*Lorcan Riage*
Lorcan had been dreaming of Melissa, when the boat shuck, with the ferocity of a storm raging outside. Men's voices could be heard shouting on the deck above him. He quickly swung himself out of bed and readied his clothes, grabbing his sword and strapping it to his side. A loud roar followed by the scraping of claws. Sent the ship nearly toppling over, as Lorcan was flung across his chamber into a bookshelf and narrowly dodging a barrage of knives that had been dislodged from their holster.
He ran up the stairs, clenching his sword, though still keeping it sheathed. Sooner than I expected, but no less welcome. Lorcan pushed up the door onto the deck which had been covered in nets and other crates.
The scene before him was a spectacle. It wasn't no unknown beast that they had encountered. No, it was a breed of dragon a less dominant inferior breed, but a dragon none the less. That had been driven from land centuries ago and deemed to have gone extinct, but here was one, causing problems for Lorcan and his crew. But was it a problem or simply their destiny. Because this was the point of his journey, to find the beast that was wreaking havoc upon sailors.
The deck was covered in water and Lorcan was about to engage this dreaded beast. The crew was scattered, some dead others overboard in the now black abyss of salt water all around them, never to be seen again. But Dalton was still at the forefront, steering the ship. Rain pelted down all around him, his crew and ship was falling apart. That sail with the phoenix upon it was burning and falling from it's mast.
Lorcan smiled this may be a metaphor, my ship, my crew, has fallen. But what has fallen may rise once more. Lorcan Riage the heir of the Phoenix line, had a slight golden glow in his eye, as he moved past his men to the front of the ship, he stood overlooking the waves and darkness. The Amphiptere, emerged from the water soaking Lorcan in the fresh sea water. It's dark green scales seemed magical and distant compared to what was happening to the ship, almost hypnotic in a sense. The creature was long, longer than the ship. At least three hundred meters long. Could breathe fire and had two large wings on its side. That let it soar high in the sky and deep in the ocean of The Basin of the Dead. "A beautiful thing aren't you, shame I'll have to exterminate you" his wry smile, seemed to have triggered the intelligent beast. As it opened it's mouth, Just a moment longer.
Lorcan was distracting the Amphiptere and doing a damn good job at it. As the orange light managed to appear at the back of its throat. "Nearly", Lorcan gripped his sword and prepared to run. The flickering of flames began moving out of the beasts mouth and towards him. "Now, harpoons" he commanded sliding out of the way, as the flames burned through the wooden deck in its way. The few men that were left, fired the harpoons into the beast, some at the eyes, others the scales but they shattered upon impact and, even ones lodged in the beasts mouth.
The beast thrashed it's body attempting to fly away from the pain of the steel tipped harpoons. I will bring back it's head. I will show them all. That I fulfill the prophecy. Lorcan rushed forth, just as the beast was about to fly away. His blade 'Phoenix Rage', sliced down through the tough, hard scales of the Amphiptere's neck. His sword seemed to relish the taste of Amphiptere blood and greedily bathed in it, as the rain slowly washed the death away, the former mortal enemy of the Phoenix, had fallen.
Lorcan turned to the little of his men that remained "We have lived, and that is enough, for today". The men didn't respond, they just nodded. As Lorcan made his way along the deck, barely acknowledging the damage around him and enterd his chamber, once more.
He emerged shortly after, by which time all that remained of the Amphiptere was it's head. He beckoned for Dalton, who immediately came close. "My King, you put on a fine show, for a moment I thought you were going to leave us for dead." Lorcan waved his compliment off and instead pointed at the document before him. "That Amphiptere, it was only a bloodworm", he pointed at the middle drawing of the beast. "So" Dalton said fixing his glasses. "So, if it was only a bloodworm, that says it's no more than twenty years. Which could mean, there's an elderworm out there somewhere" he pointed out at the dark ocean."You're mad, we barely managed to kill that thing and you want us to sail deeper into the Basin, in hopes of finding a dragon, that could devour the ship whole. Stupid foolish plan, and the men, why would they follow you, they have families they don't need to die pointless deaths in the middle of an ocean. We've already lost half the crew or more. I'm sorry, I'm not willing to sacrifice anymore of MY men to your dumb childish prophecy and belief." Each word was said with a bite of guilt. This old man, naive and scared, I'll show him. His thoughts were overrun with ideas of punishing Dalton, right now. No Lorcan, you need to keep your cool. I need to act competent, no man will follow me otherwise. "Listen here, men come and go, like leaves in the breeze. But I'm the King, my name will go down in legend, I'll be renowned as the Amphiptere slayer, the bringer of peace. And you'll be my crew, imagine all the fame and glory you'll find awaiting for you. It'll be boundless. Just imagine if we slay the elderworm, we'll be honoured as the heroes of an age. So what do you say?" "You may be a King, but you act like a child. I see through your petty facade. You'll keep everything for yourself. We won't be remembered. We'll be cast aside like rag dolls. So you can, fuck off" he snapped before turning away from Lorcan.
"You say that, but these men, follow the strong, and you are weak. I saved you all, you said it yourself. So bow now and all will be forgiven. Treason doesn't suit you". Lorcan stood before Dalton all high and mighty a man in his late twenties, filled with the lost idea of glory and the belief of destiny. But no man would rebuke him, not even Dalton who seemed taken back by the King's brashness. So they all kneeled before him and swore their life to him. I will surpass you forefather. Lorcan thought staring up at the sky.