Saph says to Hedy, “I hate to go in there alone, Cap’n…” She shows Hedy her right hand, now webbed like an undine’s. “But you gave me this gift. I won’t waste it!”
Now curling into a fist, the webbed hand starts to glitter as frost spreads from Saph’s fingertips.
She bolts, like a bullet, straight at the queen, running through the muck unhindered, plunging into the deep as naturally as any undine—
—she drives her fist into her target!
Too far away to get to in melee, Jordanna draws her crossbow and fires!
"Enjoy" the captain tells Saph for the gift. "For my part, I have a different type of gift for the queen." She looks up at her swooping bird and gives a whistle, getting a whooting in return.
Then she pulls out one of her handmade bombs, lines ups and then throws the thing at the naga.
The captain’s bomb finds its mark, and with a pitiful shriek the naga collapses into the pool.
Hedy smiles wide, holding her arm out for her owl to land on and adjusting her captain coat and tricorn to their best effect. "Good work, crew." looking to each, lingering long enough on Paddy and Saph to let them know she included them in the 'Crew' statement, giving them a grin. "This glorified snake was hardly a test of our abilities but she'll pay for quite a few drinks tonight at least. Saph, please inform the lizard folk that in return for us helping them to their freedom, we'll be expecting them to tear down that damnable damn."
Murillo sheathes his sword as the thrill of righteous havoc dies inside him with the naga. "Should we haul it back with us to Rickety's, Captain? Proof of our effort, and perhaps a trophy for the wall of The Commons." Or perhaps some new upholstery for the ship's cabin...
“With pleasure.”
Saph takes the body of the lizard queen and lifts it with ease , making sure the lizardfolk notice this.
<Here is your tyrant queen! We defeated her, unscathed.>
Saph lowers the body before her captain. “Happy looting.” She then moves within drop-kicking distance of the two lizardmen she found to be particularly disrespectful. Her tone suggests she is one excuse away from murdering them.
<Now I’m making a new promise. Come with us and take down the dam without a single complaint, and you will not be harmed. Piss me off, I’ll f$&!ing kill you.>
While everyone else is getting onto celebrating and clearing the dam, Paddy wonders...
Where be all the treasure? Queen's gotta have tribute, eh?
He decides to wade into the murky waters and swim to the bottom.
Jordanna follows the others, looking generally surly and unimpressed.
The lizardmen are even more deferential than before. The wounded one, however, musters up the courage to answer, <We will do as commanded. You, well... one of you, is our new tyrant queen. We do not know which of you is the leader. Only, the work will go much faster if you let others help too.>
Hedy raises an eyebrow at the dwarf crawling about in the mud and murk. But shrugs, everyone has their quirks.
Saph translates, then explains to Hedy, “I figured a death threat would be more effective than asking nicely. Or at least get ’em to stop being a bag of dicks.”
She then gestures toward Hedy politely as she delivers a bilingual response:
<This is my queen. I’m her tyrant. When she has words, I deliver her message. When she says ‘kill’—> Saph gestures to the dead naga. <—I deliver her message.
<You want to speed this process? Good. I’m glad you’re thinking that way. Here’s what you gotta do. Help the bearded man—> She points out Paddy, who is obviously trying to— <—obtain the naga’s treasure.
<My queen will be pleased, she’ll say yes to your request to bring laborers, no one will be disrespectful… then when the work is done, we’ll all go home.>
Paddy surfaces from the pool and hauls himself back on land. He takes his beard in both hands and wrings it out like a washcloth.
"Nothin. Not one damn coin. You think she might've hidden her stash in another pool?"
Saph translates Paddy’s words, since they actually back up what she just said.
“Working on that,” she assures Paddy.
The lizardmen look at each other with some surprise. <But... she is our queen now too...> one of them answers, <what will we do when she leaves?>
<We will pick a new leader, by tooth and claw, like we used to,> the wounded lizardman answers his comrade. Turning back to Saph he adds, <I think she hid her prizes in the deep pool. We can take you there when you're ready.>
"I'm ready" Paddy answers the moment Saph translates.
"Okay, let's split up to get this done quick. Saph, send this wounded one with Parry, Murillo, and Doma to hunt for treasure in that deep pool." a combination of magic, perception, and eagerness for the booty. "While the rest of us will oversee the laborers in freeing the water."
Saph replies to their concern, speaking in a respectful tone. <If you’re interested in my opinion, I don’t think physical strength is a measure of leadership. I mean, fighting’s been my life since I was a teenager. No disrespect to my queen intended, but if it came to fists, I’d win.
<But that doesn’t make me the better leader. I couldn’t have led a crew of six to defeat the naga. You saw how my queen lured her. She was clever. Miss Carver and I are good at fighting, but we’re more like the people who make sure our queen doesn’t get hurt. And she’s not a tyrant. She’s good to us—
<—like the shaman Kryxthis told me about. He couldn’t fight like the naga, but he treated you all with respect, didn’t he?>
Once Hedy gives the order, Saph translates and will join the group going to the dam.
Murillo removes his hat and stuffs it in his coat pocket, revealing short reddish-brown hair. A short prayer and his coat shines with light; wading out into the deep water he takes a deep breath and swims beneath the surface to search for the naga queen's treasure.
As instructed, the wounded lizardman guides the three treasure-seekers back to the river and over to the deep pool. It's on the opposite side of the river and, without any ability to communicate, proves to be a bit of a pain in the ass to get to. The effort, however, is rewarded. Murillo quickly discovers towards the center of the muddy pool, about ten feet deep, a little nest with the waterlogged remains of a previous visitor and a handful of minor treasures. With Paddy's help all is dragged ashore. There's a pair of crude golden idols and a smattering of semi-precious stones and some of the corpse's equipment seems remarkably well preserved given his own state of decomposure. Vadoma identifies several valuable magic items on him.
The three uninjured lizardmen lead the captain and soon-to-be dam-destroyers back up river and into the village. It's very simple, but somewhat larger than might have been expected, with about two dozen huts. There's a bit of excitement as three 'scaleless ones' parade into town and the lizardmen explain that Hedy is the new queen, for now. Nearly two dozen adults are swarmed around the visitors very quickly, with at least as many children underfoot. There's even a child-sized frog-person that can be spotted hopping about in the crowd.
After the new queen's wishes are explained, just over a dozen adults (and none of the children) accompany the pirates down to the dam. The crude dam is mostly wooden stakes driven into the riverbed with rocks piled against them and mud and decomposing plants to clog up the gaps. Progress starts out slow, but before long Jordanna and Saph discover that if they break or pull out the stakes the stones will shift and the water will start to clear away some of the mud and vegetation. Things speed up after this as the two race to destroy the most stakes and the lizardfolk concentrate on removing the rocks.
It takes several hours for the work to be completed, even with Paddy and Murillo pitching in once they arrive. While the labor continues, Vadoma shows the captain what they found, and explains what it does. By the time the sun is setting, the river is once again flowing towards the sea as it should be. To celebrate their new queen, and the successful completion of her first (and possibly only) decree, a procession of lizardfolk arrives at the site of the work with a spit-roasted boar and trays of fish (raw, smoked, or grilled).
Once the work is done, Saph graciously accepts the roasted boar and makes it a point to tell the lizardfolk how wonderful it is! Of the fish, she asks, <Is that piranha?> And whether it is or not, she’ll try grilled or smoked or both.
While munching on whatever tidbit she saves for last, she asks Hedy, “How were you chosen as captain, if you don’t mind my asking? I want to help these lizardfolk choose their new leader, and tooth and claw will lead to a needless death, and likely, another tyrant.
“Maybe if they know how you got where you are, they’ll emulate that. The warriors want you to remain their queen forever, y’know, so if you leave them with something to emulate, they won’t feel rejected.”
Hedy lounges in a lizard man chair, propping her boots up on a stump. As a lover of all things seafoodish she samples each one. "Voting." the captain laughs "Not very pirate-like. I had expected to have to fight with Carver, not a prospect I was looking forward. Battle with wits against Murrilo, or at least scream insults at each other." she uses her dagger to pick a bone out of her teeth. "But Doma spoke wisdom about a vote would leave us less divided..." glancing at Carver's claws, she'll add "... and fewer of us dead."
She'll ask her own question to the blue one, waving her dagger in the direction of the lizard folk "Why do you care about what happens to them once we're gone?" just an honest question born from curiosity.
Saph will address the lizardfolk later. For now, she replies to the captain:
“I don’t know how long it’s been since you left slavery. It’s just months for me. And I’d love to tell you about how there’s a search—or was—for a blue-skinned murderer. But the truth is I was only an accomplice. I didn’t have it in me to do what I did today.
“Killed a slaver!
“Well… accomplice again, really. But I got a couple good punches in. And a kick. But if killing a slaver was good enough for my master’s real killer, she’d have left me to take the fall for her. Instead, she—Scarlet’s her name—put in a little extra effort and got me on a ship. Scarlet could’ve made me her slave if she wanted… I didn’t understand the concept of being free.
“But now that I do, that’s how I’d love to live. Kill the masters, and really f*@@ up all they’ve done by making their slaves better off.” Saph then admits to Hedy, “I had a feeling the Naga Queen would have treasure. You know who else is rich? Slavers. Pimps. People who use other people can make your treasure-seekers happy, and the best part is they deserve to die.”
Saph takes a bite out of her roasted boar.
“Well… I hope you at least see that it’s because I care, I got Kryxthis to tell us about the Naga Queen. I don’t think anyone’s gonna lose sleep over her demise.” She gestures toward the celebrating lizardfolk… and that frog-boy.
Paddy listens to Saph's story while chewing on a boar rib. Bits of meat are getting caught up in his beard to be saved for later. Gold coins lie under his pudgy fingers, along with a roughly cut opal. He belches loudly. "Dyou recon they make grog here? Might take your mind off it for awhile, let you celebrate properly."
Saph asks Paddy, “Mind off what?
“A proper drink’s fine, but my conscience is clear. Look at all these children! Never again’ll they be orphaned or see their elders subject to torture and humiliation. If there’s any cosmic justice, the naga queen can join my master and his partner, doing joyless cartwheels in the abyss.”
Saph happily accepts seconds of the boar, if offered—or fish instead, if those are grilled piranhas.
Once the work's done and celebrations begui, Murillo blesses the victory revel in Besmara's name and joins in the merriment, but soon drifts over to join the Captain and others in conversation.
"Slavers, queens, kings - they're all the same. Forcing rules on folks that make sure the wealth flows to them. "
"If they do have liquor, try not to lose your wits to drink. They like us now, but they likely wouldn't lose sleep over our demise, either. Best not to tempt them into trying us."
"I ain't so sure yer conscious is clear, but I ain't no bishop. Imma see if they got some grog, like some palm wine or somethin. Food's good, but gotta drink more 'n water. Stuff I got I'm savin for the right time."
Saph responds to Paddy with a genuine look of interest, “Okay… you’ve piqued my curiosity. What guilt do you think I’m burdened with?”
"Thatchaven't killed enough of em yet."
With a raise of his eyebrows as if someone else had said something offensive, Paddy turns and heads off in search of alcohol.
Despite the language barrier, Paddy does in fact track down a big clay pot full of palm wine.
Saph smiles as Paddy goes for the wine.
He’s not wrong.
It seems the crew will spend the night. Saph looks for Kryxthis. She’d rather chat with her than drink wine. (Well… maybe just a taste.)
Hedy doesn't partake in the wine, but does enjoy the fish. As things start to die down, Hedy gives Cream a whistle meaning Keep your eye out you fat bird. Then lowers her tricorn over her eyes.
Paddy passes out mugs of palm wine.
"A toast, to new comrades, to adventure, to freedom an' fine booty! Cheers! Slàinte Mhath!"
He takes a deep drink from the mug, mingles with the crew for a little while, then bids them goodnight before settling in for sleep.
As the celebration begins to wind down, it becomes apparent to the lizardfolk that their new queen and her companions plan to stay for at least one night. The food and drinks are gathered up and what remains of the festivities process back to town, still eating and drinking to the sound of turtle-shell drums as they go.
Back in the village, the band of scaleless outsiders are led to the largest of the huts, right in the center of the community. <This was the home of our shaman,> one of the lizardmen explains, <and our elders would meet here with him when he guided us. It is yours as long as you stay here to rule.> As he finishes, the small frog-man, who seems fairly drunk, shakes his head angrily and mutters in very poor Draconic, <Well, I'm not moving out just so they can take it for a night, we can all fit here just fine,> before heading in himself... or herself, maybe... theirself.
Saph says, <Thank you for the honor. As for what happens when Queen Hedy leaves, I want you to know how she was chosen. She already explained the process to me, as well as the wisdom behind it.
<But I would like Kryxthis to be here when I share this with you, as well as the warriors who helped lead us to the Naga. Of course, elders or any other highly respected members of your tribe are welcome.
<And I can step outside of the hut so those who wish to sleep will not be disturbed.>
Once the crew have assembled for rest in the hut, Murillo speaks up.
"If you don't object, Captain, I'll claim the first watch."
"No objections. Carver can take second. Doma third, and I'll take the early morning. Our new recruits can have the night off."
Saph discovers that it is too late to gather any kind of crowd as the party officially disbands, but several of the lizardfolk assure her they’ll return with others in the morning.
With a watch rotation in place, the conquerors settle in for the night. The little frog-person who claimed the round room on the right, ribbits loudly in their sleep, but the night otherwise passes quietly.
In the morning, a dozen lizardfolk show up to hear Saph’s story about how their queen became the queen of a boat.
Saph nods the crowd the Draconic equivalent of ‘good morning’ and thanks them for gathering. She tells them how Hedy was chosen, not by duel, but by vote.
<If your next leader can be chosen without bloodshed, you will have every strong warrior available to protect the leader.
<And as long as you can all agree to accept the outcome, you can have what we have—mutual respect. No more ridiculous punishments, and no more forcing you to steal water from the villagers below.
<In fact, what I’d really like to do is tell the villagers that you have as much right to hunt in the wild as they do, and that where the river splits marks your territory. I fear I’m the only one who speaks the Tongue of the Dragon, so trading with the villagers may be difficult due to the language barrier. But at the very least, you and the humans should be able to exist in peace.>
She could tell the history of humans and lizardfolk trading, minus the apparent racism in the human-written books… but, only if asked.
On the topic of peace, she says to Kryxthis, <Did you greet me with a peace sign? I didn’t really understand the butting of your spear, when we first met. I only knew there were six of us and you were alone, and… knowing two of your people had been killed—not by us, which you of course didn’t know—I thought you were very brave to come to us instead of fleeing.
<If we hadn’t talked, we’d never have known the truth and… I just hope your tribe understands that the Naga Queen’s fall started with your unwavering courage and honesty.>
Saph actually meant to just ask of peace signs and other nonverbals, but after catching herself she decides to pause. Hopefully the tribe is receptive to voting, and has a higher opinion of Kryxthis now. And I hope I pronounced her name right this time!
There’s a murmur that runs through the small crowd of lizardfolk that have gathered as they discuss Saph’s words about voting for leaders.
When the blue-skinned wrestler questions Kryxthis about the sign she made with her spear when they met, the lizardwoman shakes her head and answers, <it wasn’t a sign for you at all... there was another guard on the far side of the river, I was signaling him to go report your arrival.>
Saph replies, <Ah, so it was what it looked like. Well, everything worked out anyway, so it doesn’t matter.
<It’s your future that matters now. I mean, Hedy’s great but you don’t really wanna have another outsider rule you. As Kryxthis put it, your tribe is one people. So… who among you can guide the tribe like the old shaman did? I’m sure you want a leader like him, and not a tyrant who uses you.>
Hedy stretches out a bunched bit of tightness out of her back, checked on her bird, spends a few moments with her chemicals in case more bad things happen today, downs her favorite two, and then is ready to go.
Standing next to Saph at the end of her talk "So... you ready or are you staying to make their world a better place?" she adds with a touch of a tease.
None of the lizardfolk are bold enough to declare themselves fit to lead in the presence of Queen Hedy and her enforcers.
Hedy organizes those that wish to leave this paradise of biting bugs and people-eating fish to go back to Rickety's. To get paid and to get plastered properly with something that burn to hell and back with every sip.
When the Captain gives the word, Murillo takes up rear guard for their march back to Rickety's, if need be also hefting the rear portion of the dead naga's length.