Salted Skies (3 Part Story)

[William Castle]

           
        Two women similar in age walked their way through Minoc along the narrow cobblestone streets. The sounds of pickaxes chipping away rock can be heared in the distance from the reopened mines as miners work tirelessly. The smell of smoldering coal and burning forges fills the air, emanating from the blacksmith shops. In the center of the city, the town square buzzes with life as vendors sell fresh produce, animal pelts, and rare gems and minerals collected from the mines. Chatter of merchants bartering with customers blends with the clinking of coins exchanging hands. As the sun sets over the mountains, the orange glow illuminates the city, casting a warm light on the streets and buildings.

River is a captivating and shrewd pirate who has sworn allegiance to William Castle since parting ways with the notorious pirate crew, the Silver Crows. Although she stands at a shorter stature compared to her fellow mercenaries, her long flame-red hair and striking looks make for an unmistakable presence in any port. River's accent, which does not match her appearance, adds to her mystique.

Keylith is a resilient and talented young Drow who has overcome significant obstacles in her life. Now in her mid-twenties, Keylith is a formidable archer with a natural proficiency for dark magic that she often chooses to withhold. Her striking appearance includes dark skin, long white hair, lavender eyes, and pink lips, attracts many women with whom she can be flirtatious and direct.

As Keylith and River make their way to The Settlement, they cannot help but be struck by the rugged and hardy nature of the newly constructed village. The buildings are made of robust timber and stone, and the villagers themselves seem to weather the elements with unparalleled resilience. Though it is not an easy place to live, there is a powerful sense of community amongst the villagers, and a deep respect for the land and sea.

The coast in lined with fishermen hard at work, their small boats venturing out into the deeper waters to bring back a catch of fish. Some villagers are involved in crafting various goods from pottery to leather goods, taking advantage of the natural resources in the area. The sounds of their handiwork fill the air, along with the clanging of the blacksmith's hammer in the forge.

In the centre of the village, they come across the great hall, humorously named “The King’s Head.” It is a sight to behold with its grand timber construction and intricate carvings depicting scenes of battle and Viking deities. At night the hall comes to life, filled with music, dance, feasting and storytelling, a celebration of life amidst the harsh environment.

Keylith and River make their way to the barracks, Inside, there are rows of straw-filled beds, each belonging to a member of the Rovers. The walls are made of timber and stone, with a thatched roof and small windows to let in light and fresh air. Though not built for luxury, it is a warm and welcome respite for the Rovers during hardships.

The two await William's arrival, they feel the deep sense of respect and admiration that the villagers have for their land and their community. They have experienced firsthand the harshness of life in these coastal regions but also the rich bonds of community and the unique spirit of survival and resilience. There the two wait for William Castle.

Keylith and River take a moment to discuss their experiences with The Bear Captain. They find a quiet spot inside the barracks, away from prying eyes and ears.

"So, River, how did you end up meeting William?" Keylith asks, breaking the silence.

River smiled a bit as the memory returned to her. "We met while I was workin' for The Silver Crow Buccaneers... local pirate group, I was just a nobody to them. Then all ye came along and I got close with William. I decided I wanted a new scene, he saw me for what I was worth, trusted me to be his mouth piece and lead when he was unable.. So, I been at his side ever since. Not even the gods could drag me from his side."

"It seems like he has a knack for taking in lost causes and turning them into fierce warriors," Keylith replies with a slight smile.

River snorted out a laugh and nudged Keylith with her elbow, "I was a fierce warrior before he found me, lass. He just made sure I got my due respect. Now, how did ye meet the Bear Cap'n?"

Keylith takes a deep breath before answering. "I was enslaved on a ship, packed below deck. William found me there, still chained up. He took pity on me, knowing that I, as a Drow, would have a difficult time surviving on my own. He adopted me as his daughter, and we've been together ever since."

River awed softly, "'es a big cuddle bear! But 'e was right, ye would not o' survived. Drow get a bad rap around 'ere. I am glad 'e saved ye.”

"Me too, He's the only family I have left," Keylith replies, a hint of sadness in her voice.

As the two continue to talk, they hear a commotion in the distance. "Looks like the Bear is 'ere," River says, standing up.

The two make their way towards the commotion, eager to meet with William Castle.

William confronts the pair with news of another job.

"Ladies, I have an opportunity for us to earn a considerable amount of coin," he says, a smile spreading across his face.

"Wha' sort of job?" River asks with interest.

"A straightforward one. We've been approached by two scholars who need help moving scrolls from Minoc to Britain. They're willing to pay handsomely for our services. Are you two up for it?" William explains.

Keylith and River exchange a look before nodding their approval. "We're in," Keylith says confidently, while River adds, "Sounds like an easy job for the three of us."

William smiles approvingly. "Good. We don't want to keep them waiting. Let's make our way to the Minoc Docks and prepare the ship. We set off first thing in the morning."

The three quickly make their way to the docks and start preparing the ship for the voyage ahead. Keylith is in charge of overseeing the loading and unloading of the cargo while River ensures that the ship's navigational charts and other equipment are in order.

As the Kraken’s Kiss leaves the port of Minoc, crewed by the William, Keylith and River, the inky blue sea envelops the ship. William, an experienced sailor, barks order to his crewmates, who scramble around the deck to adjust the sails and navigate the ship smoothly. Keylith, quick on her feet, expertly carries out William’s commands, while River steers the ship with a steady hand at the helm. The ship cuts through the waves, its sleek form slicing through the water with ease. As the sun dips below the horizon, the Kraken’s Kiss sails off toward the horizon.

Suddenly, the peaceful voyage takes a violent turn as two ships suddenly appear on the horizon and begin to attack The Kraken's Kiss with full force. William, River, and Keylith quickly realize that they are facing twelve highly skilled pirates determined to take the valuable cargo for themselves.

[William Castle]

**The Next Three Events happen at the same time, in real time.**

                    (Event One)

        River rushes towards the three pirates with her hatchet drawn, her red long hair whipping in the wind. She wastes no time and immediately launches herself into the midst of the first attacker, dodging and weaving expertly as she parries their blows with skillful ease.

The second pirate attempts to flank her, but River's quick reflexes allow her to turn and slice into his arm, forcing him to back away. She turns back to the first pirate, whose determination seems to only strengthen in the face of her prowess. The two exchange a long, brutal series of slashes and parries with neither giving an inch.

Suddenly, the second pirate lunges towards her with renewed vigor, but River anticipates his move and sidesteps him, lunging towards the third pirate, who happens to be off-balance. With one swift move, she swings her hatchet toward his throat, watching with satisfaction as he falls to the ground choking on his own blood.

She then charges towards the second pirate, catching him off guard. She swings the hatchet upward through his abdomen and then follows it up with another swing at his head, decapitating him. River turns her attention back to the first pirate, who has been shocked into immobility by the brutal speed of her attacks. She lunges forward, plunging her hatchet into his chest as his eyes widen in shock.

River emerges from the battle, her long hair redder than ever with the blood of her vanquished foes. Her chest heaves with effort, and her eyes gleam with a feral intensity. Despite the brutality of the fight, she shows no signs of weariness.

                (Event Two)

        Keylith quickly moves to the bow of the ship, arrow at the ready as the four pirates start to board the deck. Her hands do not shake as she pulls back the bowstring, her eyes keenly focused on the approaching attackers.

The first pirate charges forward, but Keylith is ready. She releases the string, and with deadly accuracy, the arrow pierces the pirate's throat, causing him to fall to the ground lifeless. The second pirate charges towards her, but Keylith quickly evades his strike and fires another arrow straight through his heart.

The remaining two pirates attack at the same time, forcing Keylith to retreat while drawing her short sword. They come at her with ferocity, their swords swiping through the air with deadly intent. Keylith backpedals skillfully, her agile movements keeping her out of their reach.

With the pirates following close behind, Keylith sees her chance and quickly moves to the side, slashing through the arm of the pirate on her left. The pirate howls in pain, dropping his sword, and Keylith takes advantage of his momentary distraction, dispatching him with a swift slice across his throat.

The remaining pirate steps back, intimidated by Keylith's deadly prowess. But Keylith is relentless, attacking with renewed determination. The two engage in a dizzying sword fight, the sounds of steel clashing ringing through the air.

Despite being outnumbered, Keylith handles the situation with calm and precision. With one final blow, she disarms the pirate and points her sword towards his throat. The pirate drops to his knees, surrendering to her.

Keylith emerges victorious from the brutal fight, her body covered in sweat and grime, but her eyes filled with intense determination. She surveys the scene with a sense of pride, knowing that her skills with a bow and a sword had played a important role in protecting the valuable cargo.

                (Event Three)

        William is left to face the remaining five pirates. He looks at them with a fierce determination in his eyes, knowing that he must do whatever it takes to protect himself, his crew, and the valuable cargo.

With a wave of his hand, William creates a shield of force that surrounds him, protecting him from the pirates' initial attacks. He then calls upon the power of the elements, creating a burst of flames that engulfs one of the pirates, causing him to scream as he succumbs to the fiery inferno.

The remaining pirates charge towards William, swords flashing in the sunlight. With another wave of his hand, he creates a bolt of lightning that hits one of the pirates, causing him to fall to the ground twitching in agony. The last three pirates charge relentlessly, but William is ready, as he taps into his magic source and calls forth a torrent of water, sending it rushing towards them with incredible force.

The pirates are caught off guard and struggle in the torrent, losing their footing and allowing William to strike with precision. One pirate falls to his knees, unable to stand against William's powerful magic. The other two, realizing that they might be next, turn to run, but William sends forth a powerful blast of wind, knocking them off their feet and slamming them into the ship's mast.

[William Castle]

        As the final pirate falls to the deck, William's anger boils over. He looks around, taking in the damage done and knowing that the pirates had attempted to harm his daughter and River, who he has grown close to.

William's magic crackles, visible in his hands as he channels his rage into a spell, calling forth a massive inferno that engulfs the two pirate ships. Flames rise high into the sky as the ships begin to sink, and the sound of the creaking wood and roaring fire echoes across the ocean.

Keylith and River watch with a mix of awe and fear as the pirate ships are consumed in a blaze of fury, knowing that William's anger and determination have ended the pirates' threat. The fury in his eyes is palpable as he stands on the burning deck, watching the flames.

As they survey the raging fire that has engulfed the pirate ships, Keylith can't help but be struck by the similarity between the flames and River's fiery hair. She turns to River with a playful glint in her eye.

"Looks like the fire's got nothing on you, River," she says with a grin. "You're the only one who can match that kind of intensity and passion."

River rolls her eyes but can't help but be charmed by Keylith's playful banter. "Well, I 'spose ye nay wrong" she quips back with a small smile. "But let's focus on puttin' out the fire an' gettin' back to t'port, shall we?"

For William, this was not just an attack. This is the safety of his family and those he cares about. The thought that the pirates would harm his loved ones filled him with a fury that he could not control.

After the smoke had cleared, River, Keylith, and William set to work extinguishing the flames that had ravaged "The Kraken's Kiss."

With the ship back under control, the trio continues the voyage towards Britain, keeping a watchful eye for any other potential threats. They arrive safely at the city docks, where they are met by two members of the Mage's Guild. The scholars are extremely grateful for the safe and timely delivery of the ancient scrolls and the Mage's Guild members pay them as promised.

Although their journey was fraught with danger, they had faced the odds together, and, as a result, were stronger for it. With that in mind, they set sail once again, back to the Settlement along the coast of Minoc.