Avast ye scallywags! Welcome back to the deck of the Silver Wing with our guest and honored friend Slak-Tor! Today he continues his tale of Captain K and his crew as they set off for Devil Horns Island!! We learned what perils await the crew in the last segment and lets see what information we gleam from this awesome yarn!! Take is away Slak-tor!
(Slak tor thanks to Slacker Stacker and @kerrislravenhill)
If you have missed any of This Chapter please check out the links below!
The Foundry Part 1
The Foundry Part 2
The Foundry Part 3
The Foundry Part 4
The Foundry Part 5
The Foundry Part 6
The Foundry Part 7
The Foundry Part 8
The Foundry Part 9
Sir Cornelius had piloted Tarakona back to The Dragon Fire and carried out his orders to bring the ship closer to the island to be protected by the Iron Fleet until ready to sail on their new mission.
(Tarakona)
Standing on the beach, he could see the vessel anchored offshore and the dark shapes of the massive steel battleships slowly patrolling the waters beyond.
Captain K, First Mate D and Slak Tor had flown back to ship to oversee its resupply promised by the Vulcans and any last repairs before embarking on a the most dangerous mission he could ever think of.
(Captain K overseeing the ships crew thanks to @dixiesilverminer)
The resupply ships had returned and several soldiers readied small craft to ferry the rest of the crew back to their boat.
Sir Bentley hopped up to him and stopped by his side looking to their ship in the near distance. "I sure hope we are up for this..." His tone was heavy and contemplative.
(Sir Bentley)
Cornelius nodded. "I do too. Going up against the undead wasn't something I expected." He admitted.
(Sir Cornelius of Doggshire)
"Me either!" Bentley sighed and made his way to the first dingy.
Captain K watched as each of his crewmembers rejoined them on the forward deck and instantly noticed two additional passengers. He motioned for Cornelius to join him.
"Yes Captain?" The knight asked.
"Why is he here?" K nodded, indicating the huge warrior known only as The Bear.
(The Bear)
"Lord Vulcan insisted on sending him." Cornelius replied.
"Did Lord Vulcan also insist that she join us?" He nodded to the robed woman looking about her new surroundings with curious eyes.
"No Captain, she insisted on being here."
K sighed and nodded. "Very well... You better stow your gear and get ready to set sail."
"Yes Captain." He began to head below but paused. "Where is Slak Tor? Tarakona sleeps in the forward deck, but I don't see the dragon master."
"He is below, resting to fully recover from his ordeal. We need him fresh and back to his old self for what is to come."
"Thank you Captain."
K looked to the deck hands and frowned. Only the gods knew just how bad it would be fighting the undead, but he had no choice. He knew his crew had many talents and wouldn't let him down. Besides, failure to beat The Crown Collector to the ultimate goal would mean a bleak and dismal future for all. "Raise the sails, batten down the hatches!" He yelled. "We set sail now!"
The Dragon Fire surged forward towards the infamous Devil Horns Island escorted by two warships from The Iron Fleet.
Captain K was surprised when the warships flanked them, but was happy to see them with the possible threat of Crown Collector intervening with their mission. He scanned the deck and although it was cold, most of his passengers were taking time in the sunlight rather than down below.
Lady Ravenhill and Key Wee stood close to the bridge softly talking among to one another; it seemed that the shrouded and mysterious Ravenhill and the attractive mage had become fast friends.
His eyes fell on the large man named Bear. He had seen that the man did have a since of humor and despite his gruffness, was kind at heart. The warrior had done nothing but help him and his crew during the voyage.
Then there was the beautiful elf. Tessaira had offered her skills in healing every cut and scrape the crewmembers suffered in their daily tasks of maintaining the ship. She also tended to Tarakona every chance that presented itself. As stand offish as the dragon was to the rest of the crew, he never protested her presence.
Tarakona only listened to a precious few. Slak Tor of course, Sir Cornelius, and himself, but it seemed that Tessaria had been added to that very short list.
"Land Ho!" The lookout in the crow's nest shouted. "Devil Horns Island dead ahead on the horizon Captain!"
K looked to the bow and only saw a tiny black dot along the sea's edge. Pulling out a brass telescope, he aimed it at the distant black speck.
(Devil Horns Island)
The island was a black dome of rock with two spire like mountains curving inwards as if to touch. "Gods! It really does look like the devil himself is rising from the sea..." He whispered.
"Captain?" First mate D inquired.
"Nothing D." He sighed. "Navigator, keep this heading, steady as she goes!"
Tessaria gently stroked the dragons muzzle and mused to herself that most of her race would kill to meet a real dragon in person, yet here she was actually touching one. There was a shout that land had been discovered and she froze.
Deep fear gripped her heart and she stood turning to the bow and staring across the open sea. She made her way to the railing, her eyes fixed on the tiny but growing black dot.
Slak Tor was talking tactics with Cornelius when he spotted Tessaria at the rail. "Please, excuse me, but Tessaria looks upset." He patted his friends shoulder.
"Of course." Cornelius grinned as he watched the dragon master join the elf at the bow.
Slak Tor moved to her side and stared across the sea and focused on the same dark speck growing in the distance. "Are you ok?" He asked in a gentle voice.
Tessaria started as if broken from a trance. "I am fine... but our mission is a dangerous one." She explained. "Retrieving the artifact will not be easy."
He nodded. "No, given our adversaries, it won't, but the captain will come up with plan on how to achieve our goal." He said in an assuring tone.
She continued to stare at the island and hugged herself as a particularly cold gust of wind blew past them.
Slack Tor removed his cloak and carefully draped it across her shoulders.
(Tessaria thanks to Slacker Stacker)
She turned her head and met his gaze with a concerned expression. "What about you? Won't you be cold?"
"MyLady, I am dressed in full armor, I will be fine." He smiled.
Returning the smile, she pulled the thick warm cloak around her. "Thank you."
Lady Ravenhill elbowed Key Wee.
"What?"
(Key-Wee)
Ravenhill nodded towards the front of ship, her eyes smiling
Key Wee looked and grinned. "Oh! I see what you mean!" She chuckled.
(Lady Ravenhill thanks to @kerrislravenhill)
"What's going on?" Bear's forceful voice asked and looked to the spot where the ladies had focused. He sighed. "So, Slak Tor is hitting on Tessa..." He groaned in understanding.
"Yes..." Key Wee agreed. "And, by her body language, she is not protesting!" She beamed.
Lady Ravenhill glanced back to the warrior and nodded with a slight giggle.
"Ah, crap..." Bear growled in a defeated tone. " What am I going to tell the Vulcans?"
"You seem upset seeing the island." Slak Tor said with a hint of worry.
"You have not seen them..." Tessaria shivered despite the warm cloak.
"No, I haven't, but you and your people know about them. You also know how to defeat them. We now have an advantage." He pointed out.
She met his eyes again, her own eyes fearful. "You don't know the horror of what you are bout to encounter." She moved closer to his side. "They are horrible! Abominations to the gods and a blight on this world." She said in a wavering voice.
Slak Tor placed an arm around her shoulders and she leaned against him closing her eyes. "MyLady..."
"Please! Call me Tessa." She interrupted. "You are allowed."
He nodded. "Tessa, I know you are a healer and that we may be in dire need of your services during this mission, but why did you volunteer for this. If the undead frighten you so much, why are you here?" He posed the question carefully.
"Because the Silver Skull must not be found by the Crown Collector. Because I believe in you, Captain K and your friends." She turned in his arms looking up into his eyes. "And because I may be the only chance all of you have for completing this mission."
(Silver Skull thanks to @dixiesilverminer)
Slak Tor peered into her emerald green eyes and suddenly felt ice in the pit of his stomach. "At grave risk to yourself." He frowned.
"I do have spells that are effective against the undead, powerful ones, but I can only cast them a few times a day." She explained. "In my culture, I am a priestess, given power by our goddess, but the more powerful spells do drain me and I must use them wisely."
"Granted this power, you still fear what is ahead?"
She shook her head and sighed. "As I said, you have never seen them. You don't know their power, or their numbers, but I will do all I can so the artifact can be retrieved by people who will use it for good, not evil. Even if it means my life." Her eyes began to well with unshed tears.
He held her close and she rested her head against his chest. "It will not come to that Tessa. This I vow. We will recover the relic and you will be with us when the silver skull is found." He assured turning his gaze back to ominous island.
Right around the corner crew, I see the darkness that is Devil Horns Island on the horizon and know the crew is in for a fight. Make sure to tune in same #piratesunday channel same #piratesunday time and see what adventure is about to unfold!!
Please make sure to check out the @stokjockey as his support of #piratesunday is unwavering and always of the highest calibur!!
Please check out @dixiesilverminer and the post that brought this this pirate-verse to life right HERE
Also make sure to check out their amazing website right HERE
Make sure to check out the crafter of this tale on YouTube Slacker Stacker and make sure to check out his amazing Tarakona Bars by clicking right HERE