Fire on the water

The Giak frigate was heading at maximum speed towards the Valtariol, ready to intercept the merchant ship. The company was staring at the frigate when Captain Franklin started shouting orders "Set full sails ! man the battle stations!". This broke the daze in which they seemed to linger, As the complete crew broke in frenetic movements, Mulchanor was already rushing downstairs to the crew cabin in order to grab his weapon, Alast and Lightning did the same. Lightning was still naked, as he just ran from Sick bay to check what was going one.
-JAACCCKKKKK where are you! He Screamed.
Meanwhile Erleothir, remembering the dislike of Giaks towards bright light, called out to the Captain to make sure that the Sommerlund ship navigates with the sun in its back. He was rejoined by a slightly embarrassed Gustavius who took the Captain aside but still managed to heard a mumbled discussion:
"Captain, as you may know my rifle has broken since your first officer... eerrm... met me the other day. I don't guess you have some spare rifles on board by any chance ?"
"Master Dwarf, this is a merchant ship, we don't have weapons on board..."
"come oooon, do you think I'm stupid? this ship is sailing to a city that will potentially be under siege in less than a month and you want to tell me... "
"Master Dwarf, why don't you man the cannons?"
The bright smile of a dwarf who just heard that Yuletide falls several months earlier crossed Gustavius' face: "aye, cannons"
And he disappeared in the bowels of the ship following one of the mariners.

On another part of the ship, Griselda stood, waiting for the fight to begins. The boat drew nearer but still afar for boarding or even start a naval battle. While Alast came up with his equipment on deck, Lightning sought the Captain. Erleothir went down to take his weapons, almost simultaneously with Griselda. Alast tried to get some reconnaissance from Franklin, but the captain couldn't play with him. Anyway he gave him the responsibility to hold other side of the boat with ten mariners. Alast didn't understood the importance of the task given to him, and took leave without a real sense of all of this. Now, seeking counsel on Erleothir's military experience, Griselda awaited for battle orders which took some time to be formulated. Griselda was able to recognize that the enemy ship was heavily armed: two massive ballista were mounted on the prow and aiming right at them, Giaks were already loading them with large bolts and chains while it became apparent that both sides of the ship were also carrying even more of those destructive weapons. Mulchanor was inquiring Franklin about their numbers when the first ballista went off.

Even from far away, they listened to the crushing sound of breaking mechanism, wooden splinting and bodies being thorn apart. The engine of war broke destroying itself and killing part of his crew. Cheering came from the Valtariol, elevating the morale of the troop. Grinning, Mulchanor started to climb up the long way to the crow's nest to have the perfect shooting position from both ships. Below deck, Gustavius was ordering the mariners to prepare the cannons.

Raising his hand he ordered one cannon crew to fire the first shot. A cloud of smoke engulfed the deck. At first the mariners around the cannon thought it was firing as normal. They even didn't noticed the massive weapon had exploded. "Did we forgot to open the trapdoors?" - Confusion and destruction walked hand by hand while Gustavius, bleeding, was recovering shouting to the mariners to get the other cannons ready for more, as soon as they had checked for marks of sabotage. Cheering were coming from the Giak vessel now. They fired the second front ballista. But Ishir seemed to love our heroes as it sent the harpoon directly to the Giak boat deck, killing more of them in the process. Astonishment was on everybody faces, expect for Griselda, showing up her skills while staring down the approaching enemies. She wanted the real battle to start.

Lightning called out to Erleothir that he was preparing a force field to protect the ship.
"The complete ship?" replied Erleothir in astonishment
"Well no... it's errmmm ... smaller. I guess. But it should be enough to protect one side of the ship..."
"still, excellent, please don't mind us, go on !"
"... or at least parts of it. maybe."
But Erleothir was not listening anymore, he was already shouting orders at the guards on deck. Now closing to their side, it seemed time stopped for a dreadful second, during which a volley of bolts and chains fired from the working ballistas overflew the deck of the Valtariol, claiming the lives of many mariners and and pinning the guards next to Erleothir on the ground. In a glimpse, Griselda and Erleothir noticed with horror that the captain was also hit but miraculously only stunned on the destroyed stairs to the lower deck. Erleothir wanted to order four mariners to take Franklin's body down to the sickbay but lost his voice. Bracing the air with his arms he managed to make himself halfway coherent to the crew. It probably saved their lives. By now Lightning's energy shield was floating a few feets over ground, shimmering in a blueish light. It was much smaller than expected. In fact it was only big enough to protect one person. Erleothir and Lightning stared at each other. "It is really smaller than I thought.... ermmm.. in fact I would be glad to have this embarrassing moment to pass by..." The cracking noise of a gunshot fulfilled his wish. Mulchanor had just fired a perfect shot towards the front of the Giak ship. The bullet pierced through two Giaks, ricocheted on the deck and hit a third one. In fact it would have been a perfect shot if the Giaks had not already died during the Ballista misfire.

Below deck, Gustavius, fearing another cannon to explode and killing mariners, ordered the crew to stay away for the moment. He grabbed a firing rod and held as far as possible from his body, hoping for the engine not to be sabotaged, took a deep breath and ignited the touch hole.

From the upper deck all could see the projectile flying at high speed, slightly spinning and leaving a trail of white smoke behind it. It penetrated the Giak frigate right in the bow, disintegrating the ram, sending debris and Giaks bursting in the air. The cannonball continued its course and teared open a massive hole on the two top decks of the ship, still speeding unimpressed, it finally finished its trail of destruction in a powder storage room. The resulting explosion showered the enemy ship with burning wood and shredded remains of Giaks. A thunderous cheer rolled over the deck of the Valtariol. The frigate, now extremely slowed by this heavy damage, collided harmlessly with the merchant ship. Accompanied by the with the noise of splintering wood, Giaks fired grappling hooks at the reeling. The battle was charged.

"hold your line !" commanded Erleothir "Do not let them pass behind us!". Giaks started climbing over the reeling only to be immediately greeted by Griselda pushing them down right into the dark waters. The gaping hole in the deck of the frigate looked like the perfect invitation for Erleothir to throw a fire bomb. With great strength he tossed the shimmering vial into the darkness of the enemy ship. The vial exploded upon hitting the ground and set everything ablaze. A deep dark voice roared commands and a tall figure brandishing a rod appeared in the light of the flames.

One floor below, the cannoneers were back at their stations. "cannons one and two ! aim for below the waterline !" Ordered Gustavius "FIRE!" The two explosions of the firing cannons drowned the sound of the stalemate for a a brief moment. On the upper deck Griselda jumped over board and impaled a giak to the deck with her spear.

- What! Another one? The strange voice roared. Proud and ready for more she just had time to see a glimpse of light before being pushed towards the frigate side badly hurt and knocked out by the shock wave of an exploding fireball. The giaks around her died instantly. Little did she knew that less than a meter away from her, on the other side of a massive panel of wood Gustavius was loading the canons with shrapnel, completely unaware of the events...

In the crow's nest Mulchanor was delivering the fire support he could but the thick smoke was a big handicap. Suddenly his blood froze in his veins as he noticed that the main mast of the enemy frigate was slowly tipping and falling over in the direction of the Valtariol. One of the cannonballs probably had hit the foundation of that very mast. With a deafening noise it crashed down on the deck of the Valtariol, tearing down sails and ropes alike from both ships. The force of the impact shook both ships and sent all tumbling on the ground expect for Mulchanor and Lightning. Three unfortunate Giaks that were climbing over the reeling at that very moment were projected in the air, but their bodies did not make it into the water as they were crushed by the hulls of the two ships crashing together again. Even before anyone could stand up, they all heard that deep guttural voice again followed by another flash of light. A fireball seared right into the Valtariol's cannon deck. Still lying on the floor, Gustavius saw with growing horror that the fireball was aimed at something very specific. Even before anyone could react, the fireball hit one of the cannon he had previously have loaded with shrapnel. Red, glowing chunks of distorted metal sizzled their way across the deck, killing almost all mariners on deck instantly and setting everything on fire in their path.

Mulchanor tried to hit some moving figures in the cloud of smoke but missed by inches what seemed to be a giak, unnerved he reached for one of his firebombs and casually dropped it on the deck of the enemy ship. One of the mariner had recognized the apparition as a Liganim. The word sounded familiar to Lightning. The sight of more fireballs flying towards the Valtariol changed his mind and tactics. He dropped the energy shield. "Quick, someone get the girl back here, I'll summon a water elemental to sink that Frigate once and for all!" - "And someone informs Gustavius to hold fire for now!" added Erleothir. As Lightning started his litany, circular ripples formed over the sea, splashes of water, melting together in clouds of fine mist slowly took appearance of a large humanoid body, whitecaps forming interchanging hairs. The apparition climbed through the hole on the bow of the frigate and started its work of destruction. But the Liganim was slightly faster to react. He wielded his rod around and fired three fireballs at the water spirit. It bursts in drops in water that immediately changed to a thick fog... Meanwhile two mariners had finally located Griselda and were about to carry her away.

Below deck Gustavius slowly stood up and attempted to assess the damage around him. His sight blinded by acrid smoke and blood, he noticed that all cannoneers except six were dead, one cannon was utterly destroyed and two were still loaded with shrapnel. All waited for his commands... Just as he rose his hand, the messenger entered the room. Gustavius interrupted his gesture. Shocked by the sight of the burning cannon deck the mariner finally managed to utter his important message. Gustavius dispatched one mariner to inform the infirmary about the casualties and let the rest man the two loaded canon "Hold fire until you hear my signal" were his last word before heading back to the upper deck.

As Erleothir saw the elemental being destroyed, he aimed his poison bomb at the position of the Liganim. Sounds of pain came from overboard but the Liganim just laughed sinisterly. Alast slained a remaining giak, piercing his heart with his rapiere. Cold and merciless. By now most of the Giaks were dead or dying, the decks of both ships were littered with corpses. As the two mariners carrying griselda's body returned to the Valtariol, the Liganim pointed his accursed staff in anger at them... but his spell backfired. in the most literal sense of the word. Alast could not help but chuckle when seeing this grotesque apparition.

Griselda woke up just a few moments later, barely able to stand, her thirst for battle was still not lingered. Lightning tried his best to hold her back. Seeing he was not able to put her to reason he called for one of the doctors to hand over a bit of their patented medicine. In the meantime Mulchanor had climbed down from the crow's nest as Gustavius also appeared on the deck. "At least I'm not the only one knee deep in corpses" he muttered. As Griselda was being carried away, Mulchanor climbed over to the Frigate and moved over to the burning remains of the Liganim. "I still don't know what you were, but I know what you are now... dead." The company gathered and watched the Frigate burning, and slowly starting to sink. "I think now would be time to remove the grappling hooks" said someone. But they were interrupted by screams for help coming from within the wreck.

"These are dwarves" exclaimed Erleothir "Quick, Alast come and help me rescue them !" Reluctant at first Alast climbed over the reeling. "What's your position ?!" Yelled Gustavius. "Lowest deck ! quick ! the water is rising !" Alast ran through the ship and finally reached the prison. his dagger made quick work of the key lock. four dwarves were tied in the room, he quickly cut the ropes and ordered them to follow him. But halfway to the upper deck they stopped and rushed for the armory instead. Alast shrugged and continued his way back to the Valatriol, slightly unnerved that he had no time to loot along the way. Upon seeing him reappearing Gustavius asked him were the Prisoners went... "no idea, they said something about their weapons" - "that can't be true" muttered Gustavius, "forget your weapons or your done for it ! the ship is going down" he shouted. Miraculously the column of gunner suddenly emerged on deck. Alast threw the last remaining grappling hook over board, thus avoiding the Valtariol to be pulled down in the depths as well. The battle was over. Gustavius blew in his whistle,as ordered, the cannon crew fired. One last cloud of shrapnel made short work of the wreckage.

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As the wind blew into the main sail, all the survivors were now evaluating the damage on board. The grasping claws left marks on the boat. But not as much as the dead bodies around, most of the guards died defending the boat. It was more by chance that the Liganim was slew, but his evil doing could be seen all over. Thankfully only the right side of the boat were affected by the cannon explosion, leaving an hole open to the world. One of the 8 cannons were destroyed, and many mariners dead. The mast of the Giak Frigate took part of the deck, but it was all possible to repair. The prow was now an amount of debris in which a man could stand and still maneuvered the Valtariol. Ishir was on their side.

But she will be with the souls of the forty-one mariners dead in the attack. Ten of the guards will never see the garrison again. Griselda was now with the captain, recovering in the sick bay. Jack was now taking care of them both. He became the new doctor on ship after the death of his predecessor. The fifty four mariners and the 5 guards were now apprehensive of reaching Ljuk. What if this was only the beginning?

It took some days to clean and repair the boat, at least till they could get into a shipyard and provide deeper reparations. And the captain will have to find more mariners and guards in the next tavern. Most of them were from his old crew, many were friends… A Pyrrhic victory achieved almost at the end of the journey. Those still alive will still have to cross this sea again, facing the dangers that their minds were already creating. The remaining four dwarves were safe but still in shock, what were they doing in the boat? What will they do next?

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On the morning of the fourteenth day, as the ship sailed around several towering icebergs and continued its course to the north, a voice from the crow's nest suddenly echoed through the chill polar air "Land in Sight!". Franklin turned to the adventurers and informed them that the ship will have reached the port of Ljuk before noon. They all acknowledged this information with a sigh of obvious relief from the deepest of their soul. As Ljuk appeared in the distance, all rejoiced that their adventure on the sea was now over. Even the columns of thick black smoke hovering over the city and its fortifications could not spoil their mood. "Ladies and Gentleman, Ljuk is under siege, it would seem that war already precedes us"