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Description
TrollingQuest

Chapter 1

The full moon illuminated the night sky and their glow was reflected off the waves that crashed against the shore, boats, anything they could reach on the small island of Laone. A stronger light still was what shone through the windows of the tavern by the docks, occasionally blocked as a customer or waitress crossed the room. It was a busy night and the staff had their hands full.

A blue-skinned harthen sat in one corner, the quietest table he could find in the establishment. He sipped on a glass of juice, doing his best to keep an eye on each of his shipmates, both of which were drinking heavily.

In another corner, circled by a curious crowd, was another harthen. William Walloo, previously known as the infamous pirate Willie Wally the Wonder, was in a drinking contest with a pirate from another crew. Shot glasses took up most of the space on the table, most of them empty. The smell of rum was thick in the air and Nathyn was pretty sure the two were sweating alcohol by now.

“There is...” the other pirate started. He took a second to recollect his thoughts. “...no...way in HELL...a little...lightweight...kitten like yourself...can beat me...” He finished by downing his next shot.

Willie's already flushed face reddened further at the comment. He could never tolerate being called a cat. “Too bad...for you, HARTHEN can...out drink any...pathetic human dunk...any day of the week!” He proceeded to not only down his next shot, but three others before his opponent could respond.

Most of the staff had already learned how much the harthen captain could put away, particularly in a drinking contest. They began clearing away some of the empty glasses and replacing them with full ones. Willie was far from finished.

The human pirate stared at the full glasses in front of him. Willie had raised the bar by drinking four shots is one go. Now he had to match it or admit defeat. His hand was unsteady as he took the first and downed it. A few of his crew mates offered words of encouragement.

Willie sat back, his tail twitching with confidence. He would tell this human had already had too much. If he finished this round, he'd be impressed. But the next round would be the last at most.

His opponent took the second glass. He downed it. Then suddenly his eyes widened and he dove for the bucket a waitress had had the foresight to supply. There was a chorus of cheers and boos alike and Willie jumped out of his seat, downing all the remaining shots and throwing his arms up in victory before falling over onto the table.

This was his cue. Nathyn got up from his seat and pushed his was through the crowd to his unconscious companion. With Willie over his shoulder he glanced around for Neshae. He had lost track of the vampire. After a quick scan Nathyn decided to get Willie to the ship and if Neshae wasn't already there he'd come back and look for him.

He was more than happy to leave the tavern. The salty air was as welcome as the cool breeze of the calm night. Nathyn had never been one for crowds, but someone had to keep an eye on the guys while they were drinking and make sure they made it back to the ship safely. Particularly Neshae. He always seemed to find trouble.

Nathyn's tail twitched as he boarded Phoenix. Her ropes immediately lowered to retrieve her fallen captain and ease the weight from Nathyn's shoulder.

“You have returned with the Master,” Willie's robot, EARL, announced as he emerged from the cabin door. “But I only count two of you. Are my optical receptors malfunctioning or--”

“Neshae's still back there somewhere,” Nathyn cut off. “I gotta go back for him.”

“Affirmative.” EARL received Willie from Phoenix's ropes and disappared into the cabin. After stretching his arms a bit, Nathyn retraced his steps back toward Laone Tavern.

Neshae crept through the darkness, stalking a victim. A human girl was walking alone at night. How could he not take advantage of the opportunity? He was hungry and the drinks weren't cutting it.

Unfortunately, the alcohol had interfered with his stealth skills. The girl was well aware that someone was following her by now. Every now and then she would send a glance over her shoulder or call out asking if someone was there.

She looked around one last time before disappearing down an ally. Neshae, in his vampire camouflage, strolled on in after her. He was taken by surprise when something hit the side of his head, sending him falling against a wall.

Someone attempted to bind his hands behind his back, but he easily shook them off. He got to his feet, surrounded by several humans, two males and three females including the one who had lured him into this trap. Neshae drew his Fire Blade, illuminating their faces and taking them by surprise.

“Luke! Your crossbow!” One of the women shouted, causing oe of the men to fumble with with his weapon. Neshae went into camouflage, disappearing to the humans, then reappeared behind Luke, his blade at his neck, just far enough away that it wasn't actually burning him.

“There's no need for that,” the vampire told his hostage.

“Don't hurt him!” the first woman cried out.

“Why not?” Neshae asked. “Five against one seems kind of one sided. And I'm pretty hungry. Why not even the odds just a little?”

Luke's heart rate picked up. Neshae could barely hold in his laughter. These humans were trying to be vampire hunters, but were low level at best. He had been fighting off more experienced hunters back in his teens.

“If you harm him I will simply make your death more painful,” another woman threatened. She raised a crossbow of her own. “Release him. Don't think I won't kill him to kill you.”

This one just might mean business. Neshae considered his options. On one hand, he could get away very easily empty handed. On the other hand, he was still hungry and did not want to admit defeat against rookies like these. Keeping his grip on his hostage he withdrew the Fire Blade. Instead of putting it away though, he used it to make a flash of light. While the others were stunned he summoned his wings and took off in flight. His prey kicked and screamed and was answered by cries of his friends below.

“If you don't kill me, I'll make it worth your while!” the human sputtered.

“Heh, yeah?”

“Yeah! I have a treasure map in my pocket! If you spare me you can have it!”

Neshae landed on a roof. The cries of the humans were close behind. He wouldn't have much time. Despite the cries of protest, he big into the human's neck and drank his fill. After a moment he released his captive and searched his pockets for the promised treasure map, then took off into the night. The human would wake up before long and reunite with his friends and they would probably brag about their encounter later. And Neshae got a meal and a map out of it.

On the ground close to the tavern Neshae spotted Nathyn. The vampire landed next to his friend, catching his irritated attention.

“Where have you been?” Nathyn asked.

“Where have YOU been?” Neshae replied.

“Looking for you. Willie's already passed out and you've--”

Before he could finish Neshae shoved his spoils under the harthen's nose. “Been finding our next adventure!”

Nathyn took the map and opened it. “Where did you get this?”

“It was the toy that came with my kiddie meal.”

Nathyn raised an eyebrow at the answer but didn't question it further. He didn't really want to know about Neshae's hunting details. He was assured that the vampire never actually killed any of his victims, but Nathyn had seen Neshae fight and knew that he could be ruthless when angry.

“This does look promising. Willie can look over it when he wakes up. Right now it's my job to make sure you get back to the ship in one piece.” Nathyn put a hand on Neshae's shoulder and guided him in the direction he wanted him to go.

Neshae giggled. “Still can't get used to that.”

“Used to what?”

“Getting back in one piece.” Neshae giggled again. “Used to be six pieces.”

“Whatever.” Nathyn shrugged it off. He didn't know how much he believed the other's tale about having been limbless before being transformed into a harthen. In fact, with Neshae's insanity, Nathyn took everything he said with a grain of salt.

Description
TrollingQuest

Chapter 1

The full moon illuminated the night sky and their glow was reflected off the waves that crashed against the shore, boats, anything they could reach on the small island of Laone. A stronger light still was what shone through the windows of the tavern by the docks, occasionally blocked as a customer or waitress crossed the room. It was a busy night and the staff had their hands full.

A blue-skinned harthen sat in one corner, the quietest table he could find in the establishment. He sipped on a glass of juice, doing his best to keep an eye on each of his shipmates, both of which were drinking heavily.

In another corner, circled by a curious crowd, was another harthen. William Walloo, previously known as the infamous pirate Willie Wally the Wonder, was in a drinking contest with a pirate from another crew. Shot glasses took up most of the space on the table, most of them empty. The smell of rum was thick in the air and Nathyn was pretty sure the two were sweating alcohol by now.

“There is...” the other pirate started. He took a second to recollect his thoughts. “...no...way in HELL...a little...lightweight...kitten like yourself...can beat me...” He finished by downing his next shot.

Willie's already flushed face reddened further at the comment. He could never tolerate being called a cat. “Too bad...for you, HARTHEN can...out drink any...pathetic human dunk...any day of the week!” He proceeded to not only down his next shot, but three others before his opponent could respond.

Most of the staff had already learned how much the harthen captain could put away, particularly in a drinking contest. They began clearing away some of the empty glasses and replacing them with full ones. Willie was far from finished.

The human pirate stared at the full glasses in front of him. Willie had raised the bar by drinking four shots is one go. Now he had to match it or admit defeat. His hand was unsteady as he took the first and downed it. A few of his crew mates offered words of encouragement.

Willie sat back, his tail twitching with confidence. He would tell this human had already had too much. If he finished this round, he'd be impressed. But the next round would be the last at most.

His opponent took the second glass. He downed it. Then suddenly his eyes widened and he dove for the bucket a waitress had had the foresight to supply. There was a chorus of cheers and boos alike and Willie jumped out of his seat, downing all the remaining shots and throwing his arms up in victory before falling over onto the table.

This was his cue. Nathyn got up from his seat and pushed his was through the crowd to his unconscious companion. With Willie over his shoulder he glanced around for Neshae. He had lost track of the vampire. After a quick scan Nathyn decided to get Willie to the ship and if Neshae wasn't already there he'd come back and look for him.

He was more than happy to leave the tavern. The salty air was as welcome as the cool breeze of the calm night. Nathyn had never been one for crowds, but someone had to keep an eye on the guys while they were drinking and make sure they made it back to the ship safely. Particularly Neshae. He always seemed to find trouble.

Nathyn's tail twitched as he boarded Phoenix. Her ropes immediately lowered to retrieve her fallen captain and ease the weight from Nathyn's shoulder.

“You have returned with the Master,” Willie's robot, EARL, announced as he emerged from the cabin door. “But I only count two of you. Are my optical receptors malfunctioning or--”

“Neshae's still back there somewhere,” Nathyn cut off. “I gotta go back for him.”

“Affirmative.” EARL received Willie from Phoenix's ropes and disappared into the cabin. After stretching his arms a bit, Nathyn retraced his steps back toward Laone Tavern.

Neshae crept through the darkness, stalking a victim. A human girl was walking alone at night. How could he not take advantage of the opportunity? He was hungry and the drinks weren't cutting it.

Unfortunately, the alcohol had interfered with his stealth skills. The girl was well aware that someone was following her by now. Every now and then she would send a glance over her shoulder or call out asking if someone was there.

She looked around one last time before disappearing down an ally. Neshae, in his vampire camouflage, strolled on in after her. He was taken by surprise when something hit the side of his head, sending him falling against a wall.

Someone attempted to bind his hands behind his back, but he easily shook them off. He got to his feet, surrounded by several humans, two males and three females including the one who had lured him into this trap. Neshae drew his Fire Blade, illuminating their faces and taking them by surprise.

“Luke! Your crossbow!” One of the women shouted, causing oe of the men to fumble with with his weapon. Neshae went into camouflage, disappearing to the humans, then reappeared behind Luke, his blade at his neck, just far enough away that it wasn't actually burning him.

“There's no need for that,” the vampire told his hostage.

“Don't hurt him!” the first woman cried out.

“Why not?” Neshae asked. “Five against one seems kind of one sided. And I'm pretty hungry. Why not even the odds just a little?”

Luke's heart rate picked up. Neshae could barely hold in his laughter. These humans were trying to be vampire hunters, but were low level at best. He had been fighting off more experienced hunters back in his teens.

“If you harm him I will simply make your death more painful,” another woman threatened. She raised a crossbow of her own. “Release him. Don't think I won't kill him to kill you.”

This one just might mean business. Neshae considered his options. On one hand, he could get away very easily empty handed. On the other hand, he was still hungry and did not want to admit defeat against rookies like these. Keeping his grip on his hostage he withdrew the Fire Blade. Instead of putting it away though, he used it to make a flash of light. While the others were stunned he summoned his wings and took off in flight. His prey kicked and screamed and was answered by cries of his friends below.

“If you don't kill me, I'll make it worth your while!” the human sputtered.

“Heh, yeah?”

“Yeah! I have a treasure map in my pocket! If you spare me you can have it!”

Neshae landed on a roof. The cries of the humans were close behind. He wouldn't have much time. Despite the cries of protest, he big into the human's neck and drank his fill. After a moment he released his captive and searched his pockets for the promised treasure map, then took off into the night. The human would wake up before long and reunite with his friends and they would probably brag about their encounter later. And Neshae got a meal and a map out of it.

On the ground close to the tavern Neshae spotted Nathyn. The vampire landed next to his friend, catching his irritated attention.

“Where have you been?” Nathyn asked.

“Where have YOU been?” Neshae replied.

“Looking for you. Willie's already passed out and you've--”

Before he could finish Neshae shoved his spoils under the harthen's nose. “Been finding our next adventure!”

Nathyn took the map and opened it. “Where did you get this?”

“It was the toy that came with my kiddie meal.”

Nathyn raised an eyebrow at the answer but didn't question it further. He didn't really want to know about Neshae's hunting details. He was assured that the vampire never actually killed any of his victims, but Nathyn had seen Neshae fight and knew that he could be ruthless when angry.

“This does look promising. Willie can look over it when he wakes up. Right now it's my job to make sure you get back to the ship in one piece.” Nathyn put a hand on Neshae's shoulder and guided him in the direction he wanted him to go.

Neshae giggled. “Still can't get used to that.”

“Used to what?”

“Getting back in one piece.” Neshae giggled again. “Used to be six pieces.”

“Whatever.” Nathyn shrugged it off. He didn't know how much he believed the other's tale about having been limbless before being transformed into a harthen. In fact, with Neshae's insanity, Nathyn took everything he said with a grain of salt.