[Thank you,] Val thinks to Harmony.
"Well, there you have it," she says to her fellow pirate lords with a smile, "I couldn't have said it better myself."
With Polli's impassioned declaration, followed up by Harmony's smooth words some of the captains are swayed to favor you and the vote passes, seven to five.
The next issue is raised by Cerise Bloodmourn. The bulk of the funds from the Sargavan Tithe are supposed to go toward the improvement and port defense of Port Peril, as well as upgrading the Shackles’ fleet, but Cerise, ever eager to curry favor, pushes instead to have a large amount of the funds go toward the creation of towering statues in all of the Shackles’ major ports in honor of the Hurricane King. This would increase the the infamy of the Shackles.
The Master of Gales appears to be the only one not afraid enough of the Hurricane King to openly point out how ridiculous a waste of money such a venture would be.
Dony never expected to be here. Here in the sense that so many might be interested in what she has to say. Here, surrounded by people with so much power and influence over so many people. As such she doesn't have an opinion to voice but she listens and is ready to speak up if she feels that a folly is about to be committed.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
A loud obnoxious snort comes out of Polli's mouth, which the Siren's know is her laugh. "A statue... wait you're serious? Who builds Statues?" she stands up and snaps loudly as she does when she finds something to be ridiculous, no matter who it is on the other end of it (other than Dony) "One, what happens if he gets your nose wrong or your chin too weak, stone is stone, he can't just start over without tearing it all down and probably be killed for the blunder. Then who would want to take on that job afterward? No one and the pile with just be an expensive bloody pile of waste. TWO, no one ever stays in power forever unless you are Geb or something like him, and what the hell happens the moment you are not, they tear is down and do obscene things with your rock head. Everyone does obscene things with your rock head, the men, the women, the children, THE DOGS! Better to build something useful that no one with any sense would tear down and just give it your name. In our town, there was a wall called Virginia's F~*+ing Wall. It was just a wall that started behind her house where she would go to cheat on her husband, bent over it, and happy as a lark. Or the legend says cause she's been dead for a century or more but everyone still calls it Virginia's F!!+ing Wall!!" she shouts... probably not a good idea to encourage her to talk anymore. "Statues are stupid." she mutters at the end, returning to her seat, unless she is killed out right.
Val chuckles softly at Polli's outburst. Looking over her shoulder at the sylph she silently says, [Well done. Can you please do me a favor and glare at each person in turn as I work my way around the table?]
Turning her attention back to the table, she gives Darimar an appraising look then pointedly asks, "is that your intention, to have dogs do obscene things to the stone head of King Bonefist?" She stares at him until he offers some manner of rebuttal, then turns to the pirate lord seated next to him and repeats the sizing up, the loaded question, and the cold stare until a response is offered. She repeats this process over and over for every one at the table except Kerdak and Cerise.
Polli will happily glare at people.
Most of the pirate lords look around at each other and then at Kerdak with embarrassed expressions on their faces. The exception being the Master of Gales who smirks at Polli, seemingly glad to have someone else that isn't kissing Bonefist's arse. After Valeria's imposing stares, supported by Polli's speech (and subsequent glaring), the vote fails to achieve the majority leaving tithes continuing to support the defense of the Shackles.
The next issue brought up is the Declaration of Rights of Salvage.
With all the whispering and stories being told of the Isle of the Black Tower and the magical sword Aiger’s Kiss that is said to be lost inside, Avimar Sorrinash wants Ollo to be granted salvage rights over the island and its waters, as Ollo is the closest significant settlement to the isle in question. He's asking for a twenty percent tithe of all plunder taken from the isle over the next year.
This proposal is being opposed by Jolis Raffles (who's still bitter about a similar request he made for a different island during the last council meeting being voted down).
Tessa is never one to let someone else take the reward from her work. "I think there is confusion as to what a pirate is. It is my understanding that a pirate works for their plunder and takes what they are due, not sitting back and letting someone else do the work for them."
Tessa makes a note to set sail for the Black Tower and take claim of whatever lay inside and wear it to the next council so Sorrinash can see it sparkle and glitter in all of its glory
"You're right," Sorrinash says with a smile that looks more ... toothy ... than a friendly grin would warrant. An image of the man in his hybrid form comes to Tessa's mind unbidden. "As pirates, we should feel no qualms about taking that which we desire," His eyes flick to Harmony as she sits in one of the side chairs.
With Tessa's argument and the vote of the Sirens the measure fails. Goods taken from the Black Tower will be untethered by any kind of taxation.
The next measure is brought forth by Hardluck Massey. It seems that a pirate by the name of Scags Rotgram has been engaging in unsanctioned piracy against Sargavan vessels. He would like the man and his ship, the Devilish Duchess, to be declared outlaw.
"Wasn't Rotgram Barnabas Harrigan's first mate before they had a falling out?" Kerdak questions, his suspicion clear. Hardluck shrugs his shoulders and looks away. "Did Harrigan put you up to this? The council is not his personal hit squad." Bonefist's face twists up into a snarl. "This isn't worthy of the council's time."
Harmony keeps her peace on the side, but she has no intention of advising something that would help Harrigan so if looked to she shakes her head.
She does note Hardluck Massey however - if he's a pawn of Harrigan's then he bears close watching.
Polli leans back and crosses her arms, looking at Dony she gives a slight smile.
For her part, Donomsail is unsure of what to say. She has no love for Harrigan nor for any who was part of his crew. The idea of helping declare someone he'd had a falling out with an outlaw from the pirates was not one she liked but there were two things that helped her think differently about the matter; first, the idea of getting the 5,000 gold themselves was appealing second, since he was a former ally of Harrigan it would be a bit of revenge for the time they'd spent on his ship. The trouble was she couldn't remember if he'd been on the ship when they were so she did what she always did when she had questions to ask."Polli was he on the ship when we were?" She asked quietly so that only those real close by could hear her.
"No." Polli chews on her lip in thought for a moment then admits "Well at least fairly certain, No. A lot of the ship wasn't exactly welcoming us in those days."
"Ta be honest Ah no be sure what be right 'n' what not be. Takin' away a bounty tha' Harrigan be wantin' sounds all kinds o' fun. But it also be satisfyin' ta be stoppin' 'im gettin' a guy what he wants dead, dead." She whispers in Polli's ear, her lips so close she can feel the feather-light touch of her skin. Donomsail isn't trying to be seductive, it's just that they were apart for so long before they got back together.
"Aye." Tessa votes, drawing the looks of her crew as she votes opposite of them.
"There is no love lost between crew of the Siren and Harrigan, that's for sure. I don't see this has anything to do with Harrigan as far as I'm concerned. If he's taken up what he's not supposed to be, then he's an outlaw."
Val smiles softly as she watches the nerds huddled closely together whispering to one another. She's about to agree with Kerdak when Tessa speaks up, but decides to refrain in favor of presenting a unified front to the rest of the council.
Kerdak turns to glare at Tessa, but doesn't say anything else. There's some grumbling among some of the pirates, but eventually the vote passes seven to five and a five thousand gold bounty is officially placed on Scags Rotgram.
Tessa Fairwind brings up the next issue.
"My research has demonstrated that there is a Chelish sympathizer and traitor among the pirate lords," she begins, without giving any indication that the majority of that information came from the Sirens. "Yes!," Arronax Endymion declares to raised eyebrows. "I motion that we fund further investigation to find this spy!"
There are mutterings among the gathered pirates.
"Well, ain't that the pot calling the kettle black."
"Don't they call Hell Harbor 'Little Cheliax'?"
Arronax glares at the murmerers. Kerdak dismisses any potential Cheliax threat as laughable, but raises it for discussion.
Harmony can't help herself, she leans in to whisper in Tessa's ear. "My mother found this. If Fairwind is pushing it then it matters."
Val looks at her fellow Sirens and silently says, [She's talking about the information we discovered in that ledger, and from the alchemist whose building Tessa claimed... there is definitely something to this and we should push for further investigation if we have any concern for the safety of the Shackles. Plus we're supposed to be Fairwind's allies, we should probably back her.]
"Cheliax has long claimed these waters... but the forces of the Free Captains have always matched them - freedom and self determination is our birthright." Harmony says, after Tessa has given her the nod. "If the Infernal Empire is taking an interest in the Shackles it cannot be anything good for any captain who sales these waters. Surely the Free Captains would not wish the long traditions and freedoms of the Shackles to be put at risk on their watch. If five thousand gold pieces can be found for a bounty on a captain, then surely gold can be found for an even more pressing threat, like chelaxian ships in Shackles waters?"
It's a good speech. Harmony has grown a lot as a performer and the pirate captains are almost visibly hanging on her words. Even Bonefist stops scowling and instead watches intently.
Polli was distracted but soft whispers and warmth against her arm so she was late to the Convincing.
"Hells, you'll spend money on statues, but not to keep the infernal bastards that will enslave us all as soon as look at us." Polli mutters loudly in support of Harmony's speech.
Donomsail tries to look appropriately apologetic as she realizes that she was distracting Polli.
Bluff:
Val does her best not to react to Donomsail's almost apologetic look as the reunited lovebirds are momentarily distracted by the big important meeting they traveled all the way to Port Peril for. Instead she eyes the other pirate lords trying to make a quick count of the votes in either direction.
Polli squeezes Dony's hand and gives her a "It's Okay, no reason to be sorry, who cares what they think" firm smile, falling for her appropriately apologetic look hook line, and sinker.
The Sirens, again, exert enough influence that the measure is swayed in their desired direction, and funds are directed to continue to investigate further into possible Chelish threats.
Bonefist looks down at the parchment in front of him which clearly has at least another half-dozen measures to be brought up before the council, but he tosses it aside. "Meeting's adjourned!" he declares, banging his goblet on the table as if to emphasize it. He drains the contents and then tosses it aside as well. "I'm off to seek comfort from my consort!"
As he rises from his seat, the others seem to take that as their cue to make their own exits from the drudgery of leadership. Tessa gives you all a nod as she makes her exit as well, leaving you to return to the Siren.
Upon return to your ship, Maheem presents you with a silver token in the form of a raven that he says arrived just before you did. It was carrying a written message which he also hands you.
My friends! It pains me to darken your accomplishments, but I feel I must.
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!
"Well shoot!" Harmony says eloquently upon reading the letter. "Well we're going to need money, friends and any other advantage we can get our hands on. Marisan, you need to go and talk to Pierce, he's a good man and will be on our side I imagine. Who else do we know that might be willing to help us? The man we met at Rickety's, what was his name?" She looks around the rest of the group. "He was in a similar position to us - we might be able to offer him something for his help." Then her face clouds over somewhat and she looks over at her fiance.
"We should try and find Sandara too." She says quietly. "She knew a lot about a lot of people - she'd be very helpful. I'll speak to the Sea Witch, get them to plundering as hard and fast as they can. Val, you're on rumor search - we can't afford to spend long here in Port Peril, but see if you can find out anything about Scags - where he is, where he likes to go. Polli, Dom, ask around about mercenaries, they'll be well out of our budget I think but there's no harm in trying. Tessa... do you want to come with me?" There's a tone in Harmony's voice that Tessa recognises, Harmony needs her.
Polli knows the hunting of mercenaries will take time. A lot of time, alone with Dony, in various ports here and there. Places to eat, rooms with a single bed to snuggle in, oh such a horrible job to be given. "Somehow we'll suffer" she gives her love a small smile, then proceeds to teleport them away.
Once everyone moves off on their assignments, Tessa eyes Harmony and gives her a curious look. "... and what else are you thinking?"
"We have to go and find Sandara." Harmony replies, well aware that that meeting is going to be exquisitely awkward for all concerned.
"Ah. I was hoping you were going to elaborate. I don't suppose I need to remind you that things did not end especially well there, hmmm? I think she made it clear she was interested in a lifestyle elsewhere."
"Ah. I was hoping you were going to elaborate. I don't suppose I need to remind you that things did not end especially well there, hmmm? I think she made it clear she was interested in a lifestyle elsewhere."
"Which is precisely why I'm not looking forward to this." Harmony replies sadly. "I... we... maybe we can offer her something. A position on the Sea With perhaps? First Mate, maybe even captain..." She seems unsure of herself, very unlike Harmony.
"Let's see if we can find her, everything else can go from there..."
On the morning of the second day, however, upon awakening in the meager room you'd procured for the evening, Polli discovers a copper coin sitting on the small table that wasn't there the night before. One face of the coin has a rune that she doesn't recognize and the other ... a pentagram.
"Looky mate, I know all about Scags Rotgram, and his ship, the Devilish Duchess. Fell afoul o’ the curse of Dagon’s Jaws, he did, or so everyone says. But see here, the curse of Dagon’s Jaws is all a bucket of sahuagin piss! The problem is, ain’t too many know how to navigate ’em. They’re ‘red isles,’ mate. Iron heavy. They’ll kick yer compass off a little. Yellowbacks get scared when their needles start twitchin’ and head for landmarks. Problem is, there ain’t none ’cept by traveling between the two isles. There’s a quarter-mile strait between ’em called Dagon’s Gullet. Why? Cause it swallows ships. It’s all sargasso and shoals. Those trying to shoot the Gullet usually end up grounding out on the rocks. Bet there’s a dozen ships at the bottom of that channel. I’d also bet the Devilish Duchess ain’t one of ’em. Scags, he warn’t fooled by old legends. He knew what he was doing when he headed that way — knew that if someone were chasin’ him, the Jaws’d be his best bet t’scape pursuit. If Scags ain’t back yet, I’d wager that’s his own doing — that man’s got a talent for dodgin’ Besmara’s last kiss, he does. I’m sure he’s still kickin’ somewhere on that rock..."
- Day 305
Polli pulls on her glasses to look at the coin, worry etched into her face, as she rolls it over and over. Her eyes shift to the sleeping lady that she just pulled herself from, a war of tell/don't tell going on inside. Eventually, she knows she has to, though it will destroy the lovely moments they were having.
Leaning over Dony, she whispers in her ear "Dony, time to get up, there is... there was someone in here and they left us a message. Not a good one I fear."
While everyone else is off tracking down leads, Val oversees the Siren's crew, making sure that the ship is clear of succubi and saboteurs. Each morning during the after-breakfast lull, while Meiying is free to watch over her, she uses her magic to hunt for information about Scags Rotgram, and about the Black Tower and the dangers that guard it.
When Tessa and Harmony return to the ship on the third day she approaches them and reports, "I think I've figured out where Scags Rotgram is. He sailed into Dagon's Gullet and is likely hiding on one of the two islands flanking it."
Donomsail wakes to the dulcet tone of her lady's lovely voice. "Hmmm?" She says as she stretches and sits up, allowing the sheet to slip down to her waist, allowing her brick-red breasts to be exposed. "What's that? A note?" She really isn't awake yet and doesn't comprehend what Polli said to her so she rises from the bed and walks over to her to see what she is talking about.
"A coin with a pentagram and a rune I don't recognize. Someone noticed us and telling us something." Polli responds, before looking up and seeing Dony's state of undress and forgetting almost everything for a time.
pirates seeking a shortcut into the lucrative shipping lanes. Captain Aiger lost her sword, her ship, and her life in that raid, but the Shrouded Queen was defeated and the sea lanes around her isle opened again. Yet while the Shrouded Queen no longer menaced the surrounding seas, something remained active within her Black Tower, for all attempts to retrieve Aiger’s Kiss have failed. With this year being the silver anniversary of the Shrouded Queen’s defeat and the loss of Captain Aiger’s magical sword, the tale seems to be on everyone’s lips, along with speculation about Captain Aiger’s son, an unpleasant man with the nickname of “Barracuda,” of whom very little has been heard of late.
Many suspect Captain Aiger’s son of being but the latest fool to go missing in the Black Tower, while others muse that he’s fled the Shackles completely, unable to bear the shame of the loss of such a potent heirloom. In any event, all agree that the time is right for someone to seek out Aiger’s Kiss and rescue the sword from the Black Tower!
The tower itself is on an island at the western edge of the Shackles, just north of the Cannibal Islands. In spite of being that close even the notorious flesh-eaters give the isle wide berth for it is commonly believed today that the island is haunted by the ghost of the Shrouded Queen.
When Tessa and Harmony return to the ship on the third day she approaches them and reports, "I think I've figured out where Scags Rotgram is. He sailed into Dagon's Gullet and is likely hiding on one of the two islands flanking it."
Harmony frowns. "A sensible place to hide, but not an easy one to get him out of. That can probably keep for a while. If he's holed up there he won't be leaving on a regular basis - even for someone who knows them that's no easy navigation."
To Harmony, Tessa says "It's not like I thought Sandara was going to sit around and wait for us to come find her again, but I'm quite impressed with what she's managed to accomplish. If the rumors are to be believed, of course."
Cracking her knuckles, she asks Harmony "Do you still want to pursue her?"
"All the more so if she has a squadron that we might persuade her to join us with." Harmony replies. "Pierce and his ships are well and good but Harrigan will have many more than that and the Siren is a fine ship but we can't fight while outnumbered eight to one."
”Yes, cap’n...” Val answers, ”but... if you’ll pardon my speaking out of turn, ma’am, it might be worth remembering that most ships don’t have officers that can swim or fly ahead of them to point out dangers. Rotgram could have invaluable information about Harrigan, if we get to him first... like how many ships he has, where they’re berthed, or even if some of them could be convinced to betray him.”
She pauses for a moment to contemplate something and then adds, ”you’re the cap'n of the Siren and it’s your call where she goes and when, but as one the Pirate Lords responsible for the safety of the Shackles I don’t like the idea of a man like Harrigan commanding a real fleet and would like to know as much as possible about what he’s doing and why. There’s a lot of ships at the bottom of the Gullet and if the Siren decides to seek out Rotgram there might be enough salvage to help build... your fleet, or Tessa’s fleet, or however that’s going to work. But, Harrigan is clearly after him and now there’s a bounty on him from the council, so if the Siren’s not going to go after him fairly soon I’m going to have to go see if I can’t find another ship that I can send to do it for me.”
"We have a dozen things to do and only one ship to do them in." Harmony muses. "You're right Val, the Black Tower at least has had people searching for it for years. That can drop down the list. We don't know where to find Sandara, although we'll need to find her soon. So, Scrags first, then Sandara, then the Tower?" She looks over at Tessa for her agreement or otherwise.
”Actually, ma’am, I’ve learned a few things about the Black Tower too, though as you say it’s not going anywhere and could probably wait a little longer. If you give me a day I can probably at least find a lead as to where Sandara is, if not something a little more concrete... Dagon’s Gullet is on the opposite end of the Shackles so we might be able to meet up with her on the way.”
She sees the coin and panics, she knows what that coin signifies. She's back. After all this time and just when Donomsail thought she no longer needed to look over her shoulder, the one who birthed her has tracked her down. For many this wouldn't be so bad but those people weren't promised to Asmodeus, weren't marked by that promise to be reminded of it on a daily basis, weren't standing naked on display for all to see her fate.
Her first impulse is to run, run far away and hide, but she looks at her love and remembers a promise just recently made and instead speaks the most difficult words she's ever had to say.
"She's found me. Tha one what raised me, kept me locked in tha basement all o' tha time be back. Ah wants ta run but that no be fair to ye on account Ah dinna allow ye ta run." She reaches out and pulls Polli close to her, leaning on her and doing all she can to draw strength from the love of her life. "It probably will be gettin' quite nasty afore it be better, jist thought ye be needin' the warnin'."
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
A steel seething anger burns inside Polli at the mention of Dony's jailor. She opened her mouth to assure her love that she would protect her from anything, but one day of utter madness has robbed poor Polli of her unshakable confidence. The Fear inside her grabs those words and breaks them.
Instead she asys "We'll get dressed and get back to the others in a blink of a spell. Together the Sirens can defeat anything." she caresses the side of Dony's cheek briefly, the worry etched in her eyes. "I love you. I won't be separated from you again. For anything." she says softly.
Tessa nods in agreement with Harmony, "I concur, let's go find our old friend."
When Val gives her report, Tessa nods to her "I think we can spare the time if you think you can do that, Val. Beats us moving aimlessly about."
A smirks slowly spread across her lips as she starts to think about the tower. "And I have to admit, I really want to get that loot out of the Tower to showcase as the next council."
Moving over to Polli, the swashbuckler asks "When you have time, I'd like to see if I could get your assistance in putting some of your expertise into improving Wayfinder and a few other of my items a bit."
Polli and Domonsail have just teleported back, looking like they just hurriedly got ready from out of bed and a bit scared. "What? Yes of course" Polli snapped at the request weariness in her voice "But we have bigger problems. Someone is after Dony, someone who hurt her in the past, and wants to serve her to a devil. And they were in our room without us knowing while we slept." Polli holds up the coin (rune on one side, pentagram on the other), her other hand NOT letting go of Dony's.