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[Deacon Drake]

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The air smelled of salt, and the only thing in sight was the big blue. Steel had never been so happy to be anywhere, but he realized now that he was home. The sea was his place, he knew this now.

Finally...

All he could see in any direction was water and clear blue sky. How he managed to survive on land for eight years was beyond him... but he was happy, a feeling that had not known him in years.

It only took about twenty men and two weeks to fully restore his ship, the Celtic Wind, despite the fact that it was dry docked for so long. It seemed to be faster and stronger now than it had ever been. It was the one thing he had ever truly owned and loved, the only object that had true meaning to him.

As he stood at the ship's bow, looking out into the seemingly endless mass of water, one of the crew members walked up and respectfully saluted. "Sir, a message has just arrived by carrier pigeon. It is addressed directly to you."

Steel accepted the roll of parchment and quickly unrolled it. Before reading anything, he viewed the stamp, the seal, and of course, the signature. Oddly enough, none of these features were present. This wasn't a letter... it was a simple note, often used either in an emergency, or when the sender chose to remain unknown.

It was as long as a letter, but to the point. You are invited to the ceremony in the honor of Sir Silent Poet. He is to be knighted by the Regent. Odd, he thought. He had not heard of this. Nonetheless, he knew he must attend... the Poet was a dear friend of his, and he couldn't miss this.

He looked at the sailor who delivered the message, and nodded in approval and thanks. He checked his bearings and unrolled a map... right about now, he should be almost between Nujel'm and Magincia. Britain would be directly west. He cleared his throat and gave his orders to the sailor before him.

"Give the order to the men that we are to change directions immediately. We are heading directly westward toward the city of Britain."

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Hours passed, and Steel's pride soared as he saw Cove's southern shore, the Orc Fort, in the distance. He had forgotten the true capabilities of his ship as far as speed went. His concentration was broken quickly, however, with the piercing call of his lookout.

"Fellow ship! Look to the east!"

Steel ran to the stern of his ship and looked out on the horizon. He could see a small ship gaining quickly on their tail. "How on earth..." he muttered. "There is no way any ship can be that fast."

"Sir!" his earlier messenger spoke. "I've seen a ship like that before... it's long and narrow, perfect for speed. It's a scout ship from the Tokuno Islands."

"A scout ship? But whose?" the sailor shrugged. Steel looked back at the rapidly gaining ship and saw a single figure standing at the bow, its arms raised in the air. It held no weapon, and seemed to be making a crude attempt at showing peace.

All of a sudden, from a storm cloud that didn't exist, a bolt of lighting slammed into the hull of the Celtic. "Damn!" Steel shouted. "Mages!" The smell of sulfur floated about, and a second bolt his the ship, this time burning one of the sails.

"What the hell is going on!" the men were shouting, as some ran for the ship's four small cannons, others running to archer outposts.

"We're under attack, bring me--" Steel couldn't finish his statement as a long stream of a blazing Flame Strike flew closer and closer to him. He and his surrounding men dropped to the deck as the fire stream went by, scorching the rails of the ship. This mage was out to kill one person, and that was the captain of the ship, Steel.

"Admiral! Get back on the deck before you're killed!"

As Steel stood up, he stared in amazement as the scout ship began to slow down. The ship seemed to come to a complete stop as it rounded about, idling in the water.

Steel turned to a sailor next to him. "Take no chances. Search the ship for any stowaways."

"Aye, sir," the sailor replied, and scurried off to check below deck with a couple other men.

By the time Steel was done giving orders, the deck was seemingly empty, save for himself. He walked quickly to a nearby stairwell, when the familiar blade of a dagger lined up with his throat. Through all his past experiences, Steel was beginning to hate daggers.

Steel felt himself being pulled toward who he guessed was the mage who was trying to kill him. He almost laughed as he felt the contour of his assailant's body, his back being pressed against her chest. Irony will get a man killed, he thought. His assailant who was holding the Admiral of the British Navy hostage... was a woman.

On one side of his neck, he could feel the dagger being held steady, but at the same time he felt an odd prick in the other side of his neck. His assailant stuck him with a needle of some sort, perhaps of poison, or a sedative.

"Hello, traitor," she whispered in his ear. Steel tried to turn around, but in doing so he almost lost balance as a strong wave of fatigue floated over him. He fell to the deck as the mage, who was stronger than he expected, wrapped him in her arms and picked him up. He looked up into her face, which was covered with a mask and shroud, and recognized the red eyes immediately. "You..."

The girl smiled behind her mask, and with a few words of magic, disappeared with Steel as his men were running toward her with sword in hand. They fell in agony as they realized that they had let their commander become captive.

The mage appeared on deck again, and began chanting. This should be fun.

============================================

Fallen into another trap... what kind of Admiral are you, Steel?

He looked up as the familiar voice floated in his head. Excelsius was speaking to him. He looked around and noticed that there was a crude ankh carved into the wall.

And kidnapped by her, no doubt. I'm starting to wonder if you really do have the potential I thought you had.

"Don't make me knock myself out so I don't have to listen to you."
That would be a sight.
"Where am I?"
How should I know? I am a memory, not a god.
"Well, why did she do it?"
You let her down. You know she is crazy, and now it is proven. She will either hold you for ransom or kill you. Either way, you're not going back to Britain for a good long while.
"Yeah, thanks for the recap," Steel said sarcastically.
I'm here to serve, Steel.
"Then serve me by getting me out of here."
I'm dead, remember?
Steel grunted at this notion. He heard footsteps and looked up. He noted that he was in a prison cell, and the rocking motion gave away that he was still on a ship. Oddly enough, it all looked familiar. Its skeleton was crafted entirely of valorite, the rare but extremely durable metal. Fear filled his heart as he realized that this was the brig of the Celtic Wind.

The footsteps came to a halt as a figure appeared in a lit doorway to Steel's left. It was the mage, yet again.

"And people think I am crazy. Can I ask who, eh... or what, you were talking to?"

"Where the hell are my men?" Steel demanded.

"Dead." Steel's heart sank. "They resisted, and I had no choice but to take command of the ship."

"What do you want with me?"

"Of you? Nothing, Steel. You are of no relevence. By the time I am done with you, you will be, rest assured... or I guess not... you will be dead."

"Why? Just because I said no?"

"It was your place, damn it!" the woman shouted. "And you turned it down. This does not happen to me. Unless you tell me exactly what I need to know, you will be dead before we get to Britain."

"So you won't kill me?" Steel asked, now amused.

"Oh, trust me... you will never see Britain again. There is no going back for you Steel, you screwed up entirely too much this time, and you're never going back..."
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[img]http://askcorran.com/lonegamer/abomsig.PNG[/img]

[Isil Narmolanya]

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She sat there, just staring at Steel. He was completely bound to the hull of the ship, so she didn't have any worries of an escape.
"Steel Steel Steel... what shall I ever do with you?" she spoke.

"You're insane."

"Am I? Is there something wrong with me? You could have had power. Everything you ever wished for. And yet, you didn't accept it. And now look at you. Tied up, a prisoner to your own ship. I should let it sink, you with it. You know the old saying, don't you Steel?"

Steel remains silent

"Oh come now, don't make me tell you.

Still silent

"The captain always goes down with the ship!"

"I know. But why? Why do you wish to see me dead?"

"Oh, i dunno. It's just something i've always wanted to do, that's all."

"You're a wench."

She takes out some sulfurous ash from a pouch, and blows it into Steel's face

"What was that you were saying?"

Steel attempts to get it out of his eyes, and screams: "You're a wench!"

"Now.. i don't think that's the best idea. I could kill you so easily, but, you know me!"

Steel continues in his attempt to get the ash out of his eyes and face.

"Now, let's see what i have in my little bag of tricks..."

She whistles playfully as she sifts through her bag.
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Stopped by January 2022, technically on the discord server.

[Isil Narmolanya]

---

Sifting through her pack, she began pulling out small daggers, bottles, jars, and other means of torture. She delved in the art of interrogation, and enjoyed seeing anyone in pain. She sat there a moment, with her tools spread out in front of her, and sighed. She slowly put each item back into her pouch, and instead pulled out a runebook.

Steel sat there, eyeing Isil as she looked through a rune book. "A rune book?" he thought, "What would she use the runebook for?"

Isil continued to flip through the book, and finally got to the page she was looking for.

"Ah! There you are!" She said happily.

She placed the open runebook down, and walked over towards Steel.

"We're going on a little trip, i do hope you've brought warm cloths!"

"Where are we going?"

"Oh, you'll know soon enough"

She grabbed onto Steel, and slowly dragged him onto the deck of the ship.

Taking out a spellbook, she slowly chanted In Flam Grav, and the deck burst into flames. Holding up her rune book, she opened a dark red gate, and taking Steel with her, jumped into the gate, leaving behind the burning ship.

[Isil Narmolanya]

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Steping through the gate, they arrived at their destination. Extremely cold, snow and ice everywhere, Steel knew where he was.

"Dagger Isle"

"That's right! It's good to know you aren't as dumb as you look"

"Oh, very funny"

"You think so? Now... did i say you could Talk?"

She takes her hand into a fist, and punches Steel on the left side of his face.

"Now then, where was I. Oh yes. This place, Steel, is your final resting place. Then again, Perhaps you will live, but you will forever wander the cliffs of Dagger Isle. And if i don't get you, well, let's just say the Polar bears around here aren't picky"

A look of fear overcomes Steel's face.

"Now, Let's go Steel, we should be at my little outpost soon enough"

Dragging Steel along the frozen tundra, cutting at his skin, and pulling at his hair, he falls unconcious.
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Stopped by January 2022, technically on the discord server.