This would be the second instance of Lucretia being within the docks of Port Astera where she overheard an ongoing topic about some kind of sea monster that was affecting the local fish population. It was surprising to her that this happened so quickly after the last time. She’d frown a little bit and quickly approach the sailor that was talking about it to some of his friends. Unlike the prior time she had come to the docks at night looking to see if there was any activity going on that shouldn’t given how smuggling was a constant problem even in the well mannered cities like this.

They seemed to make it that the beast was this huge serpent, capable of devouring entire ships whole and the sort that would attack without any qualms about killing sailors… Or innocent travelers just trying to get to a new home. She’d frown and consider the information wondering what was prompting these attacks and shift in mannerisms. But the issue was with these giant creatures is once they sank a ship they would be labeled as a disaster and needed to be eliminated.

If she could nip this problem in the bud she would also be able to talk to the local fishing guild about it too. Find out what they could do to change the protection of the local wildlife without forcing the environment that they kept to change. It made her shake her head a bit when one sailor said that they should just roam and kill all the serpents they found. That would solve nothing but to force the fish into a position of overpopulation.

Nature was a delicate balance and the warrior understood that a little too well. She’d bite the inside of her mouth and ask around for captains willing to set sail to fight such a ferocious opponent. She’d furrow her brow as she ran into the same captain as before. His face lightning up and he’d pat the ship that he had next to him with a grin.

”Didn’t think to see you again so soon lass! What brings yah this time?”

”More of the same I’m afraid. Some sea serpent type is eating too much of the fish and scaring away the rest.”

”More work like that eh? Well if you be needin a cap’n I’ll be glad to give you a ride for the duration. As you can see since the last time we met I’ve got a right proper crew and a right proper ship.”

”Really? What’s her name?”

”Wolfang.”

Lucretia paused and blinked, the captain on the other hand chuckled and motioned to follow him onboard. It seemed to her that her last interaction with the captain had gone a long way for him to make some changes to his lifestyle. The ship was nearly brand new, some scuffs and damages here that were minor but in the process of getting fixed. She’d step along with him and within the next few hours they departed from port. Lucretia leaning along the edge of it and staring out into the vast open waters.

”Didn’t take you the type for sailin lass.”

”I’m not. I don’t like the open water or the depths but this is beyond my own fears. The people need me so I’ll cast off that doubt and do my job.”

”Worl’ needs more like yah lassy. We’ll be to the huntin’ grounds of yer serpent within the next day or so.”

”I didn’t say which serpent we were hunting…”

”Don’t paint me a fool lass, I know the whispers of the docks an they tell plenty.”

Lucretia gave a small shrug and let the crew go about their business, figuring that they would eventually get to where they needed to go. If the captain knew where it was there couldn’t be any sort of question about it.

[647/2000]

Lucretia was surprised to see that where the captain was taking her was in fact another Cove that lay hidden along the coast. One that was much larger than the one before and was in fact quite a distance from the port; it made her wonder if the hunting from this serpent was intentional in the course of trying to force fishermen to stop and let it feast unabated. She’d lean over the side of the ship to watch the waters for a moment; the captain coming up behind her and leaning next to the werewolf.

”It’s a right mess that is. The serpent used tah never be a problem but after the fish folk from last time… It got it in its head to cause a spell of trouble. You figure you can kill it?”

”I’m far stronger than I was before captain. Don’t worry.”

Lucretia growled a bit and would stand on the railing, most of the sailors looked shocked as lucretia did this not wishing to have a guest drown in their armor they nearly rushed to stop her but the captain waved them off. Offering to her the sameish rebreather as he had before.

”You’ll be needin this then. Maybe next time I’ll charge for it.”

Lucretia gave the captain a wry grin before accepting the item, putting it to her mouth and letting the rebreather do it’s work before diving into the water. She felt her muscles burn as she swam through the water and the depths of the place were making her heart quake with regret. She’d steel herself as she moved through the water, eventually she came to the underwater entrance and she could tell that the creature was fairly sizeable.

Growling to herself she’d start to swim forward, pushing through the stalactites and stalagmites that guarded the entrance she found herself among quite a few corpses of adventurers that had made this journey a long time ago judging by their bones being practically laid bair. Shaking her head she’d move on; the tunnel was winding and she’d eventually…

Well she’d rise to the surface of what amounted to a personal hide away from the world. She was gifted with the sight of some light reaching from the top of the cave and she couldn’t help but soak in the beauty of the location for a few moments… Up until she saw the sea serpent. A massive creature that spanned the whole of the cavern. Fast asleep while a predator of untold strength was now in it’s home. She’d slowly make her way to the shoreline of this little abode. Feeling bad for what she was about to do but there was nothing she could say to this creature. It was a world that was unforgiving and they all had to take shape together.

She’d at least remember this serpent. Maybe even gift the captain with a skull to make for the figurehead since he lacked one at this moment. It was a dark thought but she earnestly figured it was the best way to repay him for his constant service.

WC: 518
WCT: [1,165/2000]

Lucretia’s hand was steady, her feet adjusting over the scales of the giant serpent. It barely felt her. It was so massive it made her think of the ones back in iceberg that roamed the shores. The massive ice serpents there were so big that they could swallow up ships if you weren’t careful or crafty. Lucretia definitely was the former, she thought herself clever from time to time but this earnestly would be one of those moments where she felt dreadful about what she was about to do.

Eventually she made her way up to the head where the serpent was resting. She could tell the creature was actually quite ancient from how long it was; how many scars it had and the varied amount of depth that was in each individual scale. It’s hide told of a long story that stretched practically hundreds of years that she couldn’t count.

It was a marvel at how big each tooth was, nearly the size of her entire body. Was she capable of killing such a beast? She’d look up at it and would blink slightly. How would she actually go about it? Stabbing it through it’s eye? Maybe making her way to where the neck and head met? Slashing at the vertebrae there? She’d bite the inside of her cheek and looked for a way to get up it.

The beast shifted as she started her climb and she’d freeze. Such a massive creature would crush her if it was hostile but after a moment the beast opened it’s eye. What lucretia saw in it wasn’t that of a maddened beast looking to slay the fishermen but of a creature that…

The pale screla and the pale iris painted a picture of a dodgering old sea serpent that frankly didn’t know any better. It didn’t even see her, just looked past her into a great distance that it couldn’t even really see before closing its eye again. It seemed relatively peaceful but as she climbed lucretia had decided that she needed to kill it for both the sake of the city and the sake of this creature. The longer it remained like this the harder it’d be for anyone to get anything done.

A new sea serpent would likely make its way into this den and the waters would be safe for a while. She reached the crest of the serpent and could feel the thrumming of it’s heart underneath her boots. It was a massively powerful creature that reminded her a bit of a particular serpent out of legend. Shaking her head she’d stride forward. Was this going to be a great battle where the warrior could claim justice and honor had been done?

Or was this one where it was out of pity and the need of the many? It was a question Lucretia had to ponder while lining up her spear for the strike that was oncoming. She knew what she had to do and how she had to go about it but this didn’t make it any easier. She wasn’t going to give the beast a chance to fight back; it would simply kill her. But something was staying her hand…

WC: 535
WCT: 1,700

Lucretia was certain the beast was ignoring her on its back but she felt its movements, she felt its heart. The twisting of its coils. Everything about it was making her want to leave; everything about this situation was screaming to her that this was wrong. She had been thinking of making it a trophy for another but this barely was a blip on the radar for her. She’d lower her spear; staring down at this massive beast that slept underneath her.

Something inside of her clicked, something inside of her snapped for a brief moment. The masses needed her, the people needed her, nature needed her decision here and the woman couldn’t help but feed her mana into her spear and within her heart at the same time. Her weight shifted, her posture and stance grew and the woman was a massive beast standing at the base of the other’s skull.

Gripping the spear she’d do it again, lining it up with a firm hand. She felt the tears running down her face as she drove it forward and wordlessly the giant serpent ceased it’s movements as her spear punched into it’s skull from behind and into it’s brain. It was dead before it could even feel the pain of death. She’d draw the spear backwards and note that the mass of coils was leading somewhere too. Somewhere that she’d follow while her spear remained blooded.

Eventually she came across a trio of small eggs with the warmth of the coils rapidly draining lucretia had a momentary choice. She’d strap her spear to her back and hoist the eggs up without much issue. Deciding that the captain would be better served by willing serpents the woman wordlessly left the massive corpse there. The sea would claim it’s bounty one way or another and she would eventually step onto the ship. Sopping wet and in full lion wolf hybrid which frankly scared every single person there even the captain at how someone could even turn into something like that.

She’d set the eggs down and transform back into her regular self; shaking off the wetness and handing the rebreather back to a shaken captain. She’d inform him that the deed was done before heading off to her ‘bunk’ as it were. The reward for taking her here was those three eggs, to do what they liked with them. But the reward for lucretia would come later in the form of jewels…

And a restless night of sleep.

WC: 471
WCT: 2171/2000