Waves Breaking, Chapter Three
Taking Command
Harrow faced Bill ‘Timbers’ on the deck of the ship, surrounded by sailors gripping weapons, itching to fight.
“Come on then,” Bill said. “What are you waiting for?”
Harrow rushed forward, spinning and slashing.1 He forced Bill back, again and again, putting him on his back feet, unable to respond.
Harrow kept the pressure on, pressing for an opening.2 He found it, snapping Bill’s longer blade away, slashing with his dirk across Bill’s arm.
Bill growled, scrambling away.
“Do you yield?” Harrow asked, listening to his heart thump, his muscles feeling tense, ready to spring again, ready to attack. He hoped Bill didn’t yield.
“Of course not!” Bill charged, thumping across the wooden deck, blades raised.
Harrow met him, blade to blade.3 Harrow lived for this. He was trained for this. He knew the moves, he predicted what Bill would do, and slashed him across the side as he moved past, spilling blood onto the deck.
Bill staggered back.
Harrow did not ask if he would yield. It was too late. Harrow pursued, moving in.4 He batted Bill’s sword aside and thrust the dirk into his shoulder.
Bill swung with rage as Harrow danced back out of range.
Harrow saw Bill look frantic, gesturing to someone out of sight. Harrow heard the click of a revolver behind him. He dove, hearing a gunshot.5
The bullet whizzed past his ear and hit the deck.
With the gunshot, whatever held back the sailor’s aggression disappeared and they went at each other.
Harrow got to his feet and charged at Bill, knowing he needed to end this quickly.6
Bill tried to fend him off but took a stab to his leg and stumbled back.
Two of his supporters stepped in, and Harrow found himself fending off three opponents at once. He danced, thrust, spun and kicked to keep them at bay.7 He kicked one in the stomach, smashed the other’s face with the hilt of his rapier and knocked Bill’s blades out of his hands. He pointed both blades at Bill’s face. “It’s over! Surrender!”8
Bill fell to his knees. “Alright, alright! I surrender.” He was covered in blood from his wounds.
Harrow whistled. “Stop fighting! Stop! It’s over!”
It took a moment or two before the crew members pulled off from each other, a few lay dead or injured.
Bill gasped for breath, looking up at Harrow. “Now what, no name? You going to kill me?”
“Now,” Harrow said, lowering his blades. “You walk.” He addressed the crew. “I don’t care who was fighting who, you’re all part of the same crew now. See to the wounded.” Harrow turned back to Bill. “And get me a plank.”
Bill stood on the plank stretched out over water, his breathing labored and getting worse. Blood soaked his clothes. He turned back.
Harrow stood on the other end, rapier in hand.
“Ya might as well kill me,” Bill said.
“The seas will decide your fate, not me,” Harrow said. “Now walk.”
It was silent on the ship, the whole crew watching, waiting.
Bill turned towards the ocean and took one last step to the edge, looking down at the water below. After a moment he stepped off, plunging into the depths.
Harrow sheathed his rapier and turned to the crew. “Kaito, you’re First Mate. Everyone, move everything of importance to the other ship. We’re going to scuttle this one, leaving everything connected to the Supremacy behind. I want to leave as soon as possible.”
“Aye captain,” Kaito replied. He spoke to a few members as Harrow gave orders to the rest of the crew to get underway.
As the crew got to work, Kaito walked with Harrow to the helm. “The Harbingers will be after us due to the attack,” Kaito murmured.
“I know,” Harrow replied.
“And the Shrouded Supremacy will be after us for defecting and the murder of Captain Hammond.”
“I know.” Harrow took his place at the helm. He placed his hand on the wheel.
It felt familiar.9
Harrow went through the Captain’s quarters, with Kaito helping. He went through the loot taken from the Harbinger’s ship. He found a few bags of gold, as well as a stash of rare fossils and rare spices. “Distribute the gold evenly among the crew,” Harrow said.
“You sure, Cap? Might need it for repairs or supplies…” Kaito said.
“I’m sure.”
“Noted.”
They went through Hammond’s things, cleaning out clothes and useless trinkets but keeping a map and journal.
Before Kaito left, Harrow stopped him. “I’d say I completed my Vow to you, wouldn’t you?”10
Kaito looked down. “Unfortunately not, Captain.” He shook his head. “I have to admit I wasn’t truthful to you before. The truth of the danger facing me is greater than a few crew members wanting me dead.”
Harrow closed his eyes for a moment, then opened them. “Tell me.”
“A society that call themselves The Lucian Spiders, well established in the area. They once believed in a peaceful god, before they were betrayed by a treacherous leader.” Kaito sighed, looking away. “That leader was my brother and though that was many years ago, now, they still search for me. If found, they’ll kill me.”
“Very well,” Harrow said. “The Vow stands.” He held out his hand and Kaito shook it.11
“Thank you, Captain,” Kaito said, with a smile. “I appreciate it.”
“We’re bonded now, you and me,” Harrow said.
“Agreed.” Kaito looked Harrow up and down. “You still look a bit injured, why don’t you let me take a look? I had some training under a doctor.”
“Later,” Harrow said, going over Hammond’s maps and journal. “Once I’m done here.”12
Kaito checked Harrow over and stopped suddenly, looking at Harrow’s back.
“What’s this?” Kaito asked, his voice wavering. “Did you know you have a tattoo back here?”
“No,” Harrow said, noticing Kaito’s tone. “What is it? What’s wrong?”
Kaito sat in front of Harrow, shaking his head. “It’s a kraken.” He stared at the floor.
“A creature of myth, who cares?”
“The Sacred Harbingers care!” Kaito snapped, leaning forward. “It’s not just a creature of myth, sailors have seen it in these very waters. And the Sacred Harbingers call it a demon. They hunt for it and for people like you.”
“It’s just a tattoo,” Harrow said, shaking his head. “It doesn’t mean anything.” He started putting his shirt back on.
“The Harbingers will kill you if they see it. Maybe they already tried,” Kaito said. “Your shipwreck…your memory loss?”
“We don’t know that that’s connected. This is superstitious bullshit.”
“Sailors are a superstitious lot. Just don’t let anyone see it, alright? For your own sake.”
“Gather the crew. I need to speak to them before we make way.”
The crew stood on the deck of the blackened ship, all looking towards Harrow who stood at the helm.
Kaito stood beside him.
Behind them, in the distance, Hammond’s ship burned.
“Clearly, you were not happy with your previous captain. Now, I’ve taken command. If any wish to challenge me, you may do so now.” He waited a few moments.
There were some dark looks but nobody stepped forward.
“Then, for now, I’m your Captain. We no longer serve the Supremacy, we serve ourselves.”
A few in the crowd cheered.
“Captain Hammond served the Supremacy. I serve you. I make a promise to see that you are all paid due what is owed if you serve me well in return. You will all share in the spoils of what we find. We will enrich each other, not some empire a world away. I promise you that.”
More cheers.
“But first, we need a name for the ship. Any suggestions?”
A few moments of silence.
“Deathwind!” A voice from the crowd shouted out.
Harrow thought a moment and then nodded. “Very well, Deathwind it is.” Is this another ill omen? He turned to Kaito, lowering his voice. “Get us underway. Direct us to the nearest island. I believe it’s called Carnage Isle.”
“Are you sure Cap?” Kaito asked. “Some say it’s haunted…”
“There is a settlement there,” Harrow said. “and we need supplies.”
“Aye, aye, captain!” Kaito said, giving him a nod.
Harrow headed below, shaking hands and patting backs of crew members as he went.
In the captain’s office, he laid down and took some deep breaths. His heart was pounding.
What am I doing? Am I leading crew members to their death? Is that what happened before?
Carnage’s coastline consisted of sandy beaches and dunes. Inland lay craggy hills, jagged rock formations and thick forests.
The crew whispered and pointed, glimpsing ghostly forms.
“Bits of fog,” Harrow said.
As they got closer, warnings were carved into rocks near the water. ‘Cursed’, ‘Stay away’ and the like.
The whispering of the crew intensified.
“A superstitious lot, sailors,” Harrow muttered to himself, turning his spyglass to the settlement. It was an outpost, with grim, utilitarian buildings, squat square buildings built in a grid, without flair or style. Harrow noted the structure in the center that looked heavily guarded.
A flag waving above it was white with a black spider.
“The Lucian Spiders,” Kaito said. “Are you sure you want to put in there?”
“We need supplies. You’ll stay on board.”
With the Deathwind docked, Harrow ordered the crew to stay on board.
None argued, many still looking spooked.
“I do need a couple volunteers to attend me, however.” He waited a few moments, thinking he may have to order a couple to come with him, before one stepped forward.
“I’ll go,” a woman stepped forward, her name Esana. She was tall and imposing.
“Aye, and me,” a man pushed his way to the front, heavily tattooed across any bare skin you could see. His name was Jihun.
“That’ll do,” Harrow said, leaving with the two volunteers following behind. Harrow walked the gangplank to the dock, as the dock master approached, looking grim.
“Ye’d best leave,” the dock master said, shaking his head. “Ye ain’t welcome.”
“My coin’s as good as any other, ain’t it?” Harrow asked.
“We don’t want visitors.”
“An hour or two, at most,” Harrow said. “I only want to barter for supplies and then we’ll be off. The crew will stay on board. How much harm could I do? What’s wrong with a spot of business?”13
“Make it worth my while,” the dock master said, rubbing his fingers together.
“Of course,” Harrow said. “We have some exotic spices that are worth a fair amount. Jihun will see to it that you receive what you need.”
The dock master spoke to one of his men to carry the loot and then gestured for Harrow to go on. “A couple hours, then you’re gone. Before night fall.”
“Of course, that’s all I need,” Harrow said, heading into the small town.
Though the citizens were reluctant to deal with a stranger, Harrow managed to secure supplies for the ship, trading the rest of the spices.
He avoided the guarded structure and headed to the pub, asking Esana to stay outside.
Inside were a few dingy tables, a battered bar and a grimy bartender.
This was the closest settlement to where he’d woken up, amidst the remains of some ship. Maybe there was information here. He bought a round and tried to talk to the locals.14
Very few would even speak to him and he found nothing relevant to his questions, but one old man, with an eye patch, talked as long as Harrow bought him ale.
“Ya know, more Lucians are comin’ ‘ere, soon enough. Ships and ships, comin’ to search the area. That bastard traitor’s brother is rumored to be on the crew of a ship in the area. Can ya believe that? We might get the chance to finish off that traitorous bloodline once and for all. Cheers to that!” He raised his beer mug.
Harrow dropped some coin on the table. “Cheers, indeed. See you old timer.” He left in a hurry, Esana following as he headed down the street.
“What is it?” Esana asked.
“We need to leave.”
As the ship sailed away from Carnage Isle, Harrow and Kaito stood in the Captain’s quarters.
“Lucians will be scouring the area,” Kaito said, shaking his head. “We’re doomed. I’m doomed.”
Harrow pored over one of Hammond’s maps. “Shut up and help me. There’s got to be somewhere we can go.” He pointed to a vague outlined area, with a name ‘Hollow Verge’ written in and a question mark. “Here, what do you know about this?”
Kaito shrugged. “It’s far. It will be a voyage of many days and we’ve no idea what’s there.”
“At least it’s not here, where we’ve got three enemies hunting for our heads.” Harrow nodded. He rolled up the map and headed to the helm, with Kaito following.
On deck, crew members hailed each other, adjusted the sails and ensured smooth sailing, as the sun set behind them.
Harrow took the helm, feeling the solid wood under his fingers. It felt good. It felt familiar.
“Wherever the wind takes us,” he whispered.
End Chapter Three
I finally have a ship! Also, I did manage to get a chapter out this week, which impresses even me. I will say the excitement of the story unfolding really motivated me. I’m enjoying seeing where this is going and how it’s getting there.
I also really like how smooth and slick the footnote system is. I have to admit PTFO gave me the idea, as he’s been using it for awhile. Honestly, PTFO was the inspiration for this entire Substack in the first place. I can’t wait to catch up on his BITD game.
After the comment button is my ‘ask for money’ blurb, followed by the footnotes showing every Move I made and the dice results.
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Check out the Table of Contents for previous games I’ve played as well as other stuff I’ve written.
Enter the Fray + Iron: 8 vs 1,2 → Strong Hit. +2 Momentum. In Control.
Objective: Defeat Bill. Rank: Formidable. (0/10)
Strike + Iron + Cutthroat: 5 vs 2,2 → Strong Hit + Match. Mark Progress Twice (2/10). Stay in control.
Strike + Iron + Cutthroat: 8 vs 3,2 → Strong Hit. Mark Progress Twice (4/10). Stay in control.
Strike + Iron + Cutthroat: 9 vs 7,7 → Strong Hit. Mark Progress Twice (6/10). Stay in control.
Face Danger + Edge: 5 vs 3,9 → Weak Hit. Make a Suffer(-1) Move. -1 Momentum
Strike + Iron + Cutthroat: 8 vs 7,8 → Weak Hit. Mark Progress Twice (8/10). In a bad spot.
Clash + Iron: 4 vs 3,1 → Strong Hit. Mark Progress Twice (10/10). In Control.
Take Decisive Action: 10 vs 5,7 → Strong Hit. +1 Momentum.
Mark Progress on Vow: Protect Kaito (6/10). Mark Progress on Connection: Kaito (6/10)
Fulfill Your Vow: 6 vs 8,10 → Miss. Vow is undone through complication or realization. Recommit. (6,8) → -6 to Progress. (0/10) Goes from Troublesome → Dangerous.
Mark Progress on Connection: Kaito (9/10). Forge a Bond: 9 vs 7,1 → Strong Hit. New Role: Physician.
Heal + Iron + Bond: 10 vs 10,10 → Miss with a Match. Jinx becomes Impact. Story Complication: Two seemingly unrelated problems are connected.
Compel + Heart: 4 vs 10,2 → Weak Hit. Demand or Complication.
Gather Information + Wits: 3 vs 4,9 → Miss. Unearths a dire threat or reveals an unwelcome truth. Pay The Price: You encounter signs of a looming threat.
Absolutely magnificent. Looking forward to more!
Great read, the combat flowed really well, Harrow obviously had a violent past! Looking forward to reading more