Chapter 3

In the wee hours of the morning, an unnatural mist brewed up from the sea, shrouding the approach of four ships bent on pillage and destruction. One was a Northlander Longship, shallow of draft and oared. Another was a Calimshite Dhow, with lateen sails for easier maneuverability. A third was an Amnian Caravel powerful and steady, with sails red as blood. The last was the largest, a Sembian Carrack with room for a full company of soldiers aboard and Sea Green sails in the color of Umberlee.

Silent as the grave, these ships split up, with the Northlander Longship, Calimshite Dhow, and Amnian Caravel heading for the town while the Sembian Carrack headed for the docks and the Lower Ward of Jannath Castle. The Four Naval Cutters there represented the most potent threat to their attempt to plunder the town, and so they had to be dispensed with as a priority.

As the carrack crept closer to the Lower Ward, the night watchmen on deck of the ships gazed out into the unnatural, obscuring, mist, attempting to discern anything by the light of their torches. Their first and only warning that something was wrong was when the wind suddenly picked up, bringing with it a Northerly Chill that played merry havoc with their torches.

For a few moments, it was just a stiff wind, then, all at once, the wind blasted forth, guttering torches and blasting the Night Watchmen and the sailors on deck back with a touch of hoarfrost that chilled their bones. Some fell into the deep water of the harbor, and that was when the second part of the horror of the evening began. A trio of black-skinned sharks whose eyes gleamed with malevolent intelligence burst forth from under the water to rip the Night Watchmen and sailors who fell overboard to pieces.

As calls rang out to watch the waters for sharks, more deadly enemies appeared from another direction as the bow of a Sembian Carrack pierced through the obscuring mist like a dagger punching through skin. On the prow, in tarnished copper letters, the name Divine Maelstrom was posted for all to sea, with an emblem of Umberlee painted underneath.

On deck, a cruel woman in magical steel plate armor stood on the bow, a magical trident in one hand that glowed with energy and sparked with prickles of lightning. Standing near her, a gaunt-faced, dark-haired, elf in magical dueling leathers held aloft a longsword in one hand that sparked with chaotic power and left trails of frost in the air while the other carried a dagger that glowed red with a fell enchantment, and hissed with steam as it passed through the air. Meanwhile, a Blue-Clad Sorcerer of Amnian Stock stood on deck in Blue Robes that hummed with defensive energy, wearing a number of magical items, from his hat to rings and amulets, down to the very shoes he wore. His hands were already forming the phantom shapes of somatic components for spells even as the ship sailed closer.

Then the Woman invoked a prayer to Umberlee and an eighteen-foot wave swelled up in the Military Harbor, capsizing one of the Naval Cutters and dumping its waking crew into the water to be devoured by fiendish sharks. With a satisfied smirk, the Woman, clearly a Cleric of Umberlee turned to the waiting crew of cutthroats and the Elven Duellist on the deck.

"Alejandro, Filveryl, take these Mangy Dogs ashore. Kill anyone who resists and round up those who don't. They'll fetch a good price on Skaug." She ordered, nodding first to the Sorcerer and then to the Elf.

A cheer went up at that, and the clear pirates surged forward, all Seven Hells breaking loose in the Lower Ward. . .

XXXX

I awoke with a start, the first inkling I had that anything was wrong being the sudden brightness that filtered in through the window of the room at the Selkie's Lament I was staying in. There was a whoosh of flame as the light burst and I bolted upright, heading for the window. What I saw was a town that was very much under attack. What I had just woken because of was a fireball striking the Temple of Valkur. True the temple did not appear to be on fire, but that was far from the only problem. On the streets outside, such as they were, a motley mix of Amnian Buccaneers, Northlander Raiders, Calimshite Corsairs, and the like were prowling about, killing anyone who dared put up a fight and plundering houses and shops.

A group of about twenty Harborwardens led by Chief Harborwarden Arnuth was trying to stem the tide, but there were too many opponents for them to deal with. Currently, they were engaged against three times their numbers, and of the Harborwardens, only Arnuth possessed anything that could even the odds at all.

"Shite, it's only a matter of time before they push through those poor bastards and make it up this way." I grumbled, taking a minute to don my armor and grab my gear.

By the time I was finished with that and moving out of the Room I'd been given, Janessa was already equipped and ready to go. Grimnir too, though his armor had been donned hastily and was not its normal, well-fitting self. Together, the three of us headed for the common room of the Selkie's Lament. It was here that I ran into Janessa's Parents for the first time, along with meeting up with Jandon and Janessa's previously unseen twin sisters, Jilkis and Jilara. At any other time, I'd make a joke about the J-Names, but this wasn't the right time for it.

Janessa's Father, Jankin was kitted out in a slightly magical leather vest and bandolier with various vials and pouches of miscellaneous powders. An Alchemist, apparently, while Janessa's Mother, Jayfira, was clad in a green leather robe that was slightly enchanted to better turn aside blades and arrows and insulate her against the cold, though it did nothing against anything else. In one hand she bore a magical wand that I couldn't quite place. Meanwhile, Jandon was clad in a sturdy tunic of blue wool but had no real armor. Instead, he carried a flask that appeared to contain a potion of Barkskin, along with a slightly magical dagger, and a bandolier with a number of flasks of alchemists' fire on it. The Twins weren't kitted out for battle at all, being only children, but they were kitted out for travel, with Jilkis in Green Traveling Cloths and Jilara in Blue Traveling Clothes, though were otherwise quiet and hiding behind their mother.

"Mum, Dad, what are you thinking? You look like you're getting ready to fight to the death!" Hissed Janessa.

"Your mother and I can fight better than you, and Jandon's not too shabby either." Huffed Jankin Goodharbor.

"I know you and Mum can handle yourselves, though I'm less sure about Jandon. That isn't the point! Jilkis and Jilara are just kids! You've got to get them out of here!" Pressed Janessa.

"The Selkie's Lament is our livelihood, Janessa, we built it with our own money and worked hard to make it a success. We won't abandon it." Intoned Jayfira.

"If I may, the Harborwardens are about to be overwhelmed, and judging by the fact that these Pirates must have come from ships, I'd also venture a guess and say that Lord Cadfael's Fleet is either busy or already sunk, which means Lord Cadfael will have other issues to worry about closer to his castle. No help will be coming from that Quarter. Given that knowledge, do you not think making a strategic withdrawal might not be a better option? To the hills outside of town, perhaps?" I tried.

"It would be more sensible, Mum, Dad." Added Janessa.

"And your little ones wouldn't be in the middle of the battle." Chimed in Grimnir.

"Telling us to retreat is all well and good, but you won't retreat, will you?" Demanded Jandon.

"I won't, neither will Grimnir, though I can't speak for Janessa." I confirmed.

"Why?" Questioned Jandon.

"Tempos instructs us to not turn from battle when it is brought to our doorstep, but face it head-on." Answered Grimnir.

"And die well?" Scoffed Jandon.

"The wish to die a good death isn't just for Northlanders, Jandon. Plenty of peoples hold such ideals." I pointed out.

"Call it what you want, it's still suicide with extra steps." Spat Jandon.

"Jandon, hush. That isn't everything there is to it, though is it?" Queried Jayfira.

"No. There's a certain level of bragging rights involved if we survive, plus if we can get even a few more people out of town that would have been made slaves otherwise, that'll be worth it." I admitted.

"Indeed. And if we do manage all that, the Skald here is practically obligated to write a song about it." Smirked Grimnir.

"Of course." I agreed.

"Well, I don't know about dying well or bragging rights and songs but helping people escape sounds like a worthy goal. Plus, it seems like a way to get stronger and that's something I'm always up for." Remarked Janessa.

"Janessa, are you sure?" Asked Jankin.

"I am, Dad." Nodded Janessa.

"We don't have much time left. You need to hurry out the back exit and make for the hills as fast as you can." I insisted.

"Right, be careful, and good luck, you three." Offered Jankin.

"Make sure my daughter gets out safe. If you two live and Janessa doesn't I will be very put out, and you don't want to see how creative I can be with vengeance." Warned Jayfira.

"I still say you're all going to get killed, but I can't stop you." Sighed Jandon.

And with that, Jandon, Jankin, and Jayfira gathered up Jilkis and Jilara and fled into the back room of the Selkie's Lament and out through there into the alley behind the Tavern. Hopefully, they would make it out of Caer Jannath and into the Hills all right. Now, though, there was no time to think about that. Janessa, Grimnir, and I squared our shoulders and headed out the front door and out onto the streets of Caer Jannath.

What we found when we did was utter pandemonium. Dozens of Pirates lay dead in the street, but so too did all of Arnuth's Harborwardens. Now, only the Chief Harborwarded Remained. He was facing off against a Bearded, Northlander, Pirate, decked out in a Moderately Magical Blue Leather and Steel Chain Shirt, Moderately Magical Pauldrons, Moderately Magical Boots, Moderately Magical Vambraces, A Moderately Magical Belt, and a Moderately Magical Hat, with a Moderately Magical Ring and Moderately Magical Amulet adorning his left index finger and neck respectively. In his right hand, he wielded a Moderately Magical Longsword, and in his left, a Moderately Magical Dagger. Effectively, the man was lit up like a Christmas tree in terms of magical items, though I'd be damned if my Spellcraft was enough to tell what was what.

"You've done well to last this long. I am Wulf, Captain of the Tidereaver. I will carry your name to the next port with me if you would but give it." Intoned the Pirate Captain.

"Arnuth, Son of Rognvaldr. Chief Harborwarden of Caer Jannath." Responded Arnuth.

That I knew was a Northlander Custom. If you went up against a foe you respected, you offered your own name and asked for theirs so that if you won, you could tell the tale of how you triumphed against a formidable opponent. If you lost and had to withdraw from the field? Well, your opponent was formidable enough, no wonder that happened. It was honestly a very Roman thing to do, though nobody in Faerun had ever heard of Rome.

As the Pirate Captain took up a stance and Arnuth did likewise, however, Harbormaster Daffyd came rushing down a sidestreet, pursued the whole time by a group of Amnian Buccaneers being led by a dark, haired, bearded man in a Moderately Magical Breastplate, with a Moderately Magical Belt, Boots, Bracers, Amulet, and Ring, wielding a moderately magical Rapier. He was backed by one other, a Sorcerer in Moderately Magical Black Leather Robes, with a Moderately Magical Black Hat, and a number of other Moderately Magical Accoutrements, including a Moderately Magical Quarterstaff that was topped by a grinning skull.

"Damn it Fuerza, get your own Prey! Is it not enough that the Forceful Flame has twice the crew and cargo capacity as the Tidereaver, you need to steal my kills as well?" Demanded Captain Wulf.

"Sorry, Capitan Lobo, but this glorified scribe managed to gather enough men to cut his way out of the trap we set for him near his consignment warehouse! Hressman is still closing the trap there, but Blanchet and I gave chase." Explained the Breastplate-Clad Captain.

"Pardon." Huffed the Black-Clad Sorcerer.

"You there! Northlanders! Help us defend the Town!" Called out Harbormaster Daffyd.

That drew both the Amnians and the Northlander Pirates' attention to us. Captain Wulf turned to one of his Subordinates, a Dwarf clad in Slightly Magical Mithral Breastplate Armor Plus Two, a Slightly Magical Helm of Darkvision, a Belt of Giant Strength Plus Two, Boots of Striding Plus Two, a Moderately Magical Amulet, and a Ring of Protection Plus Two, wielding a Moderately Magical Dwarven Waraxe and a Large Steel Shield Plus Two.

"Thorgrim, deal with the interlopers." Commanded Captain Wulf.

"Aye captain. You, You, You, and You, with me!" Snapped the Dwarf, Thorgrim as he voluntold a group of five Northlander Pirates to follow him and deal with us.

I readied myself for battle, and soon there was no more time to survey the field, there was only time to fight. . .

XXXX

High Captain Ottarsson was in a bind. On the one hand, his Sailors could use his help. Only the Bosuns were down there guiding the average Sailors in the battle against these Calimshite Corsairs. On the other, he was sorely needed here, as he was dueling not just a Calimshite Sorcerer, but also seemingly a Northlander Priest of Umberlee. True, he'd had First Made Stenkilsson and Second Mate Eirsdottir to help him, but they were flagging in strength, their spells having been largely expended.

It didn't help that the Calimshites also seemed to have both their Captain, a Dervish of a Woman in gear whose enchantments far exceeded anything his brothers had. Her leather armor allowed her to keep her formidable mobility and lash out with that Scimitar that trailed fire and acrid mist every time she struck, bouncing from target to target like a dancer. At the same time, a Halfling Swashbuckler with similarly powerful magical gear was lashing out with a magical rapier that enforced bleeding wounds on her opponents every time it struck true.

"Njord, are you thinking what I am thinking, old friend?" Questioned the Calimshite Sorcerer.

"I believe so, Ali. It seems that the Woman is the weak link here." Smirked the Northlander, Njord.

Frowning, High Captain Ottarsson turned to see that Second Mate Eirsdottir was breathing heavily. She wasn't used to such high-intensity combat, honestly, she was primarily in charge of blessing the fishing vessels before Herring Spawning Season and other community-facing things. She likely hadn't fought since her days as a Sailor.

"Inge, head to the fighting in the courtyard. You've done all you can up here." Offered High Captain Ottarsson.

"Right." Huffed Second-Mate Eirsdottir as she beat a hasty retreat.

"You're only sending her to a slower death, you know. Captain Al-Sfra and First Mate Wanderblade won't be deterred by adding a single, out of spells, Priest of a Weak God to the fighting." Sneered Njord.

"You have not yet understood the truth of Umberlee. She will never grant you what you seek. Like the sea, she is a capricious and fickle Goddess. In the end, even licking her boots like you're doing won't help you in the least." Taunted First Mate Stenkilsson.

"Blasphemy! I ought to skin you alive for that and leave your bloody carcass for the sea birds!" Snarled Njord.

"Easy Njord, he is just trying to rile you up to make a mistake. It's a common tactic by those who know they cannot defeat you otherwise." Cautioned the Calimshite Sorcerer, Ali, as he put a hand on Njord's Shoulder.

"Right. We must be wearing him down. Hear that? We're onto you and your Weak God cannot save you now!" Gloated Njord.

"You may test the assumption that I'm weakening as soon as you are able. I assure you, you won't find me as easy of prey as you imagine." Insisted High Captain Ottarsson,

It was mostly a bluff. The Northlander had to be at least as skilled a Cleric of Umberlee as he was of Valkur, and the Calimshite Sorcerer seemed to match that level of skill in terms of Sorcerous Powers. Meanwhile, they had himself, who was rapidly running out of daily spells, and First Mate Stenkilsson, who wasn't as potent as he was and was also running low on spells for the day. They might stall the attack for a while yet, but sooner or later, something would have to give and High Captain Ottarsson believed it would be them, not their enemies, that did so. He couldn't dwell on that now, though.

Instead, he dredged up the mystical powers granted to him every day by Valkur and prepared to continue fighting. Every moment longer the Temple of Valkur held out was a moment longer that reinforcements could use to arrive and help them, after all. If the Castle could just be warned, then surely Captain Rhys would be able to muster a counterattack with the Garrison. For now, however, they had to stall. Then, in a flash of sorcerous light and divine power, the mystical battle for the Temple of Valkur continued anew.

High Captain Ottarsson just hoped he would still be standing by the end of all this. . .

XXXX

AN: All right, here we have the beginnings of the Pirate Attack by the Skaug Corsairs. You'll note it is a multi-ethnic, multi-nationality, force. This is because Skaug in the Nelanther Isles is effectively a city built by exiles and home to all sorts of pirates from all over the Sword Coast and the Sea of Swords. Here we see Amnians, which are a mix of Fantasy Spaniards and Frenchmen, Calimshites, who are Fantasy Arabians, and Northlanders, who are Fantasy Norsemen. You also see more fantastic ethnicities, as three of the first mates of the various pirate crews are an Elf, a Dwarf, and a Halfling.

You'll note a heavy presence of Umberlee amongst the Pirates and their associates. In keeping with the Lore, of the two big Sea Deities in Faerun, Umberlee is the more aggressive, having the Wrath and Destruction Domains along with the Ocean, Storm, Evil, Chaos, and various other Domains she has. Meanwhile, Valkur is much more defensive, having the Protection Domain. Accordingly, Umberlee is worshipped more by raiders than Valkur is, since Valkur isn't likely to help you raid, but Umberlee will be all too willing to lend her clerics to large raids.

At any rate, the next chapter will be the next part of the Pirate Attack.

Stay tuned. . .