Chapter 3 Part 2: Path of Destruction

“Acolytes,” at a low but firm sound of their Arch Paladin’s voice the acolytes stopped whispering nervously, or starring with vigor on the attractive female form underneath the grease and leather apron before them,” The High Kierter awaits aid upon the field of battle. We will face the realities of our world after we ensure the heroes of the arks are not left to be goblin meat.”

“Now hang on their governor bossman in your scarlet flashies! Not all goblins are cannibals. I know a few myself that would never hurt a fly…” the endless stream of nattering nonsense the young lady had been spewing had finally earned herself the ire of the Arch Paladin who raised his visor on his helm to show the battlescar of his youth that no healer could rid him.

Though his eyes worked well, one was milky white with a red angry dot in the center and a scar tore its way down from his crown to his neck. A gift not from a goblin, but a close cousin if on the other side of the height range. A troll who had just attempted to eat and rape, not sure which it had in mind first, his school mate on their way to their priest’s daily studies of the scriptures. Xavos was told his visage had a way of cowing the weak willed and the foolhardy.

This Mule wasn’t weak willed so she must be a fool given her sudden meekness at the sight of the hard lines under scars. His one normal blue eye had a tendency to cow even before its partner had seen the troll’s claws. Funny, that ghastly attack had awoken his powers for the first time. The Lord works in mysterious ways.

“I will assume that they have not boarded the vessel filled with women and children of their hated rivals the dwarves to give them sweets and crumpets young mule, but if I’m proven wrong I will be the first to seek the forgiveness of the headhunters we are about to slaughter.” Laughter rolled through the cab at the Paladin’s rebuke. The young mule pursed her lips and huffed before pretending she hadn’t been intimidated by the Paladin’s. Some silence would do her good. Xavos lowered his visor just to be sure no goblin managed to snag his other eye. He did plan on taking his helmet off, and not always having the world recoil at him. Too much anyway.

In the silence that followed the cabin nothing but the hum of the propulsion devices could be heard for a time. Then as the small fleet of pirate vessels came into view more and more rumors of the battle found their ears off the wind. The sound of metal on metal, blasts of gunpowder, and screams of the dying that marked pillage and destruction. Xavos took in the sights of the dowl sailing ships of the goblins, and thought these patch work of wood and metal more matched their temperaments. Though, unlike the cursed sea vessels of the underworld he had observed in the past, these had what seemed like self propelling paddle devices on either side of their bulks.

They were giant black wheels with spikes and grizzly ornaments of previous battles and punished slaves. Dark smoke went from several stacks as well which fascinated the Paladin. These goblins had been busy raiding, and as he suspected, looting their new found tools and upgrades for their vessels. Though the cave apes were never good at producing their own tools they were ever adept at appropriating and using the weapons and gear of those they pillaged like the carrion they were.

As they passed over the closest hulk, observers from the crow’s nest in the sails waved toward what looked like a kind tower on the end of the largest vessel that was clearly a haphazard attempt at crafting a flagship. Upon closer inspection, Xavos realized the odd tower was designed to anchor the flying vessel while she flew above the ship. Crafty, and dwarf work or he was a witch's newt. Good to know the other conspirators hadn’t massacred the other dwarf kingdoms.

Without a word Xavos pointed at Antain who called and slapped five of his fellows including one of the scouts. With a rush Antain led the small company of acolytes out and onto the flagship airship anchor tower, but left Thoral to lead the acolytes in his stead. The fleet’s crews and marines would be on the ark, and only a skeleton force of weeklings left on the ships. Those not worthy of the loot as was the way of the tunnel apes. Five should be more than sufficient for even the flagship to be taken without much of a fuss. Xavos spied a few goblin heads fly in their wake as Antain and his crew flowed over the rigging and sails. The sun began to peak out over the ocean waves reflecting off their gold and scarlet helms like angry shinning ants on an oversized black as night scorpion. A red dawn, and a good start to what would be a long morning.

“Fly this beast over each vessel lady, and then take us to the Ark of Xarmon, that ship the goblins have waylaid,” the Mule did as she was told without complaint. Her unease was on full display now that the vessels were in clear view, and the gory scene of “prizes” flaunted before the world. They were not pleasant and involved many a cruel act against women and children as is the passion of the headhunter tribes of the deep. Little wonder they received such ire from the races of light upon the surface. Or at least had. A worrying concept given the goblin propensity for ghastly violence and torture was evidently still deep in their beings as the ghastly display showed below.

The Mule continued to do her job with skilled efficiency even as she paled a deeper white than a vampire deprived of blood for a month. Soon a pair or three acolytes had been deployed to take each ship till some sixty were left with the paladin for the final charge on the Ark. This was an important step even if the necessity weakened their main force.

Goblins were famous for slaughtering their prizes rather than let them be recovered, and these ships may have weaponry they could turn to bare when the battle was going against them. The ark was damaged from its long voyage and many holding actions. Xavos wasn’t going to risk her sinking while they battled on her.

There was only one worry on the Paladin's soul as he saw the towering shadow of the ten mile long and forty story tall city sized ship with tone after tone of sails blocking out the rising sun with its bulk. The mage that had blocked Xavos’ portation spell must be powerful indeed to counter a spell from an Arch Paladin. Judging by the destruction rendered against the deck where the variable forest of ropes and ladders were left to swing where the breach had been exploited, told Xavos that the mage was part of the boarding party.

The Arch Paladin was sure the hostile mage was a foe he must face himself. The nature of the magic left a poor itch on the skin like dead sand in the desert, the putrid stench of the rising release of the energy a sickly smell of rotting carcass, and the draining of life of many of the corpses at the breach of both goblin and dwarf told a story a blind man could see. His opponent this day was a vampire, an elder one too by the looks of the damage.

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