POOHEAD189

Damned to the Depths

Gunshots echoed in the deep. The mist held shapes, and it was often far too late to tell if it was an ally or foe before the blade pierced your side. The fog was lifting, but all too slowly as the blood began to cause the deck to become slick and stained. An eerie howl shot out of the darkness, indicating that Sron had found a kill during the calamity, though it was drowned out by the screams of the dying.

Markus had nearly run into the back of a bare chested Rasheek, ebony skin outlined in metal studs that ran from his lower back to the bridge of his nose, with a scimitar the bulk of a shield that he moved with haunting ease. Markus backpedaled and whipped his sword across to gain distance as he took measure of his foe, who leaped back with an agile gait that spoke of many years upon the sea. "Brabandos will take you to de Capten!" he roared.

The scimitar was thrust through the fog and nearly gave Markus a push cut, who retaliated by knocking the blade up high to gain room for a counter, though his foe was no amateur and pulled back to strike again before Markus could run him through. It looked like this battle would take longer than he thought, until the Rasheek's chest exploded from behind as a black powder weapon discharged. The man fell to his knees, and blood began to pool out of his mouth before he hit the deck heavily. Sketti stood behind him, smoking blunderbuss in his hand.

Suddenly a loud twang could be heard, and a slight weightlessness to the weathered witch.

"What in the blazes?" Sketti grumbled, before Calliope and a shit covered man in rags fell out of the smog and onto the burly Dwarf, nearly breaking the deck and sending them through the next level. Nearly.

The fog would clear as the Weathered Witch slowly sailed out of the entrenchment of foes, revealing the carnage that had been wrought upon them. Markus helped Calliope up, checking her eyes and arm to make sure she was still able to stand despite her protests. Sketti stood up next, pushing the dirt laden prisoner off of him, who had subsequently been knocked out from the fall. "We will need him, trust me." Calliope said, as she blew some of her hair out of her vision.

Markus gave a nod, though his face went from stern to severe when he looked at the deck of the ship. A dead ogre, along with over a dozen Arad men were slain. Though they had not come out without casualties. The clear air revealed Corsica slain, cut and stabbed though surrounded by five dead Corsairs. And Phil held the body of Will, who had died fighting, having killed an Arad as the Arad killed him in a double thrust.

The east wind blew, bringing with it the stench of death. A stench that would likely follow them, Markus knew. He looked toward the rising sun, and behind them, a Galley capsized in their wake, as the surviving two ships fled from the scene.

---

The next day...

"I trust you, but the men are getting skeptical." Markus said to Calliope as they walked through the lower decks, having just spoken to a few members of the crew on how their 'guest' was doing. Phil and Bill were in the mess hall with Halvar, eating what rations they had left, making sure to leave the most 'prime cuts' for Achmed, the supposed Prince of Dalib Shara.

"I know wealth when I see it," Calliope replied, testily. "He might have been covered in shit, and he might act like a little shit, but he is of noble blood." She was mature enough to know Markus was not questioning her, but giving her fair warning and concern should this turn out to be a fool's errand. The battle had done wonders for Markus' credibility as Captain. None of them had expected to survive, and yet they had.

Though Calliope had become even more of a subject of scrutiny after the excitement had died down. They had buried their dead in the sea, and they still grieved for comrades lost. And as they did so, they needed something to aim their ire at. Calliope was the best fit. Her witching had scared them, when the shadow dragon had engulfed the enemy mage. What's more, there were rumors she had led them into the trap, or that she whispered into Markus' ear and he obeyed. The ex-merc had grown to enjoy Calliope over the time they've known each other, but he did well not to meet with her in private unless absolutely necessary (or late at night) to dispell the notion there was an enchantment over him.

Their new guest had not helped either. At first, when he awoke, he was congenial and very happy. He claimed to be impressed beyond imagining, and that such a battle against the odds had never happened since Sayrahed the Sailor in the age of myth. However, he soon began to lose his rose colored glasses, and demanded a bath. A bath in the drinking water, something that Markus agreed to once Callipe had confided into him who he was. The next day, the prince had been an insufferable lout, and both Markus and Calliope, along with the rest of the crew wished to run him through with their blades.

Markus and Calliope turned the corner, the rakish swordsman gave a chuckle. "You know I always heard it was good to have friends in high places. Didn't know it would take this long to cash on it, though."

"Am I not a friend in high places?"

"Yeah, but unlike Achmed I see no signs of you not being hard to handle." Markus said with a smirk, stopping at the door to her quarters. She gave a giggle that to others would likely sound sinister.

"Well, you've never had a friend like me." She said cryptically, and disappeared into her room. Markus was amused, but he needed to continue with the orders of the day. Stepping out onto the deck, the day was windy with light clouds to the south, but it was hot and humid as all hell. He heard Jax call from above.

"Land ho!" the half elf cried.

Markus and Jim, who had been up on deck with him, headed over to the southern edge of the deck to overlook the sight of the shoreline. Even at this distance, the city was visible. Curved spires overtook the sky like smooth, bloated mushrooms surrounded by pillars and vast plazas that were centered upon exotic gardens behind the great walls of the High section. It was only a fraction of the city however, and the disparity of wealth was apparent.

If one were to take Calaverde's population and multiply it tenfold, they would not be able to fill the streets of the vast shantytown that surrounded the inner gates. Buildings of clay, sand, and stone looked like vast honeycombs or rock formations, though the carved nature of them spoke of human work. Below them, wooden shacks and tarps were raised like an immense plain of poverty. The poor and destitute wailed to Hayashim for mercy, or to one another for some boon. And yet somehow, merchants made killings in the streets just as the thieves guilds did. Markus saw a few larger buildings, nondescript and boarded within the poorer section of the city, and he knew what resided in their. Pashas of criminal organizations thrives within, living nearly as opulently as the Sultan likely did in his grand Palace.

"By the Gods..." Jim breathed.

"No," Markus said as he looked at the teeming masses who could barely afford the clothes on their back. "This is man's fault."
@Penny

Into The Dark: Tales of Maroleth

*pokes* @The Fated Fallen@IcePezz

Post a random fact about yourself.

@The Harbinger of Ferocity I've never been drunk. I'm a complete teetotalor

WoT: The Dark One's Own Luck.

Ali smirked, and shrugged. "Apparently, I'm not the average Two Rivers farmboy. The Dark One apparently thinks so." he said.

Honestly, despite the revelation that probably should have him sweating, it was just nice to know that she trusted him with the truth. He guessed he was simple like that. Though more likely he was a fool like the wisdom always said and soon he would regret going on this journey. He would likely find out in the future.

As they settled in for the night, Ali insisted that Mave sleep on the quilt with the hay while he leaned on the wall, looking out over the fields through the small opening of the upper barn. Even until his eyes faded to dark, he didn't see the Myrrdraal or anything else. Though he had dreams of the dark rider, as well as the flying terror he had glimpsed earlier in the night...

---

That morning, the two had to hide in the upper echelons of the barn until the farmer that had begun working in the fields, using the barn for gathering tools and housing various items, keeping them up there hidden until near noon. Once the farmer (who luckily took an early lunch) was gone, they fled the barn and made it to the small hill outside Taren's Ferry's southern entrance. Ali sat down with Mave and told her the layout of the city, telling her where supplies and cheap beasts of burden would be.

"What about you?" she asked him.

He looked over his shoulder toward the town. "I might still be recognized. And even if I'm not, if anyone asks for someone who looks like me, they'd be able to say I was here." he explained to her, giving her the small bag of coins he had. There were five crowns there, in addition to her sum. Three from the Gleeman, and two that he had saved up and kept just in case. "I'll be on the north road near the treeline. Keep walking until you're out of sight from the town, and I'll be waiting."

He gave her a smile to encourage her. It was likely ill advised to separate, but it was necessary. "Ok?"
@Penny

Into The Dark: Tales of Maroleth

@Mortarion@Gardevoiran posts, fellas?

WoT: The Dark One's Own Luck.

He smiled at her, showing his teeth in a handsome grin. "It's not weird, I've been wondering that myself." he said. Truth be told, it had been confusing him quite a bit. He knew the Fade had been looking for him from what the townsfolk and Bran had claimed, and it had completely caught him by surprise. "Why they're after me...I really don't know. I wish I did." he admitted. "I'm sure it was easy to find me once they reached the Two Rivers. Just ask for someone with red eyes."

Maybe that was it, though he didn't know why that was special other than just being peculiar. He had always had a knack for being lucky. Maybe life was finally turning his luck around to bite him in the rump hard? Then again that seemed bloody unfair with his family and Mave involved. Speaking of which, he needed to speak to her on something. He took a deep breath and sat up straight, legs crossed and facing her.

"Mave I..."

He cleared his throat. He didn't know how to say it, even if they already both likely knew it. "I um, I...I fancy you." he said, his face burning like a torch. He was certain she felt similarly toward him. He tried to get the kiss out of his head. "But I don't know you. Not much, at least." he continued, and despite his bashfulness, he squared his shoulders and made himself move forward in his thoughts.

"I need you to tell me why an Aes Sedai was going through the Two Rivers." he told her, eyes locking with hers. "If we're going to be traveling together, you need to tell me who you are and why I found you in the woods. If you can't do that then...no matter how much I like being around you, I won't be able to go with you. We're companions, or we're not."

There was something compelling about his declaration. Not compulsion, or anything to do with the One Power. She could choose to do or say as she pleased, as always. But there was a weight to it, as if the wheel waxed and flexed its woven destiny.
@Penny

Post a random fact about yourself.

I'm confident when it comes to about everything but writing, which is arguably one of my better skills.

WoT: The Dark One's Own Luck.

Blood and Bloody ashes, what else could she do? It impressed him, but it was also a bit unnerving. Yet somehow, he was ok with it. He must be going insane too. They held one another's hands, and gingerly stepped across, slowly and deliberately. Other than a few small cracks by Ali's footing, they made it across, the soft crunching of the earth beneath them audible in the clear night air. Mave seemed as pleased as the cat that got the cream.

"It's a good thing Taren's Ferry isn't walled." Ali said to her, and they approached from the west now, creeping through the brush and sliding into the settlement from the outfields where the lower classes lived, if class could even be associated with such a small settlement. More like, where the men and women who could not afford to live where the cobblestone streets spread across the various shops.

"There's only one inn here." Ali said, indicating he knew where to go.

"No, no." She said, pulling him back from entering the town proper. "The enemy has agents. Darkfriends. Even if a Myyrdraal would not come into town, there are eyes everywhere, especially this close to the Two Rivers."

"So we can't get a room?" Ali asked, then realized how stupid he sounded.

"Would you be recognized?" she asked pointedly, and he nodded. She tried to gather her thoughts. "Then we'll need to think of something else."

"We'll have to sleep in a barn, then." Ali reasoned. Mave seemed less than excited to bed down on a pile of hay, though she did well at hiding it. Ali would have felt the same, if he had been running down from the mountains and had gone through everything she had. Light, he near had gone through as much now, hadn't he? The two quickly made a trek to the south of Taren's Ferry, picking their way through the back of the settlement where a few drunks and a watchmen or two lounged, though there was no serious watch tonight.

They found a squat barn, two stories it looked like, just at the edge of the periphery of Taren's Ferry. Tomorrow they would go and fetch supplies from the town, but tonight they needed to rest and think, and eat what's more. It was now just past midnight, and soon the early dawn would arrive. But not soon enough to not take refuge.

Ali opened the barn door with his workman's muscles, the gate creaking open like the cry of an animal. Surprisingly, there were no animals in here. Only bails of hay and farming implements. Ali lit the torch once they were inside, holding it aloft and checking to see if there was anything they might have missed from the moonlight. When he was satisfied, he told Mave to follow him and he climbed the ladder that led upwards to the second floor. Mave shimmied up behind him, and once they found a comfortable corner at the northern edge of the barn near the outer window, Ali set out a small quilt atop the hay and opened his pack, handing Mave a bit of dried meat and cheese.

"I've never had a Bel Tine this exciting." he said, giving her a boyish grin and a playful nudge. But his next words were more sober. "Thank you for saving me."
@Penny

WoT: The Dark One's Own Luck.

Burn him, Mave was right! He wondered if he would become less amazed over time when it came to her power, but even with his eyes closed he could see the room brightening, so he placed his forearm over his face to shield himself and save most of his night vision. Now that both the fade and the light had faded, he uncovered his eyes to see Mave blinking but serene. "We must go," she said, cooly imperious and trying to will both herself and Ali to move. The handsome younger man grabbed his staff.

"Follow me," Ali said breathlessly, taking her by the arm and gingerly guiding her through the house to the back door. Outside, the air was chilled and brittle to the bone, with nary any moon or starlight to guide them. As soon as the cold air blasted through the door, Ali suddenly grabbed a small jacket that hung on the door hanger, placing it on Mave's shoulders. She thanked him quietly, and he closed the door just as quietly.

He would have liked to have taken one of the family mules, but with him gone, his father would need every member of their livestock here. Not to mention a mule or donkey served well to travel long distances, but not slip away quietly during the night. It would bray and stomp too much, leaving prominent footprints in the soil and trampling foliage to give signs of their passing. They could get a mule in Taren's Ferry perhaps, or any beast of burden once they managed to make it out of the Two Rivers alive. They would need coin of course, which was another problem.

Ali had always been good at winning money when it came to dice. Despite his honest nature, he was a clever young man, knowing how to play the odds and gamble with the best of them. He also wasn't above stealing if need be, though it wouldn't sit right with him. He had been one of the more prolific tricksters of the town in his early youth. But even for all his wiles, he knew Mave was the wise one here, and once they were past Taren's Ferry, he'd follow her intuition on most things. He was completely out of his element, and he knew it.

However now, he bade her crouch, moving quietly as they hugged the bushes that ran toward the dark, foreboding treeline in the near distance. Mave tried her best to hike her dress up and follow Ali as they moved. Suddenly a shadow passed over them, causing Ali to pause and look up. He couldn't see anything, but whatever it had been was too large for a normal bird. He did not even think an eagle could make a shadow in such darkness.

"Where to?" Mave whispered as they entered the rough thickets. In only a few paces, it was obvious she would make quite a bit of noise. It wasn't her fault. Simply her dress and her slowly returning night vision. Ali scooped her up into his arms easily, and she squeaked, clinging to him.

"Sorry," he whispered to her, using his long legs to step over the bushes. It was only passed a couple of gnarled trees that looked as if they were trying to reach out and snatch Mave up that they made it to the small goat path, ferns and sticks still messily stretching about in their wake. She shook her head, kissing his cheek. "You're fine, now hurry. We need to make it there before daybreak."
@Penny

WoT: The Dark One's Own Luck.

Ali didn't know what to say at first. Of course there was a bullheaded part of him that was not about to leave his home or his family behind. One that wanted to physically protect them rather than run away. But he saw the wisdom in her words. More than that, he became lost in her eyes, and marveled at how the elder's stories were true. Women had a way of effecting things, making you do things you wouldn't normally think to do.

"Where would we go?" he asked her, mind warring with itself. He shook his head. "Wait, no. Taren's Ferry is the closest place, we'll need to go there."

"Do you know a path there that isn't on the main road?"

"I do. There's a small goat path through the woods that stray livestock usually take to eat the berries that grow near the town." He explained, knowing it was their best bet. He had not traveled through the brambles and thickets of the path in the dark since he was a boy, but they needed to do it to live, it seemed. Blood and Bloody Ashes, this couldn't be happening.

"That will have to do." She said, and though he was the one who was seeing this all for the first time, he still noted she was slightly nervous. He didn't blame her. Ali gave her an awkward nod, and then went to gather supplies they would need. Dried meats and fruits, with jugs of water and flasks of brandy. He still wore his Bel Tine outfit, the green and brown colors good camouflage and the handsome vest padded enough to stop a glancing blow from a light weapon at least.

He nabbed another outfit for himself, and another dress his mother used to wear for her. If she needed anything else he would likely be able to sew her something later. Once he was finished, he came back into the kitchen, resolve in his youthful, handsome face, his shoulders squared. Now that he was committed to leave, all of his stubborn determination would be into seeing it done.

"I'm ready." he told Mave.
@Penny