the search was not going well. Your funds were starting to run short, but you were unwilling to take any extended jobs without the proper provisions for caring for your son... and those are hard to find. You had to take something though, and this job was fairly quick. It seems pirates have been more active on the seas this summer, and a merchant headed for Constantinople hired you as escort for the trip, and would even pay for the trip back in addition to normal pay... a pretty good deal.. he must be really worried. You got maybe a few hours out of Thesolonika, when something strange happened. You started hearing what sounded like singing, more like humming, really, no words. Then men started leaving their posts on deck, a couple of crewmen went to talk to the captain.. people poured out from below deck... and, then before your senses could even feel something wrong, chaos broke out, the men attacked the captain, others moved to help, others moved to stop them, those from below drew weapons and joined the fray. You stayed by your merchant, protecting him from the fray. Suddenly, the merchant group joined in the fray, joining the struggle for the ship's wheel. The merchant and his group went crazy, joined the fight, against sailors.. each other.. the merhcant that hired you tried attacking you, even.. You yelled at a few of them, and grabbed the closest one... all that earned you was a clumsy sweep overhead with the mans sword... you just got out of the way..... couldn't really tell..some charged the captain, others protected him.. it was very strange and very tense... then a lamp broke, spreading flame to the deck and sails... when there was total chaos already in progress, then the ship caught fire. Stay and protect someone who attacked you against something driving everyone crazy... better to get off the ship, then you saw a small group of women cowering by one of the boats, but other than one holding a blade before her, swinging at anyone who came close, they didn't seem to be doing anything. You charged across the deck, she raised the blade, but you swat it from her obviously untrained hands, yelling something about needing to get into the life boat and get away from the burning ship... it took a bit to register with her, but you could see the understanding cross her face... she and you ran to the lines and untied the moorings.. you got the other women into the boat, both of you climbed in, and starting lowering it. you got to the water level, and started cutting the ropes, when a form came plummeting over the edge.. it was a young man, clutching a bag to his chest. he hit the boat floor, and did not move... fine, you'll look at him later... row away, get away from the fire... No, wait... the music is that way.. I want to go that way, turn the boat around.. the women are screaming, why, can't they here the paradise that is the place the music comes from... momentary stars before the eyes, sharp pain in back of skull, then blackness