At the Drink and Fight Inn, the group eats, washes up, and tell a few interesting tales down at the bar. When it gets later into the night they go to their rooms and get under the covers. Maurice, Jinx, Methos, Gargash, and the tiny Alric all go to sleep . . .
Far to the South, in the Province of Greyhelm..............
. . . After much travel and adventure, Kazier returns to Red Shore along with Captain Scrimm. It's been a long journey and he's seen a lot since he left the distant province of Brudic.
While walking down the sandy, reddish beach, he sees his old friend Maurice sleeping beneath a shade tree. Very odd that he's here, he thinks. "I thought he'd gone on to Sigel." Along with the big orc is a little pixie, sleeping as well.
Going over he wakes them up. Maurice yawns and stretches, enjoying the warm sea air instead of the cold. He's totally at ease with where he is, hundreds of miles away from where he had originally gone to sleep. Of course he sees things a lot differently than most people. He's an elf after all.
Alric is a bit more agitated, actually a lot more freaked out by this. He's never even seen the ocean before. He pinches himself and Maurice to see if they are awake and learns that they indeed are. "This is very, very strange," muses the small pixie.
Maurice and the elven Kazier shake hands not having seen each other in a long while. They are old comrades after all and had gone through a lot. Together they had battled Kilmoorians, bandits, and goblins.
Alric realizes that the two know each other and whispers to the dark clothed Kazier. "Why does he think he's an elf," he asks very curious to know the answer.
Kazier just grins and shakes his head. "He is an elf, not an orc. Just leave it at that."
From down the beach comes the cry of a young girl. Immediately all three rush in that direction, ready for anything. They see a child in dirty gray rags starting at a small boat washed up on the shore. The boat has many black arrows embedded in it, all Kilmoorian in make. On board is an unconcious man with two arrows in his back. He is in terrible condition, barely clinging to life.
Kazier lifts him out and Alric buzzes over to the barely breathing man. Using his healing powers he is able to stablize him. He can now be moved and the arrows removed.
The young girl is half elven. She was out gathering shells and clams early this morning, for herself and her father. "I have a home nearby!" She says, pointing inland past some trees.
Going to the dilapidated shack the wounded man is carefully put upon a dining table. He's wearing partial armor and looks more like a gladiator than anything else. An escaped slave from Kilmoor, just like Dril Moonblade had been. Maurice carefully takes out the two arrows and the pixie heals him some more with his magics.
Inside the house is a welcoming old man. "I am Captain Nigus Ferrard and this is me daughter, Brigit." Introductions are made while the stranger is doctored up. They speak of many things, King Cedric, Prince Marcus, the Kilmoorians in Holaf, the Ice Goblins threatening Sigel and more. Ferrard is white haired and grizzled, still wearing an old sailor's outfit.
While they talk, Brigit fixes up some food, preparing some of the oysters she'd been gathering. It is obvious that they are good people, just very poor.
Alric thinks all of this bizarrity is just a very strange dream. Not long ago they were in Sigel in the cold north, and now here they are in the warm south. Maurice just shrugs. "If this is a dream or reality, does it really matter? I am going to act the same in either. We are here and that is what is important."
In time the injured man regains conciousness, not knowing at all where he is. His name is Nicholas Glendal, a slave run away from dark Kilmoor. After Brigit gets him some water he begins to tell his story.
Many years ago he and his friend Brandon had gone fishing off the coast of Corvel and were captured by Kilmoorian slavers. They were hauled off to the island of Mel'uus, to the city Trazaan. He and Brandon, along with many other prisoners, were tossed into an arena to fight starving lions for the amusement of the decadant crowd.
A great many were killed, including his friend. He himself had fought like a madman and slew four of the beasts. He was then maed R'igith, which means "one who collects the dead," in Kilmoorian.
He trained in the arena, battled animals and men and survived. Eventually he was bought by Marajid Alingin, a wealthy merchant. Alingin had a large household by the sea as well as his own private arena. There R'igith fought for survival and the amusement of the depraved Alingin. He became favored after many kills. R'igith was rewarded with good food, women, and generally treated like a beloved family pet.
He met a girl, Elisha and the two fell in love. She became pregnant with his child. When he learned of this he knew he had to escape in the hopes of returning to free her as well. He did not want his child born into slavery. While visiting Elisha, he attacked the gaurd and killed him with his own dagger. He jumped from the balcony, down the very high cliffside and into the ocean. He commandered a small fishing boat and killed the two Kilmoorian fishermen with the stolen dagger. As he fled with a small fishing vessel he was hit with several arrows launched by vengeful guards.
Hearing this story Maurice believes that Rellian has put them here for this reason; to go to Kilmoor and save this Elisha and anyone else that they can.
Captain Ferrard reveals that he has an old boat in Red Shore called the Island Sunrise. It's not in great shape but it might be exactly what they are looking for to help them carry out this mission.
Glendal lets them know that Marajid Alingin is away from his estates, at least he was a few weeks ago. He does not think that there are many guards there, most of them would be with their master. He draws out a map of the estate. It rests on a cliff's edge and it has many domes made of brightly colored glass. There will still be many guardians and many slaves.
Both Ferrard and Glendal want to go on this, but both are far too hurt to be of help. It will be a long trip by sea and be very dangerous. However it is a way to do some good and to strike back at the hated Kilmoorians. Audacious, yes, but still possible.
They go to Red Shore to see the Sunrise and to make plans. Kazier and Brigit meet with Captain Scrimm but he can spare no one for their endeavor. All of his troops are out doing their duty to Corvel against the multitude of encroaching foes. Many of his men have been sent to Holaf to help Prince Marcus' Armies.
The ship, the Island Sunrise, is not in great shape. It will need a crew and supplies if this adventure is to have a chance of success. The single masted ship will need a lot of work and luck to make this journey. Kazier and Brigit go and get a great amount of supplies, water, food, rations, wood, nails and more. They will need it all. Kazier also gets Brigit some decent clothes, what she is wearing now is very poor.
Maurice and Alric go down to the Whaler's Inn. Inside they encounter the lovely dwarven lady Fare and she gives the orc a big hug. She's happy to see him again. Many there at the bar recall him from what he did when the Kilmoorians attacked Red Shore some months ago. He and others had defended Lady Elundra's Palace when the assault had taken place.(Session 1)
At the bar Maurice stands up and makes a passionate speech. He talks about the Kilmoorians murdering Cedric, honor, slavery, good, evil, and the courage to do the right thing. These are dark times but one cannot fall into despair, one cannot give up hope. Maurice plans on striking back at Kilmoor and to help free people who are enslaved by those vile chaos-worshippers. In order to make this happen he will need some help, some volunteers.
One asks how much it pays and Maurice verbally humiliates him for daring to ask such a question. "This is for King, Country, and Revenge, not money!" The speech is so rousing he gets ten experienced and savvy sailors to join him. Fare is impressed with this as well and ends up supplying some dried whale meat for their journey.
These sailors to to the Sunrise and look it over. It will need some work all of them agree and then they get to it. They bail water and generally patch her up making her more sea-worthy. It will be a long trip to Mel'uus, at least 12 days if not more.
Captain Scrimm comes to see everyone and wish them luck. Also there is the old Nigus Ferrard and the very weak Glendel. Ferrard gives Brigit a final hug before she gets on the ship and makes preparation to depart.
Maurice is the Captain, taking much advice from Brigit who will be there to steer the ship. She is very familiar with the Sunrise, having spent a lot of time on it growing up with her father. One of Fare's friends, Lorna, is also coming along as the cook, a sturdy dwarven lass. Kazier is First Mate, Alric the Look-Out. While the entire crew sings "Joxer the Mighty" they head out of the bay and towards the Sea of Courage . . .
TO BE CONTINUED . . .
Chronicled by Ken Paynter aka...Maurice leChevalier
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