Planet Zar: Nexus

⦿ Travelling from Opine to Vacillate was always a heady experience. Nothing felt quite so wonderful as several good, long weeks on the sea, just Elwis and his tidy crew of the Shining Storm enjoying the sea breeze and each other's company. No scurvy to worry about since Elwis picked up a few useful magic tricks to help the journey run smoother. Just the occasional inclement weather or nefarious sea vessel spotted on the horizon.

⦿ Elwis is particularly excited about this trip because he's meeting with an off-world envoy to whisk him away to Lands Afar.

⦿ Elwis: To bond a dragon, you know! [he says, addressing his crew]

⦿ The crew is used to his whimsy and continue their chores - or lack there of, enjoying the sunshine on their faces while they play cards.

⦿ Elwis: Of course, that means you lot will be in charge of the ship while I'm gone. I hope that won't be too much of a hardship.

⦿ Tombe: We've got it handled, captain.

⦿ Tombe is the first mate, an experienced sailor and well-liked by the crew for his clear-head. He's one of the few members that can keep the captain's enthusiasm from getting out of hand.

⦿ Elwis: Things will be quite different with a dragon onboard. For one, we won't have to worry about pesky pirates and sea monsters anymore!

⦿ Tombe: You know a dragon is going to be a lot of responsibility.

⦿ Elwis: Something a captain is quite used to!

⦿ Elwis remains chipper and somewhat oblivious to Tombe's incredulity. The crew is used to this sort of thing.

⦿ From the crow's nest, Kharl spots something incoming via the air. And it's not an airship.

⦿ Elwis tells the crew to prepare themselves and pulls out his spyglass. He spots a most terrifying sight: A massive green creature winging straight toward them. As it approaches it belches a gout of flame.

⦿ Elwis wibbles, frightened. "Oh dear."

⦿ Kharl: I don't know if it's spotted us. Might just be headed to Vacillate. Orders, Cap'n?

⦿ The crew is paying attention now, fidgeting nervous energy. The Shining Star isn't a military vessel and she's not made for any sort of fighting. There's a few cannons on the gun deck but they're not set up to follow such an agile creature, especially not in the air.

⦿ Tombe: Should we ignore it,  Captain?

⦿ Elwis would rather like to ignore it, yes, but he has strong suspicions that this is a nasty beasty and it would be terrible for it to reach Vacillate.

⦿ Elwis: I think we should engage

⦿ Tombe: You do?

⦿ Elwis: Y-yes? Yes, I think so. M-man the guns!

⦿ The crew explodes into action, racing below deck to the few measly canons. Elwis takes the helm and turns the ship parallel to the creature.

⦿ This is a very stupid thing to do, he thinks. We're very probably going to die. Of the handful of spells Elwis knows, absolutely none of them are good for combat, but a few of his crew have tricks up their sleeves. Vico rushes up to the poopdeck, sleeves pulled back to their elbows, ready to fire some explosive magic at the oncoming creature. The most worried crew members slink to Elwis. He grips their shoulders one by one and gives them a firm smile, imbuing them with a sense of heroism as magic alights through his fingers. They salute and rush below deck with the others.

⦿ The creature nears and it becomes more obvious that it's sights aren't on The Shining Star. It isheading toward Vacillate with no concern for the docks. It's an atrocious looking beastie - covered in spines and stingers with glowing red eyes right out of nightmares. It was nearly the length of the masts with a wingspan that would have enshrouded the main deck.

⦿ Vico: Eat this, you fucker!

⦿ They shoot several bolts of fire with deadly precision. The flames burst across the monster's hide and leave no evidence of damage.

⦿ Alas, this did manage to catch its attention.

⦿ It swoops around like a great green swooping thing. Smoke furls from its jagged jaws.

⦿ Vico flings another round of fire bolts toward it. It seems unperturbed.

⦿ Elwis: This isn't criticism - I would never criticize you - think of this as a helpful critique - but perhaps something other than fire might work better?

⦿ Vico snarls and shoots lightning from their palms instead.

⦿ This causes the beast to shriek. It's flapping becomes erratic and it drops several feet through the air before catching itself. It backwings upward then jets toward The Shining Star. Shrieking, it slashes its tail through the mainsails and splinters the wood of the main mast with its jaws.

⦿ Vico whirls toward it and shoots another ray of lightning at it.

⦿ The beast lifts off, rears its head back, and reins fire at the ship.

⦿ Elwis and Vico duck, covering their heads. The heat is blistering. Elwis is certain parts of the ship have caught fire.

⦿ Elwis: We need it to bugger off a bit or the cannons will never reach it

⦿ Vico: Got some suggestions for that?

⦿ Elwis: I'd say bait but honestly, I haven't-

⦿ Something smashes into the ship. It rocks hard, listing portside. Vico and Elwis yelp and grab for something to hand on to.

⦿ Vico: The fuck is happening now!

⦿ Something shrieks. Suddenly, the sun is gone and the ship is bathed in shadow.

⦿ Elwis peeks between his fingers.

⦿ A massive grey-black shape rises from the water, incomprehensibly large. Elwis has a panicked, nonsensical thought - "the ship is going to sink, what a terrible day."

⦿ More heat blooms over their heads as the green beastie shoots flames at the immense wall of black. It shrieks again and Elwis pops up to a crouch to see what's going on a bit better.

⦿ The black thing is... is some sort of... creature. It's flippers are each the size of The Shining Star. It pinches the Green Beast in its jaws, like a scrap of seaweed. The beasts shrieks and claws at it, shooting flame and stinging rapidly. The giant seacreature begins to fall back to the water and Elwis is very aware of the tidal splash that's about to cause.

⦿ He jumps to his feet to grip the wheel.

⦿ In the seconds before the monster hits the water's surface, the Green Beastie blinks out of sight. One moment, it's struggling between teeth as long as Elwis' arm, and the next it's just gone. 

⦿ The monster breaks the ocean's surface. As predicted, water geysers up and rocks The Shining Star. The ship lists dangerously portside and Elwis shouts for the crew to to come back above deck.

⦿ Something nudges the ship from starboard, righting her in the surf. The massive deluge of water has the added benefit of putting out the fires to the mast and sails. They're badly burned and will certainly need repairing or replacing once they reach Vacillate.

⦿ Elwis breathes a loud sight of relief, plucks a handkerchief from his pocket, and dabs sweat from his brow.

⦿ Kharl: Uh, Captain...

⦿ Elwis glances up, blanching.

⦿ Kharl points over starboard.

⦿ Elwis nervously edges toward the railing and peers over.

⦿ Two pearlescent eyes the size of dinner tables stare back at him from just below the surface of the water.

⦿ Elwis: Oh... oh dear

⦿ The serpent rights itself and raises its head from the water. It towers above the Shining Star.

⦿ It could swallow the ship in two bites if it wanted to.

⦿ Elwis is fairly certain he's about to faint.

⦿ Elwis: I um... thank-you?

⦿ The serpent grumbles, deep and resonant in a way Elwis feels in his bones.

⦿ Elwis: Please don't eat us?

⦿ The Serpent: Foolish

⦿ Elwis: Ah, yes, perhaps. But one can't look a baddy in the face and turn tail, not when other people are at stake, y'know?

⦿ The only response is another grumble, then the serpent sinks back below the surface. The crew watch in silence as the immense black shape trails away from them.

⦿ Kharl: A visit from the Black Serpent!

⦿ Elwis: Oh no, surely not.

⦿ Anyone who dealt with sea travel knew about the black serpent. The Eater of All. Lord of the Depths. A being that wasn't quite a god but could certainly give the lot a run for their money. A being like that wouldn't come along to save The Shining Star.

⦿ Would they?

⦿ No.

⦿ Certainly not.

⦿ Tombe: That was definitely the Black Serpent

⦿ Vico: It protects Vacillate, doesn't it? Seems like the same creature to me.

⦿ Oh dear.

⦿ Elwis promptly faints.