Employing some stealth in facial expression, gestures etc during the internal, magical communication,
After hearing what Flynn has to say regarding the Kurstav, Rain relays the message through the loop to Dhaavan, hoping he would inform the others of what was said. She speaks Aquan with him, knowing he would find a way to translate it to those who did not speak the tongue of the sea.
"Flynn says that if we do take the merchant vessel we could always leave it at Rickety's to be broken down and used for spare parts, lumber and such and we could be reimbursed for the "gift". That way no one will recognise the Kurstav because she will be sold off piece by piece. If anyone asks, the story could be that as the Kurstav passed the ocean where the Sahuagin live, they were attacked and overpowered, even killed. The only hole in his plan is the Vanaras, Luan. He says we should find a way to silence him so he cannot speak the truth and our secret is safe. That is all I have to relay."
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Edit: this to happen after variel responds to Flynn's message through dhaavan.
Hearing the consensus of the group through Dhaavan, Variel agrees to leave the ship where it is but to slow them down enough so as to not follow behind quickly. To that end he will have the crew lower one of the captured jig boats into the water. In it he will have Luan place his weapons. I saw the range at which you can use those deadly devices. Once we are a few hundred yards out we will release the jig for you to pick up your gear. This seems the safest course of action as when we are at full sail there is no way you will catch us. This honors our agreement still as no harm will come to your weapons. Nor will we have touched them.
Seijiro lofts a single brow at Variel's decision but says nothing, as Variel is correct, it does not violate the terms of their accord with Luan Xia. Once the final search of the Kurstav is complete, he gives Luan a slight bow of respect and heads back toward the Lady. He is carrying the rest of the Kurstav captain's gear to be taken to Variel's quarters for possible distribution among officers later.
Hmmm, had they not given up so quickly, we would have likely killed the Monkey, and took his gear for ourselves. Well, hopefully we'll find ourselves another target like this one. and when we have less to fear from some such as the Aspes Consortium, we'll be more able to make more favorable terms, letting out prey escape with their lives alone. He sighs at the lost profits that are locked securely in the chest. Hopefully this investment in our reputation will pay off for us in the future.
Resigned to the decision yet still thoughtful,"There is something not quite right here, a mystery aboard this vessel, and I suspect we will not find out what until much later. As of this moment however, I would say let the Vanaras go with the Kurstav. It is too soon to attract as powerful enemy as the Aspis Consortium. But next time, when we are stronger in number and arms, we will not allow them to get away so readily."
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I have already given my word and will not back away from it just for monetary gain. Likewise I will not murder in cold blood a surrendered foe. I wish for us to honor our agreement with Luan now. In the future if we run across him again we will be in a better position to take his ship and sell it. For now as you have all said, we are in no position to sell it at Blood Cove. Returning to Rickety's is fruitless as they have no supplies for us to purchase. We need to go to Blood Cove for these reasons and to recruit more crew as we discussed already.
** spoiler omitted **
”I agree with your sentiment – but if honor and blood are thus the barriers to easy victory – challenge him to single combat to the death. He pretends to have honor; he will agree, if you call him, I think – than you will have your honor vindicated, as well as his – you will have further demonstrated your prowess to the crew as captain and at the same time caused the new members to fear your power. And in a duel, you will not be killing him in cold blood.”
”Not to mention you keep the knowledge of what we did to Apsis from returning to their ears… except by choice. And if so – what does it matter? Our reputation will run before us,” he responds.
"Of course - it is only a suggestion; but I think it is possible he will accept your offer of a duel, but I cannot be sure. In this, let your heart guide you - I would see him dead; but I will not gainsay your decision. Who knows - when pressed with a duel to the death over honor alone, he may decide to back down," he adds softly.
Aye, sadly - your last sentiment is likely the most accurate.
That basterd is from the lands of Tian – what do those folk know about honor, or duty? Coin is their only loadstone – and “face”. He will not feel shame over dishonor, only the practical understanding that if he is called his reputation will suffer - and with that lowered reputation he will be less successful at earning money – which is all those filth from Tian care for.
Ah – but were he from the Minkai folk! Those lads are different – to be sure! They know the true meaning of honor, they do. Consider their warrior caste, eh? They are trained from birth to live and die with honor – and would not have surrendered to us, or any – instead they would have scuttled the ship or given their lives in battle like some sort of Divine Wind!
Gods! But for the simplicity and dignity of that caste – the Minkai folk; even their peasants have more honor than that Vannaran. And their warrior caste; both men and women, aye – they know with completeness their meaning and their purpose: duty, discipline and death!
He spits in the scuppers and shrugs.
Aye – but a Minkain will not bargain, he will not haggle, he will obey his lord to the death. A Tian will do otherwise – and it is precisely his determination to put money over honor that you can at least bargain with them at all; so in this – be content. For if he had been from Minkai he likely would have ordered the crew to fight to the last man and destroyed his own ship rather than have it taken in battle and dishonor.
Turning a baleful glance at the ship, he frowns, than gets back to work.
Yet stifle even your thoughts – you have let more slip than you ought to when you dallied there. It is wiser if none knew why it was that you have so much familiarity with the eastern folk. Such truths are better as secrets to be held in the heart alone; and not even thought about – lest your thoughts betray you…
As Horatio continues to work, he ponders the recent escapades with these folk and debates with himself the constant ebb and flow of morality which he feels he is exposed to.
He had argued so hard to be sailors who were “decent” and “honorable” – folk who sailed with a defined code and courtesy and stuck to higher values than assailing unknown targets for easy money and the rush that ripples from the steel of a blade down the hand and arm up to the heart that comes in the rush of killing.
Yet always had been prevailed upon him that such oaths were likely to wear down on the nature of what had truly called them all to the waters – namely, freedom.
Above all he could appreciate best that cause; for he loathed the idea of slavery, and was ever eager to be free.
Still his conscience had wrestled with the possibility of attacking innocent fishermen; or pillaging a small town of farmers or other such despicable acts simply to fill their bellies.
He had prayed that such tests would not come to him; and it seems the gods had heard his private heart. For lo – they sent to his waiting hand to plunder and pillage a vessel conned by those who placed coin above all things to the detriment of all.
And with his brethren they had prevailed.
Aye – and brethren was a fair word, indeed. For they argued among each other, and bickered over petty nuances and near came to blows sparked by nothing but foul words and ill humor, yet in the pinch they would bleed for each other and back each other in a fight and share equally among each other.
Foul words and rude behavior from people you live with – and their best recommendation is only that after all is said and done that they won’t kill you, or you kill them? Ha! If that is how you would define yourselves - than what better word than is “brethren” – if not family?
He grins at that thought and lets the smell of the sea air penetrate his nostrils; even the sulfuric tang from the powder burn on his shirt rises to his senses in a somehow homey and comfortable way as his body sways gently under the pitch and yaw of the deck.
He hears his comrades grunting and straining under the tug of the halyards and looks at the lads hoisting cases of cargo across the planks between the ships. He turns to watch the open sea and its limitless possibilities staring back at him with a base neutrality that could threaten to smother him with its enormity – or open its arms like a lover to cover him with endless bounty.
He eases the butt of his pistol a bit, and a slow smile graces his lips as he continues his work with the men. Sensing that they need some guidance and direction in their work, his lips twist into a wry expression and he realizes that they need the focus that comes from a decent song.
Yet what words would be appropriate?
And to sing after such action as if it gave him pleasure? Was he – as he slowly feared – a true pirate?
No – that wasn’t quite correct. He and the others weren’t some low-down pirate scum; they were somehow better than that. There was a clean line between butchers of the sea and what his comrades wished to be - though it had been suggested to him that the line was not always easy to see.
Still – it was there.
And if so, it was also certain that there was a difference between a mere pirate and what he and his comrades were becoming; something more dashing even as they stole, more honorable even as they killed; more flamboyant, even when they took an enemy's surrender; and somehow far larger-than-life than a simple “pirate”.
Aye – they were something different, somehow.
So – considering that almost unknown difference, he realized that when sailing with this bunch he should have left his fears on dry land – and with them, he should have come correct – when it came to their true purpose.
He decided than to sing of who he felt they were; yet if not pirates wholly, what then? Where they corsairs, reevers, scalawags, buccaneers, swashbucklers, jolly-jack-tars, what?
No – none of those titles would fit. Something more base and at once grandiose was needed… he pondered than, and smiled wryly. His thoughts recalling a perfect word to sum up a criminal type who might rob from the wealthy, show dignity to those folk who had surrendered; a charming sort, yet dangerous, a villain who - when pushed, would ultimately do the right thing... in short; a rogue with a “heart of gold”.
Aye!
Such action needed - to him - a better word than simply "pirate". And until a better word availed itself; in his heart, he would look at he and his mates as “scoundrels” – hiding not from the laws of the gods, but the injustice forced upon freeman in the form of tyranny.
Scoundrel!
Aye – he liked the sound of that…
And now that he felt he had a better sense of how they could be defined in his own heart – he decides to speak his thoughts better with song.
The words are somewhat laconic in their pace, almost peaceful, yet it expressed his feelings well now, as he watched the others with the plunder, the wounds still fresh on his body to motivate action – and the reality of what had happened not paining him as he feared, but rather – giving elation.
So - lifting up his voice, he begins to sing...
Damn it feels good to be a scoundrel
A real gansta-ass-scoundrel sails his ships right
A real gangsta-ass-scoundrel never runs his poxing mouth
’cause real gangsta-ass-scoundrel don’t start fights
A simple pirate always needs to draw steel
Or showing all his mates how he shot ‘em
But a real gansta-ass scoundrel don’t brag much
’cause real gangsta-ass scoundrels know they got ‘em
And everything’s fine in the mind of a scoundrel
’cause gangsta-ass scoundrels drink life deep
Seeking out adventures every day of the year
’cause real gangsta-ass scoundrels don’t sleep
And all I gotta say to you –
Wannabe, piss-lovin’, petty-ass bounders
when a ship turns hard a poxing broadside onto to you
Hell, damn it feels good to be a scoundrel!
Damn it feels good to be a scoundrel
Watch your mates and they’ll watch you, you’ll see
Although I’m just an orphan from Sargava
On a ship with mates I got a family
Damn it feels good to be a scoundrel
I mean a scourge to the tyrants on the high seas
Sailing o’er the waters under full press o’ sails
Out here there’s no lord or master o’er me!
Now gangsta-ass scoundrels come from all lands and races
And though some got killed in the past –
Hell, with these scoundrels here – we’re the smart ones
Our mates are our family, and we know that we’ll last
So all I gotta say to you
Wannabe, piss-lovin’, petty-ass bounders -
when a ship turns hard a poxing broadside onto to you
Hell, damn it feels good to be a scoundrel!
He taps his foot as he works, content that though there will likely be continuing troubles with him and the other members of the crew; in the end, they’ll work it out true.
Aye – ‘cause troubles and fighting on the seas, hell - it ain't always easy, but it's what scoundrel’s do.
Rain stands on the deck of the Kurstav listening to Dhaavan relay the thoughts of her ship mates back and forth via the spell.
When Variel's final message is announced by Dhaavan, Rain nods her head in confirmation and acceptance of the Captain's word. Variel wanted to stand true to his promise to the Vanara, Luan, and she could not fault him for it. When Dhaavan informs them of Flynn's suggestion for Variel to honourably challenge Luan to a fight to the death, Rain is concerned and returns to Dhaavan,
"We have tarried too long in these waters. It must be decided once and for all. Variel has given order we leave them their ship, then we should acknowledge and disengage the Lady from the Kurstav and make haste to Bloodcove. It would do none of us good if another vessel from the shipping lanes was to cross our path at this point. We need to get the Lady sailing and soon."
Using the ropes, Rain then makes her way to the Lady to take control of the helm from Sandara.
She is at the ready and awaiting order to set sail for Bloodcove. She orders the riggers to take to their stations.
Luan bows to Variel but says Actually Captain, you said that, and I quote "The chest will be in your sight at all times, if you wish. I do wish and therefore I have a counter proposal for you that keeps to the terms. Leave the chest and take the key, leave the key on the boat and release it so that I may pick it up. I further promise that I, nor anyone else aboard this ship, will open the chest until such time as The Dread Lady is beyond the range of attack. Even then know that I have no desire to attack you or yours. You are free to go without fear of reprisal from me.
Once his job on the Kurstav is done - namely transferring all the cargo and captured goods to the Dread Lady, Seijiro heads over to his own ship, this time, walking over rather than swinging. He is all smiles and gives the new sailors a quiet but audible "Welcome aboard The Dread Lady, mates. I'm your quartermaster, Seijiro. If you need anything from stores, I'm the one to see."
He heads directly to Variel's quarters, unlocks the door and deposits the items he'd taken from the captain of the Kurstav on the table, and slips out, relocking the door behind him.
Once back on deck, he waits for the last of the officers to come over from the Kurstav so we can get underway.
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To Luan, The cheat will be in yoru sight at all times. It will be in the boat unlocked ready for you to pick up. That is the best I can do. If we leave the chest here with you, even locked, it would be too easy to break it open to have its contents.
Once finished with the specifics of the exchange with Luan, Variel will have Rain head to Blood Cove and whomever may be waiting for us there or on the way...
After we have parted ways with the longship, however it resolves, are underway wherever we choose to go, and after Sejiro's indroduction, Dhaavan takes the stage for the five new fellows.
to influence the new batch of recruits.
to learn about the new sailors and gauge their skills and future loyalty.
"Welcome to the Dread Lady! I am your first mate, Dhaavan. I'll be keeping an eye on the goings on here along with Valeros, our Bosun what'll be assignin yea yer duties. The work's hard, but that's how it is out on the seas, but we ain't gonna be treatin anybody unfair gettin treated too harsh, long as yea pull yer weight. And if yea got a problem, yea come talk to me. Ya see, while she's gonna be the Dread o' them what cross her, or what we run across, to us, the Lady's home, and her crew's like family.". Dhaavan looks over his crew, recruits, and officers and allows himself a smile.
Even the ones with whom there were issues have come around without the vile influence of Plugg fostering conflict and derision. No, this was a whole new ship. Watching the new folk he pays close attention to how they take in this new paradime, so different than the ships he's been on before.
Dhaavan allows Valeros to give out assignments to the recruits and during his rounds takes time to get to know them better.
Luan smiles and says As long as the chest remains in my sight that will be fine. When you said several hundred yards then that promise becomes difficult to keep...but I am a man of my word. So long as the chest remains in my sight we still have an agreement.
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The travel time to Bloodcove will take about a week. During that time let me know what you wish to accomplish or do.
Horatio watches Dhaavan’s speech, but says little – contenting himself with the song and hoping it will lift the spirits of the men (i.e. “Aid” Via Diplomacy).
Most of his time is working with the general sailors – helping them with their work, and generally getting stuff done on the ship.
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Once the ships are 100ft apart and the Dread Lady is at full sail, Variel will have the line holding the boat released. The loss of the chest was worth keeping his honor and showing that he kept his word. All in all the first venture was a success. It was time to reap the rewards and see what else the future held.
Variel will let Dhaavan and Valeros get the new recruits up to speed. In the meantime, Variel will take a look at the logs and maps that were taken from Luan and compared them to the ones he currently possesses.
Dring the week it takes to get to Blood Cove, Variel will continue to spend an hour or two with Rain learning what he can from her about nature, geography and sailing in general. Beyond that, he will alternate with Jiro in piloting the ship at night. This way neither one of them was stuck every night working. There should also be enough crew now to have three on watch at night and still have a full complement during the day.
Sometime between when we set sail and when we reach port, I would like to have done the following:
1. Have the maps/charts of the enemy ship copied in my journal. I will be marking the position on my map at least with regards to when/where the Shanguin attacked us (roughly) as soon as I can get those details from Rain.
2. Specifically examine the log entries copied from the Apsis Agents - looking for details on buyers, sellers, and possible contacts/threats/potential "marks" we can hit when we reach Blood Cove.
3. Finish the work on the fighting top; repairing the siege engines; and begin forming new groups of folk for "gun teams" for arming and loading the artillery quickly (if necessary).
4. Finish crafting projects.
5. Continue to work with the new sailors; specifically learning their culture, customs, lore and ideas.
6. Take time to really get to know our own crew - specifically; who among them is truly skilled in these waters and who we can ask for aid in certain subjects (i.e. I am supposing Sandara has ranks/details in Knowledge: Religion and that Conchobar has ranks/details in Knowledge: Arcana and Spellcraft via identify - but what about the rest? That sort of thing).
7. When I am not crafting, or training the men on artillery - or working on the mundane tasks of sailing (such as working in the rigging, swabbing the decks, that sort of thing) - I will be engaged with the men in general via relaxed conversations and stories; occasional sparring matches in the evening, or games of dice - that sort of thing.
8. Finally, with the increased crew and more "action" - Horatio will begin to plot out "schematics" for a formal "sick bay" area in case larger amounts of men are wounded as opposed to a mere few. The idea is to have a room that can hold medical supplies, but also things such as crafting gear for prosthetics (peg-legs, etcetera), tools/salves to aid in removing disease/paralysis, and a general place of peace/comfort for complete "bed rest" for those recovering, but not quite needing an actual healing potion.
Overview of dhaavan's goals: since there's no crafting supplies, I'll be motivating the crew for the week, pretty much. Getting the new 5 aclimated to the ship.
Jack will be up every night for watch and take time sleeping while Dhaavan is awake during the day. While awake at day time, Jack flies around the ship in stealth to give Dhaavan an extra set of eyes.
GM - Tossed up some questions for you below.
By the second day (assuming no mishaps on the seas) both personal crafting projects will have been completed by Piper and myself. However – both of those projects would have been put “on hold” until the catapult is fully repaired.
Regarding the training of the new folk for “gun crew” – I will do what I can to continue use “diplomacy” throughout to not only make them feel more comfortable, but to also “gather information” – specifically about what they observed via the mysterious easterner. Seeing that Dhaavan is fairly friendly with the regular lads, he’ll likely work with Dhaavan throughout the week on this matter.
It is Horatio’s personal opinion that this man was the “business agent” on the ship; and that while the captain would be in charge of the sailing and military combat – the real power was the man who ran the business (again – that this is the merchant version “Political Officer” if this was a Soviet Ship; or – more likely, if this was “Chief Merchant” from the Dutch Ship in the Dutch East India Company – which Apsis seems to be similar to). I want to know everything I can about this guy, and his culture, people.
During the time we’ve worked I want to have a good look at the unusual weapons/armor/gear we took (there was mention that there was some unusual gear we pinched so far) and I’d like to know more. Not entirely certain regarding the best way to deal with this – I will ask Seijiro for his assistance in figuring the stuff out (if we know the “true market value” we may be in a better position to haggle for a better price).
Sometime during the voyage (likely the second day, but whenever the chance will come up) Horatio recognizes that there has been some tension between him and Seijiro and will approach the kitsune to try to work things out better and try to get things back on track to the good times when they were spoiling little Tomo-chan with snacks and new armor.
Understanding that it was Seijiro’s birthday recently, he will have brought with him (crafted secretly in his quarters to be a surprise) a cake (essentially pan fried bread with some cane sugar we got at Rickety’s and garnished with coconut and some diced fig and pineapple preserves that Piper had brought). Not a full birthday cake, but the best he can create given the circumstances of their cooking space. He genuinely feels bothered by the bad blood that is seeming to brew between them and hopes this will help show his sincerity on fixing that problem.
He will inform Seijiro that though it may not be much, he did make it himself and hopes that - all things considered - the easterner had a happy birthday and many more to come.
He will also meet with Rain/Variel to try to confirm where on the map the Shanguin attacks were formally; if we can at least put a general “X” on map on the water where we attacked so that if next time we sail by that area, we may be better prepared for other nasty surprises.
Speaking also with Variel, Horatio will want to look over the ledgers – specifically to discover if anyone in them is a good target/mark (for example – Mister Smith pays twice market value for long swords – needs them bad; has gold ready to be paid as soon as long swords are delivered at “Port X” – so if we find out who Mister Smith is – and where “Port X” is – that may be a place worth attacking for “Pillaging Purposes”).
Finally when they have their weekly “Officer’s Meeting” Horatio will also ask the others what their plans on are when reaching port – regarding new vocations/fields of study.
Once he's visited the captain's quarters for a brief moment, Seijiro heads to the officer's quarters and gets Tomo, straightening up anything he's messed up or gotten into while alone there during the fight. He then walks back out on deck, watching Dhaavan and Valeros evaluate and assign the new crew to their duties with some satisfaction.
With nothing else to do for the rest of the day, he just relaxes, knowing he'll be up for at least part of the night watch. He pays special attention to Tomo for a while, poor little fellow having been locked up for so long.
For the week it takes to get to Bloodcove, Seijiro spends his time mostly relaxing, meeting the new crew, playing songs occasionally, meeting with the other officers when and if Variel calls any meetings and taking his turns at the wheel during the night.
Seijiro will work side by side with Flynn to inventory and appraise the plunder from the Kurstav. He, too, is curious as to the arms and armor they had acquired from the Aspis vessel and wanted to see it to find out if there was anything unusual or special about it.
When Flynn brings him a cake for his belated birthday, he is just totally surprised, but insists on sharing it with the rest of the officers after dinner that night. But privately, with Flynn, before that, he does have words for the master gunner.
Seijiro is genuinely surprised and touched by the gesture. "I thought you were angry with me, some of the looks you've been giving me lately. I wasn't sure what I'd done to make you so, but I'm sorry, whatever it was. I know it didn't start with the Aspis guy, but I know you were mad that you didn't get to kill him... I'm sorry about that, but I think it's better for us that we didn't in the long run. We have his respect, which may prove to be worth something in the future."
He grows quiet and waits for Flynn to respond, not sure what else to say.
During the week voyage to Bloodcove, Rain will man the helm throughout the day, taking an hour or two break each day (having Jiro or Sandara take the helm in her absence) to meet with Variel, to go over the charts, teach him the finer points of navigation. She will also go over the charts, maps, journals etc they collected from the Kurstav's Captain's cabin. Attend the officer's meeting(s) so she can catch up on the goings on with the ship and other events.
She will plot the location of the Sahuagin on their charts so they can either skirt around their last known "den" or be more vigilant (extra watch) when travelling the waters they are known to inhabit. She will also confer with Flynn and note significant or strange creatures and landmarks to ensure their maps/charts are as detailed as possible.
During the evenings she will spend some time with Jiro (when he is at the helm or has free time after their evening meal) learning bits and pieces of Minkaian as he offered to teach her before their encounter with the Kurstav. At supper time, she will occasionally sing in hopes of entertaining and aiding to unite the hotchpotch of crew now on the Lady.
Additionally, Rain will spend time getting to know the riggers a little better (during the day as she pilots and at supper), since she relies on them to do their best when she is at the wheel.
Seijiro will work side by side with Flynn to inventory and appraise the plunder from the Kurstav. He, too, is curious as to the arms and armor they had acquired from the Aspis vessel and wanted to see it to find out if there was anything unusual or special about it.
When Flynn brings him a cake for his belated birthday, he is just totally surprised, but insists on sharing it with the rest of the officers after dinner that night. But privately, with Flynn, before that, he does have words for the master gunner.
** spoiler omitted **
Horatio is at once embarrassed by Seijiro’s comments.
He looks awkward and uncomfortable and – after a moment – responds.
”Aye – well, to be honest, I haven’t really been myself since that thing right before Plugg… I don’t know if you remember, but right before we attacked them – some of us came down with some sort of fever.”
He looks upset a bit – frustrated mostly at the memory, though.
”You know – I think that in life it’s fair to say that our actions define who we are. But for me… Well, my actions – I was always the guy who “got it” at the academy. When I sailed with my uncle and worked in the lumber camp… I was always the “smart one”.”
”The other guys were good guys, but they looked up to me – even though I was just a kid to them – because I was smart and I knew my stuff. They respected that – and it made me feel good.”
”When I studied medicine I felt even better – I sort of felt like… Yeah, I belong. Being a doctor; this is who I am, a man who knows something useful and valuable on a ship and can be an asset to the team.”
He glances away, trying to collect his thoughts and bring them back in order.
”When we got on that island – I don’t know if you remember – but the whole time we were there I was always the most cautious, the most careful – I did everything I could think of to prevent any illness or disease. Every precaution I had heard of or studied – I practiced it on that island.”
His eyes grow a bit hard at this point.
”The day we planned to take back our freedom – on that very day – I was mysteriously struck with some sort of illness. That really shook me up…”
”Here I am – the “doctor” – my one skill that’s of much use on this ship, knowing lore of medicine – all my work and practice to defray any sickness – and right when I needed my health the most – I was struck ill. Only one other person who sailed with us had that issue – and of the rest of you, only half of you had symptoms – it was almost as if the rest of you were completely untouched – yet I was, despite all my precautions, all my plans, all my research, all my study. In the end – it was completely useless because… well… just because that’s how things had to be.”
”There was nothing "fair" about it – nothing "right" about it – nothing "just" about it. Bottom line: you needed me to be at my best, and right than I wasn’t – and all my thoughts and education were worth nothing to make it so.”
He sighs a moment.
”After that I got bitter – I stated drinking more than I should. I’ve heard that is common in a lot of men who end up seeing great tragedy; to turn to drink. Well – at least that’s true about the gunfighters that I’ve read about – soon after they start their lives they find solace in drink.”
”But not me. For me it made me angrier – more bitter; you saw it sure, how I’ve been drinking more – how I want always want another taste of something to kill the frustration? Well – maybe you didn’t – but it was there.”
”Anyhow, I figured that I’d tack course to something different. If not healing – than maybe I’d lend a hand as valuable member of the crew who can make unusual and mysterious goods and gear – stuff that regular folk can’t make – like black powder weapons; and other things.”
”Stuff that maybe seems pretty different; but it has something special – a healer isn’t special – they’re pretty damn useless, actually – when you compare them to a cleric.”
”But I wanted that – I wanted to have a moment to be special. All my lore and learning on medicine wasn’t worth a damn on account of the fact that no matter what I did to protect against disease – when it mattered most you were all fine, excepting Valeros, other than him the only person with the disease was me. Aye, that's right your “doctor” got sick after all his precautions and the rest of you were fine.”
”I thought – Well, if not magic, maybe I could make guns. Everyone needs weapons – and even if you don’t know how to use a gun, it’s easy to hit a target in range. Even a person who’s never picked up a gun – put ‘em in range, they’ll hit easier with that than most weapons.”
’So that was my next plan – make guns. But everyone said - No, we don’t make or sell guns, we only do pirating. And, well, to be honest, I’m not such a great pirate, so I felt like my ideas were just a waste and once again I was useless on the ship.”
He sighs a bit.
”Well, after that I reckoned on maybe doing something else useful for the crew – maybe I’d craft things. You know, things like – hell, I don’t know – new limbs, maybe? I mean, you saw what happened with Rat, for example? And when I started thinking on that – the fact I know healing and crafting, I reckoned I’d put the two together and show an edge to everyone that would be really special and unique.”
He shakes his head.
”But that was bad news, too. Just like being the poxing doctor who’s the only one is the company who manages to get sick – despite everything he did to prevent it – my idea to make guns was no good; and – well – you saw how damn right angry people got when I thought it would be good to craft things to help out.”
”Hell, what exactly do I bring to this group? Not magic; we got enough magic users on board – not fighting – we got that handled. Not piloting a ship – cause god’s damn it, if I even step on the poxing quarterdeck again I’ll get lynched.’
”So I’m not allowed to do any of that – nothing unique, nothing special, nothing that helps out or lends a hand. The best I can offer now is crafting – but unless you’re a magic crafter – it takes a gods damn week to craft a wooden box; not to mention the fact you need the bloody supplies to get it done. But anyhow – that didn’t matter none as it was.”
”You saw how everyone reacted when I wanted to craft gear to make the ship better to fight? Not only was it a waste of time – but it damn right pissed people off when I even opened my mouth.”
He turns a sad look at Seijiro.
”Anyhow – maybe that helps a bit to understand where I’ve been coming from. I got angry – on account of the fact that not only don’t you need me – most of the stuff that I can do which is handy – you don’t even want. Not you personally – but everyone,” he adds hastily to clarify his point.
”On most ships there’s a space to fill – a need for certain rolls.”
”I can pilot pretty good – but it’s a cold day in hell before I’m allowed to. Nothing personal – but even though I pushed hard to get Rain back on the ship, it seems that she’s got no issue with anyone on the helm – excepting maybe me. So you, Sandy, Rain and Nighstorm push yourself hard forward on the wheel when you got at least one other mate who can lend a hand. You’d rather say - “No thanks, I’ll skip sleep” - rather than let me help there.”
He shakes his head.
”Meantime, being a doctor means dung on this ship, or in the world in general – on account of the fact that magic is all that counts in the world when it comes to healing, or crating, too, it seems. You know it, so do I. Hell, I'll take a sub-par cleric with a few cure spells over a master surgeon who's only got a healing kit any day of the week.”
He grunts a bit at thought, than proceeds.
”You know something else? I can fight good, too."
"Hell, you’ve seen me fight, but at the end of the day that don’t mean nothing for me on this ship, neither. My best work in fighting seems always overlooked or to somehow piss folks off."
"Hell, I took out two armed men barehanded – and they toss me in the brig. I saved Harrigan’s life with a good shot – and all I got was a few coins from him. I drew first blood on Plugg, fever notwithstanding – and all I got from it was hash because I moved too fast for the rest of your taste. And just now? When we attacked that last ship? My shot which crushed the bloody artillery – no one gave a gods damn. It was as if it didn’t happen – so yeah; my skills in fighting? Hell, it don't matter how good they are, neither.”
He glances away, his face worn and tired.
”The only thing left I got to offer is knowledge, I guess – but that’s the worst. In the lumber camp the lads would hang on my stories; they’d actually want to hear me talk, and learn about the lore I’d teach them from what I learned at academy. To them – my stories were interesting and exciting.”
”Out here – all I hear is that my words go on and on. I hear that my “facts” don’t quite marry up to the "real information". I hear that all my knowledge and learning is not only a waste of time to listen to – but it’s annoying people because I can’t seem to shut up.”
He turns back to Seijiro.
”So yeah; I’ve been drinking more. I hang out with the crew below – and why? Well, I figure they’re closer to the lads in the lumber yard. I figure I can talk to them about those stories, and they won’t get pissed or bored, or annoyed. If I sing a song or tell a tale, maybe one of you might listen in – but if you all decide to just ignore it – it won’t do you harm that I sing or talk 'cause I’m down there and you’re up here.”
He continues after a moment of thinking.
”So if I craft – it’s below. That way I don’t piss someone off – or offend someone – or tread on someone’s toes. I can just do something that makes me happy without hearing how any project I take on is going to piss people off for reasons I don’t pretend to know.”
”Anyhow – I just gave you a long earful, I reckon – but as we’ve butted heads, I figured I owed you more of an explanation than just – Eh, no worries, it’s all good – or some hash like that.”
He lifts his mother’s hip flask to his mouth, to drink from it yet again, then – pausing – as if he considers the implication of consistently drinking – he lowers it and puts the stopper back on it.
”I can’t promise to do that all the time – but for now, yeah… no drinking now.”
He sighs, putting the flask in his pouch, than pulls out a small quid of tobacco and fits it into his mouth, and sighs appreciatively, glad he was not being seduced by unhealthy addictions.
Than his eyes narrow, as if considering something.
”Now – I’ll level with you square on the other thing you mentioned. You know, the Tian boy?”
”Aye – I wanted that basterd dead; but not just ‘cause he shot me and my blood was hot. He’s also Apsis – I hate those guys.”
”They do things… well, like – for example; they send an agent to a priestess, or a priest I reckon – and tell the person they got weapons and magic to help in a fight to liberate slaves.’
”The person pays hard coin for that gear – not knowing that the same bloody agent will go out to the slaver and sell them the times, dates, and access points when the priestess… when whoever is going to try to liberate the slaves is coming - all at cost, of course.”
”And than, when the liberators come to get the slaves out after paying hard coin for the goods and gear to fight the slavers – the slavers are completely prepared for it. They know exactly what’s what – and the best way to defend against the liberators. And they end up killing them all – or most of them.”
His eyes are frosty at this point, and it takes him a moment to continue.
”Oh yeah – the best part? The same agent who fixed the deal is likely to be the same poxing basterd who sold the slaves to the slaver to begin with – in other words, that agent is the basterd who sold the slaver his slaves to put up on the market, which gave a reason for the liberators to want to fight and need the weapons to fight the slavers. Well, you get it....”
He turns a look at Seijiro.
”Anyhow, that’s one reason why I don’t like Apsis,” he adds with a flat tone.
Sighing a moment, he considers something else.
”Besides – that whore wasn’t Minkai like you – he was a bloody Tian lad. I’ve met both Minkai and Tian folk before… a lot alike, but very important differences,” he adds watching Seijiro cautiously.
”Tian basterd is only worried on coin. All they want is money – money to buy titles or political offices."
"You know, their poxing noble’s are actually naught more than business brokers? I hear tell they call these minor nobles – who ain’t nothing but merchants – “Mandarins” they call 'em. Used to be the ”Hoppo” folk that did the work; but they got chopped and replaced by one bloody dynasty and now the new one seems to forget they're pretty much the same; excepting the title, but that's just 'cause they got their own gods damned dynasty. So yeah, they switched Hoppo to bloody Mandarins, but in the end it's all the same thing,” he adds with a growl.
”And you know what else? Well, those land’s are filled full with slaves there, too, they say. Aye, they got slaves all the live long day there. And hell, woman folk there ain’t hardly more than slaves as it is... Anyhow, slavery’s rampant there and it stinks in the nose of good folk all the way to Heaven above from the Earth below.”
”But Milani’s there, too – I reckon, and she’ll win that fight against them, by Heaven and Earth. Her bloody flag’ll mark the fight against those basterds just as well; only there she don’t have a red rose on her flag – there it’s a triangle,’ he adds, watching Seijiro very closely at that point as if searching for something.
Clearing his throat suddenly, he switches subjects quickly.
”Anyhow – you’re Minkai – you lads I respect a hell of a lot more; that’s for damn sure.”
”Your folk – you got honor as your loadstone – not just coin. And I’ve… well, let’s just say I’ve heard tales – that your culture’s much better, at least as I see it.”
”There your warrior caste is in power – but they don’t got slaves. May not be good to the peasants always – but no slaves. And the warriors? Hell… well, I don’t got to tell you; if that’d been a poxing Minkai warrior caste on that ship there wouldn’t be no bloody surrender,” he says almost to himself.
”A Minkai warrior – if he knew for sure he was going to die, he would have damn sure mined the ship so it’d sink before being captured. They’d rather die than know that shame, surrender that is – but I don’t need to tell you none, eh?” he adds with a little chuckle.
”I like the rumors I hear on Minkai a lot better all around. They got damn good swordsmen and some of the best bloody swords in the whole damn world – exceptin’ maybe Aldoran blades… but that’s a tough call."
"And in fights they got balls like you’d never think – men and women, too… They both can be warriors, I hear; not just the men folk. Both part of warrior caste equal – you fight a woman from the warrior caste; hell - she’ll slice you in half if she wants – just as good as a man… and best part is – she ain’t a bloody slave,” he adds emphatically.
Turning a glance to Seijiro, he grins a bit.
”Well damn – there I go again. Blabbing off at the mouth; but to be fair, I reckoned I’d give you the full explanation – or at least, most of it,” he adds.
”But I do talk a lot, if folks want to talk, I guess. But I figured I’d at least explain it, as you asked.”
”Oh – and the Tian boy? Yeah – sparing him might be good after all – they do love money; he may hate us till the sun burns red – but in the end, if we can make good business with him – sparing him will be useful, I reckon that on that you’re right.”
At this point – as Horatio has gone on some time and said quite a bit, he pauses and waits for Seijiro to respond, suspecting that the kitsune may have things to talk about himself now.
”Oh – I’m glad you liked the cake. Piper helped, by the way,” he says with a little smile.
"Aye, you've been in a dark mood of late, Flynn-san, but I haven't even seen you take a drink, so I had no idea that liquor was affecting it. As you know, I don't drink much myself, but my reasons are far different. It's not that I get moody... I just get drunk too easily and do things I wouldn't ordinarily do." He pauses and bites his lip for a moment, then shrugs and smiles again. "Anyway, it's not bad for a man to drink, or even get drunk... but I guess it all has to do with moderation and the right stuff at the right time, neh?"
He looks surprised when Flynn talks about his crafting not being of value. "I'm not sure why you think we think the crafting for the ship isn't important. I'm the one who bought you the lumber to build the flying top. Me. Not out of ship's money, but my own. Because I thought it was important. And Variel thought it was important too. He gave me a long list of crafting tools to buy for you, and I would have if you hadn't have bought them already."
"We each have roles to perform on the ship and I know yours as Master Gunner isn't something that calls for your skills all the time... just a bit of training for the crews from time to time and when we're after prey. And that was a nice shot you made, I'm sorry I didn't have time to acknowledge it when we were busy chasing down the Kurstav. I'm sure it will come up when Variel holds our next meeting and we divide when we divide plunder."
"Why not just relax in your downtime and enjoy it. I have spent a lot of time doing nothing since we left Rickety's because there isn't much call for my duties. It's not like we have a place for a quartermaster's store, and I'm not a shopkeep. I wasn't planning on keeping an open store like Grok did, but maybe something more like 'on request'. But my point is that there's no reason to fill every second with tasks to complete... you meed to learn to relax a little, just enjoy the freedom and the sea."
"And it's probably not a bad thing to be making friends with the crew, but you're doing so at the expense of your relationships with the other officers. You need to find a middle line... like yin and yang... all things in balance, my friend."
Seijiro pauses and scowls slightly, biting his lip again... "I'm talking too much, that I am." Then he smiles, his eyes crinkling and sparkling as he does so. "See, you're rubbing off on me a little."
"Do you mind me being honest with you? I hope not. Please don't be angry, but what I'm about to say might offend you. Please forgive me if it does. Remember, it is only my opinion, and probably not worth much. I am not wise like my elders."
"As for talking too much... you DO tend to go on a lot, as if you were teaching a class, all the time. We're not your students, Flynn-san, but your friends. You don't need to tell us everything you know about every subject, you know. Unless we ask, that is. I think maybe if you keep that in mind when you talk, you'd find people more inclined to listen when you do."
Seijiro winces slightly as he speaks the last, as if expecting to get hit or at least cuffed for speaking his mind... He watches Flynn cautiously for his reaction.
** spoiler omitted **...
Horatio nods in appreciation for the words. Seeing that the young kitsune did not acknowledge any of the secret codes or signals he offered, he notes this and responds as if he had not mentioned them… just in case.
”Aye – you’re right, I tend to go on a bit. It’s a habit I guess; I like to tell tales – stories and so on. And – to be honest – the teaching aspect is sort of ingrained in me. When I was younger, to earn odd coin for semester’s I ended up tutoring a family of Halfling folk that had made it’s way to our town. The family was about sixty or so, extended of course, more of a clan than a family, and they had spent so much time wandering that they had very little education in reading and writing beyond their own language, so the Thane of their clan – ah; “thane” is a Halfling word for “Chief” – well, he wished for a tutor to teach their young reading in the Common tongue and… Ah! Well, there I go again,” he says catching himself in the beginning of a lecture.
He shrugs and grins a bit lopsidedly.
”Now, as for crafting – I do recall your kindness over the lumber for the Fighting Top – but in truth, Crafting is such a long process that it often takes weeks to craft an object. The worst part is – for all the time and training I may invest in such a project – I can surpass all of the difficulty instantly and with no trouble – simply by using magic,” he adds almost bitterly.
”Do you recall, all the plans and schematics I had been designing on how to best go about repairing the catapult? I had completely forgotten that Sandara can easily fix it with the mere wave of her hand and the utterance of a spell. Aye – that was discouraging indeed. Not for her sake – but because I had forgotten that spells will always supersede muscle, cunning, wits and luck. That does not sit well with me, no – it reminds me that all my years in study were really a waste simply because I hadn’t bothered to study magic.”
He sighs, than shakes his head.
”But you are right – I am indeed being more of the Shade than the Light; no doubt it is effecting your wa – for that I apologize,” he says with a slow smile.
”I should tell you that for now I am working on special project; one that is unique to what we have done in the past for piracy. I did not have time to craft it yet – but it is done now. I would tell you more – but this item is a special surprise for when we do battle next,” he says with a wink.
”But I promise you this – it will be very effective against our enemies – be they on land, or on sea…” he adds as if relishing the thought.
Shaking himself a bit – he regards Seijiro almost absently.
”As for being below rather than aloft? Truly – the lads below are good sorts, and I do not mind their company. But to be blunt – I am less comfortable above with all of you. I know that I do not always do things which please you, which is one thing if I was intending to be offensive. As it is accidental, I do not trust myself wholly around you. Further; there are things that I see among the others that make me… uncomfortable, to say the least.”
”It also lets me stay close to my equipment for projects that may keep others awake – but I did not think that my presence below would be a problem. This is – in fact – the very reason I had suggested that we all have evening meals together. Not only as a cadre of officers, as it were – but to share stories and enjoy each other’s company.”
”However,” he says, his voice somewhat dry ”it seems that idea was not well received; and that meeting only once a week… that was all that was acceptable.”
”Ah – such is life,” he says, his voice tacking over to a brighter form of cheer ”yet it does not prevent me from coming aloft – nor from any of you from coming below, even as Dhaavan does when I spar or carouse with the men and you are at the helm.”
”That said – what do you think of the gear we took? Before we sell it – was there anything in that plunder that you took a fancy to? Perhaps a new suit of armor, for example?”
As he waits for a reply – his eyes light up.
”Ah – that reminds me; Piper had a request from us – but I thought I’d put it to you first, as you seem the one most artistically inclined thus far… if we are to have a flag; a heraldry with colors to strike fear in those who would be our enemies – what do you suppose it should look like?”
”She has a talent crafting – including stitchwork. No doubt she can sew a flag for our ship with ease – once she has a design put to her. Come – what do you think?” he adds, curious to know what Seijiro might have to suggest for a flag for their ship.
"I know magic can fix a lot of things, but it can't do everything. I can't build a flying top or make a new leg for Ratline, it can only repair what's been built already."
"I sincerely don't know whether to be afraid or excited about what you've made, but I look forward to the surprise nonetheless. I'm sure it will be impressive."
"I'm sorry some of us make you uncomfortable. If I add to that in any way, just tell me and I'll try to amend my ways. I'm sure if the others knew, some steps would be taken to try to ameliorate the situation. No one is trying to push you away."
"As for equipment, their captain did have a nice rapier I wouldn't mind having. It wasn't magical or anything but it did look nicely made, better than my own at least. But we haven't had our meeting yet and someone else might want it as well, and I won't argue over it. It's not worth the anger."
"I hadn't thought about a flag for us, but I guess when we raise our colours, we should have a proper flag to hoist. Maybe that's something we should talk about at the meeting, eh? I suppose it should strike fear in our enemies, so maybe something black... or black with red to match our sails. But a symbol as well? Tradition says a skull should be on it... but other than that, maybe crossed swords or something? Would be kind of representative of all of us, since we always seem to be at odds over something or other." He laughs at the jest, though in truth it isn't as funny as it might be, and he quickly grows somber.
"I guess that wasn't so funny..." He sighs. "But it is true, unfortunately."
”Ah – you mistake me! I didn’t mean the personal effects of the former captain; we’ll get that sorted out later. No – I meant the general goods and gear of the plunder itself. We took tons of it, eh? Who knows – there may be more unusual equipment or weapon’s we’ve not seen in the mix.”
He juts his chin at Seijiro’s armor.
”That gear you got – it’s foreign – but handy. They may over other hash like that which we haven’t seen. Maybe they got some lamellar below, eh? That could be handy – you never know.”
”But I figure before we sell it – as we got tons – if we look it over and see a suit we like – it seems reasonable to expect that we maybe could take a suit or two if we needed without effecting the resale value.”
He chomps on the quid, spitting once to the leeward.
”Beyond that – if we ever get a flag – I thought it might be fun if I put Piper to work on crafting us some Fancy Armor to show it off, eh?”
”The flag you got is handy – aye. But I’ve seen some flags that got other than skulls on ‘em. One of them came from a pretty vicious pirate lad; he’d put Harrigan to his paces sure, I’d wager – name of “Teach” – as I recall. Here – this is a sketch of his flag, see? It’s got some color and panache – and the way that horned basterd holds the trident – hell; that sums up about half the group here… You know, the trident, the devil look… and I think the blood color sets it off good, too,” he says.
”But I ain’t married to the idea – maybe we could all take turns coming up with something – make a contest of it, you know – something fun to pass the time. And then vote on the best one – pick it for the ship – and the winner gets a free cask of drink in the next port – or whatever you like,” he says with a grin.
"I don't really have any real preference on a flag, just something that everyone agrees on is fine with me. I don't think putting our flag on my armor would work though, since I wear my armor under my clothes. But it might be fine for the others. Or not, if they don't want to declare any allegiances while in town and still wear their armor." He shrugs, not having said anything decisive one way or another.
"As for the armor we found, I don't know exactly what it all was, but I'm sure if anyone wants to raid it for a single suit of armor or two, it wouldn't affect the value much, and if it did, well, we'll deal with that when we get to Blood Cove. I'm afraid my armor isn't something we're likely to find in anything coming from the West. Though I wouldn't mind getting a new piece that could be enchanted, the time to make it might be excessive for staying around in port, so that's unlikely to happen. I'm okay with that that, though. I don't want to wear anything heavier if I can avoid it."
"But back to the matter of a flag, that's something we should discuss in our next meeting, that we should." He flashes Flynn one of his characteristic smiles.
** spoiler omitted **
”Aye – you’re likely right about the armor; still – you never know. A broker from Tian – be he called Hoppo or a bloody-assed Mandarin – piss on their dynasty,” he says turning quickly to spit ”well – whatever you want to call it, sure as hellfire that he was the poxing Tai Pan of that ship, gods curse him.”
”Well – maybe he’s sent here to do business long term – but maybe he’s here on location to broker deals with the east, eh? In which case we may indeed find eastern armor and arms below…”
He grunts in some frustration.
”Too bad it weren’t a Minkai lad like yourself – their gear is better to my taste, and for our style, too – I reckon; being that we’re sailing folk.”
”They say the lands the Minkai folk inhabit are filled with streams, rivers, and lots of water in general – so the armor there isn’t heavy or bulky – more like the gear you got. Lacquered bone sometimes, or even interlocked leather and bamboo – treated by their druid folk I guess – but the armor is damn lighter and more easy to wear then heavy plate or the like; that’s a poxing certainty,” he adds, pausing to give Seijrio a sidelong glance, than shrugs and grins.
”But given those whore’s from Apsis – he may have a chest of some Minkai stuff below – but I don’t know…” he adds with a somewhat wistful hopefulness.
His mind tacks course momentarily.
”Now – as for the colors and armor? Well – my thinking is that if you see company of lads wearing the same colors; hell – the same bloody uniform – it looks sharp, eh? They look right smart – they got swag, as it were – and maybe folk who see our mates will recognize, eh? Hell, they may look on them and say something like – By gods – here come them bloody-handed Dread Marines! Let’s get the hell out of here… – or something like that.”
He pauses a moment.
”Say – you like that? I mean – seeing that we’re the “Dread Lady” – if we call our mates the “Dread Marines” – or something like that – hearing that crew is coming for you; it’ll make you pleased if you’re a mate, and piss yourself if you’re against us,” he adds with a nod.
”But either way – I like that; Dread Marines – it sounds tight; a group with gods damned prestige as it were…” he adds, nodding to himself.
He looks at Seijiro and holds up his hand a moment.
”Now don’t say – Oye, we ain’t marines – we’re pirates – I know that song, sure as thunder; but come on – “Dread Pirate” – eh, it’s been done. Now – “Dread Marine” – that’s a lad I’d rather not tango with, sure as hell,” he adds with a emphatic nod and a wink.
”When we get to Blood Cove we’ll likely be able to find better gear in general. You got any thoughts of the hash you want to grab?” he asks curiously.
”No pressure – I’m not too sure myself what I want – just looking for good ideas,” he adds.
Seijiro laughs a bit at Flynn's characterization of the Tian folk. "You speak of Tian folk as if they are one nation, when that is far from the facts. At one time they were united as the Lung Wa Empire, but that has not been the case for a hundred years. The Empire fractured into a myriad of small nations, all tied together with a common language but each very different. That Luan Xia spoke Tian means he is as likely to come from a very lawful and honorable country as he is from one that is less so. I think your knowledge of Tian Xia is long out of date, my friend."
He shrugs at the idea of everyone wearing, in effect, uniforms of some kind. "If the crew don't care, it's alright with me, but I think I'll keep my own clothes. I'd be loathe to wear them back home. I'd be branded an assassin in these new clothes, but here, no one recognizes them."
"I can't think of anything I really want or need when we get to Blood Cove. I'm happy with what I have now. Freedom, the sea, the sky, the salt air... who needs more than that? Though I must admit, a hot bath would be nice." He smiles contentedly as he watches the ship cut through the water.
** spoiler omitted **
He scowls a bit at the mention of the Tian culture.
”Aye – maybe my information is a bit out of date… I won’t deny that. But the last I heard was they served an emperor – and the Minkai folk were the fractured ones – they had various fiefs or provinces – the lords of such areas were called Daimyo’s – but the folk more aligned with traditional empire; and they followed an Emperor – I thought they were the one’s who spoke the lingo of Tian most…” he says with a frown, trying to remember or sort out the nuances he was told.
”Anyhow – the point is; from all the news I heard – I like Minkai folk; their nobles, their honor, their culture – and the fact that they don’t got slaves… their men are fierce fighters and their women are good fighters, too, it’s said.”
”I know that from what I hear I don’t like the Tian folk mainly – they got slaves a plenty; they treat their wives, daughters and women in general as if they were slaves; and they lust for money more than anything else… figures if one of them is an Apsis agent.”
”But Milani wears many faces ‘tis said – and even in their lands she comes for the slavers – by Heaven and Earth her blood red colors will come for them…” he adds the last softly and with a dark look.
Than, turning – he shakes his head.
”Ah – but enough of that. One day you will need to correct me of the mistakes in my lore – I would know more of the truth of your land; for I have studied more of it than you may guess...”
”But now let us speak on lighter things, eh?”
”You said you are not pleased with new clothes on account of you’d be called an assassin, eh? Bah – a pox on that! If anyone comes for you – they’ll have to get by us all – we bleed as one here; that’s our strength, eh?”
He stretches out his hand and flexes his fingers casually – as if keeping his fingers loose, than squeezes his hand into a tight fist.
’You can break a finger too easily – but a fist can break you – if it’s tight together,” he says, pausing suddenly ”just like us, eh mate?”
”As for what to buy in Blood Cove – a hot bath would be damn fine – damn fine; with a good massage… a fresh trim of the beard and hair; and a good cup of tea – or cha – if you prefer… but that reminds me – why don’t you get yourself a poxing tea set? It’s easy enough to find a good one – I made a little charcoal brazier for Piper down below – she does most of our cooking there – using the pans with hot oils – quick fried fish in the pan; some lean vegetables, also quick fried or pickled and a little spiced sauce for flavor – your cup of tea, I’d warrant,” he adds the last pun intentionally.
”It’s good to have someone who can cook a decent meal; and she’s a good cook. But we don’t have a blasted tea set – I’ll fix that at least in Blood Cove – surprised you don’t get one, too. Hmmm… speaking of shopping lists…” he adds thoughtfully.
”Dhaavan me fine lad; why’d you not get your ass out here – and Rain lass, how about you and Variel step to it lively away from all that slacking you two do,” he adds in a rather loud and boisterous tone.
”We’re thinking of the fine plans we got for the town – when we get there – if we get there. What do you want to get – what do you want to buy? What gear is good – and what would gear’d be nice for the ship,” he proceeds carelessly.
”Come on now – stop bloody gawking and get your ass over here and chat a spell. We’re all mates here – watching you avoid the chit-chat is downright annoying,’ he says waving them over with a broad sweep of his arm and a wide grin at the ribbing he's giving them.
He turns back to Seijrio.
”Well – maybe we’ll get some new perspective on things – when they get over here and say something that is,” he says with a smile.
After the evening meal, and with a small piece of Jiro's birthday cake in hand, Rain makes her way to the railing and looks up at the smattering of stars interspersed among the transparent, low hanging cloud cover. A few of the riggers stand nearby and Rain quietly gazes out across the water after a long day at the wheel. She turns to one or two and strikes up brief conversations to while the time away before she retires to rest.
The sound of the ocean, quiet also, inspires her to softly sing. She is not singing for anyone's entertainment or pleasure, simply to succour her own mind and heart.
"And stars like lilies float
across the darkest blue
And my heart is moving, moving,
Farewell my love most true.
Your voice I shan't forget
or the colour of your eyes
The ocean is as vast as
the ancient, borderless skies..."
"I don't know why you don't eat with the rest of us. Fishguts isn't a bad cook when he's mostly sober. Though I do wish he wouldn't overcook things quite so much. Especially the fish." He shrugs.
"I hadn't thought of buying a tea set. I'm sure what they'll have in Blood Cove won't be what I'm used to. I've seen your western tea sets, and while some are very pretty, they aren't very sturdy. My favorite tea set was the one my father made for my mother. It wasn't very pretty, but it was well made and from his heart and hands. Perhaps I will talk to a potter in port and see if he will let me make my own. I'm sure, with little skill, anything I make will be much like my father's work - not pretty, but useful, nonetheless." He smiles a little ruefully.
"I really miss seaweed though. My uncle used to cook with seaweed, and it was very good. My family lived too far inland to use much of the stuff, except when Uncle Namoki came to visit and brought some. But I just love seaweed. Perhaps I should suggest to Fishguts that he should put some in our fish stew."
Upon Flynn's rather entertaining taunt and invitation, Rain lifts her blue brow, her quiet moment broken by his customary boisterousness.
Rain makes her way across deck to the doctor and the quartermaster. She inclines her head to both and before she attempts to answer Flynn's question, Rain turns to Jiro, "I had meant to say something sooner but other matters have detained me. I would like to praise your true aim in killing the Kurstav's captain so swiftly. I believe you saved many lives by ending the battle as quickly as you did, Jiro."
Returning her attention to Flynn, she responds, "I would like to purchase more suitable, stout armour, perhaps a Mithral shirt, if I can find an affordable one. Mayhap Dhaavan can sweet talk the merchant for me", nodding toward the sorceror, an amused glint in her eye. "Yet, for the love of the gods, I would find a bathhouse and soak endlessly and wash the grime from my being. I would gladly pay any amount for such a pleasure." She sobers up and adds, "Additional healing and shielding potions would be beneficial, too." At Flynn's mention of a tea set, Rain nods enthusiastically. "Aye, good quality tea. I have missed it."
At mention of food and the cook aboard the Lady, Rain recollects the lovely flaky fish steamed in banana leaves back home on Tempest Cay. And with the juice of a lime squeezed atop the steaming meat. She sighs inwardly. Rain preferred the taste of fish caught from the ocean rather than rivers and lakes.
Noting Jiro and Flynn heading over to chat privately, Dhavan keeps his distance for a bit paying close attention in case of argument. As the two seemed to be chatting amiably, Dhaavan went about his business for a few minutes, but hearing Flynn call out, he strolls over, catching Rain's comments.
The surprisingly well-kept sorcerer mentions, "There is magic what can do that, whisk away the grime and signs of weather'n'ware. 'S how I keep so much of Rickety's handiwork so pristine. That said, I got out the habit of volunteerin' such services all to freely. Doin full 'n' proper can be kinda an... intimate thing when ya do it right." He drifts off a moment looking off and recalling times past. "Still it's simple enough to just magic the salt out o' yer hair. but that's not soak in a hot-spring. work out the kinks in the hot water... mmmmm."
"Really, what I need is magical reagents, I saw a magical crown I'll be wanting for myself and some such items for each o' us soon as I sell off what we plundered from the consortium."
”Nice tune,” Horatio says easily as he overhears Rain’s words.
When she walks over, he makes himself comfortable, propping his elbows behind him on the gunwale. Before he can answer, Dhaavan comes over, too – and he listens to his piece himself.
”Aye! Better gear; better arms and armor sounds damn fine to me, too…” he says thoughtfully, considering the possibilities.
”As it stands – I wouldn’t mind a better bunk, and something decent work on for projects,” he adds, musing aloud.
”But the bathhouse ain’t a bad plan neither.”
”Say – I was kicking the idea around that maybe we could rework part of the hold a bit for a somewhat decent medical bay, as it were. You know – a place where a sick lad or two can be in quarantine from the others – get a proper bed to sleep in – and somewhere we can stow our gear. If we had the space – maybe we could tweak the area enough to hold a decent sized copper tub? Than we get Sandy to magic up some water in the tub – we fill it nice and full – heat it up, and just soak all the troubles away,” he says a bit wistfully.
”But all that’s neither here nor there; as it’s a long time to Blood Cove – but than again; a copper tub ain’t that expensive – but I’m reckoning more on the space we need for such a room on the ship for a decent room for healing and the like. I think we can do it, though. But it’s kind of up to you all – if we got room, that is.”
He turns and spits in the scuppers, than turns back.
”Oh yeah – so I was talking to ol’ Jiro-san here about the idea of maybe we ought to make a flag for our ship. You know – so when we show our colors than any on the seas know us and can fear us – or see us as mates,” he says, pausing a moment to scratch his chin.
”I thought it was a pretty good plan – we don’t really have a flag, nor do we got any heraldry to mark us – and that’s piss poor bad luck, in my reckoning. I figure if we want to stir up a nasty reputation with them that sails the seas – how better to do it but with a bleeing flag?” he says with a grin.
”Of course – that was just me being a bit rhetorical – as it were. On account of the fact that, yeah – I do got an idea on what we can do better than a flag.”
”Picture this,” he says, holding up his hands to frame an imaginary image ”You’re wandering down some street at night and you see a couple of rubes you want to knock over, eh? So as you move forward they step into the light; than you notice they got jet black armor – maybe leather, I don’t know – but the armor is jet black and maybe with silver trim and a splash of red to mark their color somewhere.”
”You’re ready to get the drop on ‘em – and suddenly you think – Gods bless me! They look like cadre of bleeding Royal Navy marines – or some kind of professional assassins, or some lot of folk I don’t want to mess with for nothing! – so you move back real slow into the shadows, because just looking at their gear is enough to make you want to piss yourself.”
”What do you all say to that idea? Look like a bunch of bleeding ‘toffs, we would – and also, we look like a bloody team; a unit – a group that works together, that fights together – the kind of lads you don’t want to mess with.”
”Hell… you see a bunch of lads charging at you like a bleeding barbarian horde – that’s scary, aye – but if you see a group of well organized mates standing together and fighting as one – damnation! I’d not want to mess with that lot – no sir!”
He looks at you all – curious to know what you think of the idea of a sick bay, what plans you have a for a proper flag or colors to mark your ship for a sterling reputation on the high seas – and, finally – what everyone thought of the idea of the ship’s sailors looking like a unit – a team that functions as one; and the kind of look that would strike fear into the heart of anyone who recognized the gear.
Seijiro blushes when Rain mentions the killing of the Kurstav's captain. "I'm sure that was just luck. However, Flynn's shot with the ballista to disable their weapon was truly phenomenal, keeping them from firing on us as much."
"Yes a hot bath would be wonderful. I'm looking forward to one as well. Spells for cleaning are all well and good, but they are not the same as a long hot soak."
Seijiro blushes when Rain mentions the killing of the Kurstav's captain. "I'm sure that was just luck. However, Flynn's shot with the ballista to disable their weapon was truly phenomenal, keeping them from firing on us as much."
"Yes a hot bath would be wonderful. I'm looking forward to one as well. Spells for cleaning are all well and good, but they are not the same as a long hot soak."
"Aye - well, thank you very much," he says - pleased that someone had mentioned the shot.
"All that aside - what did you think of a medical bay and possibly some impressive uniforms for our lads - if we ever try to get established?" he adds easily.