Chapter 5

The Harborwarden Hall was a stone building on the edge of a long stretch of docks. It was effectively the only all-stone building in the less-well-to-do part of Caer Jannath. It contained three towers, two large near the front and one small near the back, from which to view the approaches by land or sea, along with a small beacon in the third tower for lighthouse duty. It was the main barracks for the Harborwardens that patrolled the less-well-to-do side of Caer Jannath and collected taxes and tolls for Harbormaster Daffyd.

It was also a fortified position inside which various civilians could shelter. Unfortunately, with the Pirates so numerous and strong, the Harborwarden Hall which should have been a safe haven was instead just an elaborate trap. The Pirates effectively blockaded the Hall, cutting off the dockside access to the rest of Caer Jannath and ensuring the civilians couldn't flee by boat thanks to the Pirate ships that lay at anchor in the harbor ready and waiting to pick off any attempts.

Shots were exchanged back and forth between what few Harborwardens remained at the Hall, guarding the sheltering Civilians and the Pirates. Crossbows twanged and screams rang out as Pirates and Harborwardens alike took bolts from their opponents' fire. As Janessa, Grimnir, and I arrived on the scene, however, we could tell that the Harborwardens were losing. There just weren't enough of them left to stave off the assault, it seemed, and the only thing keeping them in the fighting were the fortifications of the Hall.

Leading the Pirates and exhorting them on to victory was the black-bearded, breastplate-clad, red-cloaked, Amnian Pirate Captain, Fuerza. He waved his rapier in the air and called out to his men as he did so, shouting at them to push through the defenders and break open the gates of the Harborwarden Hall.

"Come on you lily-livered pendejos! Push through and get into the Hall! A wealth of slaves is in there, ripe for the taking!" Called out Captain Fuerza.

I didn't need much in the way of encouragement after hearing that, I raised my Hand Crossbow and fired off a bolt that thunked into the back of a pirate, not downing him, but softening him up for Grimnir's thrown axe to do so. To that Pirate's right, a slingstone smashed open the skull of another Pirate in a flash of white light as Janessa also opened fire.

Those two Pirates dropped their crossbows as they fell to the ground, slackening the fire for a moment and allowing the defenders to pick off a pair of other Pirates with Crossbow bolts to the neck and armpit before the Fallen Pirates' Crossbows were snatched up and the volume of fire equalized again. However, this brief reversal seemed to catch the attention of Captain Fuerza, who turned to spot us.

"Keep firing! I'll deal with these three!" Snarled Captain Fuerza.

Immediately I dropped my hand crossbow and drew my Longsword and Buckler. Grimnir had already drawn his shield and axe and together we moved to meet Captain Fuerza's charge, Janessa moving to the side to get an angle to fire on the Captain with her sling. Captain Fuerza thrust out with his Rapier at Grimnir, who moved his shield to block, only to suddenly find himself being stabbed in the chest, Fuerza's Rapier flashing red with ill intent as it entered Grimnir's Body. Captain Fuerza having managed to feint masterfully and punch his rapier through a weak spot in Grimnir's Chainmail Armor. Grimnir staggered, falling to one knee before Fuerza wrenched his blade free of his torso and moved to cut out at me. Fortunately, I was able to duck the cut at my neck, the rapier just barely sailing an inch above my head.

Grimnir staggered up, badly wounded, but still ready to fight as he cut out at Captain Fuerza with his axe, though the weapon rebounded off the Pirate Captain's Armor, barely bruising the man underneath. I spat out an invocation, screaming a mystic word as I cast the spell of Ear-Piercing Scream at Captain Fuerza. The man seemed to flinch away, though only for a moment as his eardrums burst, but it hardly seemed to slow him. Janessa hurled a slingstone at him from the side that he ducked underneath.

As he came up, he thrust his Rapier down into my leg. It punched clean through the meat of my thigh, searing with malign power as it did so, the suddenly burning blade going straight through and hobbling me. A second attack was dodged, though just barely, via the simple expedient of my falling to one knee. In came Grimnir, striking for Captain Fuerza's unprotected back, putting everything he had left into the blow. His battleaxe bit deep into the back of Captain Fuerza's thigh, sending the Captain down to one knee, allowing me to cut out with my Longsword at him. My blade cut a gash along his left arm, though it was a small graze. In response, Captain Fuerza tumbled away from his position of weakness, shoulder rolling around Grimnir and dodging the Acid Arrow sent his way by Janessa.

As he popped up to his feet, he did so behind Grimnir, thrusting his Rapier through Grimnir's back as he did so. The blade flashed red, punching through magical chainmail and hitting something vital. Grimnir cried out in pain before dropping his axe and shield and moving to bull rush Captain Fuerza. With those wounds, he didn't have long left and he must have known it.

"Tempos witness my deeds!" Shouted Grimnir as he tried to bear Captain Fuerza into the harbor with his bull rush. He succeeded, and the pair splashed into the harbor.

"Grimnir!" I shouted, starting after him.

"There's no time! Don't let his sacrifice be in vain!" Insisted Janessa.

"Damn it!" I shouted, before drawing my Fochluchan Bandore and burying my grief and frustration under my need to ensure that Grimnir's sacrifice hadn't gone in vain.

I strummed out a mystical Chord of Shards that crashed into the back of the Pirates. Janessa did the same, casting a scorching ray. Together, the two of us and the few remaining Harborwardens firing crossbows managed to down three more Pirates, which allowed the Harborwardens to charge out, breaking open the remaining Pirate formation with their charge. I immediately began to play and sing a song to inspire Courage.

"The Minstrel-Boy to the war is gone. In the ranks of death you'll find him. His father's sword he has girded on, and his wild harp slung behind him. Land of song!" said the warrior-bard, Tho' all the world betrays thee. One sword, at least, thy rights shall guard. One faithful harp shall praise thee!" I sang out a traditional folk song about War and Freedom.

Honestly, if the Minstrel Boy was good enough for Chief O'Brien, it'd be good enough for the Harborwardens, and it definitely had an impact as the Harborwardens attacked with renewed vigor and soon enough, a corridor opened in the ranks of the Pirates through which the two dozen or so Civilians streamed out of the Harborwarden Hall through, rushing into the town, presumably to escape into the Hills. Janessa and I joined the fighting, casting spells, singing to bolster the Harborwardens, and attacking normally when we had to.

Between the ten remaining Harborwardens, myself, and Janessa, we managed to kill or scatter the twenty or so Pirates still up and fighting. I began collecting loot, taking a minute to grab a couple of pirate coin purses, a pair of Potions of Cure Light Wounds, a pair of Masterwork Daggers, and Grimnir's Axe and Shield from my immediate surroundings. Unfortunately, in the few minutes it took us to do that, I spotted Captain Fuerza swimming back to the docks after Grimnir's Sacrifice and the currents of the sea bore him out into the harbor. I grit my teeth, anger welling up in me at that sight as I growled in anger and frustration. I was ready to try killing him again for having killed Grimnir before Janessa put her hand on my arm. I looked down at her and she shook her head.

"No. We can't beat him. You're wounded and I'm down most of my combat spells. Grimnir sacrificing himself only managed to stall him. We need to run." Insisted Janessa.

"He's the reason Grimnir's dead!" I retorted.

"And if we fight, he'll be the reason we're dead too! There's no time to argue the point here. We need to go!" Pointed out Janessa.

Growling at the unfairness of it all, I had to admit that Janessa was right about that. He took what we were dishing out like it was nothing and then mortally wounded Grimnir effortlessly. Now it looks like even Grimnir's Sacrifice getting him swept out to sea hadn't even worked. We couldn't win this and I couldn't avenge Grimnir by dying too.

"Fine, but Captain Fuerza of the Forceful Flame will die by my hand eventually!" I swore.

"Come on!" Huffed Janessa before turning to run into the town.

I took one look at the swimming form of Captain Fuerza as he neared the docks before following after her. She led us further into town, past several burning storefronts where the Pirates had looted the shops and then moved to burn down anything they couldn't carry off, and up into the more Well-to-do section of town. We were forced to sneak past the Harbormaster's Consignment Warehouse and the Temple of Valkur, both of which had become the site of Major Battles.

Castle Jannath was eerily quiet outside of a small skirmish that looked to be happening in one of the Guard Towers near the Lower Ward. That seemed to indicate the Castle had already mostly fallen. What we found near the Landward Gate to Caer Jannath only confirmed it. Huddled in an alleyway between two stone buildings near the gate was the bloody, wheezing, form of Lord Cadfael. It seems he'd taken several crossbow bolts to the back escaping the Castle and had crawled into the alleyway to die, though he wasn't dead just yet.

"You. . .Bard. Come. . .closer." Commanded Lord Cadfael, wheezing.

"My Lord?" I questioned, darting into the alleyway, Janessa following.

"My time. . .is almost. . .up. You need. . .to warn. . .the other Islands. My Daughter. . .part of an. . .Umberlant Plot. Bigger than. . .just Cadfael Island. . .Entire Archipelago. . .Under Threat." He huffed between breaths.

"Hold on, I have a spare Potion of Cure Light Wounds." Tried Janessa.

As she fished in her pack for the potion, however, a smell came to my nostrils, something incredibly bitter was emanating from one of the crossbow bolts. Looking further, I noticed the viscous yellow fluid around the wound and realized that he'd been tagged with a bolt smeared with Wyvern Poison. A Cure Wounds Potion wouldn't stop him from dying from that.

"Save the potion." I insisted.

"What? Why?" Queried Janessa.

"Look. One of these bolts was covered in Wyvern Poison. He'll die from that even if he drinks the potion." I informed.

"Beshaba's Bad Breath! What rotten luck!" Hissed Janessa.

"Indeed. . .I am. . .fading. Regardless of. . .any healing." Puffed Lord Cadfael.

"How do we get off the Island to warn Jannathstaad and Hearthharbor?" I asked.

"The village. . .of Pysgod on. . .the other end. . .of Cadfael Island. A ship there. . .the Speedy Drake. . .Will take you. . .to Jannathstaad. Find. . .Magnus Ullrsson. . .Show him this ring. . .tell him. . .what I've told you. He is no. . .Umberlant." Grunted out Lord Cadfael, holding out his signet ring.

"We will. You have my word. All who died here will be avenged." I promised, taking the ring.

"Yeah. If there's a bigger plot and we can help, we should." Agreed Janessa.

"Wait. . .one last thing. I must. . .request of you. Give me. . .Mercy." Pleaded Lord Cadfael.

I frowned at that. On the one hand, murder was an evil act. On the other, so was leaving a man to die a horrific death, suffering from Wyvern Poison eating away at his cardiovascular system over a period of hours. Plus he requested that I do so. With that in mind, there was only one choice to make. I drew one of the Masterwork Daggers I'd looted from the Pirates and leaned down.

"May you find peace in the Afterlife." I offered, before plunging the dagger into Lord Cadfael's Heart, killing him instantly.

"Come on. We should go before the Pirates make it this far." Intoned Janessa.

"Right." I nodded, following after her.

A few minutes later we were out of the Landward Gates of Caer Jannath and heading into the hills. It was a steep climb into the interior, but we managed it. Fortunately, my Mithril Breastplate counted as light enough armor that I could move around in it fairly freely without hampering my ability to climb or cast spells or anything. Janessa's Robes were even better for that, mind you, but she didn't need armor from her usual spot in the rear of any battle.

We walked on, through the dawn and into the afternoon before we sighted the Village of Pysgod. We only had to chase off a single pack of Wolves, who were looking for an easy meal. When Janessa and I killed two of them with Longsword and Slingstone, the rest bolted into the wilderness. That was a few hours into our trip.

Finally, after eight hours of slowly climbing and making our way through the rugged terrain of the hilly interior of Cadfael Island, we finally made it to Pysgod. The town was really more of a large village built into the side of a cliff that framed a rocky fjord. The Fjord of Pysgod made for a natural harbor, though it appeared as if every ship in the Harbor was making ready to leave as swiftly as they could manage. One of them, a Baldurian Sloop, bore a red pennant with the image of a blue, swimming, Water Drake on the Red Field. If that wasn't enough to prove that was the ship we were waiting on, the name Speedy Drake was painted on the side of the hull in water-resistant letters.

The Captain was a weathered Old Salt with a great bushy white beard. You'd almost think him a wizard if not for the curse words, the aura of command, and the way he walked, bowlegged like a sailor. He was currently busily swearing up a storm as his crew loaded provisions.

"Damnation! Easy with that Barrel, that's the Rum Ration! Do you damn fools want to be stuck with no Rum for the next while? Tymora preserve me from idiots!" Snapped the Captain.

"Ahoy there!" I called out to the ship as we made our way over.

"Ahoy there yourself! We've got no time for chit-chat I'm afraid, we need to be underway while the damned Pirates are still looting Caer Jannath! If you want passage to Jannathstaad, you'll have to pay for it!" Retorted the Captain.

"Pay? There's a bunch of bloodthirsty Umberlant Psychopaths on the other side of the island and you want us to pay?" Demanded Janessa.

"Aye, there's no such thing as a free dinner! 'Course, if you're feeling like Tymora's smiling on you, you might take your chances with another ship. They'll tell you the same thing, but who knows? Maybe you'll get lucky." Smirked the Captain.

"How much?" I questioned.

"I'd say for the two of you? One-thousand-four-hundred Amnian Danter ought to do it. That's one Danter per nautical mile from here to Jannathstaad, plus extra hazard pricing for the Pirate situation." Smirked the Captain.

"We were told you had an arrangement with Lord Cadfael. Can you offer us a discount if we were sent by him?" Queried Janessa.

"Lord Cadfael doesn't look to be in a position to do much of anything for us now, so no." Refused the Captain.

"What if I can work through the trip? I'm a decent sailor myself." I offered.

"Now that might just get me to knock things down to just three-hundred-fifty Danter for the regular rate." Grinned the Captain.

"In that case, I think we have an accord." I nodded.

I handed over three-hundred-fifty of the Danter that Janessa and I had to the Captain. It was still a gross inflation of prices since each nautical mile traveled in normal conditions would be only a silver piece per nautical mile. However, given the circumstances, I was willing to pay it. Jannathstaad had to be warned and a response had to be mustered, after all.

"Welcome aboard the Speedy Drake. Name's Bernardo, Captain Bernardo. You'll be working for me till we get to Jannathstaad." Intoned the Captain.

An hour later, the Speedy Drake was all stocked with provisions and everyone was aboard. In that time, Janessa spotted her family clamber aboard a fishing vessel that cast off at the same time we did, offering a purse to the crew and captain to take them as passengers. As we headed west for Jannathstaad on the Island of Tearheim, the Fishing Vessel Janessa's Family had boarded headed northwest for Hearthharbor on the Island of Seahearth. I wished them well.

As I watched the shoreline of Cadfael Island recede into the distance, I vowed we would return to avenge the dead once again. Especially Grimnir, who'd always been quick with a laugh or boast. I'd only known him a short time, yet his death still affected me. I shed a tear for my Lost Comrade, then turned back to the ship. Captain Bernardo wanted to see how well I could work the rigging.

There wasn't time to grieve, only to work toward the next goal in the hope of taking a step closer to vengeance. . .

XXXX

AN: All right, so here we have the end of what I've effectively termed the Intro Chapter to this Baldur's Gate Prequel. They managed to save the civilians that were sheltering in the Harborwarden hall, but Grimnir had to sacrifice himself to do it, being mortally wounded and tackling Captain Fuerza into the harbor where he got temporarily swept out to sea.

If anyone wanted to know about Captain Fuerza's build, he was a Fighter Four/Rogue Three/Scarlet Corsair Two for an effect CR of Nine. There was absolutely no way that they were going to win that, even with all three of them. Fuerza only landed three blows and he killed Grimnir and took Robar down to half health.

Fortunately, Janessa and Robar leveled up from this clusterfuck. Both are now Level Five. I'll have character sheets and images for the chapter up before the next chapter.

Speaking of the next chapter, it will cover the journey to Jannathsdaad as well as the initial arrival.

Stay tuned. . .