FSE

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Chapter 23: The guest

Down in the depths of the bloody mermaid the group now dwelled, standing resolute over the bound form of their disfigured guest. Tossed over a trio of barrels that made his makeshift table, the bloated thing stared blankly at the ceiling of their cramped quarters. He had hardly moved an inch as thick ooze dribbled down his exposed flesh as he filled the air with his deep and ragged breaths.

Nivra sat enthralled with the piles of journals she'd stacked along a desk brought in for her on order of the captain. Her hand caressed her chin as she intently inspected the once waterlogged pages. Feku sat behind her, wiggling her tail as she hummed and dried the pages of the other tomes stacked beside her. Asterion was kneeling with a hand upon the bloated man, whispering prayers to Korde that only his furry ears could hear. Aeros was planted in the corner between two thick barrels of pickles and potatoes, eyes locked upon the guest's torso, and as sharp as his talons.

The trip back had been a quiet affair as they'd discussed the plans for the accommodations of their guest. Though Areos had been quite reluctant, his opinion held little regard in the way of the captain. She'd seen Nivra's point and twirled her whispers, insisting they not become one with the graveyard of ships beyond. One couldn't spend coin if you were dead and drifting off to a watery grave after all. Nivra just hoped it wouldn't be worse.

She thumbed the page of the latest journal, a detailed account of the captain's trade dealing with that wonderful voice that he described. There was no doubt within the mage's mind that this voice was some magical oddity in the man's mind. The evidence was sitting right behind her, not saying a word no matter the prompting. Whatever had been done to him was powerful indeed, not even registering as magic when she'd scanned with a detect magic. The only ones she could think of would be a powerful dragon, or possibly even Nigel himself.

With the thought she'd shivered, remember the undead creature that had been her mentor. The one that'd instilled and tempered her talents to be free of any weakness. Years of grueling training had seen to that, yet she'd never discovered his secret. That night only months ago tugged at her soul, bringing flashes of the cruel wind and Shandalar's evaporating form. Chilly, skeletal hands dragged thin lines on the back of her neck, prompting the mage to shake her head and loose herself in the mad ramblings of the captain.

Hours had passed in a near state of silence, the only evidence being the slivers of light dwindling in from the main ship corridor. Long shadows now clawed upon the wood like a malevolent beast, whispers abounded by those that shifted passed, too afraid to peak in and catch a glimpse of what they were holding. Candles were lit so they could maintain the light, and it was then that Feku broke the silence.

“We should be upstairs winning more shinys instead of playing this weird game." Feku softly said, setting aside one tome to a stack that she'd been working on.

“Weird game, weird game." Her parrot squawked before thumping it's beak against the tomes.

“Haven't you already scammed the crew out of enough money?" Nivra sighed, recounting how the bard had been all smiles on their return. She'd held out her winnings for the princess, insisting that she take them as the leader.

“It wasn't scam." The kobold's snout wrinkled, “I won fair and square. Not my fault they can't read the story."

“And second of all." She shook her head at the kobold's annoyance, “Its not a game. This is an investigation to what afflicts that man there."

“That's a man!" Feku's eyes widened as she slammed a tome to her lap. “I thought that was fat woman!"

“When this is over, we need to discuss how to tell human genders apart." She turned back to the journal she was working on, caressing the thin pages between her fingertips.

“So why we keep instead of smack? He look like corpse that Asterion smash." She made a swinging motion with her arms.

“To figure out what we're dealing with. How else are we to plan our strategy accordingly? To blunder in blindly would-be madness."

“What you should have done is destroy this blighter the second you got the chance." Aeros gestured to the guest with a flick of his head. “Why the captain sided with you is a mystery. Mark me words, it's going to bite us in the haunches it will."

“Good thing you're not the one making decisions dear gryphon." She set down the book, giving the gryphon a hardened look. She'd met his kind before, the ones ruled by fear and kept people like her back. “Ignorance is weakness in a time such as this, and I won't be weak. Do I make myself clear?"

He dismissed her with a wave of his wing, “Bah, that's what ya all say. Sticking your noses where it shouldn't. You know what they say about curiosity and the cat."

“That it was very tasty?" Feku perked up.

“No." The gryphon replied flatly. “That it got it killed."

“If you knew the whole saying, you'd very well know that isn't the whole story." She replied sharply as Asterion gave a heavy sigh and clomped his way over to shake his snout.

“It registers as a disease to the spell, but it isn't cured by restoration of either the lesser or greater variety. Whatever created this malus is dark indeed."

Of course, it wasn't going to be easy, though that only increased the satisfaction when they'd solved it. “Sounds as though its just a different type of battle." She replied with a diminutive smirk, knowing the warrior would be played right into her palms.

“Indeed. How goes investigation of his books? Any clues that you could gleam?"

She hadn't and was reluctant to admit it. Hours under her dutiful nose and it remained as shrouded as trees of the Hollow wood. Thankfully the bull was understanding and didn't give her a satisfied look over her failure. “But rest assured it won't stay hidden for long." She jabbed her finger to the page. “This is not the first time such a problem has come to me."

The warrior huffed, bowing his head. “Then a battle lays ahead for both of us. May Korde guide us to victory."

She returned the bow out of respect as Aeros scoffed and clicked his beak.

“Oh, give me a break, it's only reading and wiggling your fingers. The gods have no place within these walls."

Asterion scowled at the gryphon, but his voice remained calm yet stern. “The gods walk more among us than you'd like to know little gryphon. I'd think twice before speaking ill of them." He kneeled before the guest, unrolling his scroll of spells.

Nivra went back to her journals, moving onto the next one that Feku had offered. The bull focused upon his scrolls, muttering about what spells he could try to free the man of his ailments. Feku returned to her playful humming, wiggling her toes.

“Can't you do that quietly you little git?" He finally snapped after a solid hour, his talons drawing thin lines upon the floor.

“I try, but then it boring." Feku wrinkled her snout. “Boring bad."

“You could always depart." Nivra casually remarked, “It's not like your skills are much needed, the guest isn't going anywhere." She gestured to the thick ropes that tied down the man's arms and legs. Something that Aeros and Asterion had at least agreed upon.

“Oh no, that's what this thing is waiting for." Aeros snapped as his crimson feathers fluffed. “I've heard and seen enough to know where this leads to." He pointed to the gurgling fish man, “Moment I look away this act is going to drop, mark my words. Least one of you had the common sense to restrain it." He gestured to Asterion with a grunt, “Its not going to catch me by surprise, no sir."

“Then it would appear as though you'll have to endure miss Feku's delightful hums. I find them comforting and relaxing to the mind." Nivra gave Feku a gentle smile, that turned the kobold's scales a brighter shade of green. “I'd even say they help."

“Hmmph." The crimson gryphon squawked indignantly and rolled his eyes.

Back to her work the time passed far more quickly than it should have. The sun had all but left, leaving only the candle's light to guide their work. Eyes strained at the effort but Nivra had long since been used to such things. Long nights, book open upon her lap and only the satisfaction of knowledge fueling her on. Although even her patience was being tested over the bland and dry information they were going over. Every once and while she'd get more journal entries filled with tales of smoked Charwern ales of dwarven kind, roasted Torian elk and even some barrels from Covania despite the lionmen's usual aggression. These things would seem right at place within a royal's home and despite her composed expression, found her stomach growling in protest to sample the handful of scrumptious delicious he described. Just as she found her resistance for a snack slipping, the entries too a far more interesting turn.

That voice from before had returned, references and statements strewn about the page. Often they were simply him addressing the individual, but other times the mentions were scrawled between paragraphs or any empty space he could find. There would be questions or statements, some downright proclamations of love. At first Nivra had smiled, thinking it were some lover that he was simply lovesick over. But the more she read the less that thought became, as the voice made demands, ultimatums, even threats upon the captain's life. But still he continued to do as it asked. She found herself growing nearer, her own curiosity holding her tight. So it was that she nearly jumped as Asterion clasped a hand on her shoulder.

“Find anything good?" Asterion snorted, resting a hand upon her shoulder.

She nodded and showed him the passage. “Something had bewitched him. That I am certain."

The cleric tugged his beard. “How are we not certain that was a kink of his?"

“Here." She smacked with the backside of her hand, thrusting a finger to the passage. “Unless being afraid for your life is a kink. How about the disease, anything good?"

“Disease?" Aeros' head shot up in alarm, ears pinning to his head. “You didn't mention it was contagious!"

The bull frowned, “You needn't concern your frightful heart. The sickness doesn't spread in that regard. Its more a curse, woven by some malevolent beast." He turned to Nivra, eye brow risen. “You've read many books in your time. Know any beast which could do such a thing?"

“As in like the magic that a dragon can do?" She listed off a dozen creatures that could perform magic through themselves, blink dogs, pheonix, unicorn, even the displacer beats of dragon's crown up north.

“And how many of those frequent the sea?" He crossed his arms, fighting off a yawn. “I take it none?"

She nodded, more anxious than ever to get to the bottom of this. “Seems to whisper words into one's thoughts, mutates the skin to resemble what we see, lives in the ocean." She rattled the evidence matter of factly, planting herself back into her lump cushioned seat.

“I'll return with some Mitarinok beans." He grunted, heading for the door. “The day taxes me."

“Is that like human coffee?" Feku shot up, throwing aside the tome she worked on then bounced on her claws to Asterion's side.

“But much stronger."He replied with a flick of his tail.

“Then let's get some seeds! All this work make me tired!"

The bull tilted his head, eyebrow raised at her apparent lack of energy. He gave Nivra a look and sighed, opening the door and guiding her out. “If this is you tired little one. I fear for our enemies when you're energetic."

“Let get seed!" She bound out the door as her parrot fluttered over to Nivra's desk and started walking and occasionally staring at the pages.

As the door shut Nivra returned to her work, gently brushing away the feather fluffed bird as it tried to nip at her fingers.

“What you doin." It said in an almost angry way, but that would have been ridiculous.

After a brief struggle the feathery bird was pushed away, forced to perch on the edge of a barrel wand watch from a distance. With that complete, curiosity pulled from the journal's pages, a siren that the mage couldn't resist at it seeped into the very marrow of her bones.

The voices demands of the captain named Fred grew darker with each turning of the page, they spoke of human sacrifices and dark rituals to appease this welcomed voice. She was biting her lip, curling her locks as each detail was portrayed in gruesome detail. She winced at the gore laden images, thankful when Aeros' scoffing chirp broke her concentration.

“Something wrong princess?" The uncouth bird remarked, leaning back against the bulkhead. “You look like ya seen a dirty cunt of all things. What's the matter? Not used to getting your hands dirty?"

“They've gotten quite dirty on several occasions." She turned round, leaning back till the chair groaned in reply. “I've performed a few autopsies in my time."

Aero's head tilted, a surprised look crossing his brow. “Well must I say, brava my lady." He mockingly clapped, “You're honestly full of surprises. Remind me ta get you a drink next time we ashore that will gladly tend to your blue blooded-“

“What's your deal?" She stated sharply, “You speak with a tongue like a sword, yet tried to pull me from the burst of water on the ship?" When he clamped shut his beak she pressed forward, “You'd better let me know which side of you I should be addressing, the one that despise my apparent social standing, or the one who tried to save my life?"

His bravado and cockiness wavered like candles in a breeze. He retracted, composing himself with a casual brush of his talon across his crimson furred chest. “Now what could have given you the idea I was saving your life?"

She explained the situation back on the boat, when the dark waters had burst free and caught his feathers. “And low and behold, what did I feel? An attempted wing to protect me."

“Only doing what was required for the paycheck blue blood, don't be thinkin too deeply into it. You die, we don't get any coin. Simple as that."

“is that so?" She leaned back, arms crossed as she inspected the sly gryphon up and down. He was hard as a stone wall, equally as readable. His smug chuckle drove a wedge of irritation down her spine.

“Don't like that answer do ya? Well good, I don't like us harboring this disease-ridden freak. I swear to you princess, captain approval or no, if that thing makes a move it's dying."

“And you do that and I'll make sure you never walk again." She snapped back, brandishing her staff as the tip bathed the room in blue, arcane light.

Aeros eyed it, chuckling deep in his throat, “Long as the crew stays safe I don't mind. Make all the threats you like princess. You don't have the power here."

“Test me and we'll certainly find out." She said coolly, returning to the ever-descending madness of the journal. One who's words were staring to become harder and harder to decipher. They scribbled about the page in a disorganized fashion, unbound by niceties and starting and stopping wherever the man's quill that day. What she could make out was in numerous languages, starting in elven and traveling through at least a dozen until it ended up back at human. The last words were scrawled upon the pages in dried blood, 'I must return to them.'"

Like a lever had been snapped within her brain, the connections finally sealed together. There could only be a handful of things that could cause such an effect. She'd heard legend of terrible eel like beasts that dwelled in the deep, spoken to her in the hushed words of a scary story. They had multiple limbs, a lamprey like mouth and possessed telepathic powers of frightening power. Any man had a right to fear it, for once it snatched you there was hardly a cure. The bitterest of enemies could be found friend within it's aura, even forced to slay those they once held dear. Nivra let the page fall from her grasp as cold swirled thick within her. It had to be something else she told herself, chuckling internally. Those were only legends after all, stories to scare children back to their beds.

“I return with seeds!" Feku burst through the door, shattering the calm, and proudly displaying a coinpurse close to bursting with the Mitarinok beans. “We return with seeds, show how make!"

*

“Drink is bad!" Feku shrieked, pushing away the tankard of steaming hot liquid that burned her tongue. “It hurt! Quick Asterion, smash it!" She clung to Nivra like a life raft, insistently motioning for an attack. “Before it hurt again!"

“Surely you must have hot drinks back home." Asterion chuckled in a harsh tone, raising the tankard to his lips, and blowing the thick steam. “This sort of drink requires patience to best." He returned the tankard to the Kobold's trembling claw and suspicion filled eyes.

“No trick?" She eyed the drink, tilting her head.

“No trick of course." Asterion took a sip of his own, “Care to burn your tongue as well little gryphon?" He called back as Aeros chuckled at Feku's misfortune. “I've heard tell your people's tongues are quite sensitive to heat."

“You can keep your vile drink Minotaur, my duty to the ship and crew will sustain me." Aeros eyed their guest with a hardened look, composing himself with a grumble.

“Hmmph." Feku slumped, staring at the taunting brown of her drink. “Cool faster. I want drink." She muttered curling in her tail.

Nivra sipped her, using a gentle cast of prestidigitation to cool the hot liquid. When Feku turned up, her head cocked, the mage leaned down the first moment Asterion wasn't looking. With a wink the spell was preformed, and the kobold was happily gulping down the coffee with a swishing tail.

“yay cheating!"

The air was aglow with pleasant conversation as they sipped upon their drinks. Even Asterion didn't seem to mind the cheating of the kobold currently on display. They spoke of old times, tales nestled deep within the lore of their kind. Asterion's a lengthy exaggeration of a legendary minotaur warrior who helped tame the mountains around his village.

“He did this was just a sword?" Feku had leaned forward, eyes practically bulging from her head.

The minotaur had nodded, delighting in her childlike wonder. He held his hands tight, gripping a phantom hilt. “So was the might of Irkotee, that he could not be denied. He swung his mighty blade down..." He made an explosion with his hands, summoning a swarm of claps from an all too captivated kobold. Nivra joined in as well, giving the warrior a polite nod. Only Aeros was scoffing from the corner, muttering something about minotaur tall tales.

Nivra herself let her mind wander to the multitude of books that she'd committed to memory, glossing over the spellbooks and history books within. One that had delighted her since a child, the union of gryphon kind and humans throughout Lumara. Gryphon and human bound at the hip, the former sent to assassinate the later. They'd managed to find some common ground and put aside a circle of violence that had been held between their two peoples. She chuckled and recounted how the play was always within the theater district, and happened to be one of Voidwing's favorites. Though even mere mention of the black feathery gryph brought a shadow over the princess' heart. Her voice grew softer until Asterion had clasped her shoulder, meeting her with a kind eye.

“And imagine the story you're to have when you're reunited." He tugged his beard, “You're throat will grow dry from the length."

“And my poor fingers." Feku looked upon her claws, “You'll make me play the entire thing."

“You, tire of playing?" Nivra gasped playfully into her palm, drawing the kobold's curious eye. “Whatever have you done with Feku?"

“Its me!" The kobold shot up, brow risen. “It me lady Nivra!" When the princess merely tilted her head and kept up the charade, the little lizard kept insisting, eventually tugging the now snickering princess' wrist until her fingers grazed upon her white scales. “Feel! I real! Asterion, get healing magic! Something wrong with princess!"

It took several minutes of calm explanation from the pair to even dent the terror that was painted across the kobold's snout. When it finally clicked that it had been a joke, her claws snapped to her waist and red had flared brightly across her scales. Her tail lashed as she eyed them with eyes sharper than a crossbow's bolt.

“Not funny! Asterion could have attacked me!"

The par burst out laughing, from the tiredness or the coffee, neither was sure. When they tried to speak their words failed them, shifting into more rounds of laughter. The kobold wove her arms across her chest, the red only increasing with each passing second. The only thing that brought it to an end and shattered the good cheer was a gurgling gasp from their guest, and the utterance of a single word.

“Abolyth." A black river of ooze flowed down his cheek, dribbling gently to the floorboards.

A bolt of adrenaline surged through her, hair stood on the back of her neck. Nivra shot up, grabbing her staff. “What did he say?"

“The voice…" The man struggled to mutter, his eyes turning to gaze upon the mage. “Aboly-“ With a terrible wretch his body shook with a violent cough. No one tried to grab him as the inky ooze splattered against his torso, soon becoming a tidal wave of black.

“Quick kill it! Kill it now!" Aeros shot up, brandishing his talons. “Kill it with fire!"

“Sit back down." Asterion growled, pushing the gryphon to the ground. “Now isn't the time."

“Look at what it's done!" He squawked, “Get out of my way fool, before it kills us all with it's infectious disease!"

“That remains to be seen." The cleric held firm, his muscles bulging from the strain. He turned to meet Nivra's calm expression and gave the princess a nod.

Patting her chest to hide the surprise, Nivra stepped forth towards the man now gasping for breath. She introduced herself with the tone one might expect with royalty, but the guest refused to acknowledge her multiple attempts. His eyes remained blank, staring at the ceiling once more. She groaned and held her staff tight, fighting the urge to twirl her raven locks. Evidently some form of conscious remained within his tortured shell of a body. If only if they had a spell that could-

“Oh, I've been an absolute fool." Nivra groaned, striding to her backpack with cheeks of the brightest crimson. There were scrolls she'd lifted from Shandalar the days after her passing. It wasn't like the wizard was going to be using them. She plucked out one of the older looking, manilla scrolls. One meant for such an anomaly. “Legend lore." She announced proudly when those less arcane inclined tilted their head and gave her questionable looks. “With but a touch it can tell me everything about a person. It was said to replicate the ability of the-“

“Bards!" Feku jumped excitedly. “Its just like they used to say back home! Legendary bards could read the story with just a touch!" She tugged at Asterion's hand. “Have you heard of Lander Turnvoth the bard?"

“Feku." Nivra sighed, squeezing her nose.

“See I heard from my cousin's brother that the Lander guy was a human, molten gold like hair-“

“Feku." The mage snapped her finger, her voice sterner than she'd meant to.

Nivra shook her head, she didn't need a whole slew of stories. Could the bard truly gleam past with but a touch? “Feku." She said sterner than she mean to.

“He reminded me of this elf that we used to read about. One called like Legolas or something with the hair all the way to their feets."

“Feku." Asterion snorted, gesturing to the mage that was almost face palming at this point. “I do believe she wishes your attention."

“Well why didn't you say so!" She crossed her arms, tapping her foot against the floor. “Though is this a secret? I'm real bad at keeping those."

“I would imagine so." Asterion stated flatly, gesturing to Nivra again. This time putting an end to the kobold's interaction.

She thanked the cleric, cleared her throat and ignored the look of utter revulsion that Aeros was tossing her way. Though when she caught the kobold begging to bounce, she knew patience was far beyond her grasp. “Just observe as I learn everything there is to know about our guest here."

“Shouldn't you ask his consent first before you go peepin on his mind princess?" Aeros sneered, “Might find something lewd that shakes you to your core."

“For your information, she's been lewd with a gryphon before mister grump!" Feku shook her fist, scales turning red. “So shush your beak, I wanna hear the spell!"

Silence fell upon the room the others tilting their heads at the fury displayed by such a little package. Even Aeros didn't know what to say and closed his beak with a deflated huff. So without any more distractions or reservations, Nivra pulled the scroll tight and recanted the magical words on the page. She was just glad that she didn't need any reagents for casting off a scroll, she didn't know where they would get strips of ivory and incense worth two hundred gold pieces.

Magic swelled from the page as the spell began, racing to course through the young mage's veins. Phantom wind was created in it's passing, fluttering loose parchment and feathers alike. In it's wake came the crisp scent of mint, enchanting every breath they took.

“Teah Rirthir." Nivra gave the activation word, pressing her rapidly cooling hand upon the bloated scale like skin of the man. In an instant her head shot back, images flashing like a river before her eyes. Details large and small came instantly to her as though she'd lived them, her hands trembled, her legs shook. The sheer amount of information almost dragged her to the floor. Where heat built within her chest, it was soon extinguished with the sight of more recent memories. What lay before her was the captain from the journals.

She began to weep as the horrific images she'd only read about came to her, blood soaked men and woman that hardly resembled themselves anymore. With precision she gutted eyes, carved out organs, displayed them in jars in which she could watch them as she smoked her evening pipe. There was a whisper in the back of her mind now, ensuring that these sins were pleasing whatever it was.

“Nivra!" Asterion's voice was a distant thing, lost upon her as she collapsed.

The mage shook with a terrible fury as through him she felt the ocean's embrace. Down she sunk, water filling her lungs till they burned with need for air. The man had fumbled blindly, unconvinced that his voice had abandoned him. But everything changed when a long slender tentacle reached out for him, connected to a shadowy body. It told him his form was at an end, that this god would be all he thought about from now on.

“You will be a warning." Said the voice within his head, deep and terrible like the watery depths of the ocean itself. “To any that cross within my domain."

“Nivra!" Feku had joined Asterion in shaking her, ripping the mage from her magic fueled memories.

She shot up, eyes wide in dread, gasping for breath. That was not what she was expecting from the spell at all. The concern painted upon her friend's faces was the same as Aeros himself, the gryphon was around the table, searching her form up and down. Of course they asked her what she saw. At first she couldn't answer, having to hold Asterion's larger hands for warmth. With a stammering voice she recounted what she'd seen to brutal detail, hanging her head as she recalled what the journal had only teased at.

“He butchered so many innocent." She sobbed, wrapping her arms tight around Asterion and pulling her head into his muscular chest. “I couldn't look away, I couldn't."

Awkwardly the warrior wrapped his arms around her, pulling the vulnerable princess into an embrace of safety and warmth. He gently caressed the back of her for countless minutes, until what tears she had were finally gone and sniffled away. She thanked him and stood up, composing herself with a final sniff.

“At least I know what had it's grip on him." She scowled, standing up to grip her staff tight.

“And what would that be?" Aeros' asked, his ear twitching.

“Its what Fred here said, the beast that haunts our children stories. Old as the world itself, dwells in the deepest depths of the ocean. There it preys upon those it chooses, enthralling any who cross it. Abolyth is this creature's name, and I shutter if there are more of them."

“Abolyth!" The bulbous man screamed, shooting up with herculean strength. What binds he had snapped like twine, unable to resist such an imposing force. As the companions flared back, muscles poised for striking, the guest searched each of them with loud, raspy breaths.

“That is what I said." She spoke first, brandishing her staff out as Feku hid behind her legs. Asterion wasn't moving, his hammer on the other side of the room. Aeros' eyes were wide chasms as the thing settled upon him and didn't stray.

“Ah, a prideful beast that doesn't know it's insignificance." The once man spoke, his voice as deep as the ocean. “Just like all the other puny mortals fumbling in the dark."

“I'd reconsider who you call puny." Asterion's chest swelled as he pressed Nivra behind him.

The bloated man turned jarringly to the bull, searching his muscular frame up and down. “Minotaur, bull. Strong of body, weak of will. Just as insignificant to the bird." As the cleric glared the thing's eyes found Nivra. “There is the one who touched my mind. The speck with their puny magics, fumbled in the dark and found a god."

At first, words failed her. Cold still clung at her chest. This is what she'd wanted, an answer, a chance for knowledge. Who was she to argue with the manner in which it was given? With a reserved breath she composed herself and stepped free of the cleric's protecting form. “Nivra, future queen of Lumara. I take it your responsible for all the ships we saw?"

It didn't answer. The thing instead searched the beams above, it's eyes trying to pear through the wood. “You've removed the puppet from it's place. This vessel will prove adequate as a testament to my strength, and a warning to all others."

So Nivra introduced herself again, cleaving through it's statement like a blade. “I'm sure there is something we can trade or negotiate for safe passage. Or if that's not agreeable, I'm certain we can simply go around."

“There it speaks as if I even hold it's wagging tongue of any value." It meandered to the floor, pealing line of skin from it's mutated form. “Unaware that it's life is a gift I have bestowed upon it."

There it was on about being a god, Nivra caressed her chin. No other god was she aware of that could even take a direct action such as this. Sure they had the clerics that got their magics from them, but it was always through mortals in such a manner. They didn't have gods making proclamations or demands, there would be no kingdoms otherwise.

“What god are you?" Asterion said bluntly, plucking his hammer from the deck. “I serve the mighty Korde." He thumped his chest with bravado.

Again it didn't answer, instead beginning to shamble it's slimy body to the door. It reached out with a hand, eager to depart. It was stopped by Asterion's forceful shove and a heavy snort upon the air.

“We're not done with you god."

“Such an opinion in itself." The man stated flatly, not even giving the minotaur a sideways look. “If you will not less this puppet search this vessel, I shall have to do it myself when I pluck you each from your wretched holes."

“I welcome you to try." Asterion growled, his eyes like steel. “You'll not find a servant of Korde wanting."

She had to cut this off before a diplomatic solution was severed before it could even start. The last thing they needed was whatever this creature was, barging in and attacking. “Mister god then." Nivra slid over, pressing herself between her bodyguard and the god. “You can see our confusion. You proclaim yourself a god and appear to us in some mangled abomination of the human form."

“This puppet is merely an extension of myself."

“So it acts as a form of eyes and ears for yourself." She mentally recorded the fact. “And the ships you said, were a warning?"

“One that you ignored." It replied, seeking to move past her and enter the hall. It once more was shoved back by the cleric. “Tell your bull to let this puppet pass, or I will wish your audience."

Should she be terrified or relieved. “If you mean to have words then by all means. Whatever can we call you though? We know this puppet's name was Fred, but what of you? Are you an Abolyth? I've had a suspicion-“

“What you call me is irrelevant. Terror of the deep, the undying conqueror, the royalty, the butcher. In the end I am myself, and you are insignificant."

“Ah." She smiled nervously, searching over the faces of her companions. Feku was now hiding behind a barrel, her eyes wide and scales a pale white. Aeros himself was huffing and glaring, his talons digging lines in the wood. With how his tail flicked back and forth, she saw a look only witnessed in Voidwing before, he was on the verge of springing. If that happened, they'd lose their informational chance. With a nod and gesture, Asterion intervened with a forceful hand and pressed the gryphon to the floor.

“What was that for?" The gryphon demanded, clacking his beak inches from the cleric's face.

“Before you make a stupid mistake." He snorted, not even flinching a hair. “And don't do that again if you value your appearance."

The two bickered and shouted, leaving Nivra alone with the blankly staring mockery of a man. Was he even still in there? Until she got an answer, she was counting as this thing as an Abolyth, the answer fit all too well. It tried to depart but she shoved it gently back with the tip of her staff.

“We wish to head to the islands of Canery. All that we wish is safe passage, is there anyway we can facilitate that? We have spices, goods, coin. Perhaps there is something we could retrieve for your patronage."

“Those islands are mine. Including the temple beneath the waves."

“The temple?" She tried to hide her excitement, even as it bounced her toes. “You mean the temple of Kitu?"

“That marvel is now mine. If you cherish your freedom you will depart and head where you came, praying I see no value in it. For you only live because I allow it, and would die if I ever demanded it."

Cryptic. She thought to herself, not letting this thing know how her spine tingled at the thought of such a threat. Unfortunately it didn't get out another word as Aeros flung himself across the room to the serenade of Asterion shouting.

“Not happening!" The gryphon's talons ripped across the man's chest, sending him stumbling backward. Before he hit the ground, a sharpened beak struck like lightning and tore out his throat.

Bloodied and broken the puppet convulsed and thrashed on the floorboards, blackened pools of blood formed around his open wounds. It all came to an end as Aeros pressed down with all his strength and caved in the man's head with a horrifying crack.

“There." The gryphon panted, covered in blood. “Now it can't hurt us."

“What have you done?" Nivra shouted, her veins boiling as Asterion tackled the gryphon with a powerful roar. “You may have doomed us all!"

“Doomed?" Aeros chirped, tossing the bull against the wall with a thud. “You heard it! It was going to kill us. You don't get to say something like that without getting clawed across-“ The gryphon went stumbling back by Asterion's forceful shove. Barrels splintered, the deck quaked as the pair rolled and beat themselves to a pulp across the floor.

Nivra squeezed her nose, groaning at the fear the gryphon had displayed. I should have just forced him out she thought as Feku cried out for the two to stop their fighting.

“You're going to make mister Asterion kill you!"

“Stop this buffoonery this instant!" Nivra slammed down her staff, her voice the strength of ten others. The gnarled head shined like a beacon in the dimly lit room, casting away shadows with a piercing white light. The two in question separated, their fur and feathers sullied with gore and dust. “We've already lost the specimen. We don't need you to lose the corpse as well." They didn't say a word as she separated them with a gesture of her staff.

“Like you know anything." Aeros scoffed, “I've seen this a dozen times I-“

“I don't care Aeros!" She slammed her staff again, pinning the gryphon's ears. “Now rid yourself from our presence before I loose my temper."

“This isn't you losing you-“

“Now!" Electricity flowed from her eyes, making it pretty clear there was no room for questions. She was the one financing the voyage and he the one who might have ended it. The captain would no doubt have her back. “And you best pray that didn't just destroy this entire voyage. I'll be having words with the captain."

“You do that blueblood. No skin off by behind." The gryphon remarked with a click, swinging his tail proudly as he slumped out the door. Asterion slammed it behind him with a snort.

“I should have done that before."

“You should have." She sighed, squeezing her nose till her knuckles turned white. “Gods know I should have." She gestured to the tattered remains of their once talkative guest, his last threat still lingering in her mind. “We could have gotten so more. Now that's all we have, and no doubt a pissed off creature that-“

That's when the corpse started to laugh.

Up it rose like a marionette, the deep voice flowing from the grisly, blood soaked neck. Tendons and muscles squeezed and retracted in a horrific display. “I don't need a living puppet to speak with you tiny specks. Flee back to your homelands and tremble, proceed and find yourself as one of my flock as I pluck your vessel from the sea."

“We shall resist you." Asterion shot back, unphased by such a gruesome display.

“Resistance is futile." Said the neck, “No matter your strength, no matter your spells, you will break and bend to my will." It collapsed as if it's string's were cut, slamming gruesomely to the floor.

Nivra stood frozen, Feku shivering and clutching at her side. She dropped her staff without meaning to as Asterion kneeled down and made sure this thing was dead with a few well placed swings of his hammer. She retrieved her staff as the cleric made a mess of what remained. Her heart tried to leap from her chest.

“Was that what an Abolyth thing can do?" Feku trembled.

She shook her head as the color drained from her face. “Not from the tales that I remember."

*

News spread fast on what happened in the lower decks. The ship was not that big after all. They spoke of a terrible monster with multiple limbs, with an overpowering urge to gobble them up in their sleep. Nivra had been too tired to correct them, dragging her mentally ragged self from her quarters to the main deck, letting the night air wash her over. Even now she could hear the muffled sounds of their jovial nightly activity, though marred by the fright they shared.

The night watches that stood along side her had it painted in the lantern light, looks of absolute dread. They kept twitching at every sound, cocking their handguns to the waves below, expecting something at any moment to snatch them.

Nivra clutched tight her cloak from the chilly air, staring out to the moonlight reflecting of the surface. The creature's words still dwelled within her thoughts, souring what should have been a delightful night around her. The stars were shining bright, there was hardly a cloud in the sky. Perfect opportunity that she'd have taken advantage with her proper bodyguard of the feathery variety. Though all she could feel while gazing up at their majesty was a terrible sense of loneliness that ate away at her inside.

Could she ask the ship and it's crew to press on without regard for this mysterious creature's threat? She shivered to think they'd all end up like that man they'd thrown overboard, corrupted and without a mind of his own. Silently she wished he wasn't aware of his surroundings in those moments, to be trapped within yourself was a living hell she wished upon no one. As the thought of returning home danced around her thoughts, Shandalar's visage wavered on the waves. Within the elf's eyes were a hardened expression, pressing hard against the mage's guilt. That would have been for nothing. She gave a heavy sigh as the ilbir captain Biyu strolled over, twirling a ring of keys on her finger.

“Heard what happened below deck. Mighty strange that be." The snow leopard captain leaned against the railing, meeting Nivra's eye.

“It certainly was."

“Stranger that I heard it from the crew and not you." She turned and rested on her back, tail flicking playfully. “methings you worried what I'll say if you told me."

She traded the ocean view for the fierce eyes of the captain. Unlike her own, there wasn't a shred of doubt in what he and her own were capable of. “Not to speak ill of you captain. But you and the crew are challenged when it comes to the matters of the arcane. I might not be able to gurentee your safety if we proceed."

Biyu gave her a hardened look, her lips curling back for a snarl. Yet instead she started laughing until tears flowed from her pale blue eyes. “That be rich! You thinkin of our safety like that! Good one queenie. I'll have you know we can look after our own. This isn't the first time we've been threatened by a magical voice and it won't be the last."

Her brow rose as Beyu pulled free a pipe from her pouches and started to smoke. “When was the last time tha-“

“Long story that involves more legwork and time than I'd like to get into. Short story queenie it involved a few squid headed mages and a series of their servants." She coughed into her fist, offering the mage a go at her pipe. When Nivra refused with a polite hand, the captain shrugged, insisting it be just more for her. “Without your guilt over us queenie, what do ya want to do best?" She gestured to the stars. “We could fly over it, or sail around it. We can both probably agree sailing through that forest not be the smartest of ideas. Willing to risk things yes, stupid we be not."

Glancing to the sea and visage of Shandalar, Nivra composed herself with a breath. Even if they sailed around, it would do little to stop the watery foe from following them. In two shakes of a gryphon's tail the captain's orders were bellowed to the crew, prompting an abrupt end to tonight's festivities. They were pulled from their card games, roused from their naps, meals were placed upon hold.

“Don't give me that look ya dogs. Get this ship inta the sky before Tehya throws ya overboard."

The minotaur first mate growled, echoing the captain as she cast all in attendance a withering glance. At the stomp of a hoof they sprung into action, even the most rebellious crewmates performing their duties with the efficiency of the Lumarian ships. The vessel was alive with the constant work until with a happy nod and snort, Tehya gave the affirmative. “It's all yours captain."

“Aye." Biyu smiled, taking her place at the wheel, caressing the metallic lever like a lover. “Then let's spit into the face of whatever this sea creature be. To the sky!" The lever clunked into place, the ship took flight into the sky. When they reached an appropriate altitude and the sea churned harmlessly below, the crew were bidden to return to their merriment.

“Just think, you can go about losing more coin to me!" Tehya cheered, earning her the attention of a tugging kobold at her tunic.

“I want play to. Miss Lyndis was teaching. Got room?" The kobold smiled.

The minotaur clasped the little one on the back and insisted she would be going easy on her.

“You mean she go easy on you." Squawked Feku's parrot happily.

Nivra returned to her quiet observation of the sprawling ocean below her, tugging closer her cloak. She relished the gentle creaks and chiming of the bells, reminding herself of her father's boats. From above the dark sea below was lit by the field of ships, ghostly blue light spreading from once dead lanterns. The princess swallowed her concern and insisted the crew was up to the task. Her mission would not be stopped by the inadequacy of the others. She was so focused she did not hear the clip clops of Asterion's hardened hooves.

“We've had quite the night. I'd argue you not spend it alone. Such things that weigh on us have broken lesser men."

“I am not of lesser men." She replied flatly as he drew closer and wrapped a welcome arm around her. She was tugged close to his muscular bulk and her cheeks flushed a bright crimson.

“I would never suggest as such. Though even the greatest of warriors…and in this case mages." He caressed her chin passionately, his deep brown eyes filled with concern. “Unless you wish to go into a battle with an unsharpened blade."

“Asterion." She gently pushed away his hand but holding onto it just the same. “I'm not a blade to be wielded."

“Of course not, but the point still stands. Come, join me and the others and sharpen your mind for the battle ahead."

She gave a heavy sigh, knowing this determined warrior would never cease his demands unless she gave the command. Yet she bit her lip as the courage to do so faltered and she admitted defeat. “Fine. I shall do as the cleric orders."

He pulled her close and guided her to the stairs with a triumphant flick of his tail. “I'm curious how a learned mine such as yourself does at poker."

“Probably better than a cleric to be sure." She smiled back, earning a competitive chuckle of his own.

“We shall see puny mage. We shall see."

* * * * * * *