Fate - First Reply Blood On the Rocks[Pirates]

[Edward Lorain]

"I'll be sure to show off some of my surprises lat-"

Edward's voice drowned out as the small battle appeared before them, leaving him effectively speechless for a moment.

"Bloody hell. Does this happen often here?"

Ed was not made for battle, he was made for the seas and running away before these types of fights ever happened. He followed Seyah's eyes to the wall and simply nodded.

He wasted no time in following her. He just wanted to be away from all of this. Getting up to the parapets was not difficult, as Ed could climb with his eyes closed. The only problem was that he was pretty sure so could the shadow things.

"How do you even get a small army in here?... Absolutely horrible security."

Seyah

 

[Seyah]

"I have no idea." Seyah called out as the two of them rushed along the parapets. Her hand was still slick with blood as they climbed, but the Taverness proved herself to be surprisingly dexterous as they moved atop the walls. Bounding and grasping with her other hand, quickly following after Ed's path.

Every now and again she glanced down into the fortress, her head shaking.

"Magic." It had to be. "And Traitors."

The Blightlands were not exactly coveted for the loyalty of their people. Blue Orcs served those whom gave them power, and most servants could be bought. That was why Naghi had made his deal with outsiders. Why he had come to Tyr in the first place.

More of the shadowed creatures darted, one of them seeming to spot them up upon the wall.

It shifted, and began to sprint. Leaping up onto the stone and burying it's claws deep. Sinking them again and again as it began to climb. "Here!"

Seyah said as she suddenly grabbed. Her blood hand flickering upward and she smeared the crimson upon his brow. In an instant he would feel a surge of magic coursing through him, and then with an unceremonious push Seyah shoved Ed off the other side of the wall. Flinging him from the keep and into the city proper below.

Her hand smearing the same symbol on herself before she jumped after him. Their bodies somehow unbound by gravity, and their fall as slow as a feather.

 

[Edward Lorain]

The chaos beneath them would have been incredible to watch if not for the whole existential threat of dying that lingered over them. He could not help but notice they were nearing the end of their dead-end, with emphasis on the dead here.

"Hey, I think we're at the-"

He was cut off as Seyah smeared blood on his face...that was a first. He would have complained further about that because now really wasn't the time to be blooded in battle or whatever else she was doing.

Before he could even ask, there was no longer ground beneath his feet. "Oh, you bastaaarrrdddd!"

She betrayed him at the worst possible moment. He knew it! Well, he should have always expected it. Rule number one, never trust a pretty face, and now because of it, he was going to die.

Wait, he wasn't falling fast? What the hell? A laugh escaped his lips as he looked down to see the ground slowly approaching him.

"H-How the hell are you doing this?" Just as he got the question out, his feet returned back to the ground.

Seyah

 

[Seyah]

Seyah swept downward directly after Ed. Her dress shifting and blowing in the wind as she descended and her bare feet landed upon the cobbled stones. The sound of battle still echoed out behind them, coming from the din of the wall, but the shadowed creatures seemed to have landed their focus upon the Keep.

A small blessing she supposed. "I'm a Blood Witch, Captain."

The secret flowed from her tongue, a weight that she carried lifted by just an ounce.

It was a fact that not many people knew, and fewer had lived to tell the tale about. Her mother had been a Blood Witch, a powerful one, and had passed the gift down to her. Sacred knowledge that was supposed to have been lost, held only by those special few.

Not those like hers.

"I can do a great many things." Seyah continued as she began to stride forward. Intent on escaping the hell they currently found themselves in. "But I cannot bring us back from the dead, so I suggest we keep moving."

The Taverness urged as she began her hurried steps through the winding city streets.

 

[Edward Lorain]

Oh, a Blood Witch! Was he supposed to know what that was? The way that Seyah said it made it seem like some big deal though. Sounding by the name, he could more than deduce what a Blood Witch could do. So if she was going to Blood Witch his ass onto the safety of his ship then he was not going to complain.

"Yeah, ok, Blood Witch."

They continued along the winding streets back in the direction of the docks. Edward moved through the city with the confidence of someone who had been living there for his whole life, like he had a map of the city in his head.

By now the whole city would have news of the attack, so he really wasn't worried about those things being able to reach them again. At least, he wasn't as worried about that as someone reaching his ship.

"So, um, are most Blood Witches brothel owners?"

Seyah

 

[Seyah]

Seyah did not say a word as Edward began to guide them through the reaches of the ancient city, deciding that perhaps it was best he took on this leg of the trip. Doubtless he was better at navigating foreign lands than she was.

This being the first time she'd ever left Tyr.

A laugh barked passed her lips as Edward asked his next question. Her head shaking as she could not help the grin that spread across her face. "No, they do not, and I suggest if you meet any other you keep such a suggestion to yourself."

She mused as they continued, the toxin bells ringing out as they warned of the attack at the Keep.

"We Tyrian's have an ancient history with Blood Magic." Seyah explained. "Some have more talent in it than others."

Though all could use The Blood in some way. "It is the Blood Witches who hold the most sacred of knowledge. They are keepers of the old ways, healers, seers, advisors."

The Taverness admitted freely.

"They hold a special place in Tyrian society." A smile flashed to Edward. "My mother was one of their Ranks, though not after I was born."

The implication there being more than clear. "She taught me many secrets that by the ancient rites, I should not know."

 

[Edward Lorain]

Edward snorted out a chuckle before nodding along, "Good to know, but I don't make a habit of bad-mouthing people who can do whatever you just did." The last thing he needed was to wake up in his bed vomiting blood or something.

He held them up for the briefest moment until Ed seemed to be satisfied with whatever he was waiting for and then they were on their way again.

Seyah's family history wasn't totally unfamiliar to Edward. In fact, it sounded a lot like how he had been told the Squallcallers were connected to Teth. Well, how they used to be connected to Teth. These days, the only Squallcallers that Edward was aware of were himself, homeless drunkards, and then the occasional priest to a sea god or goddess. Oh, and Mrs. Nina who ran the Walrus Den.

"So...they don't like kids or something?"

It sounded like Blood Witches were a pretty big deal, so something big must have happened for Seyah to be a brothel owner.

Seyah

 

[Seyah]

"Something like that." In truth, Seyah did not entirely understand the rites which were held so close by Tyrian society. Her mother had taught her many things, but had never much explained the why of things.

To her, it was perfectly logical for the Blood Witches to have children. Those strongest with the Blood should procreate to carry on the power and knowledge, yet by the tenants of their own people such things were forbidden.

It had never made much sense. "My mother and I were banished to the Ash Wastes."

Seyah explained as they continued through the streets. Her fingers curling ever so slightly as behind them the shattering of glass echoed out. The combat within the Keep now creating a panic in the streets as blue orcs rushed to defend their Master.

"We were to die." A shrug rolled over her shoulders. "But I suppose we proved too stubborn."

At least she had.

 

[Edward Lorain]

It was the same old story, a life was ruined because of some dumb tradition that people probably didn't even know where the tradition came from at this point. To think, there were people so callous out there that they could sentence a child to what was basically death.

"Well, we are survivors. The best kind of people."

By now, the chaos allowed the two to use the cover of the blue orcs to move through the city. Ed could even see the first sign of ships in the distance as they neared the port.

The next problem was becoming apparent, the blue orcs may be rushing to defend their master but the average citizens wanted to get as far away from combat as they could and that usually meant the ports to try and leave. Crowds were starting to gather, but so far they were staying in front of the initial push.

They needed to hurry

Seyah

 

[Seyah]

Seyah couldn't help but grin at her companion. The words so quick to come, and yet holding more reassurance than she had received a dozen times before. "Something tells me you have a similar story to tell, Captain."

The Taverness said as they rounded yet another corner, moving before the growing tide of fleeing people.

As they shifted, the masts of dozens of ships came into view. Those within the harbor already beginning to move. Her lips twisted to a frown for a moment, toxin bells still ringing loud as they continued to run. The buildings around them falling away as they entered the docks proper.

Which was when she spotted the next problem.

Outside of the harbor, beyond the thick chain, lurked a dozen ships. Each one of the same designs that they had encountered earlier. "I hope you're ready to run a blockade!"

Seyah commented as they continued their flight, the thunder of their steps now echoing on wood as they rushed up the peer towards Edward's ship.

 

[Edward Lorain]

"Not nearly as depressing. You seem to have dealt with shit people. I just dealt with dumb people...A story for after this."

As soon as his feet hit the wood of the docks, a wave of confidence surged back into the young man, and within moments his crew had spotted him as he heard yells and the crew waiving from the deck. It looked like everyone was safe and in good condition. That was a relief.

Seyah drew his attention into the distance as he hesitated to take a look at all the ships before continuing his run.

"I would rather run ten blockades than deal with whatever is behind us."

As they arrived at the ship, the bridge was already out and the crew were preparing to leave. They all knew the drill, the amount of time that Edward had requested a quick exit was more than they could count at this point.

Edward sprinted onto the deck, ignoring several questions on what was happening, and why everyone was running, and what was with the blockade.

"No time! All hands on deck! Let's get the fuck out of here!"

A cheer followed that declaration.

Seyah

 

[Seyah]

Seyah couldn't help the grin that spread across her face as Ed mentioned 'dumb people. She'd dealt with many of those too, after all. Saying not another word as they rushed up the pier and onto the Gangplank Seyah tore the end of her dress.

Strips of green were quickly wound around the slash across her hand, stopping the steady flow of blood as she once again hid her magics. No doubt Edward would ask more questions before all of this was done, but she did not know the whole of the crew to offer them as well.

As the cheer resounded across the deck, Seyah turned and regarded the city behind them.

The toxin bells still called out, and everywhere the flow of people was only increasing. There was nowhere to run to, of course, and so the crush of serfs and slaves would quickly find themselves pushed to the very edges of the city.

She frowned, though knew there was nothing she could do. "We need them to lower the chain."

Seyah realized as she turned to Ed, the ship beginning to shift and move away from the dock as it entered the harbor proper.

 

[Edward Lorain]

Edward looked up from where he had moved over to tie off a rope before cursing under his breath at what he saw. Seyah was right, but he had no easy way of dropping that chain and he doubted that any guards would be willing to drop the chain with such heightened security.

"I'll handle it...Everyone starts throwing over anything we don't need. You all should have already sold whatever cargo we could sell here. I want only fresh water and food for the return trip to Tyr and then ammo for the Ballistas. Nothing Else! I need us to be as light as possible."

He turned to look at Seyah and then down at her now-covered hand, and nodded in understanding. One had to always be careful about how much they could share.

"For this next part, just stay low and don't draw attention to yourself...I still promised you a safe trip."

The ship was pulling away and he could even hear some people screaming for passage, but he did not even glance back. Sorry folks, but the laws of survival did not give him the strength to be able to reach out hands to strangers. He had to worry about his own.

As Edward made his way towards the helm, he motioned for someone else to take it as he would need to focus for this next part. He was already taking a long look at the harbor in question which was filled with other vessels, still he found what he was looking for.

"There that little stretch will give us the longest straight short for a run up. Get us over there."

Seyah

 

[Seyah]

As Edward began to look for their path, the men aboard his ship set about dumping whatever useless cargo they could.

The endeavor went quick, especially as the two Ogre guards Seyah had brought aboard began to follow suite. Tumi and Koltic quickly worked with the crewmembers, taking direction and moving the heavier cargo to hurl it overboard.

As weight began to shift from the deck of the ship, their speed increased.

Seyah glanced back as some of the other vessels in the harbor began to move, her eyes flickering to the chain-towers ahead.

"We're not going fast enough." She said through gritted teeth, her lips thinning as she ran through the list of spells her mother had taught her...and quickly realized she had naught to offer. Not here, not at sea.

Concern flickered over her features, her eyes casting to Edward as they sailed forward.

 

[Edward Lorain]

"We will be. Just hold on."

Edward gripped the railing as he looked out over the ship, his knuckles turning white from the pressure. He was whispering desperately under his breath. Seyah may have caught only some of the words.

"Please...life or death here...You know I love you...Whatever you want next time."

Those last words must have worked, because Edward's body tensed as suddenly all of the winds in the entire port grew still...only to return with the sudden strength of a small hurricane. The winds caught the sails pushing the Siren forward with incredible speed.

Only now they were launching toward the chain and the blockade at those amazing speeds. This next part was the part that Ed really wasn't looking forward to as he had largely strayed from using this ability ever since he had received it.

Edward's left hand shot out in a manner beckoning something to rise as his eyes began to roll into the back of his head. Veins along his neck bulged and took on a blackish hue before the water in the port also began to take on this black coloring.

Then, slowly but building in speed, their vessel began to rise as from nothing a large wave that would more commonly be found in the middle of the ocean had appeared beneath them.

Seyah

 

[Seyah]

Seyah bucked against the railing besides her as the sails suddenly caught the wind more than ever before.

Her arm wrapped almost instinctively around the wooden hold, fingers digging in as her feet nearly slipped out from beneath her. A shout echoed as Koltic tumbled to the deck with a thud, the Ogre having been caught unaware as a tray of silverware clattered all over him and the ground. "Wut the he-"

The great Ogre began to call, but the Taverness barely heard his words.

Eyes instead flickered over towards where Edward stood, seemingly rooted to the ground. His eyes shifting and the veins in his neck bulging out. Her lips pressed to a thin line for a brief moment, and then tugged into a hint of a smile.

"Survivors indeed." She mused as the ship practically shot out of the sea as they rode upon a wave.

In the distance she could hear shouts, horns of alarm from the ships in the blockade as they scrambled to intercept or move out of the way.

Scooping up a rope from nearby, Seyah quickly scooped it up and used it to lash herself to the railing. Bracing herself as they shot through the water and directly over the harbor chain. Sailing forward and into the Blockade.

 

[Edward Lorain]

Edward wasn't sure at what point his vision went black, or when the ringing arrived in his ears. All he knew was that when he came back to, the ship was on the other side of the chains and now they faced an entire blockade. His body relaxed, only realizing that his entire body tensing up had been the only thing that kept him hanging onto the rail in his hands.

The winds were still pushing them to move quickly, but he tried to push away his ability to call on those dark waters. He would not be using that again, it always left a sick feeling in his stomach.

The black veins were beginning to fade, but Ed had not yet realized black liquid was seeping from his eyes. All around him, the crew was deathly silent before Edward roared into the vacuum.

"What are you lot doing? Hard turn to portside and tighten the mast. We are going to need to do some weaving."

The captain's words must have sparked what ever fire needed to be relit as the swam of crew hurried to fulfill their tasks as they all realized they were still not out of trouble yet.

"Seyah, are you alright?"

 

[Seyah]

"Fine!" She called out to the captain, though could not keep the curiosity from her tone.

Edward had secrets, though she supposed that was only fair.

"But I'm not sure how long that will last." She called into the din of the winds. Her hand raising to point towards the ships slowly beginning to move around the corners of the bay. Three of them lowering their sails, clearly intent on intercepting the Siren. "I think they mean to let no one escape."

This attack was planned, coordinated, and very precise. There was little doubt it originated from one of Naghi's brothers, and yet the giant had seemed more than confident in his own survival.

Seyah was no longer so sure. "What do we do?"

The Taverness called out, ready to follow the Captain's lead.

Questions could come later.

 

[Edward Lorain]

Edward was only just now noticing the black tears and he quickly wiped them away before blinking several times to make sure he was seeing properly.

"Right, um...Bean, light the smoke barrels!"

"Threw them overboard, Ed."

Edward wanted to curse but just nodded as that had likely been the right decision. He couldn't call on those waters again. If he did, it might do more harm to him than good. His eyes searched around him noticing way too many ships to be comfortable.

"Seegee, keep us close to the cliffs. If they want to catch me then they better be able to prove it."

A quick conversation was under his breath and the winds began to die down as their vessel slowed. Let the ships get in real tight where the numbers wouldn't mean shit, then they would find out who the real sailors were. And he would take his crew on that one against anyone.

Seyah

 

[Seyah]

Nerves flickered through her stomach as they once again found themselves in a situation where she was of less than little use.

The sea was not her home, nor was it the home of her magics.

As much power as she carried within the Blood, it would do them no good against a Flotilla of ships. It would have been different had there been other Tyrian's aboard, but with just her? She would need to wait for them to get on-board to do anything at all.

"Captain." Seyah said as she slowly slipped the rope from around her waist.

"They may not be sailors." She beckoned. "But my men will assist however they can."

The two Ogre's towered over the rest of the crew, standing near twice as tall as some. "If those ships close in on us..."

Seyah said, her glance flickering over her shoulder where the three ships were clearly aiming to do just that. Cutting through the waters and heading directly towards them. Sails fluttering and catching the wind as they followed Ed's route along the cliffs.

 

[Edward Lorain]

Edward was already nodding along in agreement with Seyah's suggestion. That was certainly where the behemoths would be put to best use.

"Thank you, we won't let them pin us in, but a few will likely be able to at least send a few sailors aboard by luck or magic, even as we pass them. I would appreciate if they could help remove them."

His men were experienced and knew to be wary of such unwanted arrivals as boarders, but while decent in scrap, they were not the fighting these ogres certainly were.

"Bean, if they manage to board try and force them to go starboard, if you can." The young man at the helm simply nodded, while Edward pointed to the right side of the ship for the orcs.

Already drawing the other ships in was forcing them to slow down and be a little careful with any of their shots, but it also meant that the Siren really had to thread the needle when it came to their sailing.

"We're gonna get some fire, so just be prepared."

Seyah

 

[Seyah]

The Ogres would do their part, probably better than Ed's sailors. Not because of their relative still, but the sheer size of the behemoths. At least that was some contribution to the chaos that would soon be erupting on the deck of the ship.

As the other ships slowed, the catapults upon their decks shifted.

Against the side of the cliff, the noise of ratcheting metal and shifting gears could be heard. Echoing even against the din of the wind. Seyah frowned, glancing back over her shoulder just as the lock on one of the catapults gave way.

Within the span of a second, a fireball sprang from the ship.

It flew high in the air, arching just to the side of the Siren and slamming into the cliffside. Missing their ship, but sending a scatter of flames over the deck and sails. "Shit."

The Taverness swore, losing a second of her composure as she scrambled quickly across the deck and began to search for buckets of water. Moving as quickly as she could and signalling the Ogres to help her. The flames quickly snuffed out as she put herself to use.

Two other ships cut closer to the Siren, drawing up as figures moved within the rafters clutching ropes. Each one preparing to swing over.

 

[Edward Lorain]

The sounds of fire immediately registered in Edward's ears as fire was easily one of the most dangerous substances on a ship, but by the time he whipped his head around to look, Seyah was already moving to combat the problem with some of the free sailors joining to help.

He sighed in relief, having to trust in her to handle that, while Edward focused back on the nearing vessels. He pointed the ogre to their positions, before placing his hand on the shoulder of the helmsman.

"Wait, Bean. Waaaiiiitttt...Now!"

Upon his command, the ship lurched to the left just as some of the earliest boarders swung for the ship, completely missing and falling into the sea with there screams. The ones that followed after were able to land, but any bit of shaving down the numbers would help their chances.

"Prepare for battle, attack!"

This was the part that he worried about. The ogres and all free hands were already charging the new arrivals, but Edward could not allow the whole crew to fight. They had to keep sailing the ship or they would stall and be surrounded within minutes.

"Keep us moving, Bean."

Seyah

 

[Seyah]

Chaos was now folding in all around the Taverness.

Though still focused on fighting the flames, she was more than aware of the men and blue orcs coming crashing down onto the deck. Their bodies painted with strange tattoos, those odd shadows flickering around them as they began their battle with the crew.

Shouts echoed as Seyah lugged another bucket of water, her head turning as one of the assailants rushed directly towards her.

His steps thundered against the deck, a serrated knife-like blade raised in his hands. The shout echoing from his lips barked in the black tongue of the Blightlands, but suddenly ended as Koltic simply grabbed him and slammed him into the deck.

A loud crunch echoed out as the man died, his body flung towards one of his compatriots as both were sent over the edge of the railing.

Shaking her head, Seyah quickly doused the fire she had been going for, taking a second to glance over her shoulder. One of the ships was shifting in the water, having moved too close to the cliffs, the other two still directly on the Siren's tail. "Edward!"

Seyah shouted.

"You needed smoke, why?" She asked, not quite sure how the barrels he mentioned earlier would help, but a thought forming in her mind.

 

[Edward Lorain]

Edward continued to direct the ship, largely by shouting directions that his helmsman Bean would quickly follow. He was content to remain there as he watched the battle below them but was forced to draw his own sword as one of the boarding party had managed to slip through and head directly for them.

He looked all the manner of a dashing pirate standing at the top of the stairs with his sword raised, but as soon as his opponent stepped from on the stairs, Edward ungracefully launched himself forward, his shoulder barreling into the man and sending him falling backward.

"What? Oh, it's for a smoke screen. Makes it more chaotic. Chaos is good for us."

He did not get to explain more as his opponent finally got back to his feet and was now determined to be on the offensive. Ed let out an involuntary yelp while he danced around the deadly blades that looked to open him up.

Seyah