Alice shudders. "Yeah, I am now. I'm just glad we made it without damage to the ship. I rather not think about what could have happened."
Thinking about what that could mean and shifting on her feet. Giving a subtle shake of her head before speaking again, Are they actually going to eat that creature?
Alice turns awawy, clearly having no stomach for what she thinks is about to happen.
"I dont know. I hope not. That's practically cannibalism. I just hope they do it fast."
Moving to link arms with Alice and walking away from the impromptu meal, I doubt our presence is needed here. His voice hiss's in her mind, It is only going to get worse from here. That ogre was eating a person when you proved youself. You need to Shaking her head and mentally yelling, Not for that I do not. If you are not going to be nice be silent! Rather surprised that he is actually being quiet. Watching where he feet go as she walks, I am sorry that was cruel... Hearing only her thoughts, Fine pout if you wish.
Clearly having no goal in her walking and seemingly lost in though as they move assuming Alice is willing to move away. Abruptly stopping and looking at Alice she mumbles How did you come to be with such vile people?
The fire of battle now quenched, Lothyrin returns to his normal temperament. The flames circling his hands slowly flicker. Brushing off his clothes he strolls over to where the fish remains caught in the line. As he approaches his hands glow blue as a ball of flame rolls around in his hand radiating immense heat. How would you like your meat Grumble, I prefer my seafood well done?
"Raw."
Alice is content to aimlessly wander the deck to get her mind of things. When Morana asks how she got to be her, she pauses. Her eyes glaze a bit into a thousand yard stare. In a slight monotone she answers.
"My parents died when I was young. I have been taking care of my brother ever since. Working at sea means long times away, but it also means I make a lot of money. Money that I cant spend while I am on the water."
Flinching at the monotone voice, I did not mean to upset you. If I as something that bothers you please let me know.
Alice blinks a few times and seems to come back to her senses. "Huh? What? Oh no. I miss my brother, its hard being away from him."
"I doubt you'll get anything useful out of him, even with torture," Soren says with an even tone, her eyes locked with their captive's. "Vandour has the right of it; this one is a zealot, and would quite likely rather have you devour his flesh than tell us anything we'd want to know. He'd believe himself a martyr, I'd bet, and feel vindicated that he withstood such atrocities until the end of his life." Soren takes a look at the barrel of her pistol, still smoking, and presses the searing hot barrel into one of the wounds of the creature trapped before her.
"You may try as you like, but he's likely useless. If you truly find the thought of this creature to be appetizing, do what you wish; otherwise, I doubt we'd lose much with an execution."
Grumble shrugged and took his first bite of the fishy's tail. "I ain't eatin' 'cause I care what fishy's got t' say. I jus' figured the rest o' you might."
"If he has any valuable information he's willing to share in the process, perhaps, but I have a feeling most of it will simply be screaming." Soren shrugs, before watching Grumble bite into the creature's flesh. "If he does decide to be cooperative, perhaps allow him to share what he has to say before taking another bite? If not, well... the sharks would eat him if we tossed the corpse anyway; I see no reason you should have to share."
"Screaming's good. Who don't like a little music with their dinner?" Grumble said with a bloody grin. "I ain't plannin' on sharin' though. 'Cept with you, maybe." He ripped off a small chunk of the screaming merman and held it out to Soren. "Want some?"
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"If I wasn't already not fond of sushi, this would do it," Vaundour said, his face slightly green -even through the magical disguise- as he watched the disguised Grumble start eating the merman alive. Then he looked around and saw the sailors watching. "Uh, guys, we do have an audience right now, just in case you forgot."
"So? They ain't gettin' any." Grumble said giving the sailors a glare.
The Frosthamar - Open Sea
The captured sea dweller yells out in pain as Grumble begins to rip chunks off of him. He then laughs maniacally, "You are the ones my vision led me to! Yes, yes eat me that the forces who will oppose and defeat you can find you and your vileness that much more easily".
Despite his bravado, he continues to yell as Grumble continues to eat him.
After a few moments he looks at Soren whose barrel somewhat cuarterizes on of his wounds, "Mitra has led me to you. I'll not be the first and I'll not be the last!"
The Captain thunks his axe on the deck, "Ye'll be sharin' at least one bit o' sea food with me half man or ye'll be feeding the shark alongside with what remains. You got that big 'un?"
The rest of his crew brings their weapons to bear near Grumble, "Unless o' course you think ta' kill us all and sail this vessel on yer own. I seen ya' fight, yer tough I'll grant ya'. But are you a sailor?"
The Captain thunks his axe on the deck, "Ye'll be sharin' at least one bit o' sea food with me half man or ye'll be feeding the shark alongside with what remains. You got that big 'un?"
The rest of his crew brings their weapons to bear near Grumble, "Unless o' course you think ta' kill us all and sail this vessel on yer own. I seen ya' fight, yer tough I'll grant ya'. But are you a sailor?"
"'Scuse me." Grumble said to Soren, and then turned and almost casually brought his axe down off his shoulder toward the captain's head.
If Soren is surprised as the half-ogre slams his axe into the captains neck, she certainlly doesn't look it. With a calm look, she takes her pistol and fires a round into the captain's chest for good measure. As the man topples to the ground, Soren cleans the barrel of her gun before addressing the other sailors. "Are you all so foolish as the man you followed? 'Are you a sailor,' he asked, not knowing they would be his final words. I am Captain Marsailles, a dread scourge upon the mainland before I was captured off the coast of Talingarde; they torched my ship, the Blood Rose, when I was dragged away in chains. The Cardinal commissioned this ship until I would again have one of my own, but it seems fortune has smiled upon us. Now, will you die and have the sharks feast on your carcasses, much like your former captain, or will you sail under me and my compatriots? I will kill you to the man if I must, but I believe you all are smart enough to avoid the pit falls of such actions." Soren spreads her arms wide as she speaks, clearly in her element, and addresses individual members of the crew as she delivers her ultimatum. She gives a knowing look to the others, waiting for them to collaborate her story, before shouting to them again.
"Now, will you sail? Or will you die?"
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"How have you not heard of the Dread Pirate Marsailles?" Vaundour said with a gasp. It was time to talk, and talking is what he does best. "The scourge of the northern seas, the only pirate queen with enough balls to regularly raid Talingarde proper? I feel shamed just being around such plebeian masses. Truly, if this is what piracy has come to, you were capture just in time, O' Profane One." Getting into his stride, Vaundour started pacing up and down the ship. "The Sacking of Vinten, the destruction of no less than three naval warships, it was even rumored that she once sailed into the Plane of Water to steal from one of the elemental lords!" After than he staged whispered, "Though if you ask me, that one was probably just a rumor."
Giving a wink to Soren, he continued. "Why, this ship would be lucky to have a captain as skilled, as bloodthirsty, as ambitious as our beautiful Captain Marsailles here! Frankly, I don't think you deserve her, but if she wants to lead such a pack of men as yourselves, that's her business."
Mentally cursing, Alice steps up. Grumble's actions would need to be adressed later, but for now they had to make sure they dont all get keelhauled, or marooned.
Not being one for honeyd words she does what she does best: bullying.
"You know, m'lady isnt kidding. It really is sail or die with her. I know my choice, and I'll gladly stand with her. Its not exaclty like you bunch treated my nicely here."
She lets electricity crackle between her hands (shocking grasp) to make her words even more convincing.
Not wanting to be left out Lothryin looks out to the sailors. As your flesh burns it reaches a point to where you can no longer feel the pain. How long it takes to receive that blissful feeling of nothingness varies. As he says this Lothyrin raises his blackened arms allowing a bluish flame to snake up them.
Hearing the gun shot Morana quickly follows Alice, This day just gets better and better! Twisting her fingers and muttering to herself while in the back.
She quickly stepping out to stand near the others, I feel that is it is safe to assume none of you want anymore bloodshed today. Nor would any of you wish for more fire.
Nate staggers back in surprise, grabbing onto the railing for support. He mumbles something to himself, looking down at the floor...
Aurex strides over with a smirk, casually nudging the captain as he passes. Unarmed and unarmored, he stands before the sailors with his hands in his pockets, but a soul-piercing gave in his eyes. "Bow and live. Or fight and die." He says simply. He knows how two-legs work. They have no pride. At least not these kinds of two legs.
The Frosthamar - Open Sea
The Captain staggers back after being sliced and shot falling over.
The group quickly begins to intimidate the crew who all just seem to grin as if they are not hearing a word you are saying. The reason why becomes obvious quickly as the Captain stands back up.
He grins and hefts his axe, "Nice try, my turn".
The Captain's Greataxe cuts Grumble from groin to neck and then once more across his midsection.
He steps over to the half-ogre and places his boot on his neck, "Feel like sharin' yer meat now monster or should I add ye' to the menu?
And you woman, you want ta' take another shot at me. If so I can assure ye' of a new moniker Dead Pirate?"
The crew waits tensed and ready for battle.
"Wait!" Nate yells, quickly jumping between Grumblejack and the captain. "We cannot turn on each other over such petty squabbles! There are religious zealots getting visions of our mission and you want to fight each other? For all I care you can cut each other to ribbons once we're done here, but right now we have a damn mission to do. Swallow your bloated pride and do your f!%$ing job." He stares at the others. "And do you really think Asmodeus would approve of betraying your allies over a meal? His wrath is not something to trifle with."
Soren holds her smoking gun, still pointed at the Captain's head, as Nathanial steps in between the group and him. She locks eyes with her companion, her finger twitching on the trigger of her pistol, before she finally speaks to the captain. "Step away from the half-ogre, and our quarrel is over. If not, I will put a bullet through you skull before you can blink. I will not suffer you to end the life of one of my companions." She motions with her pistol for the Captain to take a step back, and for Lothryin to tend to Grumblejack's wounds. If the Captain takes a step back, she keeps her word and lowers her weapon, turning with a harsh look towards Nathanial.
"Do not presume to tell me what my Lord disapproves of," she hisses under her breath, a steely tone to her voice. "Impulsive he may be, but he has forged the pack the same as the rest; I would have stood by you had you done the same. He honors those who respect their contracts."
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"Well, now I feel like we're all friends!" Vaundour said with a strained grin. "After all, nothing like mutual acts of destruction to bring people together, am I right? So, what say we share a bottle of rum and laugh about this, preferably before we get any more rowdy. And when we reach port, I got first round of drinks!"
Moving forward Lothyrin pulls a wand from his bag and a vial full of a dark murky liquid from his pouch. Unstoppering the vial he quickly sprinkles the foul smelling substance over Grumble. Watching the crimson droplets fall on his unconscious companion he whispers slowly under his breath waving the wand and unleashing some of the pent up magic within. That task completed Lothyrin runs his hands along the gash caused by the massive war axe, using his divine might to seal up the wound (Stabilize). That will heal him for now, but he will have to rest and I may have to reapply my magics to aid in his full recovery.
The Frosthamar - Open Sea
The Captain steps back from Grumble all the while keeping his gaze on Soren.
"Your man challenged me and I responded in kind. His kind only know the way of strength. Now the pecking order is set as it should be and all is well. Surely you wish to arrive in a timely manner yes?"
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Clapping his hands with a beaming smile, Vaundour gave a pointed look at Soren and said, "Great! And you are right, Captain, arriving on time is a fantastic idea, absolutely splendid. Soren, why don't you help me drag this lug out of the way of these fine sailors? After all, the sooner we arrive on shore, the sooner we can complete the full mission, aye?"
Nate gives a begrudging grin. "Hey, fair enough, right? Yes, let's make all haste. The shorter the journey the less problems we should encounter."
What in the Hells is wrong with these people! "Are we throwing that thing" Pointing at the sea creature, "back into the ocean?"
Let them eat, it would be a mistake to allow this creature to report back on our numbers and strength. She must be killed.
Shaking her head, "I did not mean though it back alive."
The Frosthamar - Open Sea
The Captain turns to the sea dwelling humanoid, "Pray te yer God..."
As he raises his axe the creature blurts out, "You shall turn in upon yourselves, my death shan't be in..."
His sentence is cut off at the same time that his head is cut off.
From off into the waters you head the sounds of dolphins chittering but they soon fade away.
The Captain kicks the head towards Vaundour and Nate, "Give it to the Ogre as a trophy to show I've no hard feelings. Good news boys, seafood for dinner!"
Kneeling next to the half-ogre Lothyrin lets more of the vile demons blood drip onto the creature as he unleashes another torrent of energy from the tip of the wand. His wounds quickly begin to close up as he is steadily on the mend. Standing, Lothyrin maintains an aloof stare as the soldiers begin to tear into the sea creature. Snapping his fingers the blood and dirt that had stained his clothes roll of his body and fall to the deck.
Nate gets a bit green. "Umm, I'll be good with rations, thanks." Nate had eaten some tough things in the army, but this was a little beyond him.
The red-clad human licks his chops like a dog. "Oh I'd love to try some. But it wasn't my kill." Aurex says, nodding to Grumble.
Alice politely declines the meal.
Shaking her head and trying to ignore the way her stomach rolls at the idea.
Grumblejack woke up with a confused blink that quickly became angry seething. He gave Lothryin a thankful nod, and looked the Captain's way, thinking.
Deception is a tool. Self-deception is death. Deceive always my enemy but never myself.
Right.
The Frosthamar -
By the next day the tension on the ship lessens though the crew has to work harder because of those men taken from the ship by the ill fated Triton Cleric.
A handful of quiet days later Captain Odenkirk approaches the group directly for the first time since the altercation.
“We are a little light on fresh water I think. We are passing Seal Isle and there is a stream that feeds into the bay there. We’ll take on water there. I’ll send a party to the shore. Of course, that means we’ll spend a day in some of the richest fur seal hunting grounds all along this coast. I’m thinking of organizing a hunting expedition. Interested?”