Leothrad's First Prize Chapter

One lone vessel bearing the banners of the Cren Order managed to escape the trap and head for the other vessels, which were mobilizing near the reefs. Their brethren were slaughtered in the attempt to take on the battle-hardened Veeks on the sea. The Captain Elgoag believed it was useless now serve the deity that was destined to rule the world. He sailed on as if nothing had happened, but when he turned his head right he spotted another vessel headed for his at a fast pace.

Leothrad’s vessel speeds towards the last Cren vessel of the first wave that attacked them. His vessel caught up to it after an hour of sailing and rowing at full speed. Each of warriors were eager to plunder the Cren warship and free any slaves that could be aboard. Leothrad saw what happened at the Veek area and wished the young Captain had known there were slaves aboard those vessels.

“Perhaps those galleys were rowed by ogres. I mean they were coming towards the Veeks pretty fast from where I was watching. The only reason why ours was able to catch up to this one was because of the contraptions those Veeks and Crowsian engineers put in the hull to make it run faster.” Clovis said glaring at the hull of the Delkyr hunter where a steam powered engine made into the ship that generates wind through the holes in the masts.

Leothrad was not concerned about what the Crowsians and Veeks did to their vessel. His concern was for the slaves aboard the galleys and how useful they would be in an all-out war with the Cren Order. His intentions were to capture the vessel and free whatever slaves were in the hull forced to row the galleys to their deaths.

“Clovis tell the warriors to prepare the grappling hooks we’re boarding that Galley!” Leothrad ordered as he stood on the bow of the ship clinging to a rope that was dangling from the fore mast. He watched as the goblins on board scrambled all over the deck and their archers manned their stations. Each archer fired an arrow or two at the Delkyr Hunter before being answered with a single volley of arrows from the Angoths under the leadership of Leothrad. His target was a tall Goblin that appeared to be the Captain of the vessel. Goblins tried to duck as another volley of arrows were fired at them. Leothrad tightened his grip on the line as the Angoths pulled up to the side of the Goblin Galley ready to swing over and board it.

Once they were close warriors tossed grappling hooks while archers focused their arrows on the decks and stern. Leothrad drew his sword encouraging his warriors to follow him into battle. He swung from the bow of the ship onto the deck of the Goblin infested galley. The Champion landed on the corpse of a Goblin surrounded by others who were dead, dying or hiding from the archers. Soon other Angoths swung down onto the deck.

One goblin stood up and raised its axe at him and was struck down the instant he approached Leothrad. Twenty Angoths boarded the galley wiping out the Goblins on board the outer deck of the galley. He fought five Goblins at once playing around with the foolish creatures cutting one down and letting another get shot with an arrow. Leothrad beheaded one and shoved his sword into the last killed as the fifth one was cut down by an Angoth armed with an axe. He twisted his blade out of the Goblin making quick work of his latest kill.

There was hardly any time left of the day to be messing around on the sea as the Cren Order was building up its force at the reefs of Kruskor Island. Thirty Goblins charged out of the lower decks into the slaughter as the Angoths waited for them to come up. His appetite for a prize grew with each kill he made on his way towards the cabin. He stepped over corpses seeing none of his men were killed or scraped. It seemed they had caught the fleeing vessel unawares and its crew was too frightened to give them much of a fight. Leothrad made it to the Cabin and smashed the door down with several blows with his foot and shoulder. An Angoth came up from behind him as the door fell open broken from its hinges. 

“Do you want us to join you Champion?” he asked Leothrad with a bloody ax in his hand.

“No, stay here, clean the ship, gather the weapons, arrows and pile them up or stick them into barrels. I can handle myself. Protect the ship, I believe our friends from the Cren Order are just know figuring out a route through the Island of Kruskor.” Leothrad pointed towards the island. There Cren Galleys and Warships were finally making their way through the estuary, only they had difficulty from the Ipama tribes. The Ipama on the other side of the river were disturbed that one tribe crossed the river to ambush a vessel and went over to check it out. Leothrad imagined this as he entered the cabin. Lamps lit the inside of the dark cabin flickering in the breeze that came in.

Leothrad explored the cabin finding furniture of all types, shapes and sizes. He even found a bed with a Cren priest with his throat slit and his cock out. Cum was splattered about his robe and bed. “Someone must have been sucking your cock before we attacked.” He said to the corpse. His eyes scanned the room searching for signs of the person who did this. It was most likely a slave girl bought for pleasure and used as a sex tool. Such practices would be banned all across Auxmire if the Angoths were still in power. It is so in New Angothia, any man caught with any type of sex slave was doomed to be killed. Those who owned slaves for other purposes were allowed to live despite the anger it inspired in every warrior’s blood within the Triangle Brotherhood.

Leothrad saw that the door had been locked on the inside which explained why he had to force it open. He looked over to a corner and saw a hatch had an overturned cabinet over it to keep others from coming up. “Whoever you are you can come out from wherever you’re hiding. It is safe now. I am Leothrad Champion of the Angoths, perhaps you have heard of me, if not maybe the name Angoth rings a bell from stories your nanny or wet nurse told you?”

There was no reply just the creaking of the vessel as it rocked softly in the water. He wandered deeper into the cabin to look inside another room, which was empty save for bottles of powder, plants and liquids. He turned away from that room and found another room which was locked. He smiled and knocked on the door.

“Hello is there anyone inside?” He asked as nicely as possible.

“Yea there is, who are you? Are you one of the Goblins? Is the battle over?” the voice sounded human and young. Leothrad grinned thinking this was some foolish Cren worshiper he could bring along to hear the bullshit about Cren the Magnificent God who would do no wrong against his people.

“Yes I am the Goblin First Mate Nine Feet of Cock! The battle is over and we are here to rescue slaves.” Leothrad said making up a name that would sound too funny to take seriously. “You damned fool, tell me you’re not this stupid?” Leothrad muttered under his breath as he waited for an answer.

“Very nice to meet you First Mate Cock I am Oephus the Minstrel of Lord Avakosh, his concubine went mad and killed our master, this is why I am here in this room alone!” Oephus answered as a fool he sounded to be. Leothrad heard something approach from behind as Oephus went on about how violent the slaves were down below when the vessel was nearly wiped out with the others. The champion felt the presence of someone else creeping up behind him possibly armed with a dagger. He heard the blood still dripping from the blade that should have been cleaned after slicing the Cren Priests throat. The person must have cut themselves as well in the attempt.

He twirled around raising his sword to intimidate rather than kill. His honor kept his sword from harming women. That was the work of dogs without honor, cowards, and demons. He was face to face with a woman with the dagger in both hands and covered in blood. She had some cum dripping from the corner of her mouth. Her eyes were wide and sacred ready to drive the sharp point into Leothrad’s eye.

“Lower your blade and clean yourself up.” He said to her glancing done taking notice to her nudity. Behind her an Angoth entered ready to tackle her and rip the blade from her. Leothrad raised a hand. “Stay back I can handle this!” he commanded.

The woman lowered her blade and relaxed. “Apologies, that wretched demon has been fucking me since I was thirteen!” she said through gritted teeth.

“Glad to be rid of him are you?” Leothrad asked. She nodded and silently went to the door and banged on it with her fist.

“Oephus you stupid slug open up! This is an Angoth here to rescue us from slavery!” She hollered at the top of her lungs.

“I don’t trust Nine Feet! He killed those Goblins didn’t he?” Oephus complained.

The woman’s eyebrow twitched in anger. “At least let me in and get some clothes on while I clean myself up!” She screamed at the door.

“Okay savvy flower named Ursella.” Oephus sang as he unlocked the door to the room. A chiton wearing Crowsian looking slave appeared at the door as it swung open. He smiled both of them holding a Lute in his hand. “Oephus the singer at your-“

“Out of the way!” Ursella hissed pulling the skinny singer out of the room and slammed the door shut as she entered.

“Have you always been a slave Oephus?” Leothrad asked folding his arms across his chest.

“Yes born and raised to serve master Avakosh, it was rumored he raped my mum, but I never believed sweet Avakosh would never do that, no, no.” Oephus smiled the widest smile Leothrad ever saw on any slave’s face. It was enough to make the Angoth lose himself and laugh so hard no noise came out.

“FOR THE LOVE OF THE GODS OEPHUS HE DRUGGED YOU TO BELIEVE HE WAS YOUR FRIEND!” Ursella screeched from behind the door.

“Do have anything in there you need?” Leothrad asked sheathing his sword.

“No my room is down stairs, but it appears Ursella tipped over the dresser on to it.” Oephus said observing the room.

“A strong woman, no doubt.” Leothrad said complimenting Ursella. “Get that cabinet off the trap door I am going down, join me if you wish. You Oephus can wait right here.”

Oephus did as he was told and held his lute against his chest like it was a kitten wanting to be held. Leothrad helped the warrior shove the furniture aside and opened the hatch to the lower levels of the galley. He descended the ladder and discovered more rooms full and empty. There was a Cren guard asleep in a chair and a girl lying in bed under the covers. The guard had three mugs around him indicating he had been drinking on the way here. He slept next to a door that must have led to the oars of the galley. Leothrad could here shuffling and rattling of chains behind the door.

He turned to the guard who was asleep and saw he was armed with a dagger. Leothrad took the dagger and shoves it in the guard’s chest waking him to a startling death. It was now to the door with the guard out of the way. He burst in shoving it open finding a whole deck full of slaves at the oars and twelve Goblins remaining to keep them in line. These were a large breed of Goblins that were taller than the average Veek. Leothrad grabs his own knife and throws it at the first Goblin he sees when he entered.

Another Goblin charges after him, but a prisoner trips him and strangles him with his chains. Leothrad steps up to protect the slave as more Goblins come to the aid of their comrade. A tall strong looking woman stands up with her chains ripped from the floor and hits the first Goblin taking his sword. In moments other prisoners stand up and attack the rest of the Goblins as one slowly dies from being strangled.

Leothrad turned to his right and saw an ogre sleeping in the corner just now waking up. He grabs a spike from the floor and lunges after the ogre jabbing the weapon into the beast’s neck. The Ogre gave out a gurgling sound as it died in its sleep. As the oarsmen heard this they all cheered and roared with approval until a loud thump silenced them. On the other side of oars deck was another door to a room.

“It is wear more of their troops are garrisoned we awoke one of their elite warriors inside.” A tattooed slave informed Leothrad. His tattoos showed his past tribal status among a group known as the Velts, a group that was nomadic around the time Leothrad’s people were forced out of Auxmire.

“Thank you, friend give me your name and where you’re from.” Leothrad said thanking him.

“The name is Borix of the Veltic clan Epuntine my lord.” Borix asked for Leothrad’s name.

“I am an Angoth Champion named Leothrad. I am here to set you all free! Cut their chains if you can find clippers otherwise find the keys.” He told the Angoth warrior behind him.

Leothrad walked down the line of oars as the warriors unshackled the prisoners and broke the chains freeing them all as he walked by. Some freed themselves before freeing others some grabbed a pair of keys or knives to set free the rest. As Leothrad came up to the door and looked up at the ceiling. He realized the galley had three lower decks and he had passed the first lower deck. Leothrad pursed his lips listening to the thumping and watching the doors budges but not open for whoever was trying to get out. The door was barred with a metal bar. He moved the bar to the side to see what was behind the doors. His expectations were impressed as an armored Goblin stepped forth from the room that was riddled with Goblins armed with clubs. The leading Goblin warned the others not to touch Leothrad but fight the others. Above them they heard more fighting, but ended like skirmishes do.

Goblins charged past Leothrad attacking the freed prisoners who outnumbered them this time. Twenty seven ill-equipped Goblins faced one hundred and thirty-eight freed prisoners who overwhelmed the Goblins easily enough. Leothrad waited for his fight with the Elite Goblin who raised both arms as a way of saying “Aren’t we going to Dance?” inviting Leothrad.

He swung first and the Goblin swept it aside. His determination encouraged him to keep up the attacks as he pressed on the Elite. The Goblin parried each blow until Leothrad cut down on its hand and scraped part of its palm. It stopped to hold its wrist as it looked at Leothrad accusingly. “You cheater!” it hissed, “Fight with honor, damn you!”

Not with you, Leothrad thought as he kicked the Goblin in the stomach forcing it to stagger back. Leothrad swung again forcing the blade out of the Goblins hand. It clattered on the floor before Leothrad cut at its legs, bringing it down to its knees. Leothrad did not give it a chance to beg and shoved his blade through the gap exposing its neck. He pulled his blade out of the Goblin letting the Goblin and its blood fall on the floor.

“Are there any more prisoners aboard this ship?” Leothrad asked turning around to face the freed prisoners.

“Yes, there are a hundred more down below most are men bound for the islands for some reason. I could not tell you, but do you know Great Leothrad?” a woman asked tossing her shackles to the floor. There were tribal markings on her arms and legs indicating she must be a Velt as well. Leothrad suspected more than half of the prisoners were of Veltic stock aside from other groups he may not recognize.

“Are all of you Velts, or something?” An Angoth named Erden asked.

“Most of us, I am Ilexra from an independent state known as Adorce. It was once an Angoth city that my forefathers discovered and restored to create our home. I suspect you’ll be wanting it back once you Angoths return.” Another woman said tossing her head to the side waving her hair in the Angoths face.

She walked past Leothrad to pick up the Goblins weapon and searched around for a hatch to the lower deck below. “We’ll free our own from now on, you attend to your own business and we’ll do ours, Champion.” The Adorcene named Ilexra fixed her hair into a single braid, which was wrapped then tried around her neck with a brooch traded from a Veltic craftsman.

Leothrad turned to Borix who placed a Goblin arm band around his own arm. “Have you ever commanded a ship before?” Leothrad asked as more warriors joined Ilexra to free their comrades in the lowest deck of the galley.

“Yes, I was given the opportunity to do so with a Morvanese Captain who then sold me into slavery to serve the Cren Order.” Borix answered and bowed, acknowledging what Leothrad was about to bestow upon him.

“Then I name Borix of the Clan Epuntine as Captain of this Galley, all of you will follow his orders. Tell the others when they are freed. I leave you all to do as you wish. Join me or go on your own paths I cannot stop you nor should anyone else!” Leothrad received approval from all the freed warriors who cleared the way for him as he went to return to the upper decks. He made it up to the cabin where Ursella and Oephus were waiting for him.

“Are we free to go?” She asked looking at him with an impatient look.

“Yes follow me, there is a room for each of you since the previous passengers are aboard another ship. Leothrad led both of the former slaves to the outer deck where the sun was dipping down over the horizon in the west. He looked over where the Cren Order were still fighting Crowsian and Irkan ships as more were boarded following his example. Other Cren vessels arrived and mobilized not bothering to enter the battle on behalf of their brethren.

“Some help you’ve become.” Leothrad snorted at the mobilizing fleet of blood red sails. Dusk was coming and those who were not engaged in battle backed off and returned to the mobilized fleet of red sails as the last victims fell to the allied forces. Leothrad felt the Cren Order believed they were all at war with each other and it would be easy to defeat them.

He turned his head to see the island of Kruskor slightly closer to him than he wished. More Cren galleys came out of the island with Ipama aboard the vessel killing crew and warriors alike. They must have been Ipama from the other side of the island that were disturbed by the idea of another tribe using their territory to ambush vessels sailing through the gorge.