carried on the first day.
When the second group made way for the ship Draco watched as they vanished into the shadows. "A cleaver trick that elf has." He said as he stroked his beard almost unconsciously. Though Draco was tempted to follow them he didn't think he'd be very good at sneaking. Between his weight and the likely unstable planks used in this ship's construction, he'd of alerted someone to their presence. Also unlike others of his kind, such cowardice he thought was beneath him. While it was true he spent many a day "hiding", and even now in a sense he was. It was more for convenience sake more so than not. His true form was quite large and hard to move in such tight places.
As the Second group boarded in secret, Draco remained behind with The Night Elf Druid Lass, Vyn. He was bout to ask her what she thought they should do about getting on with the Mounts but it seemed like the Druidess already had her own ideas. Draco walked up behind Vynianyx to one of the Goblins. As the pair started conversing Draco had to try his hardest to hold back a scoffing response to the Goblin's demeanor.
They are all the same, he thought to himself. Easy enough to manipulate with the right coin. If that didn't work, they were also convenient swallow sized. Though he had to attest that he really did not care for the taste of Goblin flesh. Still with an exchange of coin it seemed they too had passage across the sea to their destination.
Draco grabbed the reigns of two of the Mounts and lead them on board taking them carefully to a location suggested by one of the other crewmen. "Alright, now that everyone is onboard, what is the plan? Do we just sit here until we arrive and then do this in reverse to get everyone off?"
Kersia followed behind Dart as he activated his stealth device. She channeled her own mana into the field and helped solidify their invisibility and muffle their sound. She glanced back at Vynianyx and Sylstyx, the pair has stayed behind. Vyn pointed at the mounts and winked like she had a plan. Kersia sighed and trusted the druidess to figure it out.
Sylstyx smiled at the deathknight as he approached and took the apple he handed her. "Zank yoo I zink. Ze punzie iz ded ja? Ez liek mi un punie. Ze iz ded du!" She smiled at him.
Vynianyx smiled at him and waited to see who boarded the ship and who didn't. She hoped most of the group went with Kersia. Even if it meant making things interesting later, she felt like just the mounts and a scarce few would be easier to talk the crew into.
Morician frowned as he struggled once again to understand the shaman. Thankfully, it proved somewhat easier this time, though her heavy accent was still confusing. As far as he could tell, she seemed to be thanking him for the apple...as well as indicating that her own horse was undead, like his own. He took a closer look at Sylstyx's horse. It was indeed undead, like Steel, proving his assumption correct.
The knowledge put him a little more at ease, at least for the time being. If the live shaman was willing to ride an undead mount, then she was certainly the best one to follow, right? Having all the undead in one place might be less likely to arouse suspicion--or least provide something of a distraction while the rest sneaked on board.
He nodded in relief at Sylstyx, falling in behind to follow the shaman. "I don't really know what your friend is plannin', but I think I'd better stick by you, in case people ask questions about our horses. If nothin' else, they can keep each other company--help them be calm durin' the trip."
Kora easily boarded the ship with her invisibility spell, of course there were other ways she could have gotten on board, but she wasnât some floozy living on Murder Row in Silvermoon. She enjoyed teasing men, but when it came to more intimate affairs she wanted those to be with a special someone. Of course she hadnât found that special someone yet, but that was beside the point. She preferred to stay invisible, sailing men tended to be more crude than most and being on a ship with them made her regret her choice of clothing. Of course she could easily change her clothes, but she was comfortable in her attire and in the end it wouldnât really matter anyway.
She sighed as she waited for the ship to depart, once it did she could release her invisibility, as crude as they were the men on the ship wouldnât just toss her overboard, not if they valued their livelihood anyway. Kora loved the mortal races, but she also had a problem of being rather vindictive to those that had done her wrong, it was why she still had a hard time getting along with orcs. She still didnât understand why they couldnât just fly, more than likely Vinarion already suspected they were coming, they would likely be attacked no matter which route they took. If this Vinarion had the goal of kidnapping Mortrexia he would definitely expect a rescue attempt since they left behind Sterixia.
The question is what will he attack us with, dragons, mortal mercenaries or puppets? It has been a while since I have had to fight against other dragons, Illis doesnât make a habit out of hunting dragons, too busy keeping the peace elsewhere. Kora sighed, she wished Illis or Kass were with her right now, as much as she enjoyed teasing Kass by flirting with Illis, Kora saw Kass as a sister. She wished there was a familiar face here with her, not many people enjoyed her brand of teasing. She shrugged, she thought she had done rather well in trying to befriend Sterixia, Kora could tell she didnât enjoy wearing clothes, but they couldnât have her running around naked either. At least with her gift Sterixia could change her clothes at will. Kora looked out over the water hoping they would be moving soon.
Kersia snarled at the human as they stood in their hiding area. "Shh. Do that complaining and we will be caught for sure. Just hold tight, we'll figure something out. That goblin threw a wrench in most of my plans, but we'll work it out... we'll have to." She frowned.
Richard opened his mouth to retort. Oh he definitely had something lined up, but thought better of it. He sighed. "Fine." He took a look around. At least they seemed to be relatively left alone. It seemed not everyone followed this elf down here. Seemed like they stayed behind, hopefully to do something with those mounts.
Synthara sniffed Darthanion. She never really encountered many elves before. She let out a low growl towards his direction. "C'mon Syn, don't be like that. The elf is fine for now." Synthara narrowed her eyes, keeping them on the elf as she sat beside Richard.
Kersia sighed with relief as the human calmed down. It wasn't long before the ship began to rock on the sea. Waves could be heard, caressing the hull of the ship as the wind caught the sails and pulled them out. The pandaren allowed herself a moment's pause, a moment's rest, as the calming waters worked. Her mind wandered into the network of Azeroth's magic, and she felt a sense of peace with the ebb and flow of the leylines. She only hoped Mortre was at peace as well.
Sterixia wandered about the deck of the ship as she was allowed passage thanks to the strange green man. Some men barked orders at her, but she was uncertain what they wanted. Something about a rope? She looked around wildly as they grew more and more irate with her. Finally, she spotted the rope they were speaking of. She walked over to the thick braids and lifted it, before she turned back towards them confused. They pressed their hands to their foreheads before pointing rather angrily at the anchor for the rope a short ways away. They made a wrapping motion with their arms the best they could; their own hands were full with their own ropes. Their meaning finally clicked with Sterixia, and she tugged the rope to its anchor and wrapped it with ease. Sterixia looked proudly at her handiwork.
Vynianyx had taken the mounts to an unoccupied part of the deck. She smiled lightly that the charade worked so well. She had her doubts that they would have bought it if any more had stayed behind. And then... the wind caught the unfurled sails and the ship lurched forward. The druidess's face instantly paled as a wave of nausea washed over her body. She fell to a knee, a hand pressed over her mouth in a vain attempt to subdue the feeling. She crawled rapidly for the rail and leaned over, vomiting. "Son of Cenarius..." she mumbled as she wiped some vomit on the back of her gloves. She felt the feeling welling up again, and quickly reached a hand into her hip pouch. She pulled out a vial of light blue fluid and uncorked the top. She steeled her stomach for a moment as she downed the fluid. Nausea still wracked her body but she fought to keep the cool fluid down until relief finally found her.
Sylstyx smiled as she watched Vynianyx. She kept a hand on her horse's neck as she tossed a light healing wave on the druidess, hoping to help her queasiness. Sylstyx knew Vyn struggled with sea sickness, but she had never seen the druidess on a boat before. Although she hated getting amusement for her friend's pain, there was something amusing watching the calm and powerful druid be taken down by mean motion. As Vynianyx's color returned to her face, Sylstyx turned her attention to the water around the ship. She took a sense of tranquility from the motion, as the water elementals appeared in her mind to play and bob in the waters all around.
It was a peaceful and beautiful day to sail...
-----
Vanexia had watched them... the shadows cloaking her being. She only stole a glance at a sudden baby's cry nearby. A glance... but when her gaze returned... half the group had vanished and left their animals behind. Vanexia blinked several times. Where!? Her fists clenched. Did she teleport them? The remaining group seemed to board the ship, leaving Vanexia confused. [i]She might have teleported several across... leaving the mounts and some keepers to...
Vanexia darted from the shadows and jumped to the rocks above Booty Bay with fluid ease. At the top, she knelt and placed a hand on the stone. [i]Hopefully... he is grounded. "Vanzer..." Vanexia mumbled to the stone.
No response... for several minutes. Only the creaking of the insects of the jungle, the sequel of a predator catching its prey... until a laugh echoed from the stone, "HahaHAaA... Vane! Sister of my eye! What have you to owe me this pleasure!" A dark but light voice followed the laugh.
"I have..."
"You lost them! You did! Why else! Else why would you HAhaA contact little ol' meeeeEE!?"
Vanexia suppressed a groan. She loved her brother... but he was the last to leave Draenor... and he waited a touch to long to do so. She suspected the nether did something to his mind. "Yes... Vanzer. I did." She rolled her eyes. "I suspect the blue to have teleported them! Do you see them?"
"AHAhAHa! If I did, first to know would be you! Hehehe but you suspect it all wrong! Wrong indeed they are not... HERE!"
"What!?" Vanexia was confused... there was no way a whole chunk of their group got on the ship without her seeing them.
"HehEHehEHEeee..." Vanzer laughed at his sister's troubles. "Like we shadowhide... so too can others... maybe better! Think, I think... they stalked onto the ship! But I am not you, cannot see as you. So I do not know." He chuckled some more. "But first to know otherwise... I'll let you know!"
Vanexia felt him severe the connection to the earth. She scowled... as she saw the ship set sail. Damn them! She glanced around the jungle below her and spotted some rough looking sailors leaving Booty Bay and heading into the brush towards the eastern sea. Vanexia followed their path with her eyes and spotted the pirate ship a ways away. An idea struck her. She followed the men to their camp and waited in the shadows.
A rather burly looking female came out of the tent in the center of the camp. The two men grinned as she approached. "Cap'in." one said, as he bowed his head.
"Well?" The woman snapped at them. Both men jumped.
The other man also bowed his head briefly. "Cap'in Stormweather... witnesses ya see in the Bay... they be sayin they saw our pointy ears."
"Even the... blind one?" Stormweather asked.
"Aye cap'in. Him an' the lass were standin' on the pier till a short time ago."
Blind... pointy ear and a female pointy ear? Standing at the pier...? Vanexia's mind began working as she hatched a plan. She melded out of the jungle's shadows and approached the camp, her hands open and weaponless. "Ah... I've seen those two elves... What business do you lot have with them?" Vanexia spoke slowly and coldly as she entered the camp.
Several of the pirates reached for their weapons, but Stormweather calmed them with a wave of her hand. "Vengeance... why do you ask?"
Vanexia's eyes lit up. "Well... I might be able to help you then... even reward you."
-----
The ship had sailed for several hours at peace. The smooth sailing meant the crew spent much of their spare time in the galley or the bunks. No reason to truly investigate the ship's supply rooms or shipments. Another tick in Kersia's favor that she was grateful for.
At that time... the ship had exited the waters patrolled by Stormwind and Steamwheedle. No man's land... no true laws existed in these deep waters except for the code of the sailors that sailed there. And that was when they approached.
A call came from the crow's nest. "We are bein' followed. Ship with no colors."
Vynianyx looked up and sure enough, a large ship was tailing them, slowly gaining water towards them. She felt a sense of foreboding.
A nearby crewman cursed. "I knews we shoulda got an escort ship!"
"Shh!" Another snapped at him. "Maybe... they are traders... too?"
"Haha!" The first chuckled as he pulled a saber from his belt. "Don't get yer hopes up."
Sure enough... as the ship closed in, its colors hoisted high as the pirate's symbol. It's cannons rang out with explosions, sending wood splintering as the pirate crew swung over. The crew of the trader ship engaged them, but it was clear that they were not the best trained fighters.
"Sylstyx!" Vynianyx snapped at the shaman as she held firm on the horses to keep them from bolting. "Go find the others."
Kersia was jarred out of her meditation as the pirate ship's cannon fire rang out. "What the-" She jumped up and made her way towards the hatch into their room. Kersia was halfway up the ladder when Sylstyx reached it.
There was a crashing noise as the ship shifted with the sudden barrage of cannon fire. Richard stumbled a bit from a rather large hit nearby."What in the?" He could hear the crew rushing around on deck, seemed like they have visitors and if he had to wager they were unfriendly.
Well, he sure as heck wasn't going to miss out on this. Seemed the strange one had the same idea because she was calling down for help as the Pandaren was already climbing up. He followed right behind. "Stay down here Syn." He said, as the Panther was eager to follow.
Her accent is so thick it sounds like she's saying pay rats. How anyone can put up with this for-any-measure of time is beyond me.
He scanned the battlefield as he unholstered his pistol. He really should have brought more ammo than what he did. Ah, such was life. He sure didn't have long to lament though, one of the invaders was coming their way.
He grinned at Richard, tossing his sword to and fro. He charged forward and the shot rang true, sticking him in the chest. The pirate slumped to the ground, rather dead. Richard looked onward, eager to face whatever else lay ahead.
Morician had busied himself below decks with the mounts, settling his charger into her stall and keeping himself out of the way in general. Though Steel was a bit fussy at first, she gradually calmed down after several minutes of grooming and a few treats from her master.
The shaman's yelling caused him to stiffen for a moment, frowning as he struggled to make sense of the words. She yellin' about...pay rates? I thought Kersia would have the money stuff handled. The dull booming of cannons outside followed by the cracking and splintering of wood cleared his confusion soon enough.
Slamming the door to Steel's stall shut, he drew his runeblade and raced up to the upper decks. A quick survey of the scene revealed that the ship had drawn the attention of pirates, with the ship's crew seemingly ill-equipped to deal with such an onslaught.
Focusing his attention on the nearest pirate, Morician let loose a mighty roar and charged forward, bringing his blade down hard and cleaving the scallywag in two.
Tandrina heard the ruckus from the quarters she had found to hang her bag as she had packed light for the trip a few changes of clothes and a satchel full of potions her and Seirus made. "Well that was quick,we barely boarded and we appear to be facing off against trouble already!" She motioned her hands as a rune was traced by flowing water causing her elemental to appear. "C'mon Jarvis,we're needed!" She runs up the steps with her elemental following close behind as the enemy revealed themselves to be pirates. "Alright Jarvis you take those two to the left,I'll take those two to the right!" She commanded as Jarvis began casting powerful bolts of water into his adversaries while his mistress was seen closing her eyes.
She then opened them as a mix of fire and ice came together into a blue flame and split into two to be wielded in each hand. "Alright you jerks,if anybody's going to get keelhauled it's going to be you!" Tandrina quickly then fired the bolts of frostfire at her share of enemies and slightly squeaked to herself in surprise in realization "Oh...my did I just actually say that!?"
Kora wasnât surprised as the draenei ran to get the others, Kora had hidden in the shadows of the deck as she watched the pirates board. She was glad she had taken those lessons in stealth from Kassyndrah. She had expected an attack but not one of this magnitude and she had been expecting crazed zealots or dragons not simple pirates. She really didnât want to waste her spells here, but she wasnât exactly dressed for hand to hand combat either. She needed a few moments to prepare.
She hustled away from the fighting for some peace and quiet before kneeling on the deck of the ship and scratching some runes on the deck. Once she had completed the runes she knelt in the middle of them and began to chant, harmless flames igniting the runes. She hoped she wouldnât be discovered until her ritual was finished, I guess I should have worn something more appropriate. I was expecting aerial battle between dragons not fighting against mortals. I guess Dalf was right itâs always better to be over prepared than under prepared.
Torin had enjoyed the relative peace of the trip. He meditated, his mind drifting in the dream as his body rested. The shock of the attack on the boat got him to his feet. He followed the draenei as she came to tell them about some kind of payrats. "Oh Pirates... again." He sighed as he stood mostly to the side. He would rather not have to fight these fools, and mainly being blind and all that, being on a boat wasn't his favorite thing.
Torin soon found his way to Vyn. "My lady, stay close. These pirates seem familiar. Unfortunately they didn't seem to appreciate our sparing them." He said as a pirate gestured in their direction. He held up his blade. "If you fools have any sense you will abandon your foolish attack. But I can tell you are not sensible!" He growled as he fought off the first few pirates that went in to attack.
Draco followed mostly silently behind Vynianyx as she moved to a secure location for the accompanying mounts at their disposal. He watched as the Night Elf made haste towards the edge of the deck and removed the contents of her stomach most violently. Maybe it was due to his nature or being attuned with the movement of the Earth, but Draco didn't seem to get motion sickness. What was the point of throwing up valuable nutrients? Would being lighter help?
The Dwarf watch the sea sick Night Elf for a few more moments before wondering the deck. He didn't know exactly how long they were going to be on this vessel so he wanted to become acclimated to his new surroundings.
A call came from the crow's nest. "We are bein' followed. Ship with no colors."
Draco heard the sound of someone yelling over the ship and looked up to see a young lad in a large basket a the top of the mast. "I really hope he knows what he is doing up there. That is a long way to fall if you ask me." The Dwarf scanned the ship as several of the crew members were baring arms in the form of typical scabbards. His own hand slowly making way for the blade in his belt. Thinking perhaps they had been discovered and they would have to fight to take control of the ship.
Yet Draco looked around and none of the crew were attacking him. Instead they were all looking over the sides of he ship at something in the distance. Then the familiar sound--a whistling--of something rushing through the air caught his attention as a cannon ball blasted away part of the deck he was standing on throwing him backwards across the deck.
Draco got back to his feet to see several pirates boarding their ship via ropes. His eyes narrowed as the furnace within him tried to boil as his eyes glazed over with molten fury. "Avast ye maties, there be games afoot." Draco had no idea where that line came from but somehow it seemed to fit.
The Dwarf drew on his dagger at the first pirate attacked him. Grabbing his opponent's blade with his gauntlet and severing his insides with the dagger. Then he was swiftly attacked by another followed by another of these invading pirates. He needed to amp up his attack if he was going to weed out the riffraff so they could get back on track with their mission.
This was proving a bit harder than he anticipated as the earth from which he drew his strength was well below mountains of water. Looking around for the Shaman with the funny tongue he yelled out to her
"SHAMAN!! I need Earth! Do you think you could help a lad out!?"
After she had sent Sylstyx to find the others, Vynianyx focused her mind. Torin made his way towards her but she did not really hear him. The potion was relieving her stomache, but she needed it to work faster. With concentration, Vyn steeled her body against her sea sickness and shifted into a feline. She darted across the deck and lunged at the first pirate she saw. In her rush to ignore the motion sickness, she misjudged her lunge. The pirate's abdomen was still torn open but he had time to react. Vynianyx roared as she released the man, his sabre had cut into her shoulder. Vyn jumped away from the combat for a moment as her blood splashed onto the deck. The wound was superficial, but it still stung and bled. Vyn dodged another pirate's attack and gouged her claws into his calf.
Sylstyx was happy to see the other's springing to action. She joined the fray herself, throwing down a small totem of fire that occasionally fired off a small flame ball at the nearest pirate. She saw Vyn take a shoulder blow and immediately summoned some water to wash over and heal the wound. She smiled and threw a small totem of water out into the battle field. This totem would pulse with healing energy for her allies.
"SHAMAN!! I need Earth! Do you think you could help a lad out.!?"
Sylstyx looked over at the strange dwarf. She wondered how she could help him. A few seconds of thinking and she came up with an idea.She summoned a totem of earth, bound with an earthen elemental. She prayed to him her wish for a small bit of dirt and stone. The elemental looked at her confused, it was a strange request. Still he bowed to her and vanished back into the elemental plane, leaving behind a pile of dirt and stone. Sylstyx looked back at the dwarf and smiled. "Ziz beink vat need, ja?"
Kersia growled as she looked over the pirates. Their attack was too convenient. She blinked across the ship's battle field as others launched their attacks. Far too convenient, but Kersia could sense no other precense at the time. She attuned herself to the ocean's leylines and considered her options in stopping the threat. She smiled as she sensed another tap into the magic of Azeroth. The young elf mage she aided in rescuing. Kersia looked the little elf over as she shot off her frost fire. The youth had come a ways, and the way she handled the intimate mixing of frost and fire was delicate and well balanced.
Kersia blinked over to be by the young mage and fired off her own blast of arcane energy at an encroaching pirate. "Sometimes shouting vulgarity helps focus your mana, young one." Kersia chuckled as she helped fend off the pirates.
The crew of the ship initially met the pirates head on, but they had suffered several casualties. Much of the crew had retreated below decks, to wait out the attack. They had no idea where these adventerers came from, clearly the captain must have hired them for them to be here now. Pirate attacks were not the best places to ponder these things. The captain himself did not know how many people boarded the ship with Vynianyx, and was more focused on his own survival than that of these random folks.
The flood of pirates seemed almost endless. After the initial flood that swung over from the masts, another flood followed on boarding planks. One pirate managed to make his way from the main combat area. He was focused on finding his own riches. Much to his surprise, he found some she-elf whench doing something to the deck. The pirate grinned widely, as the woman did not appear to be garbed like a combatant. He approached her, axe at the ready, with hopes of capturing her for himself.
"Are they there?" Stormweather barked at the scout in front of her.
The scout visibly shrunk before the commanding woman. "Y-yes cap'ain. Saw the blind man me self, I did! And his wench friend too! She was there!"
Stormweather regarded the man coldly. "And what of the pandaren?"
"A-aye ma'am! I saw a red furred woman blinkin' on the deck ma'am! Saw her I did!"
Stormweather waved dismissively at the man. As he left, Stormweather turned towards the shadows in her quarter. "Seems like you were correct. Yer little mouse stowed away on that trader ship."
Golden eyes flashed in the shadow. Vanexia stepped out into the light. "Your's aswell. I am... glad we could come to the agreement."
"Ha!" Stormweather grinned wildly. "I just want to see those two pay for what they did to my scouts!" She hoisted a great axe to her shoulder. "What of yerself? You fighting?"
Vanexia faded back into the shadows. "I think... I will observe for now. I'll join in when the time is right."
"Suite yerself." Stormweather exited the captain's quarters. "Var'lai!" She snapped. A trolled came to her. He knelt on one knee in front of her.
"Yes, cap'ain?"
"We got some vengeance to reap!"
Var'lai stood and grinned. He followed Stormweather as they made their way towards the deck. It took them little time to reach the top. Stormweather surveryed her men and women jumping to the other ship. She saw a few get cut down with ease and scowled.
"Men! Women! Stop fighting like co'wardly dogs and fight like me crew! AVENGE YE FALLEN MATES!" She shouted, her voice booming over the battle field. Seeing their captain and first mate joining the battle, the pirates felt motivated. Their attacks were more cunning, more resiliant, and their steps were faster. Stormweather grinned as she made her way towards the boarding planks. She paused to better gauge the battle field. Var'lai climbed up a mast with ease and swung over to the trader ship. As soon as he landed, his form shifted into a great saber. He darted and lunged towards a charging death knight.
He was focused on finding his own riches. Much to his surprise, he found some she-elf whench doing something to the deck. The pirate grinned widely, as the woman did not appear to be garbed like a combatant. He approached her, axe at the ready, with hopes of capturing her for himself.
Koraâs ears twitched as she sensed the man behind her, âYou know⌠it isnât polite to sneak up on an unarmed woman. I will give you one chance to jump overboard, one chance to save your life.â She could hear the man chuckling lewdly behind her and she sighed, âI suppose that was too much to hope for.â She goes back to finishing her spell, âAsh to Ash and Dust to Dust. From the fires of destruction flares forth the fires of life.â The runes around her erupted with harmless flames, but the display was enough to give the pirate pause, which was all the time she needed, âLet the fires of life come forth to defend me! Inochi no hi!â
The flames wrapped around Kora, flaring a brilliant, hot white, the pirate had to avert his eyes, but not quickly enough. He screamed in pain, âI canât see!â Out of the flames stepped Kora, now clothed in flaming red leather armor. She clapped her hands together and as she parted them a flaming sword materialized. This was how her draconic power manifested in her mortal guise.
She walked over to the blind pirate and whispered, âI warned youâŚâ The manâs scream was cut short as Kora stabbed him through the heart, âNever assume your prey is without defenses.â The man ignited as Kora pulled her blade from him and walked towards the sounds of battle as the manâs ashes blew away with the ocean breeze.
Torin fought off another of the pirates. Vyn's roar of pain immediately caught his attention. "Vyn!" He shouted as he dashed towards her. A pirate tried to block his path, only to be clobbered from his feet.
He dashed forward, kicking the closest pirate across the face and bringing his blade around, dispatching another. "My lady I hope I am not too late." He said as he parried a cutlass, bringing his blade around to meet the second blow. As the blades met the sheer of metal on metal rang out as his katana cut through the cutlass before biting deep into the pirates flesh.
"Pirates never learn, their greed and foolishness has brought them to this end." He growled. If he willed it he could easily destroy their ship, but such actions brought as much harm as they did good. The transformation alone would cause substantial damage to their own ship. He brought low another pirate as he contemplated how to deal with them for good.