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\fs24\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\insrsid12586517 \tab \'93So then I says - }{\insrsid6246600 that\rquote s not my foot!\'94
 The grizzled old man cackles in glee, his companion doing the same.  His ancient face is creased and tanned from decades in the sun, his hair bleached white by age.  The two men pause their raucous howling
 only long enough to gulp down more beer.  He turns to the Exalt and says in a loud voice, \'93What\rquote s the matter kid? If that ain\rquote t funny, ain\rquote t nothing funny.\'94 His companion nods in earnest agreement.}{\insrsid2819649 
\par }{\insrsid6246600 \tab Crimson Torrent chuckles slightly and nods.  \'93I guess you had to be there.\'94
\par \tab The man raises his tankard and bellows, \'93That\rquote s what she said!\'94  It takes a full minute before the old sailors stop laughin}{\insrsid12586517 g this time.  }{\insrsid6246600 
Torrent regards his odd drinking partners.  Both have been living in this town for nearly six decades, either on or off the water.  Their numerous tattoos are faded and wrinkled, but their spirit is far from tired.
\par \tab Stattler explained that the two of them have shared a beer (or two or three) }{\insrsid12586517 at this spot}{\insrsid14823703  }{\insrsid9528904 every }{\insrsid6246600 day sin}{\insrsid14823703 ce they were twelve.  It is not }{\insrsid6246600 
a table, not entirely.  }{\insrsid9528904 It\rquote s just a r}{\insrsid13526901 eally big, flat rock sitting at the end of }{\insrsid9528904 
the pier for no apparent reason.  The men had long ago claimed it as their own by placing chairs and a ragged umbrella to mark the territory.  Every couple minutes a barmaid makes the trek from the tavern to her old customers and tops off their drinks.}{
\insrsid6246600 
\par }{\insrsid9528904 \tab The two rattle on as the Exalt smiles and takes another slug of the local beer.  It had an interesting taste and a peculiar name.  With the lack of clean water as an ingre
dient due to the salt marshes nearby, the name Red Piss Beer is slightly disturbing.  Crimson Torrent puts it out of his mind as he enjoys the sunset with the two sailors.
\par \tab It has been nearly an hour since the Solar barged into the town constable\rquote s office and demanded an audience.  Disaster, the Exalt explained}{\insrsid3157130 ,}{\insrsid9528904 
 was only minutes away.  A Lintha slave ship was heading to the village intent on filling its hold with human cargo.  Crimson Torrent had shown the constable a blank piece of paper as proof of his cl
aim.  Sorcery kept the man enthralled by the story and he rushed off in a panic to raise the town guard.
\par }{\insrsid14101431 \tab The men are}{\insrsid3157130  taking far too long to assemble}{\insrsid14101431 .  Already the Lintha ship can}{\insrsid3157130  be clearly seen on the horizon.  Out of the corner of his eye Crimson Tor
rent catches Stattler staring at him.  
\par \tab \'93So, you said you came in over land }{\insrsid13526901 eh?\'94 The old man smiles broadly}{\insrsid4066079  through what few of his teeth remain}{\insrsid3157130 .
\par \tab \'93That\rquote s right.\'94 Crimson Torrent sips his drink.
\par \tab \'93Marshes are swollen this time of year.  It\rquote s impossible to get here over land.  You come here by ship?\'94
\par \tab \'93That\rquote s right.\'94 Crimson Torrent swallows hard and stares at the man.
\par \tab \'93Ain\rquote t no ships docked today.\'94 The man looks sternly at the young Exalt.
\par \tab \'93I see.\'94
\par }{\insrsid12586517 \tab \'93You come here by that golden chariot in the sky?\'94
\par \tab The Exalt remains silent.}{\insrsid8127429   He hadn\rquote t realized anybody}{\insrsid12586517  s}{\insrsid13526901 potted his secluded landing}{\insrsid12586517 .
\par }{\insrsid3157130 \tab The other man snickers.  \'93Don\rquote t worry a}{\insrsid4066079 bout it lad, everybody knows}{\insrsid3157130 .  Did you really think yo}{\insrsid13526901 u could sneak into a town of five}{\insrsid3157130  hundred?  Besides, you
\rquote }{\insrsid4066079 re in }{\insrsid13526901 full shark-skin armor.\'94  Stattler}{\insrsid4066079  laughs out loud.}{\insrsid3157130 
\par }{\insrsid4066079 \tab \'93Good point Waldorf.  I like his House pin myself.\'94 Stattler turns to his friend with a big grin.  \'93Peleps I think it is.  He ain\rquote t no dragon shithead either mind you.\'94
\par \tab Crimson Torrent blushes slightly and rubs the blue jade Peleps house pin at his collar.  He explains in a low voice, \'93This was a present from the Admiral the day I was promoted to Treirarch.  I haven\rquote t been able to part with it.\'94
\par }\pard \ql \fi720\li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13526901 {\insrsid12586517 Stattler and Waldorf}{\insrsid4066079  nod in silence}{\insrsid12586517 .  Everybody this side of the Elemental
 Pole has heard the story of Crimson Torrent.  Some regarded him}{\insrsid15994948  as a monster}{\insrsid12586517 , others a hero.  }{\insrsid13526901 
\par }{\insrsid12586517 T}{\insrsid4066079 he waitress walks to the table.  She stares at Torrent a moment before following}{\insrsid14818464  his gaze out to sea.  She regards}{\insrsid4066079  the sight}{\insrsid14818464  for a long moment}{\insrsid12586517 
.  }{\insrsid4066079 Her eyes bulge as she sees the colors running on the ship\rquote s flag.  She }{\insrsid14818464 throws her hands up, }{\insrsid4066079 screeches}{\insrsid12586517 ,}{\insrsid4066079  and bolts back towards town.
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 {\insrsid4066079 \tab Waldorf deftly snags the full pitcher of beer the waitress drops, not spilling a drop.  With a somber look he tops off all three mugs.}{
\insrsid13526901   He asks the young Solar, \'93So is it true you }{\insrsid14818464 sunk three Lintha ships all by yourself?\'94}{\insrsid4066079 
\par }{\insrsid14818464 \tab Crimson Torrent snickers softly.  \'93I had a bit of help}{\insrsid13526901  back then}{\insrsid14818464 .  A sin}{\insrsid13526901 gle ship I think I can handle by myself}{\insrsid14818464 .\'94  The Exalt realizes it won\rquote 
t be quite as easy as last time.  It is one thing to set a ship ablaze and let it sink, another to defeat an entire pirate crew in hand-to-hand combat.  The blue water merchant vessel heading towards}{\insrsid15994948  the village probably held}{
\insrsid14818464  upwards of 125 soldiers.
\par \tab Panic begins to sweep through the town behind them, but the old sailors continue their drinks.  Crimson Torrent looks at them with concern.  \'93You\rquote d be wise to find shelter gentlemen.\'94
\par \tab Stattler scoffs, \'93We been out here at sunset every dam}{\insrsid15994948 n day for fourty-seven years; r}{\insrsid14818464 ain or shine, sleet or snow!\'94
\par \tab \'93Pirates or Anathema!\'94 Waldorf chimes in.  They both howl in laughter.  Torrent can\rquote t help but laugh along with the men.
\par \tab In a matter of minutes the pirate ship is alongside the pier.  With a loud thud a plank lands inches from Crimson Torrent\rquote s toe}{\insrsid16214264 s.  Scruffy looking thugs stare}{\insrsid13526901  down }{\insrsid16214264 
and one walks forward, wicked looking sword in hand.  The Lintha gets halfway through an insult before T}{\insrsid15994948 orrent smashes}{\insrsid16214264  the tip of his oak staff in}{\insrsid15994948 to the man\rquote s throat.  It crushes}{
\insrsid16214264  the man\rquote s windpipe and soundlessly the man slump}{\insrsid15994948 s off the side of the plank }{\insrsid16214264 into the }{\insrsid15994948 cold }{\insrsid16214264 water.  }{\insrsid15994948 
\par }\pard \ql \fi720\li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid15994948 {\insrsid15994948 A dozen arrows level at the Exalt}{\insrsid16214264 \rquote s chest and he holds his wooden staff}{\insrsid12408372 
 in one hand, his mug in the other}{\insrsid16214264 .}{\insrsid15994948   Behind him the town gua}{\insrsid12408372 rdsmen finally assemble and run}{\insrsid15994948  towards the ship.  There are less than fifty of them, all poorly armed.}{
\insrsid13526901   Several pirates stare in confusion at the two old sailors, who are now bellowing a loud drinking song.  }{\insrsid14818464 
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 {\insrsid16214264 \tab Crimson Torrent takes }{\insrsid15994948 a long pull of his beer and ponders his situation.  With a gri}{\insrsid12408372 n and a shrug, he joins in }{
\insrsid15994948 Stattler and Waldorf\rquote s song and}{\insrsid16214264  charges up the plank.  One down, 124 more to go.}{\insrsid3157130 
\par }}