Post by Skaarf on Aug 4, 2021 5:09:06 GMT -5
It took a hefty purse to convince Thyra to make her way this far north. It wasn't because of safety concerns. The clan that had allied with pirate mercenaries to slaughter her extended kin had apparently disappeared off the face of the earth - absorbed into another clan or wiped out themselves. It was more that Thyra preferred to bury her more painful memories. Introspection wasn't her strong suit. She preferred drinking to squash unhappy memories, and we don't mean water.
Fortunately, the escort mission had gone well. The mishaps and unacquainted boarders had been dealt with swiftly, with minimal loss to the very satisfied clients. Now Thyra was happily chugging alcohol and bantering with fishermen in the McDonald territories. Tomorrow, she would be sailing back towards her usual haunts in the south.
She caught a familiar name briefly in the babble of conversation. Erik. Thyra paused, mid chug, and her gaze locked onto a small group of fishermen in the center of the room. She tried to remain discreet, drinking the rest of her glass slowly and listening into the fisherman's conversation hard. It was difficult to make out a lot of words, but she distinctly heard "Erik the Red" mentioned.
She brought a fresh drink and joined the gossiping geezers in the middle of the room. "Hey, hey, hey! You coots have some great stories. Erik the Red - he sounds like an interesting guy. I'd love to hear all about him. Barkeep! A round of your best ale for these gentlemen!"
Thyra slapped more than enough coins on the table. The inn-keeper was more than happy to oblige, and soon enough, so were the old fishermen. Most of it was fluff made up by the old men to impress an eager listener, but Thyra did learn some useful tidbits. Erik the Red was one of the same mercenaries who had ambushed her family a decade ago. He had been sighted near one of the forests far away from town. Best of all, the locals didn't care about him one way or another - while they held no love for pirates, Erik the Red had paid well for his supplies.
Still, she should be careful. It was rare that an opportunity for revenge came by. To be safe, she paid for some extra nights in her room - it looked like she wouldn't be sailing out tomorrow morning, after all. When the locals began retiring to their homes in the wee hours of the morning, Thyra returned to her room. Then she grabbed her weapons and climbed out of her window onto the roof - sneaking off into the wilderness before she could second-guess herself.
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Several days journey had led Thyra to a forest-covered hill on the coast. From her vantage point, she could see a ship docked in a small forested inlet and several campfires trailed smoke into the air. It was fortunate the pirates were not concerned about pursuers - it had made her tracking much easier.
She had recognized Erik the Red immediately. A stoutly built man, he only stood around her own height - many of the crew were significantly taller in comparison. He had been named for his bloody fighting rather than his salt and pepper beard. Even a decade later, his greying beard was long and uncut - indicating he had yet to be bested. Hopefully she could change that.
The crew members didn't look like serious threats, despite many of them being significantly taller. Sadly, Thyra couldn't handle them by herself, especially while dueling the captain. It could be worse though. The ship had seen better days and had room for a good 20-30 warriors. Her earlier hours of observation seemed to only indicate a dozen or so, instead. well. There was only way to pull this off. You only live once!
Thyra checked her weaponry, adjusted her cloak over her missing right arm to hide it, and began striding down towards the clearing. The pirates noticed her as she reached the bottom, and she quickly bellowed before they could mob her. "Eriiiiiiiik! Get your slovenly arse out here and duel the last of the Dolphs. Fight me like a real warrior!"
The pirates looked at each-other and burst out laughing. Erik chortled good naturedly - his tone belying his words. "Do mine eyes deceive me? You're the spitting image of Astrid as I last remember her - impaled on my sword. Too bad you're not worth my time. I don't need to prove myself to a nobody."
Erik waved dismissively and his crew began to advance on Thyra's position, her obscenities falling on deaf ears. She began to back up, looking side to side to keep them all in her field of view. Shit, she had assumed everything would be hunky-dory and she'd get a duel, ending things one way or another. Instead, she found herself preparing to charge and make a final stand, probably without getting a single whack at her target. She found herself missing her right arm, for the first time in years.
******************************************************************
(In terms of setup, you only have to worry about the second half)
Fortunately, the escort mission had gone well. The mishaps and unacquainted boarders had been dealt with swiftly, with minimal loss to the very satisfied clients. Now Thyra was happily chugging alcohol and bantering with fishermen in the McDonald territories. Tomorrow, she would be sailing back towards her usual haunts in the south.
She caught a familiar name briefly in the babble of conversation. Erik. Thyra paused, mid chug, and her gaze locked onto a small group of fishermen in the center of the room. She tried to remain discreet, drinking the rest of her glass slowly and listening into the fisherman's conversation hard. It was difficult to make out a lot of words, but she distinctly heard "Erik the Red" mentioned.
She brought a fresh drink and joined the gossiping geezers in the middle of the room. "Hey, hey, hey! You coots have some great stories. Erik the Red - he sounds like an interesting guy. I'd love to hear all about him. Barkeep! A round of your best ale for these gentlemen!"
Thyra slapped more than enough coins on the table. The inn-keeper was more than happy to oblige, and soon enough, so were the old fishermen. Most of it was fluff made up by the old men to impress an eager listener, but Thyra did learn some useful tidbits. Erik the Red was one of the same mercenaries who had ambushed her family a decade ago. He had been sighted near one of the forests far away from town. Best of all, the locals didn't care about him one way or another - while they held no love for pirates, Erik the Red had paid well for his supplies.
Still, she should be careful. It was rare that an opportunity for revenge came by. To be safe, she paid for some extra nights in her room - it looked like she wouldn't be sailing out tomorrow morning, after all. When the locals began retiring to their homes in the wee hours of the morning, Thyra returned to her room. Then she grabbed her weapons and climbed out of her window onto the roof - sneaking off into the wilderness before she could second-guess herself.
***************************************************************************
Several days journey had led Thyra to a forest-covered hill on the coast. From her vantage point, she could see a ship docked in a small forested inlet and several campfires trailed smoke into the air. It was fortunate the pirates were not concerned about pursuers - it had made her tracking much easier.
She had recognized Erik the Red immediately. A stoutly built man, he only stood around her own height - many of the crew were significantly taller in comparison. He had been named for his bloody fighting rather than his salt and pepper beard. Even a decade later, his greying beard was long and uncut - indicating he had yet to be bested. Hopefully she could change that.
The crew members didn't look like serious threats, despite many of them being significantly taller. Sadly, Thyra couldn't handle them by herself, especially while dueling the captain. It could be worse though. The ship had seen better days and had room for a good 20-30 warriors. Her earlier hours of observation seemed to only indicate a dozen or so, instead. well. There was only way to pull this off. You only live once!
Thyra checked her weaponry, adjusted her cloak over her missing right arm to hide it, and began striding down towards the clearing. The pirates noticed her as she reached the bottom, and she quickly bellowed before they could mob her. "Eriiiiiiiik! Get your slovenly arse out here and duel the last of the Dolphs. Fight me like a real warrior!"
The pirates looked at each-other and burst out laughing. Erik chortled good naturedly - his tone belying his words. "Do mine eyes deceive me? You're the spitting image of Astrid as I last remember her - impaled on my sword. Too bad you're not worth my time. I don't need to prove myself to a nobody."
Erik waved dismissively and his crew began to advance on Thyra's position, her obscenities falling on deaf ears. She began to back up, looking side to side to keep them all in her field of view. Shit, she had assumed everything would be hunky-dory and she'd get a duel, ending things one way or another. Instead, she found herself preparing to charge and make a final stand, probably without getting a single whack at her target. She found herself missing her right arm, for the first time in years.
******************************************************************
(In terms of setup, you only have to worry about the second half)