Aswin puts golden ring boasting a large cabochon marbled jasper in Simple rucksack.

Following a first reaving into the Saffron Isles that had scored a pair of Gildorian slave trading vessels and a number of their Shav confederates, a second voyage had been organized with the hope of snaring the one that got away: a massive four-masted caravel.

The Arvani reaving fleet set out from Brighthold, joined at sea a day later by a Darkwater galley as they sailed for the Saffron Isles, which brought their strength up to five longships, two galleys, and a caravel (the Numinous).

Alas, after a lengthy search and inquires among passing Arvani merchants, none had seen the Gildorians since they'd struck out eastward weeks before, suggesting they had fled back to their distant home ports. This left the reavers with the lesser prize of striking the Ironcrown Shavs: the largest of the Isles Shav tribes who had been supplying the Gildorians with slaves and mercenary scouts. Based out of a shallow cluster of islets and sand bars called the Knot, the reavers had enough strength to approach directly, though unless the Ironcrowns were foolish enough to face them in open battle on the water, landing in the Knot would require some very fine piloting.


Emily's has managed to keep her stomach for the entire ship but now with an objective at hand the ranger shifts to the railing of the ship as she waits for those guiding them in to take care of the distance between herself and what lies ahead. Absolution remains upon her back as the rubicund bow glints in the open aired light of the seaside. One hand lowers to grip at the railing as she widens her stance slowly to take the slow roll of the ship in stride. Her focused attention upon the shoreline is soon broken by a faint smile that quirks up into dimples. Shaking back her dark braid, the frayed edges of her dark hair stick out about her face in spirited curls.


The Numinous - though all markings of it being the Numinous, let alone a Mazetti ship have been struck by Ducal request, was getting its legs stretched the first time. The Ostrian Admiral stands on the aftcastle, letting the navigator steer while the men and women of the ship move about their duties at speed.

Slaver hunting, like old times. Strozza's hands are folded into the pockets of his greatcoat and his stupid hat is firmly in place. Such a stupid hat. Why is he wearing it.

Stupid.

Aswin knows no one here. At least, that is what he is thinking as he peers across the deck of the caravel to mark the other faces that make up the reaving party that he has found himself a part of. He shifts his gaze from watching those go about their work on the deck and then back around to the front of the ship as he watches from where he stands near the prow. His hands hold to the rail and he shifts easily on his feet to follow the rise and fall of the deck with the waves of the sea.

Finally approaching something like a shoreline, though it's really more like a lot of little shore lines, Azova has busied herself aboard the Darkwater galley by gathering what she'll need to follow both Wulfrum and Reve out to meet the slavers head on. For a moment at least, though, she seems to turn towards each ship that's with their small fleet to focus her attention on it. Satisfied after a moment's scrutiny of each, she seeks out her galley companions to ensure they're faring well.

Reve is aboard Wulfram's galley. Why, oh why, is the northman aboard said galley on the high seas? Because it is a great deal better than being overboard! Despite this, the longer that they are out at sea, the more irritable that he becomes. Polite to crew? Certainly. Amiable to the Darkwater aboard? Absolutely. Yet there is something inherently agitated about him, stalking along the upper deck and pacing it in anticipation of... something. A few times he even looks up, as though debating scaling the mast. Except no, it is back to that stalking. Eventually though he will get it out of his system long enough to come to rest near some of the Darkwater family.

Orelia is restless. She spends a fair amount of the voyage locked away in the captain's cabin, but when she does come out she never stops moving. Sometimes she leans on the railing, watching the waves. Sometimes she learns sea chantries from the crew members. Every day she does her best to fill the time, but the longer she is at sea the more wound up she seems to get.

The Darkwater Galley looks newly built from the up and coming shipyards of the isle it calls port. The crew scurry about the rigging and Captain Wulfrum lingers on the topdeck looking out at the fleet as it moves through the waves. Sometimes though he does take note of Reve with a severe expression and often times a long look into the watery distance right after. For all the world he seems at home on the deck, eyes on the horizon, smoking his cigarillo. Always smoking this one.

There had been a skirmish at sea as they approached. A handful of Shav longships had drawn near enough to trade volleys of arrows with the oncoming Arvani before fleeing back into the shallows, in what veteran sailors could recognize as a clear effort to lure pursuit into dangerous waters. The low lying islets of the Knot loom ahead, few hills, no mountains, and scattered trees; other than the cloud formations and birds coming and going, one might sail within a few miles of the intricate archipelago without knowing it.

Emily checked dexterity + archery at difficulty 50, rolling 2 higher.

Emily wields Absolution, a short recurve bow.

Strozza checked command + sailing at difficulty 50, rolling 12 higher.

Strozza checked command + war at difficulty 30, rolling 40 higher.

Wulfrum checked command + sailing at difficulty 40, rolling 28 higher.

Azova gives a single short nod to Wulfrum, and rests her hand briefly on Reve's arm to murmur something to him before she walks up and down the length of the galley to tend to any of those who were hit by the archers from the Shav longships. She will be merrily clueless about sailing strategy and dangerous waters.

"To the shore, row! Row! Row!" Wulfrum hollers to the crew as he grips the railing on the top deck and lets the sudden lurch forward of oarsmen putting their back into it tug at his frame. Those without sea legs might want to hold on with the ship beginning to cut between the sandbars and make for the shore... The Darkwater Marines begin to get lines tied to the side rails, ropes coiled to be thrown over into the water as the hull of the Marked Depths (ship's have names!) dangerously scrapes the shallows of the landing spot even though water still separates them from the shore itself.

Reve accepts any severe looks he catches with a reasonable solemn, neutral look. No aggressive posturing and yet no give either. Neutral. This could very well be due to the fact that he knows basic etiquette of not irritating the captain. He also knows better than to to engage in conversation during dangerous times. The young man peers in the distance to keep track of movement on the water. When Azova whispers to him, Reve nods. Now his attention is a split thing, consistently glancing to take stock of the Mercy's position while also paying heed of where to fall in line. Wulfum's ship, his rules. Reve follows orders.

"Miss Vesseri, move reef sails to half on the fore and main. Get us in the shallows by these marks." A varnished panel is touched at by simple marks from a grease pencil around points of a rough map of the Knot. The Captain of the hip nodding her head to Strozza,

"Aye, Admiral!" and she is off, barking orders to the crew while Strozza turns to Vesseri's second, "Ready longboats, tell Lady Stonewood that my marines will be ready at her command. As soon as the depth reaches three knots below safe turn depth I want the aft anchor dropped and the ships launching." the young man bows and moves while Strozza continues to assess and make notes mentally and on the grease board.


There is a chance to take here and Emily is not about to pass it up before they get further away. Absolution is quickly slid from its place and sliding it beneath her leg she bends the bow across her leg and is quick to set the string before stepping out. The fluid motion is well practiced as an arrow is nocked ands he lifts her bow.

The Deepwood breathes in deeply, holding her breath before the string TWANGS as the arrow is sent arcing in an chance to hit her moving target.

A figure falls on the boat, collapsing as her arrow cleaves into his body. "Run if you wish."


Still standing near the prow of the ship, Aswin watches as Emily takes up her bow and lets that arrow fly. His eyes follow the arc of the arrow as it sails across the space separating them from the ship they pursue and his brows lift fractionally as he sees the enemy fall that the arrow strikes. Letting out an impressed whistle, he glances around to Emily and offers her a respectful dip of his head.

Azova checked perception at difficulty 20, rolling 2 higher.

Aswin checked perception at difficulty 20, rolling 12 lower.

Reve checked perception at difficulty 20, rolling 7 lower.

Orelia checked perception at difficulty 20, rolling 15 lower.

Emily checked perception at difficulty 20, rolling 12 higher. Emily rolled a critical!

Strozza checked perception at difficulty 20, rolling 11 lower.

The Eswynd longships spread to the east and west, moving to encircle the Knot and be sure the Shav ships have no uncontested route of retreat, should they flee, but the bulk of the Arvani numbers are aboard the larger ships, which bear down the throat of the archipelago with daring ease.

From a distance, the Ironcrown village looks rather typical. Sizeable, with several dozen huts and houses, likely with several hundred Shavs living there. Pens for pigs and numerous small fishing boats hauled onto the beach along with nets for repair can be seen among the hundreds of humans clustered near the shore, as the fleeing longships run up onto the beach. Even from afar, it looks ominous.

The shallowest waters of the Ironcrown harbor are stained red, and chants are raised from the masses, incited by what appears to be a shaman figure at the beach, toward whom a number of wailing thralls are being dragged, one by one. A telltale thrashing in the shallows indicates that a number of large predatory fish have been drawn, already.

Maybe the shouting clued her in that the excitement she had been waiting for was here at last. Orelia appears from the cabin already dressed in her leathers.


The whistle from Aswin gets a respectful nod from the black haired Deepwood, a light smile still touching her features. A minor if small victory is still one for her and it helps embolden the spirit for more to come. She leans out over the railing, resting her weight in her free hand that clenches it. Her lips part and close, tilting her head into the sound before she speaks loudly for those on board to hear. "They are invokving something...some guardian spirit! To keep us at bay and protect them." If she believes it will have some effect...she does not seem to be concerned.

She does glance around for other possible problems such as more ships - less likely given their field of view.


This is exactly the kind of thing she absolutely hates to see; once the red waters are noticed, Azova's gaze is immediately drawn to the thralls being dragged towards the water. One deep breath in, one deep breath out as she carefully picks her way back up to where Wulfrum and Reve are standing. "Deliver us. It sounds like they're chanting deliver us. I can't tell yet if the red waters are from bait, or from murdered thralls." she relays, already wringing her hands in wanting to get to shore to tend to any injured but not yet dead thralls.

"Either way, it's blood in the water. Not a good time to go swimming," Orelia says. She goes to join the Marines and await their orders.

Emily checked intellect + occult at difficulty 30, rolling 4 higher.

Azova checked intellect + occult at difficulty 30, rolling 31 higher.

Strozza checked command + war at difficulty 30, rolling 23 higher.

Moving towards the longboats, specifically the one Orelia would be boarding, with a nod and half grin for her, The Admiral steps to the prow as it and the others begin dropping and the oars are pulled for shore.

"Blood in the water indeed." hand on his whip and foot on the pointed front, Strozza watches as the ships begin forming into a chevron, or flying V for you scallawags out there. "Heave and pull. I want us to strike the shore in a wave and be disembarking for dirt as soon as we scrape."

Aswin boards the longboat alongside the rest, the Ulbran a little out of his element in this sort of environment. For the most part, he will put himself near Piccola but also arrange himself in the boat that if arrows start flying their way hopefully someone else catches it before he does.

Piccola checked intellect + war at difficulty 30, rolling 12 lower.


Piccola slowly pulls her bow off her shoulder.

She's quiet. She's pale. She's just a little green about the gills. She was told that Snakes don't do well at sea; apparently, they weren't kidding. But she manages to keep it all together as the ships approach the shore.

And for once, she's silent.


The Shaman brandishes a knife overhead, as the masses chant, "Deliver us!" in time. A thrall is dragged up to the chief Shav'arvani, who draws the knife sharply across the unfortunate's throat, who bleeds mortally into the foaming surf with increasingly feeble thrashes, before the corpse is thrown a few feet into the shallows, where the fanged fish descend upon it. The shaman motions for the next thrall as the Shavs shout, "Deliver us!"

The fins of feeding sharks are not alone in the shallows. A larger form moves among them, first breaking the waves when the water is about the depth of a tall man. At first it resembles a chunk of the ocean floor, overgrown with lank strands of kelp, until the massive, stooped figure stands upright. Humanoid only inasmuch as it has a head, trunk, two arms and two legs. A grotesque sea-green head has two pointed ears, two small milky eyes, and a nose above a wide, tusked maw which opens in a rib-shaking roar. The hulking monstrosity stands at least ten feet above the blood soaked sand, as it wades ashore, sending tremors through the sand with every step.

Azova checked intellect + occult at difficulty 30, rolling 11 higher.

Strozza checked intellect + occult at difficulty 30, rolling 21 higher. Strozza rolled a critical!

Orelia wields A Siren Song.

Emily checked dexterity + archery at difficulty 30, rolling 23 higher.

Ships scrape sand and Strozza's boots strike next as men and women bereft of their normal Mazetti colors are beginning to pour around him.

"Lieutenant, direct them to circle to the left flank, leave the right open and lighten the center - get them pinned between us and the sea... and that... thing." lips in a frown so deep he might sheer off a section of his face.

Moving as directed the commander in charge with Reli handling other issues begins barking the Admiral's orders. His voice hasn't been raised yet, but it looks as though he is ready to begin bellowing personally.

Orelia checked dexterity + athletics at difficulty 30, rolling 13 lower.


The sight that is the troll emerging from the water leaves Emily lost in the moment. She stares. They called something but their own friend or foe is hard to be seen as she lifts her bow again and instead of directing at the large bipedal creature with its massive tusks...she shoots instead at the Shaman. The arrow is drawn from her spot upon the boat still and she lets it fly, arcing it again but only at a slightly lesser degree than her first shot.

The arrow fies and makes a solid contact with the leg of the shaman, dropping him and forestalling possibly more blood being spilled across the sand. She waits for the ability to disembark and join the others.


Aswin checked dexterity + athletics at difficulty 30, rolling 9 higher.

Aswin checked dexterity + stealth at difficulty 30, rolling 57 higher.

Piccola checked dexterity + archery at difficulty 30, rolling 9 higher.

There is something that is just so satisfying about solid ground beneath the feet, even if one has to tread through saltwater to get there. Reve is, just then, satisfied. Finally. He maneuvers through the Darkwater Marines, and while they are undoubtedly more uniform in their approach, he weaves in and out of them always managing to time his advances to not disrupt their march too much. Somehow, through it all, he takes point - or close to it - but does not move further than his group. That could be due to the SEA TROLL up there.

Aswin is no hero. At least, certainly not in the conventional sense. As he sees that hulking troll making it's way from the ocean depths, his brow lifts with surprise. As the boats make shore and the soldiers begin piling out, he watches as Orelia begins to make her way right for the troll. Nudging Piccola gently, he discreetly points in Orelia's direction and then toward the troll beyond before he touches his own chest, and then he is off. He is agile, the sand not impeding his run much at all, but he does not seem intent on outstripping Orelia and being the first to that troll. Rather he is... jogging along in her wake, his head and shoulders hunched as he runs nearly bent over with his dagger drawn so as to make himself unseen and make it appear as if Orelia is charging alone. He never said he was a hero.


Piccola purses her lips.

She clearly looks uncertain as to what to do. Sea trolls are generally not within her wheelhouse of knowledge. She spies an arrow fly, and watches Emily's shot strike the shaman on the platform. Seeing as how that might stop the killing of thralls, she braces herself, pulls, and launches her own shot from her composite bow. What it lacks in size it apparently makes up in draw power; she is able to keep a low arc on the arrow before it catches the priest in the foot.

"Aim a little higher, pipsqueak," she mutters to herself.


Aswin wields Simple Nondescript Dagger.

Reve wields Flame's Bite, a rubicund halberd.

Strozza wields Hydra's Lash - A bullwhip with weighted ends.

Piccola wields Spina.

Azova does not remain behind on the boat, of course. Why would she do that, when the injured could be tended right from the shore? But she is clearly used to entering a battlefield, as she lags behind the melee fighters but integrates herself within the archers and distance fighters for now. A pack of supplies is slung over her shoulders, dagger wielded just in case she should need it.

Azova wields a diamondplate sheepsfoot dagger.

As the answer to their prayers rages out of the sea, most of the Shavs are.. wary. The horrific appearance of the monster sends many backing away, and as an arrow slashes into the side of their shaman, driving him to a knee in the surf, where a second arrow wounds him, the Ironcrown uncertainty turns to outright horror as the inhuman Sea Troll lurches forward, grasps the shaman in one three-fingered hand with cracked nails long encrusted by barnacles, and devours the shaman's head and upper torso in one bite. Screams pierce the salty air, as Strozza's orderly flanking maneuver is spoiled by the disappearance of any flank, when the Shavs run from the shore by the dozens. Perhaps a hundred warriors or more are lingering near the shore while their families flee.. but they are torn as to which they should fear more: the Arvani or their 'Protector'.

Orelia hops out of the boat after Strozza, who is issuing orders that the Lieutenant is seeing to. She sees her target, hard to miss as tall as it is, and starts making her way toward it down the beach.

Orelia checked dexterity + medium wpn at difficulty 50, rolling 32 higher. Orelia rolled a critical!

Fighting on sand is not unfamiliar to Orelia, and she approaches with confidence. She draws her rubicund blade, shining rose-gold in the sunlight as she engages the troll. Aiming to disable the troll and control its movement, she swings for the back of one of its legs and her blade bites deep.

Reve checked dexterity + huge wpn at difficulty 30, rolling 22 higher.

Haakon GM Roll checked strength(3) + weapon(3) at difficulty 30, rolling 15 lower.

Strozza checked command + war at difficulty 30, rolling 182 higher. Strozza rolled a critical!

Emily checked dexterity + archery at difficulty 50, rolling 6 higher.


Emily is off the boat with the others but definitely still keeping a distance as she wades through the shallows. Her arrow is lifted and set to her bow once more. Her target moves from Shaman to troll now that her allies have engaged it. The threat is now clear even if it has not engaged them. She shakes her head, hissing through her teeth.

The bowstring twangs, sending her arrow clear and right into the shoulder ot the troll to stick and quiver before coming to a stillness in the heavy hide. "Gods."


Aswin checked dexterity + stealth at difficulty 30, rolling 32 higher.

Aswin checked dexterity + small wpn at difficulty 30, rolling 87 higher. Aswin rolled a critical!

He doesn't rush to attack, doesn't stand wide eyed in shock despite nightmare monster. Eyes flicking point to point he is suddenly in action with a voice that carries, trained for years to do so at high seas over the sound of waves and people fighting.

"HO and wheel! For'ard line create a back-stop rearguard and the rest of you turn and encircle! Gaffs to fore and halbards in flank! Surround and bring that thing down!" pointing to the troll as he turns to it fully, "Ankles and wrists! Down it and keep it down!" Strozza watches those already engaged, lips a line.

Reve is VERY grateful for dry land despite the fact that there is an oncoming onslaught of violence. Then again, he might just be as thankful for that as well. "Let that thing do our work for us, friends!" declares the Halfshav to the small group of marines near him. Do they listen? Does he care? Likely not, but he has declared them friend and thus, with this halberd in hand and an eye kept for his newfound compatriots, he begins to engage. His personal style is a fluid thing, wielding that weapon like an extension of self. He does not bother to present himself to the shav'avari warrior, makes no witty commentary. Nay, he just strikes, cutting through a head with ease. Does he care that his adversary was scared of something else? Not at all. Par for course. Onward he goes.

Aswin has been running along in Orelia's shadow this whole time as they made their way from longbow to troll. When Orelia goes low with her attack, and that arrow flies overhead to thud into the troll's shoulder, drawing it's gaze downward, Aswin lifts his left foot to plant on the troll's knee and then launches himself vertically. His dagger aims upward toward the monster's lowered head and stabs the point directly into one of those milky eyes as deep as he can and still leap away.


WPiccola //was// about to shoot the shaman again, but --

-- she watches with aplomb as the Shav gets bitten. And partially eaten. She lowers her bow, and murmurs, mostly to herself, "Well, that got fucking ruthless fast." And then, as she looks about to find another target, she can't help but watch Aswin hop up and remove an eyeball. //That// makes her stare, agape.

"Oh, shit."


Wulfrum checked charm + empathy at difficulty 30, rolling 20 lower.

Orelia checked dexterity + dodge at difficulty 30, rolling 19 higher.

Haakon GM Roll checked strength(6) + omfg troll(5) at difficulty 30, rolling 46 higher.

OMFG TROLL 54 inflicted and Orelia is harmed for minor damage.

Haakon GM Roll checked strength(6) + omfg troll(5) at difficulty 30, rolling 64 higher.

Aswin checked dexterity + dodge at difficulty 30, rolling 30 higher.

OMFG TROLL 68 inflicted and Aswin is unharmed.

Haakon GM Roll checked dexterity(3) + our side(3) at difficulty 20, rolling 21 higher.

Haakon GM Roll checked dexterity(3) + their side(3) at difficulty 50, rolling 17 lower.

A grunt of pain as the troll bats Orelia away. She lands hard, but after a shake of her head she is on her feet again. "Fuck, that hurt," she grumbles as she readies herself again.

The sea troll is immediately beset by warriors better armed than it's rudimentary intellect could fathom. It roared and screeched in pain and anger, flailing wildly at Orelia with one brine-encrusted hand, the other seizing Aswin around the torso with superhuman power, and squeezing hard enough to crush an iron banded barrel to kindling.. then peering curiously at the distinctly un-crushed Aswin. Turning abruptly for the water, once again, the Sea troll grabs the un-eaten half of a shaman in the free hans, and keeps Aswin in the other, seeking to plod back into the water with hands full of food.

The Shavs- already under pressure by the better armed and better disciplined Arvani soldiers, break when the troll flees. A few throw down weapons, but most just drop their shields and sprint inland.

Azova checked intellect + medicine at difficulty 50, rolling 7 higher.

Orelia checked dexterity + medium wpn at difficulty 50, rolling 2 higher.

Azova has learned not to pay attention to the damage the warriors on her own side are causing, only the damage that's being done to them. It's just easier that way, honestly. But the eyeball retrieval by Aswin is really hard to miss; she stares for a moment, shakes her head, and starts wading her way through the marines that she's accompanied to find the injured and patch them up. "Don't be a baby, the arrow has to come out." she scolds a warrior who claims that the arrow through his arm is totally fiiiiine. And then, "SIT STILL." before she gets the arrow out, and starts wrapping the wound.

Emily checked dexterity + archery at difficulty 50, rolling 15 higher.

Reve checked dexterity + huge wpn at difficulty 50, rolling 14 higher.


The troll is fleeing and there is a look of relief that starts to cross Emily's features until she notes what he yet holds in his meaty paw. Aswin. Cursing below her breath she watches Orelia take after it and go for the leg but with such a tough hide her arrows may not do very much. She instead takes a moment to strategically aim her already drawn arrow for the arm attached to the hand holding Aswin.

As the projectile cruises through the air, it slams into the elbow of the troll and sticks fast, resulting in exactly what the Deepwood hoped for. She is quick to rush forward then, meaning to make the troll second guess stopping to pick his once food back up.


Orelia's movement is still controlled, deliberate as she comes around and takes a swing at the other leg. It doesn't go as deep this time, but it does cut.

Strozza checked command + leadership at difficulty 30, rolling 8 higher.

Aswin checked dexterity + small wpn at difficulty 50, rolling 26 higher.

Not a frontline type, not as skilled as the other warriors. Strozza continues to direct as he can from the ranks, glowering with flint in his eyes for the knocks some are taking. "Fifty thousand silver to the one who brings me it's head!" snarled as Strozza begins to walk towards the creature with his whip flicked and sent into a series of spirals about him.

Aswin takes a breath as the troll reaches out to grab him and lift him from the ground. Instinctively he tries to tighten his abdomen to do what he can to protect himself from death. Fortunately his armor does it's job and protects him for the most part. As the troll starts to lumber toward the see with him and that poor half of a shaman, Aswin knows he's in deep. Looking up at the one eyed troll, he says to it, "You're an ugly son of a bi--"

He's cut off as that arrow flies in to sting at the troll's arm and he drops down to splash into the water. Stepping quickly aside, he turns to attack that same leg Orelia had earlier, managing to finish off that stubborn tendon to drop the beast to its knees.

Wulfrum checked strength + huge wpn at difficulty 50, rolling 6 lower.

Lo, and it is somewhere amidst Strozza's cry of direction and spying a Compact member being hoisted on high that Reve is shifting his course. The Halfshav runs across the sand, leaping over fallen foes and hopefully not too many friendlies, or potential friendlies. Using the momentum of movement, with the additional spike of adrenaline, he swings his halberd on high in a fluid motion. It is not near as impressive, this strike, no sliced heads found - and yet the maneuver is clean. He carves a portion of shoulder and seaweed, and with proof of his efforts, Reve grins sharply. Satisfaction.

Wulfrum appears charging across the shore into the water! Huff, puff, huff, puff ... Running through water isn't easy especially in leathers with a sword far larger than most islanders would use. By the time he finally reaches the seaweed covered troll he hollers //aaaaaaaaaaaaah// or maybe he screams in terror as he brings the heavy broadsword down in a hacking motion to crack the sea troll equivalent of barnacles off its back. He looks like he might have a heart attack from sprinting through shallows. Huff, puff.

Wulfrum wields a heavy bladed broadsword of fine steel.

Azova can definitely be seen watching both Reve and Wulfrum make their attacks; and it's no doubt the latter's attempt that has her muttering epithets. "Stubborn asshole." Those words can be heard, though the rest cannot.

The Sea Troll should be dead. It has lost enough black blood to leave darker swirls in the red surf, but it drags it's bulk deep enough to be submerged briefly by an incoming wave. Mere moments more and it will escape to deep water, as the sharks circle, still feeding on the unfortunates whose spilled blood drew the briny beast.

The Shavs, meanwhile, look on from shelter awaiting their fate, or have fled further inland. The fight is fully out of them.

Azova checked intellect + medicine at difficulty 50, rolling 21 higher.

"Gods, damn it!" Orelia looks around. "Where are the archers? They might still be able to get it before it gets away."

Staying close enough to shore while the troll wades out to escape the attack. There are ideas bubbling up in Strozza's mind, but for the moment he keeps them to himself. Better times. The fight is all but completely won - this is just a trophy hunt now.

Emily checked dexterity + athletics at difficulty 30, rolling 8 higher.


Emily shakes her head as more of the thing is hacked off now that Aswin is free and it is running away. She contemplates a shot but something caues the corner of her mouth to twitch up in a grimace. "Its running, not worth the arrow." She murmurs to no one but herself. Still armed she steps away from the waters edge and turns back inland, meaning to begin the act of rounding up the shavs they had originally come for.

"YOU!" She calls out and instead of attempting to command she begins to rush after them, managing to get a group together with sheer will of physical prowesss as her arrow is drawn. "Back to the beach on your knees and hands on your head."


Haakon has rolled 1 4-sided dice: 4

Haakon GM Roll checked dexterity(3) + i'm a fucking shark(3) at difficulty 30, rolling 14 higher.

Reve checked strength + huge wpn at difficulty 30, rolling 16 higher.

Haakon GM Roll checked dexterity(3) + i'm a fucking shark(3) at difficulty 20, rolling 10 higher.

Reve checked strength + huge wpn at difficulty 40, rolling 4 higher.

shark attack 6 inflicted and Reve is unharmed.

Haakon GM Roll checked dexterity(3) + i'm a fucking shark(3) at difficulty 10, rolling 29 higher.

Reve checked strength + huge wpn at difficulty 50, rolling 3 higher.

shark attack 26 inflicted and Reve is unharmed.

Haakon GM Roll checked dexterity(3) + i'm a fucking shark(3) at difficulty 5, rolling 19 higher.

Reve checked strength + huge wpn at difficulty 60, rolling 16 higher.

shark attack 3 inflicted and Reve is unharmed.

Azova has angry healer expression going on. "What the fuck!? Why... sharks... in the water!" Almost mute frustration, though she begins stalking towards Wulfrum to make sure his only injury is his huffing and puffing. Until Reve gets tfo of the shark infested water.

Haakon has rolled 1 4-sided dice: 2

Haakon GM Roll checked dexterity(3) + i'm a fucking shark(3) at difficulty 30, rolling 1 lower.

Aswin checked dexterity + dodge at difficulty 30, rolling 31 higher.

Haakon GM Roll checked dexterity(3) + i'm a fucking shark(3) at difficulty 20, rolling 10 higher.

Aswin checked dexterity + dodge at difficulty 40, rolling 17 higher.

Aswin checked dexterity + small wpn at difficulty 50, rolling 8 higher.

When the troll is going back to his watery place of rest, Reve is evidently having none of it. He, landlubber that he is, attempts to pursue after the creature. He wades in the saltwater with a hiss, and then - then, the strikes start to come. To be fair, he actually handles himself with his halberd quite well, knocking the sharks with this and that strike. It might be frightening (mostly to him) when he goes under, but this is a momentary thing and his own blood is not added to the mix. Instead, he looks ready to strike further and with those fins near him he hisses and wades back to shore. Wet. Scowling. There is absolute rage in his eyes and one of those shav'avari (or thralls, take your pick) might be eyed balefully. It looks like, for a moment, he might take his frustrations out on the non-combatant. His hand trembles, clutching his weapon tightly. Nope. He spits on the ground instead and starts to stalk back and forth on the shoreline. That boy ain't right.

Reve isn't the only one to charge into the waters in pursuit of the troll. The thing just tried to carry him to a watery death! Of course Aswin will try to finish it off. He charges into the water and as the sharks begin to come in at him, Aswin manages to dodge left and right until he is near enough to the troll. Once he is, his dagger comes down hard in a stab, hoping to finish off the monster.

Wulfrum splashes back through the water especially after giving Reve all the premium shark survival tips. Such gems as 'If you want to live, don't it bit' and other useful pointers as 'To yer right, no my right!' and finally 'Punch it in the nose and run lad!' now he's hitting the wet sands, taking a moment to take a knee catch his breath then trot in Azova's direction to protect her from panicing shavs.

The village is rounded up in short order, less those who had fled inland. A very orderly plundering of the village takes place, which turn up a goodly number of pearls and beads used as currency and the fruits of the Ironcrown tribe's service for the Gildorian slave traders: whole sacks of 'Eurusi silver pieces'. Thousands upon thousands of them. All made of common lead.

Aswin stalks back from the water after the troll twitches and drifts there in the ocean, assuming it's dead. At least, he will tell everyone that he killed it, because he didn't see it move again and it is a cool story. As the nobles begin to round up the shavs and slavers, Aswin begins to detach himself from the whole situation. Eyeing the treasure for a moment, he scoops a few pearls into his pocket and wipes the troll blood on someone's blanket before he makes his way back and sits in the rowboat to return to the caravel while the nobles figure the rest out.


Emily helps the rest move around, gathering up those that they can manage. Focusing on the task of bringing more than the eight she at first brought in. The beach begins to fill and discussions are had as to what to do with them. It leaves her somewhat quiet, her gaze on the shavs and slaves alike. The Deepwood remains silent but gives a nod ot the decisions made. She is not quick to unstring her bow though, standing watch over the gathered until they are all ready to move.


After Strozza rightly hangs the unsurrendered of the shavs Wulfrum will raise his voice to the remaining shavs that have been rounded up the Lord of Darkwater states, "Remember this day, remember it well when you resist the banners you see before you." he motions out to the ships off the coast likely flying the colors of their respective houses. "Remember to throw down your weapons and next time all can live, the plunder fair for your crimes... Which means... NO MORE SACRIFICING PEOPLE, NOT EVEN THRALLS!" the last bit he roars at them before pointing the tip of a broadsword in their direction. "Or the village we burn and you along with it!" very dramatic, he doesn't even look at the shavs evidently expecting their prompt awestruck silence (and mandatory silence since the uppity ones got hanged and there's more rope).

The intention was to hang the lot of the slave taking filth. He'd been dealing with pirates and slavers all his life. But people want mercy, so the bastards can do it again... and again. Strozza isn't happy. But the ones who insisted on trying to fight off the forces from Arx to the very last... he has ordered hung, as an example of how he feels about their desire to make people unpaid, unwilling servants. The Mazetti is angry, very much so.

Reve eventually cools his jets enough to stop prowling along the coastline and he shifts his attention back toward the Darkwater pair. So it is that he jogs that way, expression resolute, and settles in at their side. Maybe just a little bit closer to Azova, whom he happens to side eye. Still, when Wulfrum makes his declaration he nods to the other man and then settles in to clean his halberd.

Orelia noting the Admiral's mood, Orelia takes Strozza aside and says something to him in low tones not meant for the ears of others.

Noting the Admiral's mood, Orelia takes Strozza aside and says something to him in low tones not meant for the ears of others.

In varying moods,the Arvani return to their ships, with near a hundred freed thralls, and what movable wealth could be had from the village, leaving behind the Ironcrown tribe to reflect on the error of their ways, without their fighting ships or thralls.