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One would think a ship's captain would have some foresight regarding weather on his normal trade route. One would think a ship's captain would know how to avoid reefs. One would be very, very wrong. The fool missed the signs of the storm brewing, was too busy getting drunk celebrating his pending nuptuals to care. When the storm hit, the drunken sod went to the wheel, and proceeded to try and completely ruin any chance I had of escaping from Waterdeep alive.
Eight of us made it off that ship alive. Two other passengers, four members of the crew, and the captain. Only one boat made it to shore on this island. Crew had managed to stow some supplies, food and effects to make a fire, but the food wouldn't last long, only a week at most. Then luck was on my side. Some of the crew knew I'd been a former guard, asked me to take first watch while they got some sleep, said we'd work in shifts. Three hours later, I had several weeks worth of food and five corpses thrown out to sea. Captain and the crew were my only real possible risk, if they'd been awake. The two passengers, I left alive. Told them the crew wanted to kill the three of us, make the food last longer. I was believable, and they were stupid. Heard stories about sailors and how easily they'd turn to piracy and murder, idiots were grateful I'd managed to overpower them and keep the two of them safe. Fools.
Two weeks, food was starting to get low with three of us eating. I'd put them to work building a crude camp at first, until the third time it collapsed from simply rainfall. Had one of them go scouting in the woods, looking for stronger materials. Doesn't come back for three days. I go looking with the other passenger. His life doesn't mean much to me, but surviving is easier with three then two, and my life means much more. Takes two days, but we finally find him.
I see his body, looks like the bugs are starting to finally get to him, eating away at what's there. I look him over, try to figure out what got him. I'm no doctor, but some of my guard training is actually coming in handy. You see enough murders to know the more common causes. He was attacked, I can tell that much. Whatever did it wasn't large, but it was strong. I look the body over for injuries, and don't see any until I get a gut feeling. I'm not sure why, but I look at the neck. There they are, two tiny pin pricks. Not deep enough for a snake, at least not any snake with teeth that far apart. Wound isn't discolored, so not poison. My heart leaps in my chest. My lord is showing forgiveness, showing me the path to take in my darkest hour. Rewarding loyalty.
I tell my remaining companion he was mauled by some animal, and we cover him with leaves in a mock burial. My mind is racing. We haven't seen any other humans since we got here, which means whoever this vampire is, and I hope it's a vampire, hasn't eaten humans in likely some time. I tell my companion we'll head back to our camp, but I intentionally get us lost. The vampire found his first victim, it should be easier for him to find two humans if we stick together. As it get's dark, I start acting panicked, try to rile up my companion. Vampire's can smell fear, so I decide to help leave a trail for it to follow, with my companion as the bait.
It works. That night, that glorious night, I'll remember it however long my life lasts. I wake up to find my companion is already dead, drained to complete nothingness. I feel a sense of dread, looking over the fire and there he is. Sitting there, watching me with some unreadable look on his countenance. He's wearing full plate, yet I didn't hear him come to camp, or kill the other one. He tell's me he can smell that I'm different from the other two, can smell the purity of faith on me. I'm cautious as I answer. Even in my faith, you have to keep your guard up around them. They are the masters, but you can never tell wither or not you're the next meal or a pawn for them to keep alive and use.
It's been a week since I met him, the Master. After interogating me, to verify the depth's of my faith to the blood god, he seems satisfied to keep me around as an assisstant. He tells me he's not stuck here, like I believed we both were, that there is a shiping vessel that docks every week or so to deliver supplies to an outpost on the other end of the island. When he tells me where it comes from and returns to, my heart leaps again. Sundren, my original destination. I know Colibrus led me here, so that I may meet with the Master. My master is a guardian of the faith, a champion of the cause. Blackguard, explains that feeling of dread I felt those first few days.
He explains why he's here, his research. I'm intrigued. Collecting blood from an indigenous race, distilling only the purest and most potent aspects of it. I ask him what his end goal is, and he simply offers that small smile of his, and says nothing. What his goal is, and how close he is to it is not my concern. I am here simply to help. He leads me to a village of lizard men, tells me it's safe to rest there. I keep my strength up, resume my weapons training, wait for orders from the Master. He comes every few days, I give him some of my blood. He's grateful to have human blood again, tired of the blood of the tribe inside that temple.
What his research entails, and what the end result will be is still a mystery to me. However, I feel confidant whatever the end result, it will benefit myself, my master, and most importantly, the blood god, Colibrus. All power, all blood must flow up to him.
Eight of us made it off that ship alive. Two other passengers, four members of the crew, and the captain. Only one boat made it to shore on this island. Crew had managed to stow some supplies, food and effects to make a fire, but the food wouldn't last long, only a week at most. Then luck was on my side. Some of the crew knew I'd been a former guard, asked me to take first watch while they got some sleep, said we'd work in shifts. Three hours later, I had several weeks worth of food and five corpses thrown out to sea. Captain and the crew were my only real possible risk, if they'd been awake. The two passengers, I left alive. Told them the crew wanted to kill the three of us, make the food last longer. I was believable, and they were stupid. Heard stories about sailors and how easily they'd turn to piracy and murder, idiots were grateful I'd managed to overpower them and keep the two of them safe. Fools.
Two weeks, food was starting to get low with three of us eating. I'd put them to work building a crude camp at first, until the third time it collapsed from simply rainfall. Had one of them go scouting in the woods, looking for stronger materials. Doesn't come back for three days. I go looking with the other passenger. His life doesn't mean much to me, but surviving is easier with three then two, and my life means much more. Takes two days, but we finally find him.
I see his body, looks like the bugs are starting to finally get to him, eating away at what's there. I look him over, try to figure out what got him. I'm no doctor, but some of my guard training is actually coming in handy. You see enough murders to know the more common causes. He was attacked, I can tell that much. Whatever did it wasn't large, but it was strong. I look the body over for injuries, and don't see any until I get a gut feeling. I'm not sure why, but I look at the neck. There they are, two tiny pin pricks. Not deep enough for a snake, at least not any snake with teeth that far apart. Wound isn't discolored, so not poison. My heart leaps in my chest. My lord is showing forgiveness, showing me the path to take in my darkest hour. Rewarding loyalty.
I tell my remaining companion he was mauled by some animal, and we cover him with leaves in a mock burial. My mind is racing. We haven't seen any other humans since we got here, which means whoever this vampire is, and I hope it's a vampire, hasn't eaten humans in likely some time. I tell my companion we'll head back to our camp, but I intentionally get us lost. The vampire found his first victim, it should be easier for him to find two humans if we stick together. As it get's dark, I start acting panicked, try to rile up my companion. Vampire's can smell fear, so I decide to help leave a trail for it to follow, with my companion as the bait.
It works. That night, that glorious night, I'll remember it however long my life lasts. I wake up to find my companion is already dead, drained to complete nothingness. I feel a sense of dread, looking over the fire and there he is. Sitting there, watching me with some unreadable look on his countenance. He's wearing full plate, yet I didn't hear him come to camp, or kill the other one. He tell's me he can smell that I'm different from the other two, can smell the purity of faith on me. I'm cautious as I answer. Even in my faith, you have to keep your guard up around them. They are the masters, but you can never tell wither or not you're the next meal or a pawn for them to keep alive and use.
It's been a week since I met him, the Master. After interogating me, to verify the depth's of my faith to the blood god, he seems satisfied to keep me around as an assisstant. He tells me he's not stuck here, like I believed we both were, that there is a shiping vessel that docks every week or so to deliver supplies to an outpost on the other end of the island. When he tells me where it comes from and returns to, my heart leaps again. Sundren, my original destination. I know Colibrus led me here, so that I may meet with the Master. My master is a guardian of the faith, a champion of the cause. Blackguard, explains that feeling of dread I felt those first few days.
He explains why he's here, his research. I'm intrigued. Collecting blood from an indigenous race, distilling only the purest and most potent aspects of it. I ask him what his end goal is, and he simply offers that small smile of his, and says nothing. What his goal is, and how close he is to it is not my concern. I am here simply to help. He leads me to a village of lizard men, tells me it's safe to rest there. I keep my strength up, resume my weapons training, wait for orders from the Master. He comes every few days, I give him some of my blood. He's grateful to have human blood again, tired of the blood of the tribe inside that temple.
What his research entails, and what the end result will be is still a mystery to me. However, I feel confidant whatever the end result, it will benefit myself, my master, and most importantly, the blood god, Colibrus. All power, all blood must flow up to him.