The Flock

"Everything seems peaceful... and that's usually a bad sign."

You find yourself entering a tavern. Several of the people gathered inside stop their conversations and look towards you, eyes specifically drawn towards your own left one. The inhuman red color and the menacing scar that covers it, only a sign that you could potentially be trouble.

Ignoring the stares, you walk over towards the bartender and take a seat on a stool, ordering one of their strongest drinks with the placement of two gold coins.

"C-coming right up, Sir!" the bartender stutters, before reaching behind the counter, and pulling out one of your favorites - Stahlitean Ale. The best creation from the Stahliteans - the short mountain people of the High-Risen West. If they could put anything over their beards, it would have to be the ale that they've brewed.

Strong enough to put a fully grown Tussikar into a coma, only the bravest dare give the drink a smell, let alone a taste.

And yet, because of your Monster Blood consisting of more dangerous beasts, and plural at that, you can easily stomach it without a problem.

For some reason, though, once you down the drink, the world around you blurs.

The next thing you know, you are naked and in a wooden tub, filled with nice, hot water. You also feel the warm liquid and soap draining down your back, while a beautiful-sounding woman tends to the dirt all over your body.

"So then what happened, Regol?" she asks.

You blink confusedly while a rag is placed over your eyes. The voice seems a bit familiar, but you can't quite put your finger on it.

Then you remember that she's asking you a question.

"I'm sorry, what was that?" you ask.

She giggles, replying, "What happened after you went to sleep on the ship?"

You sigh as you feel calm hands rubbing your back... then it occurs to you that those hands feel a little more sharp... almost like talons.

Curious, you lift the rag from your eyes, only to be looking directly into Gabby's.

"Wait, Gabby? What..."

"This can't be right... I'm in Asgalon, now. So what is Gabby doing here?!"

She giggles, before reaching a bucket into the water and pouring more of the warm liquid over your head.

You have to admit to yourself, this isn't really that unpleasant... just confusing.

Then you feel another pair of talons massage your shoulders, and look up. Greta smiles back down at you, while you just gawk at the two of them.

"Wait... but where is-" you begin, only for Gilda's head to slowly rise out of the water at the other end of the tub. She would be staring half-lidded into your eyes, and a sultry smile adorns her features.

"Shh... just relax, Regol... let us take care of your burdens for once..." the three of them whisper to you.

You feel their talons starting to drift lower down your body... you can't break the confusion from your mind, but your body has other plans that betray your thoughts.

"No... something is off... what the hell is..." But then, it occurs to you. The ship! You have to still be on the ship!

Then that means...

"This is only a dream..." you mumble to yourself.

At once, Gabby starts to mumble something inaudible.

"... What?" you can't help but ask, as their talons get even closer to your restricted area.

"Wake up... please!" She begins to sound more and more urgent, despite her gaze.

Soon the world around you begins to blur, and you start to fall down an endless drop.

"REGOL! WE NEED YOUR HELP!"

Gabby's urgent shouting is more than enough to break you from your slumber.

Your eyes shoot open and you sit up quickly. Turning towards Gabby, you notice that she is soaking wet. Another thing is that she's holding a bucket.

"What's going on, Gabby?" you ask.

"A storm! We're under a heavy storm, now!"

You sigh, shaking your head. "Why didn't you tell me this before it became an issue?!"

With a shrug, she replies, "Because it just came out of nowhere, all of a sudden! The ship is going to sink if we don't get the water out!" She then rushes outside again after a loud bang of thunder, not saying another word.

"Wait... sudden storm? That can't be right..." you begin to think to yourself, before another bang of thunder fills the air.

Suddenly, the ship jerks to the side, and you're forced from the bed to the floor by the rather large bump from the waves.

You grunt in frustration as you pull yourself back onto your feet. Then, without hesitation, you run to the outside, where you see all three of the girls with buckets, dumping pale after pale of water overboard.

"I think we just hit something, Regol! We need you to go check it out for us! We'll keep bailing this water out while you do that!" Gilda says, having gotten over her seasickness for the greater good... though you have a feeling she's still feeling it, just not showing it due to the anger and fear.

You nod your head in understanding. "On it! A Nature Rune should quickly patch any damage up!"

And with that, you hurry into the Crew's Lodge, where water rises halfway up your knees. There's no doubt about it, now. Something happened here.

Then you find it... a leak coming from three different holes in the base.

You sigh before rushing over towards the holes and pulling a Nature Rune from your pouch. Lifting it up, you close your eyes and envision the wood with the holes in them.

"Tul." you chant, causing the wood surrounding the holes to grow roots that intertwine then merge. With that done, the holes are now plugged in.

However, the rain is still dripping down the ladder... you'd have to do something about that, next.

For now, though, bailing the water is the best you can come up with.

You're about to reach for a bucket, when your Monster Eye starts to glow red.

This makes you freeze in place. Your predatory instincts begin to take control, and you start to hear a creaking around the walls.

The damage to the ship wasn't caused by the storm... in fact, the storm may not be natural.

No... there's something in the water, and it's controlling the weather!

"Oh, that's just great... another damn monster in the course of one freakin' day!"

You grit your teeth in frustration before rushing to the stairs.

"Another monster... and unfortunately, I can't sense what it is, because it's underwater. However, there's a couple things I'm aware of.

"Whatever this creature is, it is huge... and definitely not friendly."