A bad location Chapter

Senestra and the two cousins watched, from the quarter deck of the ship, Captain Olverd yelled with furry at a group of soldiers for not coming to the aid of the crew. There were about a handful of men. Two scores of men stood aboard the Lessiiv receiving humiliation and discipline from Olverd. The captain yelled at them.

“In all my years of service I have never ever seen such disgrace within the ranks of our lords and city-states! Have you any idea what sort of-“ The captain continued humiliated the troops for quite some time.

“Why is he yelling at those troops for no reason?” Ilkabad asked Senestra.

Hrothar answered in a disgusted tone. “If you must know, Barbarian! Those soldiers were supposed to come up and help defend the ship! Instead they decide to ignore the call to arms and sleep away.”

Olverd continued with the discipline getting into the soldiers faces. When he was done he dismissed them and they ascended back down into the lower decks of the ship. Olverd went to the bow of the Lessiiv where the four were watching.

He looked out at the huge land mass they were approaching. As the ship drew near every one of them could see that it was two islands split by a gorge. Senestra looked down the gorge, it cut straight through with no end. She joined Olverd curious as to what he’ll do next.

“Any clue on how big these islands are?” Senestra asked gesturing with her right arm at the two land masses.

“No idea, but I estimate that they’re the size of mountains. What do you think Ilkabad?” Olverd shook his head replying.

Ilkabad took one look at the two islands close together and realized something. These islands were dangerous, full of all sorts of vicious creatures and monsters.

Scratching his head he said in a hesitant voice. “I know most of the islands in these waters and I am sure that this is the largest so far.” Ilkabad did not dare mention the island’s name nor of the creatures that inhabit it. It was not because he wanted them dead. He only wished to see his Levanna once more and never be taken from her again. This seemed like the only way he’ll ever be with her.

Ilkabad now knew that his Angoth brethren were behind them. The Lessiiv drew closer to the islands giving her passengers and crew only one option. That option was to go forward into the gorge.

It was already too late to turn back for the ship had passed several reefs, before them was a path into the gorge formed by multiple reefs that towered over the masts. There was no way of turning around for the gaps between the reefs were too small for the Lessiiv. All hands on the deck were needed to help guide the Lessiiv from smashing into any of the reefs. Using long poles each crew member with all their strength pushed against the stones in order to fight the waves shoving the Lessiiv into the reefs. Hours had passed before the Lessiiv was safely through the reefs.

Senestra stood at the bow of the Lessiiv looking down the gorge. Cliffs and pillars towered above the Lessiiv forging a dark shadow down on her. Her crew looked up at the rugged faces of the cliffs which showed nothing but signs of death here. Senestra looked at Ilkabad she noticed the grave look upon his face. She placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Is there something wrong?" she asked. He did not answer the Angoth stared down at the dangerous rocks aligning the gorge. Slowly the crew along with their captain pushed the large vessel through the gorge. Eyes still gazed upon the walls of the gorge the crew were chilled to the bone from the horrid sights on the stone. Senestra gasped her eyes widened at this horrible scenery.

Along both walls of the gorge hung bones and skeletons nailed to the stone. Flesh still hung off the skeletons showing signs of rotting corpses. The skeletons were different shapes and sizes, some tall and others short and a few normal sized. This horrific scene terrified the young emissary. She lowered her head so she'd only see the planks of the deck. Ilkabad assured her concerns.

"Do not worry my lady this island may hold great dangers, but you are in the hands of fine warriors from what I have seen."

She smiled and looked up at him. "Thank you for reassuring my safety Ilkabad . Those Soldiers have defended me for years. Well, a few have defended me for years, the others just a couple of years. Some are just starting a life as a soldier."

She fell silent for a moment until the Angoth pleaded her to tell him more. "Please, tell me more about their service to you."

She blushed feeling embarrassed and flattered for the noble warriors. "You see they are the Groviscian Guard, an elite fighting force my forefathers founded to defend the royal family of Etras. The Groviscians were once their own sovereign states until they were conquered several times by the Cren Order. Individually each state was conquered in a span of ten years. My father raised an army large enough to push the invaders from their conquests. The Groviscian States were honored to have their lands returned to them. So they gave up their sovereignty to become protectorates. Their Soldiers were the finest spear men in Auxmire. Well armed, armored from head to toe, shields large enough to defend their body. The Groviscians could form any shield formation you could think of. Groviscian Hoplites are known for their training and skills for combat."

Ilkabad looked impressed with how the Groviscians worked together in a unit fighting as one against any odds. He assumed in exchange for becoming a protectorate the Groviscian States gave their word to defend Senestra's family as bodyguards.

"As exchange for liberating their lands to freedom the Groviscians trained their soldiers to act as excellent bodyguards for you and your family?"He replied questioning this.

"Not just my family, but the families of the Etrasian Royal Courts." Senestra answered.

The Lessiiv ran through the gorge unscathed and entered a vast jungle on the other side of the gorge. The cliffs shrank to a lower level covered in trees and brush that were too dense to see through. A river opened up before the crew of the Lessiiv with the jungle flanking her sides. Vines and branches dipped low over the ship, which ran into a couple of low vines. A few branches skimmed the sails of the Lessiiv as it traversed the thick jungle. Ilkabad looked around trying to remember what was said about this particular island. The gorge of rotting flesh and skeletons nailed to the stones were warning signs to those who found their way past the reefs. There were many things said about the jungles, some he had learned from Leothrad and Clovis who had been here before. He did recall something though, if a ship found its way on the island’s river it was best to keep on moving. To stop for even one night would mean death to those aboard unless they were lucky to avoid trouble or able to fight off whatever came.

He looked at Captain Olverd who was still on the deck of the ship now ordering his crew around. His crews were commanded to steer the ship in the middle of the river and for men on top make sure nothing gets on the ship using the yards of the masts. Ilkabad wanted to warn Captain Olverd, except Olverd was too busy ensuring his men kept the ship from hitting land.

“It would be nice to have word with Captain Olverd.” He said to himself than he did to Senestra who was listening.

“What for?” she asked. He didn’t answer her question. Regardless of Ilkabd’s silence Senestra called to the Captain.

“Captain Olverd, Captain Olverd!” She called his name twice, but he did not answer either. The Captain was too busy shouting out orders to his entire crew.

While Senestra tried to summon the Captain Ilkabad gazed up at the tops of the trees and hanging vines wary of what creatures lurked behind all this brush and leaves. As a young lad he heard stories of monkey like creatures prowling the jungle islands like this one would attack vessels in the night.

“Damn fool you are drawing them near!” he muttered to himself so the Emissary would not hear him.

Senestra continued to call for Olverd making it worse for the Lessiiv’s future. It was not their fault they were drawing unwanted attention. None of them had ever been to this island before. Both of them watched Olverd continue with his commands until one of the crew who had heard her caught the Captain’s attention. He muttered something to Olverd who turned around and spotted Senestra waving for him and Ilkabad nervously looking up at the trees on the quarter deck of the ship. Olverd gave command to Hrothar and Jeskr then proceeded to the quarter deck side of the ship. As he made his way he shouted at them.

“Come to my cabin and we’ll talk!” Olverd said to him.

Senestra and Ilkabad went down to join the Captain at the entrance to the cabins. When they met Olverd at the cabin entrance Evnar came out laughing with a serving wench/hand maiden in his arm. He stopped in his tracks and his smile disappeared as did the girl who slunk back into the cabin when she saw the look on the Captain’s face. Ilkabad grabbed his cousin and shoved him inside after the girl. Olverd and Senestra followed the two Angoths inside.

“Go straight to my quarters Ilkabad we’ll discuss the issue about this island briefly!” Olverd said who searched around expecting to see the cabin boy, but realized he was dead. A Captain, an Emissary and two Angoth warriors went to the Captain’s quarters after stopping to get some charts of the seas beyond the Crowsian territories.

They entered Olverd’s quarters which was still the same as it was now well kept thanks to the girls on board except the bed remained unmade and a few bottles and tankards lay on the floor. Olverd had Ilkabad and Evnar set the table in the middle after he cleared it. He set the first map showing the seas on the edge of Crowsian waters. There were a few islands dotting the map, but none of them resembled anything near the islands they were on. After glancing at the first map and failing to find where they were there Senestra rolled up the first map. She set it on the bed as Olverd unrolled the second one, which appeared almost barren except a few dots revealing reefs and a drawing of a sea serpent indicating there were sea serpents there. As each of them scanned the map Ilkabad spotted something he recognized that was close to this island.

“There!” he placed a finger on a set of reefs that were supposedly north of the Kruskor island. “These reefs here are north of this island only these two islands are not on this map when they should be.” Ilkabad scratched his head feeling confused about this map. There was supposed to be something located directly south of those reefs, but there was nothing marking the island.

“The Crowsians must have stopped at the reefs and thought there was nothing else there.” Senestra suggested.

“Or they must have known and chose not to put it there hoping no one would look for it!” Olverd growled. He looked at Ilkabad with angry eyes. “I suppose we are supposed to be here even if it is not on these charts!”

“Our old crone used to tell us stories about those reefs and this island saying it cannot be found by those near Auxmire because it is guarded by storms.” Evnar said.

Each one of them looked at him. Ilkabad realized his cousin was right. This ship had just endured a storm and faced numerous sea serpents that attacked them. These were the two things guarding the islands and preventing other ships from discovering them and other islands.

“So Ilkabad what creatures are on these islands and what demons dwell in the forests?” Olverd asked as he pinned the map down with a dagger.

Ilkabad cleared his throat ready to spill out what he was told as a child and a young man. “You see Captain Olverd there are monkeys, various types of birds and monkey- man like creatures called the Ipama. These Ipama are more like demons that have the appearance of a crossbreed between a man and a monkey. Crones say these beasts will kill or rape anything that crosses into their territory. It would be best not to have anyone sleep outside at all unless you want to discover a mangled corpse.”

Olverd looked down at the map observing the spot below the reefs that were marked. He took a piece of charcoal and marked it lightly. “I will consider your advice Ilkabad and have no one outside until morning has struck. We will stay here for a night or two despite the dangers this island possesses.”

“You need to keep your ship moving if you want your crew to survive this island!” Ilkabad yelled at the Captain.

Olverd gave him a hard look and drew a knife as if the Angoth gave a threat. “I AM CAPTAIN OF THIS SHIP! WE WILL DO AS I SAY AND THIS SHIP WILL STAY WHERE ITS CAPTAIN SAYS IT WILL STAY!” Olverd’s voice boomed in the cabin of the Lessiiv.

Ilkabad glared at Olverd clenching his eyebrows and sneered at the Captain. He looked over at his cousin who had said nothing this entire time. Ilkabad returned his gaze towards the Captian. “Fine then, it is your ship Captain Olverd. Do as you like and so be it.” He said before sulking out of the room followed by his cousin.

“That went marvelously well Captain!” Senestra snapped sarcastically, she was disgusted with the way the entire meeting went between them and the two Angoths.

Ilkabad stormed down to his quarters with Evnar trailing behind him. Attempting to talk the Captain into sailing through this island was impossible. This was OLverd’s vessel and it would sail where its Captain was to sail it.

“We could try again cousin I am sure he’ll listen next time.” Evnar tried to cheer him up.

Ilkabad turned around and faced his cousin who stopped in his tracks. “Evnar, there is no negotiating with a captain like Olverd. He has already made up his mind about staying on this island! Even if I were to talk Senestra into getting Olverd to agree we’d still have the Ipama and whatever else is here to deal with! We are forced to wait until those beasts attack this ship. Only then will Captain fool will ever listen to anything else I have to say!”

“At least he listened to you about not letting anyone sleep outside.” Evnar replied.

“I do not want to hear anything else about this Evnar, let me be I will sleep this off!” Ilkabad rolled into his bed facing the wall. Evnar was left in silence and walked away leaving his cousin in peace.

As Ilkabad rested he fell into a deep sleep. In his sleep he dreamed of his lover waiting for him back home on a couch outside. He walked up to her eager to be in her arms once more. She turned to see him approaching her in a robe. His lover rose from the couch and reached out to him in embrace. 

“My Ilkabad has returned to me. Come into my arms and nestle against my breast!” she pleaded letting her own robe slip off her body.

Ilkabad’s lover wrapped her arms around him with a tight grip. She seemed like she wasn’t going to let him go. “I love you Levanna.” He said to her as he looked her in the eye. Levanna gazed into his eyes as he gazed into hers. She rubbed his face and shoulder softly giving him a soothing feel with her hands.

“Close your eyes.” She softly said as she turned him around. He obediently closed his eyes and allowed her to turn his body around.

Levanna cuffed his chin from behind and had one hand over his stomach. “Now open your eyes my lover and see what lies in your future.”

Ilkabad smiled and opened his eyes. Standing in front of Ilkabad was an Ipama staring at him in the face. It was grinning showing sharp yellowish teeth idle as a statue. This startled the Angoth warrior awake who leaped out of his own bed within his quarters. Moments later his cousin rushed into the room armed with an axe and a sword.

“Here.” Evnar tossed him the axe as Ilkabad grabbed his killing knife.

“What is it?” he asked quickly.

“It’s the Ipama!” Evnar cried.

“Go to the lower deck and make sure those Groviscians are up there defending the ship!” Ilkabad told his cousin who was confused about these Groviscians.

“They’re Senestra’s bodyguards, now go!” he yelled at Evnar. Ilkabad rushed up to the deck of the ship and found Olverd’s crew and some Groviscians protecting the ship from scores of gray green looking monkey like creatures that were as tall as men. These Ipama would wear loincloths or tunics made from leaves or donned armor taken from the corpses of warriors they killed. There were a few that wore skins of creatures or bones as armor. Their weapons were spears and swords made with the teeth and bones of creatures they killed. Ipama swords were often made from a crocodile’s jaw or from the jaw of a Sleecher, another creature that lurks the island of Kruskor. Others had shells of turtles linked together to create a cuirass chest armor. Much of their fur poked out of the holes in what they wore. Most of the Ipama had their faces painted or wore masks to cover their monkey-man appearances on their face.

By the time Ilkabad fought one that jumped down from a vine there were dozens of them lying dead on the deck of the Lessiiv. A few of Olverd’s crewmen and four Groviscian bodyguards lay dead. He killed the Ipama that landed before him gutting it with his knife. Before it’s corpse fell on the deck Ilkabad grabbed its spear and threw it at another that was swinging down on a vine. Its body landed on the bow of the Lessiiv where Olverd and Hrothar fought several at once.

The Groviscian Hoplites defended the starboard and the broadside of the ship leaving a gap that was partially filled by the crew who were fighting Ipama that had jumped down on to the deck. Evnar rushed up to help them killing two as he rushed to protect the Hoplites’ flanks. Ilkabad looked to the side and found three approaching him on the right and turned to find four closing in from the left. He twirled around to face the three Ipama on his right. One of them was already poised to strike. As it struck he grabbed its weapon and pulled it to him stabbing his knife into its stomach.

Ilkabad took its weapon and killed the others which were wielding spears. He took one of the spears and fought the four just before they stabbed him in the back. Ilkabad brushed all four of their attacks to the side then jabbed one of them in the chest. The Angoth twisted his weapon away from the corpse then stabbed another in the neck. He was about to finish the others off when someone junked an axe into one of them and another crew member stabbed the last on in the back. The crewman was overwhelmed by three more Ipama who slashed his body.

Ilkabad dealt with those three immediately. He retrieved his knife and picked up the crewman’s weapon, which was a Klopis forged in the Crowsian isles. When he turned to help the Groviscian Hoplites and the Lessiiv’s crew they were already being forced into the center forming a Schimtor, a shield wall formation in a circle. A dozen crewmen including Evnar were in the center to ensure none of the attackers jumped into the center. Scores of Ipama climbed onto the ship from both sides and closing in on the Crew and Groviscians. More and more Ipama died as they continued to pour onto the Lessiiv. Olverd at the bow of the ship with twenty of his crew stood back to back in a circle killing the creatures whenever they climbed on board.

Over a dozen crew members and Hoplites lay dead among the numerous Ipama corpses. It was not long before there were over a hundred Ipama aboard the Lessiiv fighting the crew, Hoplites and the two Angoth warriors who managed to hold the ship. There were sixty-nine crewmen and Hoplites plus two Angoths on the deck with over a hundred Ipama whose numbers continued to increase as more climbed aboard. Ilkabad was very busy cutting down any Ipama that approached him or crossed his path. He would pick up a spear and toss it at one that charged the Hoplites. It was just him guarding the door to the cabins. He took a second to notice that not all of the crew and Hoplites were on the top deck. His first thought was they were below deck or some were on the quarter deck and had been overwhelmed.

Moments after killing two more Ipama he felt the door hit his back. Ilkabad stepped to the side to allow whoever was coming out. More of the Lessiiv’s crew poured out as did a Hoplite officer. They immediately shut the door defending their positions. More Ipama leaped down from the quarter deck and killed half of their group before they were cut down. Ilkabad turned toward the circle of shields more crew members and Hoplites came up to aid in the Lessiiv’s defenses.

All around them more Ipama gathered perched onto trees hanging on vines ready to pounce on the ship. There must have been a thousand or close to it, all looking down at a perfect target. The Lessiiv and her crew had come to a bad location.