Fantasy Sorcery!!! (Completed)

[ArcticFox]

"By being an idiot." Shank growled, tapping his foot across the boards. "I followed your smell from Torrepani. But then you went into Khare and disappeared. I found a way in up the river. Then I found out I brought no coin and that this stupid city is too expensive. I slept in a stall on the Docks and someone knocked me out." He snorted. "I'm gonna find that someone and rip them a new one." His eyes focused on Aquila again and his gaze, looked hungry. "Still found you." He remarked.

- "Where are we?"
- "How do we escape?"
- "I'll get us out."

 

[Yokai]

>> How do we escape? <<
​

If Aquila hadn't been mildly concussed she would have been horrified by that news, as it was she simply offered a tired nod and accepted her fate. Aquila had bigger fish to fry. She ran a hand over her face and took a deep breath, the priority right now was getting out of this situation alive. Blue eyes looked over everyone else in attendance and she quickly corrected herself -- to try and get everyone out alive. The red head attempted to straighten her posture and get a better look at her surroundings, for a means to escape.

"You did," She agreed to Shank's last statement, "Any ideas on how to get out of here? Where even are we?" Aquila crinkled her nose; they were clearly in a boat, but where that boat was heading and how long she had been unconscious were lost to her.

 

[ArcticFox]

"Someone from this sorry lot talked about a guy named Vik. This ship is his or something. His name scares them." Shank gestured at the huddling prisoners. "The guards said they'll lower a cage into the hold later. I don't know who they want to shove into it, but it ain't gonna be me. And you are magic, you'll help." The Orc nodded, agreeing with his own plan.

The other prisoners around them murmured to each other in different languages and lowered whispers. Aquila could not understand any of them.

- Wait to see what happens.
- Drink the Blimberry potion.
- Call for a guard.
- Cast a spell.

 

[Yokai]

>> Drink the Blimberry potion <<
​

The situation sounded like it was about to get serious and Aquila wasn't about to be caught unawares and injured. From her pack she withdrew one of her potions and decided to drink it. This was as good a time as any, and Aquila needed to be at her best. The foreign whispers around her put Aquila on edge -- something was wrong here. She could feel it within the very marrow of her bones.

"I will help," Aquila agreed with utter surety and then she drank the potion. She was no help to anyone injured.

 

[ArcticFox]

The potion ran smooth through her throat, warming her up from the inside. The lump on her head disappeared and her ankle did not hurt any more. If she needed to fight or run, she would be at full strength now.

Suddenly, the hatch on the ceiling opened. Something blocked the light for a few moments and then the light returned, bathing the edges of a wicker cage that the crew was lowering down on a rope. The other prisoners reacted immediately - some scrambling away, trying to get as far from the cage as possible, while the others waited underneath the lowering cage impatiently, some trying to jump up and grab it so they can climb out.

"A little present from Vik!" One of the sailors called, with a malicious laugh.

- Try to climb out.
- Wait and see what it is.

 

[Yokai]

>> Wait and see what it is <<
​

Now that she was at full strength Aquila's senses felt a lot sharper and more refined. The terror in the boat was palpable to her now and she found herself shuddering at the atmosphere. As the cage was lowered down Aquila found herself drawing Rhain's dagger in preparation for a fight. She eyed the rope lowering the cage and debated climbing out -- the process of climbing made her too vulnerable and she didn't know what was topside. Better to wait and find out what this 'gift' was.

 

[ArcticFox]

The cage swung lower and lower and then Aquila noticed that it was moving. There was something inside. Suddenly, a fanged jaw appeared between wicker bars, and other prisoners jumped back in alarm. The thing inside the cage snarled and roared. A wolf of some kind? The rope went slack and the cage hit the floorboards and as it did so, the doors of it flew open.

"Well, go, do your magic at it." Shank gave her a friendly shove, sending her a couple of steps toward the cage.

- Cast a spell.
- Ready a weapon.
- Get back.

 

[Yokai]

>> Cast a spell <<
​

Apprehension began to build as the cage swung lower and lower. Aquila could not make out the creature inside but then its jaws protruded through the bars and she recognized the features of a wolf. When the cage hit the floor boards the door swung open and Shank pushed her forward. Aquila stumbled forward a few steps before instantly taking two backwards in an attempt at distance. She wasn't about to blindly attack some poor captured animal. Instead Aquila cast a creature control spell in an attempt to force the wolf back into the cage, maybe they could close the door?

 

[ArcticFox]

The spell for control formed inside her mind. And then it dissipated. This animal was not unintelligent, the spell could not take control of it. Slowly it emerged from the cage. The prisoners were running away, plastered to the walls of the hull. Shank followed after Aquila, his stance ready, though he had no weapons. The wolf walked out of the cage. Then, its shape begun getting clearer.

That was no wolf. It was a werewolf, wearing tight fitting boiled leather armour. But, there was no full moon, it wasn't even night time. These creatures did not roam during the day. How could that be? Aquila and Shank stood between the wolf and other prisoners. Behind its flaring fur and snapping jaws, the rope of its cage lead up through the hatch. Escape - if they can reach it.

- Attack.
- Drop back.
- Cast a spell.

 

[Yokai]

>> Drop back <<
​

Confusion was an understatement. Aquila stared at the werewolf in genuine horror as she instantly dropped back. How did they capture a werewolf and why were they releasing it on their cargo? That was what Aquila originally assumed they were, but now she wasn't so sure. Inching carefully backward Aquila made sure to keep herself between the werewolf and the other prisoners. She didn't want to attack first -- it was an intelligent creature that was probably being held against its will. Aquila didn't want to hurt or kill it; but she would fight in self-defense or the defense of others. She raised her weapon in front of her, ready to block or counter any attacks. But mostly she waited for the werewolf to make the first move.

 

[ArcticFox]

The werewolf launched itself at Aquila without any warning, teeth bared. Shank pulled her backwards out of its reach, making her stumble and almsot fall. The Orc stepped in front of her and toward he werewolf.

"Brother. Stop this madness." He spoke, hands outstretched. But, the werewolf either did not comprehend or it chose to ignore his words. It snapped at the Orc circling around carefully, preparing for another pounce. Shank growled. "No use, they did something to it."

The werewolf snapped its jaws again. Should those jaws reach Aquila, or anyone in the hull, it would be a swift end.

- Attack.
- Drop back.

 

[Yokai]

>> Drop back <<
​

"Is there absolutely no way to help him?" Aquila asked as she continued to drop back. She needed to be absolutely sure before truly committing to this fight -- because Aquila would end up killing it. Blue eyes looked desperately over the room; maybe there was something in here that could help? She didn't want to hurt somebody that wasn't in their right mind. It felt wrong, like killing an innocent.

 

[ArcticFox]

Shank turned to Aquila to respond, but they were interrupted by the werewolf that darted to one side and rushed down to the other end of the boat. It seemed it would rather not risk a fight with someone capable, instead choosing the weaker targets. The werewolf lashed out, snapping at the prisoner nearest to it. It caught one older guy on the leg and he dropped to the floor, screaming out in agony, howling and writhing as though possessed.

"The rope!" Shank pointed ahead. The path in front of them was clear and if they were fast enough they could get the rope and climb outside. However, the werewolf was already tearing through the prisoners, casting them aside with its claws and fangs. Leaving now would surely mean that they would all die.

- Attack the werewolf.
- Wait to see what happens to the injured prisoners.
- Climb the rope.

 

[Yokai]

>> Attack the werewolf <<
​

No. Nononononono! Panic rose like bile up Aquila's throat at the sight of the werewolf tearing viciously through the trapped prisoners. This was her fault -- her unwillingness to act and to take a life resulted in more death than she could have imagined. And all of this could have been avoided had Aquila only acted and struck down this werewolf.

"Go," She said to Shank before she turned back to the werewolf and focused inwardly on her magic. Aquila recalled the spell, set her gaze on the wolf and cast electroshock. Aquila would never forgive herself for this.

 

[ArcticFox]

She readied a spell, but had to time no weave it. The werewolf pounced on her, making Shank pull her aside at the last moment, but also breaking her concentration on the spell. The creature was too fast. It snapped its jaws and roared. Shank reacted quickly, though. With sheer strength he launched Aquila on top of the wicker cage at the end of the rope. Just as she landed on it, the werewolf connected with the Orc. Both of them went down on the ground in a tangle of limbs and fur.

There was a yell and grunt and then a high pitched squeal coming from the prisoners. There were many writhing on the floor now, twisted around their wounds, howling out. The werewolf had its jaws around Shank's bicep. The big Orc wrestled with the animal in a feat of strength, managing to shove it off himself after a couple of moments, but coming with a number of bleeding wounds and bite marks out of the tangle.

As the wolf was thrown backwards across the floor, Shank rushed for the cage and the rope. "Can't help them now." He said and begun climbing. The howls only deepened in the hull.

- Climb the rope.
- Wait.

 

[Yokai]

>> Climb the rope <<
​

Aquila couldn't feel anything beyond numb horror. Everything had gone wrong so quickly she barely managed to keep track of the situation. But with the rope in her hands everything came back with instant clarity. And now Shank had been bitten and the wolf was tearing through the prisoners and she was turning and escaping up the rope after Shank. So much for being a hero.

 

[ArcticFox]

Aquila climbed the rope and quickly shimmied her way out, with Shank leading the way. The screams from the prisoners followed them up, forcing them to climb faster, until Aquila was just below the hatch. She could hear the voices of the guards just above her head.

Below, the werewolf was back on its feet, tearing through prisoners. Blood mixed with seawater across the hull of the boat and the screams started changing from terror to animal rage. The air crackled with static and Aquila could only watch the bodies of the prisoners change. There were suddenly twenty werewolves below, then thirty, then as much as Aquila was looking, she could not see a single creature that was not a werewolf. The bottom of the hull swarmed as though filled with rats.

"Haul up the cage!" Came the shout from above. "Quickly now, we don't have all day!"

- Cling onto the rope.
- Drop off.

 

[Yokai]

>> Cling onto the rope <<
​

Aquila's skin crawled at the tension that filled the air and she looked to Shank with worry as the werewolves swarmed. Would he turn? Would that be another life gone because of her too? Aquila clung tighter to the rope as they began to pull the cage up. There was no way she was dropping into that chaos below. She would rather take her chances with the slavers.

 

[ArcticFox]

Shank was not showing any sings of turning, yet. The rope was hauled out of the hull as the two clung on for dear life. The guards were in utter surprise to see the two of them attached to it, all so busy with the rope for a moment that they could not react.

"Look!" One of the crewmen shouted. "We've hooked two of them like fishes!"

The rope was loosened and Aquila and Shank were on the deck. The sailors stared at them in surprise and as the ship rocked with the motion, it was clear that some of the sailors stumbled more than necessary. They were quite drunk. There was their chance to escape.

- Jump into the water.
- Fight them.

 

[Yokai]

>> Jump into the water <<
​

Drunken men greeted them at the top and Aquila wasted no time in turning away, grabbing hold of Shank, and hauling them both overboard. There was no way she was going to fight these men when there was a raging deck of werewolves beneath them and a bite on Shank's arm. She didn't look into the waters when she jumped, she just flung herself into the river with only escape in mind.

 

[ArcticFox]

The sailors tried stopping them and cutting of their path, but they were not very nimble or coordinated. The two dove over the side and into the freezing water below.

They found themselves into the thick sludge of the Jabaji River. Aquila gasped for breath, almost retching from the terrible smell of sewage, rotting fish and slime. Shank swam beside her, his mouth and nose covered by the mask, not betraying his expression. They quelled their nausea - they could not afford it until they were safely on dry land. Thankfully, Aquila's rations were tightly wrapped and sealed, otherwise the terrible water would have spoiled them all.

- Swim back to the Docks.
- Swim ahead to east Khare.

 

[Yokai]

>> Swim ahead to East Khare <<
​

They had managed to escape the boat and despite the pungent scent of the river, Aquila felt a brief moment of relief. She looked to Shank and grimaced, he was a ticking time bomb waiting to go off. Perhaps a Blimberry potion or something, anything please, could save him. Aquila set course for returning back to land as soon as possible and swimming through this disgusting muck. She just wanted to try and help Shank.

 

[ArcticFox]

They made for the nearest bank, reaching it quickly, hauling themselves ashore. They did get a couple of funny looks from the passers by, but not as many as they expected. Shank cleaned himself up the best he could on the shore his blood mixed with the sludge of the river. He grunted, examining the large cut on his forearm.

Aquila herself was no injured, but she was completely dirty and tired from swimming the foul river.

They had reached the banks of Upper Khare. The buildings here were not as grand as ones on the west side of the river, but they were in much better condition. Fewer people lived on this side, away from the fields and the Hills, but those who did were richer. They were also most likely more dangerous. But, the North Gate was on this side and Aquila was bound to cross Upper Khare at some point.

There was a fountain on the first fork in the road. The path led to the north and to south. A few creatures roamed around the small crossroads.

- Talk to Shank.
- Clean up in the fountain.
- Ask for directions to a tavern.

 

[Yokai]

>> Talk to Shank <<
​

Once hauled ashore Aquila took a moment to catch her breath, pulling herself up into a sitting position as she breathed through the putrid scent clinging to her clothes. She watched as Shank examined his wounds and she edged closer to him, holding out a hand in offering to look at his arm. Maybe there was something she could do?

"I'm so sorry," Aquila said, voice thick and heavy with emotion. Tears were beginning to form at the corners of her eyes. "It should have been me, I'm so sorry Shank. I should have been the one to get bit." There was no comfort she could offer him, nothing she could do or say except apologize profusely.

 

[ArcticFox]

Shank watched her with a flat expression, letting her approach and examine his wounds. As she looked closer, underneath the sludge and filth, she could see the Orc's green-grayish skin closing up. The wounds were healing on their own!

"I have no idea what you are talking about." Shank said. But then his other arm quickly wrapped around her waist, holding her in place, too close to him. "But, I can find a different way for you to apologise."

- Slap him.
- Struggle.
- Talk to him.