Plundering the Ships

50 miles off Vermar, 29th August 1083

Rapidly, the raker overhauled the slower Cormaran ship, and as soon as she came into range opened up with her ballistæ. Bolts smashed into the vessel again and again, tearing through the sails and rigging and punching holes above and below the waterline. Finally, a wild hight shot struck the lookout position at the top of the mast, and the lorn wail as the unfortunate occupant was hurled into the sea in two halves and a shower of blood was the final straw for the crew. Throwing down their weapons, they surrendered.

Percinious and Gilbert bounded across, leading a contingent of troops, and secured the craft. Locating the captain, a short swarthy man named Tarrasil, Gilbert forced him to show him to the hold.

Even before he got there he had a fair idea what he was going to find. The smell was a dead giveaway. Sure enough, the hold was packed with massive blocks of spell-frozen ice packed with fish and other seafood.

The captain's cabin and smuggling panels were of more interest, and a fair haul was secured from them.

As the pirates left the deck of the ship, Gilbert's eye was caught by the captain's sword, lying in a pile of other, cruder weapons in the scuppers. Subtle engravings on the hilt hinted at a magical enhancement, although a casual inspection wasn't enough to identify exactly what. He tucked it into his belt.

Once more aboard, the raker pulled away. As it did so, the crew of the ravished ship could be seen scattering across the deck, grabbing buckets and tools in a frantic race to keep their vessel afloat despite the multiple holes in her hull.

Swinging around, the raker hurtled back towards the more aggressive of the three merchants. The crew and warriors of this vessel were far less easily cowed, and abuse was their only response to the demand that they disarm and surrender. Taking cover behind the bulwarks and below decks, they prepared to weather the oncoming barrage.

For half an hour, the mighty Volhowan warship swung past the Cormaran merchant, just out of bow range, hammering ballista bolts into the hapless trader. Slowly her crew's morale dwindled, with the last straw being the sight of the half-qhal's first victim foundering half a mile away.

Boarding, Percinious and Gilbert found eight crew and fifteen mercenary guards, a rather high number. The guards were drawn up in reasonable order, seperate to the crew, and had piled their weapons seperately as well.

Looting the vessel took little time, but as he walked through the lower deck, it occurred to Percinious that there was an area adjoining the captain's cabin that was unaccountably 'solid'. Finding the captain, he pointed at the bulkhead and said, "What's in there?"

"Where?" said the captain, but Gilbert wasn't taking any of that, and beat the man until he was prepared to talk.

"It's the heretic," groaned the bloodied seaman, and showed where the lock was. Gilbert started battering him again to get access to the key. Nutbolter had had enough, though, and quietly picked the lock while he was waiting.

Crammed inside was a humanoid figure with a leather bag on its' head. Bringing it out and removing the bag, the pair were amazed to find, battered, bloodied and semi-concious from asphyxia and malnutrition, a full-blooded qhal!

Nutbolter cast a Heal on him, which mended some of the physical damage, though it didn't revive him. Gilbert turned back to the captain. "Who's this and why's he in there?" He's one of those evil Khyle witch bastards," spat the captain, unwisely. Gilbert pulled the new sword Icefinger from his belt and skewered him with it.

As they hustled the delirious qhal up the companionway and across the deck, growls and mutters of anger and fear began to rise from the captive crew. While prepared to cope with having their cargo and valuables looted, they were close to revolt at the idea of the prisoner being rescued. Only the presence of a large number of the Qhal Company on deck prevented them physically attacking him.

Collected Loot List

[The raker has 24 bolts left for the ballistæ]