[center][h1]Chapter 2: The Abandoned Citadel[/h1][/center]
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3 days later... 

Black clouds roiled in the distance, the occasional roar of thunder accompanying its approach southwards. Markus was not sure if it was good luck or bad luck that the storm had not saw fit to bother them until they reached their destination, for though they had sailed northwest smoothly, there was little room for them to tie the ship, nor were there docks. The ghostly keep of WyvernWatch was located upon a rocky outcropping of land; a veritable cliff nearly two hundred paces above the crashing waves, and that was merely at ground level. The keep itself towered over that by at least another fifty paces. 

The seawind seemed to be getting sucked northward toward the oncoming maelstrom of weather, causing Markus' hair to whip harshly through the wind. The wheel was growing increasingly hard to steer, though he held to it with a fierce resolve. A kilometer from the cliff, he knew they needed to slow down and soon. "Pull up the aft and mainsail!" he called through the next wave that struck the ship, causing it to shudder in an almost ghastly groan. 

Below, Halvar and Corsica moved and heaved, as did Reginald, who was finally able to pull his weight now that he'd had three square meals the previous day. "Put yer backs into it!" Sketti roared, holding the foresail with his one, meaty fist. Dwarves might be short but they were heavy, most of the weight being sheer muscle. He gritted his teeth as the ship groaned yet again. Jim did his best to aid the Quartermaster, using his youthful strength and limbs to add some weight to the Dwarf's grip. 

The other new recruit, John, came onboard and began to aid his old comrade Reginald. While the latter man looked a bit fuller and healthier, John looked as if he had not slept since he had entered Calliope's room. The bags under his eyes looked almost bruised. Markus had neglected to talk to the sorceress about what had occurred, and he would continue to refrain as long as John pulled his weight. The other members of the crew whispered of what she had done, but after Markus making an example of Bill, they would not think twice of challenging her again.

As they sailed closer, cresting and falling through the waves, Markus' keen eyes could barely make out the entrance that Grimey had mentioned. Through the wind and waves, he could see a small cavern beneath the keep, the entrance almost swallowed up by the crashing ocean. "Weigh anchor!" 

"Weeeiiigh Anchor!" Sketti repeated, and Sron went to work, grabbing the solid, shaped iron anchor and dropping it into the sea. The ship suddenly careened starboard, the anchor making hard to port. With luck, the cliff would keep the Weather Witch free of the worst of the winds, but it would still be hard to keep the boat steady through the incoming storm. 

"Sron!" Markus called, stepping off the aft castle and making his way onto the deck. "Grimey! Make your way to the longboat. Jim, go and fetch Calliope. Don't get any ideas by the way, you're staying on the ship. And get the tripplettes, they're now on duty says I! And grab the Elf, we'll need him in the Keep!"

"Aye Captain!" Jim said, leaving Sketti to his own devices and making his way down into the lower decks. Markus went into his quarters and retrieved his weapons and equipment. There looked to be no patrols, and by the grace of the Gods none would come through the storm. But still, he felt uneasy. 
[@Penny]