Siren's Call

It was the third day from Aurincia and the sun was shining down brillantly on the Southern Stream. I had already performed my morning rituals, setting wards against squalls and making offerings for fair winds. East was a tricky direction, but so far the winds had been favorable. Content, I curled my toes happily against the deck as I listened to Vixi relate an amusing tale of her first solo sailing adventure to the captain and myself. I was wiping tears of laughter from my eyes when the music started.

It was a strange sound, beautiful yet haunting, otherworldy and all encompassing. It seemed to come from everywhere and no where all at once, like it was piped directly into our heads. The captain got a strange look in his eye as he pushed past me and headed toward the bow of the ship. I could feel the ship turning underneath me as sailors drew in some sails and loosened others. Their work was completed in short while and they joined the captain on the bow, dreamly looking toward the horizon. I could also see Rhegar, Garn, and Travis among them.

Vixi and I were soon joined on deck by Kyri, Kalena, and Markas. The paladin had been in the middle of a meditation when the music had started and was unaffected, unlike every other man on the ship. The five of us gathered on the quarterdeck, to attempt to figure out what to do.

"Well Tavia and I know enough about sailing to know what needs to be done, we just don't have the hands needed to do it. The only way we'll turn this ship east again is if we can free at least part of the crew." Vixi stated. "We're sure it's sirens?" asked Markas. I shrugged, "Don't really think it could be anything else." "Okay then let's see if I can help them shake it off." "Start with the captain," Kyri told the paladin, "He would know the most about the waters and moving the ship."

Markas made his way to the captain and after some hushed whispering the captain shook his head, as if waking from a long nap. It didn't take take much explination to get the captain appraised of the situation. He stood on the upperdeck and extended his telescope south. "It's sirens for sure. I can see the rocks they want to crash us on straight south." Kalena's eyes went wide. "Will we crash soon?" she asked timidly. "Nay lass, we should have an hour or so before we hit." "What are our options then?" Kyri asked, ever the responsible one. "Without the crew to trim the sails, not much. I can clap the ship in irons, but the current is still headed south." Markas headed back toward the crowd on the forecastle. "Well if we have an hour, I'll see if I can use the same trick to free our lads and the crew." I nodded to the captain respectfully and followed Markas saying "I've got to have something I can use to help you."

Markas managed to free Rhegar first, and the two paladins managed to free Travis, Garn, and eight of the crew before the hour was up. They subdued the remaining 12 crew members and Captain Raccan hauled the ship around, dropping the anchor. The current would eventually push the Southern Stream into the rocky reef, but it would hold for the time being as long as the enspelled crew was kept away from the sails and capstan.

Loading ourselves into the long boat, we headed for the rocks. Skeletons of less fortunate ships could be seen in the shallow waters. A narrow rocky beach clung to the small rocky island and several caves could be seen in the black wall. Near the east end of the beach, the deck of a large schooner sloped out of the water, he masts and rotting rigging blocking access to the far side of the beach. On the beach itself sat two sirens and ten enchanted sailors. The deck seemed to be our best option for reaching the beach, as it could provide a small bit of cover.

Rhegar and Markas jumped onto the deck first, forming a wall for our long range attacks. Kyri fired with her long bow, picking off archers, and Kalena dropped fireballs onto the clusters created by the elf's tactics. The sirens hissed and spit, angry at the loss of their prey. With renewed force, they sang out, finally capturing Markas in their spell. Dazed, he took a swing at the wizard and was lucky to only hit a glancing blow. As soon as Markas was free, Rhegar was enspelled again. His attack caught me even as I sent out a healing spell to strengthen him. I shook off the attack and returned my attention to the shoreline. By now only four of the sailors remained. Under orders, they grabbed the screaming sirens and dissappeared into the caves. Knowing full well that the sirens would need to be killed in order to free the Stream, we gave chase.