One would think that with all the time spent at sea and on an island where you can always see the sea that one would grow tired of seafood. But one would be wrong, knowing how much exertion went into getting the class made Donomsail appreciate them even more. Thinking about the gifts from Gozreh and how she made you earn the morsels made them taste better and so Donomsail saw the chowder she quickly dug in.
Donomsail's upbringing didn't allow for fancy dinners so her table manners were rough at best, while this dinner was being planned care was made to try and instruct Doni so she wouldn't embarrass herself but after seeing the clam chowder all that training went out the window and it was with great restraint that she didn't pick up the bowl and slurp it down.
Hearing the warning from Polli she at first thought it was some kind of a cruel joke but moments later she felt her stomach rebelling and knew that they were in trouble. However looking around the table Donomsail realizes that word has quietly and quickly gotten to the right people and it was being taken care of. "Ah kin delay the poison on one o' us if'n ye think it might be of help." She whispers in Polli's ear as Val starts to deal with the problem.
"safest thing is to do so on youself. Can't have the one who heals getting sick, no not a good idea." Polli says quickly, even though her head tells her it would be better to heal the guest so this problem doesn't get discovered right now.
{"We need to help Avimar!"} Harmony communicates, doing her best to catch Dony's eye. If the cleric starts making her way around the table she stands and approaches Captain Avimar before sending an eloquent look to Baroness Okerra.
The 'Baroness' seems quite willing to vacate her seat next to the captain and Harmony slides in instead. "So Captain," She asks with a smile, "would you mind explaining why you are so concerned with defenses and archery? Have you had to defend your own island from attack?"
When Dony approaches she makes a point of putting her hand on the Captain's shoulder and directing his attention out into the bay, hopefully giving the cleric cover for a much lighter touch.
Val silently relays Harmony's message to Donomsail.
Donomsail was torn, she trusted Polli's advice, the woman was very smart when it came to the ways of the world and her advice was mostly spot on. However her Captain was giving her different advice entirely, she was able to resolve her dilemma by interpreting Harmony's request as an order and she couldn't refuse an order by one of the Captains. Rising from her chair Donomsail moves by Captain Avimar and puts her finger tips on his sleeve with the lightest touch she feels she can use and it still be considered a touch. "Gozreh Ah, vra o 'Ye tha' Julle moet maar hou dat u deur sy liggaam koester om hom te vergiftig." Her voice a whisper as she hopes that the good Captain Avimar doesn't catch wise to what she is doing.
As Dony gets up Polli shoots Val and then Harmony evil glances, knowing the two have something to do Dony not healing herself. She follows along nervously behind the cleric, not knowing what she can actual do without knowing what the poison is. Then she gets an idea, hurrying to the archer she pulls her along to the kitchen "We NEED to know what is happening, so you will question the others and search for things wrong, while I... try and figure it out."
~~~~~
Everyone in the kitchen seems completely focused on ensuring that the grilled halibut is just perfect for the guests. No one seems to be concealing anything or under undue influence.
"Not the time to be getting in the way," Meiying says through gritted teeth as she works through plating the main course.
Avimar directs his attentions to the attractive captain touching his arm. He turns and looks down at her hand and then upwards to her chest. Only once he's spent a moment resting his gaze at the treasures there does his eyes finally meet Harmony's.
Pushing aside his physical discomfort, he grins a predatory grin at the woman. "A capable captain needs to know how to defend what's theirs. As well as how to take what they desire," he says. He doesn't seem to notice at all the soft touch of the priestess on his other side. The fact that the distress he'd begun to feel has vanished for now doesn't seem to register.
As they converse, the courtesans bring out the main course - grilled halibut.
Harmony makes a note to speak to her mother later about Avimar and whether a permanent 'adjustment' could be made to his... well, everything.
Feeling rather suspicious now she wanders towards the kitchen and incants a spell as she goes, looking for invisible saboteurs as she meets up with Val. "Anything?" She asks, working hard to repress a dry heave.
Once in the kitchens, Polli will cast Detect Thoughts, trying to pick out wayward guilt.
As the main course is served, Donomsail and Harmony seem to get a grip on their stomachs. Tessa and Marisan, however, are now in worse condition.
Val doesn't see anything in the way of invisible lurkers.
It appears that if someone did, indeed, purposefully poison the chowder, they covered their tracks well. The dinner continues and the Sirens return to their guests.
In spite of his initial grumbling, Avimar, as well as the other captains are happy to praise the quality of fare that is being provided. Avimar seems quite happy to celebrate, in fact. Celebrate with Audessa, in fact. A fact that she doesn't seem pleased about if her attempts to evade his attentions are any indication.
Avimar leans towards Harmony. "That lovely lady is from Quent, isn't she? I believe that I've seen her there, but for the life of me I can't remember where. Can't say I wouldn't mind seeing more of her if you take my meaning." He grins lecherously at Harmony before reaching out and running a hand up Audessa's leg as she places a slice of fresh apple pie in front of Lady Bloodmourn.
Audessa starts and turns, shaking her finger at the man, attempting her best to remain polite. "Now, now, Captain. I'll have your dessert out for you in just a moment." She steps out of the man's reach and can be heard to mutter to herself, "Grabby bastard," as she makes her way back towards the kitchen area.
On her return, Avimar seemingly has made it his mission to make the woman's life miserable with his unwanted advances.
Avimar leans towards Harmony. "That lovely lady is from Quent, isn't she? I believe that I've seen her there, but for the life of me I can't remember where. Can't say I wouldn't mind seeing more of her if you take my meaning."
"Then that is a matter you must take up with her privately." Harmony replies, sharpness creeping into her tone. "However since you are right and she is from Quent I believe she is used to a certain class from her clients, and anyone who seeks to earn her favors would be well advised to meet those standards. As for the Siren, we safeguard our own, and our guest, from unwanted attention. Even from our guests, or perhaps that should be especially from guests. Who should know better."
Val nods at the captain's words while giving the grabby guest a stern look.
Polli comes back into the dining room. Her eyes first making sure where Dony is and that she is safe, then goes over to their resident snooper. "Come here" she says to Val, moving away from ears "[smaller]One of the companions... Hamas. I can't read his mind." she frowns in worry. It is obvious she wants to take the man and interrogate him rather soundly. Followed by everyone else she doesn't trust beyond doubt. But... she sighs "We just need to keep an eye on him. For now."
"You have a whore serve the meal and then get all fancy when someone wants to use her as she's intended?!" Avimar literally growls as he pushes his chair back and gets shakily to his feet. His features begin to shift and fur sprouts along his arms and face. His jaw juts outward in a muzzle as his teeth elongate.
A werewolf!
"I'll take what I want and no one will f$@$ing tell me otherwise!" he snarls.
Lady Bloodmourn leans back casually in her chair and takes a drink of her rum, watching the proceedings with a smile. Captain Darimar turns his attention to the moonlight on the bay, for all the world ignoring the argument.
Combat Begins
Round 1
"Sit down," Marisan declares, quickly moving to pummel the unruly captain into submission.
"Oh f&~~ing hells, what is that bastard's problem?!?" Polli snaps at particularly no one. Then Marisan is smashing into him, making the wizard almost feel sorry for him.
{He's not just drunk...} Val silently informs her fellow Sirens, {he's under the influence of some kind of spell or something. There's definitely someone actively trying to sabotage our party.}
The slayer studies the transformed man as Harmony weaves together some kind of magic. Rising from her chair and moving towards the opposite side of him from Marisan, she draws her shortswords in case they should be needed...
"Drunk and more." Harmony says cryptically. "Don't hurt him too much girls, he's not entirely in control here." Her tone is absolutely confident - foreseeing no possibility of their defeat.
"Now SIT DOWN before I get really angry." She adds, snapping at the werewolf.
Tessa jumps up from her chair, Wayfinder in her hand as Captain Sorrinash shifts to a bestial form. She looks to her companions as they stand as well to see if they can handle the disruption in a non-lethal manner, though. Marisan settles for the simple method of attempting to kick the man back into his seat. The large man manages to keep his feet, however.
At Harmony's command, though, the Avimar reluctantly sits. He continues to snarl, though, and his muscles are tensed to spring. He swipes with a clawed hand towards Valeria, but she easily steps back just out of his reach.
Combat Over?
"Can you make him roll over and fetch?" Cerise calls out with a laugh and holds out her empty mug to one of the courtesans for more rum. "I'd pay good gold to see that." Avimar snarls at her.
A few moments later, Meiying emerges from the trees with another of Audessa's girls following sheepishly behind her. She gives Valeria a troubled look before approaching Harmony and Tessa and whispering to them.
"Captains, I think there's something you need to hear," she says and then gestures at the young woman, Tifda, if you remember her name correctly.
"Well, Ma'ams," she says nervously. "It was about fifteen minutes ago ... I was tossing some of the waste into the midden pit when a beautiful naked woman came out of the bushes. She asked me to put this in Captain Sorrinash's drink." She holds out a small ceramic vial. It's empty. "I don't know why, but I didn't even question it. What she said just seemed so much like the right thing to do. I know it wasn't and I don't understand. I'm so sorry."
"What color was she?" Harmony asks, a slightly bizarre question - unless you happen to know a completely blue, usually naked woman who is capable of enchanting at a glance. "Tell me everything you can remember about her Tifda. From now on you stay in pairs, minimum. She goes over to talk with her crew. "Val, you need to keep watch over the kitchen now, from a distance of course. Take anyone else you need."
She returns to the Captains. "I could, but that would be a violation of his free will and a number of other things!" She says lightly. "Besides, I'd like you to give my fellow Captain a good report." She turns to Avimar and makes a dismissive gesture. "Captain, please transform back into your normal self then you are free to be... yourself."
Her mother, although maybe not the rest of the party, will notice that Harmony hasn't actually ended her spell, although she made it look as though she did.
"She was very pretty, her skin seemed to shimmer like pearls," Tifda replies, a little thrown by the skin color question. "And her eyes! She was about so tall ..." she gestures to indicate someone just under six foot. The woman goes on to describe in adoring detail someone who fits Sefina's description perfectly.
~~~~~
Avimar shifts back to his human for at Harmony's request, his face still holds a snarl. "I think I've had enough of your hospitality," he says through gritted teeth. "I think it's time that I return to my ship."
"Perhaps that would be wise." Harmony agrees with a smile and a bow. "I will accompany you. Tessa, would you be kind enough to stay and entertain our other guests? I don't believe Captain Bloodmourn ever got her sparing match..."
Donomsail nods her head in agreement with the suggestion that the kitchen workers all travel in pairs and thinks that everyone who goes outside should do the same. Once back inside she watches the exchange between Harmony and Avimar and chuckles quietly to herself as she realizes that Harmony's gesture, although looking convincing, does absolutely nothing.
Avimar rises from his seat stiffly and Harmony accompanies him and his cadre to the docks.
~~~~~
"I think that's actually going to be my cue to return to my ship tonight as well," Cerise announces draining the last of her rum. She slaps the table. "Good party! I especially liked the part where Sorrinash sat like a trained hound!" She laughs as she rises from her seat. "Captain?" she questions, raising an eye towards Captain Darimar.
The elf nods slowly. "I had hoped to meet this nereid, but perhaps tomorrow morning before we depart," he says, nodding towards Tessa. "Captain."
The two captains and their accompanying sailors make their way towards the docks.
Lady Okerra and her companion approach Captain Tessa. "It's time for us to take our leave as well," Selli says with a nod.
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Val gives the captain a nod and silently answers, {best I do it alone, ma'am, that way I can be hidden from view.} With a smile she excuses herself once more and heads toward the kitchen.
She holds hands with Meiying and silently explains what's going to to her as they walk. Once they draw near to the kitchen, she gives her lover's hand a kiss and then vanishes into the brush. From her hiding spot, she keeps an eye on the kitchen and all those working there, carefully monitoring all that happens.
The one thing she doesn't see is the party falling apart insultingly early back on the beach.
"Thank you both for your hospitality." 'Baroness Okerra' says with a smile. "It was most... exciting. I'm sure you're going to be a fabulous Pirate Lord. Don't be a stranger." She gives Tessa a kiss on each cheek.
Once she and Darkblade have both made their farewells both women step away, lock arms and disappear in a brief flicker of sunlight.
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Harmony sees both remaining captains onto their ship, ensures that the feast tables are dismantled and then goes underground into the old ritual chamber and, only then, starts screaming her frustration into the walls.
That night Harmony goes to Val and asks to take her up on the offer of borrowing her hat. Then she goes down to the beach and remembers to go into the water before activating the hat's powers.
Then, as a merwoman, or something close to it, she knifes into the bay.
"Was it all a lie?" She calls through the dark water. "Was it you Sefina? Why? Wouldn't it have been easier just to drown us one by one?"
A faint voice echoes through the water. "No, it wasn't a lie. Bring the others to my grotto and I'll explain everything."
"No." Harmony replies flatly. "Not until you tell me what's going on." Merfolk being so superbly adapted for the sea she closes in on the grotto in moments as a complex mixture of fear and hope blossoms in her chest.
"Please?" is the pleading reply. "I want to tell you why, but you need to bring everyone. They all deserve to hear the truth."
"Let me see you." Harmony replies. "Then I'll get the others, I just... I need to know if you still have your shawl."
"My ... my shawl? Why do you need to see my shawl? I'm begging you, please bring the others to the grotto."
Harmony heads for the grotto, sadly suspicion is now trumping hope in her heart, but if this really is a trap then its better that it only gets her. Roger will tell the others that something is up.
--------------------------
Back on dry land Val hears an insistent knocking on her door. Opening it she finds Roger, Harmony's monkey looking worried. "She's in danger." The monkey says clearly. "Under the water. Something's wrong!"
Party over, Polli has a strong desire to teleport away and bury herself in books, BUT... she resists it with all she has, and asks Dony "Would you like to... sit... and... talk? Please."
Arriving at the grotto, Harmony initially finds no one there. A few moments later and the fey appears. She looks very unhappy and holds something in her hand.
"You were supposed to bring the others," she says as visible tears begin to run down her face and her voice breaks. "Now you've ruined everything. He'll be so angry with me. Maybe the others won't realize what's going on." She shakes her head.
She holds out whatever's in her hand; A cylindrical object with a string hanging from the bottom. With a sigh she pulls the string and there's a sharp bang as it lurches in her hand and something flies, shrieking, into the night sky. Three heartbeats later and a bright star appears lighting up the darkness above and an instant later a loud bang reverberates through the night.
"If it means anything ... I really am truly sorry. But I value my life more than anything."
Combat Begins!
Round 1
”Sh!t...” Val answers letting the monkey into her room. Looking over to Meiying wrapped up in the bedsheet, the naked slayer explains, ”Cap’n Vi is in trouble. I need to go check on her.”
...and my hat... sh!t, my hat... I can hold my breath for a while, but without my hat if she’s out in the middle of the bay, I’m going to need some help...
As she pulls on her skirt and armor, she asks Roger, ”can you please go get Polli and Donomsail?”
The monkey nods and scampers off.
---------------------------------------------
Harmony just watches hollowly.
"Well I hope it was worth it." She says sadly. "We could have helped you." She clenches one hand tightly but can't keep the words back. "No! &*$) that and )"*( you too! We could have *))T$!$ helped you! I could have )*&$*^% helped you!" Mermaids don't actually have tear ducts - its unnecessary, but Harmony would absolutely be crying now if she could.
"Go on then! Turn your *£("!!P# beauty on and wipe my damn mind! At least I'll be drooling like a mindless idiot when they come to kill me! Then you can comfort yourself 'At least she didn't hurt'. Live the rest of your immortal @:?>}<{{ life alone! You {{+_:@£ deserve it!"
"So soon?" Tessa responds when 'Baroness Okerra' says they must depart. "I was hoping to get some tales from long ago." she says with a wink.
She gives kisses on each cheek before announcing she's going to practice her forms. She gets word that Harmony is going to the grotto and all she can think about is that this is a bad idea and she should be there with here. She chides herself on not babying her and decides to let it be.
When the firework goes off, she knows something isn't right and she takes off running as fast as she can, diving off the ship and heading for the grotto.
The talking had been going good, Polli was feeling better and still was helplessly in love with the crimson tiefling next to her. She wanted more than anything to kiss her and was gathering her courage to ask, when BOOM, "What in the bloody unending Hells is THAT?!?" she stands up in a fury "I bet it is the strawberry, it is always the strawberry!" she turns to Dony "Um... would you fly with me to find out?" if she gets a nod she casts fly on Dony and then takes off with her next to her to find out what is going on.
At the invitation to talk Donomsail's heart gets filled with hope, however she tries to keep that hope from appearing on her face. "Talk, yes. I..I think we should talk. And since the party is breaking up now seems to be a good time to talk." She looks around for a place for the two of them to sit and talk. Spying a secluded area away from everyone and upwind of the garbage dump she grabs Polli's hand instinctively before realizing that she might be acting more familiar than Polli is ready for and lets go. The end result is that all Polli feels is a light brushing of Donomsail's fingers across her palm.
Donomsail looks excited at the prospect of flying with Polli, or any reason to hold her hand, and nods her assent to the request.
”Godsdammit...” Val groans as the boom echoes through the air. Dropping her armor, she offers, ”sorry, love,” as she pulls Mei’s (very tight across the chest) dress on. Grabbing her swords and quiver, she rushes out to the deck to see what’s going on. When she spots Tessa in the water she calls out, ”Tessa, what’s going on? Where are you going?”
For the others it's not difficult to hear what sounds like Harmony's voice coming from somewhere near Sefina's grotto. She doesn't sound happy.
~~~~~
"I do consider you my friend, Harmony," Sefina says, moving closer. "I don't want to hurt you if I don't have to. But I do have to keep you occupied until that vile, little man finishes his tasks. He's going to destroy the other ships with alchemical mixtures. He said that I could release you when he was done. I'm sorry, but he has my shawl. I don't want to die. It terrifies me more than anything else in the world."
Round 2
As Tessa dives off the Siren, she throws her tricorne into the water and says the command word to transform it into a 12' ship with two oars. As Tessa climbs into the ship she yells back to Val, "Vi's in trouble, get in here and help me row!"
Whether Val joins her or not, Tessa makes her way as fast as she can.
Feeling uneasy about the whole situation, but knowing Harmony and her hat have to be rescued, Val jumps down into Tessa’s boat and joins her in rowing.