The vessel sails on near to the shore, and doesn't spy any more points of explicit interest for many days. Near to the shoreline, most of the sails that are seen are from small fishing vessels from isolated communities... nothing worthy of chasing down for purpose of plunder. The crew continues to bed itself in, Kroop managing gamely to talk over the more verbose of the new recruits and the others integrating without too much of an issue.
Given the heat of the day, Cedrick often sees sailors with jackets open to the wind, or removed entirely to help make use of the wind to drop body temperature - though with nightfall there is enough of a chill to get the uniforms swaddled tighter for warmth.
Soon enough though, you spy your destination looming up ahead of you... Windward Isle, upon which sits Tidewater Rock.
Windward Isle is 2 miles long by 1 mile wide and is almost entirely surrounded by rough shingle and gravel beaches. Its central elevation never rises above 100 feet, so the tower of Tidewater Rock commands a good view of almost the entire island. Its soil is rocky and barren, with thin salt grasses, scrub trees, and a few boggy areas where peat is collected. The harbor is a quarter-mile-wide channel that runs just south of Tidewater Rock and ends in a lagoon, and the keep itself sits right on the lagoon’s edge.
The tower rises like a solid block from the sea at the edge of this island. The pounding surf rolls around its base and partially covers the steps that lead up to its front gate. A few arrow slits pierce its walls here and there, and a single shuttered window opens high upon the face of the fortress. A roof of metal shingles rises from its battlements where sentries keep lookout and siege weapons stand ready on corner turrets.
Kroop emerges from belowdecks with a half-finished bottle of rum in one hand. Taking a swig, he looks to Cedrick "So how ye lookin to play this Cap'n? Come in friendly like at first?"
Kroop shrugs "The towers the key to the rock... ain't much fer knowing whats in there without going in there though eh?"
"Might want to put the ship somewhere that will be a tough shot from those ramparts. If we start making a mess, they might decide to put holes in her just because."
Kroop wagers "If ye want tae keep the Revenge out of harms way... might be best taking a jolly intae shore?"
"Smart."
Obi looks to the Captain:
Suppose I could swim in to one of the beaches and make an initial investigation.
Leaving Kroop and Sandara back on the Revenge with orders, and taking a couple of crewmen to save their arms from rowing, most of the party sets out in the jolly boat towards the rock. Drawing near you notice that the sea near to the shore is shallow and jagged of rock - with signs of a reasonably prodigious tidal change.
The tower grows a mite more impressive as you draw closer, rising out of the rocky island like a monolith. You spy a guardsman atop take note of you and withdraw from the edge of the battlements for a few seconds (no doubt to call below) before returning and taking guarded position at one of the tower corners.
Stealth:
Soon after the man goes below, he returns above with two others in tow. One is an older man with a handlebar moustache and salt and pepper hair, clad in banded mail with a greatsword upon his back. The second is a comely and stocky lady who you'd wager was more ravishing in her youth. She calls out in a clear voice "Ahoy there on the rock... what is your business here?"
One of the guardsmen then whispers something in her ear and she adds "Is this all of you here?... or is there another of your crew on my island?"
Nachni whispers, "Sounds like Obi has been spotted. Play dumb or call her to us? I could also create an illusion of her joining us. They probably won't be able to tell its a spell from the distance."
Deader, typically oblivious to the intricacies of social situations, just shrugs and speaks up. "Oh her, yeah. She's aquatic. Needed to swim for a while. If she does't she'll dry out or something. She's not much for these meet and greet things anyway."
"Ma'am, this is Captain Dragonne. We're just here for a resupply. That alright?"
Hearing Deader's shouted response and unsure how to best react, Obi dives back in the water and swims with her unnatural speed back toward the boat and then joins the rest of the crew.
Cedrick finds his attempt at flattery not unwelcome, but she still only raises a half-smirk "Aye, for our bounteous flat and barren rock is veritably teeming with succulent fruit and fatted calves that we might share them."
Sarcasm and attempt at humor aside, she continues in a firm but unthreatening voice "But, conversation can be hard to come by... if you're wanting to come in for a meal and talk - we'll need one of your own as safeguard. We can be friendly... but we're not stupid."
|
"A keen eye can always note the presence of succulent fruits dear lady, perhaps we might catch a closer look at them later, I am quite the amateur botanist. A meal and a talk would be ideal, the seas have been a little unsettled and the hospitality is most welcome...as a sign of good will, what better safeguard could you have than the ships own Captain? I trust my fine lads and lasses not to poke holes in their manners."
Mouth slightly petulant the lady replies "Oh but I'll miss you at dinner then. You've a scarlet tongue in your mouth." she turns to the mustachioed gent in armor beside her and nods, then calls "Come up on your own to start... no tricks and no surprises. You prove honest, we'll see the rest of you in." then both she and the mustachioed man move below - leaving a pair of guards present with watching eyes on top of the tower.
Obi moves over to rejoin the others, at the same time she calls out to Shadow to determine whether anything is to be seen in the area. At least anything that Shadow would think to be dangerous.
"Anyone else care to be cleaned up for dinner?" Nachni speaks a few words and suddenly all of the salt and sun are washed away.
"Sure." Deader says with a grin, always happy for a chance to look his best.
Obi really does not care what she looks like, but goes along with the cleaning process.
Nachni tidies up Deader and Obi. "Not sure you need it Cedrick since you won't be joining us." Nachni pouts and walks up to the reception.
After Cedrick presents himself alone, the gate at the base of the rock is opened and he is taken within - gate closed behind him. Another fifteen minutes pass before the gate is re-opened and the mustachioed gent that you saw atop the fortress beckons the rest of you approach "The Lady will see you now... though be witness to the fact that your actions will be reflected in the treatment of your captain. Be courteous, and we will be. Draw steel and we will run him through"
Deader snickered and grinned at the rest of the crew. "Like that would stop him."
Gesturing with exaggerated obsequiousness to Nachi he bows and saws "After you, ma'am."
Nachni bows slightly, "Of course." Though it is difficult to tell whether she speaks to the mustachioed man or Deader. "Let us go see the Lady. After these days at sea, not all with such pleasant company, it will be a pleasure to have civilized conversation."
Obi follows closely behind Nachni carefully watching for anything of note.
Perception: <-- I assume we are not in an aquatic environment, otherwise add +5
You are escorted swiftly through the door and up a winding set of stairs to the fourth floor, where a banquet hall sits. The decor is far from exceptional, but it serves and the table is big enough for the party and more. The Lady that you saw atop the battlements is awaiting you, greeting with a curt nod "Welcome to the Rock, I am Lady Smythee... to whom am I entertaining?"
"The crew of the Revenge, under command of Captain Dragonne. Don't let the name bother you. We were all press ganged by a notorious pirate a while ago. We managed to get free and get a ship, and now we're out to pay said pirate back for his kindness." Deader says with a smile.
The Lady smiles wanly "I see... well this is my Master of Arms Captain Vague, the servants Indistinct and Unclear should be along with a meagre supper soon enough. I apologize if you don't find it as grand as it might be... but the arrival of your ship was at fairly short notice. Is there any chance you might enlighten me as to the name of any of you standing here? Your Captain Cedrick was genial enough, but it seems that charm doesn't run too deeply."
Nachni curtsies and replies, "My apologies Lady. I am First Mate Nachni Charan and I fear I was temporarily taken aback by your marvelous lodgings and hospitality. While you may not feel things are as grand as they might, I promise that they are far more so than any we have enjoyed in quite some time."
Obi listens to the others and then steps forward shyly, never one for social intercourse.
I am Obisyth, it is a pleasure to meet you m'lady. I apologize for not being with the others on the boat, but prefer being in the water rather than above it whenever possible.
"I don't know my name. Don't remember much of anything from before being dragged onto a ship. They called me Deader, on account of my skin I suppose. Haven't come up with anything that suits me better yet. Though come to think of it, it's probably about time I did."
Lady Smythee does most of the talking as you sit down to a meager but well prepared meal of boiled crab, butter-simmered sturgeon, goat cheese, and hard bread. The mustachioed man-at-arms you find to be called McCleagh. Though you are all tight lipped and obfuscating of word, the Lady does impart one significant story of note... most likely spilled as warning and boast both.
Over a decade ago, her late husband “Iron Bert” Smythee went to sea with his small fleet in a feud with Free Captain Carola Antiochus and was never seen again. Word came back that Antiochus had lured Smythee into the edges of the Eye of Abendego and ambushed him with the help of a previously unknown ally one Barnabas Harrigan and that Smythee’s fleet was cut to pieces enfiladed between the twin enemies.
Though Captain Smythee managed to sink Antiochus’s Pergador, he was last seen on the deck of the crippled and sinking Vale at the mercy of the Eye’s hurricane winds.
Captain Harrigan claimed the remainder of Antiochus’s fleet and took control of several of Smythee’s undefended castles. He made an attempt to take the Tidewater Rock as well, only to discover that the Lady Smythee had taken charge of its defenses. She managed to fend off his attack with such alacrity that Harrigan decided to leave the widow alone.
She finishes the tale with "While guests are welcome... they are expected to leave and keep me to my peace. After all, worse men than you have left blood in the waters on my shore."
Nachni listens with interest, playing with her bracelets as the Lady tells her tale, "Harrigan you say? It seems we have a common past. We were all press-ganged by Harrigan, but seem to have managed the upper hand. You see, our ship was once one of his and the day will come where we will even the score, just as we already have with many of his officers. Now that we're all acquainted and enjoying such civilized discourse, you really should bring Captain Cedrick to join us. I'm sure you would enjoy his company and perhaps we should discuss as alliance against Harrigan."
"Hah - so the black bastard's done wrong by you as well eh?... But you're a bit forward to be thinking your worth a compact of friendship or more... I've never heard of you, and I'm not about to risk either my neck or the Rock on, and no offense intended, a ship with no weight to it's name. Then maybe you can come back and we can talk - but until then you've bugger all to offer me that I've got any interest in."
Obi turns and whispers to Nachni:
Perhaps we should ask what she would require to show our worth. Obviously, this will require the acquiescence of the Captain first though.
"Well," Deader says with a shrug, "If you have anything that needs doing, we're always looking for work. We might not have anything you want right now, but if you let us know what you need, you might be surprised at our resourcefulness."
Said halfjokingly with a chuckle "Get me the head of Harrigan on a plate and I'll let you take the Rock without contest... otherwise you'll need to build a name to convince me to think you any less than temporary guests."
"Fair enough. Give us back our captain and let us resupply, and we'll get back to head hunting."
Lady Smythee doesn't stand in your way, seeing the party outside before returning Cedrick to you. She gives a slight bow before retreating within the Rock and leaving you to yourselves again. A glance up shows that guards are still upon the battlements.
"She said that if we kill Harrigan, she'll give us the fort. Since we were going to do that anyway it seems like it would be silly to go through the extra work of killing everyone here just to get what she's willing to give us anyway."
"For now, this place is just a mostly friendly port where we don't have to worry about running into the Wormwood before we're ready."
Obi nods:
The wise course is to use this as a restocking and resupply station for the present. If the Rock turns enemy, then we can seek to thwart them later when we are better supplied. For now, I think that acquiring some wealth from those devil worshipping Chelaxian and the atheist Rahadoumi would be our best bet. Once we have gotten our boarding and combat skills together, then we can hunt down the cur Harrigan and make a real name for ourselves.
Obi begins to laugh, not a pleasant sound, as she looks at Cedrick:
Isn't that true soon to be Pirate Lord Dragonne.
"Being devil worshipers, those Chellish folks might actually end up being fans of ours."