S05E01

## The Storm

It was a dark night, and not just because they were below decks. They'd never seen a storm of this ferocity. *The Wise Rascal* hurled and volleyed over huge waves. And then the hull burst. Water rushed into the hull in a deluge. Kalissa the Wildling, Torrhen Grove, Minerva the witch and Christor the peasant giant were chained in a line, drowning together. They would have died except that Christor pulled their chain from the wall and pulled them above decks as the ship tore itself apart.

## Staying Afloat

Kalissa, Torrhen, Minnie and Christor, still chained together stood on a broken piece of deck, balancing and rebuffing against the waves as they battered them. They fought that way for days, until finally the storm settled and sleep overtook them.

They wakened with a start, as Christor rolled off the chunk of deck and splashed into the sea. His weight was such that Minnie was pulled in with him. Torrhen and Kalissa pulled on their chains, trying to help their comrades out of the water. Christor and Minnie thrashed about, interfering with each other's ability to swim. The thrashing pulled Torrhen into the water as well. All seemed lost, but Kalissa perched herself on the broken piece of deck and worked the chain in a rhythm so that the group could stay afloat. Soon they were all back up on their makeshift raft.

Hours and hours past, the currents taking them miles and miles, when they finally saw land. It was a small, sandy island more than a mile away - one of The Stepstone Islands, near Tyrosh. They paddled with their arms to move closer, but clumsily fell into the water, losing their flotation device. It was hard going, but they swam together all the way to shore.

## Trouble on the Beach

The sandy beach extended for fifty yards up the island, where it gave way to lush jungle. They noticed a tangle of sea plants on the beach with inviting berries on them. Minnie noted that the berries were poison, but the leaves of the plants were good eating. They dined wildly, until Minnie noticed a large aquatic reptile encircling them. They began to move to outmaneuver the reptile, but found it dangerously fast on land. It lunged toward them with a deep hiss.

Christor gave the reptile a mighty punch that sent it flailing. Minnie leaped in and grappled with the animal, forcing her skinchanging will into the creature.

At the same time, a group of men came rushing out of the jungle. At first they looked like sellswords with their cheap armor. But they were carrying whips and nets - slavers. When the slavers came closer, they were in for a surprise. Minnie was in control of the great reptile. She rushed to the nearest man and tore him to shreds with her enormous jaws. A fierce battle ensued, with the slavers whipping viciously at Christor. Christor took up a discarded whip and fought back, but chained together they were at a severe disadvantage. Eventually, the slavers beat and netted the group into submission.

## Master Adario

The newly enslaved group were taken to the gladiator camp of Adario of Tyrosh. The camp was busy with activity, there were gladiators from Westeros to Slaver's Bay and all places in between. Everywhere they were fighting, exercising, eating and socializing. And everywhere were the slave drivers, the guards, the whips and chains.

The group were taken to Adario's personal tent, where he greeted them, "It appears the sea has given you to me. You are mine now, unless there is some reason I do not own you?"

They argued and cajoled, but were shouted down by Adario and his slave drivers.

"This is the Isle of Strife. There is nowhere to go. Everyone will know you are mine. The island is a disease-soaked jungle, surrounded by vicious reptiles and then miles of angry sea. You are Westerosi and used to freedom. And you will have yours. Simply fight in the pits. Each fight will earn you a reward. When you can buy yourself, you're free to go. Though most of my slaves stay with me after their freedom to continue earning gold."

## What We're Made Of

With that, they were sent to a cage with a canvas roof - luxurious by the standards of slavery. They were given lots of nourishing food and were permitted to have a bonfire to sleep by. That night they shared stories of their past. Christor spoke of his family, long since murdered by Jarden Krey, and Kalissa spoke of her accomplished Chieftain who had never stolen her away, as much as she had wished for it.

The next morning, they were weighed and measured, then put through an obstacle course and several trials meant to determine their value as slaves. Christor had an instinct that he wanted to be a less valuable slave, and so he didn't apply himself at the tasks. When it came time to recite a rehearsed speech, Kalissa found herself taking to the role fully, performing the speech to a round of applause. It awoke a theatricality in her that she didn't know she possessed.

## The Weekly Fight

And then came their weekly fight. They had to fight in the pit with a crowd of spectators, shipped in mostly from Tyrosh. They could choose the difficulty of their opponents, and the corresponding purse they would earn. An easy fight would bring 500 gold, an average foe 750 gold and an elite fight would pay 1000 gold. They were allowed to have equipment, but they had to buy it from their own winnings.

Minnie and Christor both chose easy opponents, not looking to risk their lives for others' entertainment. They were pitted against the Crimson Brothers. The match involved a lot of sparring, but the Crimsons never put up much of a fight. Soon, they were both on the ground yelling that they yielded. Minnie wouldn't have it, she buried an axe into one of the brother's faces, cut of his head and threw it into the audience. Her bloodiness earned her a bonus of 50 gold. Christor was very upset that she had taken the man's life unnecessarily.

Kalissa chose an average opponent, looking for more money, but with a reasonable amount of danger. She stood against Sunset Sam, a veteran pit fighter nearing the end of his career. Kalissa met him with a longsword and shield, knocking him back and back with her adept swings. Sam was overcome quickly, he didn't have time to yield. Kalissa thrust her sword forward, piercing his face just under the nose and sliding out the back of his head. There was blood everywhere and the audience loved it. Adario gave Kalissa a 50 gold bonus.

Victorious, the group was led back to their cage, wondering if they were fated to die in the ring.

## Experience

Each character gained 3 Experience

.