Chapter 3
I think in my entire life so far, even if I include both lives, I've never cursed as much as I have in the past four days.
After the novelty of having one of my people clean their cabins passes, most of the passengers have been quick to ignore me. Out of my armour and dressed only in my linen tunic and loose leather pants, I look far too much like a ruffian for any of them to be comfortable with.
But that was the captain's orders. Not like I have much of a choice.
The constant scrubbing, emptying buckets, refilling food and drink and general busywork is draining. Running back and forth across the ship. Signing things out of the cargo hold with the quartermaster, Ern, who smirks at me every time he sees me. Then running them to where whichever lazy imbecile incapable of walking is.
It gets more annoying as the days pass. People are dicks.
The crow's nest, comparatively, is definitely the preferable part of my work. Using my frankly insane night vision to scan the horizon, to watch the ocean around us. To be alone in the wind listening to the flow of the world around me as our lady Elune gazes upon us from above.
It's peaceful, the moon, so incredibly large compared to the one I am used to and resonating with power. I can literally feel myself grow stronger under its bountiful light. Like an inverse Superman.
With how busy I've been, I've not had much free time to ruminate on my new perk. In the end, between a form of basic dream magic, some thieves' tools that I could make myself, or significant boosts for my swordsmanship, shield use and archery. Well, the choice should be obvious. I went with Knight.
In this world Oneiromancy could actually be a pretty powerful tool. Even if just to head out to the Stormrage barrow, touch Malfurion on the head and say, 'Hey grandpa, come sort your wife out she's being a bitch again.'
But no. That perk line seems to be a slow build to power. Something you take as a luxury perk when you already have a powerful set of perks influencing and reinforcing your base combat style.
Even with my choice made, I've not managed to get in anything resembling practice. Ships, even ones this large don't exactly have an archery butt just lying around. And I don't have a sword to practice with. My people don't use them.
Regardless, even should I choose to stick to my guns and graduate from spear to glaive eventually, it's still the most useful perk in that set of choices. Even just having the perk and touching my bow, I could literally feel modification in my understanding of the weapon.
I will eventually have to decide if perk-reinforced learning will override my already learned skills. After trying out a multitude of options, polearms were just the weapon I prefer the most given the size of my body. Additionally, they are the main weapon that those who follow the path of the hunter have in common with the druids and that made it very easy for me to harass the attendants for one. Hence my rather nice enchanted short spear, currently stored with my pack.
As I head up to the deck for my afternoon exercise, I notice Elena, the ship's 'Tidesage' waving a strange censer over the ship's bow. Intrigued, I head towards her to ask what she is doing.
As I get closer, the air becomes heavy and my breathing becomes laboured. The air is thick with mist, not quite visible to the naked eye but suspended just out of sight. As I touch one of the misty tendrils, I feel my connection to the wilds churn. Images flash through my mind, fish and squid and whale.
I notice her tilt her head to the side, watching me with one eye as she continues to swing the bronze censer, chanting beneath her breath.
The feeling vanishes as the heavy air disperses. Her eyes, usually a dull grey, are now lightly glowing grey with wisps of seafoam green.
"Lendras. Are you well?" she asks sternly, but not unkindly.
Shaking the heavy feeling out of my head, I give her a thumbs up.
"If you don't mind me asking, what was that?" I ask, the trickling feeling of water still perceptible on my limbs. "It felt like I was underwater for a moment."
I shudder a little as the phantom sensation of being submerged continues to slowly disappear.
She smirks in response.
"You are sensitive to the ebb and flow of our world, and it does you credit," she looks out to sea, slowly coiling up the chain of her censer and returning it to a pouch at her side. "If you must know, I was invoking a request to our Tidemother to illuminate our path. She whispers of conflict between the selfish green destroyers of the mines and the K'thir damned naga bastards. Our path may be a treacherous one."
"K'thir?" I reply questioningly.
She frowns.
"If you do not know of them already, I will not illuminate you much. Knowing too much of something can leave you vulnerable to it, and in this case even knowledge can be a danger unto itself. I know not what your people call them, but I speak of the domineering whispers from deeper within the Tidemother's domain. Of shadow and fear. Of folly for those who listen without care."
The void in the depths.
"I understand. I will ask no more. If you refer to what I believe you do, then my people have fought their source for almost an eternity."
Now it's her turn to look at me with a question on her lips. She seems to take great effort swallowing it down.
"Then maybe I should be influencing my people to engage with yours. Maybe then those imbeciles at Stormsong will listen to the damned warnings and this quiet exile of mine can come to an end," she murmurs, almost more to herself than to me.
"I do-"
She interrupts me sharply.
"Don't worry about it Lendras. It's an old wound, long since scabbed over. Forget I said anything. Please."
The please comes out with a slight undertone of genuine pain so I drop my line of questioning entirely. No need to drag up old feelings.
A few quiet moments of contemplation come over us as we both look out over the open ocean with questions on our mind. The rhythmic rocking of the ship is almost hypnotic as I find my thoughts almost drifting away with the swirling sea air.
After a few minutes, she chuckles grimly.
"It seems a Tidesage's job is never done. The wind turns and I will need to entreat for a favourable wind shortly. Is there anything else Lendras?"
"Forgive my ignorance, is there anything I can do to help? My people have a lot of knowledge, but I don't know much about Tidesages."
"No," she smiles, "We worship our Tidemother in the same way you do your Elune. Unless you are planning to convert then there is not much I can teach you of the secrets of our order. I'm not exactly the blueprint of a loyal worshipper. I took my exile with less than what could be called grace, but even now, I could not contemplate teaching our secrets to an outsider."
I nod my head. I wonder if Elune and their Tidemother may be connected in some way given the moon's effect on the tides? Not something I could confirm right now, but maybe something to look into in the future?
"Fair enough," I look over the sunlit ocean with tired eyes, waking at noon is a real kick in the teeth given I'm basically nocturnal now. "If you need anything I will be doing my exercises."
"Don't work too hard. Alric has you on a rough shift and the watch will become ever more important very soon."
She disappears in a vortex of mist, her ever present elemental speeding off into the air and up towards the captain's cabin.
May as well get some exercise in. There's nothing else to do on this wooden edifice of boredom.
…
A few hours later and I'm flying through my duties. Once you get into the routine it just becomes an automatic process. Clean this room, avoid this idiot blocking the corridor. Fill these drinks.
My assigned duties are complete halfway through my shift and lacking any real form of entertainment on the ship, I'm just wandering round the lower decks dealing with random issues as they come up. Like the stairs between the cabins and the upper deck.
"Hey, you missed a spot."
Stopping my scrubbing of the stairs, I turn towards the arrogant voice ready to get given another 'request' by some arrogant human. Instead, I see the captain behind me chuckling.
"Sorry kid it had to be done. Give me a summary report. Are your duties downstairs really complete already?"
"Yes," I reply, attempting to keep annoyance out of my tone. "The first deck corridor is scrubbed and waxed. I've checked the portholes; you need to get a smith to check the lock on cabin five. It's loose. The fruit in the rear leisure cabin is about to turn but you might get another day or two out of it. I recommend you use it as gifts to curry favour though. Before it becomes wasted silver."
He nods thoughtfully.
"Good catch. Now how are you getting on with the crew. You picked things up quickly and I have no complaints about your work, especially with you taking on jobs on your own merit. But the ship is a lonely place without a friend or two."
"They keep their distance," I shrug lightly, tone airy as I replace the waxcloth in its leather bag. "I'm not into gambling so there isn't much we have in common. They pull their weight and I attempt to match their energy. It's fine."
"They do at that. Well, finish up for the day and take a breather before night watch. You've done more than enough, and the crew need to pull their weight too, not have you doing their jobs for them because you are efficient," he lets out an explosive sigh, and puts his hand on my shoulder. "Make sure you either take a nap or put your feet up in the crew cabin. It will be a tough watch tonight and I need your eyes focused. We've left the waters blessed by the currents up from Feralas, so things are going to be cold for a while. You can wear your gear on the ship now. I'm pretty sure I've got a bead on your personality and that you aren't here to start a mutiny."
"Thanks," I dip my head in a short bow. "Do you need anything before I go?"
He stares at me for a moment.
"Come join us for a drink when you finish your watch. My cabin up top. I'll make sure the guards know to let you up."
"Will do. Thank you." He waves me off and continues upstairs, looking around and shaking his head.
What? So I like to keep my hands busy.
Heading down into the bowels of the ship, I throw my gear back on. It's easy to admit I felt a little naked without it, but any time I tried to go upstairs armed I was turned back by the guards on the captain's orders. 'No unaffiliated armed persons above'. I suppose I should feel grateful that I'm trusted enough to be counted as affiliated after four days.
I'm still not sure what to make of the captain. The quartermaster is easy to read, it's all about the money with him. Elena I thought I had more of a bead on but she exposed a side of her I didn't see previously and now I have to reevaluate where she sits.
But the captain is an enigma. I'll randomly find him observing me, more than I see him watching the crew. And he looks at me strangely. Not calculating but… judging. Like he's waiting to see my worth.
Or maybe I'm just paranoid. I'm sure I'll get a better idea after first watch.
Resting my head back on my hammock I pull out my journal and start sketching out some patterns for potential modifications to my hunter cantrips.
The journal slips out of my hand as my head lolls to the side.
…
The cosmos lights up around me again, as Order, Disorder and then the center of the diagram shimmer in my path.
Choose
Mechanical Materials
If you want to be laying down bear traps and grease smears in a chokepoint, you're going to need certain things in order to actually make them. This satchel is a tinkerer's best friend, filled with all manner of crafting materials like scrap metal and string, among some more interesting ones, such as spirit shards and corruptor agent. These will replenish weekly.
Pyromancy
Pyromancy is an art born in the wake of the great disaster that befell Izalith. One of the Witch's Daughters of Chaos, Quelana of Izalith, is credited with its birth after fleeing from her chaos consumed home. Pyromancy, like many things, starts with a little fire. The core of a Pyromancer's art is the Pyromancy Flame, their focus and source of their power. A Pyromancy Flame is a small fire fostered and grown by a Pyromancer, becoming stronger when fed and able to be split or fractured to share with prospective students. Compared to other systems in this world, Pyromancy is heavily offense focused, with many different spells focusing on the command of fire, and in some abominable cases, poison. Several utility focused spells that draw out one's inner power or speak to the inner nature of undead. Like Sorcery or Miracles, spells must be prepared ahead of time while resting, but can be swapped between any you know freely while resting. Pyromancy is often called primal art due to the practitioners being connected to nature, but this crudeness makes spells a bit slower to cast than other systems. On purchase, you're bestowed a 'Pyromancer's Flame' of your own, granted an adept knowledge of the foundation and basics of the art, and know basic Pyromancies such as Fireball and Combustion.
Bard
Scholars, skalds or scoundrels, you have a way with words so that you can even bend reality to your whims. Your talent in manipulating the Weave comes from rhythms, words, songs or even dances. You can inspire your allies, manipulate your foes and pretty much do anything a magic user can accomplish. Not only that, but your skill repertoire is also quite vast too. You are the most versatile class there is, a jack of all trades truly.
I must have fallen asleep. I've only seen this while I've been sleeping. And this is my first difficult choice.
With great sadness I dismiss Mechanical Materials. A free, full weekly supply of trapping materials, combined with my existing training would be an incredible boon. Even just selling them to gnomes or goblins would give me a huge economical advantage. Not to mention when I eventually get started on engineering. The superior tradeskill.
But compared to the other two, it just does not compare.
Pyromancy or Bard. And not just any Bard. Mentioning the weave means I'm looking at D&D Bard.
This is a genuinely tough choice. Dark Souls Pyromancy originates from the Chaos Flame and is incredibly powerful at the upper tier. While it seemingly starts weak the upper levels of this power essentially creates demigods. To follow the path of Quelana of Izalith. In Azeroth?
Enticing is not the word.
But the problem is it's competing with Bard. And D&D Bard is, without question, one of the most useful things I could have been offered in this world.
Pyromancy creates demigods. But the Bard's path has created actual gods. Ellywick Tumblestrum. Or the big man himself, Finder Wyvernspur. The Nameless Bard. The God of Reckless Fools.
Even taking a step down to what are essentially bardic demigods, Storm Silverhand is one of my favourite characters in fiction.
The ability to bring music and hope everywhere I walk? To grow within the power of the Bard. The spellcaster of music. Granter of inspiration and one of the single most flexible powersets in existence?
With a sad look at the Pyromancy window I dismiss it, selecting Bard as my choice. Less up-front power, but immense potential for growth. And more importantly, near universal synergy.
I feel the changes immediately. The perk slams into my brain like a freight train, selecting my first level spells, skills and cantrips from my own ingrained preferences, as my fingers dance across invisible lute strings.
Vicious Mockery.
Prestidigitation.
Dissonant Whispers.
The abilities of a skilled Lutenist trickle into my brain and my hands, merging with the middling guitar skill I already carried in from my old life. On top of the skill in playing I feel my ability to perform, to use sleight of hand and my abilities as an acrobat grow as the perk rewrites a portion of my existence.
A bright light surrounds me.
What is the difference between a blade and a word?
Huh?
A blade sings only songs of war and death. But a well wielded word can be so much more. When you sing songs of the future, will you strum the strings with your blade, or with your tongue?
….
Waking up from my nap with a start, I feel fluid on my lip. Wiping it off I pull my hand away and see a trickle of blood.
At least I didn't wake up in a hospital this time.
Pulling myself gingerly off the hammock I look back at the grime-encrusted rope and with a spark of glee I pull the new power from within my chest.
With a wave of my hand, I speak to the world. Prestidigitation!
A spark of power leaves my body and snaps into the hammock. With a shimmer of magic my hammock goes from filthy to pristine.
I love this cantrip. One of the most useful spells in existence and effectively free to cast.
Humming an upbeat tune, I grab my journal from the hammock and move to store it in my footlocker.
Huh. That might be an issue.
Mounted to the side of my backpack is a lute. A basic unenchanted lute, but a bard's lute nonetheless.
I clearly did not board the ship with an instrument. And this isn't something I could hide.
But do I need to hide it? I'm a bard now, right? Isn't it the domain of the bard to find refuge in audacity?
Looking over the lute I think back to Darnassus. Where would I be now had I stayed? Would I have hidden this from view, fearful of having it removed?
I'm not a child scared of consequences of things that are no one's business but my own.
The ringing of a bell pulls me from my thoughts. The marking of dusk. An hour left until my watch begins. I feel wired, energy bursting at the seams.
Placing my pack in my locker I make an oath to myself. 'Unless absolutely necessary for survival, never hide who you are. Even if it is inconvenient.' Mounting the lute next to my quiver I head out for the night watch.
…
My watch ends in a flash, the power of the new perk combining with my existing skills and leaving me itchy for more. Climbing down from the nest I feel like some sort of monkey, jumping from ladder to rigging to rope as I shimmy down like a seasoned pro. The new skill in acrobatics aiding me as if I always held the skills I now wield.
Even the rocking of the ship no longer impedes my movement. Instead I compensate automatically. Even occasionally utilising it to aid my movement like the other sailors, instead of fighting against the breath of the ship on the water.
Heading up the stairs to the executive deck I'm waved through by the guards. The ship's second, a dour man called Sleet sneers at me from the wheel but says nothing. I've seen him around the ship and occasionally gambling in the crew lounge but he seems to like no-one but himself so I've left him alone.
As I enter the captain's cabin I'm hit with the smell of expensive tobacco and cheap spirits. The scents merge together in a mental cacophony of excess and I find myself leaning against a pillar as I look over the table where the ship's three most senior crew sit playing cards. Elena gives me a thin smile and the captain just chuckles as I look around the room in surprise.
"Get over here elfy, yer makin the room untidy."
Ernalf kicks a stool over towards the empty space at the table. Slowly making my way over through the smoky haze I take a seat round the rickety table looking over the coins and chips in front of them.
"Nice lute." The captain nods. "Going to play us a song or three?"
I shrug. "Maybe later, I mostly use it to fight." He seems rather intrigued at that but lets it go rather easily. I get the feeling I'll be in for a more subtle interrogation later.
Ernalf starts flipping cards as I watch in interest.
"Want me to deal you in?" Alric smirks.
"No thanks, not much of a gambler and this table is definitely too rich for my blood."
My reply is a little glib but I smile at him to let him know I'm joking and he takes my rejection with grace.
"Probably a good idea Ernalf would have your pants off you in a flash," he chuckles, taking a deep swig of his drink. "Want a glass?" he holds out a bottle to me that looks menacing. A red and grey label with a picture of a harpy.
"Sure, thank you." I reach out and take the large glass and bottle from him. "And I'd be more worried about Elena taking my possessions than Ernalf, she seems like the brains of this operation."
Elena cackles as Ernalf almost chokes on his drink as the captain looks like he's swallowed a lemon for a second. A second later his hand whips out, pointing at me as he chuckles lightly.
"You my friend, are in for it now. Let's see how well you hold your ale."
…
"Scho I gotta ashk."
Shaking my head I reach into the wilds. Far away, but always closer than needed for a spell. Brain is spent but the wilds will help.
Using the wilds to cycle energy around my body I shake my head and continue, now significantly more sober. The three look at me in interest as my vision clears.
We've been drinking for what feels like hours and yet the captain seems to have an infinite supply of alcohol somewhere. I'm not a lightweight, my natural constitution wouldn't allow it and one of my perks is helping me out. But this is a lot even for me.
"I have to ask, I assume you don't invite all the new crewmembers up here after five days at sea. What have I done wrong, or right?"
The captain looks at me with a thin smile.
"I needed to see. If you were what you projected yourself as or if you were a calm lake with a turbulent underbelly." He slurs.
"Very poetic," I reply glibly. "So did I pass your great test?"
He shrugs in response.
"Maybe, maybe not. Question Lendras. If you had a choice. If you were running from a monstrous opponent and you had two paths. Leave immediately and guarantee escape or leave at the last minute and possibly save a few other people. Which would you choose?"
Now it's my turn to shrug.
"That question is impossible to answer without context. There are threats I would always leave immediately for. The darkness under the world. Certain demons. The highest echelons of undead. I don't think myself a coward and I would try for sure if it was kids at risk. But ultimately, I can't tell you which option I'd take without being put in that situation."
He leans back in his chair looking at the ceiling and puffing idly on his pipe as both of his companions look at him sadly.
He seems a little lost, but when he looks at me again it's like he's never seen me before.
"We need more alcohol. Any more questions before I burn this night out of my mind with rum?"
I let out a sad laugh. I still have no idea what his game is, but he's answered something for himself it seems. I won't push anymore.
"Just one. The Randy Siren? Where the hell did you get that name from."
I don't expect Elena's face to sink into her hands as both Ernalf and Alric start laughing uproariously.
Eventually they manage to gather themselves, except for Elena who is still hiding her face, burning red skin visible from behind her hands.
"So it goes like this, we-"
"Alric," she cuts him off. "If you tell him this story, I will tell Tess Harton how her sister needed me to treat her for goblin itch."
He laughs and shrugs at the same time. Turning to me with a grin.
"So, there we are, sneaking up the coast of Tanaris in our undies because this lackwit," he nods his head towards Ernalf, "got his directions mixed up on a map and we got mugged by this bandit crew. We eventually come across this cave."
Ernalf slams his head on the desk joining Elena who is covering her ears as if not hearing the story prevents the telling of it.
"We get a signal off and Elena manages to get the rowboat to us. We hide the boat and start digging through this cave because Elena's scrying picks up 'something that feels like treasure.' We find this old jewelled set of rags that look like a dress got into a fight with a troll and lost. All lace and ivory tusks and gaudy gems."
"Please don't Allllllriiicccc." Elena slurs from the floor next to the table.
"Anyway," he continues with a grin, "we hear this hissing outside and these two giant naga come plowing into the cave. Elena puts her invisibility spell on us at the last minute and there we are, pushed up against the wall of the cave, invisible, watching these two snakefuckers toss the cave searching for something. Eventually one of them catches a smell and starts sniffing around the cave. He ends up standing in front of Lena here, clutching her new 'dress' to her face trying not to make a noise."
Ernalf cuts over him with a hysterical laugh, and the two men sink into hysterics.
Gathering himself, the captain, tears in his eyes turns to Elena and nudges her with his foot.
"So this massive naga stands right in front of Elena and says. And says…"
Ernalf lifts his head and the two of them cackle together before simultaneously bellowing.
"HMM, STRANGE WALL, SMELLS LIKE A RANDY SIREN!"
The two men grab each other, sinking to the floor in hilarity as Elena tries not to look at any of us.
Eventually the captain's head pops back over the table, red rimmed and with tears in his eyes.
"The best part is, the dress? Naga lingerie, and Elena over there is holding it to her face." He nods over to the door and above it, mounted on the wall is what looks like a jewel encrusted snake glove made of lace.
I start laughing, hilarity bubbling up from my gut as I all but double over at the image. The two men join me, the laughter soon infecting Elena too who also joins in.
"One of the best days of my life lad, never seen someone jump into the sea so quickly in my life." Ernalf cackles, slapping me on the back.
They seem like a go-
A crashing boom sounds out and the ship shudders. A bell sounds, then two as voices start raising outside.
"Attack! Attack! To arms to arms!"
The captain looks at me with a grim expression.
"I asked you to watch, I never asked you to fight. But for our sake will you lend aid?"
I nod firmly.
"You don't need to ask, I'd have helped even if you forbid me."
He looks me in the eyes for a moment, before pulling out a dagger and a pistol and storming towards the door.
As I follow him out the door I have a single prevailing thought.
I'm really glad I brought my gear.Last edited: Feb 23, 2026 Like Quote ReplyReport Reactions:Jonnoda, Nikita02, sakura89_luis and 549 others
Chapter 4
We exit to utter chaos. The clanging of blades and the smell of fear permeates the air from lower in the ship as I look for where I can be the most help. The captain pats my shoulder and melds into the shadows, disappearing completely as Elena's mist elemental bulks up to a size more reminiscent of the elementals I remember.
Ernalf is a bigger surprise. The jovial heavyset man in common workman's clothes is now wrapped in a thick plate cuirass with a full helm on top. Under his plate his arms and legs are covered by thick, tight set chain mail. He nods at me once before unlatching a colossal hammer from his back and dashing down the nearby stairs.
Shaking the chaos from my mind I follow him, unlatching my bow as I move and readying an arrow.
"Lendras, cover the main deck and assist the crew! Your weapons are useless inside. We will deal with the cabins." Elena yells, disappearing in a cloud of mist that shoots off towards the cabins.
Rushing to the balcony overlooking the main deck I'm greeted by a scene of horror.
Naga. An ancient enemy of my people, arrayed against the crew with more jumping onto the ship as the moments pass.
Worse, a storm is forming right over our heads as the ship starts to lurch back and forth, waves smashing into the ship and tempestuous gales blowing over the decks.
Without an intentional thought my bow is already up and firing. My arrow cleaving through the head of a trident bearing naga before he can stab one of the crewmen in the back. Another arrow in flight almost immediately after takes a chain swinging naga high in the chest.
'Knight' is paying itself off in dividends as every shot is more accurate than the last. I can feel my skill increasing apace as the cacophony of battle sounds around me.
Something buzzes in my head as I hurl myself off the stairs and onto the deck below as a colossal icicle slams through where my head was, gouging a spiral into the wood as it continues to spin. My temperature plummets as an icy mist sinks across the deck.
It was already cold, now I can see my breath on every exhale as the water in the air begins to freeze into an icy mist.
A trident emerges from the mist followed by its scaled owner and my bow is already dropping as I roll to the side. Unclasping my spear I counter from a prone position, lacking strength but the point spearing into the naga's abdomen anyway due to the force of his charge.
Ripping my spear out, another icicle slams past my head as I roll, then another and another as I spy the caster standing on the tip of the bow. A naga siren, smaller than their brutish counterparts but making up for that fact with powerful ice magic.
Ducking the next icicle, I barge my shoulder into the wounded naga, mounting him on the floor and slamming my spear through his eye and into the deck below, splintering the wood. Hopping over his corpse, I hold his torso up in front of me like a shield as barrages of icicles continue to bombard me.
With a sickening squelch his torso is all but blended by a localised blizzard, a vortex of blue energy yanking the corpse from my hands and launching it across the deck. The siren, a cruel looking smirk on her face gestures towards me with a flourish as I push myself towards cover.
A flash of shadow and the retort of a pistol sound out as her head disintegrates. The captain, now stood behind her gives me a jaunty wave as he disappears once more, appearing in the shadow of another naga nearby and stabbing his ornate dagger into the back of its head.
Definitely a rogue with moves like that.
Shaking my head in bemused disbelief, my bow is up again. One, two three shots and two more naga on the deck fall dead, my third arrow catching one of the scaly invaders mid leap and sending them back into their watery home.
A flash from my side and I all but throw myself across the deck as the air explodes behind me with the splintering of wood. Without looking back I throw myself into the fray, spear lashing out whenever I can catch one of the naga engaged with the crew, as I move through the mist obscured patches of the deck, relying on my improved senses to aid the crew who aren't faring nearly as well in the hours before sunrise.
Move, move, move is my motto as I ignore the bow in favour of the spear. My arrows are limited and sourcing more while at sea will be a problem. I dance through the thickest fighting picking my targets carefully while trying to conserve magic and energy for should things turn.
Fortunately, it looks like we are winning. Ernalf is bulldozing his way through Naga, occasionally stopping to literally bat them off the boat mid leap. The captain is on one part of the deck, then halfway up the ship, then back as he shadowsteps around the fight, pistol barking and knife lashing out with grim accuracy at eyes and soft bits.
I notice Elena rushing out of the doorway to the lower deck. As she exits she turns and touches her ornate staff to the threshold. In a flash and a deep thrum of magical energy the doorways are suddenly blocked by writhing mists.
"Alric, the passengers and noncombatants are secure!" she yells across the deck. "Brace for expulsion!"
Seeing the crew all stop what they are doing and grab rigging, or literally stab their weapons into the wood beneath them clues me in that I might want to hold on to something. Reaching out to some sturdy netting, I weave myself through the ropes holding on as tightly as I can.
"Tidemother expel these wicked creatures back to the depths!" She swings her staff and censer over her head in wide circles, sinking to her knees as a symbol etches itself into the air above her.
I thought things were icy before, but I realise now that it was only a tribute to cold. A swirling hurricane of wind erupts and every living naga on the outside of the ship is swept up into a swirling cyclone of icy wind. The chill is biting as the naga's icy mist is also swept up in the arctic vortex.
"BEGONE!"
The air smashes down into the deck, forcing anyone standing to their knees as the naga smash into the ship and are then launched off the sides by the overspill of wind. It's all I can do to hold on to the rigging and not get blown off with them.
The Tidesage pants, still down on one knee as the exertion catches up to her.
A flash of metal in the air is the only warning we get as my instincts go wild again. My bow is up in my hand immediately as I fire off three arrows at inhuman speeds towards the threat dropping on to her from above.
A hiss and a grunt sound out, alerting Elena to her plight. She's too slow to rise after her exertion though.
Throwing caution to the wind as the shadow above lands on the rigging and makes to leap at her again, I launch myself forward, grabbing her by the shoulder and throwing her at the captain. He catches her in the midriff as the shadow lands where she was lay, backhanding me casually towards the railing.
I roll with the blow, tumbling lightly but intentionally across the deck and jumping back to my feet closer to the mast. Turning to observe my attacker I stiffen at the sight.
It's a naga. Just one. But nothing like the ones we just fought. He stands an entire torso above me, thick black-purple scales rippling up his body, with cruel spikes emerging from every fin. In one hand he holds a swinging chain with a cruel hook on the end and in the other a barbed cutlass dripping with black ichor.
"Cuurious prey." It hisses. "Traitor to the queen, Kul Tiran far from home and the desperate remnant of Menethil's rampage." He points his sword at each of us as he speaks, ignoring Ernalf entirely who actually looks a little put out at being dismissed.
The naga turns towards the captain and Elena, leaving me to its back, dismissing me entirely.
"Weren't your kind supposed to be extinct, high elf?"
The captain stiffens, pulling himself to his feet.
"Weren't your kind supposed to be rutting with your murloc pets. Naga?"
The hulking brute just laughs cruelly.
"I am Tidelord Rrangaz. This vessel and all on it belong to us now."
"I don't thin-"
The naga lashes out before Ernalf can finish, forcing the man to deflect the hook with his massive hammer. It all but knocks him off his feet just to block and he is not a small man.
"You have no place to bargain, slave. You have no chance to stop me." He hisses, amused.
The captain flickers before appearing on the brute's back and stabbing the naga in the back of the neck. His dagger skitters off the thick scales however and the brute reaches out to grab him, barely missing as Alric lands up in the rigging.
Pulling up my bow I make to let off a shot, but the naga disengages Alric and bullrushes me, my arrow literally bouncing off his chest as he reaches onto his back and throws what looks like a bundle of barbed ropes high over my head.
Wait, he missed?
I attempt to dodge but the hook lashes out, grabbing the center of whatever he threw at me and yanking it down towards me so quickly I barely see a flash of movement as I am wrapped up in a thick net.
"Stay there, traitor spawn. The bounty on your kind as slaves in Vash'jir will feed my spawn for a year."
"Elena, Ern. Play catch the skrog." The captain yells from above as his two crewmates take positions on either side of the brute. He lets out a hissing chuckle again as he observes his opposition.
"Pitiful," he barks. "I've had better resistance from goblins."
Ernalf glows red, letting out an almighty roar as his hammer begins to glow. Locking eyes with the scaled brute he stomps his foot, once. The wooden boards of the deck rumble as a colossal shockwave leaps across the deck battering into the naga and peppering him with splinters. Ernalf stomps again before charging the scaled bastard head on.
The naga brings his blade up to intercept, but ice starts crawling up his arms as Elena channels behind him, her mist elemental billowing in a cast of its own as two streams of water flow across the naga's scales, freezing as it grows.
With a flex of his muscles the ice shatters. It held just long enough that Ernalf takes him in the midsection. Hammer leaving the first wound of the fight as the naga's eyes bulge out in pain. In response he whips out with his tail, returning the blow as Ernalf flies back towards the bow, landing roughly on his back with a pained grunt.
The naga is playing with them. He wants to take us alive and it's evident.
Elena stands alone against him as the captain prepares something above. "Hold him, Elena, just a moment more" he yells as he fiddles with something in his pouch. She channels again, her elemental throwing itself at the brute to attempt to buy her time. The bastard's tail flash-freezes to the deck as she unleashes her spell.
I can't reach my fucking knife. I even try biting through the rope but it stands strong, binding me to the deck. The crew are paralysed in indecision. They aren't warriors, just sailors and this foe is beyond them.
The ice shatters once again as the Tidelord slithers towards her languidly. The elemental attempts to go for his eyes but with a single slash of his claws it dissipates. Elena lets out a shocked gasp as the connection is forcefully ended, almost collapsing in place at the shock.
She stares up at the brute fearlessly, staff in one hand and censer in the other as she chants under her breath, glaring all the while.
Think dammit, there's a way out of this. To help her.
The naga continues his slow walk, a dark smirk on his face as he looks at her.
She sinks to her knees in exhaustion, unable to call another ritual as I struggle against my binds.
"You are a little too troublesome for me little sage. You don't need both legs for what we need you for." He brandishes his blade towards her, grabbing her leg with one of his massive limbs and forcing it flat against the deck, angling the edge at her knee.
"No!" I yell out. "Leave her the fuck alone you scaled cunt!"
He looks at me in disdain.
"You'll get your turn," he hisses out, "Be patient."
The captain is still furiously mixing something above, snapping his gaze to Elena in terror every so often as he does.
Wait. Fuck I'm a fucking Bard now. And an idiot apparently.
Channelling the magic within me, I reach into my new talent, converting my natural magic into the power of the weave and lacing it through my throat.
Adopting the most arrogant tone I can, I reach out with my magic and form a connection between myself and Rrangaz.
"Hey snakebreath. Does your whore queen line you naga up single file or in blocks before she services you?"
He stumbles, wincing as he presses his hand to his eye. Pulling it away I see blood trickling from his eye socket as his now bloodshot slit eyes look at me with laser focus, Elena completely forgotten.
Vicious mockery, critical hit!
"You DARE besmirch her!?"
Oh, oh shit.
He's on me in a flash, weapons clattering to the ground behind him as he ignores everything else to hurt me. His fist lashes out taking me in the side of the head, then another, then another as he pounds me into the deck with his fists.
I'm dizzy after the first and sailing the cosmos with some very randy sirens after the second.
I feel like I hear the sharp crack of the captain's pistol, followed by an explosion of some sort. Then something warm and wet splatters across me as I pass out.
…
Dangerous. Very dangerous. To put yourself between a stranger and their death. Impressive though. Such radical disregard for one's own life. Someone could weaponize that against you, if you aren't careful.
"Who are you?"
One of eight and all of none. Sleep nascent soul. And observe as the cosmos blesses you once again.
Beniemiya
It might just be something in the water, both what you're drinking and what you serve to the guests that adore every meal you make. You're a savant when it comes to making meals, not just limited to Eastern dishes either. With a little experimentation, you can make almost anything into a mouth watering feast for both the taste buds and the eyes. The real problem isn't making a good meal but keeping all these greedy pigs from eating you out of house and home. Don't even try making hamburgers around any blonde ladies, it never ends well. Now, while cooking good food is a prize well worth it, you do also have a more useful aspect here. By channeling magical energy into your tools and ingredients as you work, you're able to 'enchant' the meal with a variety of useful effects. A hearty beef stew that lets a warrior heal their wounds much faster than normal, sugary sweets that give people the speed of the wind, a mighty hamburger that temporarily bulges the muscles to greater heights. Even negative effects are possible, if you want to taint your food that way. They only last for a temporary period and the effects tend to be fairly weak without a lot of mana put in but it makes your food all the more popular.
Gem Berry Seeds
A small, plastic six-pack planter containing six tiny sprouts. These rare plants produce what are easily one of the sweetest fruits found anywhere in this world. A single peach-sized fruit is as sweet as an entire chocolate cake! They're mainly used to make all natural sweeteners or potent liquors. Each one of these sprouts will take six months to grow to their full size, but once grown they will produce a ripe piece of fruit roughly once a week. They're relatively hardy plants, but have a tough time dealing with the cold. Should anything happen to your original six plants, a new planter pack will find its way into your home each spring.
Hearthfire - Basics
At this point, there isn't much to your home. It has an entryway, the main building has two floors, a fireplace, a kitchen, an outhouse, and you've even got a large bed. It may not be much at the moment, but you've got to start off somewhere. You gain the blueprints for basic housebuilding. As long as you can source the materials and manpower you could build your own home from prepared materials.
I'm not sure if it's a good idea for this… celestial power to encourage me to risk my life like this but I'm certainly not going to complain. This choice is again an easy one. The seeds aren't useful to me now. Housebuilding would be incredibly useful if I had any knowledge of carpentry or stone works so I could prepare my own materials to build with. Ultimately, Beniemiya is obviously the superior choice. My power wants me to be a singing, entertaining battle chef who hands out buffs like candy, quite literally in some cases? Fine. That works for me.
My grandmother will have a fit.
…
I awaken to trickling water and a sponge gently patting my head. My body aches like one big bruise but I am at least alive.
My eyes are tough to open, my face still swollen, but every time the water mists across my face I feel a little better.
I attempt to raise my head but gentle hands push me back down into bed.
"Calm Lendras. It's just me, Elena." She speaks softly, continuing to heal me as her hands knead the water into my sore muscles.
The misting crosses my eyes and they are suddenly a lot easier to open. Looking around the dimly lit room, I see the emblem of Kul Tiras on the wall, some maps and some pictures. Maybe of her family.
"So this is your cabin?" I look her in the eyes as she nods gently, continuing to tend to my bruises. It's dark outside and I'm not sure if it's the same night or if I've been out for a while.
"What… how long have I been out?" I ask hoarsely, throat parched and sore.
"Five days. We are just putting Azshara behind us and approaching the Durotar split. Two more days and we will arrive at Ratchet for emergency repairs." She murmurs, pressing the water to my arm and causing me to wince.
"How bad was it?" I murmur in attempt to not set off my throat. "Did we lose anyone?"
"Five crew, three immediately, two of their injuries later. They held up well. Most of the snakes were weak. My wards kept the passengers safe once I cleared out the infiltrators downstairs."
She sighs, clenching her fist a little as she does.
"What happened after the big guy punched me?" I ask gently.
"What didn't." she all but spits. "Alric overcharged that stupid gun of his and used up the last of his energy to step onto the naga's head. The pistol exploded. The naga's head exploded and Alric was lucky to only lose a finger."
"It's oka-"
"You were a single step from death you idiot. What possessed you to do such a stupid thing?" She stomps her foot as she shouts, the water that was trickling around my torso dropping from her concentration and soaking the sheets.
"He was going to maim you." I respond calmly. "I couldn't let that happen to anyone in front of me."
"I could live without my lower leg Lendras. You can't live without your head. Please don't put yourself in danger for me. I'm a big girl. I can look after myself."
I shrug in response.
"Noted and ignored. It wasn't about you I would have done the same for the captain or Ernalf. And I'd do it again in future."
She looks at me strangely for a moment before letting out a small sigh.
"I suppose you would, wouldn't you, you noble idiot. Thirty-three years old and some pissant Night elf has to jump in to save me."
"I'm twenty-six, I'm allowed to make stupid decisions."
She snorts in response.
"This bruising will have to heal on its own." She taps my throat. "Whatever you did when you gave the big guy a literal magic tongue lashing, it left some sort of energy in your throat I can't seem to bypass right now."
Huh I wonder If I can.
Pulling the weave into my hands I hum for a moment to find my pitch.
"As all the fighters come to rest, we greet them with our songs, we bring our music to the fore and heal them of their wrongs."
The song comes out hoarsely, but I manage to weave both the verbal AND somatic components of 'Cure Wounds' into the ditty, the energy suffusing my body and healing most of my bruising, including my throat.
"Thanks for dealing with the big stuff Elena or I never could have done that."
I don't get a response, turning to look at her she's staring at me in awe.
"What the fuck did you just do, did you just heal yourself with fucking music?"
"Uh yeah, I told you guys I fight with my lute right?" I'm sure I did tell them? It could be the concussion talking though.
She just stares at me with a flat look.
"I thought you meant maybe for morale? Not as an actual style of combat. And that magic felt weird that was not anything the mages or priests would use. Can you teach me?"
That makes me think, could I teach other people to be bards?
Poking the perk in my head gives me a clear answer. No. Not right now. I'd need to become a god to introduce the weave for general use. The only source that can be used for weave-based magic in this entire world is my Bard perk currently. No Mystra or equivalent? Then no weave.
I shake my head sadly.
"I wish. The world could use more music and healing both. Unfortunately, this is something unique to me."
She looks sad at that and looking at her a little more deeply she seems strung out.
Singing my little tune again I poke her in the side and use my last cast of Cure Wounds. She startles and the magic infuses her and she sits a little straighter.
"Thank you." She sighs. "Now can you cast that on the rest of the crew and maybe I can get some sleep."
I wince at that. I suppose I've been taking up her bed all this time.
"I'm sorry, I can only really do that twice a day at best currently. And given I've had your bed have you even had a proper rest this past five days?"
She shrugs.
"I took a hammock in one of the empty passenger berths. Necks killing but it works."
She moves towards the door, pausing with her hand on the latch.
For a moment neither of us speak, the ship creaks around us and somewhere outside I hear someone yelling instructions.
Ordinary, banal sounds. We are still alive.
"You almost died." She says quietly. No longer angry, just exhausted.
"I know."
"I thought I was about to watch it happen." She whispers, shoulders sagging as she does.
Pivoting in the bed I swing my legs off the side.
"Come sit here in front of me." I indicate between my knees on the edge of the bed. Looking at me strangely she complies anyway. Pulling her stool over towards me.
Without her signature grey robe, instead wearing a white linen blouse and loose patched-leather pants I could almost believe she was a different person.
She sits with her back to me at my indication as I channel a little wild magic into my hands. I never learned to heal like a druid but I picked up a few tricks along the way. Placing my hands gently on her shoulder blades and paying special attention to her neck I knead the magic into her skin. Rubbing my hands from the middle of her back and back up to her neck I slowly rub the pressure out of her sore muscles.
After the third pass she lets out an explosive groan. Removing my hands I allow her to gather herself.
"Thanks Lendras."
"No problem, anytime." I reply quietly.
She turns to look at me fully, not the Tidesage or ship's officer. But just Elena.
"You didn't hesitate. Or calculate. You just… moved."
I shrug.
"I don't like watching people get hurt."
"That isn't what I meant." She studies me for a minute. She's not judging me I think, it looks like she's trying to solve a puzzle.
"You threw yourself in front of death for strangers. That isn't normal."
I smile gently.
"And you took on a naga Tidelord on your own and didn't back down. Nothing we did was normal."
"That's at least my job."
"And protecting people is mine. No matter how it happens."
She steps closer and checks my throat again, fingers brushing my jaw as she tilts my head. Her hands linger for a moment, and I notice a slight tremor in her fingers.
"You're still exhausted." I state firmly.
"So are you." She replies glibly.
We stand for a moment, closer than expected as the air seems to heat up around us, the noise outside fading to a distant memory.
She steps away first, stretching the moment, but not breaking it.
"You should rest," she says quietly, "You've done enough for an entire trip let alone the week and a half it's been."
I nod.
She side eyes me for a moment, before heading to the door. I heave myself out of bed and follow her. I realise a moment later I only have my loincloth on.
"Do you know where my clothes are, I can clear out and let you get your bed back?"
She freezes, looking at me properly as she seems to realise I'm practically naked. "Elena? Are you okay?" I query.
She nods and turns as if to leave but seems distracted. My hand lifts instinctively, stopping just short of her shoulder. She spins in place and looks me in the eyes fully.
A spark passes between us and a moment later her hand comes up to brush mine.
"I don't want to be alone right now." She admits, voice barely above a whisper.
I step forward, hand reaching out but stopping just short of her cheek.
"Then don't be." I whisper back.
She searches my face as if waiting for me to laugh, or step away.
I don't.
She steps towards me breathing deeply, still staring at me intently. A moment later her face is close to mine.
We breathe the same air for a moment as I tilt my head down. My heart is pounding in my chest as the moment sits still in time. She's not small but with me at over seven feet tall the position we are frozen in leaves us in an awkward stance.
"Elen-"
"Shut up."
She grabs me by the back of my neck, yanking me down and catching my lips with her own. Her other hand snaking out and latching the door as she all but drags me towards the bed. Pushing me back onto the cushioned surface she climbs on top of me and resumes our kiss, tongue darting into my mouth inviting my own to enter hers.
I grab her by the waist and she moans into my mouth as I trace my fingers gently up her back.
Lifting herself up she removes her shirt in a single motion revealing a modest pair of breasts. Placing one hand on the small of her back I lean up and take one of her nipples in my mouth as her own hands move down towards my groin. A moment later her hands move to my loincloth, tugging the rear knot and pulling it away from my body revealing me to her fully.
Standing up over me she pulls the knot out of the string holding her pants up, and they drop to pool at her ankles revealing herself to me in return.
"Fucking hell, you are a vision of the beauty of the sea made manifest." I whisper. She flushes, looking at me with hooded eyes and licking her lips.
Kicking our clothes off the bed she lowers herself on top of me again and taking the initiative instead of lowering her mouth to mine I pull her up my body, so she is instead mounting my face. As she lowers her glistening lips towards my mouth, my tongue darts out, lapping at her nectar, before parting her folds and slipping towards her clit.
She rises up in an impressive show of acrobatics and spins so she is facing down my body. Lowering her head she takes me fully in her mouth and I let out a groan, burying my face into her wetness.
The mood of our coupling changes, from sensual to aggressive, each of us racing the other to orgasm, challenging the other to make them come first. Her lips frantically pumping my shaft with one hand gently caressing my balls, as I flick her clit gently with my tongue, making light circles around her nub as one hand tweaks a nipple and I bring the other up to her vulva. Parting her lips gently I slip one finger inside her, hooking towards her navel while continuing to keep a steady rhythm on her clit.
Between her nipple, the slow rhythmic penetration and the attention I lavish on her clit she has no chance. She bucks, her mouth slipping off my shaft with a pop as she comes. Maintaining rhythm, I coax her into another orgasm, then another as she shudders above me.
Lifting her up I gently place her under me, spinning her around and placing myself between her legs as she comes down from her orgasms.
No words pass between us, I seek permission with my eyes, and she grants it with her hands. Grabbing my hips she yanks me towards her. Trailing kisses up her neck and to the lobe of her ear I lightly nibble on her earlobe.
"I hope you have more left in you beauty of the tides, because I owe you so many more and I always pay my debts," I whisper aggressively into her ear as I line myself up with her.
As I guide myself into her she bucks again as my lips capture her neck. Kissing aggressively down her throat I start up a steady rhythm. Slowly at first, then picking up speed as she eases into the penetration, I hold myself up on one arm, using the other to gently caress her body as my lips continue in service of her neck and ears.
"More, more Lendras" she screams, nails digging into my back as my already fast rhythm becomes pistoning thrusts.
One last shuddering orgasm from her and I can no longer hold myself back. I release myself inside her, each of us riding the crest of the others orgasm to prolong our own.
We separate, panting, each collapsing onto the bed as our energy leaves us.
And just as I am about to fall asleep a pale hand snakes across my chest, her leg slipping over mine.Last edited: Feb 24, 2026 Like Quote ReplyReport Reactions:Jonnoda, Nikita02, sakura89_luis and 486 others