FFXIV Write: 02 – Bark
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“Hard to port, Mister Selbaer, or they’re going to catch us amidships and we’ll all be feeding Leviathan for supper!”
At the helm, the swarthy viera gripped the ship’s wheel with both hands, leaning his entire body into veering the ship to the left. All around them the sounds of cannonfire rumbled through the air, along with the screams of hundreds of men locked in mortal combat. As a swath of smoke cleared, the viera squinted into the distance to see that the ship that had been threatening them had now been put on their rear, which was far better than having them on their flank. At least until the gunners got the cannons reloaded.
“Heave-to, you lot, unless you fancy a swim in the sea from here to Vylbrand!” Again, the hulking form of the bosun — a massive roegadyn Hellsguard — trundled across the main deck, swinging his arm as he directed the scurrying deckhands about their duties. “Batten down those ration crates or we’ll all starve before we see land again.” A wiry elezen leapt to lash down the crates before they slid across the deck, securing them to the gunwale with thick knots.
A plume of water burst up from the starboard side of the ship, causing it to list to the left as the helmsman evaded the cannonball that caused it. Sea spray splashed over everyone on the deck, sending a few men slipping and sliding across the wet wood. As one man skidded by him, the roegadyn grabbed him by his collar and lifted him to set him on his feet again. “Watch yourself, Markus, this is a bad time to get thrown overboard!”
“Aye, sir!” The man said with a sketchy salute. The Hellsguard merely grunted and shoved him on his way.
“Mounty, sir!” The call came from above in the crow’s nest, a small lalafellin woman pointing off their port side. “Boarders incomin’!”
Sure enough as the roegadyn peered past the smoke and flying debris, there was a ship headed directly toward them. It’s rigging was lined with armed and readied sailors, looking to leap onto their ship as soon as it drew close enough. Gritting his teeth together, the bosun stomped down into the middle hold of the ship, looking to the gunners that were working frantically to reload their cannons. “You lot stir your stumps! The Crow’s King is headed straight for us, aiming to board. If you don’t sink her, we’re as good as done for!”
The Crow’s King. A renown and feared pirate vessel that seemed to operate by its own rules, heedless of the Admiralty and its laws. Many a law-abiding ship had tried to chase down the swift-sailing ship, but none had succeeded. It was known for its fast hit-and-run tactics and its bloodthirsty, merciless crew. Captained by a pair of Highlander hyur, twins if the rumors were true, they were known to capture their enemies for sale as slaves abroad, but also for torturing them within ilms of their lives before doing so.
Mounty — or Fallen Mountain as his full name actually was — fell into helping the gunners get the cannons reloaded. The roegadyn carried three and four cannonballs at a time, shoving them into the cannons as quickly as they could be reset. “Fire at will! Fire at will!” He ordered as he filled each cannon in passing. Almost as soon as he’d stepped away, he could hear the gunners prepare and fire their charges. What he didn’t hear was their shots hitting home in the wood of the opposing ship. He paused long enough to peer out one of the portholes to see the Crow’s King looming closer and closer with each passing breath.
“Thrice curse every God, Kami, and Primal betwixt here and the next star!” He swore vehemently to himself, dropping off the last two cannonballs before sprinting back to the stairway to take himself back up to the main deck. “Prepare to be boarded! Swords aloft, lads, it’s time to fight for your lives!”
“Belay that order!” Barked a clarion voice from the helm. Alongside the viera, a red-headed Midlander woman stood with cutlass already drawn. As the Crow’s King crashed into their midship, the woman angled her cutlass toward the would-be borders. “Stay your steps, if you know what’s good for you. I challenge your captain to single combat. If he wins, he gets our cargo and half my crew; the rest are set free on dinghies and you can scuttle the Silverwing for good. If I win, you leave us cargo and all, and find some other ship to harass.”
“Esmeralda, no!” Fallen Mountain protested, “You can’t fight the both of them at once!”
Across the way on the other ship, a man’s deep-bellied laughter rumbled above all the chaos. “Nah-ah-ah… a deal’s a deal. She wants to fight the captain of the Crow’s King, then she’ll have to fight us BOTH.” Out of the smoke and shadow, crossing the gangplank, the twins that captained the pirate vessel swaggered into view. Both of them were blond-haired and blue-eyed, looking supremely confident in themselves. “So come then, Esmeralda, let’s see if rumor of your prowess in combat is really worth its salt.”
“With pleasure.” The red-headed hyur said as she made her way down to the main deck. “You’ll pay for damaging my ship, pirates.“