Disclaimer: Buffy belongs to Joss Whedon and 20th Century Fox. Conan and the World of the Hyborian Age was developed by Robert E. Howard (and butchered by Lin Carter and L. Sprague de Camp), they now belong to Conan Properties International. Elements of this story are based on the Adventure "Das Schiff der Verlorenen Seelen" written by Claus Lenthe for the German roleplaying game "Das Schwarze Auge". Everything new is MINE!

Leaving Stygia

Traveling by sea was always an adventure. Many things could happen. Pirates could attack the vessel, raiding the cargo, killing those who did not surrender and selling the crew and the passengers into slavery. But pirates were not the only danger. Monstrous creatures of the sea like sea snakes, giant kraken and whales could also attack the ship damaging the seriously or even sinking it. And there was always the unpredictable weather. The wind could calm down making it impossible to use the sails. Or it could increase into a gale and the poor ship caught in it would be at mercy of the waves if it did not find a bay or harbor in time. Thus were the dangers of traveling by sea in this age.

Teje, a young Stygian priestess of Isis, knew about these dangers, but she also knew that she had to face them if she wanted to prevent a vision she had from coming true. So she had traveled to Khemi, the main seaport of Stygia. And now she was looking for a ship that would take her to her destiny. But that was not easy. Although they trade with Stygians, many masters would hesitate to take a Stygian a passenger aboard their ships. And if that passenger is also a woman and a priestess all of them would refuse letting her aboard. The refusal had two reasons. One was the common superstition sailors had about women aboard of ships. Many believe that a woman aboard of a vessel would bring bad luck. The other reasons was that Stygian priest were feared by everyone, even if they were members of a lesser cult and not of the all dominating cult of Set. Or the price fro the passage was more than she could pay.

She had thought about hiding her origin and her profession by wearing clothes of a different culture, but there had been not enough time for that. She was still wearing an Stygian dress. A long, plain, transparent and strapless gown clung to her body held in place directly under her bare breasts by a narrow girdle. Her feet were bare. A broad collar necklace made out of faience beads and gold, a golden necklace with the symbol of Isis, the sun disk between a pair of horns, and golden bracelets completed the ensemble.

After a while and many dismissals she found herself in front of a small sailing ship. Some sailors were carrying amphoras, baskets and crates aboard the ship. Others were stowing the cargo away. A man who seemed to be the master stood there and shouted orders. All of them, men and women alike, were dressed the same way, wearing something that could be described as a cross between a loincloth and a kilt with a broad belt holding it in place.

"You're looking for a passage, eh?" The master asked her. He was tall, handsome and had curly black hair and well-cared beard. His eye were twinkling gaily. He spoke Stygian with an heavy accent.

"If it's not too expensive?" She asked him.

"One piece of silver per day. That's less than most will charge for a place on their ships. If you can't afford it you can work for your passage." He raised his hands in an appeasing gesture. "No, no, not what you think. If I would sell passages aboard my ship for sex, my first mate and and half my crew'd kill me (or want a raise)." Then he smiled. "I can always need another helping hand, even if it's a priestess or a healer. The seas are dangerous enough."

"Thanks, but I can pay." Teje smiled back. "When do you leave?"

"As soon as my first mate returns with the provisions I've sent her to get." He looked around searching for something. "And if she does not return soon, I think about letting her swim." He chuckled. "No, that would be too cruel." Then he returned his attention towards Teje. "You're on the run, eh?"

"Why do you think that I am running away?" Teje asked him.

"Well," he said. "You've not asked to where we are sailing. And you're a young priestess with no retinue, slaves and luggage. And you're taking no Stygian vessel. So, me thinks, that you're having problems with the family, the authorities or the priests of Set."

"And if that's the case?" she asked innocently. She had no problems with either of the groups the ship's master had mentioned, but she did not tell him that. Her family was dead, murdered by raiders years ago. The authorities of Khemi did not dare to question the motives of priestess. Teje had her problems with the priesthood of the evil god Set, but she was just a simple priestess of Isis and thus no danger to the almighty cult of Set.

"No problem. I don't ask, you don't tell. And we're all happy." His smile became broader. "I'm Timereos, the master of the Heiros."

"I am Teje, a priestess of Isis." She introduced herself.

Timereos bowed and made an inviting gesture pointing to the ramp leading on the ship. "Welcome aboard, Teje. We're ready to weigh the anchor." Then we looked up and saw something that made his even broader than before. "Ah! The rest of my missing crew has arrived."

Teje turned around and saw a group of four approaching the quay on which the ship lay. Two men and two women were carrying some small crates and amphoras. One was a large Hyborian male with fair skin, short brown hair, brown eyes and short bread. He wore a breast plate over a knee-length tunic, sturdy boots and bracers. A great sword was slung over his shoulder. The other man was an old sailor with white hair and an unkempt beard. He wore the cross between a loincloth and a kilt the other sailors of the Heiros also wore and a sleeveless padded leather jerkin which would have fit him years ago but now it was at least one too small and could not hide his large belly anymore. And he could not button it up.

Then came a dark skinned woman. She was perhaps partially of Kushite origin so dark was her skin. And she was tall and of slender but athletic build. Her long black hair had been tied to a ponytail. She only wore a broad leather girdle which covered her waist. The woman wore nothing else. She had to be the first mate of the Heiros, because the smaller woman she was talking to was known to Teje. It was someone she had not seen since her return to Stygia two years ago.

"Buffy?" the young priestess called out in surprise.