Lucy had gone with Kree.

It took several minutes to realize who and what the figure were.  She had certainly heard of them.  Hell, everyone feared them.  But she had never met a vampire in person.

She found them .... creepy.

She was glad when they took the slavers.  A slight shiver ran down her spine.  She wouldn't want to be them at all.

She watched Kree, and took her que from him.  When he reached for his pommel, her hand drifted towards hers.

Although, truth be told, she wondered if her blade would do any good against the likes of them.

  Nara's eyes  shift to Ivy, who gives her a  wink.

  She hands  Kree a small metal Case.....This is  Salve that we use... for you?  it  will burn. But it  will  help heal you... it is...from our Clerics..

 ..Thank you  Nara.... Have you any of your people in Mok?

 she  shakes her  head  as  they all walk towards the Slavers...the   Sun is much to Bright...There are...our  kind.. in the sands, but they are shelter in the ruins and Tunnels  under the  shifting sea of sand..it is a good place  for them to hunt... people and animals  vanish, none can tell why.

 Reaching the 3 men and a woman, Kree says,.. Untie thier legs, keep thier  arms  tied...

  Kree crouches  and looks at the fellow from the Hold...these are friends of  mine.. they are going to take yhou to thier place.. and ask  you questions...you will....indeed... regret not talking to us. I have  given you to them, I cannot take a gift back... questions

 The fellow laughed,  until the   men started to grab the  his  mates. lifting them off the ground.. Nara's chilling smile made him freeze.. he looked at Kree,..I thought you served the Light!... these  creatures  are Dark as Midnight...

 ..This  Clan.. is no darker then  I am, nor... do they favor the light...however.. they are much better, then Slavers.

   The staff speaks for all to hear  "Be assured that while they are what they are, they choose a path much lighter than they can easily travel."  It chickles deeply, "The ends justify the means. And their means will see your to demise in a way that will make your people think twice about going into slavery."  Kree feels the gaze of the staff apon him. "A rather nice ends, don't you think?"

   Orlin is struggling to understand what's going on but has drifted into a sleep.  An ark of static electricity from the staff jolts  him awake.

  the  slavers  are drug off , rather easily.. the female  among them shrieking.

  Nara Bows her ehad to Kree and gives  Ivy a sad  smile. Then she walks into the darkness...

  Kree  looked at the  salve and Tucked in into the  slit pocket of his tunic,..Let us go back to the ship.... we shall cast off tomorrow morning....

  word   went around the Market, that the  group of mercs  needed a Crew to take thier 'new ship'  to Mok.

Luthien had met this particular vampire friend of Kree's before...it annoyed him, but so far she appeared to be playing by some kind of rules...and that's what led him to leave her alone here.

  Orlin wakes in the morning, groggy and still a little weak.  If he has the chance, he will get better rested.  His strength will return quickly with rest.

  Kree  did apply the salve  as he settled down for  the night... The  pain caused by the salve, was almost as bad as the  pain caused   from the wound.

  drinking  two  big glasses of wine waiting  fro the pain to go away.. it  didn't , for a good three hours..after  which the elf   fell into a 'sleep' of sorts.


 Ivy  told   the  Arrows  to take  pick a Hammock in the  crew quarters.  He checked on Orlin, then   stopped at Luthien , there was a wry Grin,... You are getting used to Nara?  Aye? That is a good thing. Not all Vampires are Vamps  because they wished to be....but?.. not  all of those...'accidental' Vamps will chose the grey path?

"You keep vouching for her. 'Good' vampires are fairly unheard of ya know. Barring helms of opposite alignment or things like that."

At any rate, while still uncomfortable with it...he's chosen to let her be.

  Kree  nodded  with a grim smile,..I vouch for  her, what she was... and what she has done. Some of her fellows?.. I would not  think twice  but  ending..Even the head of her Clan, is a bit suspect... but realizes  what side of the roll has the jam...

 ...they can also do alot  of thing, we cannot..like get rid of slavers, ebcause i do not trust the  people in charge of the market..there is a good  bet..even as we speak, a runner or rider  his ehaded to Mok, to speak of what they have seen.

The staff chuckles, "And so what would you suggest her to do?  Commit suicide?  She's doing the best she can for a world she loves.  It is rather admirable I think.  Maybe romantic in a human sense of the term.  In the end, most beginning Palidins won't have her dedication to doing the "Right" thing, and few will ever touch her understanding of what is right thrpugh the darkness that has enveloped her."

  Kree nods    as  he Staff speaks.. he looks to Luthian  and Nods as well.

  ...Nara's Fate.. is  related to having been with us.... it was? perhaps, a foolish  chocie.. but at the time..at our ages...and, because of the Loss Ivy and I had both suffered  not long before?.. we made the choice...at first.. we were condemned..to speak the truth? we still are, in some circles... But? Nara has  proved to be a stout allie ... a brave one, considering everything she risks, each time she leaves her nest.

 ..I am far, from a sage... he motions to Luthien,..even more distant, then that of  a Cleric or Holy warrior... but my thoughts  on this matter... these... 'creatures".

 ..Dark Vampires, chose the life, or unlife , as it may be. They sought the power.. for long life.. the magics thjat come with it..knowledge to learn ...forever.... Ones such  as Nara?.. did not chose this  her fate..her  soul, as it were, still 'good'..and no one may ever question her Loyality... others in her  group?.. perhaps   they were made to be footsoldiers... others , i am sure.. wanted the power..or long 'life'.

 He  swigs from his wine bottle, offering it around,..In the  end... they know they cannot cross the lines. For we will surely end them...Nara , would be  the first to tell you this.

  Two of the merchant folks  had been  bringing   the dead that had not been tossed into the water. onto the deck, wrapped in  blankets.

 ..there ya go cap'n   4  bodies, dead as kin be... but if ya  dont' mind Sir? whatcha gonna do with them?... be a bit easier, jsut ta feed the serpants now..eh?

 Kree looked at the Fellow,.. Until  we sell the ship?... i need to  use it to make a bit more coin.... once we get far enough away from the docks here... were  going to do some serpant fishing... he looks at the bodies,..aleats they will be useful in death..since they were not, in life...

 ..Grisly  fate, Sir, and that's not me just sayin'... Cap'n? I was wonderin'.. ya thing  ya could use  an ectar hand on the ship? I kin steer a might, and  good  at sails  and such.. ye  only have one mast an' all.. I think i can be of help?  and.. well..wouldn't might geting  away from the bean counters....

 ..sure... go get your gear.. tell the  Boatswain that joined us , you are  on the list.... we leave in the morning..which is to say... 6 more hours...

 he looks to the 'tent' the slaves are in...will will drop them off  on the  north shore.. and have them amke thier way  to  The Trace woods. The elves there will help sort them out...maybe?.. they will even  settle into a Village there.

  Morning came slowly.. Show  was up  and the   freed slaves  were looking better.. The bite of the cool morning air was  lessened  a bit  by the  jury rigged tend  and   braziers that  heated it..

   Kree had the   freed slave   leave the  ship to clean up and change into new clothing... the children seemed happier , as they  came  back to the  ship, Shadow  told them  what the plan was.

  ..if you have  no homes  to go to... I suggest  settling in the Trace Wood..or? askign to go with the next group that will take you to the Black Timber. We have  a task at hand, elsewise, we would take you ourselves... you may also go to Tou?.. or if you like these lands of the Empire.. go to Val further  down river.. you  could travel in the relative safety  of  the Trace woods  to Trok?...  But   i will say,  you will be welcome in either the Trace wood..or  the Black Timber

 The  women nodded as they buckled on  belts  that held  dirks   or long knives one of the older  Kids  had a sling.. with a pouch full of pellets, from the merchant's guards.

 all the rest settled   down in thier tend, dressed  rather  warmly and tummies  full.

 ..Right then... Cast us off.. its   time  we went hunting...

Orlin stirs as the deck starts to move once again beneath his form.  He rises and looks critically at the staff before summoning the last seals.

  The Ship moves   down the    north side of the river.. when the   merchant site is well out of sight, Kree    gathers  folks   on Deck.

  ..what we are going to do  for... as long as it take s to do it....is catch us  a decent  sized serpent... we are going to use the bodies   of the slavers for  bait.. I want all archers to be  ready.. we  want to get something 6 footlong  or bigger. To take to  sell in Mok.

 He nods to the    ex-slaves,..the nest used  to   grab  people?.. we shall use to grab smaller  serpents.. when the day is done.. we'll be taking the biggest one to Mok.. and we'll eat the smaller ones.  We'll  pack as many as we are able  for the  Freed  folks to take to the trace  woods... you can sell or give them to the  Village you settle in.... every one likes fresh serpent, when they can get it...

 Two sailor s were grinning as the   set up  harpoons  with  thick rope attached.. they flexed  glistening muscles  as they waited for the fishing to start.

 Kree motioned to the crew's  quarters,..Ladies?  if you would take the children to the  quarters    it should eb safer there..

    they tossed the first  body out.. having filled it , the best the could  with air  from the Bellows sued for the cook's  fire.

   at first smallish one began to   Nibble and Pull at it, tearing of  chucks, then  Kree  told the sailors to hoist the next out out..but  not to drop it , until he  made some cuts...then the Body was  Flung out near the other one.. the  thick blood oozing in the water...but enough to  catch a serpent's nose.

   Bigger  ones  started   to appear.. Kree called out....Here is what we want?.. Lok for  3 foot ot bigger.. we want at lest 6  for the peopel to take with them to sell... if we can get some smaller ones. we'll eat well tonight...... I don't think we  can handle anything over  8 foot to take to Mok.. so.. do not kill anything bigger, unless its  self defense

 Ivy went to the Bow.. Kree to the stern telling others to form  up amidships.. The two sailors  had  Harpoons  and waited...

   Orlin takes his place looking for a gaffing hook.  He has not fished on a ships deck but he's pretty good at fishing from the dock on secluded mountain lakes.

Diana joined the "pack", amid ship.

She had notched and drawn her arrow.

Now, like everyone else she waited.  She found herself being caught up in the "excitement" of things.  Still, she waited with the patience of a practiced hunter.

Lucy was amid ship on the portside.

Like the others, she had a notched arrow, looking for signs of serpents.  She found herself being caught up in the "excitement" some of the others were feeling.

She watched the waters with a somewhat keener eye.  Looking for the tell tale sign of Serpent breaking water.

  Orlin looks at the archers readying themselves, "If'n yer just shootin the beast tyin yerself to that tangle of ropes going up the masts might give you a better vantage point so us hands on types aren't in your way and you can put more arrows into the critters without getting them in us."

Lafisual also readies his bow and looks for appropriate quarry.

  ..Throw the third Bait!...

 the  Sailors toss  the third Body  into the water..  More serpents  attack  and now they cans see some bigger  creatures, roiling in the water as the  tear at the bait..and each other..

  ..Crew!  cast yor Nets!... Arrows!!   Fire at the Big ones.. ...

  those with thier bows , fire at the creatures in the water...

  Ivy   Hits  a 3  Footer, and hands the  cord to a  sailor  who begins to pull it in...

 His  second shot is a miss.. he curses  and    pulls the  wet cord  back  in, re-nocking and taking his time... then Fires.. hitting an 8 footer.. he begins  to pull on the   cord,  as soon as the  sailor  gets the 3 footer aboard, he whacks its head with a Hammer , then tries to help Ivy with his 8 footer.

.............

 Kree... takes his  time..is a bit  Luckier  as his first arrow   Hits   an 8 footer  near the edges of the  third bait... His  second arrow skims of the water,  and he rapidly pulls the  cord in,, hand  Over  HAnd..

 his third shot with the wet cord, hits  another  8 footer that was about to attack the first.

................
Pull the  Big ones to The Nets!!.. Orlin.. Get the Biggest ones first!
This message was last edited by the GM at 09:35, Wed 27 Dec 2017.

   Orlin ties off and steps over the rail onto the narrow ledge beyond it.  His hooked pole has a rope tied to his belt so it isn't lost.  The hook flashes down into the tumbling bodies to bury it's self in the largest of the creatures.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:08, Mon 25 Dec 2017.

Lafisual manages to tag several larger ones.  As he gets them close he tries  to land them and holds out for help on the ones that he is unable to quite get himself.


16:52, Today: Lafisual rolled 25 using 3d100 with rolls of 12,9,4.

With a practiced eye, Diana took very careful aim and fired her bow at the closest serpent.  Then she began to pull on the rope connected to the arrow.

When she had managed to drag the serpent to the deck, she slit its throat with her dagger.

Then she tries again, missing once, and hitting once more.