2021.02.25 Spear in the Deep 2
| Information in hand, the Privateers track down the Invictus and parlay with it's commander, Goggen Ironfoot. | |
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| IC Date | 2020.02.07 |
| IC Time | 2:37 PM PST |
| Players | Cicada Clover Conn Erin Maggy Timand Wick |
| Storyteller | Tabin |
| Location | The Pacific Ocean |
| PRP/TP | Privateer |
| Spheres | Changeling |
| Themesong | Naval Combat Theme |
Set
LAST TIME! ON PRIVATEER!
The Crew of the Journeyman got the dope contract - the Duchy of Goldengate. Hired on as, ho hum, privateers, the first mission given to them was a tall order - the destruction of the Invictus. The captain informed the crew that there is a likelihood that it is the Invictus of Accordance War fame and if so, the Journeyman would be no match for such a reputed warship. So! The crew decided both to dig for information on the Invictus and get a sense of just what they were tasked to deal with.
This led the crew to Hawa'ii, to the port of call of Fairytales - a Hearth Freehold owned and operated by Nualla, a Grump Eshu. A tiki bar, the place was packed with both sailors and native Kithain enjoying the relaxing environment and shared community of Kithain. The crew, through working the room, learned that indeed it is the Invictus of fame - an old cargo carrier retrofitted into a Kithain warship who fought on the side of the Commoners. Captained by Goggen Ironfoot, a Boggan, Goggen retired from Kithain society following the Accordance War with his Nocker Wife to distant shores only to mysteriously emerge with the Invictus and begin sinking ships coming from the Dreaming into the Autumn World - hitting them by ambush. It was also discovered, that there was a cause for this sudden emergence: Goggen's Nocker Wife was fishing in a fishing boat and was set upon and sunk by a patrol skiff. The Invictus's armament is reputable, with Roaring Cannons, Mortars and even, if one believes the story, orinothopters - given the Invictus served as a 'mobile fortress' given it's size and girth.
But that was not all that was discovered. Maggy and Erin ran across Yraltien ap Ailil and his Black Dragon-ship the Shadowfyre. Sensing the presence of an Oathbreaker (Yraltien), Maggy and Erin sent word to the crew who hastily retreated back to the ship and hit the waves.
Now out in the open ocean just outside Hawa'ii, the crew come up with their next move. They have a few tricks of tracking the Invictus - Johnson Atoll was told to be the closest Ocean Trod to Hawa'ii, but Trods are few and far between here and the Cook Islands, the area the Invinctus hunts. Since the Invictus is hunting trods, trods -must- be where you need to search. The question is which. And once there, how do you deal with a warship?
The Pacific Ocean
Conn stands, mop in hand, considering what he thinks the best course of action is. Surely enough, between the lot of them, they could probably whip up a convincing illusion to cloak the ship. They could make it tiny, or look like a school of fish, but such illusions work best against Prodigals and Mortals, Fae folk tend to be able to see through them. That said, with at least four accomplished workers of Glamour, it's an option.
Laying on the deck (preferably somewhere Conn's yet to mop), Maggy'd be nearest the grouping of discussers. Tail swishing against the deck, hands propped behind her head. She'd had her fill of rum, and perhaps some bits and bobs of cheese an' bread as random snacks.....perhaps a lil' bit of bacon or other sea-faring meats would be missing. Who knows. No one can prove anything. Her cheery-but-lackadaisical attitude to the situation has her only on the skirts of thinking on what to do," Flag 'em tear an' see a white picker, naw? Could've tugged onna pawl an' see 'em flicker a lil' sparkle farther not an' maybe catch a good eye?" she tosses out to the lot.
Wick stands at the ship's wheel, maintaining their course away from Hawa'ii (and the dread Oathbreaker). With the sun shining and the wind ruffling his hair once more, the Satyr Helsman can't help but smile. There's important strategy to be decided. And danger lurks on the other side of the horizon. But right now, it's such a beautiful day.
Catching Conn looking so thoughtful, Wick tilts his head. "Mm. Should we... We should probably set Oakenshield on the ship again." He glances to Tabin, the captain. "Keep her safe." Maggy's words make him blink a little, hesitating with an uncertain look.
Timand seems troubled as he digests all this. He's standing by the bow of the ship, staring out at the waves, a rather pensive look on his face. Apparently the new bits of information about the Invictus is not sitting well with him. He looks around the group and says after a long moment "We sure we wanna be sinkin' these guys after all?"
Erin is kinda walking around seems she is fidgiting then again when isn't she as she also seems to be thinking of what exactly the best plan, since there is so many possibilities to do this. Kringer is just somewhere on deck sunbathing the lazy cat.
Clover is perched up in the nest with a pocket full of rocks that she scooped up right before getting back on the ship. She's tossing one every now and then, trying to get them to skip across the water, but it just doesn't work right. Oh well. Doesn't keep her from trying. "Maybe we could find a way for him to speak to his wife from the other side. Seems like that's a reason why he's blowin' stuff up, yeah? Make him stop thatta way," Clover says, whether it makes sense or not, or is even a possibility. It's her two cents! There ya have it.
Cicada was over at the gunner's seat. As preparations were made to reinforce the ship were made the Suijen seems skeptical. "Can we really fight such a ship head on? They have magic, too. Didn't we learn last time that boat is made to destroy other ships. Perhaps we should employ some kind of trickery." She shrugs and looks over to Maggy. "I don't know about getting shot all up again!"
Tabin seems to share Timand's sentiment. While Tabin may be brash, and have a Dashing bit of moxie, a group like the Invictus, it's reputed Captain, and the reason for it's emergence doesn't make him eager to go at it head on either. Or even sink it. "I would much rather not, but the Dukedom wants them gone. If we can find a way to do that without putting them down under? More power to us, but I doubt the Duchy will accept anything other than it's out of commission."
Conn nods "Yeah, we should keep an oakenshield up on her timed to go off when there's an appropriate signal. Like 'when we catch sight of the Invictus'. That seems like a good one. I'm going to give the canon another good look over, in case the 'talk to the crazed pirate' plan doesn't work."
| Maggy tries to speak English! | Maggy rolls Willpower vs 8 for 0 successes. |
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Snickering a bit at Cicada's words - Maggy fans a hand gently at the Fish-friend as if to brush away the bad thoughts of getting shot,"Heh....stickler filled all the crooks clear an' thicker, yeh? 'S a pail's toss." she states matter of factly to her Hsien friendo. Sitting up though she sighs and thinks. Arm's crossed, sitting up her tail gently thumping on the deck behind her,"Howl's takin' breaks far to press an' bring a setter back; 'r....'s a fall taker's wave 'n push 'em off 'n dawned fer a bit of flap-way to their gums, yeh?" she posits to the group.
Cicada peers over towards Erin, pursing her lips. Her black beady eyes of a sea creature seem to glint with a sort of cunning. "Oy! Piero-chan! Can you make a bomb?"
Wick nods off at Conn and draws a small knife from an inner pocket to prepare a bunk. He slices his palm just slightly and drips a bit on the deck. He gazes off at Clover with a little glow of a smile, warmed at her suggestion. "Mm. I lke that. I mean... making it so that... he doesn't want to be the dangerous that he is." Though, with that slight bow of his head, he guesses this might just be a foolish hope.
Timand horks up a wad of phlem and spits into the ocean as he nods to Tabin's words "Yeah, well...is th' Invictus sinkin' Arcadia Sidhe coming in from th' first time, or support equipment? I mean, hell, I fought with th' commoners in th' war, would not feel all that great ta me to be working on sinkin' one of our heroes." He takes a deep sigh "Maybe if we figure out what they are doin' and what they want we can get 'em to stop sinkin shit."
Erin doesn't know who this Piero-chan is as she seems to be still walking back and forth so she doesn't ignore the question on purpose she just didn't know it's being asked of her. She looks to Timand "I don't like the idea of it either but there is the hope that maybe we can talk some reason maybe even get them to agree to something" she takes a breath.
Conn nods at Timand "Yeah, me too. But if it's the shortest path to peace with the least amount of lost lives, I'll take it." He ritualistically mops a circle clear on the floor and sits down cross legged, taking out his hand carved ogham staves, each about the size of a tarot card but made of wood. These, he begins to juggle in place, placing a stave down only when he is certain it belongs in the spread or tossing it back into the bag every if it doesn't feel right. Each stave he adds to the spread makes a little more clear the threads of fate and, thus, he gets a better understanding of what options truly lay at the crew's disposal.
| Conn performs a soothsay! | |
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| Bunk | Conn rolls Dexterity + Juggling vs 6 for 2 successes. |
| Cantrip | Conn rolls Soothsay + Fae vs 5 for 1 successes. |
Conn's perusal into the Wyrd may not give him clarity of vision but it does give him hunches. As he quieries Fate, the feeling that comes over him is that of the potentials roads ahead it is actually very few that end in bloodshed - even in loss. This story doesn't seem to be one about battle and loss of life. Instead...sorrow, rage...and intrigue.
Tabin nods. "If the stories are true, Goggen isn't a firebrand nor a bloodthirster. Everyone says he fought because he felt he needed to. If we can get to him at least we should be good. To either vodoo his wife," to Clover, Tabin doesn't know to do that, and he doesnt' know any Black Roads in the Pacific, "Or try to talk some sense into him or whatever. Maybe even find out more of what's going on before we come to a final conclusion.
Clover tosses another rock down into the water as she gives a faint sigh, eyes shifting off towards Wick to catch his look for a moment. She watches him slicing his hand, and after a moment she says, "Well.. Those who know the art of Spring.." she pauses and glances over to Tabin. "I've heard of masters of spring being able to bring back the dead. Even if for one night. If the man had been able to recover his wife's body, and if he could take us to her.. bones, ya know?" She lifts her hands and wiggles a bit like a skeleton. It's her best imitation. "Could cast it on her and let him talk to her once more or somethin'."
Cicada puffs up her chest and frowns around her tusks. She makes her way across the deck towards Erin, getting louder as she approaches. Her stumpy little tail thrashes behind her. "Oy! Your Bosun is talking to you!" Her teal nostrils flare as she asks again. "You make stuff. Can you make a bomb?"
Erin jumps as Cicada gets all huffy at her and she backs up a bit "Hmm never tried to make a bomb " she shrugs "But I'm sure if I try probably if we had all the right shit to make the boom" she nodsnods
Timand gives a grunt to Tabin "Right, so if he ain't so fanatic he's gotta have a good reason. We are all commers 'ere..well...excludin' Conn who's an honorary commoner..." He gives the other troll a grin. "Whats our contract say. That we gotta sink th' ship, or that we gotta end the piracy by any means."
"We have options," Conn says enigmatically as he interprets what little bits of wisdom he can from the tiles, "but it does say that violence is not a foregone conclusion at all. We would, I think, have to provoke them. Do we have a compass that points to Trods, and if not, Captain remind me to make you one. You really should have one by now."
Erin looks thoughtful "Pretty sure it was just to end the piracy by any means.
Cicada immediately seems to calm down when Erin turns to address them, as if the water-folk's moods were as unpredictable as the sea. She smiles with a glint of the beartrap of sharp teeth that line he jaws and tusks that curl up from her lower jaw. "A bomb or two might be good to have in case we--" Her smile disappears when Timand suggests she was some kind of commoner. With hands on either hip she frowns up at the creature that looked like a giant version of herself. "Commoner? Ariehen! Excuse you!"
Tabin sniffs. "I don't have a Trod-compass." He says to Conn. "I have them charted though." He points a thumb back to where Wick is located. "Most of the Ocean Trods out here are stable, usually Atolls or hidden coves on islands so small not even Google maps charts them. But I got them. If you need directions, would those work?" Wondering if Conn is thinking of using a trick to track the Invictus.
| Maggy still tries to speak English! | Maggy rolls Willpower vs 8 for -1 successes. |
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Humming a bit - Maggy ponders. Thinking on things - her suggestions falling of course on deaf ears. Concentration mar's her face...concentrating...concentrating. Her tail slows to a grinding halt and stops against the deck. Curling in around her leg she grits her teeth and almost growls over her breath before throwing her hands up, head back,"CROSS SHEAR THE POST BRIDGE; GAH! 'S A STICK PULLIN' SHOCK T' THE WIDTH'S TANG INNIT? AGHH!" before flopping completely on her back - arms crossing with a huff over her chest. Thankfully - at least from the tone of frustration - it doesn't seem that any of that was directed at anyone in particular.
Erin looks thoughtfully from one to the other and looks at the big old sea creature "Sure they are useful but they also go boom and we aren't exactly sailing super smoothly and shit so i wouldn't think putting a bomb together on the ship be a good fucking idea.. Maybe something to think about" she looks towards Tabin and then Timand.
| Wick casts Oakenshield on the Journeyman! | Wick rolls Primal + Prop vs 4 for 6 successes. |
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Wick has been kneeling for some time with his hand pressed against the deck, strengthening the Journeyman's defenses. Just in case. At last, he rises to his feet and tries to pick up the threads of the planning once more.
Timand looks over to Cicada and gives a little shrug "Sorry, don't really know how it works with yer folks. I was talkin' western commoners." He's about to say more when Maggy has her episode of mouth-vomit, and he peers from her to Tabin, then back to her.
Conn looks at Maggy, knowing all too well what the outburst means but having no real understanding of what she means by it. He smiles sympathetically at her, squinting through one open eye, "Sorry Maggy, not having a good day on the translation front. I reckon, Tabin, we patrol the main thoroughfare of the Trod, the river not the tributary, I can Dream Craft to ... it's not quite Scrying, it's more like farsight, try to spot the Invictus. It's not a guarantee, but I can't think of any better plans right now."
Unfortunately Timand's look to Tabin will have the Troll's heart sink. Tabin has no clue what Maggy is saying. Then again, Tabin has learned that Pooka-ese, and Maggy-ese, are different languages and that Pooka-ese is not universal, sadly, to whatever it is she is saying he doesn't seem to be picking up. Hence the shrug.
Tabin then listens, and nods to Conn. "Sounds like a plan to me. Coordinate with Wick and let's get this patrol started. The sooner we aren't looming in this warship's shadow the better."
Timand lets out a little snort and a nod to Tabin, and he says "So what th' hell are we gonna do when we find 'em. I could go aboard an' talk to th' guy, man ta man..well...ya know what I mean. Straight talk, no bullshit."
Tabin looks at Timand. "We'll stick to the default plan. Since Goggen isn't out for blood, and if Conn is right, a parlay should be enough. We'll have Clover raise a white flag when Conn gets sight of the Invictus and we'll go from there. The goal is to preserve lives if we can, so let's just stick to our guns. Clover! Ready the white flag for when Conn gives the signal. We'll follow their lead and hope the sea is kind today. Unless someone has a better idea."
Cicada peers up to the Captain and Timand. "When we get there... who's going to be doing most of the talking?"
"Aye aye!" Clover calls down to Tabin, turning to face his way from her perch on the nest. She sends him a thumbs-up, then dips into her pocket to pull out a blue handkerchief, then a green. And a red. "Well, damn.. Where'd I put the bugger," she mutters to herself as she digs around for where she put it. It doesn't take too long before she climbs on down to go check one more place, and she comes scrambling right back up to the nest, wearing the white flag like a cape for now.
Wick returns to the ship's wheel and steadies their course as he listens to Tabin's summary of the plan. He hesitates a moment before speaking up. "Mm. I'm still... I've only just been learning, but... if... if he wants a word with his wife. If it would help. We might be able to do that." He pauses. "If it's alright - I'll set course for Phoenix Island. We'll be out at sea a bit longer, but... might be best to steer clear of Hawa'ii." And with no protests, he adjusts course.
Timand lets out a nod and a sigh "Alright, so can someone else lemme know somethin'? Why the blue hells did we have ta go runnin' out of th' bar so fuckin' quick. Can someone explain ta me th' significance of that other ship ya saw, and does it have anythin' ta do with the invictus?"
Maggy gently seethes at the notion of the Ship they'd spotted before and trying to speak out about -something- again. Still though - ever persistant she exhales and tries,"Was a glean snapper," she notes to Timand's words, "A pry shiv slakin' blanks outta the prim-n-prop posey wat'nt stillin' a changer up to tha' brighters. Dig?"
Kiritbati, the Central Pacific Ocean
So Wick sets sail for the Phoenix Islands.
...You chose wisely.
The Phoenix Islands is a good 3 days full sail. The food stores? Are plentiful, so no risk of running out just yet...though a few more days one might consider stopping by a wal-mart for a food run. The area of the Phoenix Islands are a dotting of islands in clusters, not quite an archipelago but close enough one could argue they should be. The waters here are crystalline blue with the seabed so close to the surface between the islands it manages to fend off the sea-green of the ocean waves for clear waters. Don't worry though, the seabed is not high enough to risk beaching. Seagulls are flocking in the sky above as the hour breaks past 3pm when the Journeyman arrives. The Trod itself, listed on the map, is a lone island in an island chain. Hard to hit, considering it is small, but the map suggests that the fauna that dominates this small island hides a cove that is a trod.
Thankfully Conn is at the helm, keeping a watchful eye on the surrounds. As the Journeyman nears the Trod the wind dies leaving the ship to drift. The birds, plentiful, begin to slowly depart for other waters. A subtle tension begins to linger amongst the crew as the epitome of ocean adventure setting that they have found is silenced....until.
HOOOOOOOOOOOOOORRRRRNNNNNNNNNN
A blowhorn, loud and low-pitched booms across the landscape. Conn's perception sees that one of hte islands that dots this place - was an illusion, fading into mist as a massive cargo carrier emerges heading right in the direction of the ship. The rumors...were disparingly lax. It has 18 cannons, on rails, that let all 18 point straight at the Journeyman as the sound of racheting gearwork swings the cannons from it's port and starboard side into a stacked line in front of the ship. The Invictus flies it's old war banner, a ratty flag of the Commoner cause that is several decades old - faded to the point of near invisibility, but whose meaning may still be felt among the crew for those who remember.
HOOOOOOOOOOORRRRRNNNNNNN.
Conn can see, with his analysis, that the Journeyman does not have long to act. The Invictus does not look to be approaching for a fly-by.
"Hoist the white, we need to go in peacefully," Conn snaps in a tone that just expects to be obeyed, the training of lifetimes of Scathach service. He catches himself and gives Tabin an apologetic grimace-come-grin "Sorry, Cap'n, I mean, if that meets your approval."
Wick peeks off at Conn with a little hint of pink in his cheeks. But the distraction is a momentary one. The Satyr manages to return his focus to the navigation. And as he takes in the full scale of the Invictus, he catches his lower lip with a growing caution.
Erin looks over to Conn before looking towards the incoming ship. She chews on her lower lip as she waits and hopes that the white flag will give the other ship cause to not just shoot at them. <h>
Clover is standing up in the nest as per usual, and when she sees the 'island' fade away to reveal what it truly was she stares in awe. Her lips tug back to a wickedly amused grin, and she whispers a faint, "Wow.." just before she comes to her senses. Yeah. That looks like a ship ready to fight. She slips the white flag from over her shoulders and climbs up a bit higher, attaching it so it begins to billow in the wind..
Maggy quickly sits up. A look of hope sent to Timand in the faintest of prayers that he gleaned something from her words. Dreaming only knows she's not allowed to talk today; must have eaten something bad in a previous incarnation. Before then standing and moving to the edge of the deck to look to the absolute UNIT heading in their direction. "OOOOooooooh...." is all that slips past her lips while she watches.
Lark perches on Clover's shoulder up in the crow's nest and eyes the approaching ship with profound suspicion.
Timand is many things, but a smart troll is not one of them. Maggy's words go over his head completely, and he just shakes his head helplessl. Time passes as it does, the watches are done, decks are swabbed and holystoned, fish are caught. And that absolutely massive heavily gunned ship comes right to them.
The flag is raised, and all is quiet. The Invictus looms in it's approach, almost three times the height of the Journeyman, the cannons all pointing in a way that it seems like each of the crew can see the darkness in the pits of it's cannons. After several quiet seconds, a white flag raises under it's own banner as the Invictus veers it's approach - the cannons swiveling almost comically to maintain position. It slows, and it stops.
"Everyone line up! Form ranks." The Captain harks, to get everyone in line as what looks like a shipping ramp slides out from the hull of the ship - clamping onto the Journeyman's port side, and the hull opens upward - emerging 10 Fae, with real weapons and chimerical armors that look like they either plundered it (given that nothing matches) and the look that only soldiers have. That far away look, not looking at you...rather than through you. Behind them, is the reputed one. Goggen Ironfoot, is a boggan of unusual stature. For a Boggan he is tall, about 5'5", but the humbleness of his Kith has been lost long ago. His skin has tanned with the sea and his mowhawk, now with grey streaks, is tied in a braid behind his head. One eye is a cataract, and as his reputation suggests his real body lost a leg for a prosthetic. To the fae? His leg is entirely mechanical clockwork, whizzing and wheezing as it operates ALMOST like a normal leg but is too jagged to be normal. He is dressed not in a warlord's outfit, but the fatigues of a fisherman save for the longsword at his side in a scabbard and that his real clothes look to be made entirely of kevlar.
From up in the nest, Clover leans forward and rests her elbows on the railing so she can use her hands to prop her face up by resting her chin on her palms. As she looks down and watches the goings on, she gazes over the fae, and soon enough Goggen. When she sees him she gives a warm smile and a soft sigh, and she says to Lark, "Isn't it romantic? Still fighting for her. Now, that's true love right there." Another dreamy sigh. Whether or not that's even close to the truth, it's good enough for Clover, who is now staring at the clockwork leg, eyes bright and curious.
Erin looks over to her captain Tabin and then to those that will be coming to their ship. She bites her lip and she has no weapons visable or armor for that matter.
Conn makes a show of his weapons being in their respective sheaths and raises his arms above his head, and nods to the captain. Unless Tabin says otherwise, Conn is now quiet. Clear chain of command is crucial in any successful mission. That said, should he be called upon to speak, he will. He's good enough at it, especially where the Nobles aren't concerned. His Scathach status as much a boon as a bane among Commoner and Noble alike.
The Suijen looks up from reapplying a fresh coat of lip gloss as they approach the other ship. She sizes up the other crew and their captain with a narrow eyed squint but otherwise remains on her gun with her arms folded over her petite chest.
Maggy comes on over from the railing and heads to a grouping of the Journeyman's crewmates. She's no soldier in stance or attitude - nor does she carry anything like a weapon. The only 'armor' she's bearing are a Chimerical Cloak and a pair of chimerical bracers outside of that. She doesn't talk though. Merely her thumbs into her waist-belt, and awaits while googly-eyeing at all the soldiers, their stuff, the ship, and his leg. The fun things.
Timand watches the other fae board the ship, and while he's armed, he's keeping his weapon in his belt and his hands away from it. He looks to the Boggan, to his leg, then back to his face and gives him a very respectful nod. "Timand Ivarson, I fought an' died with the 3rd Commons Troll Infantry, stoppin' a calvary charge to allow the 4th trolls ta do their thing. I heard a lot about ya."
As the crew lines up, the guards take position in front with weapons at ease but at the ready. Goggen, makes a walk-a-line along the crew - his lower lip puckered out in the classic habit of chewing tobacco. He walks the line, giving the crew a once over. Goggen looks up at Clover, who says. "It's impolite to tease a man with one's appearance, ma'am!" He says, turning to spit over the side of the Journeyman.
To Timand Goggen seems to recognize the unit. "A fine battle that was, I hear Timand Ivarson. The Monads since of that from Ha'waii to the Cooks. You should be proud of yer efforts." He gives a respectful nod to Timand.
"A Scathach...fighten' fer the Nobles." He looks at Conn. "I know many of your Dark Unicorns. Fine fellows. I had a mate once who stood vigil with us." Beyond that he merely continues down the line.
"We're here to Parlay. Just to talk. We're not your enemy. My crew want to share a word with you." Tabin says, as the Captain.
Goggen eyes Tabin a long moment. "...Yer young for a captain." This seems to sour him. "I pity yer lot. All sake of ease captain, we shall speak here." Since everyone has their pieces shealthed and visible, the Invictus crew rests but still at the ready. "Do an old fello a favor and share some rum with my crew n' yours as we talk. Gesture of peace to drink and make friends."
Tabin, The Captain-Waiter, relents and heads below deck to gather rum.
To the rest of hte crew. "Under parlay you are of no threat of me and mine. Relax and speak your peace. Under the rules of war you have free passage away from me and mine. We aren't like the Nobles, you have no fear of treachery of us. Speak yer mind and peace."
Cicada claps their hands together when Tabin goes to fetch the rum down in the hold. "Libations!" Hopefully there was some left that had survived the antics of the Bosun and the ships resident Hull Rat.
Wick heads off after Tabin at once. Bringing rum for that whole crew will take their captain more than one trip. But sturdy as he is, he can help carry a lot. His staff rests off near the helm - not so far that he can't get to it quick, but far enough not to cause misunderstandings.
Conn shakes his head "Right now, I'm fighting to ensure that my Oathed Ward and Heart returns safely. I am sworn to a Noble, true, but the Count of Lion's Reach. Who has no bone to pick with you. In this I serve the same cause the Scathach always serve. The cause of peace."
Clover giggles and turns her face so she can look at Lark and lift her brows, and after a moment she moves to climbs on down from the nest. If rum is to be had, she'd best get down so she can have some! She lands with a little hop and she dusts her hands off, staying near where she lands as she oh so curiously stares down each new fae in turn. She still looks excited, with a smile plastered to her face.
Erin leans against the railing of the ship crossing her arms as she quietly watches. She looks over each of the fae and their gear with a bit of curiosity. She looks between Conn, Timand and Tabin.
Lark flutters from Clover's shoulder to remain in the crow's nest for now. He's serious about his job as look out. And not about to take a break.
Timand looks perhaps a little bit pleased at his acknowledgment by Captain Goggen. "Well..." he opens his mouth, then closes it again, then seems a bit hesitant to speak. He glances at Maggy, then to Goggen again. "Conn, are ya gonna be speakin' fer us?"
Conn shakes his head "I was speaking formally for both my house and my leige lord because Oaths compel me to when so addressed."
Goggen listens to Conn's response and seems to take it in. "A Count's vassal under a Ducal flag." He doesn't seem to not believe Conn. Merely that it seems the way of the times has not fully caught on to his peripherals yet. "Then best not give faith to the Nobles, Sir Scathach if yer trueheart be dear. They will use them against you, offer kinship in one hand and a dagger to the heart in the other."
The rum is passed and seems to break the lingering tension as everyone gets cups of rum. Thankfully there are plenty of glass bottles now! Empty of the rum they used to have, because of a certain Stowaway, that everyone gets a bottle of it. The guards relax and pop the corks and take swigs.
Goggen pears past the crew to Erin. "Ya don't need to hide in the shadows from me. You are of the crew? If any make you think you have no reason to stand with us due to your nature then wipe their face with your spit when you slap them for it!" He gives a hearty laugh.
Cicada gets a few blinks from Goggen, who speaks in Japanese. "A kinnow-jin? Yer Captain is quite the modernist. I am humbled and happy to see the Shinma join us on the sea."
"I may be old but I am still a Boggan! Multi-tasking is my bread and butter. Speak yer minds. We shall talk freely." So anyone can ask him, just odn't mind the storyteller answering everyone in one pose.
Wick returns with the rum just in time to catch trackes of Conn's exchange with Goggen. He approaches to offer Goggen his tankard of rum with a respectful nod before peeking from him to Conn. "I do my best to be careful," he murmurs. He pauses as the Goggen greets Cicada and smiles, pleased at his happiness to see them. "Cicada is brilliant," he adds softly.
Erin blinks and looks around then blinks blinks again as Goggen speaks to her and she blushes as she chews on her lip. She steps closer as she shoves her hands in her pockets a little bit and rocks a bit. She at least gets closer to the group.
Conn nods at Wick "Yeah, love. But this kind of venture is definitely the kind where I have to be on hand because the moments are made in the instant, not the greater sweeping narrative of the thing," he pauses and realises that not everyone speaks fluent seer and chuckles "what I mean is Fate is not the sole driving factor in seamanship, and so by the time I would otherwise get here, it would be too late. And that would constitute both a soul breaking loss and a breach of Oath, so best not risk it."
Timand takes some rum, and when its time he knocks it back after a loud "Skol!'. He listens to the others chat and talk with perhaps a bit of impatience, so he finally blurts out "What are ya huntin' fer that's comin from the dreamin', an can we do anythin' ta get ya to stop sinkin' shit."
Wick gives a little nod, smiling up at Conn with a quiet glow of warmth. "Mm. I know. I'll keep close. But. I'll also be careful." He falters a bit with Timand's abrupt question and winces.
Cicada blinks and then widens her eyes. Her abyssal black eyes shimmer with gold when the Boggan Captain seems to speak the language she was more articulate in. She responds in the mother tongue. "Hai! It's so rare to be... recognized! You must sail far enough West to know my people." Her lips spread in a grin of shark teeth. "I am... here to bring the seas's luck and fortune to this vessel." To the player's knowledge, no storms had wracked the Journeyman, so perhaps Cicada was good for something.
Conn chuckles a little at Timand's response and squeezes Wick's shoulder to provide support. Honestly he's not sure that Timand's approach wasn't perfect. This is literal gunboat diplomacy, blunt and to the point, with no airs and graces is probably a good approach.
Clover gets her rum and knocks it back, and with a soft hiss she climbs her way back up into the nest where she sits down and dangles her legs through the railing. "All good up there?" she asks Lark as she smiles to the bird and looks back down to watch the others.
Goggen looks to Wick, getting the jist. Apparently same-sex doesn't rub Goggen anything weird. "I pray to the Dream you both have a long and happy life." He says taking a formidable guzzle of his rum. He licks his lips.
Timand's point of issue makes Goggen look at Timand. "Fer Concordia to bend the knee." He says simply. "The false promise of David was made plain the day they took my missus from me. We were promised -peace-. /I/, was promised peace. We did nuffin to no one, we breached the Invictus and took our exit like decent people. N' what do we get fer it? What did my missus do, fishin', to deserve dyin' for? They deny me my happiness and rob me of it, I shall deny them the sea until they do her name justice. They never will, so their punishment endures."
Goggen nods to Cicada. "I once met a Hirro-jin when I was merely a fisher, travellin' and tradin'. Your presence must be why he had the sense to raise the flag." He says with a smirk.
Erin looks to Timand as he asks the question then looks to Goggen when he starts to speak and she winces softly looking back to the others then back to Gogeen with a thoughtful expression.
Timand can't exactly disagree with what. "Th' arcadian Sidhe are good at pittin' one group of us against another, keepin' us chasin' our tails. Like now." He glances around for more rum, and snagging a bottle he fills up his glass again, and Goggen's too if he's inclined for another wallop. "What would do 'er name justice? Handin' over th'..." It appears he was about to be really foul, but he stopped himself in time "....bastards who sunk 'er ship? If we help ya find an' repay, would ya be willin' ta beach 'er again?"
Clover is listening carefully to those below, and when Goggen answers Timand, she gives a soft, "Awww. See?" She grunts softly and gives a little hit of her palms to the tops of her thighs, then shifts slightly so she can press her face up between the rails while gazing down. Lifting her voice then, she calls down to Goggen, "And what would do her name justice?" She asks almost in unison with Timand, voice filled with sincerity, her lips pouted slightly and gaze soft. "What was her name?" she asks him.
Maggy's quiet until the booze breaks out. She finds herself some of the stuff (despite having dipped her hand into the proverbial pots before) and serves herself up a liiiiiitlle bit more amongst the Parley between crews. Listening to the conversations and the way things go she nods,"Craw filin' breaks inna tosser.." she lets out gently," 'S a fickle tick jerkin' wayside offa the stylers, thinkin', yeh?" humming gently before taking long hard quafs of the boozy-fluids,"Drag a cape off 'n to the bright-stale with a pacer way...Hehehehe - yeaaaah....'d be a shack'd stint sortin' blights on 'em fer a tiltin'." she lets out in passing while loungin' amongst the soldiers, and the Journeyman's crew.
Cicada nods up towards Timand and then looks back to the Boggan. <<"In all your battles... have you managed to take out the ship that sunk your wife's vessel, yet? The sea bears witness to all who traverse it. From tiny crab to great vessle. From the deepest depths to the frothy white wavetips. The sea forgets no crimes.">>
Goggen looks at Timand, arching a brow. "Eye for an Eye. That is the Noble's way. I want the one responsible to suffer the same fate as her. To get shot like a old dog and left to die in the sea." /Rage/, bubbles under the Boggan's cataract eye. "There will be no mercy this time. Not from me. They lost mercy when they broke their word. They die, and are tossed like garbage for the Pacific to feast on them." He says, the words almost palpable in it's venom. At the offer of helping him find justice he considers. "If you -swear it-...Aye. Justice for justice." He agrees with Timand.
To Clover's question about the missus he looks to the Piskey. "Ronnie. She was a spit of a cuss, prickly as you like. Barnacles had more fluff than that dame... ... but she loved me. That's all that was important."
Cicada's question is answered because Maggie gets a look from Goggan that says 'oh god. A Pooka. They are still here.'. He responds in Japanese. "No. It is a ship like a beast it is with a flag I don't recognize. But unique it is. A Dragon, so the wind told me when I found her."
Conn shakes his head at Timand "That's not Justice, that's revenge. And while I can't say as I wouldn't go full Ogre to avenge Wick's death; I would hope my friends would stop me from crossing that threshold. But. This isn't Justice, Goggen. What you do here isn't just. We are willing to parley but some degree of honesty is required. You're a terrorist. And I say this as a fella who's got cousins in the IRA, because you're never more than three degrees removed froman IRA man in Ireland. So I mean no moral judgement when I call you a terrorist, as an asymmetric warfare technique it is proven to work. But we're not the biggest shark that's searching for you. We're not even the biggest one we've come across. But we are probably the only one that is likely to end up sympathetic, as one of those strange quirks of fate things. Would you not think of just calling for Fior, though? Rather than piracy. Which is as likely to get you killed, probably more so, than achieve your goal of actual revenge."
Erin can't help but to smile a bit at the part about spit of cuss and hangs her head just a little bit as she knows how that can be. Too bad she doesn't speak Japanese. She is still quiet and rocking on her heels a little bit as she listens.
Wick turns a little pink under Goggen's moment of scrutiny as he picks up on that jist. But then he smiles with an appreciative warmth and nods. However, with the story of losing his wife, his eyes shine with an empathetic pain. His profound sympathy clear. Though the venom in the Boggan captain's words make him shift a bit closer in towards Conn's side. He catches his lower lip with Conn's labelling of the Boggan as a terrorist.
Cicada peers up to Conn and then back to Goggen. She speaks in English, her accent heavy and not as articulate as her native language. "Some of our crew saw exactly such a ship," she replies looking to Maggy and Erin. "A Dragon boat... hmmm if the ship that sank your wife's vessel could be dealt with... would you return to a peaceful life?"
Clover lifts her right hand and presses it over her heart, and there comes another, "Awwww," that's mostly to herself. "Ronnie.." She huffs a faint sigh and goes quiet again, listening to the others as they speak.
Timand is a simple troll, so what Conn says takes him a few moments to process. "If we can find th' original pirate who murdered an innocent woman an string him up by th' neck until he's black in th' face, yeah, I'm gonna call that justice, especially if Groggen 'ere stops doin what he's doin'. Thats gonna fix our wagon an return some peace to th' seas." He looks back to Groggin and says "I can't speak fer th' crew, we are gonna have ta vote on it an' decide."
Goggen eyes Conn. "You don't think I tried your Nobles way? I went to the Governor. I told him what happened. I -told- him that my missus was but a fisherwoman workin' the shoals. Not a fish or bird could deny that truth that day. He told me to...let me be quite clear, for your 'moral compass', 'take my lunacy from his hall lest I swear allegiance for his protection'." He spits, hitting the rail of the Journeyman and rushes over to wipe it clean with his sleeve. Respectable! The Boggan is.
"I didn't -want- to wave the banner again." He says. His voice practically crackling with empathy. "It is just like then. What choice to do I have? If Concordia demands I take my helm to answer me proper, then I shall scourge them until my "lunacy" becomes reason!"
At that point Tabin holds up a hand. "Captain, could you give us a moment. Need to have a group powwow. Everyone huddle up." Goggen, still teething, gives a nod and adjourns to the other side of the ship.
Clover's gonna just build a slide from the nest one day, but for now she climbs back down to go join the huddle!
| CREW DECISION: Seek Justice for Ronnie's Death or Find Another Way? | |
|---|---|
| Seek Justice | Find Another Way |
| UNANIMOUS | |
Summary:
The crew agree to seek justice for Ronnie's death by travelling to Hawa'ii to make amends. They know that the Shadowfyre, Yraltien ap Ailil's ship was the one who shot Ronnie down while fishing. As part of the terms, Timand swore the Oath of Accepted Burden to carry out this task for Goggen. With the Oath made, and a Contract sealed, Goggen will port the Invictus until the Oath is complete. Should it be fulfilled, he will beach the Invictus and return to his life. Should it be broken, he will continue his campaign. With this the crew make for Hawa'ii.
