[Rollo here. Continuing the tale of Fenrir's attack "The Uncultured Strumpet" as told to me by a salty sea dog of my acquaintance.]
DAY 347 (20th Alturiak)(February) cont ...
''
Well, when next my boy Cooper fired his ballista - it hit! The demon howled in pain, a blood curdling shriek fit to wake the dead. But yet, it lived! It turned its devil magic on Cooper and his mate.
As the ballista was destroyed by the green fire, Cooped jumped over the side into the sea. The lad can swim like an otter.
He says that he swam some ways out and watched the rest of the battle from out in the darkness. It went silent after everyone on deck had been slaughtered. The demon then landed on the ship and went inside.
Cooper says he heard the occasional scream as the monster went from room to room, killing any that he found.
Still, Cooper says he saw a boat being rowed away later, by the merchant captain, who by all accounts took his daughters to safety back in Westgate, so perhaps the demon was not all bad?
Cooper also told me that the "Strumpet" was fit to burst with treasure, Cap'n Knackers had a chest full of gold coins and it now must surely be in the possession of the demon.
... and one last thing my lord. They do say that the new leader of the Flying Bastards (that's the Day Air Watch in case you don't know my lord) flies on bat like winds and kills his enemies with blasts of green fire. There are some that say it was none other than he that slaughtered the crew of the Strumpet. Whisper it though, my lord, they say that one time he slaughtered everyone in a restaurant because the waiter brought him a plate of cold soup! So who knows what else he is capable of?
A cove not to be trifled with...
''
[Rollo here. And now returning to the story as narrated by me.]
Well, from what I gather, initially Random, back on Spectre Island was a little bit worried about Fenrir killing everyone on the "Strumpet".
'You were in disguise right? But what was the point really? It was dark, you were flying about on your bat wings shooting off blasts of green magic. So basically anyone that has ever looked up in the sky of Westgate will know it was you. We have no idea who you have just pissed off. That was what you were meant to find out! It could have been one of the Pirate Kings for all we know, lets just pray it was an independent operator.'
Random sighed. 'Well, anyway, we can sell the ship and make some coin at least. Take this message to Captain Gabro on "The Juicy Melon" in Westgate Docks. He'll arrange its disposal.
DAY 348 (21st Alturiak)(February)
Fenrir did a days work in the Air Watch today.
After work he arranged the sale of the "Strumpet" and reported back to Random.
Random also told him, 'I've laid a trap for Fayder. Let's hope it works.'
That evening Fenrir also went to see Morne Mardo, the banker that Cavu had arranged for him. He gave the name "Corum" and the password "Burnt Cakes" (as had been arranged in the letter from ages ago), but was told;
'Ah yes. You are not the first to give that name and password. A young man was here a week or so ago and emptied the account.'
'Oh really?' said Fenrir. 'How much was in it?'
'A fair sum, right enough. 250,000 gold.'
Fenrir's mouth hung open!
In a full rage he immediately flew back to the island fully (and rightly) suspecting that the quarter million was now in Random's possession. Random was not there though
(he was arrange the sale of the "Strumpet") and so Fenrir left a message with Veddic and flew back home.
He spent the rest of the night sulking in his library wondering why he had never got round to going to the bank and emptying it before Random had got his thieving mitts on all the lovely gold!
DAY 349 (22nd Alturiak)(February)
At about four in the morning Fenrir was woken by one of the servant girls screaming down in the hallway.
One of the other servants lay dead and on the wall, in blood, was written:
''
Your head will collapse
But there's nothing in it
And you'll ask yourself
Where is my mind?
''
'Go wake the house,' ordered Fenrir and the girl scuttled off into the servant quarters.
He then stood and waited. Then waited a bit longer...
Then waited a bit longer...
Then sighed and went into the servant quarters. In each of their rooms he found a dead body. Jasper Pen, the old man, his wife and son, and the others that Pen had hired. Even the girl he had just sent to wake the house now lay dead in her room.
He also found an open window, looking out over the back garden area.
Fenrir locked up the house, flew to Spectre Island and explained the situation to Random.
'What?' gasped Random. 'What about your guards? What happened to all of them?'
'Guards?'
'You didn't hire any guards?'
'Never mind giving me another telling off, what the hell do I do?'
'Well, either hide the bodies or report it to the Watch. Or you could resurrect them all I suppose.'
'I'll get Veddic to rez them all then.'
'Good,' replied Random. 'You may also want to go to Fayder's address. Rizolde was meant to spring the trap there, but it may have gone wrong.'
Fenrir woke up Veddic and told him to start preparing for the resurrections.
'It will be a costly business, Fenrir young chap,' said Veddic. 'Seven resurrections will not be cheap, that's a lot of crushed diamond.'
'Just four,' said Fenrir grimly. 'I've other plans for the old couple and their son.'
Fenrir then flew back to his house, stuffed the bodies of his three horrible servants in his Bag of Holding and flew out to sea. He then took grim satisfaction from tossing them down into the dark waves one by one. For the record their names were Frek Dordo, his wife Greda and their son Bulward.
He then got a couple of hours sleep before reporting for work.
In the morning Veddic resurrected Jasper Penn and the serving girl (whose name was Kit Lodestone). He then approached the Mercenaries' Guild and hired an assortment of swordsmen, a couple of rogues and a low-ish level wizard.
In the evening Fenrir swung past the address that Random had given him. In the seedy back-alley flat where Fayder had been hiding he found the dead body of Rizolde, spread eagle on the bare floorboards with her pact blade buried deep in her chest.
He shoved the corpse, blade and all, into his Bag of Holding, its primary purpose apparently now that of a hearse.
DAY 350 (23rd Alturiak)(February)
Fenrir was called into the chambers of Trepplemar the Magnificent when he went to work this morning.
She had got wind of 'some sort of new operation going on in the 100 islands'.
Fenrir admitted that he knew about the island already and told her they were just 'refugees'. He told her enough of the truth to keep her happy and lied about the rest.
'Well as long as its not more bloody pirates. Remember, young man, it is part of the Day Air Watches remit to keep an eye out for long range threats to the city. Whatever is going on with this island of yours is worth watching.'
Fenrir agreed and the conversation moved on. He gently moved her on to the subject of her own retirement. On the subject of Fenrir being her possible replacement she said;
'It's not about power, I can see you are powerful. It's about responsibility. You are obviously a loose cannon. Chaos surrounds you. You need to be more attentive in order to run an organisation of magic users. It's not easy. I could see it exploding in your face.'
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