The Black Tower was the former base of operations of the Shrouded Queen, a powerful caster that used her magical might to control all manner of sea monsters and even the ocean currents themselves, making the sea lanes in that part of the world nigh impassable to pirates, smugglers, and all maner of merchant ships.
25 years ago this year, the legendary pirate captain Tevenida Aiger (now known to be a powerful Cleric of Norgorber) and her allies stormed the tower.
No one knows what happened after, for none of the pirates returned, but over the weeks following their assault the seas calmed and monsters slowly dispersed, leaving the sea lanes around the Isle accessible once more.
The reason for dithering over salvage rights is the resurgence of the rumor (it being the anniversary of the event) and a similar resurgence of the legends about Aiger's sword "Aiger's Kiss". Her sword was rumored to be an exceptional weapon, with potent magical gifts...though of what variety is uncertain.
What is known is that Aiger's specialty was the taking of Chelish warships, and she was never known to lose a fight against a creature of the Lower Planes, leading many to believe that her Kiss possessed the power to somehow bind, harm, or banish fiends.
"Aye. But I would like to suggest, should the blade be claimed, that it be held on to by a member of the council who can use it to its full potential. It being in our hands represents a powerful weapon."
"Aye, and I second that."
"Aye." It was neither of interest nor use, so far as Daliya knew.
"That makes nine for, five against. Motion passed."
Bonefist begins to look bored and restless, so Bloodmourne quickly stands up and claps her hands.
"A recess! Let us fill our bellies with food and rum...and perhaps get to know our newest members a bit better. I know Captains Ixrul and Gremory, but I don't believe the rest of you ever introduced yourselves to me."
She looks expectantly at the three of you as servants stream in bearing platters of food and pitchers of rum and ale.
Daliya looked at the food, vaguely tempted to check it for poison, before her eyes moved over Bloodmourne appraisingly. "I am Daliya, the ship's surgeon."
Krom quickly helps himself to some rum, while giving a friendly smile to Bloodmourne.
"I'm Krom, helmsman of the Devil's Bullet under Captain Gremory."
Ace looks around flustered for a second "I, eh, am one of the longest serving members on the ship, ehh, First mate of capt Ixrul, you can call me Ace."
"No last name, Mr. Ace?" Cerise asks, disapproving of your clearly bastardous nature.
Daliya smiled a little. "It's the Shackles, Captain. Not that many people who still have a last name, or the name they born with at least. I know I'm not." And if Bloodmourne was her real surname, Daliya would be surprised. "Ace serves the crew well in his role, and brings in the loot. That's what we need."
"Well,I-eh, she has got a point, ehh, people usually dont ask, but, um, I dont think I ever ever told my crewmates, but ace is rather an acronym of my full name, which is extremely embarrassing" mutters and sputters Ace, now red faced.
Daliya laughed. "I almost had you out of that. Now you have to tell everyone your name."
Gremory listens in with great interest.
Archibald Chauncey... Eugene? Edith? Ernie?
Ace sighs, "My full name is Anatol Cretien Endlummoh, as you can imagin due to how it sounds and the cruelty of kids and teens, my childhood was terrible, until I was old enough to assume an new identity, that is."
There are a few snickers around the table, though Arronax Endymion chimes in helpfully with a shrug.
"A refined enough half-elven name, all things considered. Strange for a hobgoblin, but I imagine you were adopted?"
Everybody else at the table introduces themselves. You already know Tessa, Cerise, Mase, and Avimar, as well as Bonefist and the Master of Gales. Ixrul knows of Arronax Endymion, as does Ace though I don't believe any of you have met personally (you just visited his island once and overheard all sorts of rumors of him being in league with Cheliax.
The rest of the people you've never met: Hardluck Massey (the cigar chomping human), Jolis Raffles (the halfling laying across the arms of his chair comfortably), Wide Olga (the fat toothy human), and Delemona Burie (the well-spoken woman who argued for you to have a full share).
After you've all eaten, drunk, and small-talked for a bit, Hardluck Massey stands to bring another matter to vote.
"I vote to declare Scags Rotgram outlaw on account o' unsanctioned piracy in the Shackles. 5000 bounty oughta do it."
"What do you have against the captain of the Devilish Duchess?" Delemona asks.
Massey smiles and takes a long drag on his cigar "Harrigan bribed me to bring it up. Guy used to be his first mate or somethin' I guess."
Delemona looks at him incredulously, as do a few others.
Massey shrugs. "What? It was free money. All he said was I needed to bring it up, not that the motion needed to pass. My vote's nay, by the way."
Bonefist seems torn between amusement and anger. "Harrigan's not a member of this Council. He gets no say in what we do or don't. Next time you talk to the little prick tell him I'll kill him myself if I catch him reaching above his station again. This is a waste of my g$~ d$~ned time. Nay."
Cerise instantly votes with Bonefist, as do Endymion, Mase, and the Master of Gales.
Sorrinash speaks up though.
"The lickspittle may be more trouble than he's worth, but we have the rules against unsanctioned piracy for a reason. We let every half-cocked bleeder run around snatching our loot and not paying our tithes and this whole operation falls apart."
Wide Olga, Jolis Raffles, Tessa Fairwind, and Delemona see the sense in this.
The current vote: 5 aye, 6 nay.
"The fact that Harrigan cares enough to bribe Massey makes me suspicious. Nay, for now. I may want to speak to this Scags."
"Nay. If Harrigan wants his dirt work doing, he can do it himself."
"I truly can't be bothered to care about this enough to be concerned what happens to the sod, pardon my Hallit. Nay, but if he gets in my way, I'll roll over him."
"Nay. If Scags wasn't worth addressing, without Harrigan's direct interference, then he still isn't."
"Also, I'll take any chance to spite Harrigan."
"Yeah, long, [b]long story involving numerous bloodshed, deaths and unhappy memories."[/b]
"Nay"
Ace looks around "He's a dick"
"I believe that's a nay, then?"
"Nays have it."
"Last item on the docket, Bloodmourne." says Bonefist.
"Oh, no sir, there are more-"
"Last one. If it was f#~#ing important you would have put it on the top of the stack. Pick one and we're done here."
"As you wish. Last on the docket is Tessa Fairwind's proposal that we increase funding and support into her investigation that there is a Chelish sympathizer among the Pirate Lords feeding them information and aid."
"A fine-" Arronax starts, but is interrupted by Bonefist.
"-F$*!ing waste of time. Cheliax poses no threat to the Shackles." Bonefist interjects.
Arronax stares him down "You're a fool if you truly believe that. The Empire is enormous and powerful. We need every advantage we can get when they come knocking or it will be the end of our independence."
Bonefist starts to respond, a snide retort forming on his lips, but he is saved the trouble by most others at the table.
"Methinks the lord of 'Little Cheliax' protests too much." Wide Olga sneers. A chorus of assent rounds the table, and Arronax looks apoplectic. He slams his fist down on the table hard enough to make the whole table shudder.
"Set aside whatever snide mutterings the blasted Empire has planted in your simple, easily manipulated minds you blithering idiots and listen to me. Their agents are here among us without doubt. Suspect me if you will, but by Besmara's hat fund the blasted investigation. Investigate me first if you must, but we need to root out the damned spies before it's the end for all of us."
Few look swayed, and the final vote comes down to 4 aye (Arronax, Tessa, the Master of Gales, and Delemona Burie) and 7 nay.
The final vote comes down to you.
"Aye. Our crew has seen firsthand how subtly the Empire operates. We'd be fools to turn our backs on them."
"Aye," Daliya agreed. "They want us all dead, piracy forever gone. We cost them and there fat merchantmen tons of gold, goods and ships every year. It would be unwise to think they don't dream of stopping it, and might do something about it. We could deal with most of it, but we'll deal with it easier the further away we see it coming."
"Aye, the empire is pretty formidable, and I like not being dead."
"Aye."
Due to your injection of the rare "common" sense, the motion passes, and Bonefist stomps off, screaming for someone to bring him his bed wenches.
After you retire back to your ship (whenever that may be, it need not be directly after the meeting), you receive a message from Tess, borne by a Silver Raven Figurine.
How you go about this is up to you, but Tess' advice is sound: Mercenaries are expensive and prone to mutiny. Otherwise they can be recruited the same as press ganging a crew, except en masse and they expect to be paid (40 points of Plunder per battle).
You could also set about improving your standing among the pirates first, or gather the fleet as you go; it doesn't really matter what order you do it in.
So what first?
Despite your triumphs of late, there remain those who do not accept you as deserving of the prize you have been awarded. If you expect to keep your isle, you'll need to fight for it. Even as I pen this warning, know that your old nemesis Barnabas Harrigan is bolstering his own fleet, funded through his recent spate of successes raiding the Chelish shipping lanes.
And he will come for you as soon as he is ready.
War is coming to the Shackles, whether Bonefist wants to admit it or not. We have a traitor, or perhaps traitors, in our midst, and when the Chelish navy sails south, it will divide us through our own greed and betrayal if we are not ready.
I intend to survive this war - and to do so, I need all the help I can get. I hope to see you survive as well, but to do that, you must gather a fleet. In time, I will join my resources to yours, but for the immediate future I must retain a low profile - I fear I have drawn too much attention to my plans already. Hire mercenaries if you must, but seek out friends and allies if you can - they will serve better than those bought with coin. Bolstering your infamy can only help as well - some of the topics that came up in the council meeting seemed to me good places to start. Looting the Black Tower and recovering the sword Aiger's Kiss from within would certainly increase your fame, and if you can track down Scags Rotgram...well, an old mate of Harrigan's could be an invaluable ally, especially if he knows something about Harrigan's weaknesses!
Until I contact you again, keep the silver raven figurine as proof of my word. Sell it off if you wish...after that party you threw at your fortress, I suspect you might need the spare coin to help pay for the fleet you'll soon need!
-Tessa
"Concerning. Two immediate concerns rise to my mind - one, Tessa is potentially the traitor among us, and attempting to play us against Harrigan."
"Of course, Harrigan does have to die - he's problematic one way or the other. But this timing is concerning. Second concern - if he's the traitor - he may not actually be raiding Chelish shipping lanes, but receiving payments via fake piracy."
"I think we want to track down Scags - but beware, in case he is a plant. And we'll try to acquire Aiger's Kiss."
"Seems like the wise course," Daliya agreed. "Scags first. He might be able to confirm the words on Harrigan."
"If Harrigan hates Scags enough to try and sic the council on him, then I would really like to meet him."
[dice=Use this or don't doesn't matter at the end of the day]1d20+20
You get wind of Scags' location. or, well...his LAST KNOWN location.
"Ol' Scags? Yeah, I know him. Cap'n of the Devilish Duchess and one o' me best mates. Word's been goin' around he was snacthed by the curse of Dagon's Jaws." the man pauses to snort derisively and spit a brown liquid on the floor.
"Ain't no gods be damned curse on the Jaws, and Scags is too wily by half to be caught by the real danger. Jaws is red isles, see. Iron rich. Yellow f+&+in' pansies call it cursed 'cause yer compass goes bloody mad near the things. Green cap'ns set course for landmarks near the jaws, not trustin' to the course without their tools and smash themselves on the rocks. Only way through is the Devil's Gullet, quarter-mile stretch between 'em, but it's a rough course for the inexperienced."
"T'were another cap'n we were speakin' of? Aye, i could believe they'd ground themselves out on the rocks of the Gullet. But Rotgram? No f!$!in' way. But he might want any damn fool lookin' to catch 'im in these waters to believe he'd sunk, I can believe THAT as sure as your mum is toothless."
"You want to find 'im? Look there. And good luck to ye if yer navigatin' ain't up to snuffin'."
Daliya looked and Ixrul, really glad she wasn't going to be navigating. Maybe they could find a pilot, if there was a need.
"Compasses are useless, huh? If only we had an expert pilot with an innate sense of direction..." Krom smirks, while Gurram rolls her eyes at him.
"Still, we only have the one. And a smaller ship would have a better chance at getting through the Gullet. So, I say we take the Devil's Bullet alone."
"And, well, if our Commodore were kind enough to let the Bullet borrow some of the Pallor's many magical trinkets, I wouldn't mind..."