Waves Breaking, Chapter Nine
An Overland Expedition
The Deathwish surged through the water. Scar Isle was close, Harrow thought to himself, going over the new map they’d found from the ruin.1
“Land ho!” the scout, Caadigan, called out, bringing smiles to the crew below.
With his spyglass, Harrow surveyed the isle.
It was a large island, with towering volcanos in the distance that could be made out as the Deathwish approached. Ash and smoke poured into the sky from one. Forested woodlands and scrubs covered most of the area, looking withered and blighted.
On the coastline, Harrow saw giant columns of volcanic rock. It would make the approach dangerous.
He also spotted coastal boats dragged up onto a beach beyond the rocks, as well as the gleam of a spyglass from further in. There were people living on the island, and they knew a ship was approaching.
Harrow observed the Deathwish’s approach, maneuvering the ship between the columns of volcanic rock as best he could, with Kaito’s help.2 They were successful but Harrow felt a dour mood take him. The coastal boats were there, but no sign of those who’d left them behind.
“Grab the chest,” Harrow called out. “We’re taking it inland, no time to waste.” He wished to be rid of the cursed gold and the ghosts’ haunted whispers, be they real or imagined.
Harrow took Kaito, Jihun, Esana, and Bruna ashore, with a couple more crew members carrying the chest. Harrow took the lead, heading into the forest, keeping an eye out for signs of the people who left those boats on the coast.3
It was slow going, cutting through thick vegetation, humid and hot, the air smelling acrid.
Harrow led them on, urging them to move faster.4
In a stand of trees, Harrow noticed a game trail leading further inland. “This way,” he called, following it.5
“Agggh!” a voice called out from behind Harrow.
Harrow turned to see the ground beneath Kaito had sunk beneath him, dropping him into a pit. He heard hissing.
Something was in the pit.
“Bruna, toss me the rope!” Harrow called.
She tossed him the loops of rope she’d been carrying over her shoulder.
He caught it and tossed the length down, holding onto one end. “Grab on, Kaito, now!”
The hissing grew louder.
“I’m on!” Kaito called out.
Harrow began hoisting him up, other crew members jumping in to help.6
Kaito emerged from the pit, pulled back up onto solid ground. Behind him at the bottom of the pit, dozens of snakes continued hissing.
Harrow dropped the rope and wiped his hands. They were bloodied from his tight grip on the rope. He patted Kaito on the back.
“Thank you, cap,” Kaito said, taking deep breaths.
Harrow patted Kaito on the shoulder. “I have your back, always.”7
He looked at the others and waved the way forward. “Onward. I don’t want to stay on this blasted island any longer than we have to, do any of you?”
The crew shook their heads and followed.8
The trail dipped downhill as they plunged further inland, the crew coming into a swamp, boggy and wet.
A dozen figures emerged from behind trees, bows raised, arrows nocked, a few carrying rifles and pistols, pointed at the Deathwish’s crew but they did not fire immediately.
Harrow raised his hands. “Hold! Hold! We do not come to do you harm!”
The people were dressed in hide clothes, with many tattoos, daggers sheathed at their side, their bodies wiry and muscular. One stepped forward, a broad-shouldered woman with long hair in a ponytail, tattooed face and a pistol.
“You are not like the empire who tried to colonize us, nor like the pirates who stole from the island. Who are you?” The woman asked, eyeing the chest.
Harrow decided there was no reason to lie. “We came upon a shipwreck far from here and found this chest. We also found…ghosts.”
“Ghosts?” The woman asked.
“Yes, ghosts, spirits, of the pirates who took the chest. They were going to kill us until I vowed to bring the chest back. Ending the curse and letting their spirits die. That is why we are here. It is the only reason. If you let us go on our way, we will cause no trouble.”9
“Why?” She asked. “Why not take the gold for yourself? Why go through all this trouble?”
Harrow shrugged. “It’s the right thing to do. What is wealth worth if you are cursed? It’s not worth it.”
“Very well, what can you offer us, to allow you to travel through our land unhindered?”
“We have a load of Metals on our ship. Perhaps that could be of use to you.”
The woman holstered her pistol and the rest of her people followed suit, lowering their weapons. “You offer a gift, we shall honor that with hospitality. We will escort you back to your ship to retrieve these metals, bring them to our settlement. After that, you will be free to bring the chest to the cave.”
Harrow lowered his hands and nodded, smiling. “We are honored. My name is…” He hesitated. “Graves. Captain of the Deathwish. And yours?” He asked the woman.
She returned the smile. “I am Queen Miranda Capstone, leader of the Verian Fellowship.”
The trip back to the ship was not long with the Verians leading the way, knowing the trails and way much better than the Deathwish’s crew.
They inspected and retrieved the crates of Metals, which were placed on the coastal boats and taken around the isle by a few Verians.
Miranda allowed the rest of Harrow’s crew, save for a small group to watch the boat, follow, as long as they brought no weapons.
Harrow agreed.
A few hours later, they came upon the Verian’s settlement. It the size of a large town, located by a major inland waterway, the coastal boats carrying the crates already here, docked and unloaded.
It was built with organic forms and materials, using the trees of the forest, seeming at one with the landscape.
It was wondrous, though Harrow noticed a portion to the north had been recently destroyed by fire. There were lofty bridges suspended from huge trees that crossed the river, connecting the two sections of the town on either side of the large waterway.
“You can see we recently had an incident, after the latest volcanic eruption,” Miranda pointed to the scorched section. “Luckily, nobody was hurt. Come.” She brought them into the settlement.
Some Verians were curious while others glared. It was likely they’d had little positive interaction with outsiders.
“Here you can rest, we can talk and perhaps help each other. When you are ready, we can direct you towards the cave where you will leave the chest.”
“You won’t have a guide bring us?”
Mirande shook her head. “We do not like to go there. It is a cursed place.”
Harrow nodded. “I understand. Thank you for your hospitality. I believe we understand each other and will get along well.”10
“Perhaps,” Miranda replied. “I do not trust you just yet, but you did bring the chest and offered a gift. What is it you need that we may provide?”
“Supplies, mostly, and some rest.”11
Miranda nodded as they continued to walk through the settlement. “We have stores of food we may provide you. I will send them with some of your crew in the morning. You may all stay here for the night.”
“Thank you, Queen Capstone,” Harrow said and bowed.
In the morning, Harrow gathered his crew. Most he sent with crates of food in coastal boats with Verians to head back to the ship.
With those of the initial expedition, they said their goodbyes to the Verians who had grown more comfortable and friendlier, as they ate dinner and talked the night before, and headed in the direction given for the cave.12
Harrow had them move cautiously, keeping an eye out. There could be other reasons the Verians kept away from the cave. Dangerous ones.
Moving through forests, Esana got Harrow’s attention and pointed to the side. A large animal-figure was moving through the underbrush nearby, keeping pace with the group.
Suddenly it stopped, turned and looked straight at Harrow. As best Harrow could tell, it was the size of a person, with a reptilian but strangely symmetrical body. It walked on all fours, but all four limbs came out diagonally from the center. It’s skin looked metallic, reflecting the sunlight filtered through the leaves of the trees. It opened its mouth to reveal sharp teeth.
Harrow noticed it’s metallic skin quickly changing color to reflect the forest around it, hiding it, before it charged the group, clearly intent on violence.
“Draw your weapons!” Harrow called out, drawing his rapier and dirk.
“What the hell is it?” Bruna yelled.
The creature leaped at Harrow, mouth open, teeth gnashing.
This was a fun chapter to play/write. Lots of exciting oracle results. First overland expedition! I think I enjoy overland expeditions over oceanic ones. It becomes difficult to describe a ship sailing over water again and again where as with land, you just have so many different details, settings and things. Perhaps that’s simply an issue with my experience/imagination though. I’m sure many would say there’s so many ways to describe/write about the ocean.
Thank you for reading and let me know what you thought in the comments.
Thanks to Andrew Wylde, BuddhaRandom, and Eric for being paid subscribers.
See you next time!
My playing and writing will always be available for free, but if you enjoy what I write and would be willing, please consider upgrading to a paid subscription which allows you to vote on the tools/games I play. If that’s too much commitment, you can also just buy me a coffee.
If you’d like to support my newsletter in other ways, please subscribe, share and comment.
Check out the Table of Contents for previous games I’ve played as well as other stuff I’ve written.
Finish an Expedition (Scar Isle): 7 vs 2,10 → Weak Hit. Complication.
Face Danger + Wits + Bond: 8 vs 10,1 → Weak Hit. Suffer(-1). -1 Spirit (4).
Undertake an Expedition: “Find the cave where the cursed treasure belongs”, “Dangerous”. + wits: 3 vs 4,3 → Miss. PtP → Delayed or put at disadvantage. -1 Momentum (-1).
UaE + Edge: 4 vs 1,3 → Strong Hit. Mark Progress (2/10). Reach waypoint.
UaE + Edge: 4 vs 4,9 → Miss. PtP → A friend, companion or ally is in harm’s way.
Face Danger + Iron: 5 vs 3,5 → Weak Hit. Suffer(-1). -1 Health (4). +1 momentum (0).
Mark Progress on Vow “Protect Kaito”: 6/10
UaE + Edge: 4 vs 10,1 → Weak Hit. Mark Progress (4/10) but face complication. Trap is set or Alarm is raised.
Compel + Heart: 5 vs 1,9 → Weak Hit. They agree but comes with complication or demand.
Make a Connection + Heart: 6 vs 6,3 → Weak Hit. Role: Leader. Rank: Troublesome.
Sojourn + Heart + Connection: 8 vs 7,2 → Strong Hit. This is a safe refuge. Choose 2 recover moves and assume automatic strong hit. Resupply → +2 supply (3). Heal → +1 health (5).
+1 Progress. (5/10). UaE + Wits: 6 vs 7,2 → Weak Hit. Mark Progress (7/10). Reach waypoint but face Peril or Suffer(-2).
Realize I need to have a Harrow/crew convo about the Kraken...Whoops. Will definitely be coming next chapter.
Great entry. Looking forward to the next one.