Memoirs of a Storm Sorcerer

"And as my mind begins to spread its wings There's no stopping curiosity"

~ Jack Johnson, "Upside Down"

Even though she was relatively new to the area, Choco knew that anything involving kraken was most definitely a Bad Idea.

So why, oh why, had she accepted this commission?

Choco took a deep breath as she arrived at the port. The first week she had arrived, the young sorcerer had laid low, purchasing a room at the local inn (her first time staying anywhere that wasn't her home back at Lily Bay) and doing simple things she could do to make money, from foraging forests, to fishing, to removing (i.e. zapping) invading goblins from the farms.

However, her time at the little port town was coming to an end, and she needed to be on her way. Before that, however, she needed to earn enough gold pieces to set out for the next town, which was very far away. In case she came across any traveling merchants on her way, she'd run low on potions and any ingredients she couldn't find in the wild. Embarrassing to say, there were still a few potion recipes Choco hadn't quite mastered yet, so she relied on other magic users for the best antidote potions, in exchange for a shiny coin...or 50. Many magic shops in small towns often didn't carry this item, so most adventurers made them or relied on a party member to do so,

Choco was traveling alone for now, and she was still new to the whole magic thing.

Regardless, there was a job to be done, one that would help the local sailors and give her the money she sorely needed. She hoped Captain Rafferty wouldn't chase her out and call her a "sorry excuse for a sorcerer" like that one snooty merchant called her.

Although, he did take back those words once she rescued him from a giant forest ant.

With a gentle knock on the wooden door, the captain's cabin door squeaked open. A beast man with the features of a turtle walked out, his long salt-and-pepper beard swaying in the sudden sea breeze. He wore a dark blue captain's uniform, a bit patchy with wear and tear but nevertheless radiant with tales of the vast sea.

The captain gave a smile from his beak. "I guarantee you're the lass they recommended for the job?" He leaned on his cane, made of rich red maple. According to legend, the captain had nearly lost his left leg saving a crewmate from a great white shark as a rookie sailor. Now, the turtle tended to favor his right, but one was foolish to think he would be a weak opponent in a fight.

Choco grinned in greeting and nodded. "That's me, sir! I'm Choco, the traveling sorcerer. Nice to meet you!"

"Energetic! I like that. Don't lose that attitude, hear me? Especially not when facing this old scoundrel. One of my men damn near got chewed up last time we faced him, and he's nearing the harbor." He looked away from the sea and locked his eyes with Choco's. "They said you were skilled in...what was it called? Sea magic? Are you a siren, lass?"

"I'm what they call a "storm sorcerer", sir." Choco explained, pointing to her magic bottle. "My magic isn't water related, but I can make wind gusts and lightning strikes. I'm still learning a lot, so I hope I can be of help!" She was getting quite nervous.

The captain let out a hearty laugh. "That's the spirit! Nothing to fear lass, lightning's just what we need now! Come along, I'll take you to the ship myself."

At the port, Choco was introduced to Annie, an elven girl working as the navigator; Carol, a halfling who acted as the ship's helmsman, and two tabaxi twins, Algae and Anemone, two deckhands who would be assisting with the sails and scouting. The boat itself was beautiful, a modest wooden color with a lovely sea-green sail. The ship itself was called the S.S. Caspian, named after the captain's partner, a fellow turtle-like individual who worked at the bakery and occasionally assisted the ship's cook.

"He gets seasick easily, so it's a rare occurrence," explained Captain Rafferty, chuckling a little. "So does Algae, and yet the little scoundrel is the best scout I've ever seen."

The tabaxi with the spyglass in his right paw growled a little, but not without rolling their eyes in amusement. Choco liked the atmosphere of the tiny crew; so many different people, and they all seemed familiar with one another, like a family. It made her miss her own.

After boarding the ship and watching Anemome, the other tabaxi twin sporting an eyepatch, haul the anchor, the crew set off. She had been informed that the kraken would be past the shallow water but not too far out, hence the urgency to defeat the beast before it swam to shore and attacked the villagers.

The sea was calm today, and the breeze salty and warm, save for the chilly sea spray. Choco didn't mind at all, though...at least not until a rogue wave drenched her and the front of her hat.

Carol roared with laughter as she held onto the wheel. "You alright, lass? The sea might be a pretty sight but she's a feisty beast for sure."

Choco took off her hat and shook it out. "No worries! I'm used to the sea, though honestly this is the first time I've been out on a sailing trip like this."

The halfling raised an eyebrow. "Really now? I thought you were from the island?"

"I am, but I only really went out to the shallow water. I always wanted to go on a boat out at sea, though, and not just a ferryboat! So this is a pretty amazing experience for me." She sniffed the air and gave Carol a sheepish smile. "Sorry, I just love the scent of the ocean air...that sounds weird, right? I just find it really calming for some reason."

To her surprise, Carol did the same thing and exhaled. "Not at all! If any of us hated the sea in any way, we sure wouldn't be here."

Choco had always related things to certain sensations since she was young; the feel of a blanket reminded her of a holiday evening, while the sound of guitar strings being plucked reminded her of the village's summertime cookouts. At the very top, the scent of the salty sea air reminded her of home, and being at peace.

She suddenly heard a yowl at the top of the ship as Algae leaped down from the crows nest and bounded towards Annie, the navigator. They exchanged a nod and the crew assembled to the spot Carol and Choco were standing. Anemone exchanged a few words with her brother and took up the crow's nest.

Algae tapped a claw on Annie's map while pointing to a little ways away. "See those jagged rocks? The beast lies there. We'll have to be careful heading in."

From above, Anemone called out from the crow's nest. "I don't think we have to worry about that!"

A chill went down Choco's spine as a new spot appeared at the entrance of the rocks, underneath the water. It stayed silent and still for a moment, before disappearing.

The captain's eyes glowed. "There's the rotten thing."

Choco felt her stomach drop as without warning, a giant kraken leaped from the water, right over the ship.

She whispered to the captain, "I thought you said it was a smaller one..."

The captain gave a nervous grin. "Well, it's smaller compared to the average, lass." He ignored her stare and headed towards the back of the ship, and Choco and the rest of the crew followed chase. With a terrible spray of water, the kraken appeared, letting out a great roar.

"Want a piece of me now, do you?" screamed Annie, the navigator. "You're not getting away with scarring my ear!"

Choco's eyes widened even more. "Wait, have you all fought this thing before?"

Anemone gave a solemn nod. "Once, a few months ago. It damaged the boat quite a bit and scarred Annie. That's why we decided to commission a magic user to try to help." She swallowed. "Wait, you know some spells, right?"

Choco braced herself. "I can try!"

As her magic bottle glowed, she sent some shock waves to the kraken's tentacles, but started to panic when the monster barely flinched. "Oh no..."

"The beast's skin is tough as nails!" bellowed Algae. "Aim for the weak spot!" He said this while evading the beast's grasp and chomping down on one of its arms.

"You tell her that, and yet you're biting it!" Anemone shouted while defending the boat with Carol.

"I'm trying to distract it, fish breath!!"

While the twins squabbled, Captain Rafferty shouted from his stance beside Annie. "The area around the beak is the weak spot, lass! Try and get near if you can, we'll look out for you!'

Choco stared at the beast and leap on top of one of its tentacles while Carol was attempting to stab it with her sword. Summoning her energy, she used her wind spell to levitate and try to get a better aim at the beast's mouth. It wasn't the best point, but she could make out the beast's beak. No time to lose!

Just as she was about to aim, the kraken got a hold of her!

The sorcerer screeched as the world seemed to flip over, and felt nauseous when the beast's beak grew closer to her. Fighting back terror, she got a hand free and felt the heat from her magic bottle increase as the sky began to grow dark and thunder rumbled.

With the best of her power, Choco guided a great lightning bolt into the maw of the kraken.

The beast screeched and dropped its hold on her, even as she summoned more bolts to attack the monster. She was so concentrated that she hadn't noticed she was falling until she felt a gust of wind hold her.

To her surprise, it was the captain's cane! Hidden in the exterior, the cane's true purpose was to hide a great silver orb. Choco couldn't tear her gaze away as she was gently placed down on the boat.

By this time, the kraken had revealed its beak once again to screech at the crew, but they were ready with their weapons and claws. The beast roared as its mouth was slashed, and Choco had shaken herself out of her daze to gear one more bolt to the kraken. With a final screech, the kraken leapt away, swimming out to the far sea.

A great cheer sounded out from the crew, the sailors pumping fists in the air and congratulating each other for their battle prowess. Choco received many words of thanks and praise from the sailors (and a big bear hug from Anemone).

Choco turned to the captain. "How come you didn't tell me you were a magic user?"

The captain laughed. "Lass, this here's a Wind Orb. Any gusts it summons are from the device itself; it's a magic contraption I received during my travels. Only works when the weather's helping." He smiled and looked into Choco's eyes. "But you, lass, your magic is from you. You were born with a spark in your soul that summons magic wherever you may go. Now that's something!"

"But you saved me with that orb!" Choco was starting to get emotional. "Born with it or not, magic's still magic, right?"

"No need to get weepy, now," the captain said. "My orb has aided me for decades, and I'll never forget that. But I wanted you to remember to have faith in the skills you have within you, without any fancy objects. You're better at magic than you think, lass. Brightcurrent spoke highly of you."

Choco rubbed her eyes. "How...how do you know Miss Brightcurrent?"

"I watched that lass grow up before my very eyes! She asked me to keep an eye on you during your stay here...stubborn she was about it! Said she saw great potential in you, and wanted me to pass on the message before you set out from the harbor."

The young sorcerer pulled down the brim of her hat to cover her blushing face, but a wide smile peeked out from underneath.