His head was throbbing as the young tiefling came to. Slowly he looked around his surroundings. He was in a ship's hold, but this wasn't the Lady's Favour. Slowly he rubbed his head, checking for any breaks in his branching antlers and looked around again, trying to gather his wits about him. Last thing he remembered was that handsome corsair, what a night it had been. Then being stuffed into a bag and beaten with clubs. It hadn't taken him long to pass out from that. He'd has interesting experiences in his long, though still young lifetime. This was one he didn't wish to re-experience.
"Vith." He hissed under his breath, tail lashing back and forth, disturbing the bilge water. "Idiots don't know how to keep a boat." He added, sharp canine teeth exposed in a snarl. The thumping of someone coming down to the bilge. Well this would be simple, simple to clear up the mess. After all, his father was a Free Captain of the Shackles, with a seat on the pirate council. Erkos smirked, the way his father talked soon it would be Fera Coldwave who was the Hurricane King. He'd easily outlive that aging buffoon on the throne right now. However there were more pressing matters at hand. The main fact was that he was obviously kidnapped and on a strange ship. This made him
rather
upset.
He smelled the men before he saw them. Two ugly pirates, both of them looking like miserable sods if Erkos had ever seen such a sad being. The bald one, in Erkos opinion, looked as if he's sat on a particularly pointy pinecone and it had somehow gotten lodged in place, backing up necessary bodily functions. The other one, skinny and with no substance to him, but moved like a braggart and a bully. Erkos twitched his tail dismissively. This one was obviously not someone of substance and therefore not worth his notice.
"I think." Erkos began, only to be cut off by the bald one introducing himself and lecturing them about how they were on the Wormwood now and that they were all lubbers. At this insult the tiefling lashed his tail back and forth, a low snarl emanating deep from within his chest. His bicoloured eyes narrowed and simmered with pure rage, he flexed his wings. No this wasn't the time to talk. This man seemed to be second in command. To get this little
misunderstanding
cleared up the tiefling knew he would have to speak to the captain, it was simple as that. He was sure being aware of just what had transpired would be enough to make sure that this Captain backed down and returned Erkos to his rightful ship. Fera Coldwave was not a man that anyone wished to cross. He knew that name carried weight in the Shackles, and that many feared him, though just as many saw him as a folk hero. Someone who stood against slavers and such, and ended their foul careers.
Stopping he took note of his fellow captives, a few humans, a halfling, a half-orc, a ratfolk and... was that a monkey goblin climbing out of what smelled like a barrel that once contained pickled fish. Knowing of the voracious appetites of goblins he was pretty sure it didn't have fish in it anymore, and likely was
full
of fish just last night.
His eyes darted around and he cried out. "Where is Lady Luck?"
The bald ugly one snarled that Luck had abandoned them all, but gave some valuable and enraging information when Erkos clarified that he meant his blue parrot. Apparently she was up in the rigging making a noisy pest of herself, no doubt trying to call for Fera. What made Erkos angry was that they had been taking pot shots at his beloved pet.
Marched up on deck he was greeted by the sight of the Captain. A terrifying looking giant of a man, though for a split second the young tiefling caught his eyes wandering along the man's muscles and downwards, his imagination tantalized with fantasy. Then a shadow passed over them, distracting him. Erkos felt a weight on his antlers and looked up, seeing his pet perched there. "Easy there my ssinjin, easy. You're safe." Then the man began shouting at them, about how he didn't want to hear any talk and that everything had to be done through the two fools who has brought them up on deck. Plugg and Scourge they were called.
"
Really"
Erkos thought, stifling a snort of amusement at how those names sounded. Back on the
Lady's Gift
the whole crew composed themselves with a hell of a lot more dignity, and didn't see the need to give themselves intimidating sounding names just to prove how powerful they were. Then a thought crossed his mind that made him snort softly. What kind of name was Plugg anyway. While they weren't being paid attention to he leaned over and whispered to the human female beside him. "Wonder if he's called Plugg because everyone plugs their nose when he's about."
Quickly he straightened up as the first mate rounded on them and yelled at them to get up in the rigging. Erkos sighed and pushed his glasses up his nose. "Mal'ai". He muttered under his breath, his tail lashing back and forth. Yeah, get the asthmatic healer who wears glasses to climb the rigging. Not that they knew about the asthma, but even so. His tail moved with anger as he thought about how foolish these bullies were being. Yeah it was smart to get the guy with fucking
antlers
to climb up where there are lots of ropes and rigging. Smart like orcs. However he wasn't in the mood to find out just what they did with people they didn't care for. So he started to climb, however a mere five feet up he felt his lungs seize up and began to cough, finding himself falling and landing on his back, as he struggled to draw breath gasping and wheezing. Panicked he felt about for his potion.
They'd taken it from him. The oracle's eyes widened in panic. Quickly he put a hand to his chest, moving to try to stop the coughing with a desperate curative spell when he felt the kiss of a whip fall across his back. A shriek broke his lips and he pushed down a wave of abyssal rage, as he wheeled around to see Plugg standing there, Erkos' thick black ichor dripping from the whip. From the sting that he felt on his back the weapon had been dipped in salt water, he felt it mixing with sticky black blood oozing down his back and wing. With a hiss he bit back tears of pain that threatened to flood down. However his healing went through and he felt his breath somewhat return to normal, though he still felt light in the head.
"GET IN THE RIGGING YOU USELESS SWAB!" Loud seemed to be the only volume that this fool knew. Another lash came down, catching Erkos across his chest. "Or get to swabbing the deck." The man added, his fetid breath causing Erkos to recoil, earning him a third lash.
"I'm a Healer you yeunn mal'ai." Erkos hissed, drawing himself up to his impressive full height, tattooed wings flared out. "Not some swab. I am Erkos Marasgift, son of Free Captain Fera Coldwave, and you will show me the respect I
deserve.
" He snarled, then felt the whip lash down across his face, causing blood to drip into his right eye.
"Then get below decks and tend to the sick, before I make an example of your laziness,
thing.
"