"The Sea Troll"
by Azath
(appended by Ripskin)



The sea was turbulent as Ripskin and Adrianne rowed into the shoreline of
the small rocky island marked on their map.  A sailor of a trading vessel
had the misfortune of loosing it as well as other goods to Ripskin in a
tavern brawl weeks before.  The mates stepped carefully among jagged rocks
as they crept along the small island, searching for booty, and adventure. 
The search was beginning to prove futile, until finally the approving light
of the moon struck a shadow oddly enough for Adrianne to take notice.  As
the duo approached, the shadow turned out to be a deep crevice opening to a
cave, slightly hidden between boulders.  It seemed to lead downward into
the only hill located on the small island.

Adrianne cast them both invisible and they silently followed the tunnel
back perhaps 50 feet before coming to a large round chamber.  The chamber
reeked of fish, and bones were littered across the room, some being human
heads and the remnants of an imp wing.  On one side were several chests
slightly open and full of sparkling gems and gold.  Piled haphazardly were
ornamental weapons and armor, obviously worth a fortune.  On the other side
snoring on a large leather skin was the biggest Sea troll the two had ever
seen.  The room slightly glowed green, the light coming from a strange moss
covering the walls and domed ceiling.

Using hand signals, the two crept towards the loot, Adrianne holding open
her magical bag to get whatever they could and be gone from the foul stench
pervading the room.  Only steps away a skull sitting in front of the gold
suddenly sat upright and rose into the air to head level.  Its empty
sockets blazed with fire accusingly.

Ripskin had time to mutter "Oh shi"  before the skull let out a wailing
scream that reverberated in the small room and exploded, sending the two
flying against the wall, the invisibility spell broken.

The two quickly got to their feet slightly dazed in the same moment that
the Sea Troll came roaring awake leaping up, in all of his 15 ft of glory.

Adrianne chanted an incantation of petrify, but the troll did not even
blink.  Ripskin not to be outdone was charging full force, bright jade
swords gleaming, before the troll could catch his bearings.  The charge
slammed into the troll and he grunted, but amazingly held his ground. 
Ripskin literally bounced backwards from the blow landing awkwardly.  The
troll was stabbed completely through one arm by one sword, and the other
had gashed him across the chest.  As Adrianne watched in horror the troll
yanked the sword from his arm the wound quickly sealing itself to whole. 
The gash across his chest suddenly stopped gushing blood and mended itself,
leaving no signs of injury.  The troll threw the small blades across the
room and and let out a screaming bellow, charging towards Ripskin who was
awkwardly trying to come to all four legs.

Adrianne came to his aid throwing a streaming ball of lighting which struck
the beast directly in the chest.  He staggered backwards, but the only
effect was smoke and flayed skin which quickly began healing itself once
again.  It gave Ripskin time to gain his feet however, and as he drew his
claymore Adrianne screamed, "He heals himself too quickly! We must flee!"

The two raced for the cave tunnel but the giant strides of the troll
overtook them.  As the beast reached out towards Adrianne, Ripskin quickly
brought his claymore down in a savage hack, severing the arm in two.  The
troll screamed in anger, but even as his attention diverted towards Ripskin
the missing limb was growing back into place.  The troll sent a savage
backhanded blow to Ripskin who went flying into the tunnel.

Adrianne raced to his side and the troll began advancing towards them.  In
sudden inspiration Adrianne let loose a sizzling ball of flame.  The howl
that emanated from the troll this time was not one of pure anger, but also
of pain.  Ripskin gained his feet, badly injured and with broken ribs. 
They began making their way back to the entrance.  Adrianne said "Fire is
his weakness, I can slay him with my spell"

Ripskin looked over his shoulder as they retreated, "Your spell hurts him,
but its not strong enough, Look".

She looked over her shoulder and the troll had begun pursuit again, His
body was singed and unhealed from the burn, but the spell was not potent
enough to kill the beast before he would crush them.  They leaped into the
dinghy and frantically rowed away, barely making their escape good as the
giant troll hurled boulders splashing into the waters around them.

-----------------------------------------------------

After the two brought me the tale of their story I consulted several sages
and powerful mages.  The ancient beast found on the island was indeed a Sea
Troll with amazing regenerative abilities even for that race.  None in our
guild are mages of power enough to conjure a fire spell potent enough to
kill it.  Ripskin, angered by his defeat in battle vowed vengeance. 
However, he needed rest from the wounds he sustained and could not quest for
the means to destroy this monster.  The longer we waited, the more chances
other pirates might have learned of the already spreading tale and win the
gold for themselves.  So, I appointed a trust-worthy cabin boy, Finneas, to
seek out a Flaming Lance, one pure of the fire planes.  With Ripskin
charging the beast using such a potent weapon, and Adrianne flinging her
fire spell, the troll had no hope of defeating them a second time.

-----------------------------------------------------

So off Finneas went into the raging flames of the fireplanes, proving his
loyalty to the guild by successfully retrieving the Flaming Lance from the
fiery beasts.  His return to the hall was one of celebration, where he was
promoted to a member of the crew.  The clinking of beermugs and boasting
of the near victory echoed into the night.  But the true test
still stood before them..

The next morning, Ripskin and Adrianne, well-rested and high-spirited,
packed up their gear and shoved off into the misty oceans.  Determined and
eager for their revenge, the duo reviewed their battle plan.

Skillfully adjusting the course of the ship, Ripskin bellowed "Alright,
so you distract 'im, and I'll run the bastard through!  He'll never stand
a chance!"

Grinning softly, Adrianne stared into the sea mists, "You know better than
to underestimate this beast."  Ripskin grunted in agreement.

"So how close are we?" Ripskin asked, peering half-blindly into the mist.

"Just about there," Adrianne replied looking over the map.

Shortly after, the small island began to appear through the fog.  They
sailed up along the familiar shoreline and made their way down to the rocky
path leading to the Sea Troll.  Careful not to lose footing, the pair
swiftly made their way to the troll's cave.  Upon approaching the cave,
a startling bellow ripped its way up through the small cavern and the
ground beneath them began to quake with thunderous footsteps.  Suddenly,
the Sea Troll appeared in the mouth of the cave, looked them over, and
spewed forth a gutteral roar, waving his arms with anger.

"Fire from my hands, strike my enemy, let them burn in pain and fury!"
Adrianne held her hands out toward the troll, releasing a huge ball of
fire.

Momentarily startled, Ripskin gave his head a quick shake before mustering
his will to slay the abomination.  Pulling the magical lance from his
backpack, Ripskin charged into battle letting out a huge battlecry.  As
he quickly advanced upon the troll, he held the lance with a firm grip.

Out of nowhere, a blinding flash of light surrounded Ripskin as his body
burst into flames.  With a blood curdling scream, Ripskin drove the
lance into the chest of the foul creature.  The force of the charge was
so great that the lance pierced through the troll completely and embedded
itself in the rock wall behind him.  A low gurgle could be heard seeping
from the now bloody troll.

Weakened from the flames, Ripskin slumped down in front of the burning
carcass.  Concerned for her mate, Adrianne rushed over to his aid.

"Are you Ok?!" she gasped.

"I need a beer," he uttered with a deep sigh, "and some good wenches."

Adrianne helped the centaur back to his feet with a smirk, "Thought you
had enough fun last night.  Now help me with this gold!"

-----------------------------------------------------

The two returned safely and brought with them untold amounts of wealth,
which now adorn the cavern walls of the Pirates hall.  As for the Sea
Troll, his bones still remain where he died that day, but his spirit
lives on in the tales of the Pirates...