#piratesunday Captain K at The Foundry Part 9 by Slacker Stacker (@dixiesilverminer entry)

ARRR, avast my pirate cohorts welcome back to the deck of the Silver Wing for another #piratesunday tale of amazing feats and fun from Captain K and his crew!! We have our amazing guest Slak-tor the Dragon Master and Tarakona back on deck to continue his tale of in The Foundry!! So now I turn the floor to him and the next adventure in The Foundry!!
If you have missed any of This Chapter please check out the links below!

The Foundry Part 1
The Foundry Part 2
The Foundry Part 3
The Foundry Part 4
The Foundry Part 5
The Foundry Part 6
The Foundry Part 7
The Foundry Part 8

After dinner, Lord Vulcan led the group to another chamber deep within the confines of the private wing of the mountain. Two guards saluted as he moved past them and pushed open a set of double doors.
They entered a large, well lit room with an oversized table in its center. The smooth stone walls were decorated with thick richly colored tapestries depicting the Metal Guild's crest. They were also adorned with weapons of every make and size, all master worked items from many types of metals.
Suits of armor stood along the edges of the room and ranged from simple iron warrior's armor, to elaborate armor made for the nobility and even kings.

(The Foundry War Room) SOURCE

Several shelves stood between the bright banners holding rolled up maps nestled in their individual slots.
"Welcome to the War Room." Lord Vulcan said as he scanned the shelves looking for the correct maps. He pulled two coiled parchments from their pigeonholes and unrolled one on the great table handing the second to his wife. "Captain, if you would join me?"
Captain K moved to his side and peered down at the now unrolled map. He rubbed his chin as a depiction of "The Lost Sea" was revealed and noticed many islands and land masses absent from his own map still aboard his ship.

(Lost Sea Maps thanks to @dixiesilverminer)

"Alright, this is our island, right here..." Vulcan pointed at a detailed drawing in the parchment. "Devil Horns Island is over here." He traced his finger along the paper to a much smaller dark spot on the page.
Captain K leaned forward. "At least a three day sail from here..." He frowned.

(Captain K thanks to @dixiesilverminer)

"Yes, but don't you agree this particular island is better off isolated?" Vulcan asked.
"I agree with that!" K nodded while First Mate D made mental notes for navigation to their new destination.
Suddenly the doors opened and Bear entered the room with a large tall bald man in tow.
"MyLord, Ship Master Vessel as you requested..." He bowed.
"Ah, Vessel! I am glad you are here..." Vulcan turned to greet his friend.
"MyLord..." Vessel said in a deep but oddly soothing voice as he bowed.
"The Crown Collector may be on his way to the island. Ready the iron fleet and set up a blockade around the foundry." He ordered.
"Right away MyLord." Vessel bowed and turned to leave.
"Wait!" Vulcan held up a hand and looked to Captain K. "You may want to send word to your ship and bring it closer to the island. We will protect you until you are ready to leave for Devil Horns Island." He offered.
Captain K looked to Slak Tor. "Can you fly back and bring the ship closer?"

(Slak Tor thanks to Slacker Stacker and @kerrislravenhill)

"I could, but if it is all the same to you Captain, I would like to remain here in the planning of our little adventure with the dead." He replied staring at the small dot on the map that Vuclan had marked with a tiny toned silver marker.
"You are the only one who can control Tarakona." K reminded.
"No, there is another..." Slak Tor turned his gaze to the man with the robotic like arm and leg. "I would like to stay and see what we are up against, but Tarakona trusts Cornelius and will listen to him most times." He grinned remembering the debacle at the gates.
"Cornelius? Will you go and bring The Dragonfire here?"
Cornelius nodded. "You bet! Consider it done." He grinned. The chances for him to pilot the dragon on his own were extremely rare and he relished the time to further bond with his reptilian friend.

(Sir Cornelius)

"Then make haste. The faster you get the ship to safety the better." K smiled.
"Very well. Vessel, please tell the fleet to allow the Captains ship within our territory and then close the blockade."
Vessel inclined his head. "As you wish MyLord." He turned and left the room.

Sir Cornelius made his way past the ruined gates, his boots crunching against the small beads and granules of melted metal and rock as he moved.
Tarakona's eyes instantly began to track him and the dragon lifted his head.
"Easy..." Cornelius raised his hands. "We have a mission. Negations are going well and I have been sent to ensure the safety of The Dragonfire." He explained.
Tarakona narrowed his eyes and cocked his horned head in question.
Gods! I really need to learn how to speak dragon! Cornelius thought to himself and pressed on. "They are planning the next stage of our mission and Slak Tor wants to hear what we will be up against. So, they asked you and I to fly back to the ship and bring it closer to the island for protection until we are ready."
Tarakona sighed, small jets of flame jutting from his nostrils and lowered his head positioning a claw as step for the warrior to climb aboard.

(Tarakona)

"Lord Vulcan, what can we expect on the island as far as the undead are concerned?" Slak Tor asked curiously.
"Ma..." Vulcan handed her the rolled up map as she passed him the second. He unrolled the parchment to reveal Devil Horns Island itself. "Well, as you can see, the island isn't that big, but its large enough. Tessaria is the one who can best explain the undead problem."

(Tessaria thanks to Slacker Stacker)

The elf shifted in her seat to face the dragon master. "There are several kind of undead. The zombies are not much of a problem except the fact that there is a great number of them. They can be destroyed in two ways. Either set them on fire or damage their brains. The fire takes a little longer, but gets the job done." She explained.
Slak Tor shrugged his shoulders. "Tarakona can take care of them."
"Yes, but then there are the skeletons. They don't care about fire. The only way to destroy them is by chopping off their heads. Not an easy task when you encounter a group of them." She warned.

(Skeletons) SOURCE

"Then there are the Wraiths." Her tone was soft but cold. "They can be put to final rest by chopping off their heads, but a single touch from one can drain years from your own life. If they get a good hold of you, they will take your life force and you will become on of the undead yourself."
There was a long silent pause as everyone took in her words.
"So, how do you tell a wraith from the others?" Captain K asked.
Tessa turned her head and met his eyes. "They have physical form, but unlike the zombies, they look like normal people, just pale." She shivered. "However, they are not the most dangerous ones you may face."
"And, what might that be?" K asked in a grim tone.
"Ghosts...." Her voice was nearly a whisper. "They have no physical form, don't care about fire and you cannot harm them with normal weapons. They too, will drain your life force until you become apart of the island."

(Ghost Warrior) [SOURCE] (https://www.deviantart.com/pill0/art/Ghost-knight-555567338)

"Nasty place!" Slak Tor mused to himself.
"Exactly why we placed the relic there. It is quite safe." Lady Vulcan added.
"I am afraid she is right Captain." Vulcan agreed. "Personally, I don't see how you will retrieve the artifact, but if you can, you have earned your reputation."
"Oh, we will get the relic. I have a good crew." K grinned, but his eyes seemed worried.
Vulcan wrapped the table with his knuckles and nodded. "You better have a good crew! This place is the most dangerous in the Lost Sea." His voice was stern, but concerned. " When your ship gets here, we will resupply it with food, drink and other necessities for your journey."
"MyLord, that will be very expensive. How will I repay you for this dept" K asked a little nervous of the answer.
Vulcan grinned. "Live up to your name!" He said jovially. "It will all be worth the price if you beat Crown Collector to the skull. I can't stand that man!" He growled. He lifted a finger and prodded the air with his next words. "Beat him and you and your crew will forever be friends to the Metals Guild!"

Oh man do I sense an epic event and colossal challenge coming to Captain K and the crew of the Dragonfire! Will our heroes be able to handle what is thrown at them? What will these undead throw at them and how will they locate the relic? Will them beat Crown Collector and forever be friends of the Guild?? There is only one way to find out; be back here next #piratesunday and boom answers will be found!!

Please make sure to check out the @stokjockey as his support of #piratesunday is unwavering and always of the highest calibur!!
Please check out @dixiesilverminer and the post that brought this this pirate-verse to life right HERE
Also make sure to check out their amazing website right HERE
Make sure to check out the crafter of this tale on YouTube Slacker Stacker and make sure to check out his amazing Tarakona Bars by clicking right HERE