Chapter 1 - Change

While the others around him turn to the oars or leap across the gap between the ships, Ewen focuses his attention solely upon the pirate captain; his green eye continues to glow as he swirls his hand around in a circular motion as the flock of spectral raven begin to swarm around the captain, pecking and clawing at his face and blurring his vision as blood begins to drip down into his eyes. “They cannot escape if their Captain is dead... keep me within bowshot and I will deal with him.”

Kara, despite her very now famous diving from the ship to retrieve something, is trying her best to steer the ship, even though the weather and everything else is fighting against her in a wonderful fashion

From aboard the ship, Guthric wasn't even able to draw a weapon or shield before the onslaught began. However, his primal fury would not be abated. Casting off the blows and arrows, he grabbed the nearest foe to his left and hurled the man overboard. The next in front of him was met with savage bloodlust as Guthric's transformed fangs clamped onto the man's arm raised in protection.

Branok sets to unfurling the sail, displaying unexpected quick skill with his hands. He's clearly had much practice at manning a boat. Meanwhile, the pirate vessel continues to accelerate. The pirates in the water swim for the sides, grasping at the low rigging that lines the side of the ship. The pirates still aboard attack Guthric in full force and he's forced to fend of blows from an axe, as well as two arrows.

Magan pulls himself up onto the rigging, shaking water from his hair and blowing it from his nose. He sees an opportunity with 4 legs dangling above him and tries to lodge an axe in one of them. The pirate has to twist awkwardly to avoid the full force of the swing, leaving him almost defenseless. 

Ewen's lips curl into a slightly sadistic grin with the unsettling glow of his green eye burning brightly now as his fey powers continue to suck the lifeforce from the Captain, the spectral ravens now letting loose with a cacophonous racket as they continue spiraling around the man... and blood begins to seep from his ears...

Coelred grunts as he helps to move the boat. The pain in his arm had seemingly gone away, and so he was able to move the boat closer to the pirates.

Aboard the ship, Guthric is a paragon of primal vengence. Receiving a blow from the right, he caught the assailant's arm and wrenched on the man until he gave way and was forced over the ship's railing. With a flash of steel, Guthric's blade was drawn. In a flash, he beat at his remaining foe's defense. The pirate was stalled enough for the lupine savage to hold down the man's arm and counter with a hard smack to the pirate's head with the blade's flat. Seizing the opening, Guthric lunged and clamped the man's shoulder with his powerful jaws.

The Red Wolves' longboat powers after the pirate ship, as Coelred, Kara and Branok work the oars, but they still need to pick up more speed. The men on the rigging swing down at Magan with their blades, but their positioning is bad and he handily dodges both strikes. Meanwhile Guthric shrugs off two more glancing arrows in his furious assault.

Magan pulls his axe back, the pirate hanging loosely above him he times his swing with his own momentum as he sways on the rigging, forcing of his weight through his axe and onto the dangling leg. The blow lands perfectly on the pirate's calf, tearing through skin, tendon and muscle and splitting the bone beneath as it buries itself in the wood of the ship. Magan swings his weight fully onto that arm, using the axe like a climbing hook as he shifts himself up a little further and then wrenches it free. The pirate passes out from the shock or the pain or the blood loss, Magan isn't really sure of anything other than that the body goes tumbling over his head and makes a satisfying splash in the water, leaving behind a large chunk of muscular tissue in the rigging. He locks eyes with the other pirate above him, as he shakes a little dangling flesh from the blade. "You going in by yourself, or am I helping you over?"

Ewen keeps his focus directed on the captain of the pirate vessel, this time pushing the voice for more strength. "Toirneoir, more! Finish this!" He grins as his left eye flares brightly again and across the churning waters, the spectral ravens let loose a terrible racket that is only drowned out by the blood-curdling screams that erupt from the pirate's mouth as his eyes are rip from their sockets. A gout of blood washes down his cheeks as he collapses to the deck, dead or dying... The green glow in Ewen's eye diminishes and his hand drops to his side with a dissatisfied sigh. "I warned them..."

Guthric takes a wild swing at the pirate, but it falls short. Seizing the opening, he pulls out his shield for more protection, then lunges for another bite with his wolf-like jaws. The shields gets in the way, however, and the pirate shoves the bulwark into Guthric's mouth.

The remaining pirate on the rigging carefully edges away from Magan, before climbing aboard closer to the front of the ship. The pirate Guthric wounded also backs away from him, until four of them are gathered together on the other side of the deck. Guthric is peppered by two more arrows, but barely notices the impact, while a third sails over his head.

Magan leaps aboard, drawing his shield as he does so and flinging his axe at the nearest pirate. The axe wobbles dangerously as it buries itself deep into the wood of the ship between the mans feet.

Coelred just continues to help row the boat. He wants to play it safe with the injuries he has sustained.

Ewen directs his spectral ravens towards the only enemy in his line of sight and causes them to spring to life around him, harrying him while sapping some of his vigor!

Guthric charges across the deck, fangs bared and arms ready. His sword passes by a pirate who was lucky enough to dodge and buries itself in the ship's railing. With a grunt and a heave, Guthric wrenches it free and runs a terrible gash across the pirate's face, felling the man instantly. With two remaining, one flinches to raise a defense, but Guthric slams his sword on the man's weapon and lunges. With a feral bark, he lands on the man and clamps his jaws on the unfortunate pirate's neck. Now, only one remains to stand against Guthric's fury.

The two pirates near the front of the ship rush at Guthric, frantically swinging axe and seax, but neither blow strikes true. Meanwhile, Magan is peppered by two arrows from the upper deck. The first he catches on his shield, but the second deals a glancing blow to the shoulder that sends him staggering.

Magan grunts as he shrugs off the impact from the arrow, he looks down but it doesn't feel deep, he instinctively goes to retaliate at teh pirate that shot him, but a quick glance around and he sees the longboat drawing alongside and his companions ready to engage that end of the boat.. He draws his axe, swinging it as he advances on the pirate ahead of him instead, he draws the pirates eyes to the axe movement as he swings an obvious uppercut that would have taken the pirates arm off if he didn't step aside, right into the path of the shield that was always the true focus of Magan's attack. He catches the pirate square in the face, knocking out several teeth and driving the spiked edge through the lip and jaw of the man who recoils in pain. 

As the longboat saddles up along the pirate vessel, Ewen sheathes his sword and removes his hunting bow as he notches an arrow to the string. He sights down the projectile and just as he looses, the boat jars and the missile disappears off into the waters... He curses softly as he shakes his head. 'Foolish. They already know. Unleash the ravens again, let them feast!'

After drawing the longboat close enough to be alongside, Kara finds it a prudent idea to take the rough rope they have on board and to attach the two boats. After all of her and Coelred's hard work to check up to the much bigger boat, losing them again just seems to be a bad idea, along with Branok being really the only person left who doesnt fight in combat. She takes her time, about 6 seconds, securely tying the two boats together, before getting ready to climb up the bigger boat.

Magan's strike was more than enough to hinder the pirate. Charging in after, he delivers one savage blow after another with steel and fang. In moments, the man is a rent and bloody meas like his former allies. Only one now stands against Magan and Guthric.

Desperate, on the back foot, and uncertain of how to act, the archers turn and shoot at Ewen who seems to be bringing this fell power down upon them. He's hit badly, twice, but his will to fight is only intensified. Magan is also struck. His endurance is wearing thin.

Magan looks in horror at Guthric as the well aimed sword is followed with a savage bite. It is the first time he sees Guthric face on on the boat and his shock is evident. He swings at the pirate in front of him, but keeps his shield high, stepping to the side to put a little more space between himself and the werewolf.  "Are we good my friend? Are you in control?" His voice is firm and steady, betraying no fear, but carrying all of the authority he can muster. 

Magan's shield buffets the pirate back, even as his axe rakes across his forehead, dealing a nasty wound.

Ewen staggers as two arrows hit him in rapid succession, both hammering into his torso! His armor prevents them from penetrating, but knock the wind from his lungs and he falls to a knee. 'Get up! You are not done! Let them feast!' Suddenly Ewen feels a vigorous surge as he stumbles back to his feet and calls out to the spectral ravens that swoop down suddenly into the same archer they harried before. This time the fly through his torso and he immediately begins to cough up blood...

Gripping her axe firmly, Kara clambers up the side of the large ship, getting herself good and ready for the combat on the deck. She then moves towards the first enemy she sees, in an attempt to help her comrades

Guthric's fury was overwhelming for the final pirate. With a thrust of Guthric's shield, the man was set off-balance and wicked steel fell into his leg. Fallen and crippled, the man held an arm in futile defense against canine fangs. Broken and bloody, the man fell unconscious and Guthric rose to stare down Magan, blood still running from his jaws, "To the last..." His altered form seemed to have changed some internal qualities as well, and his voice was now an coherent growl. Rushing past Magan, Guthric clears half the deck in pursuit of the final pirate.

The two remaining pirates panic when they see the armoured nordic woman land on the deck with a thud, and two arrows fly her way. One goes flying over her shoulder, but the other knocks her back, kicking the wind from her lungs.

Magan turns towards the pirates, starting to tire now, he is relieved to see Kara on board the ship. Joining her, he hurls his axe at the nearest pirate, hitting him square on the forehead despite the length of the throw, unfortunately the haft lands first or he would surely have been killed outright. The pirate blinks, clearly struggling to focus. 

Ewen continues to focus on the bloodied archer, sending his spectral ravens to draining the remaining lifeforce from the pirate; however, this time the spell is resisted and the ravens dissipate into a wispy smoke before vanishing into nothing! The green glow in Ewen's eye falters and flickers a bit as he struggles to regain control over whatever power is aiding him.

Kara omhps as the arrow strikes her hard enough to knock out her breathe, but she shouts out in Norse "For Freya and glory!" as she then charges towards the archer whose arrow did strike her, going with an upper cut with her axe, trying to catch the man off guard with her closing the movement.

A flash sweeps past Kara as she strikes a pirate. No sooner her did her axe connect did a blade pierce the man's chest. Guthric's charge fells a pirate, but his rage is set on the final man. The man is lucky enough to see the incoming threat and block Guthric's jaws, but the Pict's size pushed the man hard against the rail.

The last remaining pirate swings his blade frantically at Guthric, but to no avail.

Magan closes in behind Kara, getting caught up in the bloodlust he feels a renewed surge of energy and little regard for his own safety. Dropping his shield as he runs he throws his axe as he closes on the final pirate. The throw is solid and catches the pirate across the scalp, cutting him deeply and giving him a nasty concussion.In the blink of an eye another axe appears in his hand, following the first towards the pirate it embeds itself in his thigh and the man howls in pain.

Seeing the last frantic enemy barely holding against the onslaught of the others, Ewen sends his spectral ravens to feast upon the man's life force, but by his sheer willpower to stay alive he resists the draining effect and the ravens simply dissipate as they swarm around him...

Kara steps up to the lone pirate and with a powerful swing cleans his forearm clean off with her axe. He screams viscerally and passes out, bleeding heavily. There's a moment of silence as everyone catches their breath and the realisation sinks in that the fight is done.

As the battle comes to a close, Guthric is left drained and panting to catch his breath. His primal rage had left him, and his features had returned to normal. Wiping the blood from his blade and face, Guthric sat limp against a rail nearby. Fighting wasn't new, but this was a huge fight, and he didn't was to use his gift so soon around strangers. These people seemed decent, but most people do until they see Guthric for what he is.

In the sudden silence that falls over the ships, Ewen lets out a heavy sigh of relief as the green glow fades from his off-color eye and he sits back against the hull of the longship. "Is it over?" He inquires wearily, feeling his hands begin to shake as the adrenaline continues to dump into his nervous system and nothing to focus it on. He looks over at Coelred and the grievous wounds he'd suffered. "Friend. I am no healer, but I can perhaps help bind your wounds?"

Since Kara secured the longboat to the Howling Ghost , it's now being carried along with it, and Branok leaves the oars to see to the wounded. After first ensuring that Isolde is unharmed he hurries to Coelred's side. "May I?" he asks, before beginning to inspect the man's head wound and the injured arm. "These are deep, but I should be able to get them bandaged without much trouble," he adds with a reassuring smile, looking about for his healer's bag.

Magan looks around at the strange group around him. He rubs his temples still trying to remember what had happened to bring them here. "Thank you for your assistance. Does anybody have any recollection of how we ended up out on the river? If not, I suggest we head to the temple, perhaps somebody there could enlighten us. Kara, can you get us back to land?" Magan will explore the pirate ship, checking for any valuables the pirates have stored onboard.

Below deck Magan finds a broad selection of mundane supplies, including weapons, armour and provisions. He also comes across a large and disappointingly empty wooden chest in the captain's cabin.

Kara loving runs her hands over the ship after Branok has everything well in hand about healing the new people with them. She was in awe of the larger ship, the craftmanship, and everything just screams ship to her. She barely heard the questions the others asked, but once Magan mentioned land she grumbles and says darkly "We need no shore, we shall find our fortunes this way now."  She continues to grumble somewhat, as she isnt used to such a big ship, and after a few starts and stops, she attempts to guide the ship.

With a bit of strength and focus returning to him, Guthric stands on the navigation deck and surveys the watery stretches. At Kara's grim determination, he can't help but smile, "Seems the lass is born with sea water in 'er veins an'  reaver's spirit. Much as I'd like t'join, I'm afraid my life's on land."

Ewen stops as the other man steps over to the wounded warrior and begins to bind the wounds. He looks over at the rigging to the pirate ship before he stows all his weapons and gear and then takes a few moments to carefully climbing the rigging. His weaker arms and shoulders make the climb slower than his companions, but he eventually makes his way to the top and examines the carnage above. "Well done, all over you. This was no easy fight." He looks over the other three with a wary glance, taking them in quickly. He nods to Kara, realizing she was beneath the water when he introduced himself. "M'lady, my name is Ewen. I believe you were beneath the waves when I came to earlier and our 'friends' here cut short any further introductions. Might I ask, what do we do about the bodies?"

Magan shrugs at Ewen's question. "Overboard with a weight. It's what they'd have done with us or with their own had they won"

Guthric looks over to Ewen, then to Magan, then back across the deck of the ship, "How are we for provisions? Do we know how long it will be until the next town?"

"We can provide for ourselves out of the town. You want to join us?"  Magan looks a little surprised but intrigued at the proposition. 

Blushing brightly red at being called a lady, she stammers " I.. I.. I thank you. I am Kara, Paladin of Freya. I now have two ships. Ive never had two ships before, and I think perhaps we should see about providing for someone or several less fortunate than us."  She was excited about the ships, but she also knew she needed to do the right and proper thing, and help out those less well off. Not everyone could bring Freya's glory to all. She would mention to Guthric " You could always find a life at sea raiding. I may not do much of all the pillaging, but I enjoy it. Burning those heathens..... Anyways, what is your life? Any of you? I am with Magan when I say I am unsure what brought us all together. Or seperated us from the others."

"I'll join you. Been travelling this world the past few years. Hunting, tracking, trapping. The world must've brought us together, huh?"