Chapter 3: The Raid Upon Teletus
Chapter 3: The Raid of Teletus
Janus had got word from a yellow sashed messenger that He was needed at the Ko-Ro-Ba Station just north of Rovere. The Thassan Red Dream had been docked, prepared, and ready to sail. It was another mysterious package for the Ubar of Rovere that needed to be retrieved. The Captain cared not what the package contained, for the prize He was after was aboard a Karian treasure fleet. A half dozen or so, packed to the gills with loot. When He boarded the vessel, He couldn't help but smile and remember the day it first set sail. She was beautiful. The ship was painted green, for camouflage in the vast Thassa. His sea sleen boots thudded upon the deck boards as He pulled His admirals cloak's collar about His neck. Janus wore the tall wooden helm, with sleen fur crest, the mark of a High Captain. Before long they were out in open waters. There was a breeze blowing, a choppy, stiff wind that whipped the water into froth, but the Red Dream was defiant and she swam easily like a fish in the rough water.
"Helmsmen," said Janus, "take your course four points to the starboard"
"Yes, Captain" said He.
"Oar master... we have an appointment with the treasure fleet of Port Kar."
He grinned. "Yes Captain!" said he, and the ship began to pick up speed.
The wind was very cold now, and the Red Dream shook in it, as the windward waters striking at her hull were hard and getting harder. The crew had both the stem and stern anchors up, and there was no stopping the Ram ship of Tyros. It was colder than the Thassa's heart, raining ice pitchforks as if the Skies were ready to fall. The admiral's cloak threatened to tear from Him, and He grabbed a hold of the brass railing. Her Red Dream eyes, which were painted upon her bow, stared deep into violent distance, as Thassa and Sky danced a crescendo of powerful rage. Janus had with him, brought from the cabin, the glass of the builders. The strap to which it was attached ran from his right shoulder to his left hip.
"I fear the weather, Captain," said an officer.
"The Port Kar treasure fleet has began to steer Vask-Var. They must have seen her Red Dream eyes," The Captain said with a mad grin on His face, peering through the glass with the only eye He had available."....Faster."
"Maximum beat," Said the Oar-Master to His keleustes, and the Men began to row faster.
The men rowed all through the night, baring the storm, fighting it until it had ceased. The next morning all was still, and the chase was still on, as the half dozen Karian treasure ships still kept a fifty or so passang lead on the Ram ship. Through out the day they chased, as night fall fell, and the Treasure ships, who might have thought they lost the raiders, took shelter in a inlet harbor in the nearby Island of Teletus.
"Drop the Anchors," Janus snapped, and the before long the Ram ship had slowed to a stop.
"What is it, Captain?" said the Officer.
"They have hidden in the harbor of Teletus, or so they thought," Janus said, sliding the glass down to His left hip. All was silent on the ship, as the rowing raiders took rest, but the sound of the water lapping against her wooden sides.
"We will prepare a Raid on Teletus," Captain Janus said after a long quiet pause, Resting a gloved right hand on the pommel of a thirty eight inch Saber's basket hilt.
"Yes, Captain," Said the Officer as He headed down below deck to spread the news.
That night they drank and prayed, and before the tor-tu-gor had took to the skies, they made the move to attack.
"Stroke!" and the mallets of the keleustes began to strike, in great beats, on the copper-covered drum. The big dark green sails opened full and just in time to catch the air, and the two helmsmen strained with their side rudders, bringing the ship about, heading in to port. The morning sky was a kaleidoscope of stars, with the three moons shinning their glow brightly upon the Thassan waters. Unbeknownst to the people of the Port of Teletus, and the Karian treasure ships, their quiet night was about to erupt in chaos. In the soft wake of the soothing morning, the Raiders began their siege on Teletus harbor. Silently they split in two groups, lowering a smaller long boat full of men to the water. They would row out in another direction to begin there siege on the Port, hoping to make there first strike without being spotted. They were silent. Alas, they are seen and the men upon the docks scrambled to man the catapults, archers ran to grab their weapons to defend the Harbor.
The catapults aboard the Red Dream were loaded with flaming jars of oil, as the Raiders' ship moves closer towards shore. Then finally, the Captain gave the signal for all the ships to hurl all its loads into the docks of Teletus at once. Catching the dockhands unprepared, the warehouses burst into flames, and a cheer from the Raiders aboard ship is heard as there first assault is successful. A huge stone guard tower was also caught with the burning pitch, and the cries of dying men could be heard as the heat took the structure down. It looked as if half the dock had sunk, as the flamming pitch boiled as it sank, sending steam high into the sky.
"Reload those catapults, Officer!" The Captain shouted warningly.
"Yes, Captain!" He cried as He rose His sword to signal. Archers also began expertly picking men off the wall with a ship bow's rapid fire. The smaller long boat had swooped around the opposite side, and while the Men on the docks were busy putting out the flames, They boarded first three of six vacant Karian treasure ships. The ill prepared men of Teletus attempted to fight the flames, buckets of water and wet furs to smother the fires out, as they raged from building to building. The guards manned their weapons, but the fire was so great the diversion gaves the raiding ships the edge they needed for the assault. The courage of the Teletus harbor was strong as they manmed the Port defenses. The pirates upon the ships, in a symbol of early victory, were heard laughing at the Teletus dockhands and guards.
The Red Dreams sails snapped in the wind, as the archers and spearmen prepared to dock, ready to pull free sabers once on land. Between every pair of benches on the Red Dream, behind the parapet, is a bow men firing the ship bow rapidly. Janus heard trumpets across the water and the tilted grin never left His face. Quickly the crew of the Raiders boats scrambled up onto the deck to seize a round Karian treasure ship by force. The Teletus harbor aghast at the arrogance of the Raiders on the ships, but were easily overtaken by the pirates. The ship was captured and the crew was sent overboard into the waters with a splash, the anchor lines cut free and the ship is towed to the Raiders fleet of captured ships. The Red Dreams catapults scream into action with a clatter of thunks and flaming jars of oil are once again sent through the sky towards the docks.
The Harbor Master's bellow is heard "Man the catapults, PREPARE THE FLAME PITCH!!!"
"Archers, stand in line, they couldn't possibly hit us from here." Janus laughed. The crew of raiders felt a sudden pang of fear.
The docks erupted in fire as the ballast is aimed at the center of the fleet of ships. Huge flaming bolts from the Teletus archers are sent flying into the hull, Raiders are skewered as many men on-board are hit. Screams are heard and death comes to some of the raiders as the bolts spear into them (Wilhelm scream). The smaller long boat cheered on by the crew of the first scrambled up and attacked another treasure ship of Kar, butchering the crew. The overpowered men were thrown into the Thassa, the bloodied bodies bodies turning the morning waters into a scarlet pool. The Raiders cut the ship free from the docks, the newly acquired ship then followed the other Ship and out of port. The Red Dream then began sailing a single line across the docks. Raiders on-board fired flaming cloth wrapped bolts towards the men upon the docks from rapid fire ship bows. No flag flying, no ensignia was seen upon the mast of the Raiders as they made their assault. Screams were heard as the men on the docks fell the bolts, taking more life. The docks were overrun by slaves girls carrying buckets of water and wet furs in an attempt to control the fires. The catapults on the land were then finally readied and flung the burning pitch to the ship, flames licked upon the decks of the Red Dream as the men desperately threw water upon them to quelch the fires. The dead and dying Raiders were thrown overboard as the catapults are set once again, the ship turned again make the deadly pass by the docks once more.
The crew of the small long boat prepared to climb the side of the fifth Treasure ship of Kar. Having seen their comrades go to there death, they move to take the ship with the determination only seen in bravest of warriors. The ship was taken, the Karian crew on board easily become shark and harbor eel food, and more blood covered bodies were thrown overboard adding to the already red, warm waters of the bay. The water churned a deep scarlet as sharks were seen taking chunks from the bodies of the dead and barley living. The catapults are loaded by the men of Teletus, there intention, to sink the entire fleet of Raiders and captured ships as they left the harbor. when as the last of the captured Treasure ship had been brought to the line of the captured fleet, the signal is raised and suddenly the fleet turns from the port of Teletus. The Harbor catapults are set with their flaming loads and upon the Harbor Masters signal, was flung towards the retreating ships. Although they hit the mark the flames are put out quickly. The final ships of the raiders, bring up the rear moved to skim the dock, letting the men snatch a kajira who had been putting out flames upon the dock. Tying the Teletus slave to the bow of the ship, they cheered in victory. Once clear of the Harbor the sails are risen and they disappear into the horizon. Taking with them one Round ship and two Rams, and six Karian treasure ships. In the stern quarter of the Red Dream, behind the open kitchen, the nine captured girls of Teletus were chained by the neck to the deck, to iron rings set in the heavy sanded wood. Janus took up a kurt.
"Now, Ye Sons Of The Thassa, Thank Her... For Rovere!" He shouted. The Men cheered and began the long voyage Home, back to the Ko-Ro-Ba Station with the booty. It had began to rain, and did all the next day.
Janus had got word from a yellow sashed messenger that He was needed at the Ko-Ro-Ba Station just north of Rovere. The Thassan Red Dream had been docked, prepared, and ready to sail. It was another mysterious package for the Ubar of Rovere that needed to be retrieved. The Captain cared not what the package contained, for the prize He was after was aboard a Karian treasure fleet. A half dozen or so, packed to the gills with loot. When He boarded the vessel, He couldn't help but smile and remember the day it first set sail. She was beautiful. The ship was painted green, for camouflage in the vast Thassa. His sea sleen boots thudded upon the deck boards as He pulled His admirals cloak's collar about His neck. Janus wore the tall wooden helm, with sleen fur crest, the mark of a High Captain. Before long they were out in open waters. There was a breeze blowing, a choppy, stiff wind that whipped the water into froth, but the Red Dream was defiant and she swam easily like a fish in the rough water.
"Helmsmen," said Janus, "take your course four points to the starboard"
"Yes, Captain" said He.
"Oar master... we have an appointment with the treasure fleet of Port Kar."
He grinned. "Yes Captain!" said he, and the ship began to pick up speed.
The wind was very cold now, and the Red Dream shook in it, as the windward waters striking at her hull were hard and getting harder. The crew had both the stem and stern anchors up, and there was no stopping the Ram ship of Tyros. It was colder than the Thassa's heart, raining ice pitchforks as if the Skies were ready to fall. The admiral's cloak threatened to tear from Him, and He grabbed a hold of the brass railing. Her Red Dream eyes, which were painted upon her bow, stared deep into violent distance, as Thassa and Sky danced a crescendo of powerful rage. Janus had with him, brought from the cabin, the glass of the builders. The strap to which it was attached ran from his right shoulder to his left hip.
"I fear the weather, Captain," said an officer.
"The Port Kar treasure fleet has began to steer Vask-Var. They must have seen her Red Dream eyes," The Captain said with a mad grin on His face, peering through the glass with the only eye He had available."....Faster."
"Maximum beat," Said the Oar-Master to His keleustes, and the Men began to row faster.
The men rowed all through the night, baring the storm, fighting it until it had ceased. The next morning all was still, and the chase was still on, as the half dozen Karian treasure ships still kept a fifty or so passang lead on the Ram ship. Through out the day they chased, as night fall fell, and the Treasure ships, who might have thought they lost the raiders, took shelter in a inlet harbor in the nearby Island of Teletus.
"Drop the Anchors," Janus snapped, and the before long the Ram ship had slowed to a stop.
"What is it, Captain?" said the Officer.
"They have hidden in the harbor of Teletus, or so they thought," Janus said, sliding the glass down to His left hip. All was silent on the ship, as the rowing raiders took rest, but the sound of the water lapping against her wooden sides.
"We will prepare a Raid on Teletus," Captain Janus said after a long quiet pause, Resting a gloved right hand on the pommel of a thirty eight inch Saber's basket hilt.
"Yes, Captain," Said the Officer as He headed down below deck to spread the news.
That night they drank and prayed, and before the tor-tu-gor had took to the skies, they made the move to attack.
"Stroke!" and the mallets of the keleustes began to strike, in great beats, on the copper-covered drum. The big dark green sails opened full and just in time to catch the air, and the two helmsmen strained with their side rudders, bringing the ship about, heading in to port. The morning sky was a kaleidoscope of stars, with the three moons shinning their glow brightly upon the Thassan waters. Unbeknownst to the people of the Port of Teletus, and the Karian treasure ships, their quiet night was about to erupt in chaos. In the soft wake of the soothing morning, the Raiders began their siege on Teletus harbor. Silently they split in two groups, lowering a smaller long boat full of men to the water. They would row out in another direction to begin there siege on the Port, hoping to make there first strike without being spotted. They were silent. Alas, they are seen and the men upon the docks scrambled to man the catapults, archers ran to grab their weapons to defend the Harbor.
The catapults aboard the Red Dream were loaded with flaming jars of oil, as the Raiders' ship moves closer towards shore. Then finally, the Captain gave the signal for all the ships to hurl all its loads into the docks of Teletus at once. Catching the dockhands unprepared, the warehouses burst into flames, and a cheer from the Raiders aboard ship is heard as there first assault is successful. A huge stone guard tower was also caught with the burning pitch, and the cries of dying men could be heard as the heat took the structure down. It looked as if half the dock had sunk, as the flamming pitch boiled as it sank, sending steam high into the sky.
"Reload those catapults, Officer!" The Captain shouted warningly.
"Yes, Captain!" He cried as He rose His sword to signal. Archers also began expertly picking men off the wall with a ship bow's rapid fire. The smaller long boat had swooped around the opposite side, and while the Men on the docks were busy putting out the flames, They boarded first three of six vacant Karian treasure ships. The ill prepared men of Teletus attempted to fight the flames, buckets of water and wet furs to smother the fires out, as they raged from building to building. The guards manned their weapons, but the fire was so great the diversion gaves the raiding ships the edge they needed for the assault. The courage of the Teletus harbor was strong as they manmed the Port defenses. The pirates upon the ships, in a symbol of early victory, were heard laughing at the Teletus dockhands and guards.
The Red Dreams sails snapped in the wind, as the archers and spearmen prepared to dock, ready to pull free sabers once on land. Between every pair of benches on the Red Dream, behind the parapet, is a bow men firing the ship bow rapidly. Janus heard trumpets across the water and the tilted grin never left His face. Quickly the crew of the Raiders boats scrambled up onto the deck to seize a round Karian treasure ship by force. The Teletus harbor aghast at the arrogance of the Raiders on the ships, but were easily overtaken by the pirates. The ship was captured and the crew was sent overboard into the waters with a splash, the anchor lines cut free and the ship is towed to the Raiders fleet of captured ships. The Red Dreams catapults scream into action with a clatter of thunks and flaming jars of oil are once again sent through the sky towards the docks.
The Harbor Master's bellow is heard "Man the catapults, PREPARE THE FLAME PITCH!!!"
"Archers, stand in line, they couldn't possibly hit us from here." Janus laughed. The crew of raiders felt a sudden pang of fear.
The docks erupted in fire as the ballast is aimed at the center of the fleet of ships. Huge flaming bolts from the Teletus archers are sent flying into the hull, Raiders are skewered as many men on-board are hit. Screams are heard and death comes to some of the raiders as the bolts spear into them (Wilhelm scream). The smaller long boat cheered on by the crew of the first scrambled up and attacked another treasure ship of Kar, butchering the crew. The overpowered men were thrown into the Thassa, the bloodied bodies bodies turning the morning waters into a scarlet pool. The Raiders cut the ship free from the docks, the newly acquired ship then followed the other Ship and out of port. The Red Dream then began sailing a single line across the docks. Raiders on-board fired flaming cloth wrapped bolts towards the men upon the docks from rapid fire ship bows. No flag flying, no ensignia was seen upon the mast of the Raiders as they made their assault. Screams were heard as the men on the docks fell the bolts, taking more life. The docks were overrun by slaves girls carrying buckets of water and wet furs in an attempt to control the fires. The catapults on the land were then finally readied and flung the burning pitch to the ship, flames licked upon the decks of the Red Dream as the men desperately threw water upon them to quelch the fires. The dead and dying Raiders were thrown overboard as the catapults are set once again, the ship turned again make the deadly pass by the docks once more.
The crew of the small long boat prepared to climb the side of the fifth Treasure ship of Kar. Having seen their comrades go to there death, they move to take the ship with the determination only seen in bravest of warriors. The ship was taken, the Karian crew on board easily become shark and harbor eel food, and more blood covered bodies were thrown overboard adding to the already red, warm waters of the bay. The water churned a deep scarlet as sharks were seen taking chunks from the bodies of the dead and barley living. The catapults are loaded by the men of Teletus, there intention, to sink the entire fleet of Raiders and captured ships as they left the harbor. when as the last of the captured Treasure ship had been brought to the line of the captured fleet, the signal is raised and suddenly the fleet turns from the port of Teletus. The Harbor catapults are set with their flaming loads and upon the Harbor Masters signal, was flung towards the retreating ships. Although they hit the mark the flames are put out quickly. The final ships of the raiders, bring up the rear moved to skim the dock, letting the men snatch a kajira who had been putting out flames upon the dock. Tying the Teletus slave to the bow of the ship, they cheered in victory. Once clear of the Harbor the sails are risen and they disappear into the horizon. Taking with them one Round ship and two Rams, and six Karian treasure ships. In the stern quarter of the Red Dream, behind the open kitchen, the nine captured girls of Teletus were chained by the neck to the deck, to iron rings set in the heavy sanded wood. Janus took up a kurt.
"Now, Ye Sons Of The Thassa, Thank Her... For Rovere!" He shouted. The Men cheered and began the long voyage Home, back to the Ko-Ro-Ba Station with the booty. It had began to rain, and did all the next day.