Evolution: A Warlock's Rise To Power

Super led the ship into the grouping of islands to the north.  Because there were rocky shores near each island, he they couldn't get to close and had to slow their speed.  But with the help of the experienced navy sailors, navigating the rocky terrain wasn't an unsurmountable task.  They pulled up the sails so only half the fabric was able to catch the wind.  With less force pushing them, their speed slowed down.

Silent, who was in the crow's nest on the central mast had her new spyglass fully extended and looked towards the east where the three pirate ships were approaching from.

Little Brown, in his bird form was perched right next to her.  She was able to speak to Little Brown comfortably instead of yelling to the players below.  In turn, Lucan then communicated with Super and the others.

"The closest of the three ships will be within range of firing on us within thirty minutes.  And the other two are only five minutes behind."  Lucan said to Super.  "But the islands themselves will prevent us from being directly targeted."

"Good, let's stay the course then."  Super replied.

Lucan then frowned after receiving some more news.  "The three ships are starting to fan out, if they enter the cluster of islands from different areas, we have a good chance of being surrounded and trapped."

"If it comes down to it, we can abandon the ship and take cover on one of the islands and then mount an attack on the ships.  This isn't like the team dungeon, destroying a ship is a perfectly viable option.  And besides, once those three ships enter the islands, they won't be able to turn and fire on us.  Just like these rocky waters are restricting our movements, they will also restrict theirs."

Lucan took out his new pipe and struck a match, lighting it.  He puffed out a cloud of smoke in front of him and began to stroke his nonexistent beard.  The smoke began to form illusions and created a three-dimensional map of the islands, rocky shores, and the four ships involved.  Everything on the map had realistic features but since they had been created by smoke, the objects still carried the wispy nature of smoke.

"I believe that that a ship is necessary to complete this raid.  Abandoning our ride and taking cover on an island will only lead to our demise."

"What makes you say that?"  Super asked.

"Then end of the party dungeon forced us onto the water.  The Team dungeon made us acquire a ship.  We were even refused help from the sailors on many occasions simply because they are pivotal to the raid.  We would don't be able to sail the ship without them.  I just have a feeling that we won't be able to blow up one of their vessels with our magic.  This entire raid is forcing us into having a sea battle, their may be way to avoid it, but I don't think they will be easily found.  We must do everything we can to avoid being surrounded and cut off in these islands."

Super tilted his head left and then right while thinking.  "It is a reasonable assumption.  The raid would be far to easy if a mage could summon a meteor storm and sink all the pirates without a real fight."

DarkX_XAssassin appeared from thin air behind the two.  "Could it be a miscalculation to assume that the pirates are the enemies we must defeat?  This raid has not given us any conditions to determine our victory."

"That's true."  Super said.  "But like Lucan said, the natural progression of events so far has pushed us into a face off against the pirates.  They are likely to be the goal."

"But there is some truth to what Dark has said."  Lucan interjected.

"You think that the pirates may not be our goal?"  Super asked.

"No, I believe they are goal, but they may not be our only enemy."

At that moment a soft and gentle singing could be heard coming from the water.  Delicate voices called out and the sailors began to slow in their work as smiles of delight spread across their faces.

Super and Dark were acting like nothing had changed.  They were leisurely enjoying a conversation and they no longer seemed to be worried about the target of the raid.

'Lucan, there is a group of something coming towards us in the water.'  Silent quickly reported.

Looking around the ship, the sailors and most of the players seemed to be effect by the singing, but there were still a few who had their wits about them and realized that something was wrong.

"Wow, so pretty!"

"Beautiful!"

"We are blessed."

The sailors were clamoring towards the sides of the ship.  Half-naked women were poking their heads out of the water as they swam alongside the vessel.

"I am coming ladies!"  A sailor yelled and jumped directly overboard into the outstretched arm of the vixen in the sea.

The moment the sailor entered her grasp, he beautiful visage disappeared and a viscous creature took her place.  Jagged teeth protruded form her mouth in rows while thick pitch-black eyes stared towards the sailors.  She wrapped her clawed arms around the sailor and bit into his shoulder without mercy.

The sailor didn't react and only smiled in bliss as blood sprayed.  Taking another bite, the creature then dove under water, taking the sailor with her.  A large fin was seen flapping before they both disappeared from view.

The sailors watching were not shocked, they were jealous.

"What a lucky guy, wait for me!"  Said another sailor who stepped up onto the railing, preparing to jump.

Suddenly, whip coiled around the young man's neck and yanked him back onto the deck.

Lucan had shaken Super and Dark out of their stupor while other players began to wake their companions.

"What are you fools doing!"  Super yelled.  "We are under attack!"

His shouting had gotten the attention of the sailors but they just looked at him with a dumfound expression.

"Aye, but Captain, they are so beautiful."

Lucan was quickly trying to think of a way to free these idiots from their obsessions with the beauties.  He was lucky that he was not affect.  Perhaps lucky wasn't the best way to describe it.  His nickname, the Baron of Insanity, was not for show.  For an insane warlock, these types of low-grade mental attack were nothing.  If he hadn't witnessed the others, he might not of realized he was being attacked.

With the sailors enthralled, no promise of rum or a good time in port would get them back to work. Since rewards wouldn't do the trick, he decided to use fear.

Adrestia transformed into her three-foot-long version.  Under Lucan's command she unleashed her devilish aura.

The sailors suddenly felt a cold chill go down their spine.  They shivered as if the hand of death was reaching out towards them to take their souls away.

A sailor quickly shook himself out of the enchantment once he felt true fear and the man shouted to the others who were beginning to wake.

"Sirens!  We have been surrounded by Sirens!"

"Fire the cannons!"  Another yelled without receiving orders to do so.

*Boom* *Boom* *Boom*

The cannons sang their song and deafened out the cries of the sea beauties.  Under the loud cannon fire, those who were still trapped had been freed.  The sailors quickly began to stuff cloth into their ears.

Seeing that everyone on the ship had been freed from their enchantment, the sirens let out a collective screech that knocked several people to their knees.  Waves began to rock the ship but the mighty vessel wasn't going to capsize under such small waves.

"Get us out of here!!!"  Super yelled towards the crew.  Whether they could hear him or not didn't matter in the slight because every sailor had the same intention.  And that was to get as far way from those things as they could.

Throwing caution to the wind, the sails were opened all the way as the ship began to try and leave the cluster of islands.

There were a few scarps and bumps but no significant damage was done to ship.  The sirens chased the vessel as the players fired spell sand arrows into the water, but they didn't leave the protection of shallow water.

Silent watched through the spyglass as the last of the sirens retreated.  She then turned to look out across the horizon.  Her heart dropped.  All three pirate ships were ahead of them and turned sideways, cannons pointed directly at their vessel.

"TAKE COVER!"  She yelled.

*Boom* *Boom* *Boom*

The three pirate ships launched there attack in unison.  A wave of cannon balls flew threw the air like a flock of birds.  They began to rise before gently turning downwards while following the trajectory arc.  The cannonballs were clustered together and were coming directly for the players ship.