"Yes, omniscience. I'm sorry that Bjorkus and I obtained different information. That's what caused the misunderstanding. Does it really matter how we obtained our information?"
"Yes. It does in the case that I asked about earlier: if you knew about the captives before hand. You say that you did not, and I can only take you at your word. I am sure you can imagine why the potential that you knew of the captives before hand and did not share that information would be troubling to me.
I also imagine that you can appreciate why I would have that concern, since you claim detailed knowledge of the motivations of the crew and the conditions of the captives when we have been with you the entire time you have been on the boat and heard no such things. Perhaps I am letting my association with Heff erode my credulity for special claims to knowledge, but I have found your ire and your recent actions troubling. Nevertheless, we have settled the issue and need not worry it further."
"Yes, it would be troubling in the same way that if you knew Sam was going to die and did not share that information it would be troubling. However it's just not true."
"I did not personally investigate the crew and captives, I was informed by my men who did that for me, and I trust them at their word. If you want to to investigate the first hand knowledge for yourself, ask the crew. If you want to investigate the second hand knowledge for yourself, ask my men." He rubs at his temples. "I've listened to some of Heff's talks at the council meetings. I can understand the thin skin for taking that man at his word. Don't let that undermine your perspective of all Aestherics."
Toramin nods thoughtfully. The dwarf kept his own council, but there were less thunderclouds on his face.
"We'll see if we can't get some food in your belly - I'm sure someone aboard can fish." Dalton left the lizardfolk, going to mingle with the rest of the crew. He avoided what was clearly an argument among Quincy, Bjorkus, and Toramin, instead moving to see what lurked beneath deck.
"Oh ho! What have we here?"
Though drugs were not Dalton's medium of exchange, many of his contacts over the years had provided enough circuminformation for him to come to a decent guess at the value of the stuff.
After giving the crates his eye, he hopped back above board. "Ragnar was it? Do you know if there happens to be any food about?" It had been a long day for Dalton too, and his belly rumbled. He also had to feed his new contact. He's probably used to asking permission.
After Bjokus tapped him to scry, the wizard nodded. "No reason to wait until the morrow, we can give it a go now. In fact, I like getting those sorts of things out of the way before bed. That way I can think on it as I doze. Give me a a bit over an hour."
Most wizards would need a pool of water to scry, and while that didn't seem like a big deal for one aboard a ship, the pool of water needed to stay with you - whatever was in the range of the spell at the beginning of a moving vessel wouldn't be at the end. However, the jeweler's reliance upon gems neatly obviated that obstacle.
Ragnar happily shows Dalton to some food. The old man seems to enjoy Dalton's company.
Bjorkus produces his dagger and puts it in Dalton's hand. "I won that from Luthor in a bet. It's about the only thing I've managed to keep with me since the Storm and I parted ways. You said personal trinkets like that help with your spell, right?"
He goes on to describe his first mate in detail, from the scar across the bridge of his nose to his prized gold molar in the back of his mouth.
"Luthor's 'bout the only sod who's a bigger hothead than me. If he's alive the rest of the crew'll rally 'round him."
Dalton chuckles at the temper comparison. "Luthor it is then. The more personal, the better with the description."
He watched the emerald rotate in the air as the light drew into a picture beyond near the end of the hour...
"I slept quite well, thank you."
The young priestess smiles wickedly for a moment. "Sleeping deeply has never been much of a problem for me. Though that's been alternatively a blessing and a curse. How many days do you think we will be on the water for our trip south?"
"Glad to hear it", Bjorkus answers before looking over a nautical map again. "If any of the crew gives you a hard time let me or Ragnar know and I'll sort 'em out."
The bull strokes his chin as he considers the course they'll be taking.
"We're lookin' at 'bout three weeks give or take a few extra days dependin' on the wind. There'll be plenty of places to stop and resupply along the way but we'll be balls deep into Yenrick so it'd be best if we make those trips brief. You spend any time in the desert? Your brother and I were just there."
Dalton finds the mind of Luthor throws off his efforts.
Midway through breakfast, Bjorkus flags down Kal.
"Take whats left of Blakros's drugs into town and sell it off. Take whatever you can get as long as it's close to a fair trade. Use the coin to buy up as much supplies as you can get. We'll need everything for the trip, fresh water, rum, food, all of it. Take Bandu and couple of the fresh recruits to help carry the haul. "
[dice=Luthor Will]1d20
Dalton finds the mind of Luthor throws off his efforts.
The wizard shook his head. "Perhaps it's too late for me." He yawned. "Years ago, I could stay up like this all night. Not the case now. Maybe tomorrow..."
Without much else occurring, Dalton rests in his hammock.
********
He awoke, pleased to see the ship wasn't rocking yet. Ugh, three weeks on this thing. But it would give him time to reflect on what he had learned, perhaps puzzle out some more primal workings. It had been a while since he'd tapped-into that potential, but purposely so.
Kal looks uncertain at the order. "Sorry captain, but I don't really know any contacts, I know that Bandu doesn't, and I don't know who the recruits know. Could I take Ragnar with me? I'm sure he knows how to sell them off."
Bjorkus nods. "Go ahead. That poor sod deserves some time off the ship anyway. If you run into Greg let him know we're all in good health."
"You gunna try to contact Luthor again? If it'll help I can find something of his on the ship."
"After I have a chance to look at my book, yes. By the way - that lizard up top? Probably didn't have much of a choice to be put on this ship. I was thinking of getting him a job in Akropash if you don't mind. His tribe was a band of warriors, not sailors. He'd make a nice bouncer."
"Akropash is pretty far inland. Do you think he could make his way here on his own? It might make more sense to contact Ninnec and have him meet up with us later. There's a big port a week in to the trip - that'd be a good place to connect. Ninnec could escort him back to Akropash from there."
”What’s the lizard folk’s name?” Rilka asks. ”I didn’t get a proper introduction. He seems a bit...dedicated to violence to be a bouncer. At least in a nicer establishment. He may be able to find a better life in Akropash. He might be a good wrestler, and he might like kemari. I’ll try to find some material to make a mari and give him the basics. Not enough space on deck to play a full game, but maybe some modified rules could be created. If Ninnec couldn't escort himself, he'd probably be able to arrange it.”
At the end of the conversation, Rilka asks, ”Oh, Captain Bjorkus, do you want me to search for any hidden compartments in your quarters? I thought about doing it yesterday, but didn’t want to violate your trust.”
Bjorkus considers Rilka's suggestion.
"That's not a bad idea. I wouldn't be surprised if Blakros hid some booty in the captain's quarters. But you've been warned: He liked to keep 'trophies' from his kills. Some of 'em were stinkin' up the place."
"Bjorkus, do you need those casks of water refilled? I think my prayers can help you."
Ianna will ask her goddess to bless them with fresh new water. Create Water.
”Oh”, Bjorkus says as he considers the empty barrels. ”Go ahead. That’d help out quite a bit actually. I’ll have to ask Kal later why he’d stopped fillin’ ‘em up.”
Dalton offered to help Bjorkus, but he prepared an additional scry for himself.
~Luthor Scry~
Dalton gets through on the third day and sees a man as Bjorkus described him, but more raggedy looking with a rough beard and a thinner frame. The only clothes he has is badly torn breeches, and the only items on him is a crudely made spear and a string of freshly impaled fish. He's walking across sandy ground.
Ninnec is overseeing some supplies get unloaded as Dalton scrys him. Once contact is established he gives a smile. "Hello Dalton, how may I be of service?"
Bjorkus's eyes light up at the sight of his absent first mate.
"That's him alright, though the sod's seen better days. Can he hear us?"
Dalton nodded after a brief hesitation. "Casting a message spell through a scry will work ... sometimes. The fluctuations in the energies at hand make for a chance of failure on each spellcast, but you should be able to do so without much trouble. If you fail, just try again."
The wizard gestured at the man. "Just make sure you're pointing at him; people sometimes forget. Is the cantrip known to you? If not, you can relay the message through me."
Bjorkus reached toward the image held within Dalton's spinning emerald and chanted his spell.
"Luthor, can you hear me? It's Bjorkus. No, you're not goin' soddin' crazy. A friend's helpin' me contact you with magic."
Luthor jumps like a demon just appeared in front of him, dropping his fish in the sand and raising his spear to swing it around. "The hell is that?!" He looks around for a moment with wide eyes, breathing heavily, then shakes his head. "What, you a bloody wizard now? Speaking of that, how the hell are you even still alive?"
Once Luthor replies, Bjorkus nods to Dalton and continues.
”Not quite but I’ve got a wizard helpin’ me out. How I survived is a long story that I’ll you over these fresh casks of rum I just hauled onto the Storm”, Bjorkus laughs.
”I heard ‘bout the mutiny you launched. I don’t think I’ve ever been prouder of you sods. Where’d you wash up? We’re in Balgradash right now about to set sail. Are the others with you?”
Luthor scowls as he picks the fish out of the sand. "I've known you're alive for five seconds and you already go and piss me off. I have to feed the rest of the crew you know." He gives a grin, letting the implication set in. "Well that's hard to say. We picked up a shipment from Baraga and were about a day east when we mutinied. Something went wrong 'cus Blakros was ready for us and routed us off the ship. Washed up on some island in the middle of f#*!in' nowhere." He frowns down at the ground. "You would have been proud of old Ragnar, tough bastard gave his life so we could escape."
”What?” Bjorkus says flatly. ”He’s here on the ship with us now.”
Luthor's face twists in confusion. "What? I saw Blakros split his chest with that big bloody axe of his. With my own damned eyes."
Bjorkus’s heart sinks in his chest in a way that’s almost as bad as the heartache he suffered in Akropash.
”Ask the others if they’ve got a clue where you’re at - Aisha’s always had an eye for landmarks – and talk to my wizard friend. He’s gunna try to figure out where you are. I need to talk to Ragnar.”
Climbing to his hooves, Bjorkus heads for the door. ”Ragnar! We need to talk…”
Luthor grunts. "A day northeast of Barago. Don't know much more than that. Big bastard of rock in the middle of the island. So Mr.Wizard, how'd Bjorkus trick you into helping him?"
~~~
Outside the crew is at work adjusting for a shift in the wind while Ragnar sits on a chair and plucks at his lute.
"And fair Mary was pretty,
and oh-so damn witty,
but she went off and stole my lad's wife."
Some of the crew chuckle and cheer as Ragnar sits up with a grin. "'Course captain, what's on your mind?"
Bjorkus tries to smile at the sight of his mentor and lifelong friend. He shakes his shaggy bovine head. ”Just wanted to catch up. I’ve been so busy tryin’ to get the Storm back in order I didn’t have chance to thank you for fightin’ so hard to keep the crew together after I was dragged away. We got a hold of Luthor. He tells me the mutiny would’ve been a slaughter without your help.”
”You’re a good pirate and a better friend Ragnar. Any captain woulda counted himself blessed by Besmara to have you on his crew.”
"Yeah, you still haven't told me about much of the stuff you were doing while you were away. That's a few months to catch up on!" He gives a confused look. "Luthor said that? Well sure I got knocked on my ass but I didn't see what the hell happened that night. Maybe I kept somebody else from getting hit by taking the shot with the back of my head." He gives a careful smile. "Thanks Bjorkus, but you're havin' me a little worried here."
Bjorkus’s smile melts away.
”I’ll tell you all about it – just not today and not here. Luthor tells me you died the day of the mutiny helpin’ cover the rest of the crew’s escape. Blakros nearly split you in half with that axe of his.”
The bull points to the leather armor covering the older pirate’s torso. ”Take a look.”
His look of confusion grows. "Died? Like hell, I may be getting senile but I'm still kicking." He looks off at the ocean and scowls in confusion and frustration, then looks at Bjorkus pointing to his chest. "Says he hit me in the chest, did he?" He unlaces his leather and takes it off, showing an old hairy chest with a number of scars, but nothing like the terrible wound Luthor described.
Bjorkus considers his old friend's reaction.
"Luthor, my name is Dalton. Bjorkus and I met through someone else, actually - we both worked for another man at one point. Recently, we both worked for the same woman. Now, we're more or less helping each other to meet our own goals."
"Bjorkus is mighty, but it is fine detail that will likely help us find you. Did you wash ashore with anything or anyone? Have you been able to use the stars to see if you traveled a long ways? Have any sailors happened across you?"
"Is your island uninhabited other than yourself?"
~Luthor Scry~
"Mhmm, mutual benefits and all that." He keeps moving on the beach with his half dusted off fish. "Washed ashore with nothing but some planks of wood and a few knives. Rest of the crew's here. We can't have gone far cus we washed up before the sun came up. A few boats have passed but we couldn't get there attention. Some animals on the island but no other people."
Bjorkus frowns again, puzzled by the whole situation.
”Maybe Luthor misjudged the hit that took you out”, Bjorkus suggests.
"Aye, maybe. Where's he at anyways?"
”Stranded on an island with the others a few days east of here is my guess. We’ll stop by and pick up ‘em up on our way. We’re tryin’ to get more information so we can find ‘em quicker.”
”Well I’m glad you’re not a ghost”, Bjorkus laughs. "I’m gunna see what Dalton's figured out."
Returning to the captain’s quarters, Bjorkus looks into the elf’s spinning emerald again. ”Luthor, the night Ragnar died where were Kal and Bandu? And can you bring Aisha over, I’ve been dyin’ to see that old bird’s face.”
"Good to hear you again Bjorkus. Kal was off scoutin', don't even know if he's alive. Haven't heard a word about him." He scowls at the mention of Bandu. "That f%+*er fought for Blakros that night. We always thought he would be with us, but when steel was drawn he cut us down."
”Yeah, Bandu can be a pain in the ass but I think I’ve got him turned back around. Don’t feel bad, he took a couple swings at me too. Can you bring Aisha over?”
Bjorkus watches his old friend’s reactions closely.
Luthor grumbles a bit about Bandu but drops it. "I'm walking back to our camp now and you'll get to talk to everybody. Oh crap, how am I gonna explain this..."
Bjorkus shrugs. ”There’s not much to tell ‘em. The Xilres navy hauled me in. I got away but got wrapped up in a bunch of other s!+*. Now I’m back. I took back the Storm from Blakros and I’m comin’ to get you.”
Luthor laughs. "Bunch of other s##&. Keepin' it simple, alright. I expert to hear about what kinda dame's legs you got between though, and damn the rest of the story if you feel that way." He starts getting into the camp and through the scrying the camp is slowly revealed. Primitive houses built with primitive tools, and every other member of the crew is there. Luthor gets into the middle and puts his fish down to grunts of acknowledgements from the others. Then he just stares at them. After Dalton explains to Luthor that they can hear the conversation, everybody jumps up to hear the whispering voice of Bjorkus.
"He's alive?"
"Bloody hell, that tough bastard."
"Though we were rid of that old sod!"
"The hell are you?"
And other voices clamoring for attention.
Bjorkus is relieved to see the rest of his crew alive and reasonably well though the mystery of his not-quite dead mentor still weighs on him. The bull targets them one at a time with the message charm long enough to say hello in his own special way. Finally he reaches Aisha. The dwarven boatswain Axen might be older in terms of actual years but Aisha was the second oldest among his crew in relative age. If Ragnar had been a father figure to Bjorkus when he was coming into his own as a pirate, Aisha was his mother.
”It’s good to see you, ya old bird. I hope your pistols survived the trip overboard”, he asks knowing how much the woman valued her firearms.