Thread: The Crossover Christmas Special (TheCorsair, Xanaphia, Madam Mim)

Quentin leaned on the forecastle railing of the Black Pearl , watching the riverbank drift past. In the last few hours hed seen scattered villages, pre-industrial farming and fishing community buries, and the wreckage of a large wood and stone structure that had spanned the river at some point. A dam, most likely. One that had been r early destroyed. Theres something wrong here, he said. What do you mean? asked a hawk-faced man. Yusef, Quentin recalled. The Force, he began, then reconsidered his words at the puzzled expression on the mans face. Theyd said something about wizards and magic, right? The, uhm, the energies of life. If nature. Theyre the source of my... powers. Ah! Yusef nodded sudden understanding. So, You and your wife are a Druidic order of knights? Ive heard of such things. Sure, Quentin agreed, wondering what a druid was, lets go with that. The Force is.... He struggled to describe it. Theres darkness here, a corruption tainting the river. But, out there. Along the shore, its... wild. Yusef stared at the shire. Looks like farmland to me. Not wild like unsettled, Quentin replied, still struggling to describe what he sensed. Its... savage. Frenzied, Maybe. Raw and unchecked and burning with potential. The sheer power is, is... Terrifying? Yusef suggested. No. Intoxicating. Quentin stared at the bank. And thats the terrifying part. John turned the wheel a point and the Pearl shifted course slightly, maneuvering around a sandbar. When hed been alive, the thought of taking a galleon upriver would have been laughable. But his ship was as changed as he was. Shed make it. Youre sure were heading for Matthias? Faye asked, fingering her hilt. Hate blazed in her sharp features as she stared out over the river. The Pearl s never let me down, he replied. Except for that time she was stuck in a bottle, and that wasnt her fault. He patted the wheel comfortingly. Was it now? Faye gave him a sort of curious sidelong glance, and then shifted away from him a little. Hey, she said suddenly, shading her eyes, theres a city. And... what the fuck is that? That was a monstrous head of some fanged beast, easily the size of a four story house. The eye sockets were empty, staring blindly at an equally massive skeleton that choked the waters of the river. No idea, John said. None at all. Right, The other Sam said. Mind tellin me who these folk are again? Shed followed Sam into the kitchen, making the claim that since shed dropped by uninvited she should help out. Privately, Sam figured it was because she was feeling a little uncomfortable- and she couldnt blame her doppelgnger. It was a weird situation. Well, Ah done introduced yall ta Erik, she began. Yep, The other Sam grinned. Wouldnt mind introducin mahself a bit more though. Hes kinda cute. Back off, Sam replied without heat. The older gent talkin like a damn dictionarys Algernon Swift, mah boss. We call him th Perfessor, mosta th time. She nodded at the couch, where he sat peppering Jackie with questions. Th fancy French ladys Anne Marie LaMonte. Reckon shes his boss, the other Sam snickered. Wouldnt mind bein bossed around by her neither, yknow? You behave yerself, Sam admonished with a laugh. Ydone got a wife. Oh, Ah reckon Jackie wouldnt mind. Long as Ah shared. Whos th new fellah? Colin Drake, Sam said. Ah work wit him, an Ahd call him a friend. The other Sam considered him. Hm. She considered him a bit longer. So, You two ever, yknow... f- Nope, Sam interrupted. Fell hard fer Erik afire Ah ever found out he was innerested. An We both happen ta be married women, Samantha Margaret Cavendish! she scolded in playfully severe tones. True, the other Sam replied thoughtfully. Still, mebbe Ah kin.., Grab then there drinks an pass em out? Sam interrupted. Thats a mighty fine idea. She laughed at the other womans expression. Yall done said ywanted ta help.