“Sit back children and listen. I will tell the tale of one of our ancestors and his adventures. It's just the thing to keep the night at bay tonight. I will tell you of how Kaelis met his friend Ancy.”
5 pairs of eager eyes started at the old man from around the campfire. A hard days travel and a heavy stew for dinner was working it's own kind of magic on the children. As the adults either stood watch or readied the wagons for another days travel, the grandfather began the tale.
“It was a day like any other for Kaelis. He was sailing his ship”
“The Revenge” interrupted the oldest.
“Quiet Marco” said his younger brother.
“Marco is right,” grandfather said. “Kaelis ship was called the Revenge. Though at the time when Kaelis met Ancy, the fine ship hadn't even a single cannon to it's name. It had yet to live up to it's christening and was more suited to a merchant's ship, than the vessel we know of from later years.”
“Kaelis was still trying to find his way in the human's world and was doing jobs for fish mongers, traveling the seas in search of all manner of fish. Honing his skills on sea monsters and building his contacts for the day when he could truly start hunting those who had slain his kin.” Grandfather paused for a drink, then resumed his tale.
“The day had been remarkable only for how unremarkable it was. His traps lay in the water, gently bobbing from time to time, and not so much as an eel had he seen. As he was making his last pass for the day, his delivery crates stuffed with all manner of lobster and crab, a ship came up on his aft port quarter. It was a ship unlike any Kaelis had seen before, a ship of humanoid make. Crafted by Orc hands, not human or gargoyle. Kaelis quickly began pulling his traps in, for it was a long sail back to where he got them. He had waited too long though, the Orc ship opend fire with a massive broadside.”
“He didn't use his magic bow, grandpa?” asked Quill, the middle child.
“This was before he had the bow, child. He had not yet met Nightfall or Lord of the Forge. So here he was, a long sail from land and the evil ship closing in firing cannon after cannon. The evil mages on the ship were hurling all manner of spell at him. He had only a bow that he had salvaged from a wreck, and few arrows as he had been at sea for many days. Soon, the Revenge was too damaged to even move, floating in the water like a massive lobster trap. Kaelis was only alive because he managed to hide in the hold. But he had a plan. His people's way was the way of the trickster. Kaelis ran up on deck in full view of the orc crew, but before they could resume shooting, he hurled a magic egg to the deck and disappeared in a cloud of colored lights. When the orcs boarded the Revenge, they found only fish, no gold, so departed in disappointment when they could find no signs of their prey. They figured he was a minor mage and had used magic to escape.”
“After the orcs departed, Kaeles came down from the mast where he had hidden among the rags of the sails. Kaeles had no way to help the Revenge, and only a small row boat to set to sea with. After 2 days he made it to shore, half starved and dying of thirst. He literally washed up at Ancy's feat, and the mage took pity on Kaeles. He himself knew the love of a captain for his ship. He helped Kaelis to limp the Revenge to shore, where they could work on the ship. As the two worked on the Revenge, they became friends. True friends by hard work.” Grandfather finished. Only Marco was still awake, and he barely.
“Sleep well Marco, tomorrow is another day. We'll soon be back home.” And Marco slept.