Isaac hisses as the trident hits his thigh. Ignoring the pain, he steps forward through the grease and lashes out at the remaining fishman!
Jaina's flurry of fists lays the sahuagin low, and Isaac's sword dispatches it with a flourish. A sudden silence falls over the hold as the shark-man collapses.
As you clean off weapons and the grease Edward conjured vanishes, you take a few moments to glance around. Several of the sahuagin yet live, but they're likely to expire shortly (if you don't dispatch them yourselves, that is). Aside from their tridents, crossbows, and bolts, the only item of worth any of them seem to be carrying is the armband Arhiel spotted on one of them: a strange object that seems to be made of platinum, but with dark whorls mixing with the otherwise shining metal. It's decorated with coral and bone accoutrements.
Diana moves to her captain to see to his wounds. Hold still. she cautions as she inspects the damage and casts a healing spell.
Arhiel walks over to the leader's fallen form and removes the armband, casting detect magic on it to determine if it might have any value over it's intrisic worth.
"How's Isaac, Diana? Will he live?" she chuckles, at the jest, sure it's not a serious wound, being that it was the only one that hit him.
(to figure out what the armband is if it's magical)
If the armband isn't magical, Arhiel will put it on, because it's pretty... if it's magical, she'll instead inform others what she's found.
The armband isn't magical, as far as Arhiel can see, but it is rather fascinating. She slides it onto her arm while Diana closed most of Isaac's wounds.
As you get your footing on this ship, it's clear that it's very slowly sinking--there's not likely much you can do to prevent that. Scattered in the hold around you are the gristly remains of (you'd guess) the former crew; the sahuagin must have set upon them and then set the trap when they saw you all coming.
"Looks like there's not much here left to salvage... I think we should just get back to the Shrike and move on. Maybe a few words over the fallen first?"
Diana will cast Detect Magic and look for things worth salvaging.
Alabaster gives Isaac a curt nod toward Diana, and then follows behind her, reloading Kraken and covering her while she searches with her magic.
Nasty business here, eh Diana? It be another test from Bes, iffen ye be askin' me. Testin' Isaac an' 'is crew ta see if we be tha real deal. Ta see iffen he be worthy o' takin' up 'is birthright. I think we be doin' good so far.
The priest looks bored, but it's clear he believes what he's saying with a fierce devotion.
Diana moves to her captain to see to his wounds. Hold still. she cautions as she inspects the damage and casts a healing spell.
Isaac holds still, not wanting to interrupt Diana's work. As the healing magic flows through him, he breathes in deeply feeling his wounds stitch back together. When it's done, Isaac looks at Diana and nods. "Thank ye, Diana."
"How's Isaac, Diana? Will he live?" she chuckles, at the jest, sure it's not a serious wound, being that it was the only one that hit him.
Isaac chuckles at Arhiel's jest. "Don't worry, Arhiel. Yer Cap'n will be livin'." When she approaches them, Isaac sees the new armband. "Interstin' jewelry ye be havin' ther'." He looks it over, intrigued by the unusual metal.
"Looks like there's not much here left to salvage... I think we should just get back to the Shrike and move on. Maybe a few words over the fallen first?"
Isaac nods at Arhiel's suggestions. "Aye. We be needin' to mov' on. Bu' befor' we be doin' tha', we be saying' a few words." Looking over the fallen crew, he says, "I do not be knowin' thes' folks. Bu' no man should' be suff'rin' such a fate. They be goin' down as fight'rs. An' Besmara, blessin's be to 'er, will be acceptin' 'em to 'er eternal crew."
Alabaster gives Isaac a curt nod toward Diana, and then follows behind her, reloading Kraken and covering her while she searches with her magic.
Nasty business here, eh Diana? It be another test from Bes, iffen ye be askin' me. Testin' Isaac an' 'is crew ta see if we be tha real deal. Ta see iffen he be worthy o' takin' up 'is birthright. I think we be doin' good so far.The priest looks bored, but it's clear he believes what he's saying with a fierce devotion.
Isaac nods at Alabaster. "Aye. Thin's seem to be gettin' tough'r. Bu', we be conqu'rin' all challeng's. Besmara be smilin' on us."
"If you want a funeral, i can do a respectful tune to go with it."
Edward conjures up a violin.
Isaac nods at Edward. "Pleas' do."
As far as Diana can tell, there is nothing here either magical or particular valuable...just piles of humanoid bodyparts. You all take some time to clean up the hold and gather the remains, bundling them into a downed bit of sailcloth as gently as you can. Once the cloth is stitched shut, the crew drops it overboard, and (accompanied by Edward) Sandara says a simple Besmaran funeral service over the sinking bodies. As you sail away, continuing your voyage north, the fishing boat slowly sinks behind you, returning the sahuagins' bodies to the sea.
The next few days pass without incident, save for a small squall of rain, and by the end of the third day you're approaching the edges of the Shackles proper. Navigating to Windward Isle, the home of Tidewater Rock, doesn't prove too difficult, and before long you spot the low-lying island directly ahead. It's tiny: maybe a mile across, two miles wide. The central elevation never rises above 100 feet. And, as far as you can tell, it's ringed on all sides by rough, gravel-and-shingle beaches. A squat stone tower, presumably Tidewater Rock itself, rises from the eastern end of the island, a bit inland. It looks like there's a narrow channel that might give access to the interior of the island near the tower...
Isaac notes the metal of Arhiel's new armband. "Arhiel. This metal. It be deep platinum. A metal tha' is said to com' from th' 'dark smok'rs' or th' volcanic vents in th' ocean floor. It be indistinguishabl' from regular platinum. Bu' it be said tha' many und'rwat'r races be fascinated and be valuin' it highly. This be includin' sahuagins."
When the Silver Shrike arrives at Tidewater Rock, Isaac looks at the area. He tries to judge which is the best way to approach the tower. He pulls out his spyglass to help him get a better view of the area.
While Isaac doesn't know much of the island's geography, and doesn't know very much about it beyond the common legends--that it's a fortress said to grant luck to whomever can claim it for their own--peering at it through the spyglass strongly suggests that the approach up the channel is the "typical" one. There don't appear to be any significantly more welcoming beaches on one side or the other, and you'd guess that the channel leads to a small lagoon, which might be an ideal place to anchor.
It is, of course, possible to just anchor off-shore and take a ship's boat in to the beaches, but the channel is the most convenient way to get close to the tower.
Isaac puts down the spyglass and says, "We be havin' a few options. We can eith'r go down th' channel or anchor off-shor' an' tak' th' boat to th' beaches. I be sailin' us down th' channel becaus' it be takin' us clos'r to th' tow'r. Mak' ready!" He then takes the wheel and begins to sail down the channel.
Under Isaac's guidance, the Silver Shrike billows its sails and sets off down the channel toward the heart of the island. It's a narrow passage, but not especially dangerous; the shores on either side aren't steep.
After several minutes the ship emerges, as expected, into a deep and blue lagoon. The waves of the lagoon move gently around the perimeter, and on the northeastern side they lap up to and in fact over the steps of the short, squat stone tower that fronts it.
As you gaze at the tower, you realize you can see movement at its top. Just at that moment a voice calls out, "Hoi there! Whoever you are, don't go making a move! We've got our weapons trained and ready." They're not lying; the sun glints off two ballista bolts poking over the battlement, aimed at the ship. "Stay where you are, and the Lady of the Rock'll speak to you."
A few moments later, a handsome, blonde-haired woman appears on the battlements. "I am the Lady Smythee," she says fiercely. "Who are you, and what do you want at my home?"
Without a sound Diana signals her siege crew to be ready. If there are fired upon it shall not go unanswered.
Isaac looks up at Lady Smythee. He shouts out, "Ahoy! I be Cap'n Isaac Silv'rman' o' th' Silv'r Shrik'! We be comin' here to, as we comm'n folk say, 'Crack th' Rock'. We be wishing' to meet wit' ye to talk abou' this endeav'r."
The lady of the Rock just chuckles. "Well, you're well-spoken and humble, at least. But I fail to see exactly how...or, for that matter, why...I should help you to seize control of my home! Most people speak of 'cracking the Rock' as a conquest. If that's your intention, you'll find us a hard stone to throw yourselves against."
The mustached man beside her smirks slightly.
Image of Lady Smythee (though she's wearing armor at the moment)
Jaina winces. "...oh, great."
Isaac frowns slightly before continuing, "Well then. Mayhaps we can be discussin' a deal tha' will benefit all parties involved. Mayhaps we be not needin' to tak' control o' th' Rock. I woul' pref'r negotiatin' peacefully, Lady Smythee."
And lets leave the siege on both sides unfired, shall we? Better to talk. Diana agrees.
"Perhaps there IS some room for negotiation as opposed to conquest... You seem to be in charge here, Lady Smythee. I don't mean to be rude, nor do I wish to imply that you are not fully capable of defending this place yourself, but wouldn't it be nice to have mobile allies? Maybe we could come to some arrangement that would benefit us all."
After you all call up to her, the Lady turns to the mustached man at her side and begins a short conference. It seems as though they may not be entirely in agreement...but in the end, she turns back to you.
"Truth be told, I am curious to meet the new Silvermane who's plying these waters...I've heard rumors of you, sir, and of your crew, but I'd not thought to see you in person. I will receive you and some of your officers so that we can speak in more comfortable quarters. I leave it to my master of the guards, McCleagh, to handle the details." So saying, the Lady of the Rock disappears from the battlements.
The man with the mustache steps forward, not looking thrilled about the arrangement. "See here, now, we're not keen to be killed in a surprise attack. If you're to enter the Rock, we'll need a hostage from among your officers. Drop them at the steps into the keep, and then back away sharpish if you're serious. My guards will escort them inside, and once they're squared away we'll let the rest of you in. Say...five of you. No more."
Perhaps sensing some hesitation, he adds, "Don't worry--the hostage will be perfectly safe as long as everything stays peaceable. But we won't hesitate to kill them should you attack us!"
Edward looks from the 'stache to Isaac, then back.
He slightly leans in to Isaac and the others.
"A logical measure, but he seems a bit eager, the way he brings it."
But an idea pops to mind, and those close to him see a mischievous smile on his face.
Edward fakes a raspy voice, and the most creepy stare he had practiced on.
"Ah, McCleagh, wasn't it.
Yes...allow me to introduce myself...and not this vessel.
Rest assured, i manifest only to relay a message.
I am Hubert Krayne, shaman-arcanist in service of the lady of the deeps. I have transcended death and watch over her latest favorites in her service."
'Hubert' looks firmer into the man's eyes.
"I can see into your soul. Your thoughts betray your desire for a female to be your prisoner, you sad little wurm.
Even if they decide they lend you a crew member, i will pluck your soul from your body, should any harm come to them. Yes...that includes indecent touching, too. You wouldn't be the 1st, and not the last."
<Insane chuckling>
"Or you could skip the keeping a hostage and avoid me waiting for your slip up....but i do so enjoy the soul plucking."
'Hubert' 'leaves' Edward, who shakes off a slight daze.
"Erm..what was that again sir? One of the team hostage?
Can't we settle this otherwise?"
The mustached man stares at Edward for several seconds.
"...yeah, you know what? Whatever that thing is that's haunting him, it had better not come inside or we'll kill the hostage right then and there. I shall not budge on this point. Otherwise you might just murder us all as we sit down to dinner."
That fellow there, he speaks the truth has some honor about him. No harm will come to the hostage as long as we deal honorably. Who do you want as hostage Captain? I can go if you like, though I do hate to miss out on the conversation.
Alabaster leans cockily against the railing, and runs his hand over his pistol lovingly.
Lemme be straight on this... Ye wanna tell a Silvermane ta willin'ly be giving one o' 'is crew, who all be chosen, blessed, an' protected by Queen Besmara 'erself, to ye fer a 'ostage? 'Cause ye think we'd be less willin' ta kill ye lot, iffen ye gots [I]one[/o] o' us locked inna room? I be thinkin that aint fer makin a lick o sense. Besides, what makes ye think tha 'ostage we'd give ye wouldn't 'ave tha magic ta charm yer soul out an make ye her slave? Or burn ye alive? Or bring tha avatar o' Besmara 'erself down on this place ta put ye all on 'er ship as swabs?
The youth pushes off and stands beside Isaac.
I mean, do what ye want, but ye gotta wonder... How angry are ye wantin ta make Bessie?
He gestures over the ship and crew and grins.
We ain't yer average crew, mate, and we ain't fer follwin' average rules...
Isaac smiles at Lady Smythee as she agrees to meeting with them and disappears. When McCleagh requests that they send a hostage over, Isaac is about to respond. But, Edward chimes in. He looks at Edward, not really sure if he's telling the truth. When McCleagh says that 'Hubert' is not be at the meeting, Isaac nods. "I be assurin' ye, Huber' won't be botherin' us."
Isaac is slightly distracted by Edward's performance that he can't get a beat on McCleagh. When Diana says that he's good on his word, Isaac nods. He's about to decide when Alabaster chimes in. Isaac looks at his first mate. He smirks and says, "Well, iffen we negotiat' now, then tha' will be leadin' to great'r things tha' will be makin' Besmara as pleased as th' Savor'd Sting. Besid's, we be guests in Lady Smythee's home. I be thinkin' tha' Besmara woul' be wantin' us to hav' an ally in our piracy."
Isaac looks at the crew. "So, who be our hostag'? An' only fiv' o' us will be in th' meetin'."
"F&#%ing cripes, yeh lookin' fer a volunteer?" Rosie demands. "I'll do it. Show these pricks what's what."
"I will too, cap'n," Sandara chimes in. "I imagine any of the crew would be happy to take the risk for yeh."
While Edward's love stricken heart disagrees the term 'hostage' goes with Sandara, he doesn't react aside from a slightly surprised look.
But she's a big girl, and far be it to him to say otherwise.
Isaac looks at Rosie and Sandara. "Well, I was originally thinkin' tha' one o' th' offic'rs coul' be th' hostag'. Tha' way, all o' th' offic'rs woul' be in th' Rock. Howev'r, iffen all o' us agree to this new arrang'men', then it'll be good. Now, we need to be decidin' who will be th' fiv' to go in. I be an obvious choic'. I be suggestin' tha' thos' o' th' offic'rs tha' be good at talkin'. We can't mak' any mistak's here."
"So, that rules me right out then." Jaina leans against the mast. "Unless you want me to try and strong-arm them, in either sense of the phrase."
Isaac looks at Jania. "Well, I mean no offens', Jania. Bu', only fiv' o' us will be abl' to speak wit' Lady Smythee. An' this situation requir's a bit o' diplomacy."
Isaac thinks for a moment. "Unless... Jania, would' be int'rested in being th' hostag'? Iffen things go south an' ther' be a fight, then ye can tak' 'em out."
Jaina thinks for a moment, then nods.
"I suppose I can, at that."
Suddenly you hear the mustached man again! "Did I say five of you? I meant, if you give us a hostage, we'll allow six of you in. Six. Yeah. That's what I meant."
Isaac hears McCleagh shout out and turns, smiling and nodding in reply. He turns back to his crew. "Well, we be catchin' a luck break ther'. So, th' six o' us will be goin' to th' meetin'." He turns to Sandara and Rosie. He makes a decision...
He looks at Sandara. "Sandara, woul' ye be mindin' bein' our hostag'?"
Sandara nods firmly. "As I said, Cap'n, I think any man or woman 'ere would lay down their life for the lot of you. Make a boat ready!"
Once one of the ship's boats is prepared, Sandara sets out to the foot of the tower, giving Edward's hand a quick squeeze before she departs. She leaves her cutlass in his keeping as well. You all watch carefully as she rows over to the tower and, tying the boat off, makes her way up the slick steps. After a moment, the heavy doors open, and Sandara disappears inside.
Several minutes pass, but finally a voice calls from one of the arrow slits in the tower: "All right, the six who're coming can come in now!"
Taking the other boat, you make your way to the steps of Tidewater Rock. The tides washing over the steps make them slippery, but hanging onto each other and going carefully you manage to make your way up them. There's a tense moment before the heavy door, but then you hear the heavy bolt being drawn back, and the door is opened. McCleagh and four men and women in armor, bearing spears and swords, stand inside on a hard-packed dirt floor, surrounded by piles of timber, fishing lines, nets, and heavy ropes--clearly a storeroom. A boat hangs from the ceiling, and there's a tense moment as the two groups examine each other.
"Well. Welcome to Tidewater Rock, Captain...Silvermane," McCleagh says gruffly, after a few minutes. He carries a massive greatsword on his back and, receding hairline notwithstanding, looks like he knows how to use it. "Her Ladyship is preparing to sit down to dinner. Willem, Joyce--you lead the way. We'll follow our guests up."
The two guards lead the way up a steep, alternate-stepped ladder in a side alcove and then across the second floor of the keep, moving through both a sitting room and what looks like a working forge (space is clearly at a premium). Then there's two more flights of stairs leading up past one door (as well as a privy...) to a second door on what you'd guess must be the third floor of the tower. Joyce opens this and leads you into a snug but well-appointed feast hall.
A long, heavy oaken table stretches the length of the room, and an iron chandelier hangs over it, candles flickering. A wide window--the only real one you've seen in the whole keep so far--gives you a picturesque view of the setting sun and the harbor. Sitting at the southern end of the table is the lady herself. "Welcome to my home, captain and officers," she says wryly. "Won't you please be seated?"
Jaina keeps her mouth shut as the team is led into Tidewater Rock's halls. She finds the nearest seat in the feast hall and slips into it. "Thanks for your hospitality, ma'am."
Don't be rude. Goldilocks' job will just get harder if you are.
Arhiel smiles at the lady and steps forward. "It was extremely gracious of you to accept us as your guests. Thank you for this opportunity to break bread and talk with you. I've heard so much about Tidewater Rock, but apparently not enough. Can you enlighten me as to its history?" she says as she takes a seat, leaving the one closest to the Lady for Isaac.
Diana smiles and listens, waiting for her captain to speak first.
Isaac watches as Sandara rows to Tidewater Rock. When they get the word that they can come over, Isaac helps his officers get the boat ready and row out to the Rock.
Taking the other boat, you make your way to the steps of Tidewater Rock. The tides washing over the steps make them slippery, but hanging onto each other and going carefully you manage to make your way up them. There's a tense moment before the heavy door, but then you hear the heavy bolt being drawn back, and the door is opened. McCleagh and four men and women in armor, bearing spears and swords, stand inside on a hard-packed dirt floor, surrounded by piles of timber, fishing lines, nets, and heavy ropes--clearly a storeroom. A boat hangs from the ceiling, and there's a tense moment as the two groups examine each other.
Isaac stares at the armored individuals. He has no malice in his heart. But, that doesn't mean that he can't feel the tension in the air.
"Well. Welcome to Tidewater Rock, Captain...Silvermane," McCleagh says gruffly, after a few minutes. He carries a massive greatsword on his back and, receding hairline notwithstanding, looks like he knows how to use it. "Her Ladyship is preparing to sit down to dinner. Willem, Joyce--you lead the way. We'll follow our guests up."
Isaac smiles at McCleagh. He raises his hand for a handshake. "Thank ye fer allowin' us in. Mayhaps we will com' to a deal tha' benefits us all."
The two guards lead the way up a steep, alternate-stepped ladder in a side alcove and then across the second floor of the keep, moving through both a sitting room and what looks like a working forge (space is clearly at a premium). Then there's two more flights of stairs leading up past one door (as well as a privy...) to a second door on what you'd guess must be the third floor of the tower. Joyce opens this and leads you into a snug but well-appointed feast hall.
Isaac looks around as his team is led by the guards, impressed by what he sees.
A long, heavy oaken table stretches the length of the room, and an iron chandelier hangs over it, candles flickering. A wide window--the only real one you've seen in the whole keep so far--gives you a picturesque view of the setting sun and the harbor. Sitting at the southern end of the table is the lady herself. "Welcome to my home, captain and officers," she says wryly. "Won't you please be seated?"
Isaac is impressed by the sight of the feast hall. When Lady Smythee speaks, Isaac smiles and nods. Noting that Arhiel purposefully chooses her seat, Isaac selects a seat that is closest to the Lady. "Thank ye fer givin' us som' o' yer valuabl' time, Lady Smythee. I prefer to be makin' negotiations iffen possibl'."
Arhiel smiles at the lady and steps forward. "It was extremely gracious of you to accept us as your guests. Thank you for this opportunity to break bread and talk with you. I've heard so much about Tidewater Rock, but apparently not enough. Can you enlighten me as to its history?" she says as she takes a seat, leaving the one closest to the Lady for Isaac.
At this, Isaac smiles and looks at Lady Smythee. "Yes. I be interested as well. I'm afraid I be known' only as much as any oth'r man in th' Shackl's."
Alabaster stays quiet, not quite sure what he could add to the conversation just yet.
Edward waits patiently, he's getting the impression Isaac is doing well.