“I heard that you behaved badly when you were inside our host’s palace… Even back in Ulthuan that would be the pinnacle of bad manners and whispers of what you done may reduce your reputation.” Teclis continued to meditate whilst berating his student. “You should be lucky that the Treasurer dismissed your foolish actions.”

“No Asurian would even listen to a human. Let alone believe them over me.” Athelmar spat back and gritted his teeth. “He deserved it. He was intentionally making an unfair deal. We had to pay a lot just for those supplies! It was unnecessary and greedy.”

Teclis clicked his tongue. “Humans tend to be like that. Opportunists and – “

“Yes exactly!” Teclis’ student butted in and looked quite vindicated. For once in his life he had proven his master wrong. He hoped that Teclis would stop harbouring these strange feelings for them and treat them with suspicion and caution.

“Don’t interrupt me. Like I said, they are opportunists and likes to grab on to every advantage they can get. That’s the main reason why humans nowadays are soaring. Give it a few centuries, maybe a millennium and they may just eclipse us. Just like you said. As far as we know they could evenly number the skaven or the greenskins.” He opened his eyes and calmly stared at his student. A hint of disappointment masking his face which made Athelmar slightly squirm. “You made a mistake somewhere in the negotiation that caused Lord Hervig to exploit it. Because of that we’re now several thousands of gold fewer. Tell me, young one, were you ever grateful during those negotiations?”

Athelmar twiddled his fingers and his knees started to shake. “I-I guess I was a bit surprised when he said that they were giving us all the supplies in those druchii ships…”

The Loremaster placed his clenched fist over his mouth in an attempt to hide his laughter. “That would explain it. Did you feel obligated to accept any deal after that?” He asked when knowing the answer.

“Of course. Accepting such generosity from an inferior is unacceptable! The Asur can’t be seen as ungrateful and dishonourable curs. We, as the Eldest Race, have standards!” Athelmar ranted the High Elves arrogant dogma.

Teclis grunted at that and regretted appointing his ‘young’ student as the negotiator alone. He should’ve stayed and provoked Athelmar to intimidate this Treasurer, but he didn’t. He thought he was sufficiently cowed when they arrived at that harbour. Teclis shouldn’t have underestimated him. I thought he was scared when Athelmar shouted and slightly sheathed his claymore. He must have acted it. Or he knew how we Asurians like to do before any deals are negotiated.

Instead of being by Athelmar’s side, he looked around New Altdorf to search for the mysterious magic. He didn’t know why but he felt it strongly resonating in that city. He searched the city, from ‘slums’ to affluent neighbourhoods, but it was all in vain. He tried to deploy scrying magics, but it all pointed towards the deepest parts of Lustria and towards the Turtle Isles. Not one pointed at the city.

Ashamed and disheartened he stopped meditating and stood up and confronted his student. “I should’ve been by your side when you were with him.” He placed his hands on his shoulders. “I’ll take full responsibilities. I shouldn’t have left you alone.” He prioritised his fickle flight of fancy of discovering ‘new’ magics instead of the fleet’s wellbeing. Now he’s paying the price. Thousands of Lothern gold to be exact. “But it was still inappropriate to draw your sword in our host’s palace. Even when no one would care. Like you said, Asurians have standards.”

“Yes master… For that I apologise.”

“Well, it’s now too late to say sorry! You should’ve done that when we were back there. Not out here…” He squinted at his map and was incredulous when he saw the name of the coast that they were travelling on. “Vampire Coast…” I paid ten Lothern gold for this! ‘Vampire Coast’ really! You would think that a drunkard did this map, but it looks quite professional. Too professional. The cartographer’s shop, where I brought this ridiculous map, looked quite affluent as well. Teclis slammed his hands on the map in anger which caused Athelmar to nervously step back.

“Loremaster… Is everything alright?”

“I’ve just brought a faulty map that’s all.”

Sudden heavy footsteps rang out across the ship and both immediately took notice and looked out the window.

From the distant horizon they saw silhouettes that blocked out the sun. The Loremaster unconsciously gulped and loosened his collar. He put on his armour and rushed out of the cabin followed by Lord Athelmar.

Several civilians crowding around the gangway blocked their way when Athelmar abruptly demanded, “Make way for the High Loremaster of Hoeth! The brother of Prince Tyrion!” Both were relieved as dozens moved to the side. They ran towards the upper decks where they met Captain Isil.

“What seems to be the problem Isil?” Teclis said whilst controlling his breath. He took a glance again towards the black silhouettes and noticed that they were getting closer.

“It seems to be pirates, Loremaster. They seem to number by the dozens by the looks of it.” Isil bit his lip and walked towards the flag bearers. “Oy lads! Why aren’t the other ships going in formation! I’ve just ordered them to do so!”

“Apologies capt’n! It’s just taking a while for the other novice Captains to do.”

Teclis perked his ears at that and wanted to ask what was going on but was beaten by his student. “Captain Isil, what orders are you trying to relay towards the rest of the fleet?”

“Lord Athelmar, this seems to be a threat much higher than the skavens and other pirates that dared to strike against us. Those ships seem to be intentionally going towards us instead of targeting the more vulnerable merchant ships. So, I’m ordering for those ships with large numbers of civilians to gather round the middle whereas our war galleys and clippers surround them.” Isil ranted as he desperately tried to wipe his sweat from his forehead and nape. “I don’t think they’re looking for loot or plunder. I think they’re looking for a fight.”

They’re not normal pirates then. The piddling amounts intelligence we got from here should suggest that this area is devoid of any civilisation. Looks like there is civilisation here. Just full of piracy and villainy. “How many ships can we spare to attack them away from the vulnerable ships, captain?”

Isil was confused and fixed him with a hard stare but realised that he was serious, and he relented by answering what ought to be a stupid question. “Loremaster… We can’t. We’ll stand a better chance if we concentrate our ships and pepper them with eagle bolts. Even the ships with civilians have eagle bolt throwers that we can use to ward them off.”

Teclis willed ‘Aethyr’ and casted a spell towards the doubtful captain which caused him to suffer a brief bout of dizziness and delirium and swiftly fell on his backside. Isil steadied his eyesight and blinked a few more times. Seconds passed but for him it felt like minutes and was helped to his feet by lord Athelmar. “Apologies for that my good captain. I should’ve warned you in advance. But fret not. Despite its strong side effects, it also gives you good eyesight and you can see many miles away as if it were close to you. The magic I used falls to what humans call the Winds of Hysh, the White wind or the lore of Light. The spell is called ‘Ward of Sight.’” He ranted which prompted Athelmar to look at him with deep admiration, and took a black parchment book out of his surcoat and started to take notes down.

Isil bit down an angry retort towards the Prince’s twin brother and used his newfound powers and looked towards the upcoming fleet.

Ships that looked dead with algae and seaweed clinging into its rotten wooden walls. Barnacles and all sorts of sickly brown corrals littered its entire deck. Many had aftcastles riddled with overgrown trees sticking out of it with its roots spreading towards the rest of the ship. The head Captain focused on the blurry people on the ship carrying what looks like those sulphur tube weapons favoured by humans. Some had big ones and he nearly gaped when he saw the big ones. Great tubes that occupied half of the ship they’re on. “Th-those look like human weapons…”

“Exactly. Those humans call the small ones ‘handguns’ the medium length ones as a ‘great cannon’ and those massive cannons… I don’t have a clue. It seems like it was made by dwarves but… I’ve seen dwarven machinery and they all looked clean and tidy. That isn’t…” He contemplated even more and decided to push the hard truth towards the captain. “Human weaponry tends to outrange our bows and our bolt throwers.” I need to tread carefully here. Isil probably holds more traditional and conservative values than Athelmar. “It doesn’t mean that our weapons are inferior. It just means that we need to get a little closer. If they start shooting us, it may kill the civilian ships that we are trying to protect.”

Isil wanted to reject Teclis, but he saw the reasoning behind his logic. Reluctantly he signalled for the flag bearers to order the dragonships and the hawkships and some clippers to advance towards the enemy ships. He scratched his head and decided to answer the question that’s been bothering him. “Loremaster Teclis? I could see everything in detail except for the people on those ships. They looked blurred out.”

“It’s because it only allows you to see material objects and living…” He quickly ran down towards his cabin and left a startled captain and student. He kicked his door open and spread the map once again. That’s why I couldn’t see them properly! Those people on those ships aren’t alive! He repeatedly read the coast that they were on. ‘Vampire Coast’. But what kind of vampire? Are those sylvanians or lahmians? His pounding heart nearly broke his ribs as he dreaded what happened to those scout ships, he sent earlier. They may have died without Asuryan’s will! He mourned and prayed for their deaths and hoped for their souls to be collected by the Cytharai. He went up again and told the two of his findings. Both weren’t sure how to react and just stoically stood and nodded.

As the opposing fleet got closer the elves were shocked and confused to hear singing and chanting. They braced for incoming magic and some mages casted wards of resistance towards the soldiers and themselves, thinking that their singing was a prelude to a greater magical spell. They prepared for the inevitable, but nothing happened.

Instead the chanting got louder and much clearer.

“Ah! Ah! The blood runs cold!

“We take our loot but don’t get old!

“Yo! Yo! Ho, ho, ho!

“All hail the mighty,

“He’s rising from the deep,

“With tattered sails,

“And incredible tails,

“We’re caught in endless seas!”

All the opposing ships quickly turned to their port until they were almost perpendicular with the oncoming elven ships. Sharp and high pitch cracks emanated from their sides and spewed out cannonballs along with tonnes of smoke that obscured them.

Large spouts of water landed next to the aftcastle where Teclis was and displaced large volumes of water which soaked all of them. They got off lucky as several ships took damage, as their masts buckled down and swiftly collapsing. Some of their golden phoenix figureheads were shot and sunk.

“Order the indentured servants to row faster! Give them some ‘encouragement’ if needed. Loremaster! Can I have the mages specialising in wind to give us a burst of air! If we don’t reach them; they may reach us when we’re sinking!”

Teclis complied and ordered his mages throughout the rest of the fleet to use the winds of Azyr, the lore of the heavens to bring about wind that the fleet needed. Bright and colourful strands of magic seeped out of him and within seconds his orders were relayed. Sudden gale force came out of nowhere and carried the elven fleet towards their adversaries.

Sensing a rounded ball coming his way, Teclis quickly ducked down and sighed in relief as it hit the water behind him. He went towards the railings and looked down out of curiosity. Dozens of paddles stretched out from the ship and pushed the ship forwards. He couldn’t help feeling guilty. If those humans back in New Altdorf knew that we had ‘slaves’, they would’ve kicked us out of their port as soon as possible. He suppressed his guilt and focused back on the battlefield. He realised that the bolt throwers were being loaded and ready to fire.

Dozens of bolts were loosed in the air, most were set on fire, and landed against several of the undead’s ship. He, along with several mages and Lord Athelmar, casted fireballs and released it towards the vampire’s fleets causing several of their ships to burst out. Their gunpowder storage being lit and promptly exploding causing their aged and dying ships to burst out in a hail of wooden debris hitting friend and foe without discrimination.

Annoyed and wanting to retaliate, the undead ships fired another broadside and this time stopped a few of the elven ships, one of them being a dragonship.

“Impossible! Those ships are made out of starwood straight from the Anhara Draconis! They should’ve been impenetrable by human weapons!” Isil shouted with incredulity disguising his fear.

Teclis calmy surveyed the rest of the naval engagement and was satisfied when a few of the eagleships released more fire bolts. He took the time to rebuke his captain. “Isil, they may have been already capable to break our ships and perhaps sink them. We just haven’t fought them yet.”

“But my prince! We’ve been attacked by humans, numerous times as we traversed the Great Ocean.” Isil relented and indulged the leader of the elven Expedition after he noticed the swift and manoeuvrable hawkships flanking the zombie fleet. He knew that victory as assured.

“Those were pirates not using the latest advances that the Empire of Man has done to increase their weapon’s lethality. Don’t be too sure next time. For arrogance will only kill us quicker as we settle the untamed lands of west Lustria. We may encounter hostile natives and we must never underestimate them the same way you underestimate humans. Do I make myself clear?” Teclis mimicked his twin brother and was glad when the insolent captain wavered. Isil quickly bowed his head and muttered what Teclis wanted to hear. People should never equate my sympathies for humans as weakness…

This may be one of the many obstacles that were going to face. And I’m no longer going to tolerate my subordinates challenging my authority because that may cause our demise. Through our demise, the world will fall to Chaos.

The Loremaster then gazed across the battle and saw several companies of white chrace lions boarding the rotting ships. He noticed a large and disgusting ship fleeing the battle with many other ships following behind it. Must be the flagship leading a bunch of cowardly captains.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Admiral Huan della Varez screamed at the necromancer and pulled more of his white hair off his head. “Oy! Necro! Can’t ye hurry those zombies of yers please! Those elven ships are on our heels! Chant some spell to make ‘em row faster!”

The Necromancer tried to straighten his hunched back and faced the admiral. His wrinkled face hiding a frown. “Admiral… I’m doing my best. Dark magic does not flow here as much as the rest of the Vampire coast. However, I could summon more zombies, but I do need more blood. Sacrifices can remedy that…” The aristocratic dark wizard twiddled his fingers as he couldn’t contain his excitement. He was ecstatic when he could finally use one of the high elves that they’ve captured to prolong his life. Oh, and summon more zombies for the estalian admiral.

Huan bared his long fangs at him and hissed. “Those elves are not for use! They’re more valuable alive than dead.” He menacingly stared at him and walked over to him and planted his head near his ears. “I also heard some interestin’ rumours… That yer close to death. How interestin’ isn’t it? I advise you to summon more zombies otherwise we're all dead.”

The ageing man shrieked and stood frozen for a couple of seconds. He hesitated and attempted to risk fate. “U-under one condition… I get to have one of those ‘mistwalkers’.” He tried to stymy his tremor and stopped his eyes widening, but it was all for nought as he violently flinched when the vampire planted his hands on his shoulders.

“Sure! Ye can have one of ‘em. Anythin’ for an old friend! Now get summoning! I know this area well and many sorcerers have served under me that I won’t be fooled again!”

His galleon, Gran Doncella, sailed at a greater speed and noticed more of the lucky galleons and caravels that have managed to evade those elven ships. He grinned and was happy with his captains skills in naval engagements. Looks like my children are growing fast! They learn from the best after all! He looked back towards the unfortunate ships being boarded and sighed in disappointment. They’re no longer my children. Can’t even evade those knife-ears!

Satisfied with how far they gotten, he decided to indulge his lust and came towards the lower decks. Towards the ship’s dungeon where the elven captives were. He smiled and licked his lips as he gazed with lust towards an elven maiden. He picked her up and checked if her binds were still holding her hands and legs together. “Hello there, lass! What did ye call yerself again. ‘Sisters of Averlorn’?” He pointed her body towards her other ‘sisters’ and several of them defiantly stared at him. Huan noticed that some of the elven spearman kicked and writhed against their bonds as if trying to rescue ‘their ladies’. Picking up the lass, he presented her to them and was rewarded by their ‘righteous’ glare and muffled screaming. “They’re no longer yers knife-ears!” He maniacally laughed and accidently dropped the bonded beauty. “Oops, didn’t mean that. But I do need one of yous! One of the male rangers. Not the women. Too valuable. This is punishment fer not givin’ us the information about the number of ships those comrades of yers were sendin’ along.”

He was annoyed at this blatant attempt to withhold information. They need some punishment! The estalian admiral kicked the woman’s stomach causing her to expel some air. He kicked her over and over again until she was frothing from her mouth. I could’ve had more elves! Maybe a couple of hundreds of them! They could’ve sold well at Pox Marsh and towards the deeper hinterlands of Lustria like Xahutec.

“I’ll continue to kick until she’s dead! I’ll stop if one you volunteers!” He feinted a kick and was delighted when a few dozen of them wiggled about. “Let’s see… You wiggled first!” Varez picked the blond-haired elf and dragged him out and cackled with laughter as his face was lacerated by the wooden planks. “Oops! Shoulda told those zombies to come and fix the nails up in these floors. Ye have to forgive me, zombies aren’t the best when it comes to buildin’ a mighty galleon like Doncella!”

If I had a few more elves maybe I could become rich enough and use that money to steal one of Luthor’s relics! I heard that he has one of those Lizard-thing relics that lets the user directly command tens of thousands of troops! If I had that maybe I could become the Vampire Pirate King and replace Luthor…I could carve out my own kingdom and enslave those cold-blooded lizards! He giggled and coughed. Plans for the future… But I’ll make it come true. Decades of serving that fool has left a poor taste in my mouth. It’s only natural for the children to overcome and succeed their parents!

The vampire’s mind wandered to the captains of the doomed ships… The most eager of his children volunteering to fight in the front. He realised that the most eager tend to be the most ambitious. The most ambitious more likely to look at his title as an admiral with hungry eyes. Looks like a minor setback has done me some good after all. I’m not sure if Stromfels cursed or gave his blessing towards me. He coughed out violently and delivered the elf to the necromancer. He eyed him with suspicion and hoped that giving him a sacrifice and blackmailing him would make him loyal. Probably not. But something close to loyal should suffice me.

“Enjoy ‘im Necro! Hopefully, these mystical pointy ears are enough to make you young and not look disgusting.” Huan needed him for any potential rebellion against his father. You shouldn’t have given me the blood kiss, Luthor Harkon.

The Necromancer smirked as he stared at the helpless elf. He quickly drew a circular ritual and engraved some kind of runes inside them. Minutes later he chanted unintelligibly, and black tendrils spawned out of the circle and quickly grabbed the elf. The tendrils brutally pulsated and sucked the elf’s life essence away causing the sacrificed elf to look with horror as his skin turned pale, then it wrinkled. Slowly, his life ebbed away and his body crumbled to dust.

A younger man emerged out of the ritual. His wrinkles were gone, and his receded brown hair came back. “I thank you Admiral Huan. I don’t know how I can repay you…”

The admiral snorted and laughed. “There’s nay problem Necro. Ye will start to repay yer debt very soon…”