"Yeah, you better run, you tone-deaf primadonna..." she taunts slightly, and dismisses her orb with a sigh. A quick overlook of their groaning and feebly moving opponents tells her that, currently, they are all still alive, and she tries to turn this into an opportunity.
"Stabilize 'em if you can, Master Striker. Not their fault they sent guppies against sharks," she orders quietly, and approaches one of the surrendered aspis.
"You know the way of life here. What we did to the Kurstav... that was just business, and rather cleanly done, at that. Your bosses want to make it personal, it's only going to get messier for grunts like you. Now, I won't say we're sorry, and I can't promise we won't take another aspis ship if needs must: But you'd best appeal for them to let us conduct any and all future business here with impunity. Or else our business against your bosses will assuredly become very personal, and I will not be as inclined for generosity against captured aspis ships."
The dwarf nods at the command from the Captain.
"Aye, Cap'n." Diabolito spits the blood from off his face, as he staggers over to the enemies, trying to stabilize those he can.
His hand glows with a pale light like the ocean, as he works to bind wounds and stabilize their enemies.
As he walks by the Captain as he moves to the next downed person, he keeps his voice low.
"That was an invisibility spell, Cap'n...I'm not so sure that other Aspis snake has left the area."
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"Not our problem anymore." Cassius grunted his tone indicating otherwise. Cassius will sort through the prisoner's pockets and bodies, taking weapons and anything they had on them.
Cassius looks at the group. "Lets get off the street. We have some questions to be asking our guests." His voice as hard as steel.
Amos does a cursory check of his weapon, then helps Mr. Rain. He makes a mental note to sit down with his captain and figure out why her musket was malfunctioning. It felt like a misaligned flint, but they needed to sit down at a bench to be certain.
Aramis holsters her pistol, picking up her musket and cursing at it once more, just for good measure. As she sets about clearing it through a combination of gentle manipulation and percussive persuasion, she strides up to stand abreast with her co-captain. "Reckon we should send one back with tha ear o' tha other?" she asks grimly. "Could be most persuasive, after all." She catches Amos' eye and rolls both of her own, lifting her musket with a slight shrug.
Well figure it out, captain, don't you worry. Just need some time is all. Try adjusting your flint angle. The spark might be too weak.
As Aramis clears the chamber, she sees that bullet is no longer there, though by the way it misfired, she expected it to be.
The agent who can see slowly shakes his head. "Look...You aren't ever going to be liked around here, but I would bet you anything that if you return us all alive and paid some reparations for attacking our ship to begin with...the Aspis would look the other way moving forward..."
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Stewing from his injuries, Cassius has been holding back his temper until the agent spoke. "Shut the f$#% up, you Aspis m!~+$@@#%%$~!" Cassius snarled as he hit the agent with the guard of his blade.
Cassius moves to the still blind one. "We're the one looking for some reparations now. You hear me Blindy? We are going to have a very nice chat and you're going to tell us everything. Aren't you Blindy?" Cassius gently prods the man his his cutlass - enough for him to know it's there. "Otherwise..."
The agent who could see, fails to be able to anymore as his eyes roll back in his head and is knocked unconscious by Cassius brutal blow.
The blind agent whispers quietly, "Please...look...what he said is the truth. We are simple agents. A gold agent came to us...told us what we were going to do. Said we are to either kill you or get your to pay what you owe us. You are in our port and it is known that you attacked one of our ships. The leaders...they want blood or money. This will simply cause it to be worse...unless you pay..." he trails off, wincing, expecting to feel a blade hit him next.
With the fight over for now, Indrana goes to any dead thugs and starts rifling their belongings for anything of interest. The ones who are not dead she leaves be.
Finding that none of their attackers are truly dead, just mostly dead, Indrana decides to rifle the fallen thugs anyway, they attacked, they were defeated, they have their lives, their valuables are forfeit unless the captains say otherwise.
The blind man whimpers slightly, realizing he isn't going to get clocked and he says softly, "If you aren't familiar with town, it might be best if I show you the way..."
Frowning as she hunts in vain for the bullet she swore she loaded, Aramis tosses her musket to Amos - "See if ye can find anythin' strange 'bout tha' barrel there, lad" - and heads to Maera, taking her arm firmly and turning her away from the others.
"Wha' now, lass?" she asks in a low tone. "I'm inclined ta get Blindy o'er there ta show us where we can find 'is superiors, but tha' leaves these bastards." She nods to indicate the scattered unconscious agents. "On tha other 'and, if we don't move on 'em soon, they'll know the ambush failed."
Maera nodded carefully at their Striker's word of caution, and frowned further when it's suggested that same invisible aspis agent is the key piece to them getting out of this situation with all the cards in their hands. As of now, they've got a fat load of nothing. Probably watching and laughing, the trollop...
At her sister-captain's approach, she sighs heavily. "Could it? Would a ploy like that work on us? I imagine it'd only stroke their ire. We're still new names on the seas," she says, playing a devil's advocate though she watches Cassius's attempt all the same. She smirks briefly as he get his desired response, but it fades just as quickly when she grasps the theme of what they want. Blood or money. Sometimes you got to swallow your pride if you want to save your hide...
"I'll pay. It's not worth it," Maera concludes to Aramis when she pulls her aside, quietly angry and resigned. They got the better of her, but better alive than dead. Alive left the hope of revenge one day. "We don't have the resources to fight the entire Aspis, and that's where this would be going if we refused. I'll not have the crew suffer from my bad call, so I'll end this now. It's my share, I'll pay. Alright?"
Maera extends a hand towards 'Blindy,' dismissing her glitterdust spell, and before addressing him, "Let's say one wishes to make an overture of letting bygones be bygones... I'd prefer not being attacked on sight again. We let you go, you see that an envoy of a much higher pay check and accountability than you sorry sods comes to Fury's dock. I'll see that they get their bloody appeasement."
Slowly, the man rises to his feet, leaving his weapons on the ground and he nods slowly. "I believe that can be arranged. Look for a gold badge to arrive. I...thank you. You are doing what is best for everyone...especially me right now!" With those words, he ignores his weapons and takes off, assuming that his companions will be healed or left to their own devices, since he can see that now and could see that they were not doing major harm to them.
Maera makes a small disgusted noise, although whether this is directed at the aspis or her own choices remains to be seen. With a considerably softer expression she says to Cassius and Diabolito, "Let's get the two of you to Sandara, and patched up," fussing slightly like a mother hen. "The sooner we can see the back of this place the happier I'll be."
Amos catches his captain's weapon and gives it a quick inspection. A couple test strikes reveals his suspicions as true. Her flint was misaligned. With a quick adjustment he fixes the problem and tosses the musket back.
Amos then retrieves Bullet and takes him for one last trot before he gets cooped up in the ship again and meets the crew well before the appointed meeting time.
Amos does not find any indication of a bullet having been in the gun.
The group goes back to the ship without incident.
When you eventually open your magical bullet pouch, you find the missing bullet situated in one of the spots of the pouch with small pack of black powder. The perfect amount for one shot.
After a few hours, a pair of men flanking a beautiful young child of maybe six or seven years old. The first of the two men speaks out, "Requesting permission to board and an immediate meeting with the captain of The Fury. We were invited."
Amos will inform her of his findings, possibly prompting get to look in her shot pouch.
Malak will grant them permission and conduct them to Quarters with a grumbled, "Captains are expectin' you." If Maera has to have it go this way, she'd prefer it in private. No one gossips like soldiers and sailors.
When they arrive, the undine has the 'incentive' waiting in a nice bag waiting to go.
Amos is able to find Aramis in her quarters, cursing and muttering around a tool in her mouth as she studiously disassembles her musket, checking each piece in turn with powder-stained fingers. Rotgut greets the master gunner with a loud squawk and a disjointed string of curses, having apparently picked up quickly on the lady captain's favourite words, causing the gunslinger to look up briefly before continuing her work.
"Was wonderin' when ye'd show up," she mutters, setting another piece of the weapon aside after cleaning it industriously with a rag. "Been workin' on this damned thing fer hours. Come ta get a glimpse - or not, as it were - o' the amazin' disappearin' bullet, eh?"
"Rawwwk! Disappearing bullet!"
"Ah, be quiet fer one damned minute, featherbrain!" Aramis lobs a pellet at the parrot, who catches it in one claw and begins chewing it. With another curse, the captain gestures to the pieces spread out on the table before her.
"Ye know, I ne'er had much trainin' in these things beyond shootin' 'em," she sighs, running a hand through her messy hair. "Me pappy were too busy ta make tha time, an' ta tell tha truth, I was ne'er really tha' interested. Learned 'ow ta use 'em just fine, but takin' 'em apart an' puttin' 'em together again, well, that were somethin' I 'ad ta teach meself. A' tryin' ta find a bullet when it up an' vanishes, well, tha's somethin' I ain't ne'er 'eard of."
She tosses the strange ammo pouch across the table to Amos, gesturing for him to open it. "Strange thing is, there's another one in there now. Coulda sworn I'd used it ta load this thing just afore it jammed. A'course, seein' as there ain't no sign o' the bullet in 'ere, I musta' been mistaken." She gestures to the various pieces again, frustration clear on her face.
"Me gut tells me there's some strange kinda magic goin' on there," she says eventually. "Which don't make a lick o' sense now, eh? Considerin' guns're rare in anyplace outside o' Alkenstar, an' magic don't exactly work there like it does out 'ere, who'd 'ave somethin' like this? And where'd it come from? An' most importantly, wha' in tha nine 'ells were it doin' in a shack off on some gods-forsaken island?"
"Rawwwk! Gods-forsaken island!" Rotgut screeches, killing the dramatic tension.
Aramis stands behind Maera, trying to keep her rage and bloodthirst in check. The loaded pistol at her hip is in prominent view, holstered but in easy reach, the movement of her heavy coat framing it as she shifts her stance ever so slightly.
As the trio enters, she frowns, trying not to show her momentary confusion. After all, who brings a child to negotiations between pirates and thieves?
Once aboard the ship, the two men step behind the small child and she leads them into the cabin, following the captains.
As soon as the door is closed, the young girl raises an eyebrow as a childlike voice comes from her, but the words and tone do not match the sound and her appearance, "So, you seek to pay your dues. It's good you didn't kill any more of my agents this afternoon. A well done way to start such...negotiations," she then moves with a grace and agility that a young child such as her face and stature suggests would not be able to pull off, grasping the edge of the table and then springboarding up and onto the table with a little flourish. As she does, she opens her vest and shows the gold Aspis insignia on the inside and gives a grin.
She walks over to the bag and stands over it. "Now then. We are here to parlay. What are the terms you seek?"
Amos examines the sack. Can't say I've seen it's like. The work is excellent. As for the magic, I'm afraid I'm not exactly an expert on the magical side of things. I know enchantment are possible with enough effort and care. My new pistol had a mild magical enhancement on it, but I'm afraid I don't know anything about a disappearing bullet.
On the bright side, you're doing a fine job with the mechanics beside that slight miscalibration earlier. It's an easy mistake, honestly. I've done it myself once or twice.
He picks up one of the springs that worked the hammer and rolls it in his hands. He squints at it and picks up her pliers. A minor adjustment later and it's good as new.
I'm mighty impressed that you learned all this yourself.
"Rawwwk! Easy mistake!" Rotgut drops the bullet and bobs his head in agreement, flapping his colourful wings. Aramis rolls her eyes at the bird.
"Ye know, I almost swear 'e's mockin' me," she mutters, shaking her head and going back to her cleaning. "Guess this is what ye get when ye 'ave ta teach herself such things. Takin' 'em apart's tha easy thing. It's puttin' 'em back together properly tha's tha 'ard part. Bound ta make a few mistakes after only two years, eh?" Though she keeps her head down as she works, choppy hair falling over her face, the ghost of a smile can be glimpsed at the praise.
"Rawwwk! Only two years!"
Ignoring the bird, Aramis begins the process of reassembly. "Well, least I know tha bullet ain't 'alf-melted an' stuck in tha mechanism or somethin'." She glances up at the other gunslinger, the smile flickering as if she's having trouble keeping it up. "Guess it's gonna be our little mystery, then. Others might know a thing or two 'bout magic, but ye're only tha second other person I've e'er met ta know about guns. Ye e'er wanna sit down an' go through this whole borin' process again sometime, ye know where ta find me, lad."
"Callin' off yer men might be a good start," is all Aramis can manage as she locks eyes with the child. Damned creepy kids. Never did like them, she thinks, fighting bak a shudder.
The young face lets out a cherubic little laugh, "Oh please, you think I'm crazy? You handled a bunch of our thugs and you want me to call off my guards? I might look like a child, but I am not naive. There are three of you, there are three of us. That seems fair to me. Now then, I will start, since you are more concerned with the little child's guards," the small girl says with a flourish and a bow. "Aspis ships. Off limits moving forward or you pay reparations to even dock here."
Maera gives the Gold agent a sweeping, dubious look that suggests 'If you're a child, then I'm a malenti,' but she smiles thinly before she addresses her.
"So long as they're flyin' aspis colors, of course. We can't be responsible for ships that refuse to be accounted for - those are fair game. As for the Kurstav," she gestures to the velvet bag of coin, and swallows hard, trying to project strength despite her failings."Consider that suitable reparation from a Captain new to the seas."
The eyes give it away. It is not a young child, but a fully grown halfling woman. A halfling woman who reaches down to pick up the bag and she hefts it a few times, then pulls a coin out of the bag and gives it a bite. "I suppose that is a fair payment. We will call off the bounty on you. And...as a token of our...good faith," the childlike halfling reaches into her vest once more and pulls out a small pouch and tosses it over to Maera. "A gift to one of the captains."
"That is all fine and good. But if you don't mind...Get off our damn boat, so we can get out of your damn port." The fiery redhead's temperament comes out full force.
The phrase 'beware snakes bearing gifts' comes to mind, but if they wanted to kill her they probably would have done so by now. Maera reaches for the pouch to inspect what's inside. "How... generous," she quips dryly.
Regardless of what the bag holds, Maera will suggest calmly, "If that is all, I believe our business is done."
The halfling woman gives a bow and turns to do a quick flip off of the table, landing in mid-stride.
She tosses a hand up to the women and she walks out casually, the guards following her. And just like that, the group leaves the ship and potentially, leaves them alone.
A young man comes to the deck and hands a note to a crew member and directs it towards Cassius.
Good Sir,
I have some good news, I had a contact send me some information about a possible ruin. If you would like to follow up on it, I have put the best directions I could in this letter. Feel free to let me know what you find!
Aya
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"What's in the bag?" Cassius asks once the events have died down and they have a moment to themselves.
Afterwards, Cassius will present the letter he found from his source. "If we're ready to get out of this snake pit. I've got a source that's pointed a decent line on a cyclop ruin. I think it's worth checking out, if there's anything of value there chances are it'll sell much better than standard ship plunder."
Maera empties the pearl into her hand with the gravitas of someone perhaps handling a live, venomous serpent. "Well, assuming it checks out safely, I suppose I could make a pair of earrings," she remarks, comparing it against the small, black pearl that she put on a chain.
Brooding slightly since the aspis resolution, she cheers up at Cassius's news, liking that it is so different than their normal scheme. "That does sound promising."
"Rawwwk! Business is done! Business is done!" Rotgut caws gleefully, preening himself industriously. Aramis leaves him on the back of a chair, leaning on the table to read the letter Cassius presents.
"Looks promisin' indeed, lad. In some ways less risky 'n takin' ships. What say we go pay this ruin a visit, Mermaid?" she asks Maera, grinning wickedly.
"Aye," she smiles slightly, and shifts through their maps and charts to plot their course. "I haven't had a chance to skulk about ruins since I was a girl..."
With things calmed down for the time being, Indrana gets out the special bag that she bought for Maura. "Oh Maura, I brought you something special, I think you'll like it."
The golden cat wanders slowly to her mistress and asks her, "Something for me? How prrrrrrrfect." Indrana smiles wryly and gets a little bit of the herb out and places it in a small dish on the floor, Maura just gives her a look that screams What do you think I am, a common feline? It lasts all of a moment as her curiosity gets the better of her and she takes a sniff, pauses, and then takes an even deeper sniff before saying blearilly, "Oh meowwwwww, this stuff is wonderful, whaaaa....ohhhh my." Her words cut off as she begins to lay her head in it and roll it around, the substance breaking apart and making her even happier.
Indranna just laughs lightly and reaches out to scratch Maura's ears only to have her hand clawed and bit at, though the attempt amounts to nothing as Maura is to high to do any real damage. Indrana puts the bag away to save the rest ofr another time. She looks at her companion and asks, "So, did I choose well for you Maura?" The kitten ignores her completely and continues to roll around in the catnip, now doing somersaults while Indrana just watches.
The rest of the time in Bloodcove results in the easy sale of goods and replenishment of the supplies on the ship. Once acquired, the ship's captains led it out to see once more, following the coordinates that were given to Cassius by his contact.
When they began to reach the coordinates given, the Wayfinder he had been given began to warm up. Upon opening the hood, the tool let loose a pulse of light that went off into a distant direction, leading the Fury towards an island...specifically to a fresh water river leading inland.
Sandara smiles as she sees the pulse of light, "I guess we aren't chasing an albatross after all. Cassius...we have found your first clue. Perhaps it is time to sail inland...a place I am not particularly fond of anymore..." she says as she looks over to Cassius and then to the other pair of captains.
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Happy that his compass proved to work as promised, Cassius grins. "Ho! There we are now! I wonder what sort of ruin it is!"
"How can you not be fond of the inlands? It has treasure, and don't forget, not long ago we were attacked by giant flying wasps! Hopefully here they keep the insects to manageable sizes!"
"We... ran afoul of some Grindylows at a place called Bonewrack Isle. Some of us suffered greatly at their hands." Maera shares a look with her fellow Captains, as she speaks on what's likely on Sandara's mind. "Let's see where this river leads, get as far as we can by ship before we must anchor and continue on foot."
Sandara gives a nod and the ship is taken into the river. It is easily wide enough for them, and they are having to fight the current. After about two miles of working up the river, going around a few bends, the thickness of the jungle became too much for the ship to continue. They had come to a stop in a small basin, just big enough for the ship to maneuver back around. Once stopped, Sandara looked over to Cassius and his 'compass' and noted that it lead slightly off the river anyway. "Might be time to disembark," then she turns to her fellow captains.
The crew sees Sandara hand Maera a small package.
"Take care a' yerself, Sandy," Aramis nods, clapping the cleric firmly on the shoulder. "Gods willin' we won't be needin' these."
That said, she looks to the crew and hollers. "A'right, ye lot, listen ta yer cap'n while we're out! Cass, Amos, Indy, Whiskers, let's go!"
"Rawwwk! Let's go! Let's go!" Rotgut mimics, taking to the air.
The group is able to easily take one of the rowboats to shore. There is a mildly dense jungle that Cassius's compass is leading them into. There is a fair amount of ease that the group cuts through the growth, though it looks as if it has not been traveled in many...many years.
After going through for over an hour, the Wayfinder pulses once more and a blast of light heads out into a thick copse of trees, seeming to disappear beyond.
Amos retrieves Bullet from his place and politely refuses the boat. Instead, he and his steed jump off the side rail without hesitation. The instant Bullet his the water his hind quarters transform into a fish tail! He and Amos explore the bottom of the river and generally trot about until the sluggish boat makes it's way to the shore.
One the others are assembled he falls into line toward the rear of the group.
Indrana leave the boat along with Maura who rides on the tiefling's shoulders. She take s a place near the back in front of Amos, "Much as I love the sea it always feels good to set foot on land." She reaches up and scratches Maura's chin as she prepares to follow her companions.