Sandara's eyes widen as she looks to Nissa, in complete shock. She turns to Cog and Rosie, who has walked up now. "Get them all tied up and in the hold." The three of them, Conch now on his feet and seeing what was going on. It is at this point that Fishguts and Owlbear come onto deck, both looking disappointed to see the battle over.
"Whip man dead? Goooooood!"
Owlbear looks very pleased as he walks over, "Help?" he asks with an excited smile.
Sandara sees that the tasks are well in hand, she turns to her fellow mutineers. "We should talk...in private. I suggest the captain's quarters...with great haste."
With that, the fiery redhead turns and walks into said cabin.
Conch, Cog, Rosie, Ambrose, Syl, and Owlbear continue to do the work as commanded by Sandara, though they will be joining the rest of the gorup in the captain's quarters once the task is done.
Aramis follows Sandara into the cabin, spitting on Plugg's corpse as she goes. "Ah hope tha' Lady o' Graves sends ye t' tha hell ye deserve," she mutters. Ah, Pappy, is this wha' ye wanted o' me? she wonders as she stands before Sandara. Seems ah could be a cap'n soon. Would ye be proud o' me if ye were 'ere?
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Malak grumbles at the thought of leaving Scourge alive. "More than once the rat tried ta kill me witout nobody knowing. I'd be more than willin' to rip 'im apart wit' my hands." The barbarian gives Scourge a solid kick to the stomach as he walks by, trying to make it look like he tripped but he is not one for being nonchalant. Then he follows the rest of his group into the captain quarters, holding his trident steady in his hand as blood drips down the points.
Doc whistles in amazement at the shot he witnessed. Entering with the others into the room he claps a hand on Aramis' shoulder and exclaims, "That was one hell of a shot! I didn't think it was possible to hit a man in the head and a half-dozen others in the spine simultaneously!"
Turning to Malak, he says "Now now Malak, we shouldn't rip the poor bugger apart. In fact, I'd be happy to save his life. It's my job you know! Although, at this point, I'd reckon he probably needs surgery. Might cost him a limb or three... Nissa left him in pretty bad shape." Doc rubs his chin thoughtfully as he ponders the possibility of a mostly limbless Scourge, the serious look on his face belying the obvious sadism of his suggestion.
After a few moments, he continues speaking. "Anyway, that may not have been the best coordinated mutiny in the world, but it'll sure make for one hell of a story in the future! Good job Nissa! I couldn't have imagined a more entertaining way to spend the bloody hour." he says with a grin.
"On to more pressing matters, what's the plan now that we've taken the ship?"
Nissa inclines her head in recognition of the doctor's words. "I could not stand to see another of our friends and allies beaten. I swore when they came for Malak that I would act the next time. They could not stand against me in the fullness of my power. Nor should we allow Scourge to live. He would just be a thorn in our sides."
She pauses for a moment. "That was a true incredible shot, Aramis."
Snapping his teeth in sheer frustration, the dwarf sheaths his axe and grumbles. He appears, for all intents and purposes, to be a bit dejected as he walks along with the rest of the bunch. "Aye, good job you lot. Wasn't expecting it so soon, but it definitely changes things, regardless..."
Once they're all inside, he'll lean against the wall of the room, crossing his arms and just listening. "If there's gonna be a limb or two lost...well, I'll snap it off with me teeth and then toss it to the sharks."
"Yes, it was a incredible shot," Maera looks at Aramis once she has joined the meeting, then to the half-orc, thankful they reacted quickly. "And Malak got an incredible strike on Scourge. You, however," she rounds on Nissa with the full force of her fury, "Are incredibly selfish. We got lucky. None of us were ready - you hadn't bothered to share with the rest of us what you planned... Seven Hells, Cog didn't even have a weapon that we promised to get him for his aid, nor Conchabar a chance to even fight at full strength. You betrayed their trust, denied them their proper revenge, and we got lucky," she all but spits at the 'princess,' who for all her posturing doesn't seem to care a whit about what might have happened to her 'subjects' had things gone south. "And had we not gotten lucky, everyone else would have paid for your actions."
Sandara steps forward between Maera and Nissa, attempting to stop it before it starts.
"We need to discuss what is going on now, not what has gone on in the past. That could have been smoother and it could have been done without having to draw blood on anyone but Scourge and Plugg, but it is over now. If we are going to plan things...we do need to make sure everyone is in on the plan," she says as she looks to Nissa, "But in the end, thanks to some opportune moments, we have taken the ship, leaving a power vacuum we need to fill."
The cabin is not large, but it does have a round table they can easily fit around. Sandara goes to the side opposite the door. "So, what do we do now? And who do we put in charge?"
Maera scowls slightly, but stifles her simmering anger for the time being. She looks at Sandara, "I think we should wait for the others to join us. They fought with us, risked as much and suffered as much as we. This is their ship, too, and if we're going to put it to a vote, they deserve a voice. Otherwise, we're no better than Harrigan, Scourge, and Plugg."
Nissa looks vaguely bemused by Maera's fury. "I saw an opportunity to protect a friend -- to stop a senseless beating and I took it. Had I know that Scourge was going to beat him to an inch of his life, I would have let you know. Your anger at me is misplaced."
How dare she address me in such a tone. I must forgive her though. The person she is truly angry with is herself. Because she saw yet another friend brutalized and did . . . nothing. Perhaps next time she will find her courage.
"We had made plans. We knew the men were cruel and that I could heal the damage, now, as I said before we need to talk about the future, as there is nothing we can do about what is behind us." Sandara is tired of the arguing and is trying to get the conversation about what to do next going.
Nissa gives a small shake of her head. I agreed to wait for an opportune time. I saw an opportunity and I took it. This is what distinguishes the princely caste: the will to seize. But I will waste no more energy justifying myself.
"I agree with Maera. We should include all of our allies in any discussion of leadership. We are not the only ones who were press-ganged. Each should be able to choose who they serve and if they want to stay on the ship. Those who opposed us, on the other hand, should be given no such choice: either they serve or they should be tossed into the sea."
Diabolito grins after a moment or two. "Or...if neither seems right...well, we could always find someone to buy 'em."
He grows silent again for several moments before he speaks again. "But definitely giving everyone a vote on who should lead...yeah, that'd be a wise plan."
Frowning, Nissa responds to Diabolito, "I have no issue with killing our vanquished enemies, or sacrificing them to the gods if that is the custom of these lands. I do, however, have qualms about selling them as slaves, a fate we just escaped. Ibn Sald beheaded the Beast Princess when he united Vudra; he did not sell her into slavery."
"One o' tha best shots o' me life," Aramis beams, proudly patting the barrel of her musket, which lies across her lap. She procures a dagger, carving a second notch into the stock, rubbing it clean as she continues. "Ah 'onestly thought Ah'd be tha' one ta break," she chuckles. "Figured Ah'd be tha stupid one, chargin' in an' likely gettin' us all killed.
"As fer tha matter o' cap'n, we c'n put it ta vote. Ah'd like ta nominate meself, o' course. Figure Ah'd be 's good at it 's anyone. May be a touch trigger 'appy, bu' we all 'ave our flaws." Her eyes rest on Nissa as she finishes speaking.
"You do have the fire of courage in you, Aramis," Nissa says with a smile. "I can easily see you taking the fight to them. But I think you overestimate their prowess. They are bullies. Without the might of the captain or the magic of the sorceress, they had few strengths besides for our own fear of pain and the treachery they were so clearly planning. I suspect they would have tried to murder us in our sleep soon. Why else would Plugg have been arming the rest of the crew and attempting to keep us exhausted? And as for the captaincy, I assume there will be several candidates, myself among them."
Diabolito raises an eyebrow slowly, then gruffly clears his throat. "Nah, lass, we were shanghai-ed. Tot'lly different thing there. We defeated them in right out combat, so we determine their fate. WE, on the other hand, were drugged and dragged onto this damn floating piece of wood. To the victor go the spoils, and like it or not, lass...defeated enemies be spoils."
He pauses a moment when the matter of captaincy comes up. "Well I'd throw me own hat into tha matter, but I don't think we want a dwarf as the Cap'n."
"We must be careful to toe the line of Captain and Overlord. We must also be careful out at see with no way to resupply or replace our crew, because we are running a skeleton crew as it is. Whoever ends up leading us will likely have to work beside the crew until we find more people to join us. If not, the ship simply won't get to where we are going..."
As Sandara is speaking, the rest of the mutineers step into the room, with Owlbear pulling the door closed behind them. "Guard." Simple, just like him.
"The lass is right. 'Oever leads us wants to be respected, slightly feared, but capable. That said, Rickety Squibs be where we should head. I's where Plugg and Scourge were 'eadin' to take the ship. They can re-outfit the ship, give it a new name and a few changes to being a new look. Like it's a new ship." Ambrose seems to be full of all the information they needed at this moment. He had been trying to get time for a while to tell Diabolito, but had been under watch from Aretta.
Cog, Rosie, and Conch move over to the table, the two shorter members clambering easily onto the table. Conch sits upon it and looks very casual upon it, while Rose stands, hands on her hips. "Bloody bastards are locked up, but I think those who aren't leading should be let loose. We are goin' to need their arses to work the ship."
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Upon walking into the cabin Malak positions himself near Sandara, he has no way for words like the others but he sees truth in her points. He jabs the point of his trident into the floorboards with a resounding thud. The Wavecrasher seems to look at everybody calmly. Cap'n of a ship...hmmm...one of ye better speak up and get this ship in line. The half-orc grunts and then begins to speak. "I knows that I'm no fit fer a proper cap'n. Don' bother tah count me in the votes. So long as the crew is fit for takin' lives of enemies, plunderin' treasures, and makin' legends as pirates then good. I won' serve on a weak ship. But the lil lass be right. We need hands out ther and we need a force to keep yer "prisoners" in ther place." He finishes pointing at Nissa, making it clear she is the only reason he did not go on a rampage killing all of them. The sea reaver takes his trident out of the floor and there is a low hum to it. He then passes Owlbear with a nod and walks out of the cabin to work on the ship.
Annnnd with Nissa's dismissive comment, and her lack of any shred of humility that she could have been wrong and acted with haste, shrivels any sense of respect that the watersinger had for her. Friendship, after all, tends to require equality in the relationship. Must be difficult to generate that true sense of feeling when the other side of the street was wrapped in self-absorption, and thought everyone else peasants. As the undine rolled her eyes dramatically, something primeval bubbled inside: I am the daughter of the sea; I will not be ruled - least of all by you.
"And what do you know about the life? Had you even been at sea before this ill fated trip? she asks cooly of Nissa, remembering how the woman had to fight off sea sickness, and her clumsiness in anything to do with the sailor profession. "Takes more than fear and skill with a weapon to be a Captain. Captain also needs the trust and love of the crew. Malak, Diabolito, and Aramis," she looks at them with respect, "They've worked the waves; they know the life, and I do not doubt they know what it takes. But, you? No. There's no salt in that blue blood of yours, and this is the sea, not some Vudrani kingdom. We survive by the grace of Gozreh and live by the tenets of Ol' Bess Herself. I'll not trade my freedom to serve and abide by your judgement alone, especially when the next edict 'your Majesty' issues from her ivory tower will equally ignore what be best for the crew."
"No, I vote for Captaincy by triumvirate," she draws her chin up, something deadly about her stance. "With Aramis, and myself, we could be loved by the crew and feared by our foes. There's nothing more dangerous than a woman at sea - so why not have three of them?"
Doc begins clapping as Maera finishes. "Well done Maera! That's quite an elegant solution."
Looking at the three, he continues "While it's certainly a highly unusual arrangement, each of you have something to contribute, and there's no doubt you all have the ambition... I can see it in each of your eyes."
"Were it just two of ya I might disagree, after all your natures are so different. Nissa's possessed of a temperament and reckles... *cough* spontaneity matched only by a raging fire. You, Maera, are every bit the water that's in your heritage, patient at times, yet unrelenting when need be. And Aramis! Can there be any doubt that the wind favors her? Only one so blessed could have delivered a shot 'tween his eyes like that."
"Consider this a vote for the three. I must say... woe betide those who get in the way of our captains! And mark my words, ev'ry cap'n on the high seas will tremble come the day y'all have your own ships."
With a grin Doc crosses his arms and leans back against the wall to let the others speak.
Nissa watches Maera bluster and posture with calm amusement. "For all you disdain for my nobility, you seem quick to . . . what is the phrase . . . take a high hand with me." Nissa pauses to let Maera consider her own hypocrisy. I can forgive her cowardice. It is likely fleeting. We have been abused for months.
The Vudrani woman continues, "You are not wrong, however, that there is much that I need to learn about the sea. None of us would be a perfect captain as we are now, each has strengths that can be complimented by the other two. But it will all be for nothing if you let your anger at me curdle into resentment. There would be no unity then and that would be dangerous as a storm at night. If you believe that the three of us would lead best together, then what do Aramis and I bring to the triumvirate that you value? How do see us navigating the differences that will arise between us? From what you have just said, it is not clear why you want such an arrangement if your only reason is that you think I would bad captain. I will support you on the matter of the triumvirate -- as I have supported you in the past on a great many things -- as long as your reason is more than you do not think you have sufficient support to lead by yourself."
Diabolito remains quiet for several moments and then briefly lets a smile cross his sea-stained lips. "Aye, ya lasses could be quite dangerous as leadership. It'd also prevent anyone from forcing the entirety of the crew to agree with a crazy plan, what with it comin' ta votes and all."
He then stops, seeming to struggle with what to say next. "But she speaks with a bit a truth, Nissa. Ya not too familiar with the life, but that don't mean ya can't learn. Hells, ya eva seen a dwarf on the open waters before? Not a one of ya, I bet! Think it didn't take me family some time ta learn the waters?""
He shakes his head slowly. "Dudn't matter what or who ya were before. That life died in the first battle, and ya buried it with that bloodshed today. Now, ya gotta learn what new life ya've found yaself in."
"You have killed no kin nor kind of mine; there is no vendatta that needs be settled, whether at shore or sea," she laughs lightly, not expecting the other woman to understand Besmara's ways nor her own fluid nature, and her face softens slightly in regards to Nissa, not with pity really... but seemingly perhaps a better gauge of the Vudrani's character. She was not malicious just foolhardy... still, completely unchecked... With a pause to gather her thoughts, she continues frankly, "Your blade is strange and fearsome, unique among these waters, and to ignore the skill that which you command it is blatant insult... But you are young, and the passions that due you credit also blow you in the wind, heedless of what else gets caught in the wake for, yes, the same life of privilege that grants you such confidence in your sole authority would be this ship's greatest disadvantage - it both buoys and blinds you.
I say this not out of spite, but honest concern... Bess would tolerate no Queen but her on her seas, and an untempered flame on-board a ship will set the sails on fire when the luck runs out."
She glances at Aramis, smiling genially now, "Of the three of us, I think you best live and breathe the life. There's not a drink you'd refuse, nor challenge neither I imagine, and, Gods, the sound of your musket would have them quaking before we even be to quarters! But while you master your temper and take council better than Nissa, by your own admission you fear the tendency to put your feet into your mouth. It won't always be ships to plunder. Someday we'll have to tread murkier waters if we're to one day be Free Captains - politics."
"And me? I know I am no warrior born. I favor the smile over the knife, and I am good at it," she chuckles slightly, in remembrance, "Though I must admit, more than once the smile 'twas to hide the knife. And perhaps it is my age that makes me value caution over action, but not does not mean that the love I bear for our shipmates is any less than the two of yours." She glances back at Sandara, Rosie, Cog, and Conchabar fondly. She did, after all, risk much to jump into the raging ship to rescue Jack. "No, I know what I am... Myth and monster, and, ultimately, adaptable. There's a place for subtly as well as force, for charm as well as fear, and a ship suffers when it has no albatross to bring winds to the sails, and spirits to the crew."
In true bard fashion, she lets this settle before drawing to a close, "Just think of the tale we could spin shoreside. Not just one woman as Captain, but three - Each deadly and deceptive in her art, be it blade or musket or witchery. What be one's weakness is the other pairs' strengths... We could weather whatever be thrown at us."
Diabolito clears his throat. "All sounds good, lass, but let's not forget that there are other fearsome sorts on board besides the captains...." he glances at Malak and the doctor for emphasis.
"Gods, no," she looks to Doc with a smile. "I've seen the way Doc can take a man apart. 'Tis grim imagery the way he could probably put a man back together again, if he so wished. I like my fingers and toes where they are, thank you. And, well, we all know what Malak's like..." she pauses, wondering if it would not be fitting that Malak claim Scourge's role, and recognizing the wrongs done to Malak, says, "He ought to be the one to execute Scourge. Scourge did try to off him without anyone knownin'"
"Indeed..." Diabolito says quietly, looking quite contemplative at one of the scuff marks on the floor, his hand moving to readjust his axe from its sheath to leaning against the walls so he has something to grip. "I have to admit, I'm quite a large bit rusty in all this fightin bit, lass. Couldn't do a real bit of good in either fight in securin' this damned floating barge."
Dwarven pride seems to be alive and well in the beastly man. "But the rest of ya have proved full enough of salt and piss to keep it afloat if we can find this Rickity and make her a proper vessel."
Nissa nods, "Everyone here has their skills and I know that they are appreciated by all. Who can fail to remember how deadly and awe inspiring it was to see Malak use the doctors potions to crush so many when we claimed this vessel the first time." She smile with real warmth at Malak as she says this. "Skill is not limited to those who were press-ganged that night. Where would be with out the friends we have made on this ship. Just as we all have worth so too shall we all share in the glory and the plunder!"
Throughout this last part she strokes the beautiful red scarf that Rosie had given her.
"Ships got lots of places for crew and lots of places for officers, ain't just about a damn captain. I think everyone here can find a place," Rosie says as she walks back and forth.
Smiling as the ladies find an accord that seems to make most everyone happy, she puts her hands on the table and begins a few quick words, "Seems to me, we need several positions filled, but regardless, we will all have to work until we get a larger crew. We do need to look at the Vudrani as crew members, not as captives. Maybe not their officer...but beyond that, we need them. And they need us."[/b]
The woman looks about the cabin and finds a quill, parchment, and some ink. "So, for captain...we have Aramis, Maera, and Nissa. With three captains, a first mate seems unnecessary."
"Ambrose is our cook still and Doc is clearly our carpenter...after that it becomes a little more murky." Sandara says this as she begins to write several things on the paper before her.
"We will need a boatswain, which is essentially what Scourge was supposed to be. I would say that our Master of Arms is likely to be Malak, since that would put him in charge of making sure our crew is battle ready, but there could be some debate for that."
It is clear that Sandara has given this a lot of thought, as she had been the originator of the mutiny idea.
"Aramis could fill the role of Master Gunner, if need be, as she is ideal for it with her knowledge...and perhaps she can build us some big guns for the ship."
She writes a few more things down, "We will still need a Quartermaster, a Sailing Master, and a Striker at the very least. If we manage to get a little be larger of a crew, we will need a few mates for these jobs..." Clearly Sandara knows her ships, but for some reason she has no desire to be captain as she has never spoken up for such.
"Sailin' Master I've heard of, lass, but this striker ya say? What ya talkin' bout? I know a fair bit of the lay of the seas and such, and ain't nothin better than having someun connected ya nature for keeping us clear a storms." The dwarf seems to be quite intrigued at the options, mulling them over in his head as he strokes the haft of the axe.
"Diabolito, the striker is something relatively new on ships that have been dealing with Chelaxian pirate hunters and free booters. Their day to day tasks on the ship mostly concerns fishing, whether it be trapping seat turtles and manatees...or even reefclaws when ya can or fishing for sharks or other such large fish. They also tend to do some scavenging and hunting on land whenever a ship goes to shore. Their secondary purpose is to understand pirate hunters and be able to trap, hunt, and kill them. Part Master at Arms' Mate, part Cook's Mate...all vicious!"
She says the last bit with a grin, after having described it, it is clearly something he might well excel in.
Diabolito smiles widely. "Sounds more and more like a proper fit for a shark!" He rubs his hands together. After a moment or two, he starts to genuinely laugh. "Aye, imagine that...the chance to hunt scruffy-necked cowards like Harrigan and his lackeys...Or those Chelaxian devils...Show 'em who the real devil in the seas is!"
His expression seems to relax, until his lips distort slightly to show his shark teeth. "Then I'd say that the striker might be the best spot for meh. Of course, helping out from time to time on storm watch or shoal searchin'."
It's obvious now that a bit of the small man's bravado and pride is coming back.
Aramis listens to the conversation unfold, mulling the situation over as she spits onto her musket barrel and rubs it with her sleeve, rubbing out the marks of blackpowder. Captaincy by triumvirate? Ain't ne'er 'eard of such an arrangement. The praise causes a lopsided grin to spread across her face. "Don' rightly know who was watchin' o'er me out there. Ol' Bess, or maybe me own Pappy. Who'er it was wanted ol' Plugg dead, tha's fer sure, an' saw fit ta let me do tha deed." She spits on the barrel again, continuing, "Ah think we can complement each o'er well. Three lasses runnin' tha ship? We cover each other's backs, an' 'elp play ta our strengths. Ah could make some guns, if need be. Ne'er built a big 'un afore, but can't be too much 'arder than one o' these." She checks that the sight on her musket is aligned; seeing it slightly crooked, she begins worrying it back into place. "Could be a good chance ta get this ol' thing back in ship shape, 's well. An' Stormbeard sounds like tha finest fit fer a Striker I've e'er seen." She looks over the group, her grin evening out. "Ah reckon we c'n do this," she says, excitement glittering in her dark eyes. "What d' ye say we get ta Rickety Squib's post-'aste, eh?"
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While everyone is still in the cabin deciding the fate of the ship, Malak is out on the decks working the rigging and keeping the ship sailing on their current course. After a short amount of time though the barbarian makes his way below decks. He makes his way straight to the brig where the prisoners are being held. Damn Scourge and that Vudrani b!#@%! Malak stops and looks at the prisoners then pulls out his trident and eyes the officer. He strokes his new weapon and then gestures to the ship around him. "How it feel knowin' what used to be yers is now mine? And you! If it wernt fer me mates...I'd have yer head meself!" The sea reaver finishes pointing at Scourge. His words were true though, the only thing keeping him from taking both of their lives and making a bloody mess was that Sandara and the others wanted them alive, for now.
Scourge glares at Malak, defiant and angry in defeat. "Ye best have my 'ead soon or I will find a way for ye to regret it!!!"
The Vudrani just sits with her head down, saying nary a word.
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Standing by the table, Cog finally speaks, "I am fine with any of you as captain, or all of you, as long as there are plenty of fights to be had and spoils to be won," he says with a grin as he lifts the cutlass that he acquired from Plugg's fallen body, relishing in the feel of the magic weapon in his hand.
Rosie chuckles and shakes her head, "I like the idea of not fallin behind another bastard, but Bess, she can be a b!!~&. The three of you are goin have to be strong to tame her at times, and flexible to bend to her at times. Somethin' yer going to all have to bloody do. That being said, I'm in for this lark. I think I'd like to help keep the ship running, and would like to work with Doc as a carpenter. Learn how to work the wood so we can keep the boat afloat."
Finally Conch takes his turn, taking a deep breath. "I know lots of things and understand a good deal more than let known. I think perhaps it be time for me to be the taking care of our goods. Besides, if it's a deal to be made, who is going to refute me when I start to haggle," he says with a wink to Rosie who rolls her eyes despite a slight blush in her cheeks.
Looking at Rosie she grins, "Ol' Bess might be a b!&&$, but I'm standing by her side and as such, I think the role of Sail Mistress suits me best. I know my lady better than most, and as such...I can help guide this boat. We can be a scourge if we give her her due." With that, Sandara finishes up the list.
Looking from Maera, Nissa, and Aramis, then around the room, "This room may need a few changes if it is to house the three of you. But we can make it work!"
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Malak grins at Scourge and caresses his trident. "Aye, I think ye already makin' me regret not doin' it before. I'll be seein' ye soon." The barbarian winks at Scourge and makes his way back up to the deck to do more work. He straps his trident to his back as he walks up the stairs and onto the deck.
The dwarf just grins and shakes his head. "Time to get out from all this yammering and get some fresh air, lass." And with that, the small man just heads his way out of the cabin, axe lightly swinging rhythmically at his waist.
Seeing Scourge, he gives an obscene gesture in the former officer's direction. "Ya should be glad I don't drown ya in a barrel of that demon rum, ya scurvy-ridden landlubber."
"How long do you need, Plugg alive Sandara? I care not for what you do with him as long as he is dead soon.
"Need? He can die now, for all I care, but I wanted to make sure that his death added some finality to the whole situation. We can have Malak behead him in front of everyone tonight, if my Captains wish."
"That has a certain poetry to it." Nissa smiles. "I'll go tell him."
Turning to her fellow captains, "Do you have an objections to Malak beheaded that officer as well? I feel that she will be nothing but trouble if she is allowed to live."