Thorn Bain Chronicles
Chapter 2 - Tales of Honour
The harsh needle like rain lashed down onto the deck of the fine oak ship. The HMS Droks sat at anchor near the port of Lions Arch. Thorn sat and sighed; this rain was really dragging everyone down. Thorn had been put in charge of lookout; his task was to keep watch on Lions Arch and sound the alert if he spotted enemy presence. Thorn was soaked to the skin and just wanted to change into some warm clothing, thankfully shifts changed soon and General Griffin was on lookout next. Thorn stared back at the city ever vigilant and his eyes browsed the buildings and streets, it made him sad to see ruins and rubble everywhere. He knew that alone he could not deal with the siege, there were numerous corsair war bands, and also stone summit had also come down to claim the port for trade. Why they were here he did not know but he would cast their icy hearts back to the mists as soon as he got to ground.
Thorn leapt out of his skin as a hard leather bound glove hammered down on his shoulder, he spun to see Griffin crouched laughing, "for a ranger your hearings terrible" he laughed. Thorn jabbed the point of his bow into Griffins ribs and laughed as Griffin fell backwards into a large puddle that had formed from all the rain. The two stood and laughed at each other before Thorn retreated below decks, to find the other guild members cleaning, and sharpening they’re weapons, and testing the strength of they’re shields. It was fairly bright down here and most were laughing and jesting at each other. Thorn sat on his bunk and removed his Storm Bow from the cloth it was wrapped in and ran the cloth down the hard crystalline surface. Suddenly much laughing and shouting erupted from one end of the mess, he turned to see Draco, Little Frank, and DJ Paul all chugging pints of Dwarven Ale. Thorn laughed he was sure Draco would enter tomorrows battle with a pint in one hand.
The mess went quiet as the guild leaders entered the room, Jule led followed by Mystery, Malus, and Luuk. They quietly moved to their bunks and started fitting armour and testing weapons. Thorn looked across at Mystery who was sitting on her bed; he whispered "what's going on, what's with the urgency". "Uncle has decided we go in tonight, you coming?" "Of course Thorn whispered in reply.
It was ten minutes before Thorn made his way up the warn steps to the deck with the other guild members. Uncle was up there standing with the guild leaders. "Lower the boats" he said calmly. Thorn looked to see other members jumping into the small boats which would take them to shore.
As the small wooden boat bobbed up and down on the frothy, murky waves, Thorn moved and crouched to the bow of the ship and stared out towards the once busy city. "How scared the people must be" he muttered, "Don’t dwell on it, you’ll only end up dead" said a gruff voice from the back. It was the Fuery sitting holding his sword over his shoulders as he worked the tiller. "Fuery’s right keep a clear mind and think about your actions when were ashore" muttered Mystery. "Just enjoy it out there matey and spill some blood" Sithis mused. "Shut up Sithis." Came the gruff voice from the read again.
As the boat hit the wet sand, grounding on the coarse ground as the waves threatened to send the boat out to sea again. Thorn jumped from the boat and pulled it up the shore where it wouldn’t be lost. A lone corsair lookout noticed the group stalking up the side of the beach and fumbled to light his torch to alert the others, before he could get the rag lit, Sithis had shadow stepped behind him and grabbed him round the throat. Thorn heard a gurgle and saw a splay of blood spin from the corsair’s throat. Sithis grinned and waited for the group to catch up. Further down the beach they heard the sound of shouting, one of the other groups had been spotted and it was about to kick off. Suddenly lights came on in the town and bands of corsairs ran towards the beach. Thorn was nearly knocked over as the Fuery leapt past him and pushed his sword into a nearby corsair’s body. Mystery’s eyes glazed over next to him as she rose of the ground and started throwing hexes at the nearby group of confused corsairs. One went down clutching his head and screaming. "The bugs, the bugs" Mystery glanced at Thorn and laughed.
Thorn ran to a nearby alley near where a pub sign was hanging he crouched and started covering glowing glyphs in the light sand. "SITHIS STAND BACK" He bellowed before the nimble assassin nearly ran over the patch he had carefully laid. Ten corsairs ran out of the pub, swords, maces and axes raised but stumbled straight onto the flame trap carefully laid. Screams of pain and burning hit the ears of the young guild members as the corsairs tried to get to the sea to extinguish themselves.
Two corsairs ran towards Thorn and Sithis and raised their bows ready to fire, one fired and the arrow glanced off Thorns armour, he ducked and rolled to avoid another arrow. Sithis raced through the two of them daggers out stretched, two streams of blood spat out of the wounded corsairs, and they fell on each other.
Thorn looked to where the Fuery and Mystery were and saw Mystery kneeling on the floor breathing heavily clutching her head. "Myst you ok?!" Thorn Yelled. "Fine just exhausted" Mystery replied. The Assassin and Ranger ran to the Mesmer and Warrior, to cover them. Thorn knelt and started firing arrows off into the approaching corsairs, he swiftly removed two arrows from his quiver and notched them, he blew two glyphs onto each arrow, causing them to ignite. He fired, the arrows hit their target, a group of corsairs that were thrown into the air with the ignition of the explosive glyphs added. A corsair made it to Thorns position and raised his axe above his head. Suddenly a blinding light caught Thorn and he fell head in hands, it felt like someone had just kicked dirt in his eyes, his head was throbbing. "Sorry" Yelled Mystery "Overcooked it on the migraine." She laughed. Thorn looked at where the corsair laid. A pained expression on his face, and he looked to have died crying blood. "Balthazar’s Beard." Thorn whispered.
The group ran to the main city centre by the fountain when another corsair group jumped down from the nearby steps, Sithis was already running up towards Merchants square and didn’t notice the group, and the Fuery was helping a group of lionguard bar the gate. That left Mystery and Thorn to deal with this war band, Thorn felt his body constrict as imaginary vines crushed his body and drained him of his energy. He looked and saw the corsair Necromancer and cursed at him. But felt the spell lift, as quickly as it had come. Mystery stood behind casting a Hex removal spell.
As Thorn reached to grab another arrow he remembered he had left his quiver on the beach "Drat". He went for his belt and drew his razor sharp scimitar from its sheath and a quick spin and twist of the blade set him up in position to fight. He hacked and cut his way through a line of necromancers. "A step here, twist, and slice." He muttered under his breath.
As Corsairs fell around him, he looked and saw a tall well built corsair with a huge hammer, bash his way through a group of lionguards. He ran scimitar pointing behind him in an almost assassin stance. The scimitar licked forwards carving a chunk out of the corsairs back. The corsair swung and turned at the same time, the momentum knocked Thorn off his feet and he gasped with pain as he clutched his chest, he coughed and blood came to his mouth, he yelled with anger, his chest felt like it was on fire.
The corsair looked from above down at him and raised his mighty hammer, suddenly a streak of White and the hammer fell out of the corsairs hand into the dust next to Thorn, he sat up to see Astreal staring at his friendly master, chewing on what looked like the corsairs throat. "Looks real tasty that doesn’t it." Thorn laughed. Astreal would eat anything. A low moan from the tiger and it almost bowed to accept his hand run thorough the coarse fur. "Where did you come from old friend, I left you on board to sleep." Thorn whispered. "Thought you might need a hand" said Sithis standing behind him. "Sithis what have I told you about creeping up on people" Thorn said slyly. "It’s my Job you idiot… I was born for it." The Sin replied.
Once up Thorn helped Mystery to her feet. "You look exhausted." He said. "You just trying to deal that much damage through hexes and domination… you got it easy with your bow!" She grinned back.
The guild reconvened at the large fountain and Uncle stood atop a stone block elevated above the others. "Good work today, you have defended the city and made Tyria and DAD proud. I promise to leave the bar open all night on the ship for your efforts here. A whoop came from Draco at the side of the group, a few sniggers went round before everyone grabbed their weapons and headed back to the small ships to them take back to their temporary home at sea.
Uncle approached Thorn as the others were leaving and clasped a hand on the young rangers shoulder. "I would like you to join DAD… well In fact Mystery has asked me to join Droks Arena Dogs... she also has a special request for you. What do you say join us?" Thorn was taken aback, the almost mythical figure towered above him. "Yes of course I will join, however I have a problem to sort out in the Shiverpeaks, I wish to follow the stone summit and see what bought them here." Thorn replied.
"As you wish….but take this." Uncle understood and handed Thorn a folded silk cape, the DAD cape. Thorn felt Honour run through his veins as he accepted the gift and added it to the bottom of his rucksack. There would come a time to wear it.
Thorn said his goodbyes to everyone but promised he would be back.
Lastly he visited Mystery sitting resting at the beach. "I accept the invitation to Droks it would be my honour to join you and the guild. I have a... situation.. I er must sort out first. I need to travel to the Shiverpeaks." Thorn said hastily to Mystery.
"Very well, you are a good friend Thorn and a loyal member to DAD you have saved my life twice today. I would like you to be an officer please on your trip consider it." Said Mystery, still out of breath.
"I will and thank you PPIC." Thorn Laughed
Mystery Laughed in response.
