[Durdanios] The Final Battle
I can't do this anymore.
I admit that I am young, and as such I shouldn't be complaining especially when there are those around me who have served in the military for hundreds of years.
But so much in my life has changed over the last few years. One moment I'm on top of the world as the Commander of a healthy Blood Knight regiment and the next I am watching it crash and burn in front of my eyes. Then I am thrust out of home after home until finally acquiring a ship that I made my home, and I found myself in the sudden position of being a father.
Durdanios' ear twitched hearing the crying noise, causing his earrings to jingle and he walked around the cart,
having to stand on his tip-toes to peer inside. Huddling half-covered in the back of the wagon was a young elven boy,
who couldn't have been more then 30 or 40. He had long knotted blonde hair and dirty, tattered clothing that
hung on a near skeletal-looking frame. When the boy looked up and saw Duo peering down at him, he let out a yelp
and cowered even further into the corner.
"Hey there little one... don't be afraid...' Duo said in a soft and calm voice before slowly extending his
hand down towards him. "I'll take care of you.. and everything will be alright." The young boy stared up at
him for a moment before taking his hand.
But happiness with me is always fleeting. There is always something going wrong. Always some problem. I try to grasp on to whatever I have to keep rising up each day.
Eventually it will drive every man, even myself.. into madness.
Durdanios stood at the helm of the Black Rose, map in one hand, food in the other, and his e
lbow on the ship's wheel. About two hours to the south was the farthest north the Alliance fishing
ships dared to sail. It was there that he hoped to encounter their first target. Gorsha walked over and he
nodded towards her. "Sir. When we come across our first target, what shall our course of action be towards the crew?"
"...Kill all those who try to oppose us."
The orc grinned and then turned out to look at the sea. "Very well, Captain Duskreaper..."
The Farstriders. I served as a ranger amongst them for almost a decade. I learned how to survive in even the most deplorable of circumstances. Runistis and Alastril served along side of me, and the love of my life Unmei was always there to welcome me and my friends home after long days on the battle front.
But then everything went horribly wrong. I lost myself to madness and soaked myself in the blood of innocents and walked away having earned the name of Duskreaper. My Commander was demoted for my actions and I was removed from the Farstriders.. left without a purpose. Soon after... my adopted father was slain, Runistis vanished and Unmei walked out on me several days before I had planned to propose to her.
Wood splintered all around them as the two frigates beside took the direct hits from their cannons.
The blows took out the Alliance guns and quickly those below deck reloaded. The fog increased in
density as the second round of cannon fire struck the Alliance ships. This time on either side the cannonballs
struck the already debalitiated sides and entered the powder magazine room, igniting the black powder and
sending both frigates up in spectacular fiery explosions.
By now the Rose had turned hard to port towards the remaining ship, moving level to the first ship and they
opened fire on the frigate, aiming low. The cannonballs ripped through the hull under the water level, opening massive gaps.
The Rose turned away, before vanishing completely into the fog as the third frigate sank beneath the waves.
A single soldier, barely alive, weakly clung to one of the pieces of burning wreckage still left smoldering.
A black rose laying on the wood beside him.
The Blood Knights. I climbed the ranking ladder quickly amongst the regiment lead by Leon Dawnblade, making it as high as Captain of the Guardian Division under his leadership. I spent my days patrolling the city and teaching the lower ranking Knights the way of the Order. I spent my nights writing the instruction manuals that Dawnblade had requested I write... as it seemed I was the only member of the regiment capable of coherent instruction. It was a demanding job, but I loved it. I had a purpose again.
When Leon left, I replaced Lightrose as the Commander of the Guardian Division as she became Knight-Lord. But then it all went to hell. She began sleeping with as many male members of the regiment she could. Vynirin Eldafal and I were left holding up the entire regiment because she was too busy with her sex life to worry about properly running the regiment. Finally we could take it no more and when she refused to cooperate, Vynirin and I defected.
We formed up our own regiment along with Leindel Bloodstrider.. for a while we did fairly well... but then another Blood Knight regiment showed up. Unlike us they already had a large number of Knights, and they dangled promises of wealth and bounty in front of the eyes of our recruits and they gladly followed. The few members of our regiment that remained loyal joined us when we went to Commander Linthara Illu'noir and agreed to join forces against the Cult of the Forgotten as new recruits for the Crimson Illuminati.
Morvir looked towards the bed where the child was sleeping peacefully after his combat training session with Durdanios..
"He was raised without parents... in an abusive environment where he was bullied daily. It would seem being
aggressive is second nature. Thus he has no problem waving a knife around... But." He paused.
"He is so young... His innocence is fading fast... In his present path he will be raised to lie, cheat, and steal.
Anything... to turn a profit. He'll be raised a pirate. And you personally will encourage him through it one
hundred percent of the way..." Morvir turned looking into your eyes.
"You remember your childhood. Would you want any child to be raised like this? His chances of becoming
irreparably and irreprehensibly evil... Is almost assured. So I ask... do you want him to turn out that way...?"
Duo looked over towards Zaris and sat there silently before closing his eyes. While he was one to never take much
of Morvir's talk with a grain of salt.. he knew that what he spoke this time was the truth.
The Illuminati. As much as I have a respect for Illu'noir and her group, I have begun to think that joining her military regiment was the worst mistake I have ever made. With my title of Knight-Lord surrendered, I no longer had a purpose and I slipped again into depression. Tandem, Unmei and Vynirin were all that kept me going.
But the Cult... The Cult of the Forgotten... they have caused me so much pain and suffering. If I had not delved into the Illuminati then perhaps I could have been spared all that I have been through.
Gorsha knocked on the door to Duo's room and opened the door. "Captain... unidentified ships off our port.
One looks orcish in design but isn't carrying any colors. The other is a human ship, labeled as the Ruthy May."
Duo got up and walked out of the room, grabbing the telescope he peered out at the other ship.
"Hnn. We'll take her in closer to see if we can identify. If it's Horde we will leave it go... as well as neutral
unless they fire first. If it's Alliance.. we'll take them down."
The cannon ports on the Horde ship flew open.
The night lit up as a round of cannon fire sounded through the night. Two broadsides of chain shot one
from each ship fired off after the retreating vessel aiming for the masts, the aim to immobilize the Black Rose.
At this angle if the masts were taken out... even just one of them she would be to crippled to turn fast enough to
fight back. Then came a hot shot - A lead ball heated red hot in a furnace. If it hit wood it would most likely set it ablaze.
The Rose returned fire just as the chain shot passed just inches from the mast but landed harmlessly in the
water beyond the ship. The hot shot however, struck the forward bow of the ship, sending the outer planks aflame
and taking out two of the crew members inside.
Captured and tortured. I was strung out on the rack and heavily drugged. They were looking for information on Linthara and the Illuminati. The feeling of helplessness as that..... thing.... probed into my mind. I could feel myself slipping into darkness.
Even after they had dumped me on the shore of the lake, having no more use for me.. The Storm Knight... Morvir.. a man I once saw as a friend.. hunted Vynirin and myself. No matter where we went, where we lived.. he found us and kept on with relentless mental and physical assaults against the two of us.
A bang rang out as the cannon fired shooting through each mast on the orcish ship with brutal force. Side by side the
masts tumbled in all directions. But one spun off into the Rose's rigging, becoming tangled with their own mast, ripping
the canvas and snapping ropes.
"Load shrapnel shot! The ships are tethered! They won't be turning. I want their crew blown to hell!"
yelled Captain Contoa from the deck of the Ruthy May.
I was stuck in such a dark mental place that even the Light itself began to leave me. The torture, the stress, the death and resurrection of my beloved steed Storm.. eventually the Light would forsake me for good...
..And I cloaked myself in the shadows, turning my sword and shield in for daggers and poisons.
Durdanios worked quickly to cut the remaining ties keeping the two masts together before whistling.
Under the cover of the fog Ventl'oust lowered down from the clouds, lightning arcing from his body as he
reached down with his talons and grabbed the orc ship mast and flew back up into the sky. He ended up taking a
few more lines with him but at least now the Rose was able to move with what canvas she had remaining.
Quickly Duo returned to the helm and started to turn the ship towards the direction of the Ruthy May. He was PISSED.
"Fire!" grappling hooks shot up at the bow of the Rose from the two rowboats below her. Two from each boat.
The man began climbing abandoning their boats to the bow.
Captain Contoa was the first one up on the Rose's deck, a pistol in one hand and a cutlass in the other. "It's play time."
But no more.
I cannot take it, physically or mentally.
Every time I take a breath.. eat.. drink.. swallow.. make a pathetic attempt to talk, I am reminded of just how close I came to losing everything. Losing my son, my lovers, and my life.
I was a fool who stepped in way over my head.
Zaris' eyes widened as the Forsaken pirate opened the lid to the chest he had been hiding in since the
fighting broke out. The forsaken stared a moment.
He grinned and his grip tightened and he brought his two knives together aiming for the boys chest.
There was no place for mercy.
The boy screamed.
Contoa growled before turning to his men. "This crew has nothing but tricks and little gadgets. Smoke
bombs, shielding, but! Not a single one of em is worth their salt... As you saw we effectively tore down
their defenses and could have beat them from afar. Their crew hides now in the shadows like cowards... and their
captain is busy grieving a dying child..."
I had done it because I wanted to have a purpose in life again. The Illuminati held nothing for me. Being associated with them only brought the Cult onto my doorstep time and time again. Even still, I cannot escape them. I had no one to train. No exercises. Just sitting around and twiddling my thumbs and hope something interesting happened.
That is why I converted the Ronae Genesis into the Black Rose. I loved the sea but the Illuminati wanted to use it for their own purposes. As a pirate ship... what good would it be to them? Plus the prospect of taking down Alliance ships filled me with adrenaline and made me feel like I could be of good use to the Horde for once.
Without hesitation Durdanios whipped out Vynirin's pistol and fired all available rounds towards Contoa.
Vynirin stood in shock. His arm had been tugged and he had been pulled infront of Contoa. He slowly looked down.
The night vision switched off. All three bullets had hit his gut and chest. He looked up at Contoa.
Contoa released Vynirin who promptly collapsed to the ground.
Duo's eyes widened in horror as the bullets struck Vynirin instead of the intended target.
He dropped the gun and fell to his knees. "........No...."
I was naive to think that the life of a pirate would be an easy one. Sure, I was expecting some opposition from the Alliance military... but I had never expected the carnage that Captain Contoa and the crew of the Ruthy May would exact upon all that I held dear.
Durdanios met Contoa head on, aiming right before thrusting his axe towards the human's cutlass,
the notch at the top of the axe stopping it in it's tracks before he pulled a dagger from his other hand before
making an attempt to stab towards his side.
"No... stop..." Vynirin grunted and pushed the druid away who was attempting to
heal him and slowly stood. "Stop..." He stared with hazy eyes at Contoa and Durdanios. He stumbled and t
hen ran forward to ram Durdanios from behind, not knowing it was his own lover.
Duo was not expecting Vynirin to tackle him. He fell forwards, the blade of Contoa's cutlass cutting into the mask
and deep into flesh. The mask fell away as did Durdanios, being pulled down by Vynirin's weight. He screamed
as the blade sliced through his face.
Contoa raised up his cutlass bearing down on Durdanios.
It was then that as Vynirin got to his knee that he saw Durdanios' face. His eyes went wide, and he fell back
in shock of what he had done. Duo lay still, waiting for the right moment before pulling his other axe from his
side and lunging it forwards towards Contoa.
Contoa's blade met Durdanos'. "Still think your in a commanding position?!" Contoa leaned in full force
pulling his blade back and smashing it down onto Durdanos' axe.
Duo growled up at him, half of his face was covered in blood. He lashed out with his opposite arm,
unleashing his new weapon. Razor thin wire that can slice through flesh, wrapping it around Contoa's arm
and attempting to yank back on it. Contoa grit his teeth tight and lurched forward trying to minimize damage done.
He fell upon Durdanios and being nearly twice Durdanios size bypassing being pushed aside was easy enough.
Duo grinned. His arm at his side that held the axe dropped it, reaching for a dagger and attempting to thrust it
up into the stomach of the larger man on top of him. Contoa came right in. Durdanios' busy with the dagger
now in Contoa's gut he jammed his cutlass into Duo's throat. Duo's eyes widened and he let out a choking gasp,
unable to dodge his blade as blood began to pour from the blade in his neck.
Contoa grasped the daggers hilt and pulled away tearing the dagger from Duo's grasp.
A dark cackle escaped his lips. "Die! Die and die with the knowledge that you have given me a greater
challenge than most." He coughed spitting up blood.
When it was all over, I had come dangerously close to losing my life. To losing Zaris, and Vynirin. Out of 18 crew only 2 survived, not including me and my son. Thankfully our ship medic Nadleeh survived and she saved myself and Vynirin. Morvir.... of all people.... saved the life of Zaris and the child Vynirin had adopted as well, Renken. But even saving the lives of the children will not be enough to redeem him in my eyes.
Contoa grabbed Duo from behind and began to push him towards the edge of the ship. Even semi-healed,
weakened and bound by the wrists, the former paladin was still proving to be a handful.
Vynirin growled as a shot sounded from the guns in his hands. A cloud of blood shot forth covering
Durdanios with a light sheet of blood. A second shot sounded causing another spray to hit him.
A thud sounded as Contoa fell to his knees. He held his hands out in front of him. There was a strange
gurgling sound from the shiny new hole in his neck. Blood began to also pour from the shot wound that
had gone through his upper back and out his chest. He slowly looked up at Vynirin.
"T-...traitor!" He coughed out. He fell forward placing a hand on the deck and the other holding his throat.
Vynirin looked at Durdanios. "You couldn't have waited a few more seconds? That would have
been waaay easier had his back been turned!"
A smile spread across Vynirin's face. Holding a gun to another crew member, he motioned and they walked
over to undo Duo's bindings. The moment the shackles fell Vynirin leapt forward wrapping his arms tightly
around Durdanios. He didn't care about the blood he just cared that his squishy was here and still very squishy.
He pressed his cheek to Duo's. "Gods.... this was one of the worst mistakes I have ever made... I'm so sorry."
Tears began flowing from his eyes.
As I sit here on the Black Rose.. her hull torn apart.. her canvas and masts a mess, pools of dried blood still covering parts of the deck.. I realize just how lucky I was this time... and that next time, I may not be this fortunate. Kiyokko says that my voice and neck will heal in time, but the cut above my eye will be a new permenant scar.. a reminder of how foolish I was.
When we return to Silvermoon in a few days time.. I will have the Rose repaired and converted into a fishing vessel. Vynirin and I plan on buying a house in Southern Eversong close to the ocean. Tandem and Unmei are welcome to come and stay with us whenever they want, and we will raise our two adopted sons in peace.
I don't want to risk losing anything any more.
I am hanging up my blades, my bow and my cannons up for good.
....I'm keeping the hat though. I like it too much.
I admit that I am young, and as such I shouldn't be complaining especially when there are those around me who have served in the military for hundreds of years.
But so much in my life has changed over the last few years. One moment I'm on top of the world as the Commander of a healthy Blood Knight regiment and the next I am watching it crash and burn in front of my eyes. Then I am thrust out of home after home until finally acquiring a ship that I made my home, and I found myself in the sudden position of being a father.
Durdanios' ear twitched hearing the crying noise, causing his earrings to jingle and he walked around the cart,
having to stand on his tip-toes to peer inside. Huddling half-covered in the back of the wagon was a young elven boy,
who couldn't have been more then 30 or 40. He had long knotted blonde hair and dirty, tattered clothing that
hung on a near skeletal-looking frame. When the boy looked up and saw Duo peering down at him, he let out a yelp
and cowered even further into the corner.
"Hey there little one... don't be afraid...' Duo said in a soft and calm voice before slowly extending his
hand down towards him. "I'll take care of you.. and everything will be alright." The young boy stared up at
him for a moment before taking his hand.
But happiness with me is always fleeting. There is always something going wrong. Always some problem. I try to grasp on to whatever I have to keep rising up each day.
Eventually it will drive every man, even myself.. into madness.
Durdanios stood at the helm of the Black Rose, map in one hand, food in the other, and his e
lbow on the ship's wheel. About two hours to the south was the farthest north the Alliance fishing
ships dared to sail. It was there that he hoped to encounter their first target. Gorsha walked over and he
nodded towards her. "Sir. When we come across our first target, what shall our course of action be towards the crew?"
"...Kill all those who try to oppose us."
The orc grinned and then turned out to look at the sea. "Very well, Captain Duskreaper..."
The Farstriders. I served as a ranger amongst them for almost a decade. I learned how to survive in even the most deplorable of circumstances. Runistis and Alastril served along side of me, and the love of my life Unmei was always there to welcome me and my friends home after long days on the battle front.
But then everything went horribly wrong. I lost myself to madness and soaked myself in the blood of innocents and walked away having earned the name of Duskreaper. My Commander was demoted for my actions and I was removed from the Farstriders.. left without a purpose. Soon after... my adopted father was slain, Runistis vanished and Unmei walked out on me several days before I had planned to propose to her.
Wood splintered all around them as the two frigates beside took the direct hits from their cannons.
The blows took out the Alliance guns and quickly those below deck reloaded. The fog increased in
density as the second round of cannon fire struck the Alliance ships. This time on either side the cannonballs
struck the already debalitiated sides and entered the powder magazine room, igniting the black powder and
sending both frigates up in spectacular fiery explosions.
By now the Rose had turned hard to port towards the remaining ship, moving level to the first ship and they
opened fire on the frigate, aiming low. The cannonballs ripped through the hull under the water level, opening massive gaps.
The Rose turned away, before vanishing completely into the fog as the third frigate sank beneath the waves.
A single soldier, barely alive, weakly clung to one of the pieces of burning wreckage still left smoldering.
A black rose laying on the wood beside him.
The Blood Knights. I climbed the ranking ladder quickly amongst the regiment lead by Leon Dawnblade, making it as high as Captain of the Guardian Division under his leadership. I spent my days patrolling the city and teaching the lower ranking Knights the way of the Order. I spent my nights writing the instruction manuals that Dawnblade had requested I write... as it seemed I was the only member of the regiment capable of coherent instruction. It was a demanding job, but I loved it. I had a purpose again.
When Leon left, I replaced Lightrose as the Commander of the Guardian Division as she became Knight-Lord. But then it all went to hell. She began sleeping with as many male members of the regiment she could. Vynirin Eldafal and I were left holding up the entire regiment because she was too busy with her sex life to worry about properly running the regiment. Finally we could take it no more and when she refused to cooperate, Vynirin and I defected.
We formed up our own regiment along with Leindel Bloodstrider.. for a while we did fairly well... but then another Blood Knight regiment showed up. Unlike us they already had a large number of Knights, and they dangled promises of wealth and bounty in front of the eyes of our recruits and they gladly followed. The few members of our regiment that remained loyal joined us when we went to Commander Linthara Illu'noir and agreed to join forces against the Cult of the Forgotten as new recruits for the Crimson Illuminati.
Morvir looked towards the bed where the child was sleeping peacefully after his combat training session with Durdanios..
"He was raised without parents... in an abusive environment where he was bullied daily. It would seem being
aggressive is second nature. Thus he has no problem waving a knife around... But." He paused.
"He is so young... His innocence is fading fast... In his present path he will be raised to lie, cheat, and steal.
Anything... to turn a profit. He'll be raised a pirate. And you personally will encourage him through it one
hundred percent of the way..." Morvir turned looking into your eyes.
"You remember your childhood. Would you want any child to be raised like this? His chances of becoming
irreparably and irreprehensibly evil... Is almost assured. So I ask... do you want him to turn out that way...?"
Duo looked over towards Zaris and sat there silently before closing his eyes. While he was one to never take much
of Morvir's talk with a grain of salt.. he knew that what he spoke this time was the truth.
The Illuminati. As much as I have a respect for Illu'noir and her group, I have begun to think that joining her military regiment was the worst mistake I have ever made. With my title of Knight-Lord surrendered, I no longer had a purpose and I slipped again into depression. Tandem, Unmei and Vynirin were all that kept me going.
But the Cult... The Cult of the Forgotten... they have caused me so much pain and suffering. If I had not delved into the Illuminati then perhaps I could have been spared all that I have been through.
Gorsha knocked on the door to Duo's room and opened the door. "Captain... unidentified ships off our port.
One looks orcish in design but isn't carrying any colors. The other is a human ship, labeled as the Ruthy May."
Duo got up and walked out of the room, grabbing the telescope he peered out at the other ship.
"Hnn. We'll take her in closer to see if we can identify. If it's Horde we will leave it go... as well as neutral
unless they fire first. If it's Alliance.. we'll take them down."
The cannon ports on the Horde ship flew open.
The night lit up as a round of cannon fire sounded through the night. Two broadsides of chain shot one
from each ship fired off after the retreating vessel aiming for the masts, the aim to immobilize the Black Rose.
At this angle if the masts were taken out... even just one of them she would be to crippled to turn fast enough to
fight back. Then came a hot shot - A lead ball heated red hot in a furnace. If it hit wood it would most likely set it ablaze.
The Rose returned fire just as the chain shot passed just inches from the mast but landed harmlessly in the
water beyond the ship. The hot shot however, struck the forward bow of the ship, sending the outer planks aflame
and taking out two of the crew members inside.
Captured and tortured. I was strung out on the rack and heavily drugged. They were looking for information on Linthara and the Illuminati. The feeling of helplessness as that..... thing.... probed into my mind. I could feel myself slipping into darkness.
Even after they had dumped me on the shore of the lake, having no more use for me.. The Storm Knight... Morvir.. a man I once saw as a friend.. hunted Vynirin and myself. No matter where we went, where we lived.. he found us and kept on with relentless mental and physical assaults against the two of us.
A bang rang out as the cannon fired shooting through each mast on the orcish ship with brutal force. Side by side the
masts tumbled in all directions. But one spun off into the Rose's rigging, becoming tangled with their own mast, ripping
the canvas and snapping ropes.
"Load shrapnel shot! The ships are tethered! They won't be turning. I want their crew blown to hell!"
yelled Captain Contoa from the deck of the Ruthy May.
I was stuck in such a dark mental place that even the Light itself began to leave me. The torture, the stress, the death and resurrection of my beloved steed Storm.. eventually the Light would forsake me for good...
..And I cloaked myself in the shadows, turning my sword and shield in for daggers and poisons.
Durdanios worked quickly to cut the remaining ties keeping the two masts together before whistling.
Under the cover of the fog Ventl'oust lowered down from the clouds, lightning arcing from his body as he
reached down with his talons and grabbed the orc ship mast and flew back up into the sky. He ended up taking a
few more lines with him but at least now the Rose was able to move with what canvas she had remaining.
Quickly Duo returned to the helm and started to turn the ship towards the direction of the Ruthy May. He was PISSED.
"Fire!" grappling hooks shot up at the bow of the Rose from the two rowboats below her. Two from each boat.
The man began climbing abandoning their boats to the bow.
Captain Contoa was the first one up on the Rose's deck, a pistol in one hand and a cutlass in the other. "It's play time."
But no more.
I cannot take it, physically or mentally.
Every time I take a breath.. eat.. drink.. swallow.. make a pathetic attempt to talk, I am reminded of just how close I came to losing everything. Losing my son, my lovers, and my life.
I was a fool who stepped in way over my head.
Zaris' eyes widened as the Forsaken pirate opened the lid to the chest he had been hiding in since the
fighting broke out. The forsaken stared a moment.
He grinned and his grip tightened and he brought his two knives together aiming for the boys chest.
There was no place for mercy.
The boy screamed.
Contoa growled before turning to his men. "This crew has nothing but tricks and little gadgets. Smoke
bombs, shielding, but! Not a single one of em is worth their salt... As you saw we effectively tore down
their defenses and could have beat them from afar. Their crew hides now in the shadows like cowards... and their
captain is busy grieving a dying child..."
I had done it because I wanted to have a purpose in life again. The Illuminati held nothing for me. Being associated with them only brought the Cult onto my doorstep time and time again. Even still, I cannot escape them. I had no one to train. No exercises. Just sitting around and twiddling my thumbs and hope something interesting happened.
That is why I converted the Ronae Genesis into the Black Rose. I loved the sea but the Illuminati wanted to use it for their own purposes. As a pirate ship... what good would it be to them? Plus the prospect of taking down Alliance ships filled me with adrenaline and made me feel like I could be of good use to the Horde for once.
Without hesitation Durdanios whipped out Vynirin's pistol and fired all available rounds towards Contoa.
Vynirin stood in shock. His arm had been tugged and he had been pulled infront of Contoa. He slowly looked down.
The night vision switched off. All three bullets had hit his gut and chest. He looked up at Contoa.
Contoa released Vynirin who promptly collapsed to the ground.
Duo's eyes widened in horror as the bullets struck Vynirin instead of the intended target.
He dropped the gun and fell to his knees. "........No...."
I was naive to think that the life of a pirate would be an easy one. Sure, I was expecting some opposition from the Alliance military... but I had never expected the carnage that Captain Contoa and the crew of the Ruthy May would exact upon all that I held dear.
Durdanios met Contoa head on, aiming right before thrusting his axe towards the human's cutlass,
the notch at the top of the axe stopping it in it's tracks before he pulled a dagger from his other hand before
making an attempt to stab towards his side.
"No... stop..." Vynirin grunted and pushed the druid away who was attempting to
heal him and slowly stood. "Stop..." He stared with hazy eyes at Contoa and Durdanios. He stumbled and t
hen ran forward to ram Durdanios from behind, not knowing it was his own lover.
Duo was not expecting Vynirin to tackle him. He fell forwards, the blade of Contoa's cutlass cutting into the mask
and deep into flesh. The mask fell away as did Durdanios, being pulled down by Vynirin's weight. He screamed
as the blade sliced through his face.
Contoa raised up his cutlass bearing down on Durdanios.
It was then that as Vynirin got to his knee that he saw Durdanios' face. His eyes went wide, and he fell back
in shock of what he had done. Duo lay still, waiting for the right moment before pulling his other axe from his
side and lunging it forwards towards Contoa.
Contoa's blade met Durdanos'. "Still think your in a commanding position?!" Contoa leaned in full force
pulling his blade back and smashing it down onto Durdanos' axe.
Duo growled up at him, half of his face was covered in blood. He lashed out with his opposite arm,
unleashing his new weapon. Razor thin wire that can slice through flesh, wrapping it around Contoa's arm
and attempting to yank back on it. Contoa grit his teeth tight and lurched forward trying to minimize damage done.
He fell upon Durdanios and being nearly twice Durdanios size bypassing being pushed aside was easy enough.
Duo grinned. His arm at his side that held the axe dropped it, reaching for a dagger and attempting to thrust it
up into the stomach of the larger man on top of him. Contoa came right in. Durdanios' busy with the dagger
now in Contoa's gut he jammed his cutlass into Duo's throat. Duo's eyes widened and he let out a choking gasp,
unable to dodge his blade as blood began to pour from the blade in his neck.
Contoa grasped the daggers hilt and pulled away tearing the dagger from Duo's grasp.
A dark cackle escaped his lips. "Die! Die and die with the knowledge that you have given me a greater
challenge than most." He coughed spitting up blood.
When it was all over, I had come dangerously close to losing my life. To losing Zaris, and Vynirin. Out of 18 crew only 2 survived, not including me and my son. Thankfully our ship medic Nadleeh survived and she saved myself and Vynirin. Morvir.... of all people.... saved the life of Zaris and the child Vynirin had adopted as well, Renken. But even saving the lives of the children will not be enough to redeem him in my eyes.
Contoa grabbed Duo from behind and began to push him towards the edge of the ship. Even semi-healed,
weakened and bound by the wrists, the former paladin was still proving to be a handful.
Vynirin growled as a shot sounded from the guns in his hands. A cloud of blood shot forth covering
Durdanios with a light sheet of blood. A second shot sounded causing another spray to hit him.
A thud sounded as Contoa fell to his knees. He held his hands out in front of him. There was a strange
gurgling sound from the shiny new hole in his neck. Blood began to also pour from the shot wound that
had gone through his upper back and out his chest. He slowly looked up at Vynirin.
"T-...traitor!" He coughed out. He fell forward placing a hand on the deck and the other holding his throat.
Vynirin looked at Durdanios. "You couldn't have waited a few more seconds? That would have
been waaay easier had his back been turned!"
A smile spread across Vynirin's face. Holding a gun to another crew member, he motioned and they walked
over to undo Duo's bindings. The moment the shackles fell Vynirin leapt forward wrapping his arms tightly
around Durdanios. He didn't care about the blood he just cared that his squishy was here and still very squishy.
He pressed his cheek to Duo's. "Gods.... this was one of the worst mistakes I have ever made... I'm so sorry."
Tears began flowing from his eyes.
As I sit here on the Black Rose.. her hull torn apart.. her canvas and masts a mess, pools of dried blood still covering parts of the deck.. I realize just how lucky I was this time... and that next time, I may not be this fortunate. Kiyokko says that my voice and neck will heal in time, but the cut above my eye will be a new permenant scar.. a reminder of how foolish I was.
When we return to Silvermoon in a few days time.. I will have the Rose repaired and converted into a fishing vessel. Vynirin and I plan on buying a house in Southern Eversong close to the ocean. Tandem and Unmei are welcome to come and stay with us whenever they want, and we will raise our two adopted sons in peace.
I don't want to risk losing anything any more.
I am hanging up my blades, my bow and my cannons up for good.
....I'm keeping the hat though. I like it too much.