Two Blades for Hire

[Curtus]

as the arrows flew into there ship, he barked at his crew "Pull out of there archers range! and you marcus, fire the balista into there ship again!"

[Marcus]

"Aye! Cap'n!" And with that the balista was loaded again with another oil soaked bolt, this time Marcus fired well away from the squirrely fellow, in hopes that he could set the sinking ship ablaze as well. "All 'at cargo 'ell be float'n soon eh'nuff. 'Ell let 'em landlovers float with the sharks fer all I care!" Once the balista was reloaded Marcus fired again, this time he put the cross hairs right on the squirrely fellow. "Eat 'at ya bastard!"

[Envin]

Aragorn snarled as many of the pots fell short of their mark and Marcus laughed across the waves. He shook his fist and sent men below to repair the damage, which was soon partially done. The pressure of the water was strong, and the leak could not be sealed completely. But the hands threw on all sail and ran for it, continuing to toss pots and arrows behind. Curtus had commanded the Leviathan out of range, and when combined with the sail of the merchant ship, soon another considerable lead they had.

[Marcus]

The balista was once again reloaded, the winch cranked back to give the shot a range of five hundred yards, well out of arrow range, but within the limits of the balista. "Aye cap'n, hold 'er 'at 'iss distance. I'll pick at 'er 'ill 'ey run up a white flag."

And so they sailed on behind the merchants, Marcus taking his time with aiming shot after shot at the old boats hull.

[Faron]

Ashuron lazily drew his bow and fired at one of the crewmen of the ship opposite him. "Amateurs," was all he said.

[Marcus]

Marcus peered out after sending another blazing bolt from the balista and laughed as he saw another arrow being shot, falling far short of their ship. He turned to Curtus, "Aye, we oughts ta just ram the scum, Cap'n." He said this a he glanced down off the bow. Under the waterline the Leviathan had a ten foot long iron ram for just such an attack. "'at's right, ram 'em and board 'em, kill 'em all." He smirked and waited for the captain's response.

[Envin]

Aragorn saw his ship beginning to list heavily with the inrushing water, and he cursed into the wind. Several of the more bland pirates on the Leviathan covered their ears and trembled. He saw the enemy sailing near now that the merchant vessel could make but little headway, and ordered all the oil the ship had brought to the side, and dozens of torches as well. Many chains they brought as well, with grapples upon the end - the Leviathan would feel their bite ere long.

[Curtus]

as he heard marcuses plan, he said "Aye! we ram em! tell the crew!"

[Marcus]

Marcus shouted to the crew giving orders. Men dashed for the bow, blades drawn and ready to pour onto the merchant ship when they rammed it. Marcus watched the merchant ship, paying special note to the squirrely man. This fellow seemed to be some hired arm and looked to be organizing a counter. Marcus laughed under his breath, he had been through this oh so many times before - he loved how these merchants thought a few hired guards could fend off a crew of pirates. He looked to one crew member, "Go below and ready the buckets!" The crewman took a few comrades and headed below to his task. Marcus then had one last bolt loaded into the balista and fired it as the Leviathan plowed towards the broadside of the small ship. "BRACE YOURSELVES BOYS!!!!!! He yelled out and he grabbed hold of a rope. The Leviathan speed forward and with a resounding crash rammed into the small merchant ship, lodging its iron ram deep into the small vessel's hull. "ARGGH!!! Marcus swung from his rope straight onto the small merchant ship, slicing a guard when he landed. Soon there were at least twenty of his crew on the deck of the merchant ship, slicing at its crew.

[Faron]

Ashuron switched his bow in favor of his broadsword, and leaped forward into the fray, his sword flashing before him. He took advantage of a barrel rolling across the deck as he jumped onto it and rolled forward. He leaped off a the last second, causing the barrel to hit a pirate while Ashuron thrust forward with his blade.

[Envin]

Aragorn swept Anduril from his sheath and yelled to his men, and they all at once tossed the contents of twenty-three barrels and eleven pots of hot oil at the opposing pirates and onto the Leviathan, and many a torch was set to. Flames began to lick away at the pirates.

Aragorn growled when he saw insolent Marcus come soaring across the water between the ships, and as the pirate leader came onto the deck, Aragorn swung a hefty pulley at his face, then wading in with Anduril, thre quick swipes at either side of his guard and spinning back out of range.

[Idrial]

Idrial waited for a few more moments in her hiding place before finally peering up to view the chaos. She had snuck aboard the ship and found a nice place behind a stack of crates that kept her from view of the guards. Now, as she saw all that was taking place outside, she sighed and drew her dagger from by her side. "I suppose I should help them." She groaned to herself. For Idrial knew she would never live it down if she didn't...if she even lived.

[Marcus]

Aboard the Leviathan the barrels and pots of oil hit the deck, along with a few pirates, who immeadiately jumped into the sea to put out their flaming garmets. The crewmen that Marcus had ordered below deck now came topside, passing buckets along. In the ballast of the ship they kept many a bucket of sand handy, for when ye be pirates, squirrely landlovers oft try and burn yer ship down to the waterline. The boys made a sort of bucket brigade, tossing the sand over the burning deck and smothering the flames out.

As Marcus turned he saw the pulley flying fast towards him. Having no time to dodge it he just jumped and grabed hold and swung with it, taking him away from Aragorns blade. As he swung back towards Aragorn he shimmied up the rope a ways and as he came above the troublesome landlover he cut the rope beneath him, sending the pulley plumetting towards his head. Marcus then shimmied up the rope more and jumped upon the boom. He watched as his pirate band overwhelmed the crew and most guards from the merchant vessel, only the two hired men were giving much trouble. Marcus looked around and spotted Idrial crouching behind a crate and smirked to himself. He grabbed another line and swung down quickly, slashing another of the vessels crew as he glided through the air. Marcus landed behind the girl and quickly brought his sword around her and to her neck as he snarled, "Ye won't be needed that dagger, drop it!" He grabbed hold of her and pulled her up the steps to the helm and yelled out. "Ye boys ought give up if ye don' wan' the lass gettin 'er throat split open! Marcus laughed. "Aye, the cap'n tis a fair man, e'll let ye live if ye surrender."

[Idrial]

Idrial gasped as her wrist was grabbed, causing her dagger to fall to the clatter to the deck. She was about to reach for it, when Marcus' sword came about her neck. She gave a sharp intake of breath and closed her eyes with a sigh. Why do these things always happen to me? She thought to herself, but said nothing as she was hauled up toward the helm. It was when she realized she had become a bargaining tool that she got angry. "You fool!" She spat. Her eyes searched the deck for the two she'd met earlier...and when she finally spotted them she shook her head. "Do not do it! I would rather die!"

Idrial nearly choked upon her words. What am I saying? She asked herself. Talk about foolish. The maiden gathered her courage for a few moments before leaning forward and biting down up Marcus' hand as best she could. Then she pushed away from him with all her might.

[Marcus]

Marcus cursed then laughed as the lady bit his hand, but grabbed at her arm as she pushed away. He took the tip of his blade and tilted it up beneather her chin in a matter that would slice her throat if she were to move any more. "Aye, lass, ye ought ne be doin 'at I say." He then looked at the two troublesome men. "Now, I think its about time ye boys meets eh cap'n, e'll be right steamin if ya keep all 'es up. Patience aint a virtue a 'is, aye."