Evolution: A Warlock’s Rise To Power

Lucan's ship began to edge closer to the first pirate ship.  Arrows, spells, and musket balls began to fly back and forth between both ships.

The angles of the two vessels were off set so Lucan didn't have to worry about being bombarded by close range cannon attacks, but he also couldn't make use of his own.

"Prepare for a siege!"  Super shouted.  "Players, make sure to protect the sailors.  If they are taken out we will be dead in the water."

The last thing the group need was their sailors being killed.  They didn't know how to operate the ship.  They might be able to struggle through but with another two ships incoming, they would be helpless.

"Reinforce the bow!"  Super yelled.

The wood mage and a few casters with barrier spells began to strength to front of the hull as the ships neared each other.

*Wham* *Groan*

The front of the players ships glanced off the side of the pirates.  With the help of the caster, the damage was kept to a minimum.

Although the sailors weren't expected to fight, they weren't useless.  Several ropes with hooks attached were thrown out onto the pirate's ship.  The pirates had the same idea.

A loud creaking noise echoed across the water as both ships tethered each other.  Everyone held on tightly as the moment of the ship came to a jerking stop.

A few players who wanted to take full advantage of the pirate lifestyle, had climbed up the mast and edge to the far end of the sails upper support.  With ropes in hand they jumped.  Their lines became taught as they began to swing towards the pirate ship.

Tango had been the first one to jump.  After swing and releasing the rope, the quadkong launched through the air and landed in the middle of the pirate ship.

Shrugging his shoulders, the cloak that he hid under fell to the ground as the beast let out a roar and used his four fists to pound on his chest.  Like a true tank, Tango had attracted a good deal of attention.

Even a few pirates who were laying planks so they could board the enemies boat turned around and ran towards the beast.

Super looked at the battle between the two ships before looking eyes with the opposing captain.  The players had gotten off to a good start.  They had gotten more people on the enemy's ship.

It may seem to be a disadvantage to be fighting in enemy territory while being outnumbered, but this wasn't not a battle on land or in a fortress.  This was a battle on wooden ships.  The attackers in the enemy's territory didn't need to worry about damage to the boats.  In response to this fact, Tyrannical Kyp took out four war hammers from his bag and dropped them for the quadkong to pick up.

Tango felt the weapon proficiency buff flow through his body as he quickly grabbed the hammers. The pirates had already started to stab and fire on him, but the beast hide was thick.  A moment or two without defense wouldn't be a problem.

Tango began to wave and smash his hammers in every direction.  The hammers themselves were not great quality weapons. They barely met the rare qualification.  But each one was fifty pound hunk of steel that was attach to a long handle.  With four of the waving and smashing, the pirates began to get knocked around.  Even if the pirates dodged, the blows still sank into the deck.

The ones who had swung across to the other ship were also tank type players.  They spread out across the pirate ship's main deck and began to draw the attention of the players as they soaked up damage.

The healers wouldn't leave the safety of the players vessel, but they stayed in range of the tanks and made sure to focus all their spells on them.

Unlike the tanks, the damage dealers would not receive much healing.  But that didn't diminish their enthusiasm.

Lucan had lead the charge for the damage dealers.  Super had wanted this job but as captain how could he abandon his own ship.  He needs to defend and keep watch over the sailors.  The only chance he could get head to the other ship was if they wiped out the pirates.

Even then, the others didn't want him to leave the ship but he persisted that opposing captains should be able to face off against each other.  Since the players knew that the second ship would engage before that happened, they didn't bother to argue.

Lucan Lit his pipe right before the two ships first collided.  His scepter had transformed in the Blade of Corruption and he had a wand in his left hand.  He leapt across distance between the two ships and began his attack.

Before he arrived, the tanks had already landed, and Tango had started his rampage.

Two pirates came charging straight for the warlock with daggers and cutlasses drawn.  This wouldn't normally be a big deal, but since this was a dungeon, both of these enemies were Elites.

Staying alive was a priority.  No one was positive where the graveyard for the raid was located, it may be on the ship, or it could be on an island.  Who is to say that the respawn point wouldn't be on a rowboat in the middle of the sea?  Without sufficient knowledge, Lucan didn't want to be the one to find out, so he didn't hold back his abilities.

His wands split after a dozen telekinetic slashes were aimed at the pirate on his left.  The pirate on his left blocked the attack from his cutlass but wasn't so lucky against his second attack.

But the Elites didn't falter.  Before he could launch a new wave of attack, they pounced towards him.

The dagger pirate on his left was quicker, his stab was coming at Lucan's face.  Putting his demonic arm to the test, Lucan grabbed the blade and avoided damage.  With the dagger pirate's momentum still shifting forward, he slashed twice with his sword, successfully drawing blood.

The cutlass pirate on his right attack the distracted warlock, but Lucan turned into a shadow and slipped behind the second foe.

After taking physical form again, Lucan pulled a new wand out of his sleeve.  It took the form of his dagger.  He plunged it into the cutlass pirates back.  Then his swords pommel landed on the back of the pirate's neck, temporarily stunning him.  His dagger flashed as a series of quick stabbed plunged into the defenseless foe.  He then used his sword to lacerate deep into the pirate flesh, through his leather armor.  Blood began to seep from the wound and didn't stop.  Lucan spun his dagger into a reverse grip and activated his newest thief ability.  Plunging the dagger towards the man's waist, he mugged him.  A longer stun was inflicted along with serious damage.  When he pulled his hand back, he held his dagger in his hand along with a few silver coins.

Lucan kicked out and activated telekinetic slam.  The stunned pirate toppled onto the dagger pirate.    The warlock exhaled through his pipe, the burning embers launched out of it and exploded in a flash bang.  When the pirates regained their vision, their assailant had vanished. Lucan had left them and entered stealth while he ventured deeper into the pirate's territory.

The ranged fighters stayed on the player's deck.  In order not to hamper their accuracy, the damage dealers need to press inwards so the ranged could have clearer targets.  There was only so much space in the crow's nest, so most of the ranged attackers remain on the deck.

Fifteen players had boarded the enemies ship and were in the middle of fifty elites.  The healers were working hard while spells and arrows soared towards the pirates.  The tanks did a good job of attracting attention so as to not let the melee fighters be surrounded and overwhelmed.