Misery at Sea

[Kalortah]

1st of Ymiden 721

Kalortah had been passed out for breaks, possibly all night, as the bright mists provided more glare than he could adjust to immediately to, on opening his eyes. He tried moving his arms, with no luck, tied behind his back. His legs and wings were similarly bound together. There'd be no flying out of this... whatever this was.

Kalortah tried to speak, but all that came out was some excessively melodic mumbling. Even a gag couldn't disguise the exquisite quality of Kalortah's voice. He really did amaze himself. But more to the point, he realized he'd been bound and gagged and was quite possibly in deep trouble.

When the sound of his muffling came through, a voice nearby, gravelly and gruff, responded, "Calm down bird boy. We'll be takin' yer ashore soon enough. We're just moving you someplace safe-like, ya got me?"

Kalortah frowned and squinted his eyes open to try and see what he could around him. He noticed his wings were beginning to molt in the warm air of Ashan. Soon it'd be summer, and the molting season in earnest would begin. This left a trail of feathers across the water. His red wings left trails of red feathers across the waves.

Kalortah noticed he was tied to the banister, unable even to squirm or give himself an inch's room to move. He tried muttering more threateningly toward them, as the last night's events came crashing down over him.

He had shared drinks with a salty pig, who insisted on buying him a rum. Being partial to the sweet drink, Kalortah reluctantly agreed. He remembered the man telling him how his nephew was a huge fan of Kalortah's, and that he'd love to get an autograph or a feather. Of course, the suggestion that he'd relinquish one of his feathers set Kalortah into a rage, which made his blood rush straight to his head, along with whatever substance he'd slipped into his rum.

The next thing he knew, he was waking in a shallow boat, floating upon the ocean and sprayed unpleasantly by the salt waters surrounding him.

Kalortah gave up on trying to make sounds and merely waited for his fate to reveal itself. All the while, the men discussed what they were planning. They spoke low, but Kalortah had excellent hearing and air sense, and could tell well enough what they said.

There were references to a cabin in the shore, in a cove near Port Diablo. This set Kalortah into a slight panic, as he wrestled against his bonds. More of his feathers fell into the soup surrounding, leaving a trail of them.

Then Kalortah remembered Glorius, his bird familiar. He sent it far out above the waters, to scout for any potential Element patrols. If it found any, he'd have it land on the prow of their boat, and make as loud a raucous as it could...

Things didn't look good for Kalortah.

[Kalortah]

More of Kalortah's faculties returned to him in time, as he regained his senses. He began to think seriously that nobody would be sent to his rescue. And that was a sobering and depressing thought. Idly, he wondered if they would've sent a search party after Devin. It made him unspeakably glum to realize that yes, he was an important person. A baron and he would likely have people searching if he went missing for a significant period, or in the wrong part of Almund. That alone was enough to make Kalortah's blood boil in envy.

Yet, as more of his senses returned, he remembered other tools he had to hand. Namely, wings of steel, which could produce deadly sharp feathers all along his arms. Feathers that could be used to cut the binds holding his hands.

So, when he thought the pirates had lapsed in their attention toward him, he invoked the ability and began furiously driving the edges of his feathers against the binds. In just a few moments, they were gone. But Kalortah didn't immediately rise. He bided his time and took stock of where his things might be kept. Namely his adamantite rapier.

He looked around and saw what looked like the glint of burgundy metal beneath the seat of the nearest pirate. Kalortah adjusted his posture in his seat, ready to fly forth and make for the blade. He waited, on his seat, holding out for a distraction. Which came in the form of Glorius flying through the air overhead. Hooting.

One of the pirates pointed and grumbled at the large bird, and Kalortah didn't waste that moment. He dove for the hilt of his blade, and then when it met his hand, drew it in one swift motion. The pirates saw only too late that their prisoner was now armed and dangerous. They fumbled for their hanger knives and brandished them at him. Kalortah didn't like the odds, two of them, one of him. But he had an edge, or so it seemed.

He had them beat on reach, if not sure-footedness upon a vessel. And he could fly, if he'd only cut the binds from his wings. Which he did, flipping his sword over his shoulder and slicing the bonds that held them in place. They fell to the ground before the men could even react.

"Now, you are going to tell me all about that rube who poisoned me, and sold me to you all." Kalortah quirked a brow at them, "And if you don't?"

Kalortah flourished his blad in the air, a deft move that was meant to feign expertise with a blade, and intimidate. "We'll see how the sea dogs like the taste of your entrails."

They took one look at each other, and then at Kalortah, but then made the mistake of underestimating him, by virtue of being two to one. They rushed him with their hangars. Kalortah's blade flashed through the air with a song of its own, and Kalortah thrilled to the sound it created as it sliced a cut on the air, and into the neck of a nearby pirate.

But the other pirate used that distraction of the first to get within Kalortah's guard, and almost drove the hanger knife into his belly. It would have done, if Kalortah hadn't buffeted his wings, sending himself flying back a few steps.

Kalortah tsked, and tapped the flat of his blade against his brow briefly, as a way of inviting attack. It served the dual purpose of saluting the absolute rube that was before him.

[Kalortah]

The rube in front of him was better with a blade than Kalortah was prepared to admit at the moment. He was able to deftly maneuver the knuckle-bow that protected his hand, to angle Kalortah's thrusts and cuts. They veered uselessly off target. They were about equally matched, he could tell and had they as good equipment, things might've been more even.

But the rube didn't have an adamantite sword in his hand; as Kalortah did.

Kalortah's blade tore through the air with ease and lightness that betrayed none of his shortcomings as a swordsman. In truth, he was a bit wild in his motions, but he was equally matched to the rube in front of him.

All it took was a bit of posturing on the part of Kalortah, giving him the sense that he would kill him when he bested him -and he would best him- and then where would he be?

Finally, the man stumbled back, dropping his hanger at the horror of Kalortah's demoralizing tactics. His hits were all targetted toward places that were meant to deprive him of faith in his ability to finish the match successfully. In the end, the rube gave up. His mistake, but not one he would understand until it was too late.

"You're going to show me to where you were taking me, and drive this boat to shore."

The rube blubbered, "But... I'm no good at sailin'. I'm the muscle!"

Kalortah quirked a brow, "Then, no, I think I'll kill you now..." Kalortah half-bluffed. He was willing to kill the man, and it'd be a simple matter to take the wheel of the boat. But he did need him to show him the way to where they were going.

"W...wait! I can show you, please let me live. I'll take the wheel, but as for dropping anchor and all that shit, lowering the sails. Can't do it."

Kalortah thought on it a moment. They'd crash into the pier, or beachhead, or wherever this landing was to be set. But Kalortah didn't particularly care for the fate of the sloop he traveled upon. He had other ideas than sailing directly into land.

So he nodded to the rube, and then pointed at him with his sword, then to the wheel with his off-hand. "Best get to it, then."{/color]

[Doran]

Kalortah:

Knowledge:
[*] Tarouz: Wings of Steel: Using the blades of the wings to cut through bindings.
[*] Combat (Blades): Finding your way inside and outside an opponent's guard.
[*] Combat (Blades): The advantage of having a longer sword than your opponents.
[*] Combat (Blades): Taking on two opponents at once.
[*] Combat (Blades): Cuts with a rapier delivered from the wrist.
[*] Combat (Blades): Thrusts and wounds intended to intimidate, rather than kill.

Loot: -
Lost: -
Wealth: -
Injuries: -
Renown: -
Magic XP: -
Skill Review: See below.
Points: 10

- - -

Comments: The start of this thread immediately made me curious. I wanted to know why Kalortah had been passed out, why he was gagged – and where exactly he was. I like when things start with a little mystery!

It seems like Kalortah to fall for someone who tells him that his nephew is a fan. I can’t help but pity him though. His situation in the first post sounded quite unpleasant, and you described that well!

The mention of Devin was unexpected and made me smile. Poor Kalortah though. That he may not be important enough for people to search for him is a pretty depressing thought!

What I love about this thread is that Kalortah used his Tarouz abilities to solve his problems. I would never have thought of using Wings of Steel to cut the bindings. That was clever!

I wonder if his captors were unaware of the fact that he is a Tarouz and/or has special abilities …

I was a bit surprised that the pirates didn’t notice that their prisoner was trying to cut the rope and attempt to escape until it was too late – and that Kalortah was able to just dive for his weapon that was under the seat of one of the pirates. Glorius constituted a good means of distraction in my opinion, but still, I would have liked to see Kalortah struggle more, especially since he had been drugged and had just regained consciousness.

I didn’t realize that Kalortah already has Master Intimidation, by the way. It’s no wonder that the pirates seemed to be scared of him!

I wonder how this story will continue, where they were going to Kalortah – and why he was abducted in the first place. I look forward to reading the sequel! I want to find out more!

Enjoy your rewards!

P.S.: I might have added “Resistance” to the list of skills used as Kalortah had been drugged at one point, “Detection” as he noticed the glint of burgundy metal beneath the seat of the nearest pirate, for example – and maybe “Deception” as he feigned expertise with his weapon at one point.

P.P.S.: In the review request, you asked for Renown for thwarting a minor crime, but Kalortah is still on the ship at the end of the thread. It isn’t clear whether anybody will find out about this here yet.