Chapter 24

We'd been sailing for a number of hours, heading out along the Sea Lanes between Heartharbor and Jannathstaad, when we came upon the scene of another attack. This time, however, instead of any actual ship pieces or anything, there was only the odd bit of flotsam bobbing up and down in the surf. A barrel here, a plank of broken wood there, some bits of rope, and so on. Clearly, the attack had been devastating, and unlike with the Gilded Casque, there were no survivors to take on board.

Still, we had to look for any possible survivors. We weren't heartless, after all. To do so, we slowed the Hammerdown to a crawl as we tried poking through the flotsam. It was possible, though unlikely, that some survivor had stuffed themself into one of the floating barrels or something, after all. We searched for twenty minutes, bringing barrels on board and cracking them open. As predicted, we found no survivors, just soggy provisions, wet grain, and ruined dyes.

It was interesting to see that nothing of value had been left to float away, however. While that could be the result of Xommyrru's Draconic Nature urging him to grow his hoard by whatever means he could, this was a bit more methodical than I'd expect from the Brine Dragon. After all, Brine Dragons were notoriously mercurial and chaotic. If Xommyrru had stolen cargo, it would have likely been an all-or-nothing affair.

"I wonder where the rest of it went? It's not like a Brine Dragon to leave things behind." I questioned.

"Maybe it got destroyed in the attack?" Queried Janessa.

"I doubt it. Brine Dragons have a unique breath weapon that does not lend itself well to the destruction of inanimate objects." Frowned Shavariel.

"Indeed. Alkaline and Salt is a breath weapon that is caustic to living flesh but remarkably non-destructive otherwise. This speaks of something else at play." Agreed Selima.

"Yeah, but what?" Asked Janessa.

"I think we'll find out if we stick around a bit longer." I intoned.

"Very well. Perhaps that will give us a lead to Xommyrru." Concurred Shavariel.

"Besides, it isn't as if we can afford to pass up this chance at investigation and allow the next ship that passes through to be ambushed as well." Added Selima.

With that plan set, we settled in to sail in circles around the area for a bit. Not twenty minutes after we began our circuit, however, the culprits revealed themselves. The first we saw of them was a foaming on the surface of the ocean as if something was blowing bubbles from beneath the waves. It wasn't nearly a large enough patch of disturbed water to be a Brine Dragon, however. Still, we braced for a potential impact.

That turned out to be a wise move, as what appeared from the waves was a fully armored and armed Sahuagin riding a Huge-Sized Dire Shark that slammed its tail into the side of the Hammerdown as it breached the surface of the ocean. The Hammerdown rocked as the tail slap from the Dire Shark Mount slammed into it, but our bracing for such an attack had saved us all from being bowled over. Still, the Armored Sahuagin Rider attacked, throwing a magical trident at us like a javelin that arced through the air even as it crackled with electric power along the tines, heading straight for me. I was barely able to dodge by the expedient action of flattening myself against the deck, the Trident sailing over my prone self only to disappear, reappearing in the Armored Sahuagin Rider's hands.

As that happened, however, another dozen Sahuagin Warriors clambered up over the gunwales of the Hammerdown, equipped in Masterwork Coral Studded Sharkskin Armor, Masterwork Tortoiseshell Shields, and with Masterwork Tridents. Four of them moved to take advantage of my weakened position, only for Shavariel to stop them short with a thrust of her own Trident, the Sea Baron's Judgement thundering forth to strike with a vengeance, tines punching through the sea-shell helmet of one Sahuagin Warrior and exploding his head. He slumped to the deck as the other three turned to Shavariel.

As that occurred, I pushed myself to my feet and drew both Aremeg's Wisdom and Aremeg's Fury. Then I turned to the Armored Rider, who was urging his mount around for another pass, and clanged my sword and shield together in a taunt. It was a standard Northman way to signal that I was prepared for anything this Armored Sahuagin could throw at me. It seemed to annoy the Armored Sahuagin because he made a beeline straight toward my position. As he did so, I finally got a good look at his equipment. Nimble, Buoyant, Mithral Chainmail of Heavy Fortification Plus Three, a Mithral Heavy Shield Plus Three, a Returning Trident of Shocking Burst Plus Three, and a Ring I couldn't identify just by looking at it for a few moments all stood out to me as I braced myself for his next attack.

Unfortunately, with Shavariel guarding my back and me taking on the Armored Rider Sahuagin, that left Janessa and Selima to face off against eight other Sahuagin Warriors on their own. That would be a tall order, normally, especially since they would likely have to conserve spells for the battle with Xommyrru. Fortunately, as the Sahuagin Warriors charged them, it became clear that they weren't nearly the equal of our Party. Selima took a single, glancing wound to the thigh but managed to down a pair of the Warriors with her Mace, even as Janessa managed to slay another with her Sling.

As I turned my attention back to the real threat here, I realized that we had this. Unfortunately, though I parried the throw of the Trident, it simply reappeared in the grip of the Sahuagin, whose mount ran up alongside the gunwhale of the Hammerdown, allowing him to thrust out at me again. This time, I took a glancing blow to the upper arm that cut a line of red along my bicep even as I staggered from the electric jolt of the shocking burst enchantment. However, as I moved to riposte, the Dire Shark slammed its tail into the side of the Hammerdown once again, rocking the ship and causing me to miss my cut. Not only that, but as I came in for a second strike, the Dire Shark hit the side of the Hammerdown one more time, sending me toppling overboard to plunge into the surf.

I hastily activated the ability of Aremeg's Wisdom, granting me a swim speed and the power to breathe underwater, but the damage was already done, as the wound to my upper arm bled into the water and allowed the beast to find me even from hundreds of feet away. It streaked toward me like a torpedo in the water, fanged maw open wide as it lunged for me, even as I was forced to parry an incoming throw of the Armored Rider's Trident. That parry, unfortunately, put me out of position to avoid what came next.

The Dire Shark crunched down on me, teeth failing to penetrate my mystical armor, but still bruising my ribs from sheer bite force as I was carried away from the Hammerdown. The Armored Rider struck for me with his Tident, and cut another line across my other upper arm with a second glancing blow, weakening me with electric power and ensuring that what happened next would actually work. With a groaning roar, the Dire Shark began to swallow me whole, and I couldn't stop it. As I was engulfed into its esophagus, I was crushed by pressure on all sides, even more formidable armor creaking as the pressure bruised my body.

I had to think of something quick, I wasn't sure how much more of this I could take, the stomach acids of the Dire Shark burning any exposed skin with every moment I spent in here. Something had to give, but my sword arm had been sprained on the way down the beast's gullet, bent back and away from any sort of position I could use to strike at the Dire Shark from inside. I still had a grip on Aremeg's Fury, but I couldn't get leverage to strike. There was nothing for it, I would have to try something insane in such a cramped space.

Immediately, I activated Aremeg's Fury's Steam Enchantment. A line of steam issued forth from the blade, scalding myself in the process but parboiling the insides of the Dire Shark. I felt a lurch as the Dire Shark, suddenly not able to digest me, vomited me out into the water alongside blood and bits of cooked flesh. I was hurt bad, but so was it. As I righted myself in the water, I struck out for the Dire Shark's Eye, plunging my blade into it as I did so. As the Beast was helpless to resist, still reeling from the destruction I'd wreaked on its insides, my attack hit home, punching through the dinner-plate-sized orb and into its primal brain. It thrashed about in its death throes, smashing into me with its tail and cracking one of my ribs. I was alive, though, if barely. It couldn't say the same.

I shunted the pain aside, making the swim back up to the Hammerdown and clambering back up onto the deck as the corpse of the Dire Shark stained the ocean with its blood, floating to the surface. As I looked out at the deck, I saw that my Crew had slain all of the regular Sahuagin Warriors and were now facing off against the Armored Sahuagin Rider. Shavariel sported a couple of wounds, and Selima sported a few as well, but neither were anywhere near as badly wounded as I was. In the meantime, the Armored Sahuagin Rider looked like he was also pretty badly wounded. Not quite to the level that I was, but close enough. Enough that as he struck out at Shavariel, scoring a puncture wound to the meat of her Calf, I was able to rush up behind him and strike with Aremeg's Fury, splitting his skull open from behind.

As he fell to the deck, I huffed and puffed, battered, bruised, burned, and bleeding, but still very much alive. That seemed to surprise Shavariel whose eyes widened as I huffed and puffed there on the deck. I looked down at the dead Armored Rider Sahuagin and spat on the corpse.

"That. . .was for. . .having your. . .shark. . .swallow me." I huffed and puffed.

"Do you have any idea who that was? Eldraxis the Waverider was known in the Undersea Kingdoms to be a powerful Sahuagin Warlord, Master of the Coral Citadel, and Rider of the Dire Shark Gnashmaw, and you just slew both him and his mount." Breathed Shavariel.

"Don't care. Need healing." I huffed out.

"Stay still. I will see to your wounds first." Nodded Selima.

"In the meantime, we might wanna leave. A corpse that big is bound to attract predators. I'll set sail." Added Janessa.

By the time that we were all healed up, we had managed to sail away from the site of the Battle and make it to a series of rocks jutting out from the seafloor that Shavariel pointed out housed a local Sea Elf Watch Station on the seabed. If they were still around after Xommyrru's arrival, they should know what was going on. We anchored off the rocks and descended down below the waves, using magic, magic items, or in Shavariel's Case, simply taking off her Ring of Air Breathing to do so. As we reached the sea floor, the small spikes of the rocks widened into something that you could hollow out and use as a watchtower. Shavariel led us into a crevasse in the rock, and we soon found ourselves in just such a place.

"Halt!" Insisted a Voice in Sea Elven.

I looked over to spot a pale-skinned elf with hair the color of ocean water. She was wearing Magical Sharkskin Armor of Light Fortification Plus Two, which was reinforced with bits of pearls and coral. She also bore a Headband of Mental Prowess Plus Two for Charisma and Wisdom on her brow, a Belt of Physical Might Plus Two for Strength and Constitution, a Ring of Protection Plus Two, and a Thundering Trident Plus Two in her grasp.

"Melarue, it's me." Spoke Shavariel.

"Wait, Lady Shavariel? How did you escape from Baron Keloss?" Questioned the Sea Elf, Melarue.

"That's a long story." Admitted Shavariel.

"And who are these surface dwellers?" Queried Melarue.

"They are part of that story. Do you have the time to hear it?" Asked Shavariel.

"I have nothing but time. The Longtail Wyrm has decimated my command and what few troops remained have been recalled back to your Father's Citadel to guard his trade caravans. Introduce me first, though." Responded Melarue.

"Right, this is Melarue, Knight-Lieutenant of the Easternmost Watchpost of Nelquazzar and a personal friend. Melarue, this is Robar the Red, Janessa Goodharbor, and Selima of Murann. They helped save me and all of the other slaves of Baron Keloss from bondage, slaying the Baron, his Priestess, and the Majority of his Forces in the process." Introduced Shavariel.

"Baron Keloss is dead? That would explain a great deal of the reports from Eriladar's Watchpost to the North. I think you'd better tell me everything." Insisted Melarue.

And so Shavariel laid out the tale of not just the Battle with Baron Keloss, but also what we had been doing since, the threat posed by the Church of Umberlee, and how they were behind Xommyrru's relocation to the local area from the seas near Gundarlun. She also told Melarue about how we had slain Eldraxis and his Mount, Gnashmaw, and that we were looking to do the same with Xommyrru. The tale took long enough to tell that we had to reapply the spells of Water-Breathing on Janessa and Selima, prompting Melarue to lead us up into an air-filled chamber higher up in the spire of rock that served as a watchtower.

"So you see, we need to know where the Longtail Wyrm makes his lair." Finished Shavariel.

"It would seem that way, yes." Nodded Melarue.

"You wouldn't know where that is, would you?" I questioned.

"I would." Nodded Melarue.

"Where?" Queried Selima.

"Where else? The Coral Citadel. He's got the remains of the Coral Citadel's Tribe serving him there. Sixty Sahuaguin Warriors, minus any you slew alongside Eldraxis and Gnashmaw." Informed Melarue.

"Of course. Why dig out a new lair when there's a perfectly fine fortress to lair in? Lazy beast." Scoffed Janessa.

"Still, that is good information to know. Can we rest here?" Asked Shavariel.

"Only if you promise to do something for me." Retorted Melarue.

"What would you have us do?" Questioned Selima.

"When you go to the Coral Citadel, search for the Banner of the Watchpost. It was made of Cloth of Silver and Pearls enchanted to withstand the pressures of both combat and the sea. The Greedy Wyrm stole it from us when he attacked our patrol. It has no real mystical value beyond the preservation spell, but its construction was expensive, and that's generally enough for a Wyrm to add such a thing to its hoard, even before the trophy aspect gets involved." Insisted Melarue.

"And you want us to bring it back to you?" Queried Janessa.

"It isn't just valuable monitarily. It also has sentimental value." Nodded Melarue.

"I think we can do that. We were planning to loot Xommyrru's Hoard anyway." I agreed.

"Then you may rest here to regain your strength." Affirmed Melarue.

And like that, we both had a target to attack, along with a base to strike from. Attacking the Coral Citadel would be difficult, but not as difficult as it might have been with Eldraxis and Gnashmaw still alive and kicking. By Melarue's Count, there should still be forty-eight Sahuagin Warriors there, after all. Of course, the remnants of the Sahuagin Tribe wouldn't be nearly as difficult to deal with as Xommyrru himself, but that went without saying. For now, we slept in the air-filled chamber on beds of woven kelp, regaining our strength.

Tomorrow, we would strike out for the Coral Citadel to bring the fight to Xommyrryu. . .

XXXX

AN: All right, so here we have the next chapter. It turns out that Xommyrru has done the usual Dragon thing and forced the local tribe of Monstrous Humanoids into servitude. He's effectively taken over their home and begun to decimate the forces of anyone who wouldn't serve him when he isn't attacking surface ships. Honestly, if Robar and Company hadn't shown up when they had, it was likely that Xommyrru would have managed to entrench himself in the local area completely.

As for Eldraxis and Gnashmaw, they were both CR Eleven Monsters. Eldraxis was a Fighter Five/Waverider Six, while Gnashmaw was a Dire Shark, which is already CR Nine, but being the Mount of a Waverider also added a Plus Three Level Adjustment, making him a CR Eleven. Together, they would have absolutely wiped Robar's Party, but fortunately, Robar was able to separate Eldraxis and Gnashmaw from each other. Two CR Eleven Monsters fought separately was more doable than fighting them together, even before you add in the dozen CR Four Sahuagin Warriors. It wasn't easy, mind you. Robar was down to just three HP by the end of the Battle, and the others were also varying degrees of wounded. They managed, though, barely.

At any rate, the next chapter will be the beginning of the attack on the Coral Citadel. I'll also have some more images out before then as well.

Stay tuned. . .