Dragging his feet through the sand, Malkai's axe turned into a cane. He grumbled and cursed as he struggled to move up the beach. He's been sluggish before but this was almost too much for him. This was less like being tired, and more like getting his legs broken. And he's had his legs broken before. Even without most of the equipment in his backpack, he felt as if someone put half a ton on his back. It didn't help that occasionally he jumped at shadows, mostly skeletons. Malkai should've walked around this graveyard instead of through it, but he was hardly thinking about the most optimal options. Glancing down at these corpses he could tell they were a mix of barbarians and innocents. He could tell from their equipment; primitive stone weapons, rusted, broken daggers, staffs snapped in half. Not the weapon of real warriors, or at least not ones who'd be so easily killed with sticks and stones.

Malkai paused to catch his breath and curse some more. [color=a2d39c]"Damn fetchers an' dere traitorous arses. When I find em again I'm going to gut em alive, make em shark bait. Fuckin' eat their ears and make em swallow dere own cocks!"[/color] Malkai tried to stay on his feet, but he was just feeling weighed down. He thought maybe... Maybe if he just rested for a second, he could get his strength back. Surely there was nothing here at the lightless realm that would come get him now, not while he was awake. Right?

At least that's what Malkai thought, until he saw something coming towards him. A shadowy figure beyond the range of his darkvision, making their body obscured by darkness. But Malkai didn't panic. He knew when he accepted this job that things like this could happen. He couldn't be prepared for it but he knew stuff like this would occur. And while Malkai was not the most disciplined man he was certain enough that once it finally came down to it, Malkai would do what he must and fight.

Whatever was coming, it was moving slowly. For a moment Malkai hoped that perhaps it was one of the others from the Company. If he had to guess only the Virtuous Company had the pleasure of being ejected from the ship. No doubt many died when they were tossed overboard. Malkai still couldn't believe he was one of the survivors. Perhaps he had the devil's own luck. Still, just because they were tossed overboard doesn't mean that this figure was one of them. Something had to have killed all these skeletons after all. Perhaps this was a scavenger looking for easy prey. Or perhaps it was one of the many monsters said to inhabit the forsaken place, here to play tricks on him before snapping his neck. [color=a2d39c]"Positive thoughts, Malkie. Dey all ya got now."[/color] The figure grew closer but Malkai held his ground until eventually he was able to discern more details.

It was a Woman. Almost too good to be true, which made Malkai on edge. However he recognized her. They haven't formally introduced one another to each other, but he knew she was part of the Virtuous Company. Or at least she was with them when they boarded, frankly Malkai's senses were shot to hell due to all the booze he had imbibed. He only remembered her since he had humored the thought of flirting and bedding her on the boat trip. However such carnal pleasures were the least of Malkai's concerns right now. And he still didn't discount the idea that this could all just be a trap by some witch or man-eater, preying on Malkai's weaken state to make a meal of him. The half-orc couldn't muster the strength to charge but he could at least hold his axe with both hands, ready for hostilities. When the figure came closer he called out to her.

[color=a2d39c]"Oi! You dere! Ye... Ye from the company, ain't ya?"[/color] Not really the most intimidating nor convincing voice, Malkai had to admit. He was in a bad spot though so anything that could put him at an advantage, be it false bravado or fear. [color=a2d39c]'It's Malkai. Dat half-orc who was boozin up da 'ole trip. If ye one of dem sailors, ya better start runnin'. An if you ain't part of da company, then ya best not mess wif me. Cuz I'm tired, 'ungry, an itchin for a scrap. An when I get my hands on ya, I'll turn yer guts inna a sack!"[/color] The Half-orc chuckled at his poor humor. It was the only thing he could do to ignore this pain.

As Malkai faced this possible foe, he noticed a blue light in the distance. He wasn't sure if that was a good or a bad thing though; he didn't get a chance to learn about his allies powers to know if any of them were capable of producing light like that. Still, if he survives this encounter, it was something worth investigating.

[@2plus2isnot5]