Natalie sighs, "You chop my hands off, you still have the same problem, you are still helpless when Varkala returns, than you would be if I was there. She beat you before, and she can beat you again, just as easily. If you want to change that, you need to bring in someone with my magical experience. I'm about as equal with my master as I'm going to get, I took advantage of her fighting you to note down the spells in her spellbook, so now I have both her spells AND mine. As for being being a spy, you can never really know can you. You could bring in someone else skilled in the arcane arts, and still have the same problem, just like you could never be sure someone in your crew now isn't 100% trustworthy. You're going to have to take a gamble sometime, why shouldn't it be me?
Taking a coin out of his pocket Jack smiles."You know I am really, really buggered by some arcane caster. One could say I am quite close to a murderous frenzy. Well, let us see what our Lady Besmera says. Heads, I ripp out your tongue and nail your broken hands to a table on the marketplace, so that every man can abuse you to your leasure. Tails, Lady Besmara is of opinion that you are a worthy addition to our cause. I do sooo hope for Heads." Flipping the coin in the air, watching it spin he grabs it looks at the Tail showing and curses most fouly. "Who am I to question our lady of plunder. Welcome on board!"
Charles scowls, but acknowledges the fickle winds of chance.
"Fair enough. I'll just have to keep a careful eye on you, then... One important clarification: She didn't beat us; we slaughtered her crew like the animals they were, and then she fled. If she had stuck around, she would have died as well."
"Didn't she kill one of your crew as well?" Natalie questions, before shrugging her shoulders, letting the matter drop. She had made her point, and besides, she had got what she wanted anyway. Clicking her fingers slightly, a small dragon leaps out of the surf to her side. "This is Marina, my familiar, shes a good friend, so you can treat her like you would treat me"
Aishe, who has been silent until now, turns to the woman. "Hold on. You say you were an apprentice? How can we know this to be true? We never saw the one that killed one of our captains. It could have easily been you. Combine this with the fact that your first words to us were all about how badly we were beaten, and, suffice to say, I am not inclined to believe your version of this story."
"Let us assume, however, that we can reasonably accept that you had no part in our ambush, and that I can convince the crew of this fact, at least to the extent that they won't kill you in your sleep." She sighs and shakes her head, still coming to terms with the recent turn of events. "I will not go against Jack's wishes in this, but rest assured, you will be watched, and I'll not hesitate to slaughter you if I detect any subterfuge on your part."
Aishe proceeds to communicate with her familiar and the rest of the crew, doing what she can to allay their concerns, while also requesting that they keep a close eye on their newest crewmember.
"Yes because after killing a close friend of yours, secure in the knowledge that I have utterly ruined your day and earned your undying vengeance, and then successfully making a clean escape, why would I then chose to hang around for some halfwit to capture and drag me back to you three? Fair play?"
"All of this also follows that I could then successfully manage to con all three of your suspicious persons with the story that I'm closely connected to the person who killed your friend, and then, oh I don't know, cross my fingers that you won't kill me?" Natalie responds, her voice quietly sardonic. "By Besmara, I hope that you're just the pretty face and not someone that actually makes plans around here!"
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The next few days seem quite stressful as the Captain's take Natalie aboard the ship.
In a couple of days the Besmara's Fortune returns to the House of Stolen Kisses in Quent where they come bearing the Golden Vespal statue to Dindreanne. The Captains drag along the new recruit to keep an eye on her as they don't yet trust her alone with the crew.
Ah, Thank you. I knew when I saw you that you would not disappoint. She says as she purrs at Charles. Where is your other Captain? The burly woman?
It is of no matter... She says waving her hand.
Well I will uphold my end of the bargain. One of the Temple’s patrons, a half-elf scrimshander in Drenchport named Jaymiss Keft, claimed to have knowledge of a spy operating in the Shackles. You should seek him out to learn the name of this spy.
Natalie watches Dindreanne with interest. "So is this what you guys did? Visit brothels all the time?" she enquires before inclining her head in respect towards the information broker. "Thank you for this information, I'll sure we will be able to find some proper use for it mistress"
Charles frowns.
"I would be careful about what you say to the Calistrians; vengeance and spite tend to be part of their portfolio, after all..."
He then bows to the priestess.
"Thank-you for the information. Do you know anything about a ship called the Brine Banshee?"
Aishe bristles at the priestess' dismissal of Viviana, but keeps her smile as she turns and makes her way back to the Fortune.
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Hmm, Well normally I would not give away secrets for free... but since you did return this artifact for me I suppose I can do you this favor just once.
She arches her back and stares at Charles. Rumor has it that a retired ship’s doctor in the port of Ollo named Haneilius Fitch claims to have a means to locate the Brine Banshee, but is looking for someone to bankroll his expedition. She purrs.
Charles nods, and smiles.
"Thank-you M'lady; you have been most helpful."
He then turns to the others.
"Shall we go speak with Mr Fitch?"
"Well, I think this would be worth a try, Charlyboy! Time to meet the doctor! Heck maybe we find some new crew. Alas, we forgot to add some last time!"
Aishe nods.
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Natalie has raveled to Ollo before and knows right where Fitch's office is located. She leads the group to his office where a weathered sign hangs on the door. Surgical Office
Inside is a gray haired man with a thick Taldan accent. Greetings, I am Haneilius Fitch, a retired ship's physician. What can I do for you?
"Hey Doc", Natalie responds casually "I heard on the 'vine that you might be able to locate the whereabouts of the Brine Banshee. Care to let us in on the secret?"
"I don't suppose you'd like to reconsider your answer? As a ship's physician, I'm sure you've seen your share of pain and misery, even death. We've seen quite a bit of these ourselves, recently, and I really would prefer not to cause any more right this very moment." She pauses a moment, letting her meaning sink in. "Tell us what you know."
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Sorry. I had to make sure that you were serious about this.
The man goes over to his desk and opens a drawer as he pulls out an item. He holds up a glass tube containing a human leg bone suspended in some sort of a perservative solution.
“This tibia previously belonged to Vargus Brack, one of my old shipmates. Vargus was grateful to be rid of it—he’d have died of gangrene if I hadn’t amputated his leg. It’s a good thing I kept it as a specimen, since he was an officer aboard the Brine Banshee when she last sailed. Vargus and I were good friends—he came to visit me the last time the Brine Banshee was in Ollo, as he always did when he was in port. He mentioned in passing the course the Brine Banshee would be taking, and said he wouldn’t be back for some time. The Brine Banshee had an abundance of riches aboard her, and together I believe we can salvage them. Are you interested?”
Charles glances to the others.
"I think it is safe to say that we are definitely interested... how does the leg bone help us find the ship?"
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The man smiles.
You see I know the course that the Brine Banshee took. He says tapping a finger to his head.
...But I need magic to find it's location where it went down. I know of a magical ring that can be used to find a corpse, provided the wearer has a piece of thee body that is. I know of a pirate Captain that has such a ring called the ring of the iron skull. This is where you come in.
I want equal share of the Brine banshee's treasure. I care nothing for magical items. I just want enough of the gold to live the remainder of my life in modest comfort. In exchange I will tell you who has the ring and guide you along the Brine Banshee's course until we find the ship.
"That sounds reasonable..."
After all, how much longer can he live?
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Fitch nods.
The Ring of the Iron Skull is currently in the possession of a pirate named 'Milksop' Morton, who regularly sails his sloop the Dryad's Grave between the Smoker and Shark Island. Fortunately for us the Dryad's Grave is due into port here within the week. You may be able to accost the ship before it is able to make port.
Charles grins widely.
"Right! Sounds like we have another ship to add to our growing flotilla..."
Natalie sighs slightly "Then let us return to the high sea's and hunt him down. Do be careful this time however, if he has a pet spellcaster it wouldn't do to charge in on your own."
Charles smirks.
"Not to worry; that's what we have you for..."
"And you have an ample opportunity to show us your skills.... or give the good doctor a chance to practice his amputation skills.. HAR HAR"
With an evil grin Jack shakes the doctors hand to seal the bargain and moves toward the door before stopping again.
"Well Aishe, maybe you can make a stop tonight at the inn and sing us some more crew.... "
Aishe nods at Jack, smiling. "Always happy to augment our crew, captain."
That night, she spends some time in the local inns convincing others to join the crew.
"I'm not sure how I feel about this, but at least we won't have to chase him down..." Aishe comments as she notes the flag.
Natalie grimaces slightly as she see's the boat, not at all trusting the flag of parley thats waving.
"You do realise", she states in an undertone to all nearby "that if this should turn sour, and that combat is all but certain, I'll be unable to assist as much as I would like...at least initially".
Natalie fully expects this statement to be met with hostility, and so quickly attempts to get to the point and explain her thinking. "You see, if there is another mage aboard that ship, and I partake in slaughtering a few weakling swordsman, that mage will attempt to eliminate me before I can accurately defend myself, and since you yourselves experienced difficulty against the last mage you encountered, my hopes are not high that you could accurately prevail. My strategy, should combat break out, is to turn invisible, fly across and see if I can spot an enemy spellcaster, eliminate that same spellcaster as a threat, and then fly back over to help you guys clean up".
Aishe tries to get a feel for the captain's intentions, then calls back, "We are all right, and not stranded. We are, in fact, here to speak with you regarding a certain object. Pull alongside, and perhaps we can discuss it?" She keeps an eye out for any unusual activity on the other ship.
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Aishe listens to her gut instinct and feels that this broad framed man with the comb-over is not trustworthy.
The man's eye's widen as he places a hand on his chest. You were looking fer me? What object are you looking for?
Aishe scans the vessel and does not see anything quite unusual. The Dryad’s Grave’s figurehead is carved in the likeness of a bare-chested, goat-horned satyr with muscular arms thrust forward as if diving into the ocean, its mouth open in a silent scream of anger and pain. From what Aishe can tell he has around 27 crew members working around the vessel.
Who's fleet do you serve within the Free Captain's?
Jack will move out of sight for a moment and prepare some spells.
Certain that admitting their true allegiance would cause him to attack or run, Aishe responds, "Harrigan." She coughs delicately, then continues, "This yelling is hell on my voice; as I said, pull alongside, and let's discuss this more...intimately." She leaves the word hanging in the air, hoping that her looks and his nature could work together to let his imagination wander.
"I'm sure we can come to some sort of arrangement. Come aboard, and let's discuss it. Perhaps in my quarters?"
Natalie suspects that the man is unlikely to arrive on her own boat, and expects him to make a request that the arrangement be transferred to HIS boat, rather than him collecting it in person. She prepares to cast both fly and invisibility the moment any of her allies are within a minute of arriving on his boat, or if any enemies are within a minute arriving onto her boat.
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As the ships close Milsop Morton looks to the head of his ship The Dryad's Grave figurehead actually springs to life as it grabs a grabs the entire Ballista from the deck of the ship and fires it at The Besmara's Fortune.
The bolt attached to a long chain slams into the side of the vessel locking it in place. At the exact same moment that the figurehead springs to life the flaps below open and the crew begins to fire springals at the Besmara's Fortune also.
Three grapnals slam into the wood of the mast on the Besmara's Fortune as the crew begin to turn capstones below deck as the slowly drag the two ships together.
A small humanoid creature with thin leathery wings, small horns and a mischievous smile begins to fly out from a barrel near Morton's head.
As the crew draws the ships closer the Satyr begins to fully detach itself from the ship as it stretches and helps the crew pull the vessels closer.
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Screaming Satyr
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Viviana
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Milksop Morton
Familiar
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Aishe
Jack
Charles