Pirates of the Realms

[Epyon]

For a moment, Zaknayrr was thinking the human would refuse until the shrug. "Sounds fair to me. Agreed!" says the human before taking a large gulp of his tankard and Zaknayrr takes a healthy swig of his elixir. The human turns away from him and speaks to his elven companion in a low -for the human at least- voice but Zaknayrr refrains from listening in. His ears perk slightly at the next couple of questions. "So, what's next? When do you sail? Can we get time to buy some stuff for a sea voyage, or do you stock everything on board yourself?.... Captain"

 

"We set sail the next morning. For today, you may go and purchase what you believe is needed for yourselves, everything is stocked already," Zaknayrr answers the series of questions. "If you believe that you'll need some armor, report to Master Diamondcrusher, he'll outfit you appropriately." He motions to the sitting dwarf who is conversing with the other moon elf.

[Mistress of Whispers]

Calendriel nodded in reply to Grimwald. Not having to bother with the sailing was a perk, at least. She wondered again why they were embarking on a sea journey, but now - with a Drow captain and his Dwarven helper in the imminent future - she honestly couldn't remember. Well, at least they were allowed to bring their own possessions on board, which was something. That reminded her -

 

"This is excellent honey ale," she said to the barkeep. "How much for the bottle?"

 

She left Grimwald to - well, to whatever he wanted to - while she negotiated a fair price.

Edited October 1, 2015 by Mistress of Whispers

[Epyon]

(This took way too long! I am so sorry, you guys!)

 

The next morning after the events in the Moonlit Dell, the Shadow of Night left port and set sail to the south, towards Candlekeep. The first couple hours was loud, thanks in part to Dangan and his thirteen of his kin who had, surprisingly, arrived just before they shoved off. Zaknayrr groaned, both inwardly and outwardly at the thought of nearly a score of dwarves on his ship but it lasted about as long as a dwarven drinking song when they brought out new weapons and armor made from mithral instead of the steel that most of his crewmen use. The crew was ecstatic and gladly re-outfitted themselves in the stronger equipment.

 

Now, two days later, the Shadow of Night sailed around the small island of Orlumbar. However, what was a quiet voyage ended when a call from the crows nest brought attention to a faint plume of smoke. Zaknayrr pulled out a spyglass in an attempt to discern the cause when he caught sight of two ships that have been blasted and appeared to be caught on the reef. "Helmsmen, take us to those vessels. Trouble may yet be afoot," he said.

 

"Right away, sir," responded the helmsmen with a turn of the great wheel to bring the ship closer to the wrecks.

 

"Secure the sails, slow us down!" roars Dangan. "Master Grimwald, help secure the main sail!"

 

[Mistress of Whispers]

Calendriel felt the ship change course. Well, that was odd. It's not like the ocean had roads that warranted a change of course, so there must be something else going on. Climbing out of her hammock (she'd managed to get a corner space, meaning she only had to contend with Grim's presence to one side), she donned her new mithral chain and strapped on her twin swords. Though she'd been less than pleased when more dwarfs had boarded (and she hadn't missed the captain's groan at their arrival either - it seemed they might have something in common after all), she had to admit they'd brought first-grade arms and armor. She couldn't imagine abandoning her inherited swords, but she'd accepted a piece of mithral chain made by a dwarven woman named Dera Strongarm. Against all odds, Dera had turned out to be less boisterous than her cousins (Cal reckoned that by dwarven standards, Dera must be downright shy) and Calendriel actually liked her - though she'd never admit that in public.

 

Zaknyrr, Dangan and Grimwald were already at work when Calendriel arrived above deck. She ignored the bustle of sailors as she made her way to the prow. A plume of smoke rose from the horizon. She squinted her eyes, but even her elven sight was not enough to pierce the distance. Guess that's why Zaknyrr has a spy glass, she thought with a shrug. She found a spot where she was out of the way, yet could keep an eye on everything, and settled down to wait.

[Biologist]

Grimwald was enjoying the voyage. He grew up in a fishing village along the sword coast, but the treatment by his fellow fishermen had driven him to find his fortune inland. But the morning he and Calendriel stepped on the gangplank onto the Shadow of Night, he had a smile on his face, that he couldn't get rid of. The sounds and smell of the sea made him more cheerful than he had been in a long time.

 

The dwarves who joined the crew looked like a fun lot, even though Grimwald hadn't expected to find many dwarves on a ship. He always pictured them in halls deep under mountains and hills. Anyway, the stories he had heard usually pictured them there. The tall human was very interested when the dwarves took out the mithral armor for the crew. But as he approached, one of the dwarves, an elder looking man with greying beard and temples, told him: "Now look, son, we hadn't expected a giant ta join the crue, so we've nary an armor 'twould fit the likes of yuirs. Maybe on our next shore leave, we'd be able to outfit yu with one."

Grimwald had waved it off as not important, but it had stung, even after all this time of being larger than almost all other humans.

 

The hammock, at least, was comfortable enough as the ship's sailmaker had adjusted it to his length. Getting one near the end where the snoring was less pronounced was also a bonus. Not that he'd have trouble sleeping through it, but Cal might. She had chosen the hammock on the end, which was fine by the sailors, as it was also farthest from the ladder to the main deck.

 

Life on board was disciplined, not at all like the small fishing boats Grimwald was used to. He had some trouble finding a spot where he wouldn't be in the way of the daily bustle and could usually be found standing near the helm or near the bow.

 

When he heard Dangan's call, he had also seen the smoke in the distance and felt the turn of the ship towards it. He sprang into action and moved towards the crewmembers who were pulling on the lines to secure the main sail. He took a rope in his hands and pulled, deftly securing the line when that part of the sail was taut enough, performing the job that was normally done by two or three sailors together.

 

It all came back to him as if his last day at sea had been last week instead of years past.

 

He moved swiftly between the sailors, lending a hand where one was needed. Feeling he was in his element.

Edited October 26, 2015 by Biologist

[Epyon]

Gradually, the Shadow of Night came to a stop as they pulled alongside the wrecked ship, which looked to be a brig as well as another ship that wasn't seen with the spyglass, this one a schooner. It was likely it was a merchant ship with an escort. "Mister Harbrom, keep an eye out while we investigate," calls Zaknayrr to the man in the crow's nest.

 

"Aye, Captain!" comes the reply.

 

Zaknayrr looks at both ships and from his perspective, he didn't see any trace that could hint at the use of smokepowder, which he was relieved to know. But a brig with an escort is a rather difficult opponent. Whoever accomplished this wasn't to be taken lightly. "Lower the longboats, Master Grimwald and Mistress Calendriel, take ten men and investigate the schooner. I'll take a group to investigate the brig. Mister Dangan, you're in charge until we return."

 

"Aye, Captain," comes the gruff dwarf's reply.

 

Zaknayrr walks past Aireia. "Come with me, a fresh mind would be ideal when investigating."

[ValidEmotions]

Life came to the Shadow of Night at the new turn of events. Aireia had started to believe life at sea wasn't what she'd been told as the past few days yielded nothing interesting beyond chores and maintenance of the ship. However, a wreckage was spotted today and that certainly made things less monotonous. Getting up like everyone else, the Moon Elf crossed the deck and peered over the side, near the bow, to see what was before them.

 

Smoke billowed upwards, mingling with the sparse clouds and carrying on the salty breeze. As black as the column was, it only heralded the location of disaster. Once they were close enough to send down longboats and investigate, Zacnayrr passed by and bade her to follow. Hurrying to catch up with him, she matched his pace. "M-Me, Captain? I'm n-n-not so versed i-in ship w-w-w-wrecks; I ma-may miss something," she stuttered, clearly nervous. Falling silent, she glanced at the group the Drow picked out.

 

Though it'd been a few days, his presence and proximity still set her on edge but, much to her own pleasure, she'd managed to keep her itchy fingers from twitching. Aireia supposed she'd really have to get used to a Drow walking around without anyone attacking him, let alone running a large ship as this. Walking towards where the longboats were lowered and waiting, she frowned. "Wh-Wh-What would y-y-you have me do, Ca-Captain?"

 

[[i'm holding off from a post for Briagh for a few more posts; gonna play on the assumption his ship won't be seen until the groups reach the wreckage itself.]]

[Biologist]

"Lower the longboats, Master Grimwald and Mistress Calendriel, take ten men and investigate the schooner. I'll take a group to investigate the brig. Mister Dangan, you're in charge until we return."

 

Grimwald, who had been busy helping out with the sails and the lines, hadn't expected this. He looked around to see if there were any volunteers to go with him and Calendriel. Luckily there were. He picked ten able men and women to accompany him and Cal, favouring the ones he liked, but keeping in mind to form a band that could work well together as a team and bade them to take their places in the longboat.

 

He rushed down to the lower deck to retrieve his armour and weapons. He took his time to don them properly: it wouldn't do to get it done hastily. This was what he was here for, after all. When he emerged on deck, he checked his breastplate one more time, making sure it was comfortable. He had his swords and daggers at the ready. He was ready for a fight. Or a rescue operation. Or something completely different.

 

He flashed a grin to Cal. "Shall we dance, you and I, to the music of the sea?" and he jumped down into the longboat, now bobbing on the waves, waiting for them.

Edited November 6, 2015 by Biologist

[Epyon]

"M-Me, Captain? I'm n-n-not so versed i-in ship w-w-w-wrecks; I ma-may miss something," Aireia stuttered, clearly nervous. "Wh-Wh-What would y-y-you have me do, Ca-Captain?" Zaknayrr was very surprised at how much this elf stuttered. He had never imagined that the calm and collected elves would have one of their kin, a Ranger no less, to be such. But of course, he hasn't known her long. Hardly even a tenday passed, perhaps it was just a nervous tick.

 

"Or you may find or see something that we have overlooked. Just keep your eyes open, you'll be fine," he responds easily and in a comforting manner. "I will warn you, however, to prepare yourself for what we may find once we board the brig." With that, he motioned for her to get into the longboat where eight other men and women were waiting to shove off.

 

With a nod to Dangan and the rest of the crew, Zaknayrr descended the ladder to the longboat. He could already see the schools of fish and the telltale dorsal fins of the sharks. Hopefully, they don't decide that the two longboats may contain more morsels for their feast. Their longboat shoves off and four crewmen begin rowing towards the brig. "Everyone, keep your eyes peeled for any survivors but be aware that they may not recognize that we are here to help. Keep your crests in plain view and if you are attacked, try to bring them down without the need for blood," he says.

 

The boarding party nod their understanding and mentally prepare themselves for what they may find.

 

Back on the Shadow of Night, Dangan set to work on placing the rest of the crew in various watch positions. He also had some of the crew ready their two ballistas, one fore and one aft, in case they needed to use them. Handling shipwrecks was nothing new to the crew of the windjammer, but they rarely encountered one that happened so recently. They all had the feeling that the predator was still close by.

[Mistress of Whispers]

Calendriel stepped lightly onto the railing for the longboat and walked to the prow. She was as sure-footed as any elf could be, and the movement of the waves didn't bother her. Days of ocean spray had brought some texture to her elven hair, and a few red curls escaped her otherwise immaculate braid. Squinting, she scanned the horizon in all directions. Dark cloud opposite the wreckage, behind the Shadow of the Night, revealed a brewing storm, though Cal couldn't tell if it was coming or going. Catching Dangan's eye, she pointed to that far-off vista, confident that the Dwarf would be able to identify the storm's direction and prepare if necessary.

 

She remained standing on the prow of the long boat, leaning slightly right so the sailors rowing could see past her, as they approached the wreck of the schooner. Calendriel's keen eyes spotted flotsam and loose barrels bobbing on the water, along with pieces of cloth and a thick red foam. Blood on the water. Casting her gaze wider out, she searched for predators under the dark waters but found no sign of them. Did that mean the battle was recent? She looked at Grimwald to check if he had seen it too. Calendriel's swords hung comfortably across her back: at hand, but not drawn yet.

Edited November 22, 2015 by Mistress of Whispers

[Psyduсk]

Leaned against a wooden table, below deck aboard what a common man of good standing would describe as a filthy pirate ship, was a lone human, sitting in his little dimly lit compartment of what was his saving grace, the brigantine affectionately named "Stormlight". Bryce Marlowe was that man's name, and unlike the rest of the scallywags aboard the Stormlight, he was no sailor. Rather, he was a captive of the consequences of his own wrongdoings, and his seething lust for power.

 

Bryce reached gently into his pocket and pulled out a small pipe. Despite its purpose, it had a fine wooden polish to it, with decorative inscriptions running all along its length, giving the impression that it's owner is a refined gentleman of high stature... a momentary example of painful irony. After priming it with an unknown tobacco-like substance, Bryce snapped his fingers, and brought the small flame dancing above his pointer, to light his temporary escape from reality.

 

Yes, the man was no sailor, nor did he ever wish to be one. His rash decision to join up with the crew of the Stormlight was made out of desperation to escape his past and find a new purpose, no longer underground, but now on the field with the very vandals he'd once assisted and made a profit out of. The prospect of getting to put his skills to lethal use was indeed enticing, but it would take some time for him to adjust to a multitude of new irritants.

 

Bryce exhaled slowly, letting off a long puff of thick blue-ish grey smoke, feeling as if his tensions had left along with it. While it did nothing to ease the sea sickness, he figured that in a while, neither the gentle nor violent rocking of the Stormlight would upset his guts in such a way. For now, he kept a stern face about his petty complaints, and did what was needed of him.

 

Strangely enough, it was not much to begin with. He sometimes worked with the rest of the crew with the standard ship operations, fastening ropes, swabbing decks and assisting with various cargo handling operations, but for the most part, his assistance was seldom required. Then again, his time on the Stormlight had not been long, nor had they gotten into any significant fights...

 

Leaning against the back of his chair, Bryce exhaled another plume of smoke, took a coin out of his pocket, then started to play around with it, twiddling it between his fingers expertly, as if he'd been doing so for years.

 

Yo ho, yo ho... -he hummed quietly- A pirate's life... -he grinned, leaving the coin in his upturned palm, and levitating it just above the skin's surface. The small metal disc started to glow eerily... ..for meeeee... -he finished staying, gleefully watching the coin pulse with energy, hovering just above his palm. It'd been a while since he'd gotten his hands dirty, and was very much looking forward to it.

Edited November 25, 2015 by Psyduсk

[Biologist]

Grimwald returned Calendrial's look and gave her a silent nod. He had seen the same thing she had spotted. A recent battle could mean survivors from either side were still on the wreckage. Caution was key, since they might meet resistance.... or an ambush.

 

Grimwald realised that the only way to get out of a shipwreck like this without resorting to swimming was to capture another ship. It would be sheer folly to even try it, but there could be desperate people waiting for an opportunity to seize their longboat, or worse.

 

In a calm voice, soft enough for the people in the boat to hear, he said: "There might be survivors. They might be desperate. Don't let them take the longboat."

 

He changed his stance slightly to be ready for a fight in an instant; to others it looked as if he was just casually standing at the back of the longboat, gazing out over the situation with practised authority.

 

When the longboat softly hit the hull of the wrecked schooner, Grimwald climbed on board noiselessly, eager to see what had transpired. On the deck, he drew his sword...

Edited November 27, 2015 by Biologist

[Epyon]

Dangan turned his head in the direction Calendriel was pointing and saw the incoming storm. He nodded his thanks to her before she went below to the longboat. "Boys! A storm is bearing down on us from the looks of it. Secure what needs securing and when the Captain returns with our boarders, ye pull on them ropes like yer lives depended on it!" The crew responded with yells of "Aye!" while Dangan moved to the main mast before yelling to Mister Harbrom. "Soon as the wind picks up, ye get yerself down, Mr. Harbrom." Harbrom waves in reply, indicating he understood.

 

=====

 

"Master Grimwald," began a young lad of nineteen winters. "If I may, we usually keep the Waterdhavien crest in plain view when we board ships. I recommend we do so now. This longboat also has the crest high on the prow. Any survivors we encounter should recognize it." There are murmers of agreement among the rest of the group, with a few of them ruffling the boy's hair affectionately.

 

=====

 

Zaknayrr and his boarding party reached the brig and disembarked. After tying the boat to a sturdy piece of the hull and posting two guards, they break into groups of three to search the ship quickly. "Remember, if we encounter any survivors, don't harm them. They may very well panic when they see us, subdue them with all care," he warned before they split off. Currently, Zaknayrr is leading Aireia and one of his veteran crew, a half elf by the name of Leroux Galaval, into the bottom most deck that hasn't been flooded yet.

Edited November 29, 2015 by Epyon

[ValidEmotions]

[[Damn it all! I had this really nice and long post but then I hit the wrong key and lost it all! I now do not have the heart (nor the memory) to rewrite it all as it had been. So, here's a "summed up" version I guess. ;-;]]

 

They were at sea for the past few days now, leaving Mintarn with a lonely merchant tag-along. The crew was following the trail of a trade ship and it didn't take them long before they crossed its path. Crippling the schooner and then the brig, the pirates came to bare along the merchant ship's side, boarding the vessel. Briagh's crew obtained the victory they intended but not without some damage.

 

Though a vast majority of the raided victims got away on lifeboats, a couple couldn't make it free. Briagh suffered a small loss in terms of men and several more were wounded, hastened away and in need of a good healer.

 

"What do you want from us?"

 

Dark locks and dark eyes stared at him, a mixture of hard hatred and anticipated fear. The woman's voice caused the Dwarf to stop pacing, turning his gaze upon her. At the back of his quarters, she sat in the corner on the floor, a child wrapped protectively in her arms. The small fry of a girl had the same dark hair and eyes.

 

"Absolutely nothing," Briagh replied briskly, pressing his lips into a thin line, hidden by his thick beard and mustache.

 

He had only just returned from the little area below deck designated as an infirmary. It'd been quite there, most of the wounded unconscious or getting there. He'd left that silence and entered to the shouts of an angry and frightened woman. He couldn't blame her though. She'd almost gotten away on a lifeboat with a few others but the wreckage was chaotic and their only means of escape didn't stand a chance. With Reef sharks already circling the bloodied waters, he'd done the only thing he could think up.

 

Snatching them up.

 

Leaving his quarters, he headed down below deck once more, stopping and leaning against a support beam. The merchant, Bryce, was smoking and mildly singing a little tune while levitating a coin above his hand. "Come make yerself useful. I need ya to appraise the loot and create a full ledg'r so I can get an idea of what it's all worth," Briagh stated, his voice rough and grating.

 

~~~~

 

Following Zaknayrr down into the longboat, Aireia strung her bow and gripped it tightly. She knew how to handle herself, there was no need for the captain to try and assure her she'd be fine. She already knew this. However, navigating a ship wreck at sea was new to her and was what worried her. Still, she remained silent, finding comfort and certainty in the hold she had on her weapon. Eventually, they reached the ruined brig and the Drow split them into groups, taking her and one other down to the lowest deck of the ship they could reach.

 

In the gloom, her sharp gaze raked across every detail, examining the space. Spotting a pile of debris, the Moon Elf paused. A man hid behind it, cowering and likely wouldn't have been spotted if she'd been human. "G-Good sir?" she called, causing the man to jump and trip, falling to the wooden floor.

 

Startled, the human scrambled back into hiding, briefly peering around the debris to get a glimpse at the trio. "Sir, i-it's alright. We're here to help," Aireia tried again.

 

This time, the man looked at them again, slowly rising to his feet when he recognized the crest on her clothing. "You're pirate hunters, aren't you? I'd heard the tales but hadn't known if they were true or not," he started, eyes lingering on Zaknayrr. "A Drow as a captain."

 

Nodding, Aireia glanced back at the Drow before focusing once more on the man. "Yes. A-are there others here?"

 

The man shook his head. "I'm not sure. I haven't seen anyone else here on the brig. I think there still might be a few hired escorts in the schooner. Except..." he trailed off briefly, a look of panic crossing his features. "There was a pair, a mother and her child. They got taken by the pirates when their lifeboat was destroyed!"

 

~~~~

 

The longboat tapped against the schooner's hull and Grimwald stepped onto the wreckage, weakened boards threatening to snap under the new weight of him and nine others. Beyond and out of sight, men grouped in a huddled mass, uncertain of who was approaching. Had the pirates come back to pick off the survivors? Surely, leaving them to the fate of hungry sharks hadn't been enough? The oldest of the three nodded in the direction of the noise, grip tightening on his unsheathed sword.

 

One of the younger lads readied a skip rock in their sling, the other holding their hand ready on the hilt of their sword. Quickly and quietly, the soldier with the sling ducked further into the wreckage, looking for a route to skirt around the approaching strangers. Meanwhile, the older swordsman stepped out into the sunlight, sword angled to catch a ray of light and shine it at the Giant's face, intending to blind him.

 

Yes, it was a Giant. Of that the man was certain. And no Giant was a good thing. Bellowing, the soldier lurched forward, sword thrusting. He had nothing left to lose. It was either another fight or a meeting with the sharks.

 

He much preferred the fight.

 

The second man followed suit, coming in with an underhand cut while the slinger remained back and (hopefully) out of sight. The skip rock was launched from its sling, enchanted and aimed for the Elven spell caster. If all went well, he could take her down before she even got her first chant done.

[Mistress of Whispers]

Finally, a fight! Calendriel spun past Grimwald in a flowing movement that was more reminiscent of dance than combat. She drew her sword mid-spin, blade slipping out and up to meet the soldier's blade in its path. For a moment her sapphire eyes met his brown, the golden flecks in hers shimmering in the light, even as Calendriel's braid still whipped behind her like fire. To his credit, the old soldier seamlessly moved to confront this new threat, though she moved quicker than he liked.

 

"We are not your enemies," Calendriel hissed as she pushed him back, "Waterdeep sent us." At that the man's eyes narrowed in suspicion, though he cast a quick glance behind her to the long boat. It had markings to denote allegiance, but his eyes weren't what they'd once been and the waves and flotsam made it hard to decipher.

 

Calendriel's forward lunge - an unexpected and wholly suicidal move had she been a spellcaster - propelled her out of the path of the sling stone, which hit a broken hull plank behind her original position and flopped harmlessly into the water. Calendriel didn't even notice it, intent on her immediate opponent, though the nineteen year old boatsman behind her did.

[Psyduсk]

"Come make yerself useful. I need ya to appraise the loot and create a full ledg'r so I can get an idea of what it's all worth." -spoke the captain of the ship, in his stereotypically rough dwarvish accent. exchanging a glance with the dwarf, Bryce stood up from his recline and replied with a clear "Aye, captain. I'll go have a quick at the loot right now, then I'll get into details and writing the ledger." The dwarf was as fair a man as Bryce could judge. Having a big mouth and a bellowing have-at-it attitude was unsurprising, given both his race and position on the ship. Someone in charge of a ship full of bloodthirsty murderous thugs must be as hardened as they all of them combined, or even more so.

 

As the human walked past his captain and turned towards the cargo hold where the loot was being kept, he recognized the familiar smell of contraband. It was a smell unlike any other, that he lacked the vocabulary to even begin to describe, but if he'd have tried, he'd describe it as smelling of "wealth". Once he'd gone past the double doors leading into the hold, he noted the scallywags still handling the cargo, moving it around so it used up less space. Putting both hands in his pockets, Bryce sighed as he braced himself for what he was dreading. It didn't take more than opening a few crates and checking a few brandings for his suspicions to be confirmed.

 

This is one of those ships innit... -he grumbled as his scowl deepened. Noting one of the crew's confused expression, he crossed his arms and asked: The ships that bring in... -he roughly grabbed one of the barrels full of barley and dragged it out of the corner of the cargo area, where some moisture had gathered into a small puddle, barely noticeable by most- ...moist and moldy grains and herbs and expect me to give them a good price for it! -he began shouting, briskly moved over to one of the crates in the middle, which contained an assortment of silver kitchenware- Why isn't this roped down?! Do you expect it to be a good little crate and stay put if we run into some rough weather? This ain't no box of iron shavings! You either store this in the edge where it won't slam into the sides, or you rope it down! -he fumed, grabbed a rope from one of the men and securely fastened down the several boxes full of fragile silverware.

 

Bloody hell I could go on! Argh! -he raised his arms in frustration, and eyed up the several men. A lot of them didn't look pleased at all. Bryce took a deep breath, and tried to calm himself down. Okay! -he clapped his hands and started pacing around the room- You lot all want your share, right? -he paused and listened to the muffled sounds of approval- That's right! Now, the reason I was brought on board is to make sure we make as much money as possible. The more we get out of this loot, the more all of your shares will be. -he explained with a wolfish grin, gesturing by lightly rubbing his index and middle finger with his thumb while the men looked around at each other and nodded in approval- The more money we make, the more we'll be able to spend on the necessities. Booze, wenches, weapons, armor, tools, ship maintenance and ofcourse, food. -he paused briefly to listen to the continuing grunts of approval- Now, between you and me, I'm not a fan of the scurvy. I'd prefer to keep my bloody teeth, and I am fairly certain the lot of you feel the same way. To do so, we need money! Money, friends! Money's the name of the game, and we ain't gettin' much with plundered goods that have spoiled, because you lot can't use some common bloody sense.

 

The room went silent for a moment... Soooo... -he clapped twice- Get on with it. The perishables like grains weeds herbs and other such belong in the middle stacked atop one another, heaviest containers down low and lightest up high. Silverware and other such belong in the mid starboard end lined against the hull and gunpowder goes to the mid port end, once again lined against the hull. Very good. -he remarked once them en got busy shifting the crates around- Do it evenly, that's right. -he commented as he paced around, examining the remainder of the loot. It was mostly the same, crates full of various types of herbs and silverware. A few boxes of iron tools and a half dozen crates of food supplies and booze, no doubt what the plundered vessel's crew was to eat on their journey.

 

Keep the perishables dry... stack the food crates atop the booze crates. -he spoke as the men hustled to reconfigure the cargo. Right! -Bryce exclaimed and reached over towards the familiar improvised desk where he'd left some supplies for himself to write the ledger the captain wanted. Now familiarized with the goods and pleased with their proper storage, he started writing down a rough estimate of the cargo before moving onto more detailed calculations. It would take a little while and he was not leaving until the sailors were done with their work.

Edited November 29, 2015 by Psyduсk

[Biologist]

Grimwald was ready to confront any survivors and he wasn't disappointed when two of them stepped forward from behind the broken pieces of the ship. As the older swordsman tried to catch his attention with reflected sunlight, Calendriel rushed past him and engaged *his* opponent.

 

Bloody elf. Stealing my glory! he thought for a moment, but then saw the second swordsman enter the fray, trying to cut down his companion. With a quick step he was at Calendriel's side. By now, they had grown used to each other's fighting style and were a deady force if they combined their sword skills.

 

As the younger fighter tried an underhand cut, Grimwald batted the man's hand away with a sword parry and punched him in the face, hard.

 

"Desist, you ungrateful dogs!", he snarled loudly at them. "We're here to rescue you." The stone from the sling whizzed past him, nearly hitting him in the side of the head. Grimwald swore profusely.

 

"Give up. Unless you're pirates. Then we're here to kill you." He growled menacingly, enjoying this fight a little too much.

Edited December 1, 2015 by Biologist

[Epyon]

This time, the man looked at them again, slowly rising to his feet when he recognized the crest on her clothing. "You're pirate hunters, aren't you? I'd heard the tales but hadn't known if they were true or not," he started, eyes lingering on Zaknayrr. "A Drow as a captain."

 

Zaknayrr nods to the man at his words. "I am Zaknayrr Rilynath, captain of the pirate hunter ship, Shadow of Night. We're getting you out of here, sailor." He looked at his two companions when the sailor spoke about the mother and child. "We must be off immediately then. Do you remember the ship, sailor?" Zaknayrr asks. Time is running short for the pair, he would very much like to set off immediately. If they aren't already dead, he thought grimly. Shaking his head, he pushes those thoughts away from his mind. He will not give up hope for them unless their lifeless bodies are right in front of him. He doubts that they are dead so soon after an attack, but considering how ruthless and blood thirsty they've become recently....

 

======

 

The young boatsman did indeed see the one with the sling. While the hot-headed Grimwald challenged the rest of the confused and obviously rattled sailors, quite stupidly, he might add. He threw a carefully aimed dagger towards the sling. The young sailor grew very adept at throwing daggers in his time aboard the Shadow of Night and was well known he could cut the wings off a fly if he wanted to. He wasn't that skilled, no. But he was very good at hitting small targets. A sling would be no problem. At least, it shouldn't be. The worst that could happen is the dagger would slice the slinger's wrist.

 

Meanwhile, one of the elder crewmembers of the Shadow of Night called out to the men. "Gentlemen, there is no need for this! We belong to the pirate hunter ship Shadow of Night, captained by the esteemed Zaknayrr Rilynath! Who is in command here?" He turned an angry glare to the fiery Grimwald. He would be sure to notify his captain of this.

Edited December 6, 2015 by Epyon

[ValidEmotions]

The younger soldier confronted with Grimwald's approach stumbled from the parry, ducking to avoid the new arrival's large fist. Off balance as he was already, the lad slipped and hit the wooden floor. Fortunately, he managed to keep a grip on his sword but the momentary pause kept him from jumping to his feet and resuming the attack.

 

The older man spat at the boards beneath his feet in response to the Giant's words. "You're a Giant! I don't trust the likes of you! Nothin' but trouble!" he hollered. Glaring at the elven woman that had deflected him, the man scowled. "And what's the likes of you doing with that thing?" he wondered, practically flabbergasted.

 

One of the other arrivals spoke up quickly then, a young boy by the looks of it. "I'm in charge 'ere since there's no one else." He glanced at the third soldier who was reeling from the sudden disarm, yanking his sling free from the dagger that pinned it. "Shadow o' Night, huh?" the older man questioned, frowning still. "How do I know this isn't a trick? Or that this Giant commandeered the ship and crew?" Sweeping his hand to encompass the entirety of the wreckage and the two others with him, he gave a sour smirk. "Obviously, you can understand that I can't take any chances with strangers."

 

~~~~

 

"I'm not sure. I never got a good look at the full name. It was Storm... Storm something or other. Maybe Stormflight, I think?" the merchant replied, shifting nervously. "I'm sorry. That's not very helpful. I should have gone after them but... There were sharks..." he trailed off, very aware of how cowardly he must have appeared to the Hunters. Lowering his gaze, he looked up again when Aireia touched his shoulder, coaxing him to move. Without resistance, he hurried back up top with the others where the longboat waited.

 

"Captain?" the Moon Elf started, glancing at Zaknayrr with worry. "T-They couldn't ha-have gone t-too far yet. Could they?" she inquired.

 

~~~~

 

Following Bryce up above deck, Briagh sat back and watched as the merchant fell into doing what he knew best. "Captain!" The Dwarf looked up towards the crow's nest as Bryce started working at his makeshift desk. "Hunters arrived at the wreckage!" Frowning, Briagh's bushy eyebrows knitted together. He hadn't expected such a thing so soon. Looking towards the door that led to his quarters at the other end of the ship, the Shield Dwarf shook his head. A smirk crossed his face.

 

At least he could get the mother and child to safety much sooner now.

 

"Keep an eye on them! Trigan, inform the rest of the crew that we're slowing pace and turning to port! And get ready - we may have some company," he ordered. Striding towards his quarters, Briagh found the mother trying to rummage through the enclosed area. She stopped and turned abruptly at his entrance, hands behind her back. Her daughter had remained in the corner. "Gettin' in t' tro'ble, eh?" he said simply, moving to his desk and brushing a hand over a set of maps. "If I were ya, I'd sit still, lass. Lot less tro'ble tha' way," he huffed.

 

The woman clutched a candlestick tightly in her hand, shuffling sideways as quietly as she could. The Dwarf didn't appear to be paying any attention and she was able to creep around until his back was mostly to her. Quickly, she swung her arm up fo-

 

His large hand snatched her wrist before the candlestick connected with his head, his dark eyes focused on her face. A sigh escaped his hidden lips as he blinked slowly, a look of sadness flickering across his features. "Now lass, why'd ya go an' do tha' fer?" he asked her. His grip tightened, rough skin rubbing uncomfortably against her wrist as he tossed the woman aside. She collided with a shelving unit, collapsing to the ground with a few items falling with her.

 

The daughter shouted in fear for her mother and Briagh squeezed his eyes shut, rubbing them with his fingers. He didn't like to rough house but, the woman needed to stay in line. Else wise, getting her to safety wasn't going to work.

Edited December 6, 2015 by Narvix

[Biologist]

"How do I know this isn't a trick? Or that this Giant commandeered the ship and crew?"

 

Grimwald sighed. It was such an annoying question. There was no good answer to it, so he just grit his teeth as he spat back:

 

"I am no giant, you presumptuous idiot, and she is my friend." he motioned towards Calendriel.

 

He continued in a less hostile tone, but clearly one of a man who had lost his patience:

 

"Furthermore, there is no way for us to gain your trust, just as there is no way for us to know you aren't pirates, trying to get on our ship with a feeble excuse. So you'll just have to take a leap of faith - exactly like what we're doing with you lot - pray to your deity for guidance and put down your weapons... Now, are you going to be smart about it?"

 

He did not change his stance, he was still expecting trouble and a continuation of this armed conflict. He hadn't put down his own weapon, nor did he tell any of his own crew to put down theirs.

 

These three men could either come with them peacefully or they would find out just how well trained the crew of the Shadow of Night were.

Edited December 20, 2015 by Biologist

[Epyon]

One of the other arrivals spoke up quickly then, a young boy by the looks of it. "I'm in charge 'ere since there's no one else." He glanced at the third soldier who was reeling from the sudden disarm, yanking his sling free from the dagger that pinned it. "Shadow o' Night, huh?" the older man questioned, frowning still. "How do I know this isn't a trick? Or that this Giant commandeered the ship and crew?" Sweeping his hand to encompass the entirety of the wreckage and the two others with him, he gave a sour smirk. "Obviously, you can understand that I can't take any chances with strangers."

 

"Of course-"

 

"I am no giant, you presumptuous idiot, and she is my friend." comes Grimwald's interruption as he motioned towards Calendriel. "Furthermore, there is no way for us to gain your trust, just as there is no way for us to know you aren't pirates, trying to get on our ship with a feeble excuse. So you'll just have to take a leap of faith - exactly like what we're doing with you lot - pray to your deity for guidance and put down your weapons... Now, are you going to be smart about it?"

 

Well, Grimwald had a point to an extent. If they were pirates, they likely would've attacked to begin with. But that was assuming a lot. However, there was no way a giant would be able to commandeer the crew of the Shadow of Night. They would take their chances with the beasts of the deep before they served under a giant. That's not even to mention the fact that a certain fiery dwarf would be having a field day if he saw a giant that needed chopping. "I can assure you that our comrade is no giant. Just as I can assure you that Captain Zaknayrr is alive and well. He is on the brig checking for other survivors as we speak. Now then, by the authority given to us through our captain, who in turn gained it from the Lords of Waterdeep. Drop your weapons, or be detained!" finishes the young man. The rest of the boarding party raise their mithral weapons as one, the silvery metal gleaming in the light.

 

======

 

"I'm not sure. I never got a good look at the full name. It was Storm... Storm something or other. Maybe Stormflight, I think?" the merchant replied, shifting nervously. "I'm sorry. That's not very helpful. I should have gone after them but... There were sharks..." he trailed off, very aware of how cowardly he must have appeared to the Hunters. Lowering his gaze, he looked up again when Aireia touched his shoulder, coaxing him to move. Without resistance, he hurried back up top with the others where the longboat waited.

 

"Peace, man. Part of a name is better than no name. I understand that being attacked by pirates is a frightening and traumatic experience, I do not expect a merchant to easily push away his fear. You have done well just by giving us a name. For that, I thank you," Zaknayrr says with a pat on the man's shoulder as he passed. Indeed, any name in general is a good place to start. Although, he had never heard of a ship named Stormflight, he thinks it wise to only focus on the first part of the name. It's the one thing that the merchant was able to remember.

 

"Captain?" the Moon Elf started, glancing at Zaknayrr with worry. "T-They couldn't ha-have gone t-too far yet. Could they?" she inquired.

 

Zaknayrr looked up at Aireia, shaking his head. "No, they are likely still close. I doubt they are passed Baldur's Gate. Come, we should return to the ship," he says as he turns to follow the man above deck. For all intents and purposes, the hunt is on. When he return to the longboat, the men pile in with the survivors, only three of them it seems. Zaknayrr pulls out a small whistle and blows a shrill, clear note that is able to be heard a good distance away.

=====

 

Dangan hears the whistle and breathes a sign of relief. "Good, they're returning. Prepare lads! Cap'n is on his way back! Keep an eye out for signs of pirates!"

[Mistress of Whispers]

The man Calendriel disarmed seemed to hesitate. Still. Just like that, Calendriel was out of patience. Moving her swords to reflect a ray of sunlight, she spun past him in a dazzling display of light. Her swords seemed to melt in the light, gold and silver pattern rippling together like serpents. Even without the distraction, she would have been too fast for him to catch. A swift kick to the back of the knees brought him down, face level with the boat that was still bobbing on the waves - and the crest that denoted it as belonging to Shadow of Night. Calendriel stopped there. Her point was made - now the human had to choose.

 

The man looked at the crest, then back at the boarding party with raised weapons. If they wanted to harm anyone, it would have been done by now. The elf was certainly quick enough and the giant was big. "I believe you," he finally said.

 

Good. "That solves it then," Calendriel replied. She sheathed her swords as she stepped back towards the boat. "Get your things and come with us." if the humans had any belongings left, of course.

 

With the immediate threat taken care of, Calendriel surveyed the wreckage. A single tube, sealed with wax, bobbed amidst the flotsam. She fished it out of the water easily and examined the seal. It bore a crest, though not one she recognized. Of course, in this region that only ruled out Waterdeep and the other major players. Still, a seal meant it was probably eyes-only and she doubted those included hers. She pocketed the tube and straightened to see if the survivors were ready.

Edited January 1, 2016 by Mistress of Whispers

[Drakkoh]

Many would argue that a confined space like a ship in the middle of the ocean was no place for a man suited to surviving in the vast expanses of the wilderness. For the most part, it is indeed so. The Stormlight may not be a small vessel, but for one ranger aboard her, she seemed like one step ahead from a prison cell. Perched upon one of her masts, enjoying the limited solitude he could find, Charlies B. Andrews silently watched the other crew members scurry about the main deck below. No doubt they'd grown accustomed to the gentle sway of the vessel ages ago, with stomach cast of iron and seawater running through their vanes, none of them seemed the least bit bothered by the petty struggles of a newbie seaman.

 

Indeed, Charlie had lost his lunch to the seafarer's sickness many times over the past couple of days, but was thankfully finally feeling a bit better, as if he'd started getting used to it, or perhaps his bowels had been upset so long, that he'd grown desensitized to the feeling altogether. It did not matter, he had his priorities set, and was looking forward to a new life of plunder and riches, as promised by his new captain, Briagh.

 

T'was peculiar to see a dwarf captaining a vessel, let alone a pirate ship. Regardless, were it not for Briagh's intentions, one would hardly be able to tell the Stormlight was a pirate ship. It always seemed so well maintained and clean, with a well organized and active crew. Compared to the stories of murderous thugs and roughians aboard floating vessels loaded with naught but rum, cannonballs, gunpowder and a heap of stolen gold, the Stormlight definitely didn't fit that image.

 

For a moment, he thought he'd heard his captain barking orders from below deck. That turned out to be accurate, as the crew immediately started to scramble around, raising a few of the sails and altering the course of the Stormlight. By the looks of things, they'd be heading towards land. Figures... -Charlie sneered, discontent with the lack of actual treasure hunting or theft they've been up to. He may have been a patient man, but his empty coin purse heavily tugged at his strings. It would seem that the next couple of days would be just as uneventful as the last. His daily regime would consist of nothing else than helping the crew from time to time, training the on-board raiders in marksmanship, or keeping watch for profitable targets. How dull...

 

Climbing down from his perch, he looked about the main deck, and decided to assist the rest of the crew. It would at least keep his mind off of his petty complaints.

Edited January 16, 2016 by Drakkoh

[ValidEmotions]

Biting his tongue to stay off any grumbling, the aged man picked himself up and motioned to the younger pair of soldiers. They had their weapons, the clothes on their backs, and nothing else. One at a time, they climbed into the longboat, grouping together as far away from the Giant as they could. It was a clear attempt to isolate themselves from their rescuers; trust had to be earned. At any rate, if things went as well as was promised, the trio wouldn't be seeing the Giant's lot again, any time soon.

 

~~~~

 

They were on their way back to the ship, the merchant sitting huddled among Zaknayrr's men. Aireia watched him for a short while before turning her attention towards the longboat's destination. The captain stated that the pirates shouldn't have been too far out just yet, but the Elf still wondered if they would catch up to them. It wasn't long before both longboats were reunited with the Shadow of Night and Aireia caught sight of three more survivors with Calendriel and Grimwald's group. After the rope ladders were sent down, people climbed up and boarded, disappearing from her sight at the top.

 

The merchant went up before she did, her feet touching the deck moments after his. "Will we b-be able to ca-catch them, Captain?" she asked, turning her head to locate the Drow.

 

~~~~

 

Briagh emerged from his quarters once more, a map rolled up within his thick hand. A compass and pen was in the other. Finding a sealed barrel, he laid the map atop it and whistled through his fingers. "Trigan!" At the sound of his name, the man hurried towards him. For a clumsy Human, the Dwarf could appreciate his loyalty and uncanny skills. He'd been his deck master for a few years now.

 

"Capt'n?" the man greeted quizzically.

 

"Farly spotted the ship here, at the site of our latest plunder. Assuming they stopped to search for survivors, they shouldn't have moved any further in the past half hour."

 

"Should we confront them? Or flee?" Trigan asked, frowning. It wasn't a secret that the ship's movement was slowed and turned away from the original course. The man's brown eyes examined the Shield Dwarf, scraggly hair sticking to his forehead and neck due to the salty breeze and sweat. Briagh's gaze was focused on the map but he knew the Dwarf was paying attention to him.

 

After a few moments, the Dwarf finally turned his gaze upon the Human, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. "We've got precious cargo, lad. Need ta see it safe. Don't we?" Standing straighter, he rolled up the map and moved away from the barrel. As he walked the deck, he tapped the arms of specific crew members to get their attention and have them gather. They would spread around what he had to say. "Get ready for company, boys. Make sure ya look decent for our... guests, and show 'em how goodly we are. Ey?" Dismissing them with a wave, the members hurried off, relaying the instructions.

 

The atmosphere seemed to change, turning from the orderly and pleasant one it had been to what may as well have been described as nearly chaotic. To a newcomer like Charlies, it looked like an upheaval from the crew or that the captain simply told everyone they could do what they wanted. Of course, that was to a newcomer. There was still plenty of command in the Dwarf's hand and the "chaos" was a practiced act. After all, they were pirates. Why not seem like it now and again?

 

Heading towards the stern of the ship, Briagh motioned for the navigator to step aside. A small woman, slightly portly in shape, nodded and let the Dwarf take control. He grasped two of the nobs on the wheel and turned the ship more. While he was not going to head the ship in the opposite direction they were originally traveling, he wasn't going to avoid the hunters altogether. As compromise, the Stormlight was set on a path that would carry the Maelstrom Corsairs diagonally past. After all, what was a good chase if the hunters couldn't catch up a bit?

Edited February 28, 2016 by Narvix

[Jashypoo]

(OOC: Okay, think this is better )

 

Ninafer Bal looked at the going ons of her ship. Orlumbar was close by and the itch to battle was gnawing at her bones. Fighting took up a good amount of concentration from any of her others worries.

 

The half-elf, father a Drow and mother an Elf, had decided to get away from her home. To live a life free of the judgment of Elves. The anger that would occasionally course through her veins made her feel that maybe a pirate would be the better option. Would let her let out her rage.

 

But, then again, pirates seemed to have a code all their own. Also, the coin toss had dictated she were to be a Pirate Hunter.

 

After many journeys, at least it felt like much time to her, she had eventually become the captain of the Raging Raven and part of Zaknayrr's crew. Maybe it was the fact that he was a Drow that drove her to work for him. Maybe it was the fact that her father, whom she had not known, was a Drow.

 

Not that she would ever admit that. Not that she even consciously thought that. She didn't like to fall into memories, especially not now when a battle could happen at any moment.

 

Ninafer would say it was a matter of convenience. She just happened to be at the right place at the right time.

 

At the right time after becoming a mage and becoming adept at the use of the dagger.

 

"He should be close." Ninafer said under her breath.

 

She had been following a course that should draw her close to him. Clues taken from recent sightings and her own knowledge of him. Though her instincts had been wrong more than once before.

 

She tilted her head when she heard a whistle.

 

"Stand ready," Ninafer said and gave a signal to one of her crew.

 

She preferred to not speak if she could.

 

The Raging Raven went swiftly towards the sound. Whether it be from the Shadow of the Night or a pirate ship, she didn't care. This long journey had bored her.

 

Not that she would go into any battle without thinking of an exit strategy if retreat ended up being the only option.

Edited February 1, 2016 by Jashypoo