Bjorkus stares hard.
"Okay, that counts."
The great beast shows its fangs in what amounts to a grin, then disappears as (Human) Kal takes its place.
"I thought it might."
He smiles at the woman, tapping his chin. "Exploiting a weakness? Yes. Changing shape? Yes. Merciless? Not that I've seen. I am a doctor, not an assassin."
Looking to his group, he clasps Kal's shoulder. "We'll take our share, but nobody deserves to be the Hurricane King more. I mean, being able to turn into that thing and a hurricane pretty much seals that. If Bjorkus was in the position, we'd have to rename it the Harem King."
Kal chuckles. "That's the truth. Though we may have to accord him that title anyway..."
He turns to Luthor. "... and then there's Stonefist here... strange coincidence on the name, isn't it? Much more apt on you than the ex-king, though, I've got to say."
"And Skinny... sorry, but you're even skinnier than I am. You take things apart with quite impressive precision... though I rather doubt your claims that you can put them back together just as well."
He pauses. "And then there's our dear Opal... without whose magic we'd have had a... less pleasant... rise to power, I think."
He smiles at his friends.
"I'd say that each of us made an invaluable contribution. And I can't imagine having done it with a finer group."
He smirks at the skinny comment. "I may be skinny, but I pack a big punch. And I'm a mob doctor. Of course I'm not as good at putting back together."
Bjorkus chuckles at Zirul's comment and puts his burly arms around a new pair of women. Even in his bloodied and haggard state, the ladies of the Lucre seem eager to show their interest in the massive bull.
"We'll celebrate later. Put on the damned crown. We gotta get outside, our people are fighting each other out there."
Kal chuckles. "Fine, fine."
With one last grin at the others, he puts on the crown.
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After donning the crown, which instantly takes the form of a shaped piece of blue-green coral, Kal's able to use its power to guild the Lucre through the walls of the hidden cave and out into the open air.
Outside, the battle is still fiercely underway, both the forces Bonefist and the party's allied fleet refusing to yield ground.
Once ships see the changing of the Lucre's flag, the fighting quickly ends. Most lower their own flags as a sign of submission while a few others break off and head out to sea. Cries of the new Hurricane King's name is rapidly picked up among the pirate crews.
"All hail Kal Seaborn, Hurricane King!"
***
The following day, Kal Seaborne is sworn in as the Hurricane King. In a few words, he pledges to hold the safety of the Shackles and its waters above all others and ensure its people remain free. The council of pirate lords approves of their new king and welcomes him with open arms.
Wealthy beyond words and powerful both personally and politically, the party goes their own way for a time...
In the months to come, Kal settles in to the responsibilities that come with his new title. The Shackles is a perilous place and more than a couple attempts at coups start up not soon after he's sworn in. Worse still, rumors of a growing Chelish movement to mobilize the entire navy to avenge one of Thrune's daughters is heard on the water. It seems Druvalia Thrune isn't the last the Shackles will see of the devil-bound empire.
Luthor returns home, eager to show his father that ulfen sea-reaving isn't a dead tradition. Luthor's father, the jarl of a small northern village as proud of his son as any ulfen could be, welcomes his son home with open arms only to be berated by his tiny tian wife about tracking snow into the lodge. Luthor's father gives him a new task, track down and slay a linnhorm for his coming wedding anniversary.
Flush with arcane power and with nearly a ship full of eager suitors, Opal tracks down her retired father with news of the things she's accomplished. Her father, ever the cruel man even in his waning years, demands she share fortune and when she refuses, challenges her to a duel. With a broken heart, the sorceress easily dispatches the old man. After the smoke clears, she's approached by her mother. Finally freed of the old pirate's tyranny, the bound elemental begs her daughter to free her and more - to come with her to the elemental realm. Opal clasps her mother's hands and whispers her answer.
With the coin and fame from helping Kal rise to Hurricane King, Chubwart is easily able to build his power - despite his goblin status (or everyone else's not-goblin status). Before long he has a fleet of his own (The Longshank Biter, The Saucy Elf, and Chub's Finest, etc). Rumors abound that the goblin is considering a coup of his own for the Hurricane Crown.
Zirul goes into business with Omara Culverin, the garundi sniper, to develop firearms for the new Hurricane King. Surprisingly, chemistry isn't so different from biology and the Doctor's expertise grows to include the up-and-coming Black Powder. He even begins to dabble in the 'bombs' others in his profession always seem to going on about.
Wealthy and powerful enough to command a ship of his own, Bjorkus heads out to Kortos to find his people and the family that abandoned him at birth. His father, a massive bull and the clan's chieftain, apologizes for nothing but is visibly impressed when Bjorkus puts his harem on display. The elder minotaur admits his fault and offers Bjorkus a place within their labyrinthine home but the young bull declines. His place was on sea now and his crew was family. With a heart free of regrets, Bjorkus returns to the sea and a life of piracy. Rumors are he's working with one of his ladies, former Pathfinder Alhazrah, to get work as a free agent for the infamous Society.
***
After five years, each member of the party receives a summons from Kal Seaborne - the Hurricane King.
The Shackles faces a danger unlike anything we've faced before. I need your help. Bring everything you can.
***