Dungeons & Dragons: Heroes of a New World (IC)

[The Jeffinator]

"Thank you, oh great warrior!" cried the old man. "Thank you for saving my grandson and our village! And may the Gods bless you!" The others joined in with the old man, their village elder. They began singing and dancing in Bowen's honor, for he had just spent weeks in an underground cave system hunting down the gang of Rabagers (short humanoid badgers) that had kidnapped the elder's young grandson. They had demanded two wagons -- one full of food, and the other full of gold. Otherwise, they would kill the boy.

Bowen had arrived as quickly as he could after the request came into the Guild, and after he had found the Rabagers' camp within the caves, he rescued the boy, then returned to the caves and slaughtered the entire group. He searched throughout the cave system, killing any spare Rabagers he found hiding. After exiting, he sent several blasts at the entrance, caving it in so no more creatures would nest there.

He smiled as one of the more beautiful women of the village danced for him. Then two of her friends joined her. Bowen winked as some of the men stared at him with their mouths open. He escorted the three girls to his room at the inn. What a night that turned out to be.

The next morning, the villaged thanked him again, and handed him his payment -- 2000 crowns -- half for him and half for the Guild. He shook the elder's hand one more time, waved and smiled to everyone, and then partially transformed, just allowing his wings and tail to manifest. Holding his bag and cloak in his arms, he flapped his wings and took off into the sky.

He rested only when he needed to, and two days later, he landed on Paragon Island, which was the Crusaders' Guild's headquarters. It was located in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. Returning to full elf form, Bowen made his way through the streets of the city, a place where the Crusaders and their families lived. In the center of Paragon was Dariot Castle, where Lord Dariot of Scorbasin had started the Guild many ages before.

Up the stairs and through the massive front doors, Bowen entered the castle. On the third floor of the West Wing, he entered his room -- he had no need for a house or his own land, so he just stayed in a room at the castle. He dropped his bag and cloak by the door and made his was past his bed and desk, shedding his clothes along the way. Past those and the bookcases and chairs was a wardrobe. He pulled out a robe, slipped it on, grabbed a towel, and headed out of the room and down the hall.

"Morning, Brael," he said to a fellow castle-dweller as he passed him. He then decended another set of stairs, followed a path out back of the castle, and entered the men's bath house. The women's bath house was just down the path a little further. The bath house attendant led him to an empty tub, filled it halfway with water, and then left and returned with a large pot of boiling water, right off the fire. He dumped it into the cold water to make it nice and warm.

"Thank you," said Bowen as the boy left. He closed the door to the room and hung up his robe and towel on a hook. Easing himself into the water, he relaxed a bit, and then reached over and grabbed a fresh bar of soap from the shelf nearby. He lathered up and rinsed off, dunked his head under the water a few times, and then stepped out and put his robe back on. He dried his hair with the towel as he walked out of the room, thanking the boy again. The kid ran and got a coworker and they dumped the tub over a nearby sewage grate.

Back in his room, Bowen dressed in a nice blue tunic over a white shirt. He pulled on pants and boots, put his hair neatly in a pony tail, and made his way to the Grand Hall, grabbing a large pouch out of his traveling bag along the way. The Hall -- a huge rectangular room with many tables and desks -- was the main room used for the command center of the Guild. Checking in with one of the mission directors, Bowen gave half of the gold in the pouch to the Guild and kept half for himself, as was standard.

After having a few words with Guild Master Ramsor, Bowen took a week to relax. Then, after receiving a letter via magic bird messenger that the American Empire was having trouble with orcs, he was asked to lead a team and take care of the problem.

"Great..." Bowen sighed to himself. Normally he would fly to his missions, but with an entire team going, he had to resort to sea travel. After loading his things in his cabin on the ship, he crossed his arms and leaned against a building near the docks, waiting to see who all was going to be on his team. He had been offered a chance to look over their backgrounds, but opted to see them in person and then form his own opinion.

[lil_geek]

Aella, sent her gear ahead and spent her last night on land camping in the woods that surrounded the Dariot Castle. It wasn’t that she was afraid of the ocean, or the ship, or sea serpents (every time she traveled by water, she secretly hoped for a serpent attack) she just couldn’t stand the accommodations. She hated the small, stinking, damp and dark cabins and nothing she tried could make ocean travel tolerable. She heard the captains always have the biggest cabins, so she tried sleeping with them but never got much sleep. The same was true when she tried sleeping in the open air of the deck with the crew. At sea, she welcomed the distraction of a man’s cock. Or a woman’s tongue. Or a bottle of alcohol. Or a fight.

She swore to herself there would be no trouble this time. She spent the night in the woods finding her center, meditating. She felt ready and confident because this time she had a plan. She would distract herself on this voyage by checking and rechecking her gear, she would be polite, and she wouldn’t drink. She would keep herself under a tight rein until the party was off the ship and killing orcs. Then she would let loose.

“Orcs.”

Slowly, Aella said the word. She said it aloud as she walked towards the dock and the awaiting ship. The sound of it, the way it rumbled in the back of her throat, how it flowed over her rounded lips – it never failed to bring a smile to her face. It brought to mind the stench of flesh, the bitter taste of blood, the sound of death-howls and squelch of mangled corpses beneath her boots.

Killing them just made her feel so good.

It was only the thought of killing orcs that put a spring in the Amazon’s step as she eyed the ship. It looked the same as all the others to her and she could already smell the bilge water in its hull. She shook her head to chase away the negative thoughts, and tried to focus on the orcs she would encounter at the end of the voyage.

To someone watching Aella approach, she would seem surprising small from a distance, the impression being she was quite rather tiny. The balance of her faultless proportions, breast, waist, and hips flowing in an elegant undulating curve, the long graceful limbs and the delicate perfection of her elf-kind features combined to create the illusion of a fragile and beautiful young woman. Usually, the heavy weapons and gear she carried with her immediately shattered this impression. However, this morning she was dressed for traveling, not war. Instead of her usual armor, she wore the typical linen tunic of the Amazons, it was short, coming down to mid-thigh, belted at the waist, gathered over one shoulder and barely covering the opposite breast. The breeze coming off the water tossed her long blond tresses and flipped at the hem of her tunic.

From a distance, she looked like flower ready for plucking, up close her thorns were obvious. She was indeed, quite tall, even for an Amazon warrior and her smooth flesh covered the long muscles of a fighter. Despite her casual clothing, she was not unarmed, the daggers in her boots (suitable for throwing and stabbing) provided her with all the personal protection she needed.

Nearing the gangplank, she saw no one on the deck that didn’t fit the image of a typical sailor, and quickly scanned the area near the vessel for someone just slightly out of place.

[Zak1000]

A power hungry wizard has gone completely mad and has taken a a whole whole village ransom with his cult followers, who would only stop if one hundred thousand worshiped him as a deity. Parlin found it all extremely cliche. He was sent to said village in a team of mercenaries. He like being on teams, it gave him somebody to talk to.

"You've got to think of the philosophy of it all." he explained to a fellow-merc as the fight really heated up. "I mean, take these cult guys? Who's to say there not under some mind-control spell or something... You can't trust magic, y'know... Or maybe their just really naive, easily led. Maybe the wizard threatened their families? What if these guys have wives and kids?" Parlin asked, taking an arrow, pulling back his bow, and nailing one of the subjects of his pity in the head. He saw that his team mate was clearly not listening. "What's the world comin' to?" he asked nobody in particular.

As usual, the Crusader Guild was victorious, and they all headed back to HQ to get their share of the pay and another assignment. The journey seemed quick and uneventful, as most of his traveling was. When he arrived he found that he'd been picked special to go kill some bothersome orcs. Again, cliche, but the pay this time would be double. Couldn't argue with a sacka' crowns.

The Kitty-Amazon and confused moralist relaxed for a couple days until the ship was supposed to leave. In this time he pondered whether or not orcs were just some oppressed minority, practiced his archery, and caught up on some sleep.

All too soon though, the time of his departure had arrived. He woke up, packed everything he'd need into one small bag, and walk toward where the ship was waiting. He stopped though, just as soon as he was about to board, and looked back. He could have sworn he'd.. Yes... That was an amazon. He'd know one anywhere. He was nearly killed by a group of them a years ago in one of his pre-guild adventures, hell he was almost one himself. She was pretty. He gave her a big smile for a second when he thought their eyes met, then he got on to the ship.

"Reporting for duty sir." he said as he approached Bowen. He'd seen him around Paragon Island a couple times, but never got the chance to work for him. He'd asked around when he was told who would be leading this job, and apparently he was pretty great at what he did.

[The Jeffinator]

"Well hello there, ma'am," Bowen said to Aella as she passed him. He smiled and winked, and then looked up to see a half-Pantheran boarding the ship. The man turned around and looked to Bowen from on the ship.

He gave her a big smile for a second when he thought their eyes met, then he got on to the ship.

"Reporting for duty sir." he said as he approached Bowen

Bowen scratched his head and wondered why the man waited to get on the ship and then call out to him. "I'll be on the ship shortly," he called back to the man with a little laugh. He was still leaning against a building near the docks, opting to board the ship once everyone else did so he could see who was coming.

[lil_geek]

Aella was having no trouble finding males who looked like they didn't belong on the docks.

One was smiling at her as he walked right past her and boarded the vessel that was to take her party to their job in America. He didn't look like a sailor, so she figured it was possible he was one of the guild members being tasked with killing some pesky orcs.

"Well hello there, ma'am,"

There was another one. This one, a dark-haired male winked at her as he spoke. He was was leaning casually against a building but despite his relaxed pose he had the look of someone who would act quickly, if he felt the need. He clearly wasn't a sailor and she doubted he was just standing 'round to pass the time.

"He could be the one." she thought to herself. He could be Bowen, their soon to be leader. Or not. She wasn't sure she wanted to get caught in a conversation with a stranger and if it was Bowen, she'd have ample time to get to know him once the ship left port.

"My name's Aella, you may call me that. I assume I'll see you on board?"

[The Jeffinator]

"Yes," Bowen replied, taking in her beauty. He smiled and shifted his arms. "Nice to meet you, Aella. My name is quite long, but I go by Bowen. I'll be commanding this little operation of ours."

Bowen walked over to her as he talked and held out his hand, leaning in a little. "It's going to be a long trip. It can be very lonely out at sea... or not..." he winked at her.

[ARNeil1832]

Barren watched the ship from the roof of a nearby inn. The falcons superior sight was a favorite of his, and the young woman making her way onto the ship was candy to his ultra sensitive orbs. But eventually she moved out of sight and he was left to find other things to stare at until he decided it was time to go.

He didn't really like traveling by ship. Sailors were a mostly superstitious lot and didn't care much for a man who could change into animals. But he had yet to discover a suitable form that swam, and the flight to the mainland was simply too far for him.

Swooping down off his perch he landed on the railing of the ship, cocking his head at an elven looking man he recognized. His name didn't come to mind but Barren was sure he had seen the guy before, must have been a past job. Oh well. The change rose within him, as his body began to shift back into his natural form. It didn't take long, in a flutter of feathers he had become a man again. The world seemed oddly flat, and undefined, the horizon was suddenly far off in the distance and the brilliant sapphire sea seemed dull to his eye. Human senses were so boring!

He was dressed in a loose fitting robe adorned with the feathers and claws of various animals. His hair was kept short out of necessity, as otherwise it would simply become tangled in his work. In his left hand he held a long gnarled staff made of oak, and at his hip a three daggers were sheathed in a worn leather case.

"Afternoon" he said to the elf man, "On assignment? I was supposed to meet a team here, I think I'm a little late but the sunshine and warm breeze called me away"

[Zak1000]

Waited on the ship, and tried not to make it obvious that he was wtaching Bowen and Aella. He had simply noticed that this man who was supposedly leading them was talking to that pretty amazon. He didn't like this. The beautiful women was gonna get stolen away even before she got on the ship! He grumbled something to himself about that and jumped nearly a foot when someone came from behind him and starte speaking to him.

The elves furry ears pointed up. He sighed, currenlty distracted from the matter he felt was top priority, but he smiled at Barren. "Yes, yes, we've got a team meeting up here. Yu're coming with us to fight some orcs then, right? It seems as though we'll be working together. I'm Parlin." he looked this charicter over careful "Have we met before?"

[lil_geek]

She watched him intently as he moved closer to her, his outstretched hand garnering special attention. It held no weapon… then she recalled the greeting popular among many males – physically checking for hidden weapons by grasping hands. She took his hand and squeezed it in her own – assuring him that she held no weapons secretly in ready to attack him.

Men can be so silly – her daggers were in her boots.

"It's going to be a long trip. It can be very lonely out at sea... or not..." he winked at her.

She raised an eyebrow, “All those people, on that boat, the confined space…” She could hear the dread in her voice and she stopped abruptly. She knew she better continue down that path.

She took a different tack, “Yes, the trip will be long and give us plenty of time to train. By the time the voyage is over, I am sure you will have us all whipped into shape and fighting as a cohesive unit.”

She didn’t believe it. She might be willing to fight at a man’s side, but she’d never trust one to watch her back.

[Remec]

A grumble from someone unnoticed came from just behind Aella and Bowen, followed swiftly by the dull roar of a throat being cleared and a hefty splat of fresh phlegm upon the dock. "Bah, cohesiveness is overrated. Better to get to know who you're fighting with and that they can do the job."

Out of the shadows of the building Bowen had been leaning on stepped a smaller than average man dressed in clothing, armor, and belongings that bore a mottled pattern of brick red, stone grey, and assorted blacks and browns that you might see when looking at the weathered wood used to shore-up, frame, or cover many a typical city building. He nodded to the pair.
"Morum...Bowen...Aella. That's a good start. So, where's this mission, eh?" the dwarf said as he scratched his beard and spat once more.
-----

[Erlind]

Barris had been in the American Empire for a a couple of months. He didn't carry much and didn't need to. He hunted for most of his food, he was used to much colder conditions and so just wore some light armor and never anything else, and he didn't even carry a weapon. Barris was walking down the road towards the next town when the next bend revealed what looked like a small caravan being held up.

He didn't bother trying to sneak up on them as he'd found his white fur made it pretty futile and so it wasn't long before half the bandits were there to greet him. There were seven of them playing with their blades and trying to look menacing, but it was clear none of them had much experience with his kind before. “My friends and I were just saying you should move along without any trouble,” said an especially ugly one picking his nails with his dagger.

“Nope,” came Barris's deep voice. As he advanced an enormous quarterstaff materialized in his hands. He could use his claws, but he could tell these little ones weren't worth it. It was always such a pain to get the blood all out.

“You want a cut of the action then. One of the women too?” he asked quickly losing his bravado. “Nope,” Barris told him once again nearly upon them. The man tried to say something else, but never got the words out. His quarterstaff made contact with his head and threw him to the ground. Instantly the other six men were on him and more were rushing out leaving their victims behind. Two of the men clung to him driving blades into his body. He let a roar out at the pain and began to flail trying to shake them off. All the while his quarterstaff was knocking out people left and right. Once he shook off his two uninvited friends he stomped on the chest of one while his staff whipped the other off the ground by two feet before slamming him right back down. Barris pulled a remaining short sword out of his shoulder before noticing a final highwayman running away screaming oaths of revenge. He turned to the frightened victims and chuckled a little before turning back and launching his staff through the air and pegging him in the back of the head causing him to literally bite the dirt.

“I can't believe that actually worked,” Barris laughed out loud, “that never works, I thought I was going to have to chase down the little bitch.” His laughter was a roar that echoed against the sky.

“Thank you kind sir, we don't have much, but ...,” Barris shook his head at the old man who'd been speaking and interupted him. “Don't need anything old timer. You folks just move along, I'm doing the same.” The caravan had been ransacked and they were already starting to put everything back together, but it gave him the time to start passing it up. However the old man's voice stopped him once again. “Wait!” Barris turned back to the man with an impatient look on his face.

“While back we heard about a venture you might be interested in.” And that was how he heard about the campaign against the orcs. He had to rush and there were a few days he didn't even stop to hunt for food, but now he was standing at the docks hoping this was the right boat. The gangplank bowed a bit as he went up it. Once he got up onto the deck he called out. “Is this the orc smashing boat and is there still room?”

[ARNeil1832]

"Yes, yes, we've got a team meeting up here. You're coming with us to fight some orcs then, right? It seems as though we'll be working together. I'm Parlin. Have we met before?"

"As I matter a fact I think we may have, were you on that foray against the Clerics of Vaprak? You know the blokes that actually managed to organize those damned swamp trolls?" Barren smiled at the peculiar thought, it still seemed bizarre to him that the vile creatures had names let alone the intelligence to be organized. "Cursed things ate all our mages and we had to burn the whole forest to escape?"

It had been a long week of rather unsuccessful skirmishes until a lucky arrow had dropped one of the Human clerics directing the creatures. After that it was just a matter of wounding the trolls and watching them eat each other. Good times he supposed.

"Anyway yeah I suppose we're off to smite the orcish horde, damned stinking things trodding all over the place slaughtering animals for pleasure and burning trees for fun" the druid shook his head slowly. The noise the approaching Grizzlok made caught his attention, and he looked up to see the massive creature making his way up the gangplank. "Holy shit a White Grizzlok..."

[Erlind]

Barris had gotten used to people cursing when they saw him and he just laughed. “That's right little one,” he chuckled, “and this white grizzolk was told this was a ship bound for lots of fun orc killing. Am I in the right place or do I need to find my fun elsewhere?” He wasn't positive, but he was pretty sure that a lot of people had lied to him just to get rid of him. Barris had gotten used to this and now usually gave people the opportunity to get rid of him if they thought they needed to. He surveyed the deck and smiled at the people on it. Nearly all of them looked like they could handle themselves in one way or another on the battlefield and those who he doubted were probably sailors.

[The Jeffinator]

"Well, shouldn't you all already be whipped into shape? Do I need to provide additional training?" Bowen asked with a smile. He started to say something else, and then the dwarf Morum walked up. "Normally I do missions alone, but the Guild insisted I bring along a team for this one. Though I do prefer going solo, I also know the benefit of a great team. And if the Guild chose all of you to be on my team, I expect you are all very skilled."

"As for the mission," Bowen said to the dwarf, "we're headed to the American Empire. They've been having issues with orcs terrorizing their farmlands, and they are paying quite the sum for the Guild to solve the problem."

Bowen wished he could just fly there, resting on the scattered islands of the sea when he needed to. He could get there within a few days, but then he'd have to sit around and wait for his team. It was times like these that he wished the Guild's base wasn't on its own island in the middle of the ocean.

"Hello," he said when the white grizzolk called out, "So, you're looking for the orc killing boat, eh? Well, you've found it. I didn't know we had any white grizzolks in the Guild, though. Nonetheless, welcome to the team." The bear seemed a little out of place. Bowen wondered how long he had been with the Guild. He had an air about him that led the elf-dragon to believe he must have very recently joined. Though, he was definitely there for a reason -- people didn't travel to isolated islands in the middle of the ocean for nothing.

[Zak1000]

Shook his head and sighed deeply at the thought of that particular battle. "I thought it was about time the swamp trolls were... unionized. It's unfortunate that, once again, not only did the oppressors cause this upraising to fail, but also ended up destroying an irreplaceable habitat." It did, of course, occur to Parlin, that he was a tool of, if not the oppressor, but it didn't stop him. He was good at empathizing with the enemy, and although most would call this a weakness, somehow he was still seen as one of the bet and brightest the guild ha to offer.

"Yes, I remember meeting you now." he said, turning to look at where their leader, the amazon, a dwarf and a white grizzzolk where speaking to each other. "It seems we got on board early. "Look over there, I do believe that's most of the rest of our team." he observed.

[lil_geek]

With a mental shrug, she watched the advantages of group tactics fly out the window. While not what she expected from a group assignment, she was perfectly happy to rely only on herself. After all, she shouldn’t really expect a man to understand the finesse of combat in all its forms. This limit wouldn’t be a problem for her, alone she was more than capable of thrashing her way through a line of Orcs and calling it a party. Group training would have been a useful way to distract her during the voyage but she was confident that she would find something else to do.

She greeted the dwarf with a nod and a smile of appreciation, admiring what seemed to be the racial ability to spit with precision.

“As long as there is Orc blood to feed my blade, and Orc howls to sound like music to my ears, I will be satisfied. Until then, I’m sure we will have a pleasant voyage, telling tales, comparing weapons and getting to know each other.”

The wind blew a lock of blonde hair across her check and she pushed it behind her shoulder with a girlish flick of her wrist.

"I'll see you aboard."

Aella turned to the ship and made her way up the gangplank to greet the others.

[ARNeil1832]

"Well I'll be damned we've got just about every race in the guild on board..." Barren said turning away toward the ocean. His animal forms called to him longingly, it was a beautiful day why was he still trotting around on two feet? The sun and the waves were so inviting! He decided a sea going form should be his next project. A turtle maybe? Or a shark... he'd been told that Tiger Sharks were fearsome creatures, though a dolphin seemed the swiftest and that would be a rather practical choice. He'd have to speak with one... maybe a conversation with such an intelligent creature would be enlightening. Barren shook the thought away. He was getting distracted! Focus on the task at hand: Meet the team. He decided Parin seemed like a decent enough bloke, so he'd continue the conversation.

"Anyway it's good to so many races cooperating, who'd have thought that an elf and dwarf could greet one another without at least swearing? Know anything about our team leader?"

[Zak1000]

Parlin did not want to seem rude, and was embaressed when it took him a momment to register what Barren was saying. He was watching almost longingly as that amazon he'd seen easier borded the ship. "Oh- Uh- Yes, definatly. Few things can bring races together like the good pay this kind of a job offers." he said, sounding cheerful as he looked to be fixing his hair. If they were going to be alone on a boat forso long with attractive women, he wanted to be sure he made a great first impression.

"If you'll excuse me, I think I'd like to get aquinted with our teammates." he said "But is was nice meeting you again." he said politely, before walking toward the Amazon who'd just gotten on board. He smiled gave a little wave

"Hello! I saw you earlier. I had guessed you were coming on this mision. I'm Parlin." he spoke in his ussual freindly voice, trying to hold off flirtatiions until at least he knew her name. He hadn't had a real conversation with an Amazon... He'd been born of one, and onced nearly killed by a group of them, but never a conversation, he liked the idea of trying new things though.

[Remec]

"I'll see you aboard", Aella had said before she headed up the gangplank. Morum watched how the sea breeze was doing its best to entice the hem of the Amazon warrior's short shft into riing even higher and revealing the firm, muscular curves the fabric had been hinting at when she stopped to speak to him and Bowen. The dwarf nodded to himself as a low whistle of a sigh slipped between his lips and ruffled his beard slightly.

"Anvil and Hammer, make it so", he said to no one in particular. He turned to regard their assigned leader and looked the man over. "Man" was obviously meant strictly in terms of Bowen's maleness. Cross-breed...interesting...I wonder if he might let me have a small drop of blood or a few live hairs.

Morum eyed the ship they were about to sail off on. Nevermind. He doubted there was much in the way of a lab onboard. Whatever passed for one was, no doubt, taken up with weapons work--repair, maintain, rennovate, improve--the mantra of his profession echoed always within him.

The dwarf extended a hand to Bowen. "Full name's Morum Whistletool. We're taking this all the way to the Americas? There is combat pay for this mission, right? No, not for the orcs...heck, no...I mean for taking us 'cross the water in the floating deathbox."

A mischievous gleam came to Morum's eyes and his beard rose on his cheeks as a smirk creased his face. "Permission to do some upgrades to our vessel while en route?" he asked.
-----

[The Jeffinator]

Bowen smiled and sighed as he watched Aella board the ship. He had not chosen the best words when he greeted her, but after thinking about it for a moment, it was probably better that he did not make a good first impression. He was certain he could bed her if he put forth the effort, but what of the aftermath? He knew all to well what happened when a woman was given the best sex of her life -- he had more than enough memories of jumping out tavern windows and hopping rooftops to get away from females that had fallen in love with him and then reacted violently when he did not return the feelings. An what would happen if he angered this woman, an amazonian, in the middle of the ocean?

He shuddered as he pictured her castrating him. Maybe it was better to steer clear of her cabin until they docked in the mainland. Though, he doubted very much that there was anywhere on Earth he could hide that she couldn't find him.

"Yes," Bowen said, shaking his thoughts away and turning back to the dwarf. "We are being paid for the trip and the slayings. Emporer John's Royal Army is incompotent, as is their ruler... But, he is willing to unload a hefty pile of gold for us to accomplish what his military cannot -- 5000 crowns for each of us. We won't be bringing any back to the Guild, as they have opted to instead receive their share in the form of deeds to the farms that have already been destroyed. The Guild Master plans to rebuild these farms and provide additional income for the Guild."

When Morum asked about upgrades, Bowen smiled. "Of what nature would these upgrades be? I'm afraid I am rather hesitant, most dwarves would consider sinking a boat to the bottom of the sea to be an upgrade."

[Drakkwall]

Hark Stonepaw rode across the ocean, his axe tied to his arm ,his body transformed int oa werebear form, he was on top of a Water Dragon who had tormented the local fishermen of the mainlands, he was currently jamming his sharp claws ithrough the thick scales of the blue water serpent, its roar of pain and rage echoing through out the ocean as it trashed about, trying to loose the werebear as he used his sharp claws to hold himself onto the water dragon's skull, a necklace of water breathing making it pointless for the water dragon to try and remove him by diving.

It had been swimming nonstop for hours now and there was an island coming up, up ahead, seeing his chance the werebear jammed his claws into the open eyes of the sea serpent and it roared out as it was blinded by the massive werebear, as it practically flew acorss the ocean in its agonized blindness the were bear reared back its two arms and with a loud rumbling roar amshes them into its skull with sledgehammer like blow, cracking the bones beneath the thick sclaes and flesh, the dragon roared out in pitiful before the were bear made an acrobatic display, grabbed onto the whiskers of its lower jaw and janked them hard.

With a massive cracking sound the sea dragon's jaw was ripped off, its tongue hanging out useless as it fell down onto the shores with a loud thud, the rest of its body washing ashore as it laid there, dead. Hark Stonepaw transformed back int ohis human form and raised his great axe and roared out in victory to the Ourgha the Goddess of Battle. "OOOOOUUUUUUUURRRRRRGHAAAAAAA!!!"

He then turned around and smirked as the water bubbled at the end of the harbour, and a second water dragon emerged, it was the mate of the one he had killed, roaring in challenge he rushed out as the she dragon snapped at his body and he grasped her whiskers and swung himselfaround her neck and soon held the whiskers like reigns as she trashed about as he held her whiskers hard and didn't let go, making her unable to open her jaws or breathing poison.

Image the water dragon

[DormantEvil]

A month ago...

Naureth Bel was high up in the sky, and felt like she would touch the skies if she rose on the thermals any higher. Her large white kite fluttered slightly when she turned to follow the rising hot air, and went taunt again when she pulled out of the thermal and began to glide back down to earth at a comfortable slow pace. Up there she only had to worry about the occasional flying predator, or Dragon riders. When she flew lower the archers were her worst enemy. The city was up ahead a few miles, and when she had crossed over the rolling landscape and passed the tall strong walls she pulled the kite down and dived at the buildings and streets. Her speed dramatically changing when she purposefully avoided the wings of the kite catching the majority of the breeze.

Closer and closer to the ground she became, and some of the people walking around or selling wares on the streets below her began to look up and point. Some moving back out of her way as she pulled herself from the sharp dive and skimmed the rooftops, looking for a safe place to touch down. The opportunity soon came, the town square was relatively calm for that time of day.

People moved aside as if horse riders were charging down the street towards them, and unhooking her feet she let them dangle below and started to run. A second later her feet touched the pavement and stones and she absorbed the weight of her body, pack and the kite before slowly jogging and coming to a stop. Some people continued to look at the young looking Eladrin girl, but many went back to their business.

Folding up the kite and strapping it to her pack, Naureth looked around and spent a good hour finding the Guild Hall. Her friends had spoken to her about this place, where anyone who felt they wanted to do good in the world could enlist. Approaching in her red cloth pants and light torso armour, boots muddy from trudging through a nearby marsh during the night when the wind was dead. Her blonde hair hung down over her shoulders, straight as an arrow. Naureth looked like the spitting image of her mother, yet had the personality of a traveler.

"I would like to enlist, I am Naureth Bel."


Present day

It took her a full month of proving herself, getting tested and completing small trivial assignments before she managed to convince one of the administrative clerks to give her a better test. Her current assignment was that, to travel to the America's and aid a band of Mercenaries like herself. It was a high danger assignment, much different from killing off problem river beasts, helping to control crop infestations, and collecting herbs and local gems.

However, after prodding and complaining to her 'friend' for the past month, he had finally given in to her demands. There was an assignment that needed a few more people to help on, and if she went and got killed he would be rid of the annoyance. This was the only reason he signed off on the papers, to get rid of her. Just like the village had. And like people would continue to do throughout her life.

"Thank you," she had called to him as she ran off down the streets towards the docks. The boat was waiting it seemed, and she knew she had to catch it before it went out to sea. The docks were full of boats, each one as hard to pick differences in from the other. Unwrapping her kite she took a detour and climbed up the outside of one of the great walls. An inquisitive young guard started to walk towards her as she reached the top and looked out over the docks. Clipping the supports together the kite transformed from a pile of cloth before his eyes, and he started to run towards her, just as she jumped off the wall.

Falling for a few moments she pulled the wings into the proper shape and caught the gusts of wind that blew in from the sea, and began to twirl slowly, rising in the air. She would have waved to the man if she could have. The kite went up and up, until it would have blended in with the clouds, and she passed over all the boats looking for the proper one. Soon she spotted the name etched into the front of the ship, and brought herself in for a landing. Unfortunately she didn't spot the mast's cross ropes until she was about to clip them, and to avoid them she pitched herself sideways sharply and straight into the sail. Her kite folded under the impact and she slid down the sail, managing to grasp a rope and slow herself down. Just before she hit the ground she pushed off from the sail and landed on the deck, crouching down to absorb the impact before looking around.

"Reporting for the voyage, Captain."

Standing up straight she collected the remnants of her kite and inspected for damage, luckily only a few strings had snapped. All fixable.

Looking around she realized that the Captain wasn't actually on the ship but down on the docks and that he hadn't probably heard her at all. With a quick light step she bounced down the plank and did a quick front flip off the plank and onto the wood dock. Approaching the leader of the group, the man who she had been told to report to, she knew that she could have to prove that she had what it took to remain on board. Dumping her pack and quarterstaff on the ground, she held out her hands and hugged the man. Before stepping back, and looking around, seeing the Dwarf she curtsied for him and dipped her head. Her light frame didn't hold much in the way of fighting strength, but she was something to look at. Her waist showed through the gaps in her cloth top, her cleavage and neck all open to the air. Both her arms were uncovered as well, and a good portion down her thighs was visible on the outside, a few buckles crossing over the soft smooth pale flesh.

"Nice to meet you, Naureth Bel reporting for duty as instructed Captain."

Standing there she swayed from side to side like a child who was nervous, or had too much energy. A smile across her face showing that she was happy to be standing with the men. But inside she knew they would look on her as through she was nothing more than someone who might 'prove useful' for the long journey.

[Drakkwall]

"Die ye beast of da deeps!!" Hark shouted as he smashed his axe int othe ksull of the dragon, but it kept swaying and not giving him enough momentum to cut into the thick skull of the beast. Then the beast suddenly went straight towards the harbour, its skull smashing against one of the ships, trying to shake off the man clinging to its back and holding its whiskers.

"Damn ye sea beast!!! Hoy!!! A bit of help would be useful!!! Woooooaaaaaaah!!!!" Pounding the flat side of his axe into the dragon's skull the warrior cursed as it flung its head against the side of the boat again, if it kept this up either its skulls would break, Hark wliould lose his grip or the boat would get a nice big hole in its hull, whichever came first.

"YE SEA SLUG BORN WORM OF LOKI'S RECTUM!!! JUST DIE!!!!!!" The norseman howled out i fury as he strapped his axe to his back and began to pound his fist int othe sea serpent's head, making it roar out in pained fury once more and smash its skull against the ship's hull even harder. Hark clinged with his feet on the dragon's left horn while his left hand held the whiskers like a life line, howling in his fury the norseman repeatedly smashed his fist into the dragon's skull, making dull meaty thuds sounds as it smashed into the thick hide, he knew he could trancform but he was far to bulky to get a good grip before the dragon would send him flying with its constant trashing and smashing int othe ship's hull.

[DormantEvil]

People all along the docks started to yell out, pointing towards the sea serpent that was truly the image of evil. The female was massive, with hatred in it's eyes. Only the death of who killed its mate on it's mind, with a vengeful spirit meaning it would probably destroy the entire docks just to do that.

A small voice in the back of Naureth's mind spoke up, and she listened whilst she watched on, her mouth agape.

Show them you aren't scared. Help him. Prove yourself Naureth.

The voice was right, she should do something. Anything to aid in helping save the life of the person struggling to hold onto the slimy creature. She was small, that was true, but she was never one to show she was scared. Without thinking she took off down the docks, and ran up onto the boat, jumping up to hold onto the railing. The boat was rolling from side the side, each crash against it's hull by the serpent sending barrels rolling this way and that.

"Hold on!" she called out, concentrating on the task at hand.

Wrapping one hand around the rail, and lifting the other she started to speak. Conjuring up one of her most powerful spells. She was going to try to make it hurt, or else she might draw the creatures attention to her, and be dead quicker than she could find herself guilty of idiocy. The power started to fill her, and the mark on her forehead began to glow slightly, burning. A fireball began to form in the air before her, growing in size and power as she called on her will to make it even more powerful. She closed her eyes as the creature crashed into the ship again and it pulled her arm, but she held strong. She could hear yelling in the background but it all died out. Nothing more than the creature and her were in the world as she started to sweat.

"Be gone you foul beast!" she yelled in her usually soft voice, releasing the fireball and sending it flying through the air. Impacting just below the jaw of the serpent. She looked on, hoping to see how it fared but it did little more than open up a wound. Cursing she let go of the railing and formed two fireballs, one in each hand and sent one followed by the other into the wound. As soon as those hit another two started to form, and she managed to throw one before the serpents tail flicked up from the water and collected her in the chest. The other fireball flew off into the air and landed on the docks.

She flew back and fell down between the dock and the ship, going under the water and sinking. It took her a while to collect herself, and she thrashed around in a whirl of bubbles trying to figure out where she was.

You are a fool Naureth the voice of the village elder said to her as the bubbles dispersed and she saw the form of the beast underwater. The hull of the boat between them. She floated just watching for a moment before her lungs began to burn. And she struggled swimming up to the surface, splashing about.

[Drakkwall]

"Good hit lass!" Hark shouted out as a sorceress or wizard cast a fireball that hit the sea serpent's head, he drew a sharp blade from his belt and with a vicious stab jammed it into the wound the fire spell had opened and the serpent screeched in pain and trashed about like crazy. But then Hark jammed a second blade into the upper jaw of the beast and the two daggers magnetically shut the beast's throat together.

"Magnet Daggers! Useful fer taking care of beast such as ye!!" Hark shouted out in triumph as he leaped up onto the creatures jaws and in front of its eyes transformed into his werebear form, his feet claws keeping him on the creature, reaching back the were bear too khis great axe and wielded the massive weapon with one hand and then roared out as he reared his weapon back and with incredible strength slammed the axe into the forehead of the water dragon, splitting its head in two.

Roaring in triumph as the water dragon fell to the bottom of the harbor's waters, strapping his weapon to his back Hark leaped off and landed square in the water and swam over to the sorcerer who had helped him. "Good shoot with da spell elf lass, Ey shall help ye up." The voice of the werebear was deep and rumbling, a bit like his human voice but much mre... feral, he carefully lifted up the sorceress over his shoulder and with his sharp claws climbed up the chain of the anchor. "Da name is Hark Stonepaw by da way. Proud warrior of da Stonepaw Clan in da frozen norse." He staded cheerfully as he finally came up to the railing of the ship and with a sharp pull with one arm lifted himself and the sorceress up onto the deck.

He stumbled a bit, tired from hours of fighting the two sea creatures, and slumped onto his rear before putting down the elf sorceress onto the deck of the ship. "Ooooooh... Ey need some ale, them jörmungandrs were tough, da male lasted fer six hours before I kill'd him." Straightening himself by shifting into his human form Hark stood up, several scratched and bruises fro mhis turmoil with the two serpents all over his body.