<div align="center"><span class="bbc_u"><strong>Gerik; Battling with pirates on Crete</strong></span></div>______________________________<br/><br/>As Gerik and the other fighters leapt off the Sea's Wrath and rushed into the fray, Gerik couldnt help but feel a pang of sorrow at the cruelty the fates had shown this village. Angered, Gerik rushed ahead of his fellows, taking a street differing from the rest of the crew. Gerik bellowed out a roar as he rushed at a group of the brigands.<br/>The closest one turned, swinging his blade in the same motion. Gerik brought up his trident, holding it horizontally, to block the strike. Without missing a beat Gerik put one foot forward and gave a twist, hurling the pirate to the ground. Before he could stand Gerik had plunged his trident into his back, ripping it free quickly as he turned to face the rest of the pirates.<br/>A second pirate ran at Gerik, axe raised to strike down hard. Gerik stepped forward to meet the attack, his trident scraping the ground as he swung it in a vertical slash, ripping through the man's flesh quite easily. The pirate staggered back, dropping his axe and feebly trying to keep his guts from spilling out. Gerik paid the man no mind as he spun, swinging his trident in a wide arc that laced accross a pirate's throat, tearing it open.<br/>A scream caught Gerik's attention, diverting his eyes to just beyond his assailants. A woman was running wildly as a pirate gained on her. Without hesitation Gerik hefted his trident and stepped forward, hurling the weapon. The chasing pirate was propelled forward, crashing to the ground with the missle justting forth from his back. The man feebly tried to remove the item before finally going limp.<br/>As the last three pirates advanced, run lunged forward with a quick strike. Gerik's reflexes proved easily a match as he drew out both of his sabers in a cross, blocking the strike. He kicked the man away, lunging to the left and burying one of his sabers into a pirate's chest. He wrenched his blade free, using the other to deflect a spear thrust.<br/>Gerik's body was aflame, his muscles burning from the exertion of fighting. Sweat poored over his body, causing his clothing to stick to him. However, Gerik showed no signs of slowing as he leapt forward suddenly, kicking the spear to the side and slicing open the pirate's throat. Spinning, Gerik plunged both sabers into the last pirate's chest as he had prepared to plunge his own blade into Gerik's back.<br/>Gerik stood still for a few moments, regaining his breath as he gulped huge mouthfulls of air. After his breathing had returned to normal he wiped the sabers clean on a fallen pirate's shirt, and resheathed them. He strode over to his trident, pulling it free with a wet ripping sound. He hefted his trident onto his shoulder, stopping to take a look at where he was to get his bearings.