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The last trapdoor on the stern deck, you block yourself, pulling a body over the hatch as you pull it closed. The hold underneath is dark and smells of leather – you see rows and rows of pelts and hides loosely strung up from the beams – oxen, sheep, goat - you think you spot a bear hide in the deeper shadows.
You immediately hate your environs – everywhere, there are swaying furs and leathers, and you have no range of vision at all. The chaos above is building to a crescendo - the wails of the pirates takes a keening turn, the sound of men realizing that they will never see their homes or children again. The deck above thunders with heavy footfalls - men rapidly arranging their position. Your ear effortlessly translates the cacophony - the battle has ended, and the slaughter of the survivors has begun.
To your left, Pollux wordlessly readies his spear and shield, silently mouthing to you – <span class="mu-i">stay quiet! stay to my right!</span> and you do your best to follow his lead, stepping as lightly as you can. As you prowl up the hold’s central axis, towards the bow, shield raised – you catch the faint scent of smoke, causing your heart to pound – fire aboard this ship of pitched oak would spread quickly.
You pick up your pace, brushing aside the animal skins, as does Pollux, his egg-white helm clearly visible in the gloom. You're practically shoulder-to-shoulder in this confined space... Between cautious strides, you hear the sound of a sandal striking the wood - and you are too slow to react.
A bronze sword in the dark, flashing at Pollux's neck - but he is just faster, his shield raising high enough to deflect the plunging blade away from his neck, the sound like a ringing bell. The man holding the blade, is clearly Kyrtios, with the height and clean limbs of noble heritage. He is wide-eyed with adrenaline, grimacing painfully in the realization that he is outnumbered. His own bronze buckler is held tightly against his right shoulder - his grip upon his sword is natural. The man is a trained swordsman, and to your surprise, you see that his eyes are gold-flecked as well.
<span class="mu-i">A man of divine heritage!</span>
Before he can move, Pollux is countering with his own spear-thrust, the point singing in the air as it dives towards Kyrtios' lower abdomen - Kyrtios bats at the attack with his blade but Pollux's grip is iron, piercing the thinner bronze plating on Kyrtios' side. You're still preparing to strike yourself as Pollux withdraws his own spear, releasing a huge gusher of blood from Kyrtios. Kyrtios stumbles backwards, dropping his sword to press his wound shut - the flow of blood already slowing as his divine flesh knits together.
Pollux advances towards Kyrtios, murder in his eyes - you have only a split-second to intervene!
>Stop Pollux and persuade him to spare Kyrtios - if this wins, a difficult CHA check will be required.
>Allow Pollux to murder Kyrtios - he has earned his death many times over today
>first vote to respond wins!
