by Luka Petrov
I regretfully answered, “It appears that Walter said he was me and did turn himself into the bounty hunters. He went through with his plan.” It pained me to say that. It pained me to think that Walter took my place as a servant for the wretched Demon Lord. My heart sank, and I became consumed with guilt. I did not know how I was going to go on, but I knew I had to. I had to fight the pain right now, because two people who I cherished were having their ship ransacked and we needed a way to get off of this runaway train.
The sound of Captain Reid’s voice broke the pain and turmoil my mind was experiencing. “We will have a feast like a king!" Captain Reid said." But we're going to need some jewelry as well."
Mrs. Purcell interjected, “We have no gold or silver. We only bring linens and spices from other lands. Traveling with precious metals or stones are too dangerous, it puts us at too much risk."
The first mate came off of the Purcell’s vessel, and said, “We have everything Captain”
"Well, it looks like you're telling the truth. You did not have any jewels or metal." Captain Reid said. "And that's a pity for you guys. Jamie, tie up these varmints now!"
Jamie, the first mate came over to both Mr. and Mrs. Purcell with a rope. He grabbed Mrs. Purcell by the arms and pulled her to the mass. Securing her tightly around the mast circling the rope all around her from her legs up into her neck. It was a dreadful sight to see, to see, especially someone I had been to their house. He did the same with Mr. Purcell, tying him up to and the mast. I was amazed at how much I allowed myself to feel. This unpleasantness was hitting too close to home. I loved these two as if they were my own parents. They had invited me over for dinners and I enjoyed my friendship with Emma. That was all before I learned magic and needed to learn as much as I could to become the greatest mage there ever was and defeat the Demon Lord.
I had to defend them, I had to defend them for Emma’s sake. I love Emma, I enjoyed that night we spent exploring the Heims Festival. She would not this one done to her parents. We must do something.
I had to huddle with Yves and Agnes. I whispered to them, “Guys, we cannot let these pirates do this to Mr. and Mrs. Purcell. I know them from Gilmore, they are family friends. We must free them somehow and get on their ship. If we can get us and them on their ship, then we can sail to Barnard Island as we planned. Let’s forget about Walter for the time being and stick to our plan of getting the Magi Staff. We are of no use to Walter without it. Also, let’s save the Purcell’s in the process.”
Yves counted how many men there were, “Looks like there are twenty men on this vessel. We cannot battle all of them and they have enough mana to handle whatever we need to once we are at the cursed castle on Barnard Island. Not to mention, all together, there are at least 300 HP that we would have to face from the crew on this ship. We could never defeat everyone and survive ourselves.”
“Good point,” I responded. “What else can we do?” I asked.
I glanced over to Mrs. Purcell, she was gagged with a red bandana and looked like she was struggling to breathe. My heart broke slightly seeing her like this. I smiled as I remembered meeting the Purcell’s. It was when I had come over to pick up Emma for the Heims Festival. Mrs. and Mr. Purcell were warning us of pickpockets. All I knew was that we needed to do something and do something fast. I was fairly certain that they would slay both Mr. and Mrs. Purcell if nothing was done. Most likely, these pirates knew what we were gathering form the Cursed Castle. They would probably attempt to take the Magi Staff form us once we had gotten it from the castle.
Seeing Mr. and Mrs. Purcell had brought out the emotions that I tried diligently to suppress. The emotions of caring and wanting to help others rather than advance my own abilities. Given that I did not trust these pirates was only the more reason why I needed to subdue them and get to Barnard Island. I could not think of what would happen to Mr. and Mrs. Purcell, I needed to focus on getting the Magi Staff and getting to Gilmore with it. That was my one and only goal.
The pirate ship was still tied to Mr. and Mrs. Purcell’s mercantile vessel. I was not certain what was the plan for that ship.
While I was working out some sort of plan to rescue the Purcell’s and to figure out a way to escape unscathed and not have to battle twenty pirates and expand my mana, a voice from the crow’s nest shouted, “Blimey! Batten down der hatches. Cog a yonder!”
Captain Reed must have heard the warning and yelled to his men, “Everyone in your place. The lookout says we are under attack!” Sailors scrambled to their places. The deck swabbing ceased and the cannoneers took their places by their cannons, replenishing their station with smoke powder.
A sailor untied our boat from Purcell’s mercantile vessel, and we sailed thirty feet west, attempting to get out of the range from the attacking ship. Glancing over the starboard side, I saw the other ship. The hull was painted black, and the black, ominous sail had a white skull and crossbones on the front. The other boat was a pirate ship as well.
We moved to position ourselves better for a counter-attack on the other ship. With our bow cannons facing the other ship, Captain Reid yelled, “Chase guns, fire! Fire!”
The cannoneers lit their cannons, activating the smoke powder and sending iron balls barreling at the opposition. We did not hit the ship, not with one of the iron balls because we were out of range.
Round 1:
The battle starts with the Bonney Polliwog spotting the Crushing Crusaders. Immediately, they load the cannons and fire with a disadvantage. The Bonney Polliwog rolls a 7 missing the first strike. Using its move action to make a second attack. The Bonney Polliwog rolls a 10 and misses yet again.
It is now the Crushing Crusaders turn to retaliate. The Crushing Crusaders take their first shot, rolling a 14 and a 13 plus 4. Due to the range, the Crushing Crusaders take the 13 plus the 4 equaling 17, hitting the Bonney Polliwog, dealing 45 points of damage.
Ending round 1.
Round 2:
The Bonney Polliwog fires again, rolling a 4 and a 7. Due to the range, they miss.
Crushing Crusaders sees the strike miss, exploding in the ocean in the distance.
The Crushing Crusaders take their move action to their maximum movement. They fire again, rolling an 18+4 which equals to 22. The Bonney Polliwog takes a massive hit to the side of the ship ending round 2.
Round 3:
The Bonney Polliwog is now within range of the Crushing Crusaders. The Bonney Polliwog uses its action round to fire rolling a 10 plus 6, equaling to 16. The Crushing Crusaders takes a big blow to the side of their ship. Splinters and smoke flies through the air, the ship rocking, trying to take hold.
The Crushing Crusaders uses their full turn to retaliate. With the ship shaken, they fire, missing the Bonney Polliwog by a hair. The cannon balls hit nothing but water.
Ending Round 3
Round 4:
The round starts with the Bonney Polliwog uses its attack round to fire upon the crushing crusaders, hitting the crusaders for 35 points of damage. The Crushing Crusaders readies themselves, trying desperately to repair their damages. During that time, they fire once again, hitting the Bonney Polliwog for 43 points of damage. The Bonney Polliwog is now on fire, and they must put out the flames before their ship goes underwater.
Ending round 4.
Round 5:
The Round starts with the Bonney Polliwog scrambling to make some repairs. The Bonney Polliwog fires at full force, hitting the Crushing Crusaders for 35 points of damage.
The ship now retaliates. The Crushing Crusaders fire once again, hitting the Bonney Polliwog for 43 points of damage. The clouds grow dark, and the sea is getting heavy. All remaining attacks will gain a disadvantage due to the massive storm.
Round 5 has ended.
Round 6:
With the storm rushing, causing the ships to rock. The Bonney Polliwog fires at a disadvantage, missing the crushing crusaders. The Crushing Crusaders uses its full round action to fire twice, both with disadvantage. The first ball misses
, and the second misses as well, ending round 6.
Round 7:
The rain gets heavier and heavier. Lightning cracking in the sky, Thunder roaring loudly. The Bonney Polliwog uses its full round action to fire at the crushing Crusader with disadvantage. Hitting the nose of the ship dealing, 40 points of damage. The Crushing Crusaders take their full round to fire a barrage of cannon balls, hitting the Bonney Polliwog for 30 points of damage then 20 points of damage.
Ending round 7.
Round 8:
The Bonney Polliwog is in bad shape, they resort to their last option. They send their marauding pirates towards the Crushing Crusader. Firing once again, missing the Crushing Crusader by a hair. Pirates now raid the Crushing Crusader. Edward readies himself and casts chain lightning at the opposing pirates. Sending them back into the sea. The Crushing Crusader fires its cannon balls, hitting the Bonney Polliwog for 40 points of damage. Edward and friends start fighting back the marauders.
Ending Round 8.
Round 9:
The round starts with the captain of the Bonney Polliwog sends over more marauders, shooting more hooks and ropes. This time, they aim for the brig, raiding from the bottom. The Bonney Polliwog fires once again, hitting the crushing Crusade for 30 points of damage.
The fight on the Crushing Crusader continues with Edward and friends splitting up, Edward fighting on deck with the captain, and his friends fighting off the marauders below. Crushing crusade fires once again, hitting the Bonney Polliwog for 60 points of damage, a critical hit!
The weather finally calms down, the wave calm, ending round 9.
Round 10:
The round starts with the captain of the Bonney Polliwog taking matters in his own hands. He charges the Crushing Crusade, arriving on the deck with a sword in hand. He and Edward meet eye to eye. Bonney Polliwog fires, missing the Crushing Crusader. Edward readies himself, and fires a firebolt at the Capitan, hitting him for 10 points of damage. The Crushing Crusade fires its barrage, hitting the Bonney Polliwog for 30 points of damage.
The Captain swings at Edward, slicing at his chest, dealing 6 points of damage. Edward winces in pain. Ending round 10.
Round 11:
The captain slices at Edward once again, this time Edward managed to roll out of the way, using his attack of opportunity to grasp the forearm of the Captain, shocking him for 5 points of damage. The captain shrieks in pain. The Bonney Polliwog is running out of ammunition, the Bonney Polliwog uses its turn to reload and gather more ammunition.
Leaving the ship open. The Crushing Crusader uses its opportunity to fire once again, hitting the ship for 60 points of damage as well as another 20 points of damage on a critical hit.
Ending round 11.
Round 12:
The Captain slices and dices at Edward, within a split second, Edward casts mirror image, dodging both attacks. Edward then fires a firebolt at him, the captain rolls out of the way, dodging the attack.
The Bonney Polliwog is now reloaded, and fires at the Crushing Crusader, hitting the ship for 40 points of damage.
The Crushing Crusader rocks from such an attack. The Crushing Crusader fires once again, missing and hitting nothing but the sea.
Ending round 12.
Round 13:
The round starts with the Captain retreats from the deck, and goes back to the Bonney Polliwog, trying to patch himself up from his wounds. Both ships were running out of ammunition, and the damages are very grave. Both ships use their turn to wait, and make more ammunition, trying to repair any damages. Edward patches himself up, the Captain tends to his wounds. Both ships are in very critical condition. The round ends with both ships gaining 30 points of hp.
Ending round 13.
Round 14:
The round starts with the Bonney Polliwog uses its full turn to fire a barrage of cannon balls, hitting the crushing crusader for 40 points of damage. The Crushing Crusader retaliates with a barrage of cannon balls, missing the Bonney Polliwog.
The weather conjures once again, this time the storm ever so fiercer. Both ships getting a disadvantage on attacks.
Ending round 14.
Round 15:
The round starts with the Bonney Polliwog firing once again, missing, the weather getting stronger and stronger. The Crushing Crusader fires back, hitting the Bonney Polliwog for 50 points of damage. Lightning crackles down, hitting the deck on both ships, not slowly catching on fire.
Ending round 15.
Round 16:
The Bonney Polliwog starts the round by trying to put the flames out, the fire slowly eating away at the sail. The Bonney Polliwog fires once again, missing the Crushing Crusader due to the weather. The Crushing Crusader fire back, missing as well. Edward puts the fire out with his ice beam, trying to tend to the rest of the damages.
Ending Round 16.
Round 17:
The fire is now out on the Bonney Polliwog, there is one major problem. Black powder is running very low, without it, they can’t make any more ammunition. The captain uses his turn to wait, and take aim, increasing his attack efficiency. The Crushing Crusader is running out of black Powder as well, Edward improvises. Using his magic, he infuses the cannon to fire a fireball, hitting the ship for 60 points of damage and causing 10 points of fire damage.
The Bonney Polliwog is now engulfed and on fire.
Ending round 17.
Round 18:
With the Bonney Polliwog on fire, the captain fires a barrage once again with improved accuracy. Hitting the Crushing Crusader dealing 65 points of damage. The Crushing Crusader is not in great shape, now almost fully in flames, Edward fires yet another big fireball hitting the Bonney Polliwog for 70 points of damage, plus another 10 from fire damage.
Ending round 18.
Round 19:
With both ships slowly engulfing in flames, the pirates knew that they were on their last thread. The Bonney Polliwog is engulfed in every growing flame. With its least amount of ammunition, it fires, missing the Crushing Crusader. Edward now has one spell slot left, using the last of the ammunition to fire once again, hitting the Bonney Polliwog for 30 points of damage.
Edward then saves his spell slot for one last crushing attack.
Ending round 19.
Round 20:
The Bonney Polliwog is slowly sinking, with every last effort, the captain tries to escape the burning ship, to no avail. Edward uses his final spell slot to first one last fireball out of the canon, hitting the ship for 60 points of damage. The ship explodes into flames, killing all pirates who remain on it. Ending the battle.
Edward gain 400xp and his friends gain 400xp each.
Chapter Six
During the commotion, I untied the Purcell’s and all of us made a break for it. We walked the plank, so to speak, and all of us swam to merchant vessel that was floating nearby. The Purcell’s had a dinghy tied to their boat, and Mr. Purcell used that to get us closer to Barnard Island.
We washed up on the shore of Barnard Island, exhausted. Swimming from the dinghy proved to be a daunting task. Mr. Purcell made it back to his merchant ship and would wait for us after we were done with getting the Magi Staff. They would bring in their ship as close as they could get it to Barnard Island, and then Mr. Purcell would take the dinghy and wait for us on the beach. We were lucky that the pirate ship that we were on was attacked by another pirate ship. We were also lucky to run into the Purcell’s, who were able to help us get to Barnard Island unscathed. Well, at least not in too bad of shape.
Although, I was still astonished at the news they broke to us. That Walter had sacrificed himself in my place as the Demon Lord’s servant. Why did he do such a thing? How was I going to save him? Up until now, I thought I was just saving myself, and was tirelessly working on becoming the greatest mage of all time. However, this nagging in the back of my brain was too much to bear. I could not believe that Walter would risk his own life to save me.
Tears came to my eyes as I thought about how he was s
uffering as he served the Demon Lord. The pain of this nearly brought me to my knees on the sandy beach, but I had to be strong. We had a mission to accomplish here at this castle. Then I would work on saving him. That would be what I needed to do. To hell of being the greatest mage of all time, what use would it be. I needed to save my friend. The very friend that risked his own life for my own sake.
Getting the Magi Staff and getting out of here was the one and only focus. I could mourn and feel guilty about Walter after we had the Magi Staff. Onwards!
Eight massive, square towers outline an inner courtyard of the castle in almost a perfect circle. The square towers were all connected by tall, firm walls made of blue stone. Small windows scattered thinly around the walls in fairly symmetrical patterns, along with huge crenellations for archers and artillery were once used to defend and protect their stronghold. A moderate gate with huge metal doors and strong defenses guarded the castle. After witnessing the pirate ship battle, it occurred to me that this castle was prepared to defend an attack at any given moment. Rocks jutted out of the sea and created the cliffs that stretch up to where the castle situated itself, allowing guards to see boats coming far before they posed a threat. This castle showed signs of decay after being around for ages but had been abandoned, yet I was not privy to what details emerged of its abandonment. Calden Castle loomed over the sea like a fortress in the middle of swirling waves.