Captain Drake gives Kaul a dubious glance. "We want Markessa alive remember." . He gazes around at the dark. "Can't very well attack in the dark, but let's get into position at the mouth of Moak Harbor in case they try and slip away. We'll attack at first light. "
Jim grins and claps Kaul on the shoulder. "A mite difficult to interrogate a corpse, hey?" He sobers, though, struck by a thought. "Cap'n Drake, best to keep a tight watch, and have every hand keep a weapon in reach. Sea devils hunt by night, I recall, and they may be minded to protect their trade partners."
Kaul scowls at the sage advice;
"I weren't meanin' her... Kauly knows she's needed alive-a-live-o... Why ye think I'm packin' me sap? I was meanin' everyone else..."
The thug melodramatically rolls his beady eyes.
He then grumbles to himself;
I see's fine in the dark.. Lopps too..."
before making his hatchet "waggle" in "nodding" agreement.
Corliss stretches his arms and legs and cracks his knuckles. "Well, iff'n thar be fightin' imminent, I'd best fix everyone aforehand."
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Jim grins as the healing energy repairs the various bruises and slashes he incurred. "Thank you kindly, mate!"
Jim grins and claps Kaul on the shoulder. "A mite difficult to interrogate a corpse, hey?" He sobers, though, struck by a thought. "Cap'n Drake, best to keep a tight watch, and have every hand keep a weapon in reach. Sea devils hunt by night, I recall, and they may be minded to protect their trade partners."
"I've heard it's possible to speak with the dead, but much more trouble to leverage some information out of an uncooperative corpse. You all look pretty strung out. Best grab some rest while you can. It will take some time to get into position, " Drake advises. "I'll double the watch."
The Taldan stifles a yawn. "Aye, we've been at it for a while. 'Fore I hit the hammock, though, one small matter. There enough water to wash the muck and puke off of me? I'm a mite rank, I'm thinking."
Drake gives Jim a nod and in a low voice offers, "If you want better than a bucket of brine, you may use my own bath."
Dibbs nods at Drake's wisdom for rest, though he mutters "Skin o' rum'd make the night more easy" before availing himself of a bucket of brine to 'rinse' off the worst of his fugue. To Corliss he mentions "Yer sky lightnin made out fer useful... might be worth askin if tha Drowner gi's enough o' a sh1te tae bless ye wi' similar fer tha chase."
"Aye-aye!" Corliss replies, digging into his backpack. "Also got just the thing fer our li'l chase--a li'l pillow!"
Grinning like a madman, the Besmaran priest pulls a tiny royal purple silk pillow edged in white lace out of his pack. "Gather 'round, lads!" he calls to the crew. "This little prayer eases yer sufferin' an' heals yer wounds like ye've had a full night's rest even if ye've slept fer as little as a couple hours. Also lessens the rest time fer folk who cast spells." He looks toward Dibbets and then less certainly toward Virgil.
Corliss gives a pat to his little pillow and all around find that they sleep deeply and soundly once they make their way to their berths. The Black Dragon slowly and stealthily makes its way into the bay while the crew rests. By the start of morning watch, the ship is in position and the entire crew is roused to prepare for battle.
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Kaul rises, downs his chow and oils his claw then readies for the bloodshedding.
The brute thug casts his baleful gaze nestward;
"Hoi. Dibbs. Hur. Ye seein' the ship o' deadmen sailin' yet?"
Indeed, as the horizon lightens behind the dark finger of the cyclopean lighthouse, a ship is near the shore about 3 cable lengths distant (~1800'). Drake eyes the unknown ship through a spyglass and checks the wind before addressing the newcomers. "Would you mind taking the helm, Jim? You were a navy man and I trust you to hold up under fire. Corliss, it's good to have a real priest aboard. See to the wounded and any help Besmara might offer is appreciated. Likewise, Gozreh isn't known for taking much interest in the affairs of men, but if you can affect the winds at all, Dibbets, that would be a service."
"I have no doubt we could easily take the White Moon if we could pin her down, but she looks a bit more nimble and if she has a competent captain and takes the weather gauge, she could slip past if we're not careful. Gunners, aim for her sails. We'll try and cut her off or get close enough to wound her. Kaul and the rest, ready for boarding action if we get lucky."
Jim stands a little straighter at Drake's words, a hint of his old training returning. His right hand twitches up, but he manages to keep from saluting. "It'd be an honor, Cap'n."
Kaul nods eagerly at Drake's words and the prospect of violence they hold.
The thug turns to the other members of the boarding crew;
"Hur... Righty o' lads... Stay with Kauly when we go. Me an' Lopps'll lead the way... Remember apart from Markessa everyone else is fair game... Drop any dead meat to the sharks..."
He hefts his fell hatchet, and leers a hard grin as he addresses the other freebooters and salts;
"CUT 'EM! CLEAVE 'EM! HACK 'EM! HEAVE 'EM!"
"Aye-aye, Cap'n!" Corliss replies. "Got a nap in an' am ready fer battle, all spells an' healin' channels back in stock!"
Captain Drake orders crew to stations and sails are unlashed and closely hauled to try and work off the winds which blow in your faces. White sails flash ahead as the Aspis ship unfurls her sails just as quickly and you're disappointed to see that you'll be facing a competent crew. Fortunately, she lies close to the eastern cliffs and cannot run with the wind, but sails due south at an acute angle to the wind. The Moon quickly closes her distance to freedom by over 100 yards.
Drake curses. "She's moving too fast, hard starboard, Jim. If we don't cut her off, we don't have much of a chance!"
"Hard Starboard!" Drake shouts to Dibbets and the rest in the rigging.
Keelhaul Kaul-
Madman Jim-
Corliss-
foe-
As the two vessels begin a strategic dance, Kaul holds fire awaiting when the ships close...
"Hard starboard, aye!" Long-dormant reflexes return quickly as Jim brings the wheel around in one smooth motion. Masts creak at the strain and the ship tilts dangerously, but the Taldan expertly kept the turn just under where the rigging might take damage.
Under Jim's expert hand, the heavy ship makes a sharp turn starboard and moves more easily as she's no longer running against the wind. "Outstanding, Jim! Easy there, Syncopit and Mr. Dibbets," Drake yells up to the rigging crews. "Keep her hauled in or we'll overshoot and the Moon cut behind us."
"Have the port cannons ready. She'll soon be in range," Drake warns. Zossrov gives a nod and sees that the two big guns are properly loaded.
"Cap'n: Gimme 'bout a 10 second warnin' when ye're plannin' to fire an' I'll cast a spell to grant the gunners Besmara's blessin' with their aim."
"Go ahead and bless the ship, Chaplain. She'll be in range in a moment."
The White Moon continues racing directly for the mouth of the bay on a perpendicular course to the Black Dragon. "A few degrees starboard, Jim. Get the Aspis ship off the port beam and keep her there as she closes."
Jim scans the water ahead, alert for signs of shifting winds in the narrow mouth of the bay while he listens for any change in the sounds of the sails. Once again, at Drake's command he makes the minute change necessary for Black Dragon to cross the T on the smaller ship.
Corliss casts bless on the Captain's orders, giving a confident nod to the gunners at each cannon.
Jim gets the ship into position and Drake smiles as he gives the orders, "Fire when ready!" Zossrov checks the aim, it's a long shot at around 800 feet, but he gives the order and a deafening explosion which vibrates through the timbers rocks the big ship as twin cannons fire simultaneously. The shot is Good! Two nine-pound shots tear through the distant sails and shatter a spar. Though the sails shake a bit, the White Moon is not crippled yet and continues racing forward only slightly hindered.
Kaul merely admires the damage being wrought by the Dragon's guns.
"Hur... Slow 'er down lads... Then Ol' Kauly can get to work..."
Dibbs gives a wee cheer "Shot Zoss! Get 'er loaded while she's hot n hungry" and sends his presence lofting forward over the waves to see if his ears can get wind of what the opposing helmsman's planning...
Dibbets sends a breeze forward to spy on the distant quarterdeck. The auburn haired pilot he takes for Markessa is accompanied by a familiar albino gnome. Neither appears happy with the damaged sails above where crew hustle in an attempt to adjust the sails in response to the damage. He sees a dozen crew scurrying about the ship.
Markessa addresses the bleachling, "I assure you I know that, Whitecoat. Our only chance is to run for open water. If we're cornered, those guns will pound us to pieces. If you've got nothing to offer other than threats, get below decks and let me do my job." Dibbets senses her annoyance and belief that she'll still be able to make it through the narrowing gap between the Black Dragon and the cliffs.
Meanwhile, the cannon crew has no time to celebrate. As Dibbets suggests, they are quick to reloading the guns. Captain Drake squints against the rising sun and notes the flagging speed of the smuggler. "Heave to, Jim. Let's give them a chance to close the gap, but keep them abeam."
"Heave to, aye!" The Taldan's luck and skill stay with him, as he holds the ordered course as if glued to it.
Again, Jim perfectly directs the riggers and has a firm hand on the ship's wheel. The Black Dragon slows just a touch and keeps the White Moon perfectly aligned for another strafing by cannon. The Aspis ship moves within 500 feet and Drake again yells for cannons adding that the swivel guns should make ready as well. The cannons fire with a roar! Haste ruins the attack though and the shot leads the enemy flying over her bow.
Unexpectedly, Markessa rallies her crew and the ship continues to gather speed despite the torn sails. The White Moondraws even with the Black Dragon about 150 feet off the starboard bow. Drake pounds the Quarterdeck railing, "Quick! Quick! Catch the wind and close the gap. All ready on guns! Prepare for boarding action! This is it, Jim. Full ahead and after her!"
Jim grins unpleasantly as the larger ship bears down on White Moon. "Full ahead, aye!"
The Black Dragon accelerates as she steers to run parallel with the White Moon. Jim hits the turn hard enough that the ship tilts to starboard allowing the cannons to fire straight through the sails at point blank. Timbers, rope and canvas falls from the shattered spars. Riggers fall as the Dragon's swivel guns rake the deck taking out another sailor.
Hissing gleefully, Dingus sends a lightning bolt at the tattered remains of the sails. The lawyer rubs his hands greedily and begins reciting rights of recovery and how they'll all be rich selling off everything and everyone aboard the White Moon.
The batter smuggler immediately begins losing speed as the Black Dragon draws along her. "Cross the Boards!" Drake shouts. "Grappling hooks away!"
Kaul leers a grin and joins his boarding party in launching grappling hooks toward the stricken White Moon;
"Let's get our 'ooks into them! Bring 'er into our bloody embrace lads!"
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Dibbs holds station in the sails as the way is closed and the longshanks below look to get bloody. Wrapping an arm around a rope he squints eyes and readies his pistol... seeking a sly shot against something small and bleached...
Corliss moves a bit closer to the rail where the boarding action will be taking place. Keeping behind whatever little cover there is, he drops into a defensive crouch and waits for the moment of truth.
Under Jim's expert piloting, the eponymous figurehead of the Black Dragon rams into the White Moon's bow seeming to bite onto the ship's bowsprit. Kaul's team which includes Lola, Swabbie Drake, and Onzu, swing their hooks across the gap and the claws bite into wood. The aft boarding teams aren't as successful, but it doesn't matter as Kaul's team hauls the entangled enemy ship close enough for boarding. There's no initial resistance from the Aspis crew who seem stunned by cannonade. Corliss offers a prayer to the Pirate Queen while the Freeporters move to attack.
Up above, Dibbets casts about for the pale gnome, but he's not seen among the ragged defenders.
"Cap'n Drake--permission to join the boarding party?"
Kaul hacks a menacing laugh as the ships kiss, and sprints forward, fell axe in hand;
"More the merrier Jimmer! Come one, come all! Come an' butcher with Red Claw Kaul!"
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Content to let the bigguns have their fun below, Dibbs keeps steady watch above with pistol in hand.
Kaul is the first over the rail with Lopper seeming to keen as the murderous edge slices the wind. The gleaming arc ends in a crimson spray leaving the Aspis crew to gape at the red line across their mates neck which grows into a bloody angle until the head topples off a gory neck stump and the very dead mate's corpse hits the deck. There's a cheer as Kaul's team follows him across laying into the hapless smugglers leaving two more enemy injured.
Drake gives Jim the nod. "Aye, Jim. I've got the quarterdeck. Take care though, you're too good a pilot to lose." Dibbets stays alert for any signs of gnomish treachery while Corliss keeps an eyes on the melee for any mates in need to treatment. Dingus gives a hissing snicker as he sends a volley of force vipers at a crossbowman on the bow injuring him gravely.
After the initial shock, the White Moon attempts to repel the invading Freeporters. The auburn haired captain rallies her beleaguered crew with promises of fat bonuses for fending off the pirate scum. The enemy crew seem to shake the effects of the Besmaran prayer and fight back downing one of the Dragon crew.
Sprayed by the blood of his first foe, Kaul grins as he moves forward in the ranks of Aspis defenders.
The brute lurches and hacks viciously at the nearest enemy;
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"Will do, Cap'n Drake!" Jim grins again and leaps down after the boarding party, drawing Storm Eyes' blade as he goes.