Closed Pirates of the Hard Nox [archive]

[Hard Nox 2]

GOLDEN

Usually, Alys found Ciarán and Caleb's rivalry rather amusing; their snide comments and personal digs provided some much needed entertainment in between the theft and murder. In this instance, however, sandwiched between them while internally worrying about her life, Alys was less than impressed. She peered up at them, barely able to stop herself from rolling her eyes as they exchanged pleasantries.

But before they could continue with round two (or Alys could ask Ciarán if her wings were prettier than the Quarter Master's), the trio was swarmed by a dozen or so of the Truth Teller's crew. With the two boys charging forward, Alys covered the back, keeping an eye on the other end of the hall, where the stairs slowly began to disappear from view. She'd be ready if they were flanked from behind, or if the boys left a skeleton for her.

 

[Hard Nox 2]

THIMBLE

Sliocht vaulted over the rail, passing from the chain suspended over the open sky to land aboard the Truth Teller. He gripped the rail tightly with one free hand, scanning the deck with a pistol gripped in the other. His heavy breath were absconded by the steel blade gripped tightly in between his teeth. Nessa would have called it a long dagger, Ciarán would have called it a cutlass, and Soren would have called it a toothpick.

Sliocht himself called it "good enough".

He crept forwards cautiously, leaving the remaining undead to the other crewmen as he slipped the blade into his hand. Ahead, Ciarán disappeared down a set of stairs led that seemed to lead belowdecks. Sliocht wasn't keen to cross blades with any of Solomon King's thralls, but if pressed he'd much rather do so with someone he could count on beside him. In front of him, ideally, between the barber and whatever necrotic malignancy made it it's death's purpose to remove him from the mortal coil.

He rushed down the stairs, towards the sound of steel and the smell of rotten flesh. He patted his waist nervously, checking to see whether his attached cargo still hung slung from the barber's toolbelt. It had been a last minute decision, and he'd have to apologize later for dipping into the gunpowder without permission, but he was fairly sure that Ciarán wouldn't mind.

Slung from his belt, two glass flasks full of gunpowder and wood splinter clicked together in a sweet rhythm. He'd gathered the shrapnel from inside the Hard Nox, where the Truth Teller had holed them. The blood of those they'd lost still stained the pieces.

Maybe it was the fear, the altitude, or something in the air, but Sliocht felt a rush of grim excitement. It was time to give the bastards what they were owed.

 

[Hard Nox 2]

DELFI

The Truth Teller wouldn’t take a hit without retaliation. One of the cannonballs shot at the enemy ship burst its way through Emer’s clinic, crashing at one of the shelves with glass jars. More holes were poked on the side of the ship, and the men who’d stayed on deck would have the tough task of stopping the undead from invading the Hard Nox.

Solomon knew what Sineád was after. He’d seen the battle in Fan Manor and by that, it was easy to assume her crew wasn’t a priority - it was gold she was after, and Hester knew exactly where it would be. He let his apprentices and his army of death to deal with the rest, making his way to the chambers with two large abominations by each side.

 

[Hard Nox 2]

FANG

Leo landed a few feet to the inside of the cage door, his feet sliding to a stop on the unkempt floor as the robed cultist barred the way through. Barely a foot separated the two as Leo straightened to his full height, golden eyes staring straight into yellow, slitted orbs of malice. His grin widened, a madman’s smile all teeth and viciousness.

“Give me your robe,” Leo said as his hands drifted in front of him slowly. With a twist of his wrist the shortest end of the chain he had retrieved wrapped around his hand with a jingle and a soft slap. “I will have it either way.” A plan was a plan after all, and Leo would do his part. He did not wait for the snake to reply, spinning the chain around his head with gaining momentum twice before snapping it at the enemy’s neck, hoping the impact would injure it at worst, or wrap around its throat at best.

He stepped forward lightly, swinging the saber in his other hand at the snake’s waist with the force of the step. Many of the prisoners on the ground could block or evade one of Leo’s blows, but few could do so against two at the same time. The cultist did not seem a strong fighter at first blush, and Leo anticipated blood. The fire in his throat seared with equal anticipation of a true feeding.

 

[Hard Nox 2]

DELFI

Caleb was too busy slaying enemies who wouldn’t fucking die to bicker with Ciarán. They didn’t have to die anyway, just get tossed out of the way and preferably not hurt the living. The quartermaster decided to restrain himself from using his pistol - the sound could attract unwanted attention - and his sword was enough to at least knock them down long enough for the group to move through the corridor.

“Follow me!” He said upon getting to another set of stairs that’d take them to the floor below.

The bottom floor opened to a dining room, much fancier than the mess hall of the Hard Nox. A long hardwood table was in the center, with six chairs on each side and a tall, crimson throne at the end. There were two people with robes seemingly waiting for them: A tall ogre holding a staff and a smaller blonde woman, armed with a whip.

“We only need one of them alive.” He announced, choosing to fight the ogre. Caleb avoided fighting women whenever possible.


***

Juniper had successfully shoved the undead out of the way and Poppy watched as it lost its balance, bumping against the metal bars of the cage. With the immediate threat out of the way, the satyr turned her attention back to the hand holding her wrist, leaning her body back, stepping on the bars to get enough strength to let herself loose. It sort of worked. She fell backwards, with Bob’s hand still holding tight around her, but disattached to his body.

***

Sapphire had only been aboard the Truth Teller for a little over two years, and they weren’t prepared to deal with an uprising. They stared back at the half naked man, trying to hide the fear caused by the pair of burning golden eyes looking into theirs.

They let out a shriek as the chain got wrapped around their neck, but was able to respond quickly enough so that their blade would meet Leo’s instead of their torso. They didn’t understand what the use of the robe was to the prisoner, but Sapphire didn't opose to let it remain stuck to the chain, sliding their head out and spinning on their heels, attempting to slash the back of their enemies leg.

Under the robe, Sapphire wore a black shirt and trousers, with a silver pendant hanging from their neck. There was a circular symbol carved into it, something regular people wouldn’t be able to recognize, unless they were familiar with sorcery.