Chapter 14

The men returned to Port Sept with the utmost haste. Only Errrkkkk was particularly comfortable being over open water. Even Roden didn’t feel entirely at ease flying on a cloud. Riakon was the least happy with the arrangement having to run across the surface of the sea.

It was evening by the time they were stepping on the dock of their villa. They were all tired from their travels that day, but they wanted to do away with the crystal as soon as possible given the volatility it had shown previously.

The stop in at the Outpost to deliver their message was handled as expected until the clerk handed over a contract scroll with their names sealed onto it. Riakon took the scroll and held it up,

“What's this?”

The squat man behind the counter pointed his sausage-like finger at a portion of the paper in front of him, “I would think it’s a contract, but I can’t be sure. All I know is it says to give that to you.”

Errrkkkk was clearly suspicious by the look that crossed his face.

“What if we hadn’t come in today, cacaw?”

“In that case, it would’ve been sent to your residence on file tomorrow morning.”

Riakon broke the seal to the scroll as soon as they walked out of the Outpost. The message read,

“Dear Shitheads,

I got your message, but figured it’d be easier to send a missive through the Adventurer’s Outpost instead of trying to relay a fuck load of detail in a few words through the stone.

I got word this morning of an ongoing situation in your area that might be perfect for you boys.

There is a merchant ship stranded off the coast of Coastall, I have included a map with the best approximate location I can give yall.

Their distress signal went out across adventurer channels as they are in a particularly dangerous area of the sea, quite a few miles off the coast. The last news anyone has heard is they are being held up by pirates of some variety, but no one has been able to get close enough.

My guess is they have been taken over by seafolk of some kind, most likely Selaki or Ikthains. Yall need to be on ya toes if it's the Selaki, they are big as hell, impulsive and even dumber than a magic-less Riakon. The Ikthains move in numbers so keep your eyes open.

Good luck,

Shitheads

P.S. Use the stone to tell me you are done. This is an official contract unlike the one with the wolves, which yall failed to fill me in about, so you can turn it into the Outpost when yall are done for payment.”

Roden and Errrkkkk read the letter over Riakon’s shoulder when they deemed the dragonkin was taking too long.

Roden looked at Errrkkkk when it was clear they were both done, “sounds like an excellent mission if you ask me.”

“Perfect to push us onto our next advancement, cacaw!”

“Heeeyyy…” Riakon said in a huff, presumably having reached the part at the bottom of the letter where Bo called him dumb.

“Shit do we head out now?”

Errrkkkk put a talon to his chin, “it did say it was ongoing, cacaw.”

Riakon, finally having finished the letter, joined the conversation.

“We’d be leaving them overnight if we don’t go now.”

The three men gave themselves a period to weigh the options.

Riakon spoke up before the others, “so we’re going I take it.”

“Cacaw.”

“Yep, it can’t be helped.” Roden said with a shrug.

The journey to the location on Bo’s map was not a terribly fun experience for anyone involved given it was their second such stint of extended travel for the day.

To no one’s surprise Errrkkkk was the one to locate the ship, but more importantly he saw they were marooned on a dot of land anyone would be hard pressed to call an island.

From the air, Roden and Errrkkkk both deduced the crew made up the majority of the figures they could see on the island. It was the two largest figures that gave them pause.

Roden recognized the two figures as being Selaki, a race of shark-like humanoids who were significantly more shark than human. They each stood well over eight feet tall and looked to be substantially more muscled than their captives.

The one who seemed to be interacting with the crew had the appearance of a hammerhead shark with eyes on the opposite ends of its large T-shaped head. The other Selaki was truly massive. Where their companion was muscular and sleek the other was as wide as a dumpster.

Together they cut an image of the typical brawns and brains team up. Based on Errrkkkk and Roden’s observation that assumption seemed pretty spot on.

When they returned to Riakon, who they had left sitting on the surface of the water, they started discussing their plan.

“So it’s a hostage situation?” Riakon said, looking between the two.

“More or less yeah.”

“I’m pretty sure I saw the body of one who had already been killed, cacaw.”

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

They sat and weighed their options and decided a full frontal assault was not their best option. Instead it was agreed that Riakon would act as their bait and draw the attention of the Selaki. From there Errrkkkk would position himself in the light of the sun and charge up a Soul Sphere.

If all went according to plan the Selaki would either leave peacefully or Errrkkkk would have enough time to charge up his biggest Soul Sphere yet and make the ensuing fight a lot easier than if they tried to fight those monsters head on.

Roden’s job in all of that, was to be Riakon’s backup. If it looked like Riakon was about to go from being bait to being a snack then Roden would be close enough to step in while they waited for Errrkkkk to join them.

Roden flew in low and stayed behind the ship that the Selaki had somehow beached on the small island's sandbar. He placed his hands on the hull of the ship and tapped into his elven magic. The energy welled up within him from his core to his finger tips. He felt his hands slip into the wood of the ship. He leaned into the sensation until he stepped fully into the hull of the vessel.

Whilst inside of the ship's wood he was able to move his consciousness through its entirety. He felt every board and plank. He could feel the sway of the mast in the wind and the coarse sand on the keel. He followed that feeling until he could hear the sound of Riakon’s voice.

Riakon as their plan had dictated strode up to the beach where the Selaki stood menacingly over their hostages. The larger of the two Selaki seemed to be the one doing the vast majority of the menacing while the other mostly berated the crew. He spoke in a much higher pitched voice than Riakon expected. His accent was nearly as exotic sounding as Riakon’s own, but had a twang about it.

Riakon could just make out what the Selaki was saying as he approached the beach.

“Now you lot listen here. I done search da boat and I aint found no sign of anything valuable. Either you start talkin or Brucey over there is going to start snacking.” The sharkman gestured over to the other Selaki he’d named Brucey, who for his part just stood there looming over the hostages mouth agape.

Riakon had reached the beach by that point and raised a hand, “hail to the Selaki!”

When the Selaki who had been talking turned around Riakon could see he wore an old captain's jacket that was incredibly faded as well as sailor's pants that looked more like shorts on the large sharkman.

Riakon’s greeting started the man and he whirled around frantically to meet the intruder.

“What?! Who are you?!”

“Me? I am Riakon. I was just passing by when I saw you had commandeered this fine vessel. I thought I could perhaps give you a hand. Who do I have the pleasure of speaking with?”

The sharkman tilted his head back so he could focus both eyes on Riakon at the same time.

“Name's Martee and that big cunt over there is Brucey. What do you mean when you say give a hand? I already have two hands.”

Riakon groaned inwardly, “I just meant that I could help in your scavenging. It seems you have your hands full with these gentlemen.”

Martee sneered as he looked over the crew of the ship sitting on the beach,

“Ahhhhh they aint worth nothin, but a meal. That ship is empty.”

Riakon nodded, “hmmm well maybe I could talk to the men and see what they say.” Riakon was only about ten feet away from where the crew sat on the beach so raising his voice enough to be heard by them was no great task.

“Gentlemen, your captors here are looking for anything of value on your ship. Does anyone know of anything that they might take an interest in?”

A young human man spoke before anyone could so much as think, “we told them already. We have a few horses in the hold under the main deck, but we mainly dive for seanuts.”

At the man’s words, Roden discovered he could in fact laugh while inside of wood.

Riakon did a much better job of maintaining his composure before turning to address the Selaki.

“Well my friend you heard the man. They have some horses, but the rest are just nuts.”

Martee stared at Riakon blankly.

“Horses are the four legged animals that people ride from place to place.”

Martee tilted his head and focused one of his big eyes on Riakon, “I didn’t see no horses in dere.”

The young man from before abruptly shot up from his crouched position shouting, “they’re beneath the main deck! You can’t reach them unless you–”

Brucey cut off the man with a nonchalant backhand that sent the smaller man flying. Riakon immediately rushed towards the brutish sharkman.

“Hey he was just trying help! Try that on someone your own size!”

Brucey wasn't terribly bright. Actually to call him dim would be a generous assessment of his mental faculties, but he knew a challenge when he heard one.

The great white Selaki stomped his way straight up to Riakon. Roden saw in that moment Errrkkkk had released his Soul Sphere. The conditions had been met as per their plan. Riakon had gotten the two Selaki close enough together for Errrkkkk to hit them both.

Roden threw himself out of the hull of the ship onto the beach. Two casts of Instant Destination later and he had Riakon a safe distance from the anticipated point of impact.

The appearance of Roden within their midst had been enough to confuse the Selaki. His and Riakon’s disappearance only compounded their confusion.

The Soul Sphere Errrkkkk had managed to create was indeed his largest yet. The blueish orb the size of a two car garage slammed into the Selaki, rapidly enveloping them in the accumulated chi energy. The impact of the sphere and the tiny island was so great it left a massive hole in the beach that immediately filled in with sea water.

To everyone’s surprise the Selaki were still standing. Brucey seemed to have taken the worst of it. In addition to being ravaged by the force of the blast, he was missing a hand and his dorsal fin. Martee had managed to retain all of his limbs, but his no doubt stolen attire was in ribbons.

Riakon looked at Roden while hefting his hammer and equipping his shield, “I’ve got the big guy.”

Before Roden could respond Riakon charged off toward his chosen opponent. Roden shrugged before conjuring up his lance and sent it flying toward Martee with the incantation, “lux!”

The golden spear instantly slammed into the unsuspecting sharkman. When Martee turned his huge head to locate his attacker, Errrkkkk descended upon him with a flying side kick to his face that sent him stumbling. Errrkkkk followed up his dynamic entry by landing in a semi crouch. He rocked forward, hands clasped, unleashing his signature, “Caaaaaaaaa, Caaaaaaawwwwwww!!!!!!”

Riakon threw himself at his great white adversary. He swung his huge hammer one handed, his new ring affording him the new adaptation. His attack hit home, but Brucey showed little indication of any pain. Riakon followed up with another strike, that time to the creature’s massive chest. Riakon could feel the thud and impact of each strike, but his opponent showed little reaction.

Roden watched as Riakon struck out at Brucey to seemingly little effect. However, the strikes must have stirred something from deep within the sharkman because he set upon Riakon in a frenzy. Brucey wasn’t sophisticated in his offense. He swung his huge head around to and fro until he managed to clamp his jaws around Riakon’s shield arm.

Seeing Riakon was in greater danger, Roden activated his Mozzetta of Clouds and set his sights on the bigger of the two Selaki. He focused and drew magic into his hand. When he saw his opening he fired off a Winter’s Blast that covered Brucey’s entire left side in a layer of ice.

Errrkkkk was feeling pretty good about their plan by the time he was unleashing his beam on Martee. That all changed when he saw the Selaki pushing his way into his beam as if he was walking up a river. When Errrkkkk’s beam reached its conclusion Martee was nearly on top of him.

Unlike his much larger companion Martee was more than capable of using a weapon, which he demonstrated by drawing a saber far too large for any normal person to wield one handed. Martee’s first swing was a horizontal slash aimed at Errrkkkk’s head.

He leaned back narrowly avoiding the swing except for the tip which nicked his beak. With a twist of his wrist Martee brought his blade back around slashing Errrkkkk from shoulder to hip. The cut wasn’t incredibly deep, but it was a wound that would require healing later.

Blood was in the air and Martee got a crazed look in his eyes. The thrust that followed was wild and despite Errrkkkk catching the wide blade between his talons it slipped through his defenses and pierced his chest with the very tip of the blade.

Martee leaned in, putting all of his bulk behind the pommel of his saber.

“Ello little bird. I could use a snack.”

Errrkkkk grinned, “oh yeah? Then eat this, cacaw!”

He twisted off the blade forcing Martee to step forward. Errrkkkk ducked and drove a fist into the meat of the Selaki’s thigh muscle. His aim wasn’t to damage his opponent, but to disrupt his chi. Not all beings of Mir could control their chi so by injecting some of his own into an opponent Errrkkkk was able to overwhelm his target’s reactions.

His plan had worked perfectly, he watched as Martee stepped forward and froze in his tracks. Errrkkkk could feel the moment when his chi overtook Martee’s. He wasted no time, he continued his combination with a leaping kick that saw his foot travel three hundred and sixty degrees through the air before slamming into the Selaki’s neck.

Riakon slammed his hammer down over and over trying to dislodge his arm from the Selaki’s mouth with no success. Each blow only added to Riakon’s predicament by seemingly driving its teeth deeper into Riakon’s shield. Roden’s ice had restrained Brucey's one good arm and hand so between its grip on his arm and the ice, Brucey wasn’t going anywhere. Riakon used that to his advantage by drawing in a deep breath and releasing a sickly green liquid dousing the creature. The liquid immediately started sizzling and popping as it ate away at its skin.

Roden was already running when he saw Errrkkkk twist off Martee’s big freaking sword. By that point, there was a lot of ground to cover between the two fights. Needing the boost of speed Roden first discharged his cloak in a bolt at Brucey that seemed to have no effect, but the casting was all he needed to activate his Storm Strider ability.

The lightning magic rushed to his legs and feet enhancing his speed and propelling him forward. He shot across the beach in a blur. When he reached Martee, Errrkkkk had the Selaki dazed. Roden blasted the sharkman with the overcharged Storming Smash he prepared as he dashed across the sand. When his fist impacted with Martee’s chest the spell released a torrent of arcane lightning straight through the sharkman leaving a jagged hole in its wake.

The sound of ice shattering filled the air as Brucey lashed out in fury at the death of his comrade. When he threw his great white shark head back it lifted Riakon off his feet. His grip on Riakon’s arm loosened just enough to allow it to fall deeper into his maw. When he crunched back down he had the majority of Riakon's left side in his jaws and began to viciously shake from side to side.

Riakon found he could do very little to extricate himself from his painful predicament. Instead he exhaled a cloud of green fog that enveloped both of them. Riakon held his breath as best he could despite the violent back and forth movement. After a few painfully long moments, Riakon felt the jaws slacken. He wasted no time slipping out of Brucey’s mouth and onto the sandy beach below.

He scrambled to his feet to see the sharkman had dropped to one knee. He was finally succumbing to the effects of everything they had thrown at him. Errrkkkk’s Soul Sphere, Riakon’s acid and poison breaths had all amounted to an un-ignorable amount of injuries. When Riakon’s eyes met with Brucey’s they both tensed for a final confrontation. The Selaki stood and charged all in one motion. Riakon stood his ground, reared back and unleashed a gout of bright orange flames that left the beach smelling of an awful combination of fish and decaying flesh.