'Baby?' Alis mouths the word silently to Lureene, a questioning look on her lovely face. Suddenly it dawns on her what Gelik is talking about. She gives a light laugh as she notices more than a few sailors quickly extricate themselves from their flirtations and find reason to go elsewhere.
Well played Gelik. Even we short folk can dream big...
Back and forth, the floor beneath the hale young half-elf seemed to surge and shake in time to the dull throbbing sensation in the back of his skull. Slowly, the sound of men struggling in rhythmic unison, as if toiling against some great weight, resolved itself in the foggy halls of his mind. Slowly, the pain began to subside even as memory returned.
It had been late at night, only an hour or two before dawn, when the din of nearby rioting had awakened Issac. The Academy of Starsha, just south of the governor's estate, had come under attack.
Navigating the city streets would have taken too long. He and his honor guard would have gotten caught up in skirmishes just like the city's defenders. With only quickly shouted orders, the Major and marshal-leader of the city donned his kit, grabbed his sabre and raced across the very rooftops keeping high above the fighting below.
Yet he had not been alone...
"Like a moth to my flame..."
The tall woman had appeared from out of nowhere wielding dual saw-toothed sabres with a dancer's finesse. It was everything he could do to draw his own blade in time to fend off her attack. Yet even as they faced off atop the ridgeline of the academy's dormitories, his eyes trying to peer thru the visor of her wasp-like helm, he could hear the rush of great wings behind him.
"CRACK AND FUME, "
In the next moment, all the young officer had known was pain, all he could see were motes of fire and clouds of choking smoke as something heavy thudded into the back of his skull — attacker unseen. Even as his vision had begun to go black, the tall, lean woman had grabbed him, lifting his form with no more effort than were he a toddler.
"Take his sword but leave his helm and crest," the woman had said, voice soft and inviting, "that shall be proof enough of his capture..."
How much time had passed since then and where was he now?
"Keep still," came the familiar voice now whispered, "don't let on that you have been healed."
Indeed, Isaac could feel the pain racking him subside with the slightest contact from his sister's delicate, outstretched hand. Her fingertips were just brushing his dirty-blonde hair, healing power flowing into him with the contact.
"Iss', we've been on a war galley for hours now. It must be past noon. Two of our ships are catching up, but I overhead our captors say we're coming up on Reaver's Shiv where they plan to have their mage dampen the winds and ambush our men! It's the Freebooters, they want to ransom us to make up for their missed tribute and steal our ships. We have to get free and do something!"
A couple hours ago felt like it had been day's ago. Isaac had been sure he had been out for longer then he had with the powerful blow that he took to the back of his head. As consciousness slowly came back to him and the familiar soft sound of his sister's voice reached his ears, he was grateful that the freebooters actually put them together in the same room.
Groaning quietly as memories of this morning finally sunk back in, though they were still but a blur to him for the moment, he was finally able to look up at his sister, her words almost a bunch of jumbled up nonsense at the moment. "You're not hurt, are you, Lily?" That was the only thing he cared about right then, since he wasn't in a great state to look her over to make sure -she had told him to keep still, there was probably one of these troublesome freebooters still around making sure they didn't get up to any funny business.
Feeling far more alert then he did a couple minutes ago, he took a deep breath and took in his surroundings,carefully, and inconspicuously, he patted himself down, wondering what they left on him, Isaac never labeled the freebooters as the smartest lot on the sea's, but there were always an exception to the rules. "Give me a moment Lil', I'll think of something...We have to get our bearings down first and foremost, doing things half cocked is why we ended up here in the first place." he whispered to her and continued to observe where they were being held. Isaac wasn't proud of the fact that he had been hasty in his attempts to go protect his sister, he had just lost his mother, the thought of losing another family member didn't sit well with him.
Theme: Drums of Bondage
Rubbing his eyes to clear away the fog of unconsciousness, Isaac could see that he and Lilyana were both trapped inside iron cages a few feet apart in a cramped, darkened room. In the ceiling above their cages appeared to be trap doors, no doubt barred, while in the center of the ceiling was a grated hatch allowing for ventilation and sunlight. The two of them were the only people present in the room, he still in his armor, Lily in her now torn nightgown.
Looking around, he could see a narrow door in the wall to his left, and it was from that direction that he could hear the repeating effort of the rowers and the ponderous beating of the pace drum and the sounding of signal horns. Every now and again, the crack of a whip followed by the cry of a grown man punctuated the otherwise unchanging rhythm.
From up above, he could hear the timbers creak just to the right of the grate as if someone were standing there, shifting their weight.
MAP: The Falcata, (Round 00)
"Sasha, my dear, please don't tell me you have misplaced your Baby already! Is that his keening that I hear?"
Sasha's green eyes go wide as saucers at Gelik's loud questioning. Her lower lip quivers a bit as the group of sailors she had been flirting with quickly. "No! But– Baby's not my baby he's..."
Shaking her head, she hands Gelik a drink and says, "Oh well, their loss. I just wanted to have some fun, not get all serious! Oooh, Gel! Look Baby's perched on top of the lighthouse! I bet he's looking for something to hunt. Let's go watch!"
Without waiting for a reply, Sasha grabs him by the hand and nearly pulls the poor gnome off his feet as she takes off towards the tower, very nearly running into Darvesch in her excitement. "Oops, sorry Darvie! Hey, Gel and I are going to watch my new pet go hunting, you should come too!"
Before the dwarf or anyone else can say anything, she's off racing inside and up the seemingly endless steps to the lighthouse signal.
Gelik sounds like he is about to expire by the time the two reach the top of the lighthouse.
"Just– because– I can keep up– on flat ground," he gulps down the what ale he didn't spill and leans hard against the sun-warmed stone, "doesn't mean– I can take steps– three at a time!"
"Huh..." Sasha nods as if the idea never crossed her mind, "Yeah, I guess you can't huh. OK well just don't die on me alright?"
With that she approaches her new pet who is busy sunning his outstretched wings. Baby gives a raucous cry of recognition and trills as the huntress strokes his scaly head. "Aww, who's a good boy? Yes, you are!"
For a few minutes things remain thus until Gelik has caught his breath and approaches, making certain to stay on the far side of Sasha from the winged beast.
"Hmm, I think I would rather prefer my pet's wings to be golden and attached to a buxom blonde..."
Sasha pauses for a moment before it clicks that Gelik is talking about Lureene. "Oh! Haha, yeah I bet! Who wouldn't?"
Whether offended, bored, or hungry, Baby gives a squawk, and beats his wings taking to the air as he ranges above the cliffs and jungle. Down in the courtyard, they can just barely make out King Tut's cry as the little monkey heads for cover inside Darvesch's forge.
Sighing happily, Sasha looks out over the jungle, watching her new pet hunt for prey, a broad smile on her face. "This is the life, isn't it Gel?"
Even as the gnome gives his wordless ascent leans thru the bars of the railing on the south side to observe the celebration below, Sasha spies something in the distance. It doesn't take long for her to get excited and run over to stand above Gelik and shout down to the courtyard. "HEY, LORD AM– uh... Tearylord? no, that's not it... HEY, PRINCE GUY! DID YOU HAVE SOME OTHER SHIPS WITH YOU, 'CAUSE I SEE A COUPLE MORE COMING!"
"Sasha, you're about to bowl me off the edge!"
Gelik slips out from under Sasha and goes to straighten his hat before remembering that it's lost. Looking out towards the east, he can see a single ship approaching under oar power, two others trailing some distance behind it.
"My dear girl, look again, there are three ships approaching."
"Whaaa?" Even as Aerys looks up and hightails it for the tower, Sasha turns realizing that Gelik is pointing the wrong way.
"Oh!" Upon seeing them, she leans back over again and says, "HEY LOOKS LIKE THERE'S ANOTHER THREE TOO! I mean– Um... THERE'S MORE COMING FROM THE OTHER WAY!"
Theme: Sink or Swim!
It's not a moment later when Aerys comes running up onto the parapets and snatches up Alis' spyglass. Even as others exit onto the parapets behind her, she curses under her breath. Turning to look at Alis and Tyralor, she says, "This isn't lookin' good your highnesses. Alis, there's a Freebooter galley rowin' toward us from the east with two ships bearin' Ilmarond's flag chasin' after."
She then points to the west and says, "But that's not goin' to be the worst of it. I'm seein' two warships flyin' no flags approachin' from the west runnin' intercept!"
MAP: The Battle of Reaver's Shiv, (Round 00)
The look on Alis' face isn't alarmed so much as it is determined. Stepping up next to the black-haired sailor, she accepts the offered spyglass and gazes out to sea first at the ships approaching from the north west, then to the Zephrys, before peering at the ones to the east.
At length she nods and turns to Tyralor, blue-violet eyes as intense as the sun overhead. "It's close, but I think the spire on which that other ship is wreck in the bay is blocking line-of-sight to the Zephrys. The ships approaching from the east certainly can't spot her, the Freebooter vessel only just came into view from behind Red Mountain. I mean to seize any ships defying Ilmarond's promise to protect Dafar. Shall I have your aid, Prince Tyralor?"
"Whoa!" Sasha exclaims. "Are we gonna send them to the bottom, Lissi? I want to help!"
"No." Alis replies evenly, gaze not leaving the prince's eyes. "The Freebooters are not likely to be rowing their own vessel. I intend to liberate the slaves who are not kill them."
Taking a place at the Princess's side he surveys the scene before them eyes ablaze with anticipation of combat tempered by the realism of what danger the approaching ships could bring.
He returns the gaze of the Princess a smile playing upon his lips, "Without question, Milady!" He pauses, then, with a certain deliberateness, places his warm hand upon her diminutive one. Looking intently into her eyes with an urgency, his voice nearly a whisper and pausing between each utterance, he breathes, "I will stand with you...without...question."
He has suddenly become quite pale and a faint sheen of perspiration has broken out upon his skin as if he is fighting to function through extreme agony.
He has suddenly become quite pale and a faint sheen of perspiration has broken out upon his skin as if he is fighting to function through extreme agony.
Malandraenas feels Priyya start next to him, a sudden intake of breath as she is watching the exchange between prince and princess. Looking closely, the big man can see that the prince is sweating as he holds Alis' hand, his own retainer swiftly stepping up next to him with a look of concern on her fine-featured face.
Don't tell me he's weak-in-the-knees for her already!
"My Lord!" Nimniel steps up beside Tyralor quickly, a long, slender hand upon his bicep, her eyes narrowed with concern.
Again? Is something ailing him? I haven't noticed any spellcasting by the princess.
Remembering herself, she takes away her hand and says, "My Lord, what are your orders for the Zephrys and her crew?"
Sense Motive Checks:
Lureene turns to look at the Princess and she can see the same look in her eyes. Her gaze showed her determination as clearly as if she was shouting.
I stand with you completely on this, 'Lis!
Although she tries to conceal it, Alis' close companions note a hint of worry on her face as she looks up at the tall prince.
There it is again... Is it the heat? No, it was still mild when we met on the beach. A lingering wound? He bounded up more than 100 steps without issue. His retainer doesn't seem to know what's wrong either, which makes this a new development. What is it? I don't want to diminish him in front of the others...
With one hand held to her heart, the princess bows her head in thanks. "Ilmarond and the people of Dafar are blessed to have such a noble and committed allies in Aramol."
Looking up at Tyralor with an encouraging smile, she squeezes his hand in return and says, "From the bottom of my heart, I thank you."
Still holding his hand, she turns to look back out to sea, gazing out at the two warships approaching from the west.
Bluff Checks
Sense Motive Checks:
Spellcraft DC 15
Bluff Checks
Perception Checks
Darvesch sighs and mumbles in his native tongue.
"Ships are on our way, we're supposed to be readying for a fight, and we're focusing on the Prince?"
Quickly trying to focus everyone on the task at hand, "How far out are they? How long do we have till we can board them?"
Is she praying?
Darvesch's question snaps Nimniel out of her concern for the Zephrys' master. Although she did not understand dwarven, it wasn't difficult to discern the impatience in his voice. Looking out to sea, and gauging the distances, she quickly answered, "A bit over an hour for the galley, maybe a quarter hour longer for the warships if they continue at their present pace."
Sense Motive Checks:
"And we're positive slaves are onboard? The last thing we need is to charge in and make fools of ourselves." He turns to Alis and says, "Frænka... I've got an idea.."
"Assuming the crew is comprised of men and not demons, we kill no one. Imprison and jail as many as we can. Add their store rooms and pantries to our own. Damage to the vessels should be kept to a minimum, so we may add them to our own as well. So long as no truly outrageous crimes have been commited, such as murder or rape, we give them a chance to redeem themselves by converting to our cause. They can fight for Darfar in your name as a sort of temporary militia. Any who refuse must be tried for their crimes." He pauses to think for a moment and continues, "We can shelter the people being held as slaves, and they can settle here. If you wish to employ them, the opportunity should be given, and they can stay here to do as you wish. Any who wishes to simply go home to their families, we should comply and give them safe passage home." He gives Alis a moment to digest what he has offered, "Thoughts?"
"Are we positive?" Priyya arches a white eyebrow as if it is a rhetorical question. "Until we have reconnoitered the vessel ourselves, my guess is that we are dealing with probabilities based upon reputation and past experience. Still, there is always the possibility that it could be a vessel crewed by untiring ghouls, although if anyone wants to take that bet please deal me in, I could use the coin to fund a secret religious compound on a deserted isle."
"I–" Mal hesitates, not entirely sure he understood whatever it was that Priyya was getting at.
Doing his best to hold his tongue he grumbles, "Curious to hear what our plan is."
Alis pauses and turns to answer Darvesch, yet she does so in Estoria rather than Dwarven so that everyone may understand her. "I agree with you, Frændi. If we can capture these vessels and add their strength to our own then that would be advantageous. And yes, assuming that the galley is crewed by slaves and not monsters then they have every right to be spared and given a new life, wherever that is."
"As for any pirates," she sighs, "that is a trickier matter. Were it anywhere else, the punishment for piracy is hanging. Here however, the Confederation may be stronger than any legitimate authorities. While I would love to see them wiped out, I wonder how many captains would be willing to endure the attacks of Reavers as opposed to the Freebooter's protection racket..."
"Even so," she strikes the metal railing with the side of her balled fist, causing it to resonate, "what they do on the high seas and what goes on inside Dafar's borders are two different things. Not only is slavery illegal in Ilmarond, but I find it personally detestable. I'm not about to ask anyone here or any of Prince Tyralor's men to put themselves at greater risk to capture slavers just to put them on trial. It would be better to eliminate them quickly so the Confederation can't coerce any magistrates or judges. It would be better if they can't serve as a warning since that would only send their associates running further from justice."
Turning back towards the sea and resting her hands on the rail, she finishes quietly, "The King of Ilmarond assigned me to watch over Dafar. There's no point in a trial when the head of state and her retainers catch you in middle of a crime. Maybe it would inspire the commoners, but there are better ways. Some farce of a trial for its own sake is only vanity..."
Lureene chimes in, her blue eyes flashing, "And also do not forget those other ships as well. It cannot be a coincidence those warships have shown up at the same time as the slave galley. We MUST find out what those ships are doing, and why."
"That would be a coincidence, ma'am," Nimniel agrees. "Judging by their bearing, they are attempting to approach the southern seaway while hiding their approach behind the cliffs. My Lord, My Lady, the only reasonable possibilities I see are a pincer attack on the galley, or an attempt to screen its escape."
"It's the only way then.. I'm sorry Frænka." Darvesch whispers. "Mal, are you good with a boat?" Not waiting for him to reply, "Good, come with me. I want everyone else to stay here." He looks to Tyralor, "Prince, excuse me. I'm going to need to borrow one of your launching vessels," and quickly vanishes out of sight.
Quickly rushing to one of the launching vessels, he tells Mal, "Once we get there," he nods to the slave ships, "you are to come back immediately. Got it?"
Malandraenas stands rooted in place, lip curled with surprise.
How the hell much did he drink?
Looking to his employer and charge, he shrugs his massive shoulders and asks simply, "Alis?"
The way Nimniel stiffens at the dwarf's seemingly drunken proclamation escapes only Mal and Lureene. Not five feet from her, Alis turns around to see her cousin rushing off while her bodyguard waits for his orders.
Shaking her head, 'No,' she runs after Darvesch calling out to him, "Darv, there's no way Mal can manage one by himself, they're nearly 25-feet long and take a few men to row. Besides that, Tyralor's crew need both launches to get his men back to the ship in time for the fight. If you want to go alone then I'll have to cast a spell to let you fly or swim."
Still keeping pace with him as he exits the lighthouse into the courtyard, she asks, "Frændi, what are you planning?"
Sense Motive DC 32:
Sense Motive Checks:
"Make me fly. You want the slaves free. Out here there's nothing you or I can do legally, as you have pointed out. And we can't simply board them and kill the lot of slavers, as horrible as their actions may be. They're men, not demons. But, I can strike a deal with them to free the slaves." Darvesch tells Alis. "I don't see us agreeing on how to deal with them, no offense. But this way, you don't have to."
Lureene stares at the dwarf running off as if he has lost his mind.
Hmmm, considering his tryst with Sasha a couple of days earlier, maybe he HAS!
She turns to Prince Tyralor and murmers "Excuse me, Tyralor, but I need to catch a dwarf." She then launches herself into the air off the balcony and flies down to intercept him before he reaches the beach.
Alighting in front of the dwarf intentionally barring his progress, she gazes at him with a cool look on her face. "Darvesch, what seems to be the problem? Is there a reason why you want to commit suicide here? Those slavers will cut you down before you will even have a chance to surrender!" She points up to the lighthouse where the others are watching them. "'Lis and Tyralor have a plan here and we need to follow it!"
It takes just a few moments for the Prince to regain his composure and he smiles in response to Alis' concerned query,
Hearing the words uttered by the Princess to Darvesch and seeing the dwarf's immediate dash to the boats he cries, What has overtaken the dwarf? It seems I have made a grave error to have given him such a portion of Del-Synaran ale. He has taken leave of his senses and at the expense of my own ships!"
He starts after the dwarf calling, "HOLD sir! I think you are not quite yourself! You do not seem the sort who would rush like an unseasoned warrior directly into the maw of danger and expect not to be quickly swallowed up! I can only assume that the ale I have given you is not suited to the dwarven constitution and has caused you to have acted completely out of character. Please forgive my oversight, master Dwarf. Now if it pleases you, I would ask that you return my ships to my men."
He turns to regard all assembled, "There is no need to feel or act so desperately for I do happen to have a plan...and a weapon here-to-for unseen by the eyes of our combatants currently waiting to be used from the decks of The Zephrys. This weapon was created by my grandfather Karanyr shortly before his death. It uses as an accelerant an unique alchemical compound which, when ignited, propels metallic projectiles over great distances allowing us to assail waterborne enemies in relative safety. At first it was somewhat unpredictable and so my grandfather and I worked together to engineer a machination which could more precisely aim the projectile utilizing a long, iron tube. So, while they are heavy and hard to move on land, once they are mounted in a ship they are quite effective. In fact, I have a number of these devices mounted upon the lower deck of my ship and hidden behind hatches so as to hide them when they are not in use. To those who approach the ship, these merely look like windows. I have but to order the hatches to open and we can actually sail right alongside an enemy vessel or creature and riddle it with large holes. We can also heat the metal balls before they are fired and cause vessels to catch on fire once they are struck." He pauses his eyes alight with excitement then adds, "Using this weapon, I think we will have the best solution. I say, we move The Zephrys on an intercept course. Once we are within firing range, we will aim the projectiles at the sails thus slowing the vessel and allowing the Ilmarond ships to catch up. This way we will not risk the lives of the slaves such a ship would undoubtedly use to man their oars. What say you to that, Milady?"
"Slaughter them all. That's your answer, isn't it?" Darvesch ignores comments about his mental state as he looks to Alis.
Alis nods her head slowly, noting what is being said, even as she continues to gaze out at the sea.
What has overtaken the dwarf? It seems I have made a grave error to have given him such a portion of Del-Synaran ale. He has taken leave of his senses and at the expense of my own ships!"
Somehow Alis manages to hide the fact that she just paled about two shades. She gives a quick curtsy and seems to mouth a few words, though they are seemingly too quiet for any of you to hear.
With that, she runs off after Darvesch even as Tyralor follows, calling out to the dwarf as he goes.
"Nothing I can do legally?" Alis tilts her head to one side, to indicate in no uncertain terms that his assessment confuses her. "They're fleeing from two of my ships whatever they did had to have occurred until Dafar's jurisidi–"
"Darvesch, what seems to be the problem? Is there a reason why you want to commit suicide here? Those slavers will cut you down before you will even have a chance to surrender!"
Alis takes a deep breath, grateful for Lureene's intervention.
He and Uncle Morgaard have always been stubborn, but I've never known them to be incapable of holding their drink. It's like he completely ignored what I just said a moment ago. Why is he so intent on rushing to meet death?
"There is no need to feel or act so desperately for I do happen to have a plan... [snip] What say you to that, Milady?"
Alis nods thoughtfully as Tyralor discloses his plan, considering what he has to say. She is about to answer when Darvesch replies pointed to her, seemingly ignoring everything the prince had just said.
"Slaughter them all. That's your answer, isn't it?"
It takes everything Alis has to keep her composure and continue giving the unfailing impression of concerned calmness.
"The thought had crossed my mind, yes. Ignoring that for a moment though, Lureene's right, Darv. You're talking about asking the worst sort of criminals to not only surrender, but to give up their entire crew and ship when they might very well be expecting to receive the aid of those intercepting ships. Unless you mean this to be a distraction while the rest of us get into position for a sneak attack, I just don't see how that would work."
"Also, did you misunderstand what Prince Tyralor just said? The Zephrys' weapons may be able to disable the galley's sails and force them to move under oar-power only. It might even intimidate them into backing down. You don't have to do this alone."
Sense Motive Checks:
The prince is both shocked and perplexed by the erratic and confusing response from the dwarf. He briefly places his hand upon the princess' and gives her a encouraging smile before turning to him with a kind yet quizzical expression, "Darvesch? Surely, you did not misunderstand my very clear intent to protect the slaves and do as little damage as possible to the ship. Before we met one another, my ship was on a peaceable diplomatic mission. I am neither power mad nor bent on killing innocents. Just because the weapon I have on board can be quite destructive, if used properly it can be used to merely intimidate or hasten a surrender. "
He continues, his expression kind but guarded,"Lady Alis is quite right regarding her interpretation of my plan. From all things laid before us it is entirely possible that the galley is desperately trying to make its way to the two ships approaching from the far northwesterly side of the island. It only stands to reason that if we can delay this small ship long enough to get ships friendly to both my kingdom and lady Alis' in range that the end result will be far better than this brutal 'slaughter them all' option you seem to think we are espousing. With three ships together en masse, the two other ships may be forced to back down with no loss of life on either side."
Lureene nods in agreement with Lord Tyralor's words.
He can be very persuasive when he wants to be...
She lays a hand on Darvesch's shoulder giving him a reassuring smile. "Darv, I do not know what troubles you so, but whatever ails your soul, know you do not have to face your trials alone! We will all stand with you, that is what friends are for right?" She give Princess Alis a look, and adds "If this is something best shared with your Cousin, I do not take offense, Darv."
She then looks into his eyes, "Please, Darv. The slaves aboard that galley need you. WE need you. Help us...please."
"If that's what your Highness wishes." Darvesch bows very low to Alis, and as he straightens, the colour flushes from his face, and he drops to the ground.
Upon further investigation, it turns out the Prince's men had encouraged Darvesch to drink much more than he was capable of, even by dwarven standards.
"Frændi!" Alis hops to her cousin's side, kneeling beside him. In alarm she waves Priyya over.
By the gods, he smells like the inside of a whiskey barrel! What in the world?
Gritting her teeth, the itinerant cleric rushes to the downed dwarf grumbling, "Never a dull moment around you or your twin," as she quickly checks his vitals.
"HE'S CHOKING! Roll him onto his side and get this plate off him!"
As the Xerakai cleric, the princess, and her bodyguard tend to the dwarf and his alcohol poisoning, the first mate of the Zephrys sets her jaw and speaks quietly to her prince.
The tall, black-haired beauty casts a baleful eye at her juniors, ruing the poor timing of their jocular fun. "My Lord, I believe any disciplinary action against the crew should be postponed until later. I shall signal the ship and see the men back while you and Lady Alis discuss our stratagem."
With that, the prince's retainer goes about breaking up the ring of gawkers and calling for all hands to return to the ship.
Neutralize Poison DC 26 (16 + 2/over limit)
Lesser Restoration
Perception DC 15
From somewhere up above, Isaac and Lilyana can hear news shouted by the crow's nest, "Cap'n, we've got a clear line-o'-sight down the channel, but..."
The harsh, commanding voice of the captain replies, "But what you dog, speak up!"
Lookout: "Well the beacon on the ol' lighthouse is lit and turning. Looks like there's a big galleon anchored alongside, prow towards us."
Captain: "One of ours?"
Lookout: "Don' think so. They're flying what looks like a green an gold flag, and another what's red and silver."
The captain grumbles, and the siblings can only just hear him, "And our boys ain't s'pposed to be flyin' any colors much less comin' into view... Tch– Guess we'll just need to catch 'em in a vice before these other two are on us then. HYAAA!"
The loud crack of a whip splits the air followed by a cry of pain. "PUT YOUR BACKS INTO IT YOU MANGY CURS, OR I'LL FEED THE LOT OF YE TO ME HOUNDS!"
As the other sailors begin coercing the rowers to greater effort, you can hear the captain give another shout. "OZYRANKHUS, you soulless bastard, GET YOUR RED-ROBED ARSE UP HERE!"
From somewhere far away towards the bow, the Hlokenars can just barely hear a deep, hollow voice answer, "Soulless?" There is a grim chuckle. "You clearly lack an understanding of my arts. Souls are a commodity I am far from lacking..."
"Tch–" the Captain scoffs, "Aye and I'll wager the one you were born with ain't one of 'em. That aside, the whelp in the crow's nest says we got company up the channel. I know the council didn't send you along for a holiday, so how's about earning your keep?"
"Mmm, yes, there is truth in that. Very well, I shall contemplate the matter. We wouldn't want our cargo to become damaged after all..."
"Brother," Lilyana whispers urgently, making use of a minor spell to keep your voices hushed, "did you hear that? It sounds like our captors must be working with a necromancer or a warlock or some kind! Have you found a way to break free yet? If we can act while they are distracted with a battle, maybe we'll stand a chance!"
Indeed as Isaac looks around, having nothing better to do than probe his cell, he discovers that one of the iron bars has become loose. It will take some time to fatigue it (since he must work quietly), but with
enough stress, he's certain it will give and provide him with a pry bar or a serviceable weapon.
Listening to the voice's above as he moved to sit up, disappointed after checking to see if he had anything on him to make their escape easier, but those had been high hopes. Though the man called Ozyrankhus made his blood run cold as fear spiked through him. Not fear for himself, but fear for his sister. He wasn't out of his 'cage' and was worried that he wouldn't be able to protect her to the best of his abilities. He could do something now, and by the gods, he was going to.
Putting two and two together, he figured that he and his sister were the cargo and that made him feel slightly better, but he still had goose bumps as he tried to jingle his bars, trying to find a weak point that he could pull apart. Finding one that he could pull out -after enough effort, he could use it to fit his purpose. "I'm working on it sister. Hopefully I can get this to give way." He said and looked up at her, "Keep your eye's open for me, lemme know if you hear or see anyone getting closer." He was going to be focused on trying to get this bar loose quietly and might miss something from being distracted.
It gave him a new hope to hear there was a new ship on the way, one that they weren't expecting, it would give them the upper hand, or at least distract them enough till he got his sister to safety. "Sound's like a necromancer to me, they typically meddle in magic that's forbidden. Playing god gives one an inflated sense of power and self-worth." He said to her softly, wanting to talk about things, just to make her feel safe and like things were under control as he wiggled and tugged carefully on the weak point of his cage that he found.
Pausing when he felt like the bar was making too much noise with how he was going about trying to get it out, he pulled away and thought for a moment, if he pushed it, and it snapped out and surprised him, it could slide across the floor and he'd lose it, not only that, it'd probably make a lot of sound. Though he could pull it, and when it got lose he could fall back, roll over, and lay there like nothing was wrong. That seemed like the best idea, and if he could get it out with out making noise, all the better. Now pulling on it towards himself, he took as much care to make this as quiet as possible.