“Here here is the team that will be helping us with this hunt,” Alyson said. We had come up with a plan to find and attack the harpy dens that dot the archipelago. We will set up camp there. Some of the crew will move up with us there while the rest stay with the ship.
“My first mate Concrell. He has made an oath to the sea itself,” Alyson said introducing a Sea elf man around six feet tall.
“Cannoneer Trux. He likes gunpowder and making guns,” Alyson said. This was a dwarven man around three and a half feet tall. He had a blunderbuss on his side and a long rifle on his back.
“And last but not least we have Onko Navigator and Stargazer. He can use his magic to find our targets.” She said introducing a humanoid man. He might be mistaken as a human at a distance but up close you can see snake skin all along his neck and on his arms.
“These three will help you and me hunt the harpies then the Roc," she said.
"I'm surprised you helpin' this boy Cap," Trux said.
"Yesss. You don't normally do ssomething like thiss. Whatss our cut?" Onko asked.
"Your cut is what I say it is. Once we help him he will be of big help to us. Onko I will need you to do some scrying later so save your energy," Alyson said.
I was put with Concrell. It was the same as before as I helped the crew manning the ship. We will leave tomorrow morning and sail for the archipelago. During our trip, Onko is going to use divination magic to scout ahead and find the Roc and any harpies. Once we arrive we will make camp on the island. In the meantime, I get to work on introducing myself to the crew.
…………
19th of Brussendar
It was about midday when the captain found me. She said," Crows nest has spotted a lone whale off the horizon. It would take us a couple of hours but it's worth it."
"What is worth it? Hunting him?" I asked.
"Yes. You having a whale form will be of great use in the battle with Beckett," she said.
"I can see the appeal of the form but I object to this on moral grounds. Whales are intelligent creatures capable of emotions. They might not be as smart as you or me but I don't like this. But if you think this is necessary I will strike the final blow and claim the form," I said. I didn't want to hunt creatures like whales. While I like the power I could attain there are some lines I would prefer not to cross. If she wants to do this she will have to put in most of the work. I'll strike the final blow but I won't pursue such creatures maliciously.
The helmsman changes course and we sail for the whale. It will take a few hours so I mentally prepare myself for this. If it's not a lone whale that will trouble me dearly. They usually swim in family units. All the other animals I killed either attacked me or lived alone. This is a bigger deal than I thought. I give myself a moment of self-reflection and wonder what is happening.
I go over the last week and come to a realization. I will probably kill several people when we attack Beckett Joy. I will be sinking that ship. Killing or indirectly killing a hundred+ people. More than a few will enter the soul dream. I think I am projecting that bit here. I spend the hour talking to myself about these emotions.
“CAPTAIN! THE WHALE IS TURNING TOWARDS US!” A voice from the Crowsnest calls out. I lean over the rail and look towards the whale. I saw a mound of water rushing towards us. A redfin breaks the waterline. That isn’t a whale. I look to the captain and she is already readying herself.
“CREW! TO BATTLE!” She yells.
I turn back to the railing and see the creature rise above the water. A large blue serpent rises out of the ocean. Alright then. I guess we are on the part of the map with giant sea monsters. How the hell did this get mistaken for a whale? I ran to the captain.
“I don’t think I can become something big enough for that. What do you need me to do?” I ask.
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“Stay here and stay calm. Helm to port!” She said. The ship curved and we turned left. The serpent was rushing towards us. The crew was rushing into position. Pirates lined up with muskets ready to fire on the serpent. I could hear cannons being loaded below deck. Alyson ran a well-trained ship. Orders didn’t need to be given people just moved. The serpent started to rise higher. His head was about 30 feet out of the water and over 200 feet away.
“FIRE!” Alyson said and that command was yelled down below. A second later rows of cannons roared as 20 shots were all launched at the serpent. Most missed but a few hit the thing. Explosions of flesh came out of the creature's long body as cannons tore into its side. Others simply crushed its huge hardened scales. It roared in pain and sank below the water. Cannons were loaded and the crew was ready.
“ITS GOING TO REAPPEAR BE READY!” Alyson yelled.
Soon behind us, a rupture of water exploded out. The serpent appeared at the stern and roared. I saw cold mist escape its breath. “BREATH WEAPON!” I screamed and dived for cover. Others did the same. Some didn’t make it in time as a huge cone of cold icy mist and snow blew over the deck. Ice shards formed on every surface some people screamed as they received immediate frostbite. Some people had whole limbs frozen and broken apart. Others simply became frozen statues.
Holy fucking shit I was going to be sick. Not even the fight with the hag had been this bad. Not taking any more time for hesitation I leaped into action. The sea serpent moved to our starboard side and began to wrap itself around the ship. Its tail erupted out from the port side and grabbed the forward main mast. The crew began to hack at the tail.
I turned to the serpent leaped off the deck and turned into the seagull. I flew as fast as I could. The serpent was swinging his head around biting at the crew. The captain and Concrell had pulled out blades and were slashing at the scales. Concrell was radiating in holy light and his attacks had a huge glowing aura to them. Damn, paladins are cool.
I flew above the serpent's head and transformed. Eight tentacles wrapped around its face and I kept its mouth closed. I had a tentacle over its eyes. He began to flail wildly but I got going. I created two hydra heads and sent them under a tentacle to assault his eyes. I kept clear of its nose and tried my best to keep the mouth closed. It had a breath weapon and its scales are damn strong so I think it's a type of dragon. I slammed its head into the side of the boat and I got bashed. Cannon fire erupted out of the ship. I didn’t see if he had been hit because I was in massive pain. I had also been hit by the cannons. Friendly fire damnit.
The creature screamed in pain. It then tried to speak I think. I didn’t understand the mumbling. It could have been draconic for all I knew. I didn’t have the freedom to consider diplomacy at this point. He released the boat and dove into the water bringing me with him. With all the extra muscles I put into my form, I was stronger than him. He couldn’t get me off his mouth. I had already destroyed both of his eyes and now had taken to destroying his sockets trying to find his brain. I made two more hydra heads to rip apart scales.
He unleashed a massive frost breath from his mouth. It couldn't escape completely but it did shoot out his nose. The water around his head and my body began to freeze and I lost feeling in my tentacles. I lose grip on him and he breaks free. Even if I undo my transformation I will still be partially frozen. I rip off frozen bits of myself and slowly regrow them. I end up losing full grip on the serpent and he swims away from me. He is blinded and the water is filled with ice and blood. I use the opportunity to suck in water and expel it boosting myself to the surface. I undo the transformation but maintain my momentum. I launch out of the water into the air and land on the deck of the ship.
“What the fuck. You all right Edsom?” Alyson asked.
“No not really. I blinded the serpent. Are we going after it? Tell me we are going after it. I desire to steal its frosty breath,” I said.
“Dude, creepy,” Onko said.
“Yes, we are chasing it. Are you sure you can get its form?” Alyson asked.
“More than likely I have already eaten a good amount of it,” I said.
“Helmsman. Follow the blood. Crew! To your stations get the ship moving! Onko, keep it within sight. If we lose it then find it again,” Alyson commanded.
I ran to the front and kept an eye on the trail of blood. I had dozens of alligator tails, eels, and other forms that I could use to increase my speed once close enough. If that thing was a dragon it had to be immune to all cold effects. I could walk into Eiselcross and make 60% of the wildlife my bitch if I had such an ability.
The ship sailed after the blood. I offered to scout ahead and the captain let me. I turned into a seagull and followed the blood trail. The serpent was now blind and its path was anything but a straight line. I was starting to feel bad for the thing. Actually is this our fault? We chased it. Oof fuck I am unsure now.
I swallow my moral hesitation and gather the will to finish this fight. We can work through any remaining conflicts when he is enjoying a relaxing spa built for his every need. The blood has stopped flowing at this point. I return to the helm and wait next to the captain.
“Onko any news,” Alyson says.
“He has stopped moving forward and has begun to dive. We might be near his lair,” Onko said.
“Good. Concrell, you have the energy for waterbreathing?” Alyson said.
“Aye Capn,” Concrell said.
I moved to the port side and stood next to Trux. He had removed his guns and switched to what I believe was a harpoon launcher. Damn, that's cool. Onko was preparing his spellcasting focus. He handed another crewmate his books and other items that would be ruined underwater. I didn’t carry much myself. It was all in my bag of holding. Concrell looked ready to dive almost all the time. Must come with being an ocean paladin. Finally, Alyson arrived. She had tied her hair back. I imagine that could be annoying underwater.
“Alright, Edsom we are going to be casting waterbreathing on all of us. It can be a little uncomfortable but you will get used to it. We haven’t hunted a sea serpent in its lair before but I am sure you understand the danger of its frost breath underwater,” Alyson said.
“Of course. I managed to blind the creature when we fault but who knows what it has in its lair. I doubt I will be able to get that move off a second time,”
“That's fine lad. Just rip its scales to shreds,” Concrell said.
“I got explosive cores here. They won't do much but the pressure from them makes em a bitch if you get hit close.” Trux said holding out harpoons with explosive sticks on them.
Alyson gave the signal and Concrell cast the spell. We dived deep below into the dark. A chasm stretched out and the water grew colder. Somewhere in this blackness lay a serpent. As we sunk below I lost sight of the others. Only the cold dark was left. I spun left and right looking for anyone or anything but I was alone. Until I wasn’t. A gargantuan yellow eye watched me.