** spoiler omitted **
He shrugs with a soft smile.
”Do not fear – I will not be raping women and boys and spitting new-born babes on pikes,” his expression turning a bit roguish.
”But when I kill a man for his plunder, I will no longer hate myself in the morning; for killing men for plunder is who I have become."
"I am merely saying that I must be honest with myself; I must recognize who I am honestly, and not be ashamed of who I am. And – knowing that I act with integrity in what I do; even if it means I am a killer, a thief, or a pirate – if I do these things without shame, than I feel my life will be better for it.”
”If I have a reputation of greatness or villainy one day – that must come from me choosing the path that I walk; whatever that path is. It should not and will not come from me being judged as something that I am not. If men call me a hero, it must be because I have done heroic things, not because I have convinced them with my words - but my deeds."
"Yet if they judge me as a villain, it will be because I acted like one. But I will not be afraid of that judgement, if I have acted thusly. In my life I choose the path I walk, and I shall not be afraid of that choice,” he adds with a smile.
He looks at Dhaavan appraisingly.
”Now, you yourself hinted at dark things in your past, eh?” he says, his voice dropping more softly.
”I would guess that it may be that you shied from those paths because of fear. But my hearts says no to that thought."
"I feel it is more likely that your decision to turn from those paths came from a desire within you to utterly reject such practices as abhorrent to your person. In short – you found those things in your past so horrible that you choose to avoid them now, not out of fear, but because they offend you.”
”Good!” he says, his voice raising somewhat and moving in to Dhaavan.
”I tell you now that I support your choice to turn your back on what disturbs your heart. But I recommend this to you – if you find something filthy – do not content yourself with simply avoiding it. Instead, lift your blade and destroy it!"
"I say that even if your own arm offends you then cut it from your body, eh? And if you see something that darkens your eyes – blot it from your sight with lakes of blood,” he adds with a gentle tone.
”You are my friend. If you see something that grieves you, I will do what I can to destroy it. If you see something that wounds you – I shall come with you to eliminate it. I do these things for you because you are my friend and that is all that needs be said on that matter,” he says with a tender smile, his eyes watching Dhaavan.
"You're right tho, I've changed. I'm bloddy terrafied..." dhaavan's eyes mist over for a moment. "But I've me' crew an' keep m'self out o' trouble, changed my evil ways." Dhaavan cracks a wicked smile at that thought, for what reason it is nearly indesipherable, yet true. Whatever this boy was like afore Port Peril, he's certainly different now.
** spoiler omitted **
Horatio watches Dhaavan with a somewhat flat expression. For a moment, he looks as if he would attempt to scrutinize Dhaavan’s face more – but the moment passes quickly.
”Well, I do not think you would turn your back on something through fear. As I said – I think the only thing that would cause you to turn your back on something is through your own convictions. But then, I have been wrong before…” he adds with a shrug.
His eyes flick over Dhaavan at his last words.
”Ah! Your “crew”…” he adds softly, his words distracted.
”By your “crew” I assume you mean your friends – the people you trust and care for; and those you trust to care for you, eh?” he asks, though his words seem somewhat rhetorical.
He glances to the beams above again, taking a long moment to continue.
”Friendship is a strange thing, Dhaavan,” he says eventually.
”You may invest years of your life with someone you consider a friend and then see that “friendship” disintegrate like tears in a fire,” he adds with a somewhat hard edge to his voice, his eyes distant.
Then he shrugs.
”But that is the nature of life,” he adds with a lighter voice.
He reaches for the drink he had put down and takes a swig; his mood somewhat dark, then he brightens a bit.
”Even so – this ties me back to what I was trying to say before. We must be true to what we are, eh?” he adds somewhat briskly, as if to distance himself from his earlier sentiment.
”Friendship; family; brotherhood – these are all good things and necessary for life. But that is not why people choose to walk the path of “piracy”, eh?” he adds, his eyes watching Dhaavan.
”They all have reasons for coming to the sea – to sail away from troubles; to seek adventure; to explore new lands… yes, yes – this is true. But pirates are different than simple adventurers or explorers. They are different then these folk because their ultimate motivation is plunder – wealth.”
”Everything a pirate ultimately does is for plunder. Honor is good; adventure is good; friendship is good; but what are pirates if not men of commerce? Except – as you suggested, they are also part of a consortium of folk which are like a family or crew.”
He thinks for a moment.
”It occurs to me that pirates are – ultimately – businessmen. Their loyalty can be bought or sold with coin alone, eh?”
”Certainly some among us will stay true to a cause for the sake of friendship or other considerations; but in the end – an entire crew will happily leave a ship if we but kill the man who pays them. This same crew will then join us with equal gusto if all we do is pay them at least as much wealth as their former chief.”
He snorts in derision.
”In my homeland we learned much of our Chelaxian founders. From what I understood they had entire crews, or “families”, who were merely businessmen who united together to make sure their business didn’t fail – using any means necessary,” he adds thoughtfully, his eyes still on Dhaavan, watching him to gauge the sorcerer’s assessment of his observations.
”A business that is like a family; a business that uses somewhat unorthodox methods to achieve their ends – those ends being to make money – this is what I see us as.”
”If you agree, or disagree with me – please let me know. Your opinion on the matter may be directly impacting what I am going to do with the crew very soon… if you have things which may allay or dissuade me from my course, I would hear more of your thoughts.”
”But please – be direct. I do not wish to guess… “ he adds politely, curious to know what Dhaavan has to say.
Horatio watches Dhaavan’s face; his eyes studying the sorcerer in front of him, curious to know what the lad thinks of his definition to call their company a “business that is like a family”.
Even so, he is restless and bored; his mind distracted by the lull of action in the ship.
He longs for the simple pleasures of squaring off against Owlbear again in a bloody-knuckle fight when there was no finesse, only beating and beating and beating – until you were senseless or victorious.
His mind tacks to Risa, Shivikah, Arretta, possibly Sandara, or even Rosie! What charms did they have wrapped inside the hidden folds of their flesh?
He takes another gulp of his drink.
Yet ever and again his mind returns to what has wakened inside him; that thing that he hinted at with Dhaavan, the thing that is pushing him to something new, a stirring that he had not felt before with his uncle, nor his mother, nor at the academy… only now.
As he waits, his eyes slowly become unfocused.
He passes his hand in front of his face and the wick of candle explodes into flame; lighting the small cabin in its glow.
His eyes see the light of the flame; they taste it and drink from it – the fire, like blood, nourishes his insides and warms him.
While he waits - and with nothing else to do - he begins to sing softly to pass the time.
If I journeyed to the earth’s end
If I sailed beyond the last sea
I pray the gods will give me blood, then
I pray for naught but victory
Ohhhh gods hear my prayer now,
Hear the words a Reiver cries…
Spilling blood - and flesh to open
Let me kill much for your eyes…
His voice trails off, and he takes another gulp of the drink.
With nothing else to do; he merely gets comfortable.
Dhaavan strolls below decks to Flynn's rooms a while after the officer's meetings. Smiling at Piper and Amen-set, Dhaavan asks politely, "Ladies, please pardon the intrusion, but would you mind too terribly giving Horatio and I a few minutes?" He bows graciously as they comply, exchanging pleasantries and not rushing them.
"Mate, you ain't right are you. Yea've had a right rough time of it, pressganged with a crew what were nothin' like yea, buttin' heads with Valeros and Variel, Sejiro, and that whole mess o' things with Rain." Dhaavan lists this out, as he takes his ease on a chair and munches on a leftover snack absently.
"And Camm gettin summoned like that, it were rough. I get it. Yer in a dark place, I been there, and it ain't nuthin fun." Dhaavan looks at Horatio, eyes probing, examining his fellow's expression, gauging the reactions his words and acknowledgment. "That why eya started the blood worship, and talkin about some god or another to whom yea offer it? Cause it can be dangerous kind o stuff."
Thinking about what he's about to say, Dhaavan says "I'm concerned about yea." with a nod.
** spoiler omitted **
Horatio stretches out his legs in front of Dhaavan, the wound still fresh on his arm, his eyes calm.
”I have not been myself, you are correct,” he says quietly.
”If you recall, we spoke recently about certain things. The possibility of being a brotherhood, for example?”
”I was close to making a decision at that time regarding where my path would travel. With nothing to guide me, I chose to walk where you have seen me journey as of late.”
”I have become the man you see before you now, but I do not know for certain where my journey shall take me next,” he adds, reflecting a moment on that.
He smiles at Dhaavan’s mentioning of a god, but his eyes are watching the man carefully.
”Ah! You heard that, than? I did not think it would be possible to hear the words, but I am not ashamed of their utterance.”
”I worship the goddess Milani – of this you know. But now I have another, suited to her, in many ways.”
”I have always known this god, as all men do – but only lately have I learned the mantra which I speak to him each day… It is a powerful prayer, I have found. And each day I pray it, I have not been disappointed,” he adds thoughtfully.
He looks at the beams overhead, and considers something.
”Of all the folk on the ship, you are my closest friend.”
”I have had friends before who I don’t trust in certain things – some I know will lie to me, others I know will ignore me, and others still will run off for certain… vices, shall we say?”
”But that is the nature of man.”
”To be a good friend, one must see the faults in another, recognize those faults, and accept them and love the person despite the faults.”
He looks at Dhaavan again, his lips smiling a little.
”You are filled with guile and cunning. You pretend to be less than you are, but it is only a veil for hidden plans, I think. You summon demons to do your bidding and when these foul creatures of the abyss rise to your will, you force them forward to fight for you.”
”I know this about you; these are not qualities I like, but you are my friend, and I do not care that you have these qualites, for friendship’s sake.”
”Yet perhaps, after my comments, you wonder who I am?”
He leans in a bit, looking at Dhaavan closely.
”I have sliced my own flesh of purpose, simply to watch my blood spill. I have mutilated corpses for amusement, and I have bedded whores besides.”
”I have found that I delight in giving pain to my enemies. I am taking pleasure in their suffering – but, to be fair – only those I call my enemies; yet I am still acting as a sadist, despite my own heart’s protests.”
”One day I speak to you with the rolling cant of an old sea dog; my language punctuated with slang – the next day I speak to you as if I am an ancient scholar. One day I lament the idea of piracy, the next day I fire first on men I do not know simply to take their loot. I am two sides of a coin, always spinning on a long string – back and forth, never stopping – quite chaotic, as I fight even my own heart.”
”I dabble in poison; I feast on the heart of an enemy; I slaughter guards to free slaves, then I take one to follow me around and insist she follow my “instructions” even as I give her orders on this ship.”
”I can kill a man without steel or magic, if I choose to – and I have made prayers to dark things I will not name now,” he adds, a slow light in his eyes growing, as he smiles a bit more.
”I argue with those that would be my friends, insisting that they share equally and than I nearly draw a blade on one of these folk simply because I do not like his tone with me.”
”I do many things that none of this company know – I have been to places that you have not seen, for I do not always travel with you when we are ashore, and during those times you have not seen what I have done, or where I have gone, or know what I have learned, or witnessed. In private journey’s only the gods have truly seen what I have done.”
He leans back a bit.
”There – that should be enough for you to know me better, and you may yet name faults with me that I have forgotten about myself,” he says softly.
”I have shared much you already knew, some things that you may have guessed, and details which you never knew of.”
”You know me better now; you see me more clearly, perhaps?” he adds thoughtfully, watching Dhaavan.
He nods.
”Good – now you know me better.”
”Still, know that I am your friend; know that I will not hurt my friends, and despite the faults my friends have – once they are my friend, their actions will not sunder my friendship. That comes only with my own will.”
He smirks a bit.
”Perhaps you are thinking – How can I trust that last statement? It seems contrary to everything else he spoke of? If he is becoming the type of man he is stating, I cannot trust him at all.”
He sighs, his eyes looking troubled.
”If I had fully descended the path I spoke of, assuredly I would not elaborate on it overmuch. But, I think, I am at a precipice ready to fall over.”
”I may yet turn back, perhaps – if I see good cause, or I may willfully abandon myself to the fall.”
”Only time will tell, I suppose. But the help from my friends will certainly do much to guide my steps better; this I sense is true, no matter what I may say now.”
He looks at Dhaavan.
”I do not know what I will become, but I thank you for your words. It has given me something to consider, as even you have something to think on regarding me,” he says sincerely.
He sighs and sits in the quiet for a long while, then shakes himself and looks up at Dhaavan with a somewhat more friendly expression.
”If you are willing, I will tell you at least what I did with the crew in the past few days; and why I searched so hard for the one who drew first blood. It may interest you, but I will share those details with you only if you are interested, for they may be dull after so much talk.”
”Or, as I have talked long, you may have things you wish to ask of me?”
Horatio knows he talked for a long time, he suspects Dhaavan has his own comments, thoughts or suggestions, he will happily answer him anything, but doesn’t know what Dhaavan is interested in talking about at this time, but will follow the young lad’s lead.
Also, despite it all, Horatio has a growing concern that despite all his words, he may not have been as clear as he could have been. If that is true, though, he hopes the sorcerer will let him know, and he will restate his case, but with much less of a prosaic mode; assuming, of course, Dhaavan wants him to be more clear.
At the closure of the meeting, Rain quietly makes her way out to the main deck and searches for Amen-set. She was not sure if the stranger would be ensconced below deck where Flynn bid most of his time or topside, moving about the deck. If Rain were to choose, she would always be above deck, feeling the wind on her face and in her unbound hair.
She noticed Amen-set by the railing, looking out across the sea. Seeing that she was alone, Rain set course toward the young woman.
When she was close enough, Rain gently declared her presence. "Good evening, Amen-set." If the girl turns or looks her way, Rain will continue, "We have not been formally introduced and I would rectify that. I am Rain Taneththir, the Lady's pilot. After the cessation of the fight, I spoke with your ... employer, Flynn. But now I am passing along my praise to you personally for all your efforts during the battle with the Rahadoumi. You stood valiantly in the line of fire and performed your tasks admirably. Flynn owes you a debt of gratitude for keeping him alive and for fighting vigilantly beside him against the manticore. On behalf of the officers, you have my gratitude for your service." Rain appraises Amen-set now that she is close up to her. Amen-set's eyes were as striking as her own and she pondered back on Flynn's words of acting in the capacity of Amen-set's older sister, and Rain inwardly reflected upon the similarity of their eye colour. There was a distinguishable difference; Rain's held a little more green and various shades of the sea among the jewelled blue. She smiled kindly at Amen-set, waiting to see if the girl would speak to her.
Dhaavan grins, saying, "Do tell, I would like to know what's going on in my home."
Sense Motive DC 27, if you want to try.
Getting bact to their last conversation, Dhaavan says, "The last time we really talked, you were so distracted you didn't even seem to hear my answers to you, and didn't notice me leaving... But I still think that the ship is my home, and my crew's my family. That's why I try to keep an eye on everyone, and make sure the new recruits are welcomed and integrate right nice."
"But I got no real authority o'er the officers, so there's only so much I can do. Ye can be a generous superior, but as a peer, ya gotta act different."
** spoiler omitted **
Amen-set turns in some surprise to Rain and listens politely until she finishes speaking.
Her shield is still strapped to her back, and she grips her spear easily, and with casual grace.
”It is I who am honored, sekhrey; your gallantry did much to dissuade our enemies and through your skill their advance was checked ,” she says politely when you are done. Yet her tone seems a bit stiff, as if she is reciting an almost stock phrase, or formal response.
However, the tone and presentation is quick and once stated, she seems to revert to a more relaxed posture and takes a moment to study you a bit more closely, looking at your eyes and hair specifically.
She frowns a bit, clearly wishing to speak more directly to you, but not certain if it is proper protocol.
The presence of her falcon alighting down on her shoulder surprises her a bit. She seems to take some courage in his presence, and raises an arm for him to rest on, which he does with a short hop.
The falcon regards you intently, and his look is very intense.
She turns a moment to the bird, and makes short hissing noises to it, but her expression is almost playful.
She turns back to you then, and she seems to be in better spirits, again, not sure what to say or do, but, after a moment, she speaks without so much formality.
”You are called “Rain” – yes? This is a good name, I think. It means many things, but mainly I know it as the blessings from the great Father above. Your name has great power and strength in my homeland – it is good omen to be named so,” she says, still staring at your hair curiously.
Her eyes roam over you now more openly, and she takes time to study your gear as well.
”You are further garbed as a shield-maiden would be! This is a good thing, I think.”
”I was not sure of the folk of the west, for I had heard only tales of them, and have not met a western elf, but only heard stories. I am very pleased that the elf folk of the west are not as… how you say… Ah! I have heard tales that elven woman in the west practice the loom and harp very much. I did not know what I would see when I met one.”
She nods at you appraisingly.
”But here I see you carry steel, which is good! And further, you are named with a name of power, and you hold high rank on this ship. Very good, indeed!” she adds with a proud toss of her head, a fierce light in her eye, but a happy smile on her face.
The toss of her head startles the falcon, and he lets out a series of eek-eek-eek’s as he rises to land on the rigging above, but she does not pay much attention to him, instead she brushes aside an errant lock of her hair, and looks at you squarely in the eye.
”I am Amen-set Neitaker, and I say that to see a woman who carries steel in her hand and fire in her heart is a good thing and it makes the great Father proud,” she adds with a somewhat loud voice, turning to give the look to any around her.
Her look and tone seem to suggest that she seems to be issuing a challenge or declaration to someone, but clearly that is not you. Instead, it seems clear that she believes her words are offering you a very high and sincere form of praise, even though they may seem a bit unusual.
Of course, her entire manner of speech and communication seem very odd, in many ways.
On one hand her words seem very ritualistic and formal, suggesting that she learned a great deal from study alone.
On the other hand, her face, eyes and body language are nearly the opposite. They are animated, excited and very pleased. She seems very fierce, very proud, but also very friendly. Her body language is enthusiastic and bold, and she seems quite content to express herself openly, now that she believes she is able to, even if her style of speech may seem a bit formal.
”I am well pleased to meet you Rain of the House Taneththir,” she adds.
”I would learn more of your folk – for I do not know much of the lands of the west, except for the ways of men alone. But of elven folk I know little; and I would learn more, if you will teach me,” she says with a polite voice, but her eyes stare into yours unflinchingly, a sincere smile on her face.
** spoiler omitted **
Horatio’s eyes glitter somewhat as he looks at Dhaavan’s grin, and he chuckles a bit.
”Ah… well, it is true – I have been very… distracted as for late…” he says softly.
”But, I can at least say that of the men, I decided that they were not receiving their just rewards for their actions. They needed more then the trinkets we offered them,” he adds with a quiet voice.
He ponders a bit your term about “blood magic”, but his look is somewhat confused.
”I confess I am not sure what you meant – and I only know this much as of late… our folk sail for plunder and wealth, yes?”
”But the gods wish their own form of plunder… I think, though others may disagree, that blood is – shall we say – “spiritual currency”. It is the medium which the gods are paid in,” he adds with a friendly smile, his eyes never leaving yours.
”Some gods prefer things in a more… direct method – demanding blood sacrifices and other more obvious offerings. Other gods demand the obedience of your soul and the commitment of your spirit utterly. What, then, is that ultimate commitment, if not your life – and what is your life if not blood?” he adds with a more cryptic response, laughing quietly, but the laugh is somewhat higher in pitch and an almost eerie tone.
He looks again at you, staring for a moment.
”I agree with your assessment – the ship is as my home to me, and the crew is as my family. Do not fear for either on my account, for I will honor both the ship and the crew,” he adds with a soft but reassuring voice, his eyes examining yours intently.
He takes a deep breath, considering your last point.
”Ah! There I think we are not in agreement… but only in a matter of semantics, perhaps. What is superiority, truly?” he says, thoughtfully.
”In all practical determinations superiority is best known as the one who rules; and by what right does a man rule?” he adds, letting the question hang for a moment.
”A man may rule with power; and through power achieve any end.”
He looks at you with a searching gaze.
”You are magi – you summon demons to your bidding and bind them to your will. They obey your very whim – that is power, my friend. That is great power, indeed. And with that power you may wield great authority, if you wished it,” he says, his voice a whisper that comes as almost a caress, his eyes watching you.
Then, after a moment, he laughs loudly.
”Ah, Dhaavan! It does my heart good to have these words with you – just to speak to a friendly person makes me feel better and appreciated. Thank you at least for that,” he adds, his tone switching suddenly to a bit more jovial.
”The short answer is that I do not think the men have been treated as well as they might be; so I have taken direct steps to rectify that personally.”
”The one who drew first blood will be honored for his action – in the way I see fit. Do not fear – I will take care of the matter myself,” he says with a friendly smile.
”But his deed shall not be forgotten, I promise you,” he adds, the grin still on his lips as he watches your eyes very closely.
”I, too, have an interest in the crew. Be content in knowing I will not see it come to harm, if I can help it. And I will be sure to remember to repay each debt properly.”
He watches you for a while, content to smoke and enjoy the silence, looking to your expression.
”Tell me, Dhaavan, - if you don’t mind me asking – as you said you have tried to integrate the crew; what did you think of the girl Amen-set? She seems to watch you very closely,” he adds, his tone seeming both friendly, but with a very thinly concealed form of protectiveness – as if he wants to gauge your intentions to his ward, and is not sure how they will play out…
For the sake of time, I'm kinda gonna condence and generalize how dhaavan would be acting, skipping a lot of the dialogue. So we can tell the story with more narrative, as opposed to dialogue. so there'd still be a back-and-forth, but more in swaths of narrative, highly condensed.
Even after meeting the young woman, Amen-set, Dhaavan was focused primarily on his work. He dedicated much of is efforts to finishing his item for he Captain, rising early and exiting the cabin fatigued. Then time among the crew, socializing and unwinding as one of them, as he had on the Wormwood.
Still he did find time to talk to the girl, often while working or in the mess among others of the crew. Takign an interest in her thoughts on gods and faith, not sharing much of his without questioning. He did listen to her history, and experiences, not prying but his openness was encouraging, putting the girl oddly at ease.
Dhaavan shrugs as FLynn mentions "Blood Magic" saying, "Worship, not blood magic. I know what that looks like, but blood sacrafices ain't been much I'd mess with. Arcane power o' blood is one thing, but bribing powers with it. That's dangerous and dealing wiht Demons." The sorcerer almost spits out that last word as though it were an obscenity that made him uncomfortable. "Demons are dangerous liars, unpredictable and I'll never associate with the Abyss." He's not harsh in his correction, but there is a big difference between different fiends, and to Dhaavan, Demons seem to be of the lowest of the low.
"Amen-set is an intriguing creature, to be sure. I do enjoy her company, but don't know her that well, nore do i quite understand your relationship with her." Dhaavan is somewhat wary, perhaps a similar situation has ended poorly for him?
Rain runs an elegant hand through her unruly midnight blue hair and even as she speaks her gaze is settled somewhere out on the dark horizon. "My existence has predominantly been in this region, in and among the Shackle Isles, and my intimate knowledge lies with the elves who make their sea their home and not among the forests. My kin, here, are not opposed to other races, they do not hold prejudices and biases based on some form of arrogance or entitlement. I judge each person on their own merits, that is how I have been taught by my elders. If I can teach you anything of value about my folk, I will attempt to as best as I am able, Amen-set."
Rain returns her turquoise eyes on Amen-set and meets equally keen turquoise eyes.
"My full given name is Raina. When I was a very young elf and set forth on the sea for the very first time, a fierce storm suddenly appeared and hit our small ship, and the rain fell with such force, its touch as cold as ice. I was among the rigging, having climbed high to see across the water and into the storm itself. My grandfather bid me to come down more than once, yet I held my place; my will as deep as the rain which fell in sheets upon me. Afterward, he rightly scolded me in front of the crew, then laughed at me in private and declared I was certainly like the rain, and the shortened form of my name stuck and no one has called me by my full name ever since that day. I never minded." Rain softly chuckled. "My hair and eye colour certainly lend themselves to the name, too. It is a fitting name on many levels."
Rain turns quietly serious for a moment, leaning back against the railing. "I thank you for the honour and praise you have bestowed upon me and am quite unaccustomed to receiving such flattery. I readily admit I do not practice either the loom or the harp, having spent more time on the water than on land, and requiring my focus on more practical endeavours in order to aid my family. Not to say there is no use for such practices; simply that my own skill and tastes lie elsewhere."
Hearing the falcon's screech, Rain regards the bird a second or two before addressing the girl before her again. "He does not seem to like me much. Generally, I am good with animals and creatures. What is his name?"
"And, if this is not too pertinent, how did you find yourself with Flynn and onboard the Lady? All that I am aware of was you appeared in the dead of night and no explanation was offered. I am curious but if you cannot, or will not answer, I shall not push you."
** spoiler omitted **** spoiler omitted **...
”Aye, she is a fine lady,” he says, looking at Dhaavan thoughtfully for a long while.
”I don’t understand my relationship with her myself. For now, I see her presence with me because of the will of my goddess, so how can I refuse her by my side? I did a deed for Milani, and I delivered this girl to freedom; and now she wishes to follow me.”
”She has been with me since, and has sworn to be with me to repay some sort of “debt” for freeing her, or something like that,” he adds with a frown.
He thinks on that for a moment, then his eyes narrow a bit.
He glances to the hatch behind Dhaavan, gets up quickly and opens the door to see that none are outside, then shuts it quietly and makes sure it is bolted.
He leans forward, closer to Dhaavan.
”She is very… unusual though…” he adds softly.
”When I liberated her we were surrounded by slavers, and we may have yet perished. Camm was fighting hard from above, but she and I were pressed back into a corner; she had barely the clothing on her back…” he says, trying to gather his thoughts.
”She was very angry though, and when she was freed of her bonds… it was dark then; there was no light, for we were moving in secret – I damn near smacked my shin against a heavy brick; but she moved about in the shadows like a cat… as if she had no trouble with the darkness… like a bloody elf or dwarf her eyes were almost too good in the darkness…”
He wets his lips.
”The enemy moved on us; naturally I was armed – but things were looking grim.”
”She got very angry then, and she roasted a slaver hot with fire… lots of fire… I’ve seen magi before – she’s only a girl, and barely skilled; but she used more fire in that attack than a magi has a right to use…”
He glanced to the door again.
”She was cursing him in a language I didn’t understand – I know a good bit of languages, so I asked her about it later, she told me that it was taught to her by her mentors. She said the language was "Draconic…”
He leans back at looks at Dhaavan.
”What do you make of that?” he asks quietly, wondering what Dhaavn might say.
During the next several days Amen-set sees you on occasion. She rarely approaches you, knowing that you are busy.
However, you notice that when she is able to see you, she changes her posture and attitude somewhat. When she doesn’t see you, she seems rather bored or distracted, watching the waves or moving to the forward part of the ship and watching the sky as the ship moves.
When she sees you, she braces her shoulders back, laughs a bit louder at jokes, when she says things it is louder and a bit more boisterous, and generally acting as if she is not interested that you may be looking at her, but at the same time she is clearly trying to draw your attention.
On the afternoon in which you are nearing the enemy ship, Piper finds you.
She looks both a little exasperated and her expression suggests that what she is about to do is really quite ridiculous.
She hands you a package and says to you –
”Right, so this is from that desert girl who keeps mooning over you. Hope you like it,” and hands you a small package.
Inside the package you see a small note which reads:
Greetings!
We draw closer to a potential battle, and while I am not afraid of combat, I do fear for the safety of my friends.
As such, I have made you these small gifts. If you drop them when you are invisible, then use a fire spell to ignite them, I think you will find the results very interesting indeed.
May you walk well under the heavens!
You then see a small pouch with 4 small items in them.
Looking up you see that Amen-set is clearly looking to see how you reacted, but as soon as you look up she instantly gives you a rather bored expression as if she wasn’t paying attention to you at all.
** spoiler omitted **...
Amen-set listens quietly to all you say before responding.
”Oh, no sekhrey – I do not believe in flattery. It is best to speak the truth, or remain silent – for your deeds I speak the truth, you are well-skilled,” she says seriously.
At your comments about the loom and harp, she snorts a bit.
”Huh! Those are fine things, perhaps – but I do not see honor in them. Give me the wind in my hair, a spear in my hand and the chance to earn renown and I shall be more content,” she adds with a smile which suggests she has found a kindred spirit in you, and that she can tell right away that you - like her - enjoy the chance to earn glory and honor in battle.
When she hears about your family, she nods at your words.
”Ah! For myself, I never knew my family. I was an orphan and adopted when I was only a small child. I do not remember anything of my family, except those folk who adopted me. But they were wise, and good, and very skilled in the ways of lore and combat and I learned much from them. Though they were somewhat unusual creatures, I love them as my family,” she says with a matter-of-fact tone.
Noticing your comment about the falcon, she snorts somewhat contemptuously, but not at you, but the bird.
”What, Horus? No – do not be rankled by his mood. Horus only permits himself very few moods; and they are all either grim, proud, arrogant, or haughty,” she says with a laugh and a merry wave at the bird, who instantly turns a rather regal look away from her and looks toward the waves.
”I think he was mad when I tossed my hair back – it startled him, I think. But would he admit to being startled? Oh no! I think if he could talk he would no doubt tell us; I am Horus, I am a scion of the Wind and Sky – nothing can unnerve me!,” she chuckles again at the bird, who merely attempts a more serious form of dignity, but only makes her laugh more.
”He is a good friend, though,” she adds, her humor mellowing a bit ”and has been with me on many journeys.”
At your comment about Horatio, her eyes narrow, as if recalling some darker memory.
”Ah yes; I was on a ship westward bound and we were forced to move to shore and forage for goods. During that time we were attacked by raiders, and carried west overland to the foul city you met us at,” she adds with a frown.
”I think things may have gone bad for me; but one of their folk was some sort of priest – he could tell that I had yet my maidenhead, and said I would fetch more wealth as a slave if I was not defiled by their touch,” she says with a flat voice.
”I – and others – where put in prisons to await our fate. I would have tried to escape sooner, but where would I go? Even if I could get out with ease, I had no comrades here, and I knew nothing of the place. Escape would only mean that I would be hunted and likely recaptured; so I bided my time and waited for my chance to act.”
”On the night we met, my hatey-a', the one you called “Flynn” – he and another came past the walls and slaughtered the guards within.”
She shrugs.
”It was a good fight; we killed every slaver there, and freed a family of folk from the east – mostly women and children. My hatey-a' gave them all the gold in the pen to keep, and they fled west to the hills; but I chose to come with my hatey-a', and so journeyed with him to this ship.”
”As I said – I had no companions with me, and suspected I would be caught again. Besides, I owe a blood debt to my hatey-a', and I am in his service now, until I deem it repaid.”
She shakes her head and rolls her eyes.
”He insists this should not be – and further claims that I would be better to be a “free woman” than follow him around, but that is only because he is uncouth and does not fully know the burden of honor which is placed upon me by his actions.”
"I am freed by his hand; the debt must be repaid. I told him that, and he seems to think that is very important for some reason, but at least he will not pester me about my decision to follow him."
”But that is good enough to go on, I think – with how I came here,” she adds a bit more quietly with a nod to herself.
After a moment, she sees your look, and smiles a little shyly and seems to change the subject a bit.
”You are from a family of elves; yet your hair is blue? I have seen elves before, but they are almost four and a half cubits…” she says in Osirion, then frowns ”No; how do you say… you would say, maybe,” she raises her hand up and gestures to about ”this high, yes?”
”They have very long legs, good for running in deep deserts. I think that they are made for the desert, because they can endure it, better than we can, that is,” she adds with a little shrug.
She continues to look at your hair.
”You are not like them; for their skin is darker than mine – your skin is fair, like mine; though yours is fairer still – and your hair is like the color of deep clear water; theirs is like obsidian…” she says, examining you carefully.
Her eyes light up suddenly.
”Say - if you are an elf of the water, do you swim better than other elves do; just as the elves of the desert run better than western elves?” she asks curiously.
At this time she merely watches you with a smile on her face, curious to know what other stories you have to share, and seems just as eager to share things about herself, if you are interested in asking.
"My grandparents raised me and I knew neither of my parents, so I can comprehend growing up in the care of others. I am glad to hear that your adopted parents treated you well, Amen-set."
So the falcon was called Horus. She gave the bird another glance and then settled her attention back on Amen-set.
"You called me sekhrey. May I ask you to translate it in Common for I do not speak your native tongue."
Rain relaxes against the railing as she waits for Amen-set to explain the meaning of the word.
The girl certainly had experienced more than she should at such a young age and even with the ugliness of slavery, her spirit seemed buoyant and courageous. Such a spirit would keep her well among the ugliness of a world of men and greed.
"I cannot imagine a life of slavery and it is good that you have fought your way free with the aid of Flynn and his companion." Rain would hazard a guess that Flynn's aid came from the Skylord, Camm, and his hippogriff. "I can understand feeling beholden to another for saving one's life. That you would repay the honour in this way speaks much of you."
Amen-set's buoyant curiosity was entertaining and somewhat refreshing.
"I believe there were aquatic elves in my family line, once a long time ago. My eye and hair colour are traits passed down to me from such ancestors. I am a very fine swimmer, and indeed the environment to which we are born often dictates the nature and strength of our skills."
Not wanting to overly pry into Amen-set's life before coming aboard the Lady, Rain politely enquires, "Where was home for you, Amen-set? You mentioned earlier that you were westward bound on a ship before you were captured and enslaved."
** spoiler omitted **
Amen-set’s wide blue eyes continue to stare at you.
She purses her lips a bit.
”Ah… sekhrey… this means like what you say before; the one who drives the ship and pushes it forward, but we have no real word for ship driver like you do. So our folk know that word better,” she adds with a smile, pleased with her cleverness.
She looks at the night sky for a moment; and points at the stars.
”Long ago they say that man always had hard times seeing in the dark. So the great Father – he made stars to see better with. Still, it was not much light, but great Father – he said that the stars give more than light, they… “Show the Way”, yes?”
”When we look at the stars above they show us the way to go. So those who learn the way of the great Father are very good in the deep deserts when there are no marks to guide by, and very good in the waters to steer, for there are also no marks to guide by – in all things we look to the great Father; for he has given us stars to show the way, and Fire to give us comfort and warmth and light and tools; and also, power,” she adds with a somewhat serious nod.
She flicks a scrap of wood into the air, and points at it, and it suddenly bursts into flame as it falls down into the waves beyond.
She smiles in satisfaction, than turns to you.
”My mentors say that stars are great Father’s best gift, for they show way, and that means wisdom, too. I say I like fire best; for it means also strength, comfort and power. But he says… oh, pardon, pardon,” she says somewhat abruptly.
”I do not mean to speak overmuch on matters of deep thinking or beliefs,” she mutters almost to herself with a little frown.
Looking down for a moment and considering things, then looks up with a smile.
”Ah! You are a good swimmer, you say?” she asks, changing subjects again, her eyes pleased.
”I have learned to swim myself as of late when sailing with men from the east. They were outward bound from a great city called “Sothis”. They were good sailors, I suppose, but they were not skilled in matters of trade, I think.”
”They took me, because I can convince men to open the wealth of a town more than they may believe possible. They liked this skill; and they saw I could do things to heal sick men. So they accepted me with them, and from them I learned to sail,” she says with a proud smile.
”I come from the east; but I do not know fully where I was first born. I know that my mentors found me, and they raised me long in the wastes of a once mighty nation. The great city there is called… ah – they called it Merab! But my mentors did not wish to travel much near cities; always we kept to the wastes and avoided my people, for my mentors were afraid of men, I think; or perhaps some other reason,” she says, looking a bit uncertain at this point.
”But in any case, we traveled east, and east still – they said they did so, for the east was the place the great Father made his mighty palace, and would rise from it to see all the world beneath him each morning. So we went east.”
She laughs a bit, than.
”But than we took different paths and they went north and I went west, and here I am,” she adds with a smile, but it seems like she is not as happy as the smile might suggest.
Still, she refuses to be anything other than upbeat, and shakes herself of her mood.
”Ah! But I think you are great warrior like my mentor, eh?” she says suddenly.
”They say a strong thrust with the spear is not as good as a clever thrust; for a strong thrust may do well against a shield, but a clever thrust is one that strikes best in a vital place,” she says, watching you with a little smile on her face.
She swings her shield around in front of herself, and flips the spear in her hand to rest over the top brim of the shield, her left leg bending forward a bit, and her right leg stretching behind her for leverage as she stares over the edge of the shield with a fairly protected face.
”I think you ask so many questions to find the way to be the best fighter; you seek the way to my soft spots, eh?” she says with a fierce voice, but her eyes are filled with a teasing light.
She begins to move in a semi-circle around you, every so often she stiffens her right leg and drops into a lower crouch, the spear dancing forward quickly toward you, but never near you to cause any danger.
”Come – enough talk! Let us fight, eh? Ha,” she says sliding the spear again ”Ho-ha!” she says again, her voice half-serious, but clearly joking as she slides the spear forward again to you, also clearly far from you, but clearly striking wide deliberately.
”Ya-ha!” she adds again, than sees your expression and suddenly cries out in a strangled voice.
”Ah, no – I am bested,” she says as if in great pain ”the fire in your heart is better than my shield and spear together… you are the better warrior today… ahhhhh,” she says as she feigns swooning on the deck before you, than looks up with a silly smile.
Pulling herself to her feet, the shield on her arm and the spear in her hand she laughs out loud.
”You are good to talk to, sekhrey,” she says with a contented sigh, as she swings her shield behind her back again and rests on her spear.
Glancing around at the sky, she nods appreciatively at what she sees.
”Tell me, do you have beer on this ship?" she asks suddenly.
"It is a drink they had in the east; very good, I think; but most folk in the west like drinks that are too sweet for me. I think beer is very good, and fire and smoke after.”
”Ah, but they say elves in the west do not ferment the grain as much as the grape,” she adds to herself.
She thinks for a moment.
”Say, where is that sly man with the inked skin and dark clothes? I would wager that he has beer at least, and would share a smoke with us,” she adds, her eyes glancing around.
”I have heard he is very strong with magic; but his body is not so strong and I could break it like that,” she says with the snap of her fingers ”but I suppose that is alright, for his power with magic at least is very great. And also, he is clever enough, and though his skin is very pale and his eyes do have strange light, I suppose that there are some who do not find his looks so bad,” she adds in a careless tone.
”Not me, of course,” she adds hastily ”I merely notice, that is all. Still, strong or weak – either makes sense, for – as you say – our birthplace can dictate our skills,” she adds with a bit of a laugh at Dhaavan, even as her eyes look around the ship, clearly searching for him.
”But in any case,” she says turning back to you ”we have fought well today. You led the charge on the enemy ship, I saw – and I think a drink would be very good,” she says turning a happy smile to you, curious to know what you think and what other things you will talk about.
Dhaavan did ask about her history, indicating curiosity. He mentions his homeland of Varisia and how he traveled all over with his family, even as they maintained a very Varisian culture due to his father's influence. He talks sparingly of his mother and sibling, mentioning them only as anciliary characters in his stories, inviting amen set to share how she came aboard.
As she is an able Sailor, he asks her to speak to Adular, as he assigns duties for the crew, suggestion that she tell the Priest to what duties her talents would lend themselves.
Even so, she is occasionally summoned by Jack to the Captain's Cabin where Dhaavan is crafting to chat, or fetch something for Dhaavan. He seems entertained by her reactions to the rather menial tasks, not abusing his authority over her but rather using it to get a few minutes here or there to chat.
He does take interest in her faith, not questioning, but inviting her to share the nuances of it with him.
Dhaavan merely responds to Flynn's non-answers with a raised eyebrow and a "Mm-hm?" that invites him to continue, and avtually name his new god whith whom he has always been familiar.
With a cocked head at the mention of the Debt that Amen-set seems to owe Flynn, Dhaavan inquires, "How deep does this debt to you run, eh?"
"Some have Draconic ancestry as the source of their sorcery. The Dragons are inately arcane and are known to mix with, well anything, so it's not surprising. Although with her vision bein so good, she may not be entirely human, and particularly intune with the elements of Fire." Dhaavan shrugs, not perturbed by her powers, interested, yes. And somewhat curious, but only so far as objective arcane study, like a hobby rather than his true area of understanding.
** spoiler omitted **
** spoiler omitted **
Amen-set seems uncertain about her homeland. She indicates that she is an orphan. She suggests that she was found by her mentors, but they found her when she was so young, that she is uncertain as to where specifically she was born.
She also suggests that her mentors were not human, and they seemed very nervous around humans in general, and so they were always on the move and kept her hidden from most people because they themselves were in hiding.
She is friendly, but doesn’t go into particular details about her mentors, but suggests this is for their sake and she promised not to talk much about them, unless it was really necessary. You would gather eventually by the few things that she said some of them came from Minkai (based on their names and culture, which would strike you as very close to “samurai” culture) and the others likely came from Osirion (based on their knowledge of lore and history). Clearly the “animism” about the faith of the Minkai folk has shined through more than the faith of the Osirion folk.
She mentions that her very young childhood was near a large city called “Merab”, and remembers that. But she does not know what nation was in – you sense that she is being sincere, and honestly doesn’t know, because she never paid attention to such things.
She is quite blunt about how Horatio came to save her, stating that she was sailing on a ship from a city called “Sothis” and heading west. They were low on supplies, they needed food and water and went to the coast to get supplies and were attacked by raiders and carried south and east into the jungle.
She is very edgy about this – but the gist is that because she is a virgin, they didn’t defile her as they claimed that she more “valuable” to certain buyers.
She admits she didn’t try to escape at first, because she had no idea where she was, or where she could go (this seems reasonable given her lack of knowledge about basic geography or overland survival). She admits that when Horatio came to save her and the other slaves he gave them all the money in the place, and the others were natives who fled back into the jungles. As she had no where else to go – and a bond of honor was on her to repay her debt - she came with Horatio.
She seems fairly indifferent to speaking to Adular, but not out of disrespect to him, but more because she seems interested in hanging around you.
In general, she seems to give you a hard time when you ask her to fetch you things; suggesting (basically) that is because you are a “wimp” and if you had some muscles on you, maybe you could fetch your own things.
Her teasing isn’t actually cruel, but it comes across to a guy as savvy to Dhaavan like a young girl teasing a boy she likes. Not mean, but kind of annoying – because it’s the actions of a younger girl, but she clearly has little experience in “dealing with boys” and is doing the best she can to get your attention and at the same time act like she is not trying to gain your attention.
Every now and than she will try to get Horus to bother Jack, but generally Horus conducts himself with a more aloof attitude, as if he thinks everything she is doing is quite ridiculous.
Dhaavan would be savvy enough to know that when Horus is watching the actions of the crew, if he could talk – he probably would sound something like this ;)
When night comes she seems to be less serious and more playful, but in general is respectful to you, especially when you mention your family.
At this point she seems very curious, but won’t pry unless you are willing to share.
Regarding her faith, she seems very hesitant to talk about it, because of what Horatio had told her about talking religion with the crew.
However, after several days you glean the following: her faith seems to be more akin to druidic beliefs. She seems less interested in “divine beings” and more interested in elements of nature. She doesn’t seem worship gods, per se – but she reveres the presence of divine beings. She feels that the spirits of the world are more powerful, and she offers her honor and faith to the elements of the world in general.
More than that she does not wish to discuss, unless it is permitted by Horatio, because she believes that talking about religion generally can cause trouble with best friends who have different faiths, and Horatio has suggested that is likely the case.
During the day, she seems eager to sing, to fight, to sail – and to win honor and glory. At night she wants to drink, to smoke, and to laugh and joke around. But that attitude is more pronounced at night than daytime.
Horatio admits freely that he does not know how severe the debt Amen-set feels for him. He adds he told her that there shouldn’t be a debt, that everything was fine, but she insisted, citing a matter of debt in general.
He admits that paying a debt was important, if she really felt that way, he won’t protest it, but he doesn’t know when it will be “paid” because that is all her decision and actions.
Horatio admits that she is clearly human, though perhaps she doesn’t have the same level of skills that a normal human may have… but he is interested in your comment about sorcery and bloodlines. If she has a draconic bloodline deep in her, it may manifest itself one day, and if so – she may be a very powerful sorcerer, he thinks.
When it comes to mentioning the name of his new “god” – Horatio seems suddenly very hesitant about talking about it. It seems the recent conversation with the other people on the ship has made him uncomfortable about speaking about this right now.
However, you have a sense that he will speak of it later, but for right now, he is a bit suspicious of going into that now.
"That kind o think makes my job harder. I mean, damn flying lion almost killed Jack! I's Livid. Had half a mind ta slaughter em all m'self, but gettin a few o'em on our side were more important, specially since Jack made it ok. We ain't got power enough for the luxury o' brutality. Hells, i'd bet Harrigan and Piper could ha' taken the Promise, slaughterin ever'one an' sunk it, just the two o' em, but stood ta gain more wit' a crew helpin em out. That ain't us, we barely made it through this one and lost people."
"When we set out yea wanted ta be a proper Privateer wearin' Sargava's collar an everthin' but since have gone to the other extreme slaughterin victims an' bein ruled by yer anger. There's a reason we decided to sail as gentelmen pirates, stealin goods an' honorin surrender. The reputation'll make things easier, but havin one o' our chief officers never shut up about wholesale slaughter makes that harder. And how you think the 5 what joined up like the idea o' us murderin their fellows? Best case they sail with us out o fear, and that ain't the crew I want, or a home what's safe, that's a ship like Pluggs, an we know how that tasted at the end o' it." Dhaavan adds, referencing the stew of the night of the muteny.
Up to this point Dhaavan's been very understanding, simply giving reasons for disagreeing with Flynn's actions, as a friend casually discussing philosophy. But now he turns harsh, to drive home an important point, "But now, mostly thanks to your stunt, there's gonna be a whole crew out there talkin about the lady bein Butchers an savages, merciless bastards what ain't ta be trusted. An' that's yer doin."
** spoiler omitted **
Horatio looks at Dhaavan with a sidelong glance.
”I was not out to catch either bees, nor honey – I was out to vent my rage at comrades who refused to shoot at a flying monstrosity while they contented themselves to avoid helping us, and to also free the darkness from my soul at seeing the loss of good men, for I was sorely vexed.”
"But that time has passed," he adds, his voice moving into a more mellow and smoother tone and pitch.
"Now we discuss other things," he adds, and considers Dhaavan's opinions of who he is and has become.
Horatio then grins sardonically.
”When we started this little adventure, many assumptions I had, dreams I had, and hopes I had for myself proved foolish. But see? I have become a new man. Yet many of those changes seem to be disliked by others. But that’s froth in my life’s wake,” he adds with a shrug.
He seems to be thinking a lot about Dhaavan's claims on his brutality with the dead.
”You seem to ascribe a great deal of power to me for some reason.”
”Perhaps it was I alone which caused their hate for us when I hacked two dead bodies and ate the heart of a magical beast that tried to kill me. Aye, perhaps...”
”Of course, I would have thought it was more likely that our need to sail after them for days on end; followed by our attack of them – the massacre of their fellows – the stealing of their goods – and the capture of their ship may have contributed far more to their displeasure than me cutting some corpses.”
He grins.
”But that’s not how it is, is it? The gods have their favorites; and no matter how brutal we are as a crew to an enemy, if one person does not conform to the personal prejudices of the gods on high, then they will be displeased and shall turn their favor from them, eh?”
Taking out a piece of tobacco, he fits it to his mouth.
”I have become a different man than the one you met. I am not the same person – I have changed. I do not enjoy many of the changes myself, but in life there often must be a series of painful experiences that force change – or evolution, if you prefer – when a man becomes something different than what he was simply to survive.”
He chews on the tobacco for a while.
”Survival is paramount, I suppose, and my ways will defeat enemies, but than I must try to survive against the sullen angst of my comrades,” he adds with a fatalistic sigh.
He leans back and thinks.
”So you are saying – in short – I must ignore my new state of being and be a… “nice pirate” – butchering men until they eventually beg for mercy, at which point I must throw down my arms and embrace them as brothers? Perhaps I should be as some and pay them large sums of gold for all the trouble we’ve put them through by attacking their ship, though the gold was their own before we robbed them of it and the lives of their friends, eh?”
He laughs mirthlessly.
”No, that was not meant – I was merely jesting,” he adds with a dry smile.
”I have heard your wisdom, though – I will take your advice and be subtle, than. In the future, if I have issues with someone – if they need a killing, or to be blooded quietly… yes; you are right, to act the way I behaved was very foolish of me,” he adds with a small frown, but does sound very sincere.
”So, to ease your mind, and that of our company - in the future, I will certainly not be as obvious or brutal in front of witnesses,” he says with a friendly smile.
”Thank you again for your wisdom. I am glad we understand each other, and – as always, I respect your advice and friendship,” he says clapping Dhaavan warmly on the shoulder.
”When we sail for Bloodcove, Piper and I shall be at work on The Lady and by the time we reach that port, our ship shall be as good as new, I hope,” he adds with some modest enthusiasm.
”As for you – will you be staying on The Lady to continue crafting in your lab? Or will you be on the other ship?” he asks curiously, spitting once into a small spittoon in the corner.
"There's minor damage here, so It's yer call whether or not yea bring piper along wit'yea or leave her here on the lady ta see to our home. Same as Amen-set as I see it. Saw her talking with Rain, so it could be good ta give em some time ta get ta be friends." Dhaavan's not exceptionally concerned regarding where Flynn's mates spend the duration of their voyage, as they'll be together again in Bloodcove, and it's note really something he needs to meddle in at the moment. That said, he did assign Riisa to the Sabanlot with Flynn already.
"Back to the problematic subject tho, when there's fighting, the blood runs hot, but after it fades. Seein yer beastie fall, and Cap'n kill herself, it shakes yea to the core. How ya think we got them recruits from the Aspes ship, even these folk? They were scared, an we offered em safety, an a friendly face. Folk like ta be on the winnin side though they don't like ta admit it. It's my job ta convince em that it's ok an that there's nothin wrong with joinin up, an that they'll be happy here, when the dust settels, yea know?"
"When they loose and lay down their arms, they leave themselves at our mercy. they stop fighting and hating us, and start secretly prayin for their lives. When that's met with mercy, kindness, they fall right in line with the open arms to catch them and keep them safe when they're so desperate." Dhaavan's voice is soft, and his words tender, seeming to sympathize with the people that he is clearly manipulating at their weakest. "Then when ya go an give em sommat to fear, and revile, they get their fight back. They get stronger and resist. They're no longer in need, but rather have an enemy to face. I don't rule by fear, I don't want to try any more. It's hard, it's dangerous, and it's just not as fun! can't relax when yer keepin' ever'one frightened o yea." Pshaw, seriously dude being a grump is such a pain...
"You yerself admited yea don't like all o' what yer becomin, so stop. Lighten up. The dark parts, the messiness... That's jest part o' the business. Ya don't need ta dwell on it." Pragmatic, shrugging off what turns most men's stomachs, Dhaavan smilea hopefully, trying ease Flynn into new attitude that he may find enjoyable.
** spoiler omitted **...
Horatio smiles at Dhaavan.
"Do not fear for my actions again about... being a grump?" he adds with a small chuckle.
"When I see an enemy - in the future, I can promise you that I shall restrain my bloodlust."
”To be honest, I am very comfortable with working with you on The Lady,” he says with a quiet voice.
”I think your decision to remain here is very sensible, especially if you are crafting things.”
”After all, if the enemy decides to mutiny – unlikely as that seems, though possible – you would be forced to fight or flee – and your crafting projects and their components would be destroyed, likely – as well as your lab; which you would need to be moving over to other ship.”
”Amen-set will also enjoy your company here, I suspect, as she will also be working with me, as I would not allow her to be trapped aboard a ship full of cutthroats,” he adds with an ironic grin.
He will cast the butt of the now extinguished cigar over the side.
”Your determination to work well with others, despite issues you may have with them, does my heart good,” he says softly.
”But of course, I will not be leaving this ship to go with those godless scum.”
”If I do – well… I trust neither them, nor myself, if we are so close together. The seas can be a terrible place. If I traveled with them, I shudder to think of the consequences.”
He smells the sea air, and sighs.
”I will say what you already know, though – when we formed the pact which you observe now we decided that there needed to be a “captain” for the good of the rank and file folk.”
”It was stated that none of us would have dominion over the other; no matter what title or rank we possessed. We are all equal – if, for morale, we must play the dull game of pretense and declare praises in public to a person for the title they wear to placate the needs of the crew; than that is the way things must be done, I suppose,” he adds with a bored voice.
”But do not assume that my actions will be ordered by another, on account of their say-so simply because they wear a title.”
”I was ready to sail with the Rahadoum folk at first when they would be our prisoners. After all, why should I fear them? I saw no specific difference between my actions and those of the others."
And I did not think for a moment that after we chased them for days – attacked their ship – robbed them of their goods, gear, lives and vessel – that my decision to cut a few corpses with an axe and taste the flesh of a dead magical beast would be the catalyst alone to draw their ire.”
”But clearly the gods see things differently.”
He smiles.
”In any case, it seems I alone bear the brunt of their full hatred; clearly all see things that way.”
”Indeed, even our goodly captain has seen fit to defend them from my angry thoughts. He has even taken great effort to offer them protection from my actions, going so far as to try to order my very emotions by to be bereft of sincerity around those scum.”
He shrugs.
”Do not fear, I say these things only to you – and to remind you that he has no more right to tell me what to do; how to act; where to go; what to think; and how to feel than… for example… he has a right to control the actions of the good Miss Rain when she is at the helm, - or, if you prefer, to attempt to control your actions in a melee, should we be attacked again.”
He turns away, and his tone changes, and it becomes a bit more bitter, rather than before.
”I would rather that he spoke to me – man-to-man, and we talked to each other as men would; getting these concerns out in the open; addressing them rationally – or at least, attempting to.”
”But that did not happen. It seems he feels such actions to be beneath him.”
”Oh well… it cannot be helped, eh?” he adds with a dry smile, brightening a bit.
He sighs again, stretching in the night.
”Now you know that I will stay on our ship and why."
"During that time I will repair our ship and I will do what I can to man the guns; and if the enemy should attempt something; than we shall be ready to attack the enemy ship to offer those on it protection with ranged weapons.”
”That said – I would recommend that you leave the members of the gun crew near their posts. They are better suited at manning the guns, after all.”
”I would also recommend you stay here – and have the best melee fighter in the party – and clearly well-appreciated by the Rahadoum – to sail with that ship as their formal leader. He has promised them gold; they will not attack him, and if they do - he can kill them two at a time before they swing a single blade; while you have a lab to worry about, and gear to craft,” he adds.
”Of course, these are only suggestions, not orders. But they are offered, for what they’re worth.”
He shakes his head, suddenly confused.
"It seems so reasonable to suggest these ideas - I cannot understand why they are not only ignored, but contrary actions are attempted."
"I tell you, if a wiser course was suggested- if there was a good reason to put your lab on another ship filled with prisoners for crafting; a good reason to put the chief gunner on a ship without guns; a good reason to put a man hated by some prisoners as close to the prisoners as possible, and at the same time to put an elf who has taken great pains to work with those prisoners as far from them as possible... I simply do not understand the reasoning behind those choices."
"Oh well," he says with sudden smile.
”I suppose my understanding doesn't matter."
"But I shall be remaining here to fix our ship and man our guns. We may be attacked, and not just by the Rahadoum folk; there are older and fouler things in the depths of the sea than pirates..."
"And, by Milani, if that should happen, I shall make them bleed for it."
"But that won't happen if you place the gunner on a gunless ship" he says dryly, spitting into the sea.
i set the scene at the begining of this conversation. we've been talking in your qarters below deck this whole time, and i asked amen-set and piper to give us some privacy. so it's jsut us behind closed doors. no worries about eves-droppers
[redacted]
Your reasoning makes sense.
Than you for explaining it better.
I will have something up soon, then. Certainly by the morning.
don't worry about it. FLynn on the lady is fine. maybe it'd be good for the new guys to see a softer side of flynn. i'll have a responce tomorrow at some point to reflect my sentiments
Assuming Horatio lives that long.
Fever's and Horatio don't do well...
They also tend to make him... grumpy ;)
oh crap, he's gonna be sick again isn't he... ADULAR!!! REMOVE DISEASE STAT!!!
oh crap, he's gonna be sick again isn't he... ADULAR!!! REMOVE DISEASE STAT!!!
Sometime after sundown Piper will find you.
"Yeah, yeah it's me... Well anyhow mate, the thing is... that little desert blondy girl? She keeps pestering me all the time, you know... she's all looking to know if you liked her "package" - heh-heh... So anyhow, if you can just tell me "Aye" you liked it or "Nay" you didn't that'd be damn fine, either way, mate," she says with a roll of her eyes.
"I mean - if the gift ain't yer cup o' tea - that's all fine with me lad, but she keeps with the pestering... and it's driving me bloody batty! Now, if you don't like it, she'll probably fix you something else, though... If you liked it fine - she'll likely make you something like it, only with more bang, savvy?"
Than she loiters around, curious to get a "yes" or "no" so she can go tell Amen-set and get this nonsense over with.
"Aye, I do appreciate em. That last fight had me busy summoning, but havin more options ta do while invisible is always a boon." Dhaavan responds, adding, "I'm sorry she's been pestering ya..."
[Ooc]A DC 13 sense motive check from Amen-set...
Dhaavan entertains her notions about elemental spirits and nature beings and such. He does reveal that such entities do not have enough to offer him as he as seen, and he chooses his patrons for his own reasons. His gods are right for him, but others have their own reasons which are valid.
He does chuckel at her teasing, acting playfully patronizing in reply. As far as work goes, she does get assignments, easy ehough things like watching lines for riggers and such, but necessary tasks. As such, the crew sees her pulling her own weight even as she has time for some of her crafting and the occasion to chat.
** spoiler omitted **
** spoiler omitted **
”On thank the gods!” she says with an exasperated wave of her hands, and turns on her heel and leaves with an exasperated sigh, muttering that she didn’t join a pirate crew to run into these types of “shenanigans”…
After observation you have deduced that Amen-set has a clear and distinct difference in her personality.
In the day she is serious, respectful, dignified – for the most part.
At night she is wilder, more rambunctious, more care-free.
Meanwhile - she shows less respect for the concept of “organized religion”; claiming that the world of the gods is too big to put in a box and to ascribe such powers to gods seems fairly strange and unusual to her.
Her sailing tasks are better than most and she seems to be doing fairly well with them as a whole.
She has an easy way with the crew in terms of her actions; but generally doesn’t speak with them much. If someone needs help, she is there to help them. If someone needs something done, she will help to; she is helpful, but fairly quiet with them, despite her actions with them.
You can’t tell if she is doing this to curry favor with the crew – or perhaps she is doing it because she knows if the people on the ship don’t like her, she may be in trouble – she may be doing it because she is trying to “game” people by being nice to them and later manipulate them – but you get the general opinion that (despite her teasing you and bemoaning your stupid chores and how she has to do your work because you’re clearly so “weak”) – she is doing extra work and helping others simply because that is her personality; to try to take care of people, regardless of how they act toward her.
"When I was a young elf, my grandfather taught me to look to the heavens and gauge our position by the stars that were present or visible. I was already fascinated by their beauty and their hidden power, so the practical teachings only enhanced my respect for the gifts of the heavens. With my grandfather's guidance, I could discern one constellation from another. Some, unlike you and I, cannot see the value of the stars apart from their outward beauty."
When Amen-set's dialogue turned to the gods, or the great father she obviously worshipped, Rain listened intently, hoping to learn more about the girl from the east.
"The gift of healing is a wondrous thing and one I do not discount. That you possess such a gift is an asset and blessing. It will be most useful as we sail and court adventure and danger. Never fear speaking your god's name to me. I may worship different gods, yet I understand the connection to higher, divine powers."
Turning the conversation to a lighter subject after such a laborious Officers' meeting, "I am gladdened to hear that you can swim. Being that we spend most of our days and nights on the ocean, it is an imperative skill and could mean life and death out here on the water." Rain looks out across the dark, gently rippling water. "I would hear what other skills you possess, Amen-set. I may need to call upon you one day and I would be armed with knowledge." Rain bestows a gentle smile on the girl.
"And to answer your question, aye, I am indeed more warrior than fair maid with gentle skills. I am an only child and grandfather's heir. He lost his only son, my father, and so I had a responsibility to live up to and my grandfather believed I required more than a general woman's education in this long life. I agreed, and so I was trained and tutored accordingly."
When Amen-set moved about her with spear, meaning to spar, Rain gave a short laugh and pulling her trident from her back, began to meet and move with Amen-set in the name of amusement. No other had attempted such a thing with her, these months past, and at first she had been taken aback and then gave in to the spirited girl. At the end of their weapon play, Rain inclined her head in bow. "You are a fine opponent, Amen-set."
When the girl asked after beer, Rain shook her head and laughed low again, "In truth, I do not know for I do not drink beer. The quartermaster, Seijiro, may know, if you would like me to ask him on your behalf? I have a taste for wine, sweet wine, made from summer fruits."
Rain noticed Amen-set's questions about the sorceror. Dhaavan had an admirer, it seemed, even though the girl was attempting to persuade her that she was not interested in the small human man. "Dhaavan has been occupied crafting various items for those onboard. After the Officers' meeting he may have returned to his quarters to do some more work. I do not see much of him as a general rule throughout my day as I am at the helm and he is indoors. And aye, he is not as physically strong as others but he has his strengths in our areas."
"And we persevered against the Rahadoumi. By the gods' grace and by the strength and skill of our people. If you would like to drink to our victory, then come, let us go below and see what drink we may find." Rain gestures for Amen-set to take the lead and she would follow, clearly amused by the girl's spirit and intrigued by the layers she had yet to uncover.
** spoiler omitted **...
She looks at you with a bit of a grin.
”I worship the Great Father – he needs no name but that,” she says with a sincere innocence.
She thinks a moment, regarding you.
”My hatey-a', he says you worship the goddess of the ocean?” she asks, with a curious tone, watching you a bit.
It seems like she is suddenly about to launch in to a bit boisterous discussion on her “god” – such as it is. But she cuts herself off; not wanting to offend anyone, and knowing that discussion on Faith can be complex, and often times hurt friendship’s rather than help them.
However, you get the distinct impression she will answer any specific question you may have about her faith; but she is not entirely sure about volunteering such information.
She looks at the stars.
”The stars are good sekhrey, aye – as I said, my teachers said the stars “Show the Way” – they guide us home, and guide us forward, and some men can read them and divine truths yet to have come from their place in the heavens,” she adds with a nod.
Amen-set gives you a sly look when you ask on her skills.
”I can do many things, sekhrey,” she says with a little smile.
”I can speak the tongues of my mentors; and those of the men from the east, as well as the words of the fire beasts,” she adds with a soft voice.
”I can sail better than many men, yes - and I heal besides…” she purses her lips, thinking a moment.
”I can make things, some things, which aid me in my passions.”
”But that passion is Fire, for fire is in my heart. I love the flame, and the light, and the color of fire, it gives me pleasure… and it aids me in work, and it is – besides – a gift from the Great Father,” she adds with a sage nod.
Than she smiles wider, and laughs aloud.
”Oh sekhrey, while the Great Father sleeps we must not be so serious; now is the time for mirth and fun, eh?” she adds.
As she says that, she begins to spar – and during the sparring, you would see her watch you very closely, especially paying attention to your footwork, and using her shield better to protect herself better from your “blows”.
She will call out to Horus, to aid her and give her cover, but the stately Falcon looks down on you both, than turns his head to the side and deliberately does not help, instead, he begins to preen, making her laugh at his over-serious dignity.
She hears your compliment at her fighting skill as she bounces up laughing.
”My thanks sekhrey, and you are not so bad yourself,” she says with a grin.
Hearing your question for her to go below, she thinks on that for a moment, than shakes her head.
”Nay, not quite yet – the night is still young, eh? We can stay above for a while longer, and watch the stars above and the waves below.”
”Come,” she says in a somewhat imperious tone, as if used to command, but she doesn’t let that tone linger, and instead turns to lead you to the prow of the ship, beckoning you behind her.
Assuming you follow, she will lead you to the far forward of the ship and climb into the rigging, indicating that you do the same near her.
When you do, she leans back and gets comfortable as if she is leaning against a hammock. Then, as she is comfortable, she watches the seas split between the push of your prow into the waves.
”Ah, this is good,” she says with a grin.
”A cold beer would taste fine; and perhaps a smoke. Yet I do not know what would be best – my tongue now craves the taste of hemp – I learned its flavor when sailing with men out of Sothis… they like it with beer… For me, smoke from fire can give your mind visions, and make it see things it does not see often…”
She wriggles a bit, getting more comfortable.
”But it is said that it can dull your wits in battle; so perhaps I will not indulge in it… for I wish to be very good in battle,” she adds sincerely.
She hears your comment about sweat drinks, and nods.
”I sailed with a Halfling once that was a slave from Cheliax – he had escaped, you see – he preferred the taste of fermented sugar cane; he called it “rum”. It was very strong, but very sweet… he mixed it with pulped limes and coconut milk and used a spell to make it very cold.”
She grins.
”I do not drink much sweet things; they make me crave too many comforts, perhaps – but I did like that drink!”
She turns to you.
”Tell me, sekhrey, do the sailors of these waters enjoy also the taste of “rum”?” she asks curiously.
Then, she gets comfortable, and prepares herself to hear any tale or news you would share, or answer any question you may have.
As Amen-set watches you comfortably from her position in the rigging, she turns a bit examine the stars.
She suspects you are enjoying the view, and considering what exactly it is you are thinking about before you speak.
Though she does not wish to distract your thoughts, she feels somewhat moved by the view.
Sensing that you were curious about her faith, but also feeling that such conversations can be awkward, yet wishing to at least respond to your query in some fashion, her mind tacks to a possible solution.
Experimentally, she begins to hum softly, than begins to sing a song of worship she learned as a child…
I rise each day, to Sun above,
I feel the fire; I feel the love,
I kneel below, to kiss the sky
He lifts me up, so I can fly –
The dawn has come –
- can you feel the kiss?
The fire burns;
… an apocalypse
Welcome to a new day – to a new day;
Welcome to a new day – to a new day…
I rise from prayer,
I grip my spear,
The Father calls; now war is here
I rush to fight,
To join the light,
Now it comes, the fire burning bright
The dawn has come –
- can you feel the kiss?
The fire burns;
…an apocalypse
Welcome to a new day – to a new day;
Welcome to a new day – to a new day…
My spirit… bright
Ignites inside…
My heart feels… light
The Darkness… dies
Welcome to a new day – to a new day;
Welcome to a new day – to a new day…
Welcome to the New Day…
Noticing Amen-set attempt to move the conversation away from the gods, Rain simply nods and replies briefly, "Aye, Besmara is one of the gods I worship. The other is Gozreh, born of the ocean's fury and the wind's wrath; god of the storm and sky and goddess of the wave and surf."
After Amen-set describes some of her skills, Rain listens and takes note of her reference to the fire beasts. "Do you mean dragons? I have heard of them from old songs and stories; folklore and legend."
Amen-set's admiration and affiliation to fire felt like her own connection to water. "Fire means death on a ship. Sailors do not care for it. I understand its merits and I respect your connection to it. For me, it is water. Sometimes I wonder why I was not born with fins, gills or a tail." Rain winks at the girl and softly laughs. "I could swim before I could walk. I respect the water; for it can nurture life and also take it away. Its depths and leagues hold mysteries and power." Rain's turquoise eyes take on a faraway look and she is lost in silent musings for a few seconds.
When Amen-set declines the go below but instead climbs the rigging, commanding Rain to follow, she does so with easy, graceful footfalls and hand placements. Soon Rain is leaning back against the ropes as Amen-set is. Neither seems worried they will fall. Rain had heard the imperious tone and wondered at it for Amen-set had said she had been a slave freed by Flynn. Perhaps there was more to Amen-set's story. Rain did not push the subject; instead simply listening to Amen-set's disclosures.
"Pardon my inquiry, but I must ask. You told me you were enslaved, but from what I have just heard, you seemed to have access to certain liberties unlike slaves I have heard of. Were you highly valued by those who would call themselves your masters?" Rain despised the word master for she abhorred any form of slavery, so saying the word felt awkward and unsavoury.
"I do not drink beer nor smoke. I did not develop a taste for either in my long life. Perhaps one of Flynn's gunmen may have possess hemp but I am unsure of such things. These mind visions you speak of, are they like the ones which come to seers?"
When Amen-set mentions rum, Rain laughs and then grows serious. "Aye, rum is prevalent in these parts. I do not partake, even when a captain once attempted to force the drink on me on more than one occasion. Harrigan. It was a foul-concoction which drove one's wits from their head. But I do enjoy the taste of coconut milk very much. I even use it to cook with; well I did back home."
After a momentary pause as both of them looked upon the open sky and stars, Rain heard Amen-set begin to hum and sing a song. Closing her eyes, Rain lost herself in the lyric and melody, in the sway of the ship, the movement of the breeze and rigging. "You have a fine voice and I enjoyed your song very much. You sang of your fire ... and you sang with such heart that I felt your passion for it. It sounds like a warrior's song. Is it?"
** spoiler omitted **...
Noticing Amen-set attempt to move the conversation away from the gods, Rain simply nods and replies briefly, "Aye, Besmara is one of the gods I worship. The other is Gozreh, born of the ocean's fury and the wind's wrath; god of the storm and sky and goddess of the wave and surf."
”Ah – Gozreh… she sounds like a fine goddess… very fierce! I like that,” she adds with a pleased nod.
”Yet you worship no gods, only goddesses? And they are both of the sea…” she digests that a moment, but says nothing more, not sure as to how far she can speak on matters of faith.
After Amen-set describes some of her skills, Rain listens and takes note of her reference to the fire beasts. "Do you mean dragons? I have heard of them from old songs and stories; folklore and legend."
She gives you a suddenly appraising look; almost sly, you might think.
”Aye… “dragons”. Some same them so; they are called draconarii – that is the word for them, in their own tongue… so I have been told,” she adds, watching you closely, but says no more on that subject.
Amen-set's admiration and affiliation to fire felt like her own connection to water. "Fire means death on a ship. Sailors do not care for it. I understand its merits and I respect your connection to it. For me, it is water. Sometimes I wonder why I was not born with fins, gills or a tail." Rain winks at the girl and softly laughs. "I could swim before I could walk. I respect the water; for it can nurture life and also take it away. Its depths and leagues hold mysteries and power." Rain's turquoise eyes take on a faraway look and she is lost in silent musings for a few seconds.
She regards you a moment, clearly not sure about how to proceed regarding your views on fire.
”Fire can mean death; aye – but in the icy winds it means warmth. With raw meat it means cooked meals – with darkness it means light – it means many things, sekhrey – but I do not fear fire so much. It is a great gift, and if treated with reverence, it will not be so bad, even on a ship, I think,” she adds, almost to herself.
"Pardon my inquiry, but I must ask. You told me you were enslaved, but from what I have just heard, you seemed to have access to certain liberties unlike slaves I have heard of. Were you highly valued by those who would call themselves your masters?" Rain despised the word master for she abhorred any form of slavery, so saying the word felt awkward and unsavoury.
She grunts in disgust.
”Ha! No – not so. Their priests could discern I am virgin – so they did not have their way with me, for they said I would be more profit if sold unsullied to some… But I was only a prisoner to be a slave for a matter of… I think maybe… three, maybe four weeks. Most of that was overland.”
”My ship put in against the coast for supplies – I was captured by Mwangi tribesman. They carried our crew to different places – I was taken south and west, and arrived in Bloodcove the very day my hatey-a' came to free me.”
”I was fortunate – the scum did not deem it good to “break me” – for they felt it would be better for my new master to do that. Never fear, though – they died badly for their dishonor,” she adds with an angry light in her eyes.
"I do not drink beer nor smoke. I did not develop a taste for either in my long life. Perhaps one of Flynn's gunmen may have possess hemp but I am unsure of such things. These mind visions you speak of, are they like the ones which come to seers?"
”Aye – to an extent… some herbs, if burned, in certain rituals – they can cause visions to occur; they open the mind better to dreams and prophecy,” she says giving you a look, as if guessing something, but saying nothing.
”For ritual alone I will do that; I was tempted to taste the hemp that the men from Osirion smoked – but truly, I believe it dulls my wits to fight – I cannot let that happen, for that is a dishonor and it would shame the Great Father if I dulled my wits of a purpose… That is why I only taste of beer at night; for that is when the Great Father is sleeping,” she says, giving you a smile that demonstrates she is quite sincere in her belief about the Great Father “sleeping”.
When Amen-set mentions rum, Rain laughs and then grows serious. "Aye, rum is prevalent in these parts. I do not partake, even when a captain once attempted to force the drink on me on more than one occasion. Harrigan. It was a foul-concoction which drove one's wits from their head. But I do enjoy the taste of coconut milk very much. I even use it to cook with; well I did back home."
”Aye, aye – yes… to dull the wits brings shame. This “Harrigan” – I have heard of him others on this ship. It seems he yet lives, though his dog "Plugg" was killed. This is not good... will you find and seek this “Harrigan” and kill him, too?” she asks seriously.
”If so – I shall help you. I do not love slavers or men like him, and besides – you are now my friend; for I have claimed you as such. Therefore, your enemies are my enemies – if you wish to kill this man, I shall help you,” she adds with a matter-of-fact tone which is very innocent as well as sincere.
After a momentary pause as both of them looked upon the open sky and stars, Rain heard Amen-set begin to hum and sing a song. Closing her eyes, Rain lost herself in the lyric and melody, in the sway of the ship, the movement of the breeze and rigging. "You have a fine voice and I enjoyed your song very much. You sang of your fire ... and you sang with such heart that I felt your passion for it. It sounds like a warrior's song. Is it?"
”Ah! My thanks, sekhrey!” she adds with a happy smile.
”A warrior song?” she muses.
”I do not know – it is a song my mentor’s sang to me as a babe to help me sleep… I suppose warriors do sing it – but for me, it reminds me of peace; duty; honor; and the blessings of the Great Father.”
She looks at you for a moment.
”Tell me – it is said elves have the gift of great passion – sing me, if you will – a song from your youth. I would like to hear one, if you would,” she asks, curious to know what you will share.
"Gozreh is a dualistic god of nature - having both male and female aspects; the god rules the sky and the goddess the ocean. The goddess appears as a young and beautiful woman with wild green hair merging with the sea. The god appears as a weathered old man with a long white beard merging with a storm cloud. Gozreh rules over the heavens and the seas. Besmara is the Pirate Queen goddess and worshipped by sailors of the Shackles or Ilizmagorti. I was born on an auspicious day and it has been said that I have been marked by Besmara for a greater destiny. I cannot say what this destiny is but I do know I feel more at home on the sea than on land."
Rain listened quietly as Amen-set elaborated further on her time as a slave and her reverence of fire. She felt the natural sway of the Lady beneath her and the ropes of the rigging holding her like hammock above the deck.
"Captain Barnabas Harrigan is not a man I admire or respect. He has no regard for life and has caused me and my fellow officers more than a fair amount of trouble and harm. One day we will encounter Harrigan again and we shall go into combat, ship to ship, and I will do all in my power to defeat him and send him down to Besmara to do as she will with his wretched soul. This is my pledge." Rain's eyes shine with a vivid turquoise.
At Amen-set's claim of friendship, Rain is brought to the here and now and shakes off her hatred of Harrigan and looks across at the girl. In a restored calm voice, Rain responds, "If we are to be friends, then I would see no harm come to you. Your loyalty is respected by me, however."
When the girl requests a song from her youth, Rain is transported to a different time, of family and long-standing friends. "If it is a song you seek, then perhaps I can sing you one. The words sound sweeter in my Elvish tongue but I shall sing it in Common."
Oh Mother Ocean, Daughter Sea,
Come away, Come away
Leave the shore behind us,
bid farewell to this gentle bay.
The wind he blows, the sails are full
Come away, Come away,
Take us to a different land
even though we wish to stay.
Stars and Moon, Sun and Skies,
Come away, Come away,
Beauty abounds as voice breaks
This is where my head will lay.
Oh Father Sky, Brother Storm
Come away, Come away
Hear this fervent wish,
And give me just one day.
The water rocks, lulling are her arms,
Come away, Come away,
Let sleep find peace and destiny
in the cool, loving sway.
Come away, Come Away.
** spoiler omitted **...
Amen-set listens to Rain speak of her faith.
”Aye – in many ways your gods are like my own," she says seriously.
”My mentors speak often of the duality of all life; they suggest that there is a male and female aspect of all things – that each aspect should be embraced, both as unique, but as a part of a greater whole… there are male and female aspects in all things, in that respect; but if they are not conjoined, the complete image is not… and it lacks something.”
She purses her lips a bit at your concept of the sky’s male aspect – and his appearance.
”For us, it is different, I think.”
”We see the Great Father as a figure of gold – shining so bright it would blind you to look on him. In his left hand is a mighty shield of flame; and his right hand a spear – like a beam of light,” she adds, as she hefts her spear a bit.
”The spear is like the first ray of light which breaks the horizon and streaks toward us like a finger… that is, I suppose, why the weapon is so chosen…”
”He is akin to man, for he covers the Great Mother – the land below. She is the female; for the male is the harsher of the two – the fighter and aggressor; and the female is the life-giver and mother.”
”So we find life, and take nourishment, from the earth and sea – even as fire and wind can destroy those things.”
”Also,” she says with a bit of a blush ”it is a symbol for the place of mating – for the gods are like male and female; when the female is laid beneath the male… His rays nourish the female and cause her to blossom under his touch; he teases the waters with the breath of his wind; and warms the earth with the heat of his touch.”
”The earth – the female; after feeling his touch, the whispers of his winds, the kisses of his rains, and the heat of his touch… when she feels these things on her, she opens herself and life can spring forth,” she says, her hands pressed together than opening up in front of her like a slowly unfolding book; miming the blossom of life.
She clears her throat a bit, and seems a little embarrassed, and than changes the subject.
”But god things are very big – there are other things you spoke of.”
”You spoke of destiny, eh? My mentors spoke of that, too.”
”They say one of my kindred lays far to the northlands, and they were charged with brining her into her inheritance…” she adds, leaning in a bit covertly.
”Supposedly, this girl is of a similar type to me – yet not the same. Our blood is as if it was… cousins?” she says, experimentally.
”They say that, like me, she is also fierce and proud and a good warrior… and like me she is destined to have a great fortune unfold; yet what that is for her, or for me – I do not know.”
”But in any case, my mentors were called to her with prophecy; so they traveled with colonists from the lands near Sothis – they were to have traveled very, very far north – and there they would find her, and join with her and her followers.”
She shrugs a bit.
”I asked if we may be sisters – but my mentors said that was not likely; for she was much older than I am, it seems… and this alone would divide our parentage. I do not know their meaning, but I suppose it is of little consequence,” she adds with a sigh.
She listens to your words about Harrigan, and nods with a ruthless look in her eyes, even as her lips smile with some grim thought.
”The honor is mine; I say – to join with you in battle against this villain – he shall feel the full weight of both sun and sea – and when he is done with, we shall not bury him in the water to pollute it; nor burn his flesh so that the fire carries his spirit to the heavens and trouble the sky above – we shall cut him into pieces and feed his remains to dogs… than it may be said – In death, he accomplished more than he did with life; for in death he at least made for his betters a good meal!” than she laughs and you can sense that although some of that is a bluster; she is clearly willing to kill your enemies and help you fight them.
She says nothing more as she listens to your song – thinking deeply on it, and enjoying the multiple levels of pleasure it gives her. When you are finished, she slams the butt of her spear against the deck.
”That is a fine song! I am blessed to have heard it,” she says sincerely.
”Thank you for sharing it with me – I enjoyed it very much. It was an honor and a pleasure to hear you sing it,” she adds, pleased by your trust and your growing friendship.
After a moment's contemplation, Rain turns to Amen-set, "Do you have a desire to meet this distant relation in the far northlands, this cousin like you but unlike you? It is intriguing to me. If it were I in your place, I would entertain the idea. But I must admit to a burning curiosity regarding such things."
When the conversation turns back to Harrigan, Rain slowly nods her head. "When the time comes, we shall all battle side by side against this wretched man and we shall defeat him. I believe the gods will this of me, of us."
"And Amen-set, I am happy that you enjoyed the song I sang. My grandmother used to sing it to me each night before bed. It is an old favourite." Rain's mind drifts to her grandparents and a time much simpler than the present.
** spoiler omitted **
The girl thinks for a bit on your words on the gods.
”Your gods seem more like the god-kings of Sothis; for they were men of power who used sorcery and… other methods… to achieve greater power to hold the dominion over many. Yet they could be killed in battle; and they were not all-powerful, but only men who took such great powers with magic that it seemed as if they were like gods…”
She looks as if she will say more, but suspects such conversations might be offensive, and changes the subject.
”Ah? You speak of the northlands, eh?” she asks tentatively.
”Such lands are very far, it is said – and only by magic or long journey would I get there. My mentors and there folk traveled by magic,” she adds with a somewhat confused and helpless gesture.
”But I cannot assume that this person is, to me, one who is kindred.”
”You are an elf; yet there are elves in the deep desert, too. They are very tall, and their skin is darker, their hair is black and they can run for days without end. Yet they are also elf – like you – but so much that they are not like you, to meet them it would seem that they would be kin to you – but not kin to you…” she says with a small sigh.
”I fear that if I travel north, I may meet this kindred – and discover… what? That even our very heart is so removed that we are different in nature. I like the heat of the desert, and the flame besides – it gives me peace; comfort – what of this kindred? What would they desire – as they live in the north; perhaps they are in love with cold?”
”And what of our passions?” she adds with a frustrated, almost guilty, tone.
”To sail on these waters and take ships is theft – to kill men for loot is killing; now I do not mind such things, overmuch, for I think our great morals are like garments we wear to cover our own self-doubts… but, what would happen if I travel north and find this person to be a disgusted with my actions as a corsair? When they hear of my exploits, they may say to me – Faugh! Do not speak to me of kindred blood! Thou art a rogue and a villain; and thou must face my wrath!” – and so there may be trouble,” she adds with a shake of her head.
She hears your thought on battle, and seems more comforted by them.
”Yes – killing that man will be good, I think – but there are many we may kill before than and now, eh?” she says seriously.
”We shall take our spear and shield and go forth to battle; we shall look on those who stand before us – and we shall fight them, or die with honor!” she says, thumping the butt of her spear on her shield.
She turns to you a moment.
’Ah! Do not mistake me – we shall not attack them as assasins, but instead we shall be bold and attack them with skill and cunning. We shall declare ourselves first – and there will be battle, but it shall be open – face-to-face… like the actions of true warriors,” she adds with some enthusiasm, though it is clear that other things are on her mind.
She says little for a while and hearing your words about your grandparents, she seems to be even more distressed.
Finally, she speaks.
”Truly I feel very alone sometimes,” she says sadly.
”My mentores loved me; aye – but they were not of my blood, or my race – I am yet still an orphan, and I have no true family.”
She seems much more quiet, and almost lonely at this point.
”I am glad to be your friend, but – if you would permit it – I think I will also call you “ senet” – if you permit it,” she says softly.
"Loneliness is a stone we carry through life, especially if we have no roots or ties. Aye, I have blood kin, near and dear to me. Yet family can be forged in other ways; from hardships and in the course of mutual journeys. Amen-set, with your freedom, you have the opportunity to form your own family; to love, trust and respect."
Rain hesitates in answering the girl until she knows the meaning of her words. "What does the word senet mean? I apologise for asking for translation, but alas I do not speak your tongue."
Once the girl answers, Rain will draw a deep breath, relishing the ocean air, and looking up into the sky and stars, then she will speak. "I prefer fighting face to face. If one declares their intent and the other side rejects it, then all there is left is to battle it out with honour. Even as pirates, we live by a code. Some like Harrigan and Plugg do as they please, selfish in their intent and motive. They revile honour. Our lot are not like them. We do not kill for sport or pleasure. We pursue, declare intent and then attack. We do not rape nor butcher in the name of blood thirst or other maladies."
Remembering what Amen-set had said about her northland cousin and the perception she may have of a pirate, Rain nods solemnly. "Pirates are considered to possess a certain unsavoury ilk due to the actions of a few terrible free captains and their crews. For your kin to then judge you based on a mere perception or assumption is simply unjust. No creature is alike, even born to the same race or creed. I hope if you meet this person one day, that she will give you opportunity to explain your situation and accept it for what it is. You deserve such consideration."
** spoiler omitted **
Amen-set regards you for a moment, after your comments about honor.
”I hear you; but I do not understand much of what you mean…” she begins tentatively.
”All say that a corsair is a thief; for they take what they wish, and any oppose them shall perish,” she says, trying to understand.
”Now, you suggest that corsairs are divided into two sides, like the day and night?” she says, pursing her lips.
”On the one hand; you have a corsair that all know – the thief, the killer, the rapist, the murderer – the man who takes what he wishes and kills who resists,” she says slowly and with distaste.
”However,” she continues, an eager light slowly kindling in her ”You also suggest another sort – this sort is like a warrior who walks the earth, seeking to test his might with duels. He declares himself with challenge, and – when the challenge is accepted, he shall fight with honor until one side shall yield?”
She sits up a bit, getting more excited.
”Than, the one who has yielded is bound to relinquish his weapons – for the law of combat dictates universally that the one who would yield is – by definition – at the mercy of his conqueror.”
”So, having yielded, the conqueror has the right to claim the weapons of the defeated - and what greater weapon to a sailor than his ship?"
"Yet," she says, quickly continuing "having taken his weapons, you also allow him life – yet he must be oathbound to you, for you are his conqueror, and he is allowed life only by your will… As you have given him his life, he is honor bound to obey your commands – if he does not, you are in your rights to kill him where he stands!”
She begins to get excited, swinging herself up on the rigging, swaying with a strange, almost unusual grace, as if falling from the ropes was simply not possible…
”Yet, you are not as the corsairs of the east who prey the coasts from here to Sothis… so instead, your lot gives life, even to the vanquished, for you have mercy and respect them as warriors, even though you bested them,” she adds, as if it is very clear to her now.
She claps her hands with eager glee, as if it has all become clear.
”Ah sekhrey, sekhrey; you have done my heart very good! I had never seen our lot described as you have done so now!”
”Truly, I wish you would say it so to my hatey-a'; for he thinks that corsairs are another sort – more aligned to this Harrigan man you mentioned. Indeed, yes – he believes wholly in the code of a corsair; but his homeland he learned that corsairs are only butchers and rapists and they know only the payment of steel.”
She looks at you with a shrewd glance.
”He calls it “paid in steel” – for to purchase gear the coinage of a corsair is the blade; not gold – and what a corsair wishes to have, they shall take, and that is the proof of it!”
She laughs, but an almost relieved tone in her voice.
”Yet you have shown me another way,” she says, hoping out of the rigging and slowly falling to the deck below with complete and unusual grace.
”Ah – I thank the Great Father for your words sekhrey; for they given me insight – now I can sail with you with a better heart, and feel pride in our purpose – not as killers, but as warriors who test our strength, yet not butcher men for sport, but for skill… and as for our rewards? They are no more fitting than that which is given to any warrior after great battles,” she adds with a wide smile.
In her growing mirth she begins to dance slowly around you.
At first it seems as if she is merely stretching and becoming more comfortable; easing her body and moving into a slow almost fluid series of dance-like poses, which she performs gracefully.
Yet as the dance moves with greater speed, the movements of her body becomes more crisp, more crystalline – until you notice that the movements are now like a very precise martial art; much like the dervish dancers of the east, or other sorts you have not seen...
She moves with a slowly building forms of ritualized movements around you, and than she stops suddenly, watching you – not out of breath; her eyes crinkling.
”Merito mihi spes de igne. Ambulavero in flammam ne Nubila. Ego fulgebunt quasi species æris, non argenti fuisse. Cor meum et gloria mea deserta est cor meum!” she says with loud cry, and raises her fist into the air, smiling proudly at you.
Than, she gets herself comfortable again in the rigging near you, and breathes deeply of the fresh air, reflecting on what you said, a little smile on her face.
After a moment, she suddenly realizes that you had asked her a more direct question…
”Ah – apologies… the word senet – if you would allow it; it means… well, it means “sister”,” she says somewhat softly, her eyes averted from your gaze to stare at the stars above.
"The Hortaio Flynn I once knew was not of like mind to Harrigan or Plugg. He has changed, I have observed. No offence to your liberator, but be mindful of his darker moods."
Rain grows quiet in her thoughtfulness. She is unsure whether Flynn is an appropriate companion for Amen-set, especially now in his darker mantle. Yes, he had braved the slave camp and freed her, and it was a good undertaking. Yet, Rain feared his whole motives. Lately, she had noticed Flynn's blood thirst and it had disturbed her.
When Amen-set starts to dance; first with fluid grace and then speed, and begins to chant her native words unto to the sky, Rain watches perplexed by the ritual and meaning. "Amen-set, why did you perform such a dance, and what is the meaning of the words you spoke? I am curious about both."
Upon Amen-set's disclosure of referring to her as 'sister', Rain bows her head courteously and looks across at Amen-set with vivid turquoise eyes. "You do me honour by your title of 'sister'. I will allow it, Amen-set. In my native tongue, the word for sister is onónë or seler. The former means 'blood-kin'." Rain gives Amen-set a gentle, reassuring smile, noting the blossoming openness between them.
** spoiler omitted **
Amen-set continues to watch the stars above.
”Ah, the movement? Yes – this was taught to me by mentors as girl… You see, each move is very delicate and trains the muscles slowly… by itself, it is no great thing. In time, as the muscles begin to develop the finer condition to master such movement, they learn the steps almost by memory… soon, the muscles remember them very well; and – in time – they are able to perform those movements with greater and greater speed, until it is almost instinct.”
”I have learned many types of “dance” are really the foundations for combat,” she adds thoughtfully.
”I met a sailor once from Andora – a dueling master – he said. He was very good with a blade, and I saw him doing like this, but a different form. He called it “ballet” – and told me that “ballet” was made first to train men in grace, flexibility, form and movement to fight with ease.”
”All steps they learned so their bodies could know the means to lunge, to riposte, to dodge – and many other things. That which I showed you is a similar form.”
She hums softly a bit.
”Hmm? The words – ah; yes… the words,” she says with a little chuckle.
”They are a thing I have been taught, and also learned to say in my youth,” she adds, thinking a moment.
”I say first – From the desert I take hope – this is because the desert is the place where life should not be; it is a death place, no water, no food, sun all day, no green things… yet, despite these hardships, life still lives,” she says thoughtfully.
”Next, I say – I walk in flame, not clouds – because though I worship the Great Father; father of heavens above, my part is to be blessed with fire and hot things – others who worship the Great Father, they worship the softer things, the more remote… clouds, yes?”
”Then I say – I shine like brass, not silver – but, this is because silver is considered more special; more pure, more… precious? I am not these great things; at least, so it may seem by my coloring alone, yes? But I will not be ashamed of who I am, because if I am not as bright as another, why fear? I am proud of me for me; though all the rest of my kind; all humans may be bright as silver, or gold – or what color you like; I am not them and my strength is not to compare myself with them – saying this one is greater than me, and I am angry for it. No, instead I must say that I am myself – no more, no less. I am no greater or lesser than that – I am content, and if not – I must improve myself, but not to outshine another, but only to outshine myself,” she says, confident in her philosophy, although not necessarily in her translation of the words.
”Last I say – My heart is from the desert and my honor is my heart – this is because I must never forget where I come from; a very hard land which has made me – yes. But also, life is the journey I take… each day it is hard, easy, good, bad – but whatever the day is, it makes me a new person each day – that change mold my heart,” she says.
”Even so – my honor is my heart. I must never forget that who I am, and who I have become and what I will be is the part of me that is unseen by men; untouched by steel, by sorcery, by hate, by rage, by anything the gods would send me – in the end, my heart can only be changed or broken by me. Only I allow that – so; my life molds my heart, my heart is inside me and it is that part of me that cannot be touched or changed – my honor is my heart; my heart is that honor part – the part that cannot be touched, but is most important.”
She sighs a bit, as she listens to your words about Horatio.
”My hatey-a' – he is my hatey-a' by the will of the Great Father,” she says simply.
”If his mood is dark – than I think his mood is like his heart, a thing that beats for it is alive and whole – yet where is his heart? A heart cannot be dark of itself, any more than it can be light of itself. It is a heart.”
”To be dark it must be covered in darkness, and to be light, light must shine on it.”
”If we take a little flower and wish it to bloom yet there is no light, it will wither. Very good – than let us shine light upon it, else it will die.”
”I think he has given faith to his goddess, for his mother’s sake – yet his goddess… though she asks him many things that seem good; to fight to free slaves, to fight to overthrow tyrants – he is yet a man who seems to you filled with dark moods.”
”I hear the whispers on the ship – the men they say my hatey-a' says things like – Whoa is me! My friends have turned their backs on me! All things are against me! Life is too hard and crushes on me like the weight of the desert! – they say also he judges harmless actions as if they were great insults, and sees things of darkness even under the noon day sun.”
She shakes her head and rolls her eyes.
”This is so simple to see, I do not know why none saw it before.”
She sighs again, easing in the rigging.
”He worships goddess to honor his mother; but the goddess he worships stole his mother. He gives this goddess honor with his lips, yes? But in his heart, each prayer is to goddess that stole his mother – so how can those prayers be so good?”
”In any case, even if they came from his heart – this goddess; this “Milani” – she is not goddess of freeman and tyrant killers; no – she is goddess of… how you say – ah! She is goddess of “martyrs”.”
She gives you a dry smile.
”Is it so hard to see this? All of his actions are a man who thinks the world is against him and will be against him – because his goddess, if he believes her words true – calls him to die cause of a martyr.”
”Does he not say all are against him? Does he not say that his friends and life abandons him? Does he not risk his life in foolish ways that would get him to die?”
She shakes her head.
”Yes to all these things, I hear. He worships his mother’s goddess; goddess of martyrs and acts like a martyr when he is faithful; when he is not, he is bitter, for the very faith he honors is the reason for his great loss.”
She laces her fingers behind her head.
”Still; beneath it all is his heart, as I said. And, as you said, it is covered in darkness. Very well – I know at least this about him; my hatey-a' has many faults, but his heart is open to wisdom and he has great faith in what he does not see; he needs only good light to guide him.”
”I see your ship has no priest, but the one new to the ship – the half-elf. My hatey-a' does not know him so much. But that is of no matter; for I will talk to him myself; I will show him the wisdom of the desert and I will show him the truth of the Great Father; I will remind him that brass does not shine like silver – but it still shines. And if we cannot be silver or gold and must be brass, we should take pride in that, for all men are so different, that they cannot be compared to each other – a man must only compare himself to himself.”
”If the gods have made us a way, we should not seek to outshine other men; only to outshine ourselves. We should not seek to lament the past – even if our path took us through the heat of the great desert; for though that journey was filled with much pain, still – it made us who we are now, and that is the will of the Great Father – we should rejoice and be glad in our fate.”
She raises her finger to trace star patterns and turns to you.
”You see the stars above, yes? As do I – they mean many things, and in them are written many more,” she says gently.
”But they speak of great fate and destiny. I believe in both Fate and Choice – some say these cannot be the same; for if we are bound to Fate, how can we have Choice, too?”
She snorts in derision.
”Men say those things – not gods. How can man know this answer? But gods know Fate and Choice exist just as day and night exist.”
”But I think my hatey-a' was meant to find me; that was his Fate, as it was my Fate to be found by him. And now that we found each other, I will pray for his ka – his spirit; or maybe you say his heart. I will pray that light shines on it again and that it makes his heart bloom to the light. I will pray that his heart is filled with light, and from light it grows large and whole again.”
She looks back to the sky.
”I am not so wise as many priest – I know this. But I know some wisdom. I will pray for my hatey-a', but I will also teach him the wisdom of my mentors. Soon, I pray, we shall see the man he was meant to be blossom from his heart which is dark,” she adds.
She turns and gives you a sly smile.
”Was it not Fate that moved you lips so? You might have said of my hatey-a' that his heart is “evil” or “bent” or “twisted” – yet you said “dark”. That is a sign to me from my Great Father,” she adds, turning back to the heavens.
”For we are taught that when we see a thing that needs light that it is our duty to shine brightly upon it.”
She continues to watch the stars.
”Thank you honoring me with the title senet – it pleases my heart,” she adds with a sigh of contentment as she wriggles in the rigging.
The girl spoke of so many things -- both strange, curious, comforting and wise all in the same breath. Rain listened without interruption. When at last Amen-set finished speaking and nestled into the rigging more comfortably, Rain began to speak.
"Your combat dances are appealing to me. To possess such grace and flexibility is advantageous aboard a ship. I respect such precise, ingrained agility."
Tracing the clouds and stars in the sky with her eyes, Rain continues, "My own abilities to climb, swim, to move with light step and survive upon these waters have been honed from adolescent elf, as has my talent for navigating and piloting water vessels. Dedication and true purpose can lead a person upon the right path. That you see your honour as your heart is a good and certain thing. Aye, only a person has domain to change or break their heart."
When Amen-set speaks of Flynn's temperament, disposition, act of martyrdom and self-loathing in his veneration of the goddess Milani, Rain understands her meaning well enough. "It is good that Flynn has your wisdom to guide him when he loses the way to his light. I would not call Flynn's heart evil for that would be unfair for the heart is variable, adaptable, resourceful. His heart has a shadow cast over it nowadays, but if your purpose is to teach Flynn how to cast the shadows and darkness aside, then I wholly encourage your endeavours, Amen-set. May you shine brightly, titta seler*. And may Flynn embrace the cleansing light."
** spoiler omitted **
Amen-set looks a bit embarrassed by your comments, and shakes her head.
”Oh no, senet – you are the superior warrior and posses more grace than I do; for I have seen it in battle! Indeed, I envy you of your skill to fight, for it surely brings you much honor.”
She gives a little chuckle.
”It is because I am not skilled as a warrior, such as you, that I train so hard. For me, I must train harder, I think – but I sense it comes to you with greater ease.”
She watches the stars a bit, thinking.
”My mentors say that at birth the gods make all things equal; some have greater gifts in strength, but they lack wisdom or cunning. Some are natural leaders, but they do not know how to fight so well…”
”With my own eyes I have seen much truth in that – though it is fair to say I think some are born with advantages that do elevate them from the common folk, as others are born with disadvantages that leave them unable to move beyond their lot in life.”
”A noble may be gifted with a wealthy parent who hires the best dueling master to teach him to fight; yet the same person – born a slave – would not ever have the chance to learn such skill, I think.”
She sighs, thinking for a while and it seems as if she suddenly wishes to change the subject from matters such as slavery to something more pleasant.
”Ah – you have said you can sail? Good! Very good, indeed! My hatey-a' has said this is true and besides this – I have seen it with my own eyes. Yet he says among all the company you can sail the best.”
She nods at this.
”This is a good thing, I think, and a gift from the Great Father. The skill to navigate comes best from the ability to read the stars – for are they not placed in the heavens above to grant us the knowledge to see great things?” she asks, her tone somewhat rhetorical.
”Of course they are,” she continues, answering her own question.
”The stars show us the way; they grant us light in the darkness – the prophets can see things to come from gazing at the stars."
"Sorcerers and sages of old can study them to learn deep mysteries. The druids and shamans read the stars and study the signs to know when weather changes, and when to plant – surely a person who can read the star signs is great indeed,” she adds with a matter of fact tone and a nod in your direction, acknowledging your skill.
She stretches a bit.
”My hatey-a' feels that one day I too may make a good sailor of ships. He wishes me to learn more on this, for he suspects one day we will have more than one ship to look after. He feels a second on the ship who can navigate and aid in battle would be good. If we also had more than one ship to sail having a skilled sailor at the wheel who cannot fight so good, even as hardier folk rush into battle with an enemy... this is good. For I am not so good of a warrior, but if I stayed behind when others rushed into battle, I could lend aid and guide the ship, perhaps."
”Know that I would not seek to replace you – I do not have the skill or training for that, and further, I do not have that desire. But to aid you? Ahhh... that is another thing. To aid you while on another ship, even as you took the lead of the greatest vessel – senet, I would be honored to sail on your flank and offer you my aid as you lead us into battle,” she says a bit wistfully.
”But I do not know what my true duty will be, nor my true calling. In this, only the Great Father really knows – and he rarely shows us all, for than we would not have a need to learn or live.”
She listens to your words on Horatio, and nods her head vigorously.
”Ah – you have already declared the truth best, senet.”
”You have named his heart “dark”. This is a good word – for it means it cannot grow as it was meant to; it cannot bloom as a flower would, for the light is hidden from it. It reminds us that his heart – like all hearts – has the chance to grow and blossom into strong, good and healthy things. Without light, they wither or grow twisted; bent, yes?”
”His heart is not evil, no – but dark, black; light must shine upon it better, even as you said.”
She looks at you at your words, a bit of a frown on her face.
”No, no senet – do not mistake me. I have some wisdom, and I have some skill in persuading others to a better course, aye – but to best lift darkness would need the help of more than just my skill.”
”It will need the help of all his friends, I deem, not myself alone.”
”You are his friend; he will hear your words better, I think, and he will be more eager to heal if he sees those who he would call friends lifting their light for him as well.”
”I know you would see him better – if you speak to him, I think he will listen to you. If you are not moved to speak to him so soon – I understand this. But in the meantime, perhaps you could offer prayers for his soul, if you do not yet wish to speak to him?”
She looks back at the stars.
”Words are a good thing for friends, senet, but they can only do so much. Yet when words fail, when efforts are not enough – than I feel it wise to turn to the Great Father.”
”After all – good prayers from a faithful heart surely cannot hurt, eh?” she says, looking over at you with a sincere smile.
Thinking a bit, she watches the stars more.
”It is said all men have their calling; I sense you sail for many reasons – but I would guess that in your heart your true calling is to test yourself and earn much honor on the sea. How you gain this honor is not so important that you discover a task and complete it with skill and fortitude.”
”Thus, if you have a challenge placed before you to wipe clean the seas of men like this… this scum… Harrigan – you are given that duty and will do it with passion.”
”If you are called to bring honor to your Family’s House – you will heed that calling and do it with great passion, too, I think; for to help the honor of your House is a great task and it is good.”
”Even helping my hatey-a' is a task filled with much challenge, but it grants honor if you complete it, I think,” she adds a bit uncertainly.
”Still,” she says brightening ”this is guesswork on my part. I do not fully know what spurns your heart or drives your passion.”
”What great deeds do you desire for your own? Would it be to take a mighty ship as a prize? Or perhaps to liberate those who are darkly oppressed? Perhaps you would simply wish to have your ship beneath your complete control – to sail the waves with you as captain and to sail for no other reason than because you can discover what great thing is over the horizon?” she adds eagerly.
”Tell me, senet where does your heart call you?”
"It would do no harm to provide you with more sailing knowledge and teach you to be a capable pilot. Jiro, our quartermaster, has a talent for navigation and steering of ships, as well. It is a fine skill to possess. If Flynn is amiable to you shadowing me in my duties on days he does not require your services, I will attempt to teach you, if you are agreeable."
Having grown silent as she pondered Flynn and his dark heart, Rain looks across the space to Amen-set and admits quietly, "In the past, Flynn and I have had trouble communicating with one another and it has caused more distress than resolution. In the beginning, he and I were friends, but with time and certain events which have come to pass, our friendship has been tested and estranged. If you believe that my speaking with him, aiding him, will help to bring peace to his heart, then I will attempt it. But he is a most stubborn man and has a rigid way of seeing things. I admit too that I have a deep stubborn streak as well, when pushed. In truth, we have a hard time of it and I would not see him pushed deeper into darkness." Rain was a little ashamed of her admission that she and Flynn did not get along easily for she did not have the same issue with the other officers. Perhaps it was the darkness that Amen-set spoke of that made Flynn react with volatility toward her. She was wary and had been giving him a wider berth of late. There had been much arguing on the Lady these past months and both Variel and Dhaavan had counselled for peace and fellowship. She had made a pledge to attempt greater understanding and temperance. "For the sake of unity, I shall attempt to bridge the divide between Flynn and I. Will that suffice for now, Amen-set?" Rain gently smiles at the girl.
Having listened to Amen-set talk of honour and a heart's calling and passions, Rain smiles and nods her head. "I would own and captain my own ship one day, or, a fleet of ships. My ambitions are not overly grand; I would not mind owning five decent-sized ships. As I mentioned earlier in our conversation, I am my grandfather's only heir and his boats and small ships will belong to me one day. I have knowledge and experience in the family trade, yet I also seek something more honourable in a way -- grander. I would simply have enough to live comfortably on an island somewhere safe from the more viperous free captains; perhaps with a family of my own - a male by my side and our offspring. Until that day, I would use my skill and wit to undo the damage the unscrupulous captains have done to The Shackles, removing their taint and misery. I would see the power dispersed more evenly and the islanders not live in fear. No one owns the oceans; they are our gift and we must protect them and all who dwell within." Rain's fair skin reddens from her declaration. "Aye, I am a pirate, and I wrought havoc on the seas to the rich merchants and slavers. Some would say I am without honour or integrity for such piracy. I do not take from any who cannot spare it, who have accumulated wealth through less than savoury methods. I do not kill for the sake of killing for I am no murderer. If I am attacked, I shall defend myself with every fibre of my being, and those who are under my protection and whom I fight beside. I will not slaughter innocents, not for myself or the gods, if they should seek it of me."
Rain softly chuckled after a minute of silence, feeling a little exposed for she had not opened up to the others like this.
"I will tell you a story from my childhood. When I was an adolescent I often sailed with my grandfather or on my own with his crew. One night we dropped anchor at Drenchport, a storm-lashed settlement of Tempest Cay. The crew decided to go for a drink at the infamous tavern, the Drowned Dwarf. You said you enjoyed beer, well the Drowned Dwarf serves the tastiest black kelp beer. You should taste it one day. Well, that night, the storm was savage and the rains fell with a clatter quite extraordinary. I was sitting at the counter, slowly sipping a wine made of various summer fruits, minding my own business for there was a particular lack of female patrons. My sailing mates were otherwise occupied and none witnessed the big, brawny half-orc male make his way over to me and sit by me. He stared at me for a long time and then muttered what a pretty whore I was. I bristled inwardly at the slur but did not make a move; instead ignoring him. I was accustomed to males admiring my beauty and it did not impress me. His hand then slaked out and lay atop my thigh, his large, calloused hand caressing the flesh through my pants. I ignored him a moment longer, before he squeezed the flesh hard and I turned and quietly uttered the words, "I am simply here to drink. Let go of me or you shall regret your actions." I remember his laugh, a deep sound, half-drunk, and filled with male bravado. With his other hand he came up and grabbed my face and pulled me to him. He attempted to take a kiss. Well, I would not have it, so I slammed my curled fist down between his legs, and the pain shooting through his manhood made him let go with a bellow of rage and surprise. We both stood, staring at one another. I am tall but he stood over me yet. He pulled out a knife and I grabbed my trident. Up to that moment, none had paid us much attention, but then the tavern went quiet. My sailor mates watched, horrified that they allowed their Captain's granddaughter to be in such a situation.
I said to them, "He is mine", and I wielded the trident before me, my stance ready to attack. To him I declared, "I asked you nicely to leave me be and you did not. Now you shall pay." One of the patrons called out his name, Cagan. They were spurring him on, telling him he could take a girl in his sleep. He smiled, his eyes dark and cruel, and then he lunged at me with his knife. My movements and reflexes were quicker and I jabbed at his side, for I did not want to kill him, just maim him a little. His size and certain level of inebriation made him clumsy and I connected - the trident's prongs impaling his side easily. There was blood, especially when I deftly pulled the trident from his flesh. He clutched at his right side, surprised that I followed through on my threat. He attempted a second lunge as he did not want to be bested by a girl in front of the other men. I swung the trident in a wondrous arc and tripped him up, his mighty size falling heavily to the ground. The sound of it matched the thunder booming outside. As he lay on his back, winded and bleeding, I came up and stood, maiden warrior towering over him, my trident pointed at his throat, the prongs scoring the skin. I stared him down, unblinkingly. There was dead silence in the tavern, except for the half-orc's heavy breath. Without taking my eyes off the male, I spoke, loud and clearly, "The drops of rain make a hole in the stone, not by violence, but by oft falling. Remember that, Cagan" and to the rest I uttered, "Gozreh is speaking loudly this night. Let us drink in his honour", and I returned to my seat and took a drink of my wine as another roll of thunder boomed in the heavens. My sailing mates gathered about me quietly, forming a physical shield around me. Not that they had anything to worry about -- the half-orc behaved himself thereafter." Rain smiled and then softly laughed at the recollection of her much younger self.
** spoiler omitted **...
Amen-set nods in eager enthusiasm.
”Aye! I would like to sail very much; and I feel that under your teaching I would sail even better. Besides, it would afford me more time to speak to you, and that would please me greatly,” she adds with a grin.
She listens to your words on Horatio, and purses her lips, thinking a moment.
”Ah – and so it is that… how do you say? Ah – that the stew thickens, yes?” she adds slowly, with a somewhat pleased tone that she mastered the saying.
”Now, we must assume that my hatey-a' finds you very desirable, for you are not only beautiful, but you are also gifted with wit, charm, passion, prowess in battle and great courage – all things admirable to the type of men that my hatey-a' is. And further, I have eyes – I have ears, I see and hear how he follows you when you move about, though he tries to hide it,” she says with a bit more enthusiasm and more of a matter-of-fact tone.
”Yet you say he and you were once closer, yet now you are estranged? This makes good sense, to me.”
”He has chosen the goddess of martyrs – if he was able to follow you better… to… to “court” you better… if he could do that better he would be closer to living a happier life; even if he was simply your ally with no distance between you; simply being your friend would give him more happiness than he has now, yes?”
”Very good! So he has put distance between you – I do not know if this is because he tries to, or because his nature encourages him to – but I think that when he draws close to happiness, he seeks to sunder it. For how can a man who is happy with life seek wish to give his life for a cause? If you have love and family, would you be willing to risk all to save slaves you did not know – or to leap from a ship into the waves for folk you are not close to? I do not think so…”
”I think that in his heart he cares for you very much, yet he pushes you aside for he will not let himself be happy. I think he pushes aside friends and sees all with darkness around him – because a man surrounded by darkness is a man who will be more eager to die for his goddess.”
She snorts in disgust.
”He has saved me from bondage – I must do what I can to save him from himself. His goddess has her merits – aye; but she does not lend herself well to granting him peace. I wish him to have a new patron – I shall show him the wisdom of the Great Father – that may yet encourage him to a new path.”
She glances at you.
”You said he is hard to speak to? This I know is true – he is a hard man; and he veers to hard extremes – with him; things must be either black or white, he is not skilled the middle way…”
”I wish that you both could mend these difficulties for it would please me to see two people I care about be as friends and not at odds. Still, it can be hard, I deem – for I think his private feelings for you complicate things.”
She frowns, thinking a while.
”If you could speak to him, I think that would be good. But you are right – he can be hard to speak to. His current goddess weighs too heavily on him for my taste, so I shall do what I can to mend his feelings and pray that he finds truth in another patron. I will ask that he opens his ears and heart to you before you speak to him, perhaps that will help, and – if possible, he may be willing to accept your words with a more open heart and mind.”
”Yet, failing that – there is always prayer,” she adds with a simple and sincere voice.
She hears your plans of captaining a flotilla of ships, and her eyes gleam with pleasure. However, when you mention the word “pirate” she frowns and shakes her head.
”No! This word is used – but I think you place it on yourself unfairly,” she says.
”Only a moment ago you had spoken on pirates, and made the distinction from them and you saying – They revile honour. Our lot are not like them. We do not kill for sport or pleasure. We pursue, declare intent and then attack. We do not rape nor butcher in the name of blood thirst or other maladies.”
She nods her head.
”Ha! Now that is a fine sentiment – and one that pleases my heart mightily.”
”You are a sailor who first seeks freedom; for you will suffer no master, except one that is chosen through mutual agreement with the crew to lead – this one you have named “captain” – and she is the person who leads; yet only if the crew consent!”
”This is no sorcerer-king or tyrant – but a person who leads after hearing the consensus of all who sail; and leads through that choice; thus you lead free men to sail in freedom,” she says, lifting her finger as if ticking off points.
”You said also you do not kill for pleasure, and I doubt that you suffer torture; those two things are the domain of black-hearted villains such as this dog Harrigan who will yet taste our joint blades of fury! My heart tells me that he is the pirate; for he comes to butcher and to rape and to pillage. You do not do these things, you are not like him,” she adds, holding up another finger.
”Next – you have declared yourself to be like a samurai… no, that is not good word… how would you say… pardon, I use a northman word, not one of my mentors which they taught me… I may be wrong on the meaning of the northman word – but you come like a “Knight”, yes?”
She moves on quickly, hoping that the word is correct.
”You see a worthy opponent; for you do not prey on the weak or infirm.”
”Seeing this opponent you desire to test your prowess in battle with courage, honor and a lust for action!” she adds sitting up a bit in the rigging, speaking more enthusiastically.
”You declare intent – you sail forth – you do battle! When the deed is done, you accept their surrender graciously – and you are not like my hatey-a', who recently tore apart the corpses of the dead like a man possessed by a dark djinn – a point we too shall entreat the gods to exercise from his soul by showing him the Light – yet it is true that you accept the surrender graciously and with honor.”
”You grant them clemency and their lives. You offer them the chance to seek a new leader – not with threat or force – but you give them the chance to sail with you and seek honor and glory!” she adds, bouncing in the rigging a bit.
”And you do not steal from them; instead – you do as a great warrior would – you take from them their weapons and wealth – for that is yours by right of conquest! You have earned their arms in battle, you have earned the right to take all from them.”
”But,” she says with a knowing smile ”you do not take all from them, eh? No! You let them join with you – even after they have killed your allies; for you know such things will happen in even the most honorable combats.”
”You let them enlist – you ask them to join with you, and if they do, they enjoy the rewards you paid them so they are not wholly paupers. And those you let live? Even those you do not force them to go away with nothing, but often you give them some wealth for their efforts, for you are noble in your actions!”
She closes her fingers – her point made – into a tight fist, than claps merrily.
”Ah senet – I am well-pleased to sail with you; for you are like the northman knight – yet your steed is the deck of a ship; yet even so – you fight with honor and courage! You are no base pirate – no! I name you rather the words of the northman – the valkyrja – for the northmen say that is the “Choosers of the dead”. You sail with honor and I am honored to sail with you; for when men see our faces and our steel they will bow before our fury,” she adds with fervor.
Observing you are preparing a story, her posture instantly changes.
She hops out of the rigging to move before you and sits on the deck with her legs crossed and her back straight. She says nothing as she listens, her eyes intent on you, watching you closely and studying both your hands, your movements, and clearly listening for tone and inflection.
You can tell that she is excited by your tale, but she is also doing her best to simply listen. Her usual buoyancy and more relaxed posture have left her and she seems almost like a student in front of you until you are finished with the story.
At which point she smiles widely and claps her hands in sincere praise.
”It was well-told, senet,” she says with real relish.
”I liked that tale much; I would have killed that basterd sooner, but you are more clever than I. For you have shown wisdom with your mercy."
"You were merciful to let him live with only wounding his flesh and pride a little. But you took the opportunity to instruct him on the gentle arts of how a true lady conducts herself in battle, as well as sharing the truth of your faith!”
She nods her head in satisfaction.
”That scum will – no doubt – not forget those lessons easily.”
She stands up and thumps her spear onto the deck.
”Such a tale is good, and I am pleased you could share it with me,” she adds enthusiastically.
”You make a fine storyteller; and if you were not called to sail the seas for honor and glory, I should think that you would make a splendid bard, for you have a great gift for tales,” she adds with an easy smile.
She stretches her arms above her head.
”Now – what shall we do next?” she asks you with a curious voice.
Rain looks upon Amen-set with amazed eyes at her proclamation that Flynn desired her, that he followed her movements on the ship. It did not marry with his words to her -- that she reminded him of his late, martyr mother and he was wary of her intent.
"I am unsure that Flynn thinks of me as you presume, titta seler. Once, he was taunted for his feelings for me and it caused dissension between Variel and he -- as it was said both males had interest in me. When I chose Variel, I have a feeling it felt like a rejection to Flynn. Yet by that stage, Flynn and I were often at odds and the situation was growing untenable. If he would have me as friend, then I am willing to be one to him. Anything more, I cannot give, for I am with another." Rain stared down, at the weathered wood of the deck, her cheeks slightly aflame at her admission of taking Variel as lover. She was not used to being so open about her thoughts and feelings with other people. It left her feeling vulnerable and unsure, for she did not like feeling judged for her personal choices. She hoped Amen-set, even in her innocence, would understand. It was not that long ago that Rain had her maidenhood intact.
"As for Flynn's action with the Rahadoumi after we took their ship, they were indeed dark and unbefitting of the man he once was. There was no reason for such degradation of the dead. I hope he turns away from his martyr goddess and toward the Light. I would see him happy again. It is almost like he has forgotten the meaning of happiness."
Rain easily leaps down from the rigging and settles in front of Amen-set, mimicking her cross-legged position.
"You give me more honour than I warrant, Amen-set. The image of a knight protector of the seas is a beautiful and mystical one and I am unsure I can match it. But I thank you for seeing me as such. The Valkyrja are incorporated in our heraldry, the idea was purely Dhaavan's, of course. So, I suppose it is fitting you see me as such, titta seler. Thank you." Rain reaches across and gently squeezes Amen-set's hand before drawing back.
"I am nothing like Harrigan or Plugg -- both men debase the title of pirate in my mind. I do not believe in murder or torture for the sake of bending a person to one's will for the pure pleasure of inflicting pain and fear. I find it a coward's way, but I must admit, it has been suggested by others on this ship as a good tool to gain information from a captured enemy, or at least the threat of it."
Rain runs a hand through her unruly blue hair and sighs softly aloud. "This is a hard life, especially for a female. Most sailing men view us as either harbingers of ill or whores to sake their lust. Only a few crews would gladly sail with females among them. I do not believe we bring ill to ships. Still, men will think with their nether regions more often than not. A pretty face and comely figure will set them aflame, especially on long voyages, far from home and the nearest tavern. I advise you to be careful among the men, especially those who join us under duress. If unwelcome advances are made, you must advise me immediately and the transgressors will be dealt with accordingly."
Rain leans back a little and looks up into the sky. Her eyes have grown tired for the day has been overly long.
"I think we should retire for the night as it has been a long day and I must rise at dawn to say my prayers, break my fast and take my position at the helm. It was good talking with you, Amen-set. I hope we get the opportunity again very soon."
** spoiler omitted **...
Amen-set gives you a somewhat exasperated look after you talk about Horatio and his feelings for you, as if you missed what is clear.
Trying to not provoke, she shakes her head and looks at you and speaks with an almost patient tone.
”Huh! So – you say that you are surprised that he still fancies you? And why should you be?”
”As I said, you posses already the traits that men like him would desire; beauty, honor, courage – and so on. But besides this there is another aspect.”
”You chose another – very well.”
”I have said already that he is a man who is either black or white, yes?”
”If he cannot love you; he must hate you. This is clear, and a safe thing for his mind to think.”
”If he allows himself to believe you are worth loving; than he must admit that something lovely dislikes him. Each time he sees you with another he is reminded that he failed – that he is not good enough – that his best efforts with you were useless and nothing.”
”But, on the other hand – if you rejected him because you are not… because you are cruel or racist, or other bad things – then he is not a bad person. He is a good person, and your rejection does not hurt him so much because it comes from bad person.”
”So he sees your rejection come from the wicked Rain; who plots to do bad things.”
She shakes her head in frustration at this.
”Yet my heart tells me that in his soul he knows this not true; and he is shamed for making falsehoods about you. He would rather not feel shame for saying in his mind this and that about you; but if he says you are good – and reject him – than he must be worthy of nothing but rejection, because a good person does not care for him… and on it goes, yes?”
”Besides,” she adds a bit contemptuously ”can you think of a better life for the follower of a martyr goddess than to give his heart to a person who does not return his love?’
She rolls her eyes.
”As for being your friend? Only the Great Father knows on that course – but in truth, I think it will be a hard journey for him. As I said – he is a man of contrasts. I think he would rather have you completely and utterly, or not at all. It is not easy for him to walk the middle ground, yes?”
”He will need space from you to heal, I think – though a kind word, from time to time, may help mend his heart.”
She thinks a bit on Horatio’s action about the Rahadoum.
”I have seen the Mwangi folk take the heart of a lion and feast on it after slaying it. They claim it gives them great power – but they are shamanistic folk. Still, did not my hatey-a' spend time with the Mwangi folk? He said as much – there were many in his homeland; he knows some of their speech at least and in any case, he learned much of their lore… perhaps his feasting on the dead flying lion was akin to this?”
Her brows knit in consternation.
”As for the hacking of the corpses? This was barbaric, aye – but his good friend had died.”
”They called him “Owlbear” – but I do not know why; for he could not fly… still; my hatey-a' told me of this man; how he went below decks to speak with him when he was nothing but a prisoner on the enemy ship? How he would sneak water to the man when the man was in bondage – how he risked his life to see that the man’s wounds were tended; even though he was set upon by two rogues below decks… all of this and more he did for this person, for this Owlbear was strong, but he had the mind of a child.”
She frowns a bit, her voice lowering.
”I think that moved my hatey-a'; that the man had a mind like a child. I think he felt pity for him, and compassion. Seeing him killed on the ship – perhaps it vexed him? Surely losing a friend would put even the noblest man out of countenance?” she asks, but almost to herself.
”Still, perhaps it is better to be ruthless when someone does something that offends us. That may be the best course, for if we suffer darkness, it can spread.”
She thinks of the violence and darkness and smiles somewhat sardonically.
”It is written – If I could but slay the tyrant not the man; I should be content. Very good, yes? We must kill the darkness, not the man… but we cannot be merciful to the darkness.”
Amen-set waves away your modesty with a somewhat imperious gesture.
”Nay, I say no more praise than is due. You are a knight of the Pine Dark Seas! You follow the great knights and wanderers of the past who take this course you journey?”
”My mentors – the ones who hailed near Sothis – they spoke to me of a man who was one of these Holy Knights; a wanderer who sailed for years upon years – he faced fell sea monsters, witches, thieves, Cyclops and other foul beasts – all of it so he could return to the woman he loved! Ah – now that is a tale worth telling.”
”Such a man is like you, senet – his patron was the goddess of War and Wisdom; two paths like unto yourself. She was a mighty goddess, it is said; though only small lore remains of her doings today.”
She points a finger at you.
”You are such a Holy Knight, no “pirate” nonsense – not like these dogs Harrigan and his ilk.”
”You kill for honor; you take what is yours by right of conquest! You spare the lives of good men and scum – if they beg mercy, for you are no killer. You command none as a tyrant; all who follow you do so because they love you – or they honor you as a warrior, but none do so out of fear or bondage.”
”This is not like a pirate, or even a corsair – or this “Privateer” that my hatey-a' speaks of, no.”
”Instead, it is much more honorable and noble. I see you with great gifts for these things, truly you are good,” she adds.
She considers your words on the Northern Warrior woman, and looks surprised.
”How can this be? It is said that the Northmen believe these women to be beautiful like gods; and they are armed and armored like a shield maiden of great worth! Yet your flag bears the death’s head; the skull, and it flies with black wings? Surely this cannot be the same… “ she says, pursing her lips a bit.
She hears your words on torture and shakes her head.
”No – this thinking comes from little wisdom. Put enough heat on a man and it will burn falsehoods from him. He will invent lies if it will stop the fires burning his flesh – and nothing he says can be trusted, for in the moment of pain you must always consider – Does he say the truth, or what he thinks I want to hear, simply to stop the pain?.”
”They who suggest otherwise have not seen the more useful tactics of persuasion.”
”For myself, I can be very persuasive and I do not need to torture,” she adds with a sly grin.
She looks at you after your comment about men’s advances and says nothing for a moment, as if thinking.
”I thank you for your offer, senet! I will happily come to you, if I am so threatened.”
”Even so; if I am assaulted by an enemy; if a man tries to take me without consent…” her voice grows almost flinty and flickers of brassy light dance in her eyes.
”I shall say to them – Sentio is incendia quod exuro ABYSSUS,” she growls out fiercely, than turns to the sea, her back to you.
She raises her arm toward the sky even as a huge burst of flames explode outward from her.
She looks back at you, her eyes still smoking, than she smiles a little.
”You are right; the hour grows late, perhaps we should retire.”
”But I think that we shall not worry overmuch on such things.”
She thinks a bit.
”We sail a while together. If, in time, I cannot persuade my hatey-a' to put aside his darkness, I may at least persuade him that it would be better for us to find a new berth.”
She stands with you.
”His heart is cold and lonely; not only dark. If the gods will not hear his prayers, or mine – if the others will not help shine the light toward him – it seems better if I ask him to quit this life and find a new purpose somewhere else.”
She looks at you a little shyly.
”I shall truly miss you, if it comes to that – if I encourage my hatey-a' to find a life somewhere else; but that is in the hands of the gods.”
She sighs.
”If the gods hear my prayers, we will continue to sail together as companions and friends. But if the gods do not listen, or perhaps have other plans – than it would be better for us to sail our own way.”
She bows at your leaving.
”Goodnight, senet – may you sleep well and may the Great Father shine bright on your heart and your blade,” she say, than leaves you for bed.