Escaping the Storm, to Run into Another

The creature was sent flying backwards from a massive blast of force. The young boy struck it in the chest with a beastial roar I couldn’t describe. My lance hit nothing but wood as the creature was sent flying backwards.

[Secret Objective Completed: Awaken the Salt Water Heir]

The what now? The kid's body was warping with the bending of bone and flesh. Skin turned grey, eyes narrowed into slits and gills ripped forth from his neck.

He seemed to become a monster himself, causing me to grit my teeth in confusion. 

“Are you alright!?” The boy slammed his head into the ground while screaming, clutching it in pain as salty tears flowed from his eyes.

The creature was already starting to recover and I slid down the rope and to the area below.

This must be one of those ‘curses’ I considered my options. Kill the kid, ignore him . . . Or try to bring him back to sanity.

“Focus, don’t let the curse drown you.” For a moment it seemed to work as the  boy rose with eyes that glowed with a faint blue.

Then I noticed the rest of the crew suddenly aiming their harpoons at him.

“STOP, we’ll deal with this later. Stop the maggots from boarding, we’ll handle this hook handed beast.”

They looked in terror towards the shark boy but heeded my words. Turning back to the edge of the boat while fighting off the bastards.

“I can’t pilot the ship while I’m down here, can you fight without losing yourself?” The boy clutched his harpoon tightly as his skin warped slightly.

“Yes Captain.” I smiled at the words while sending out a blast of stone at the creature who easily shredded it in half.

“Then I’ll leave this to you. Don’t die.”

They let out a roar as the boat shook and started their engagement with the creature again.

Steel met Hook and steel lost, the harpoon fell apart and the kid threw a mean punch into the side of its head sending it back.

I kept climbing while they fought and gave another order as I noticed some bad from my high position.

“Dump out the water on the deck!” We were sinking, we needed to get out of here.

I heard the kid scream in pain a beastial rage flowing through his eyes and I roared down at him.

“Do not lose yourself. RUN IT THROUGH!” The hook blade stuck in his side was torn off by the angry maw of the teen. Then a claw went through the hook fuckers throat and it was pushed backwards.

It staggered for a moment before dropping dead. I paused and my eyes narrowed. Was that not the other secret objective?

A howl of wind hit us and I nearly fell from the mast as the kid stopped moving.

“Help get the water off the boat!” There was no response from the boy who slowly looked up to me with glazed over eyes. Blue spiraling tattoos appearing on his flesh.

Oh no.

I hopped down as I got a notification.

[Clear Fishman Maggot 150/150. Primary Objective Succeeded. You may exit at your leisure.]

My heart beat in my chest as the child’s grin turned feral. They let out a howl and charged me with a massive clawed arm, I barely move out of the way as the part of the deck that was just beneath me was destroyed.

I could escape couldn’t I? I shook my head, I wasn’t abandoning this kid, I wasn’t abandoning this crew, and I wasn’t leaving them to this storm.

I made my choice and came to a conclusion. This is bad.

“Resist the curse!” They staggered and I whacked them across the face as hard as I could. The blow stunned them for a second as the silver pommel cracked into them.

One of the sailors approached with a harpoon raised high and I did something stupid.

“Don’t.” The man looked at me with incredulity as I gently put a hand on the cursed kid's shoulder. I was being sentimental, but this kid had called me Captain. I couldn’t shake the feeling of letting them down after that. The boy froze under my touch.

“I need you to focus, pull the power that flows through you within. Do not let it control you.” There was a pause and I was shoved backwards with violent force causing me to slam into the floor.

“G-get away from me.” He was shaking in terror towards himself, panic starting to take hold as the bestial light returned to his eyes.

Then I hugged him.

“You’re going to be alright.” He looked up to me with human pupils as I softly patted him on the back of the head

“You are not going to kill the shitty Salt Blood?” Much of the crew looked tense, and I shook my head and rose from the ground.

“I’m not doing that, and don’t talk about your crewmate like that.” For a moment it was tense, countless fishman maggot bodies littered the deck and the stench of blood and fish was accompanied by the raging storm.

“If the captain says so then so be it.” I paused at that and the crew looked at the old man who spoke with some shock.

“The previous captain-“ one of them started but was cut off with a laugh.

“None of like that arrogant fuck anyways, that bastard is why we all almost died!” There was a murmur of agreement 

“We might still die in the damn storm!” I looked up the shaking boat and started commanding again.

“I will get us through this storm, you lot, hold off any more that come. You five patch any leaks, and the rest of you get this damn water off the boat!”

“Yes Captain!” It was the same kid who I’d helped with the curse who said it before suddenly everyone spoke it with vigor behind their eyes and running through their body.

A small smile of hope appeared on the cursed kids face as he looked up to me, the expression only could be described as faith.

[Secret objective completed, defeat the Salt Water Heir.]

Glad I don’t have to worry about that anymore . . . hopefully.

We traveled through the raging storm for four hours and the exhaustion was getting to me, the crew was exhausted and so was I. Then the wind slowled the waves became gentler and the sun peeked out from behind the clouds.

[Escape the Storm. Primary Objective Succeeded. You may exit at your leisure.]

I let out an exhausted breath as I slid down from the rope. My hands were bloody as all hell,but I couldn’t help but smile. My thread had run dry, yet no one under my command had died. I was out of my inner spool, I could no longer manifest my powers in the physical world. I felt I could still use Bardic Inspiration if I pushed it, and Jack of All Trades was passive, but the former might make me pass out.

Over the horizon I saw an island as the crew looked to me in hope, I only let out a soft wave as the words left my mouth.

“We made it.” Exhausted cheers echoed out, the only one seeming to not be tired was that kid who approached me with a smile and actually bowed to me.

“Thank you. Thank you for saving me.” I just gave a shrug.

“Happy to help, I’m just glad it's over.” Their look turns serious for a moment as they start to speak again.

“Are you . . . are you an Heir?” I raise an eyebrow in confusion, what now? I thought that’s what this kid was . . . if they even knew that.

“I’m just a traveling Bard, nothing special like that.” The kid nods in agreement with a glint of mischief in their eyes, as though they accepted what I said as an obvious lie.

Guess I’ll take a look at what I got- woah that’s a weird feeling. I feel myself fading away from reality as I overlook my status as a faint thought enters my mind.

Why didn’t I get anything for saving the crew?

Name: Jackson Dubois

Class: Bard 3

STR: 11

DEX: 13

CON: 12

INT: 11

WIS: 11

CHR: 14

Skills:

• Bardic Inspiration II

• Jack of All Trades II

• Bardic Composition I

Equipment:

[Geomancy: Earthen Bones]

[Silver Rake]

[Hood of the Hangman]

Claims:

Stone Breaker Hangman 2/6:

• +Damage against Golems

• +Rope Techniques

[For Escaping the Storm. Gain a Skill Point. Gain associated equipment.]

[Clear the Fishman Maggots. Gain a Skill Point, Gain a compatible skill.]

[For completing Secret Objective Awaken the Salt Water Heir, gain a Skill Point]

[For completing Secret Objective Defeat the Salt Water Heir, gain a Skill Point and associated equipment.]

[Performance Reward: A+

• Combat Performance A

• Primary Objectives Completed A+

• Secret Objectives Completed A+

Gain special equipment. Gain a skill point. 

[Choose Martial Performance, or Orchestral Performance.]

[Choose to upgrade Bardic Inspiration 0/2, Jack of All Trades 0/2, or Bardic Composition 0/1]

[Choose two associated equipment: Whaler's Harpoon, Admirals Command, Fishman Hookworm Blade, and Stormfall Rope.]

[Gain Salt Water Shark Tooth]

That is a lot of stuff. I notice someone is cracking open a bottle of alcohol as the kid sits next to me with a light in their eyes as I attempt to review my rewards. I ruffle my hand through their shoulder length hair while I glance over every menu in front of me while ignoring the sudden partying going on.

First I look at the offered skills. Orchestral Performance probably refers to a group working together, and that could be very useful. But Martial Performance? That’s using weapons presumably, and I’d be an idiot to turn that down!

I take it without hesitation. I’ve also got five skill points to work with but it looks like I can’t upgrade Martial Performance yet. That truly is a shame too, because I love swinging around random sticks I find. Honestly if I’d thought it over for longer I might have picked Fighter. I’m satisfied with Bard though, it's who I am, or at least what I intend to become!

I upgraded Bardic Inspiration, I can use it on myself and so far it's been super useful in these dungeons. Glancing at it I do spot that I can’t upgrade it unless I use four points. Doubling every time? That’ll be a lot later down the road.

I put the other three points into Bardic Composition and instantly I feel my mind expand. I was on the right track to using magic, but the ease of use has suddenly become far more simplified.

I need to use a story as an anchoring point for my magic, I get that, but I can also drastically amplify them by recreating the scenario that involved said magic in the first place. For example my Geomancy would be stronger if I was fighting a rebellion, pushed even further if I was fighting a rebellion in the name of rock people. That’s quite interesting . . . I think with this level of power I’m ready to take on Worm. Fuck I almost forgot I actually have to live in Brocton Bay now. I’ll have to leave this crew behind soon too. 

Looking at the equipment I ponder if I should give them a gift on my way out, maybe the Shark tooth? I look it over as I’m also sent a warning.

[Salt Water Shark Tooth]

This shark tooth belonged to a powerful Salt Water Cursed Soul whose resentment for their own curse has a powerful anti-curse object despite being a curse itself. This single shark tooth upon a necklace drastically reduces the negative effects of the wearer's Salt Water curse. If the target is a Salt Water Heir this will have heavily reduced effects, as Salt Water Heir’s inherently control the curses of other Salt Water bearers, cursed by them. If the wearer possesses no curse it grants them a weak version of the Salt Water curse completely under their control.

[Warning: Gifting equipment will remove it from the system inventory and may interfere with the Record you inhabit- Record has already been altered beyond original scope. Please ignore this message, course correction is impossible.]

Fuck off, if saving this crew was ‘altering the record too much’ I don’t really give a shit. Suddenly I hear a gasp.

“C-captain!? You’re fading!” The whole crew turns to me as I give a wry smile. I hand the shark tooth necklace to him as I stand up and roll my shoulder.

“I’ll probably be back some time in the future, so keep the Captain’s seat warm for me lad.” I give him a pat on the shoulder as I smile. I’ll look at my other equipment choices later, it’s time for a temporary goodbye to the crew.

“Y-you want me to . . . keep the seat warm.” I nod, he’s just a kid but he’s stupidly strong. Also giving him a responsibility like this will keep the crew from betraying him because that would be betraying me . . . if they stay loyal at all. Being cursed sucks ass and I don’t want him to have to live too hard of a life because of it.

Hopefully the necklace helps out . . .

He looks up in awe before awkwardly shuffling as he seems to realize something.

“Uh C-captain?” I give a nod as my fading is almost complete.

“I’m a girl.” Time stands still as the words enter my ears, then the world around me shifts in a spiraling blur.

I blink as I stare at the boat graveyard the next words stupidly coming out of my mouth in shame.

“What?”

I look up towards the dark sky and start making my way home. I’m going to delete that embarrassing memory from my mind and pretend like it didn’t happen! Whatever I’m looking over the equipment I can choose from.

I notice the lack of non weapon options and decide i’ll take Admirals Command and Stormfall Rope whatever those are. I already have a weapon from a way harder dungeon. I don’t need another one just yet!

Speaking of the weapon I feel my grasp of it being performative in nature, but faster, more precise, and much stronger. As though my Charisma itself were flowing along my movements and strikes. 

I let out a sigh as I realize I’m covered in water and sweat, I throw my Hood on as I review my new loot and get ready to get home. Wearing it to hide my identity in case anyone is watching this place . . . weren’t there rules about that? I’ll have to ask some other Cape at some point.

[Admirals Command]

This hat increases the clarity of your words and detail behind them to those under your command. It also has resistance to wind and water in order to stay on your head at all times. 

[Stormfall Rope]

This bundle of rope is extremely durable and absorbs water to only increase its strength further, it can also be used like a whip if need be. You are given one hundred feet of it in this bundle.

I make my way back to the apartment with exhaustion clear in my steps at the new loot I’d acquired until my hooded figure is confronted by someone I really hadn’t expected to see. A pale skinned man with a white tiger mask with blue accents upon his face. A few Empire goons next to him alluding to his faction. I didn’t recognize him, but the mask itself made it clear who he was. Stormtiger, someone I’d barely remembered in Worm, but someone with powers nonetheless.

“I heard you hurt some of my boys. Mistakes happen, and I’m sure we can come to an agreement over a proper meal.”

That is the most obvious trap I’ve ever heard of in my entire goddamn life. Fuck, why did I have to end up running into these goons right after I got out of that entire adventure!

AN: For anyone curious why he didn’t get anything for saving the crew it's because they were supposed to die in this part of the ‘story’ he is experiencing. The story here was that of an edgy cursed girl who becomes an edgy cursed adult and lives life alone and sad and kills people. Now it's a story about a crew of people facing off against giant monsters and dangerous waters!

Also it looks like the Nazi’s are up to no good again! Our daring protagonist has no choice but to go fight in his exhausted state or comply with their demands!