Upgrade your account to a Community Supporter account and remove most of the site ads.

Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="Joshua Randall" data-source="post: 742486" data-attributes="member: 7737">After untying Banda and the Cardonal's crew, the Kestrels debated their future course of action. Madrak insisted upon his point of view: that they had been sold out by Edward Marrero, who had tipped off the pirates to the Company's presence on board the Cardonal. They why had the pirates withdrawn? wondered Quaddla. There were no solid answers.The following morning the Cardonal arrived at Lof. The adventurers stared at the mighty stone walls of the fortified city, and at the equally impressive rents in those walls. Scorch marks covered most of the buildings – those that had not been burned to the ground in the most recent Ice Barbarian attack. In the harbor, three warships flying the flag of Durenor were being worked on by hundreds of shipwrights and craftsmen.A detachment of baronial guards met the Company at the harbor and escorted them to the citadel. It was a gloomy place, drafty and damp, built more for defense than comfort. The current baron, Giosue da Silva, had only ascended to his position after the deaths of his father and two older brothers. All were slain by Ice Barbarians. The baron's only remaining family was his daughter, Olivia, whom he protected as a greedy man guards a precious gem.The baron's chamberlain led the Kestrels through the citadel, admonishing them to behave with proper dignity in front of his lordship. As the group arrived at the throneroom, they witnessed a curious scene. A surly looking dwarf clad in fine ermine was pleading his case to the baron. "As you well know, my lord, I still haven't been paid for the latest shipment," said the dwarf, petulantly.Baron da Silva replied icily, "You have received a letter of credit.""But my lord," the dwarf rejoined, "I have expenses, suppliers, laborers. I cannot pay them with a letter of credit.""How dare you question me!" thundered the baron, nearly coming out of his seat. He glared at the dwarf, who glared back with ill concealed rage. "You may cash your letter of credit only after the shipment is recovered. Not before. Do I make myself clear?""Perfectly," the dwarf snarled. With that, he spun on his heel and stomped out of the throneroom, brushing past the adventurers without so much as a passing glance.There was an uncomfortable silence. A guardsman shifted his position behind the throne, his armor creaking loudly. Another stared at the floor, engrossed with the laces of his boots. Finally, the chamberlain cleared his throat and announced the party. "My lord, I present to you The Company of the Red Kestrel." He glanced markedly at the group, urging them forward."His Lordship, Baron Giosue da Silva, Ruler of Lof!" cried the chamberlain in a surprisingly loud voice.After introducing themselves, taking care to follow the proper rules of Durenese decorum, the Kestrels got a good look at the baron. He was a man of medium built in fighting trim – indeed, he had a reputation as a fine warrior. A long scar covered the left side of his face from temple to chin, and the baron wore a patch over the hole where his left eye had been. His hands were enormous, almost freakishly so, and they gripped the arms of the throne tightly, as if the baron wished he still carried a sword."Pirates less than a day from Lof!" he roared, rising to his feet. "Damn it all!" Quaddla took a step backwards, unsure if the baron would blame the Kestrels for the attack on the Cardonal. "My lord," she offered, "we did our best to fight them, but—""And a fine job you did, too," said the baron, sinking back into his throne. "Just like Dellarocca did with the rest of the Sea Ghosts." Da Silva smiled grimly at some private joke."You've seen Michael Dellarocca?" asked Madrak. "When?" he demanded, forgetting his place. But the baron ignored the slight."About a week ago," da Silva replied. "Dellarocca and his Company asked my permission to investigate an abandoned house outside the city. Following up some rumor an old alchemist who lived there years ago – turning lead to gold, if you can believe the tales."The baron paused, then leaned forward and continued with vigor. "But instead of finding any alchemist, he found a gods-damned nest of Sea Ghosts. Wiped them out without breaking a sweat, too. My men tell me that whole house is covered in scorch marks from the fight." The baron nodded knowingly to himself: Dellarocca favored electrical evocations."Then who were the Sea Ghosts who attacked us?" wondered Bilt aloud.The baron continued his tale. Apparently, the pirates' operation was split into two halves: the seaborne half which had boarded the Cardonal, and a landborne half which received and disposed of the loot. A secret cave system under the abandoned house served as the land-based pirates' lair. The pirates kept in contact with the ship through an elaborate signaling system, which Dellarocca had been kind enough to decipher for the baron.Now da Silva intended to turn the tables on the pirates. "Six of my men are encamped in the caves," he told the Kestrels. "When the Sea Ghost ship arrives, they'll signal it, then go and board it." The baron narrowed his eyes and started at the adventurers as if sizing them up."You will join my men. Assume command of the boarding operation. Capture the ship. Take the mage alive. You may kill the others."</blockquote>

Verification