Time had passed since their spree had finally come to an end. The fleet was weighted down to capacity with silver, gold and all things of value. The wood groaned and Styrk was too enthusiastic about the great succes that he ignored the woodworkers onboard responsible for maintaining the wyrmship. A man with a fair bush of hair on top of his shaven head rose up his chin, his sunbaked face wrinkled as he spoke, he was named Thorkel, "We're falling behind on the fleet Styrk! The ship is overloaded!" Styrk was sharing sweet nothings to his slave, nothing he said she seemed to understand, "Can't you see I'm talking to my new mistress? Hueheh!" And the rest of the fleet was speeding on it's way. "We need to drop some of the cargo Styrk, the sea is too unsteady these past few hours and the weight is putting too much strain on the hull.", a broad man with a red beard that sprouted in all directions out of his face named Edgar said. Styrk had only shrugged his shoulders and responded, "It's only a few more hours and we reach the shore. I won't have any coin lost to us when we're so close." A while later Behemund, a towering giant with a deep cut in one cheek and several more on his hairy forearms spoke to Styrk, "The ship is starting to leak Styrk.. It would've been nothing to think of on a calm sea.. but the waves.." Styrk had waved it off, "Just an hour or two more.. We will be on our way to Dale before anything happens!"
An hour later dark clouds were looming in the distance and a great pillar of lightning struck downwards. A great gale came from the west!
"I TOLD YOU STYRK!!", Edgar shouted over his shoulder, furious that he had been ignored! The great wind had sent them off course, the ship spinning over the water while men desperately were trying to row against the propelling motion! Water came pouring from the heavens and battered the flank of the hull! "YOU KILLED US!!", Thorkel bleated in both fear and anger! Behemund roared furiously as the woodwork under his feet was starting to rip apart.. "I WILL HAVE YOUR HEAD BEFORE WE DROWN!!" The giant pulled his shortsword out of the scabbard and through the panicking crew he began pushing his way towards their leader.. Styrk released the rope as he was helping to pull up the sail, he drew his own sword, "I MADE YOU RICH YOU UNGRATEFUL - !!", the others couldn't hold it anymore and a man was flying up in the air, holding onto the rope for dear life while the sail came down and ripped apart! Behemund struck towards Styrk.. on the slippery deck there was no way to hold any decent footing however and with a buckle caused by the waves every swordswing went nowhere! Forstrang looked positively green from seasickness .. "Wraarghh.. stupid water...!!", he grumbled as he recieved a mouthful of the salty spray! "Haha! Maybe now your breathe won't stink so much!!", Uxinn roared with laughter, seemingly oblivious to the impending doom that was to befall them all! Another wave came crashing in and several oars were lost, causing cries of despair to come out of the men, "We're done for!!", one of the men shrieked! "We were so close!!", another complained, not believing their misfortune! Bjorstein had taken his chance to go for the stash on the ship.. he threw open a chest and scooped what he could up from it in one of his pouches! He turned to glare with his blue eyes on one of the men that was laughing bitterly at him, "Think you can buy your way out of this?", the smile vanished and the man's face took on a more miserable and furious expression, "You thief!" "Try to kill me you dog!", Bjorstein replied coldly as both men drew their weapons!
Styrk and Behemund lost one another for a moment in the disarray.. Believing his final days had counted he found himself well at ease to die with such spoils and after such great deeds done well. He even managed to let out a cheer, "Gods take us then!!" Then as if they had answered his call the ship was tearing in two, water spilled in immediately to weight down boots and envelop those that slipped within! Behemund reappeared, he jumped towards Styrk before the man could react yet a plank snapped loose and hit the giant halfway.. with a gasp and a crack muffled by the sound of breaking and yelling he was flung into the water.. Meanwhile Bjorstein was leaning over his former companion,.. he rose up a hand in defense, but the man simply stabbed through it and further into his shoulder.. The man gurgled and Bjorstein replied with a fierce look on his face, "Drown on that..", before the ship splintered completely.. Styrk vanished underwater.. as did Bjorstein that fell down with his back first.. Men spilled from the hull's remains.. Forstrang looked pale now.., "HOW SWIM?!!", he roared as another bucket's worth of water came splashing over him! Uxinn had somehow managed to hold on to his oar, "Just hold on to something!!", the man replied then jumped into the waves hugging the oar like a lover.. and he vanished underneath soon after! Forstrang seemed to be the last, he puked up some of the salty water and looked around... only in the last moment he could see Styrk's slave clutching at where the mast had broken in two. She yelped when Forstrang suddenly appeared alongside her, in her panic letting go and vanished in the storm. The brute watched her for a moment.. then turned his head and lay it flat on the wood. He curled his limbs around it like one of the queer creatures he had seen leaping from tree to tree on his journey east, "Wrargrhhblrgrh..."
