Waves Breaking, Chapter Ten
Surviving Scar Isle
The man-sized lizard charged forward, gnashing its teeth.
Harrow drew his blades and met the beast.1 He dodged its lunge and came at it with his rapier.2 His blade bit into the creature’s shoulder.
It hissed and spun around, slamming it’s tail into him and knocking him to the ground. It scrambled on top of him.
Harrow growled and stabbed up with his dirk.3
The creature screeched and bit down on Harrow’s arm.
He grunted in pain and managed to push the creature off before rolling and standing up.
The others in the crew had readied their weapons and surrounded the creature. It seemed scared, hissing at everyone around it.
Harrow stood, raising his arms and trying to look as big as he could. He roared and bellowed as loud as he could, trying to frighten it.4
In reaction, the lizard turned and moved at Harrow faster than the crew could react, taking a bite out of Harrow’s leg in a bloody flash.
The crew came to their captain’s rescue, charging in, swinging and stabbing.5
The lizard skittered back into the forest but it hadn’t ran away.
They could hear it moving in the bushes.
Harrow limped around. “Where the hell did you go?”
Then it emerged, but it was no longer alone. Another had joined it. They both hissed.
Harrow held up his blade. “We will not be killed on this godforsaken island by a couple of beasts! Hear me now! Attack!” He roared, moving towards the lizards.
The crew with him, seeing their clearly wounded captain charging forward, followed him with a battle cry.6
A thunderous boom shook the earth, in the distance loomed one of the volcanos, spitting fire and smoke.
The lizards scattered into the forest.
“That’s awfully close, cap,” Kaito said, staring.
“We need to get that chest to the cave, now!” Harrow called, ripping up his clothes and wrapping them around his wounds. “We don’t have time. Move!”7
They made decent time, the crew hurrying along as the smell of smoke increased, the sight of the erupting volcano ever-present.
They passed a skeleton half-buried in the dirt without a second glance.
“We’re almost there,” Harrow said, according to what Miranda had told them.8
Another mile and they came upon it. The earth became barren of grass and trees, leave an area of hard-packed dirt around a skull-shaped edifice, the entrance to the cave. Above loomed the active volcano, burning lava crawling down its face.
“No wonder they call this place cursed,” Jihun spat.
“I don’t believe in curses,” Bruna crossed her arms.
Esana looked at her. “We’re here because cursed treasure turned pirates into ghosts!”
Bruna didn’t back down. “O’ course I believe in cursed treasure,” she shook her head. “I just don’t believe in ‘cursed land’. That’s just silly.”
“Come on,” Harrow said. “We’re almost there. I don’t want to linger here any longer than we have to.” He winced as he led the crew on.
“Let me take a look at those, Harrow,” Kaito said behind him. “You’re no good to use dead.”
“There’s no time,” Harrow said, leading the way into the cave.9
With torches they moved through the narrow tunnels.
Harrow wiped sweat from his eyes, the heat getting worse the farther they went.
They moved through a cavern, at the end of which a river of magma flowed. “Keep going,” Harrow said. “We’re almost there.”10
Harrow felt they were making good progress when the earth shook from an enormous tremor. The intensity of it forced the group to stop as some were tossed to the grown or into the wall.
Harrow struggled forwards, feeling weaker and weaker.11 He kept pushing forwards, holding cloth against his mouth as he held a torch aloft moving through clouds of ash and dust.
“Captain, we should stop a moment!” Kaito called from behind.
“We can’t,” Harrow snarled back. “We stop and we die.”12
Harrow stumbled past the last of the ash clouds into a large cavern, the light from the torch unable to reach the walls. At the center stood a stone tomb, ancient marks long since faded. A pile of coins, jewels, and other glittering artifacts lay around the tomb, with a sizable gap.
“So much treasure…” Jihun muttered.
“The chest,” Harrow said, coughing and leaning against the wall. “Put it back there, against the tomb. And dare not take a single thing from here.”
The sounds made by the crew drifted into the depths of the cavern and did not return. How large could this place be?
There was a chill in the air, despite the heat of the tunnels they’d gone through and the magma in the rocks that must be close.
Even Bruna looked uncomfortable.
The chest was placed back in its spot, looking as if it belonged there.
“Is that it, is the curse ended?” Jihun asked.
Harrow didn’t know. “Come, let us leave this place,” Harrow said.
They hurried back through the caves.13
Emerging from the skull entrance, they hurried back into the forest. “We’ll head back to the settlement for safety,” Harrow said. “And then to the ship.”14
Harrow and his crew staggered into the Verian settlement, looking ragged and weary. Ash and rock had rained down upon them as they trekked back through the woods.
The Verian’s welcomed them back, offering rest and safety.
“Are you not worried about the eruption?” Harrow asked Miranda.
Miranda chuckled and shook her head. “We have lived with the fiery spirits of Scar Isle for centuries. We are far enough away that, should we need to leave, we will know long in advance.”15 “Unfortunately, due to the eruption, we cannot provide as much as you may need, but we will do what we can. Our healers will see to your wounds.”
“Whatever you provide, we will be thankful for,” Harrow said.
Harrow watched Scar Isle disappear on the horizon behind the Deathwish, before heading down to his cabin. He’d given orders that the ship be set on a course for their original destination, Hollow Verge. He needed a moment alone.
In his cabin, he closed the door and sat at the table. He winced, his shoulder and leg wounds still fresh and painful. He closed his eyes and listened. Were those ghostly whispers still present?
“We did what you asked,” he said.16 He heard nothing in response and let out a sigh.
“Captain,” Kaito said, knocking on the door.
“Come in, Kaito,” Harrow said.
Kaito entered. “How are you feeling?”
“I’m fine, how is the crew?”
Kaito shrugged. “They are impressed.”
Harrow looked up. “Really?”
Kaito walked over and sat across from Harrow. “They whisper that you summoned a kraken to save them. Those who went with you on Scar Isle tell tales of you throwing yourself at the dangerous lizards despite your wounds.” He smiled. “You may not have found us treasure and glory, but you’ve rid us of a curse and kept us alive through struggle. They will continue to follow you.”
Harrow looked away. “That’s not really what happened.”
Kaito stood. “That’s how they see it. They are a bit afraid of you, unsure of exactly who or what you are, but they will follow you.”
Harrow nodded, standing up. “And you, Kaito. Have I fulfilled my vow to you?”17
Kaito closed his eyes and didn’t answer.
“What is it?” Harrow asked, moving closer. “Tell me.”
Kaito pulled up his pant leg, showing a scaly patch of skin, almost stone-colored.
Harrow’s eyes narrowed. “What is it?”
“It is called Scaleskin,” Kaito said with a sigh, letting his pant leg fall and cover it. “I must have caught it when I fell in that pit. It is a skin disease of the isles that spreads through a body quickly, though not contagious.” He let out a sigh. “It has no cure. It will take me with a month, if not sooner.”
Harrow sat, grabbing for a bottle of amber liquid and pouring a couple glasses. “I’m sorry,” he said.
“It is not your fault,” Kaito said, taking a drink. “Do not tell the crew, if you please. Some can be…suspicious of such things.”
“Of course,” Harrow said and shook his head after draining his glass. “We will not give up, Kaito. We will search for a cure. I promise.”18
Kaito finished his drink and clasped Harrow’s hand. “You have my thanks, captain.”
Harrow’s grip tightened, looking into Kaito’s eyes. “You stuck your neck out for me when I had not a soul or a cent to my name. We are brothers, bound by the sea, you and I.”
I just can’t finish this vow! Sometimes that happens in these games, but it can lead to interesting plot development that you didn’t expect! And once the vow does finally complete, I’m going to get a good chunk of XP, so I’m looking forward to that.
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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 → “Fend off the Lizard creature”, “Troublesome”. Roll + Iron: 6 vs 5,4 → Strong Hit. +2 Momentum (2). In Control.
Strike + Iron + Cutthroat: 6 vs 7,4 → Weak Hit. Mark Progress Twice (6/10) but expose yourself to danger. You are in a Bad Spot.
Clash + Iron: 4 vs 3,9 → Weak Hit. Mark Progress (9/10) but dealt counterblow. Pay the Price. Endure Harm(-2). Resist + Iron: 6 vs 3,3 → Strong Hit + Match. Embrace the Pain, +1 Momentum (3).
React Under Fire + Wits: 6 vs 6,2 → Weak Hit. Endure Harm(-1). Resist + Iron: 7 vs 8,10 → Miss. -1 Health. (0). Must mark Wounded or Permanently Harmed or roll on table. Roll: 83 → Still standing.
Take Decisive Action: 9 vs 9,9 → Miss + Match. You are defeated or your objective is lost. Pay the Price. Roll on Pay the Price → A new enemy is revealed.
Battle + Heart: 6 vs 7,6 → Miss. Defeated or objective is lost. Pay the price. PtP: The environment or terrain introduces a new hazard.
Undertake an Expedition + Edge: 8 vs 10,5 → Mark Progress (9/10) but suffer(-2) or face peril. Waypoint: Overland detail. Clock “Escape the area before the eruption” 1/4.
Finish an Expedition: 9 vs 7,5 → Strong Hit.
Undertake an Expedition → “Explore the cursed cave” “Troublesome”. Roll + Edge: 7 vs 4,8 → Weak Hit. Mark Progress (3/10) but suffer or face peril. Lurking Threat: “Restless Magma” 1/4.
UaE + Edge: 4 vs 1,2 → Strong Hit. Mark Progress (6/10).
UaE + Edge: 8 vs 1,2 → Strong Hit. Mark Progress (9/10).
Finish an Expedition: 9 vs 1,8 → Strong Hit. Reach the Heart.
Set a Course + Supply: 10 vs 6,8 → Strong Hit. Reach destination and the situation favors you. +1 momentum. (4)
Set a Course + Supply: 7 vs 3,8 → Weak Hit. Face Cost(-2) or Complication. -1 Spirit + -1 Supply.
Sojourn + Heart + Connection: 7 vs 9,6 → Weak Hit. Take automatic strong hit on one recover move. Heal: +3 Health (3).
Fulfill Your Vow: 10 vs 8,5 → Strong Hit. The Vow is Fulfilled.
Fulfill Your Vow: 8 vs 10,9 → Miss. Your vow is undone. Forsake Your Vow or recommit.
Recommit. 8,1 → -1 Progress box. Vow → Formidable.
The dice do not like Kaito. Or they love him and want him to remain central to the story haha. Good to see a chain of strong hits there!
This one got tense. I've always enjoyed SF's scene challenge and threat clocks, really adds a lot of stress to the narrative.