The Seas of Blood - The Price of Fame (Chapter One)

[Fenris]

"Why shore'n it ain't. Oi think these ol' bones need a bit o' a rest, so oi'll jus' wait 'ere with ye." Bart says as he takes a seat on a barrel. He takes out a pipe and some tobacco and lights up. He gives Captain Smith a cracker, and takes a long draw on his pipe, blowing it out slowly. "Mind if I smoke?", he chuckles, then gets a thoughtful look on his face. "Now, laddie, tell ol' Bart jus' wot brings ye to th' port o' this fair city. Why are ye not a military man anymore?"

"I'm sorry Bartholomew, I thought Captain Swoops was aboard the ship now. We could have gone to a pub to wait. But seeing as your comfortable and have your pipe going we can wait here. So you wish to know my little story huh? Well you must have a keen intrest in stories for mine isn't much of a tale." As Bart relaxes and smokes, Trav'nul stands, staring out into the sunset. "I grew up much as most of my kind do, as a savage wandering the wilderness. But I was captured while raiding one day and was sentanced to be a slave rower aboard a Felengarian military ship. One day we took on a pirate ship a bit too big for us, the pirates freed the slaves to incite a mutiny and gain the advantage. Well I had developed a sense of loyalty over the many years I had spent on that ship so I fought against the pirates and saved the captain's life and the ship as well. The captian was grateful and commuted my sentance and made me a Marine on the ship. I was born for the life. I was one of the best marines in the entire navy. But when my captain retired, well the old attitudes came out and no one wanted a "halfie" as you called me aboard their vessel. So here I am looking for an open-minded captain and an accepting crew who wouldn't mind having the best marine and boarder in the entire Felengarian navy, serve with them."

 

[Phoenix]

"So here I am looking for an open-minded captain and an accepting crew who wouldn't mind having the best marine and boarder in the entire Felengarian navy, serve with them."

As Trav'nul finishes his tale, two dock workers who had been standing not too close by, wander across to look at him and Bart. "Excuse me sirs, I wus wundering, my friend 'ere says that one of yoo twos is Captain Smiff, izzat right?"

 

[Fenris]

As Trav'nul finishes his tale, two dock workers who had been standing not too close by, wander across to look at him and Bart. "Excuse me sirs, I wus wundering, my friend 'ere says that one of yoo twos is Captain Smiff, izzat right?"

"And what business might you have with Captain Smith my friends?" replies Trav'nul

 

[Ferrix]

The gnome looks wearily at a'Shelys and sighs. "Did I not tell you to look carefully? You have just looked at a snapshot of somebody's life, about ten to twelve seconds I guess. It's amazing how little you can learn in that time, how a false image can swiftly lead you to the wrong conclusion."

He stands up and stretches his bones, looking back at the crystal orb. "As for the dot, it's a reflection of his soul. There is something evil lurking within, growing slowly. But again, that is not a...careful estimation of the situation."

"Son, look at me. I don't know anything about you, this girl, her companion, anything really. But I know one thing. That man was protected by some heavy magic, he seems like someone not to mess with. Ususally I refuse to scry important figures in kingdoms like that, so you are lucky that I kept the image for as long as I did."

"I can only offer you one more divination, but it is not a perfect science. For 150 gold pieces I can cast a divination in the sands, see whether I can find you an answer to at least one question."

"The child is that of the lady and myself, and the man is raising her to hate me. Apparently slandering me, after I left to put an end to a situation which would only end badly. It seems that he wants no more but to continue that confrontation when I cannot respond adequately." a'Shelys' words seem heated at first, but calms slowly as he turns inward in a manner only an elf could muster. "I do not know full well a good question to ask, and as all seers questions asked in the sand, the answers are as easily understood as the rolling dunes of the desert."

He pauses, "I shall see about returning with a proper fee of gold for you within the next day. Perhaps then I shall have a question at the ready for the sands to answer." a'Shelys moves to depart, as he nears the door, "thank you, your words are wise."

With that, a'Shelys returns to the ship to consult with Swoops about acquiring some of his pay in advance, as well as to inquire as to the use of the various magical items acquired earlier, and should any suit him.

 

[IcyCool]

As Trav'nul finishes his tale, two dock workers who had been standing not too close by, wander across to look at him and Bart. "Excuse me sirs, I wus wundering, my friend 'ere says that one of yoo twos is Captain Smiff, izzat right?"

Bart chuckles and says, "Actually lad, Cap'n Smith is one o' the three of us." Recovering a bit he points to Captain Smith and says, "Have ye ne'er heard the tale o' how ol' Cap'n Smith got hisself cursed by the Sea Hag o' Gravediggers Cove? 'Tis a terrible tale indeed."

 

[Fenris]

Bart chuckles and says, "Actually lad, Cap'n Smith is one o' the three of us." Recovering a bit he points to Captain Smith and says, "Have ye ne'er heard the tale o' how ol' Cap'n Smith got hisself cursed by the Sea Hag o' Gravediggers Cove? 'Tis a terrible tale indeed."

"No, I haven't heard it" says Trav'nul playing along "Tell me the tale!"

 

[Phoenix]

"And what business might you have with Captain Smith my friends?" replies Trav'nul

"We jus' be lookin' fer him, dat's all."

At Bart's gesture towards the monkey, and his building into the story, the two workers nod a little, awaiting the story that was to be unfolding before them...

 

[Phoenix]

"Well, fair lady, that I can do." He offers her his arm, and escorts her out onto the street. At the first oppertunity, Jonathon finds a nice corsage that matches her eyes and hair, and purchases, pinning it on her if she lets him. He takes the time to find a nice walk overlooking the sea, where he talks about the wonders of sailing the world, the exploration, the adventure, the lonelyness.

He smiles as he leans against the rail, holding her hand, and watching the sun begin to set over the sea. "M'lady, I'm sure I've bored you enough talking about the sea. Perhaps you could tell me a little of yourself? What brings one such as yourself to dedicate her life to a god?"

The priestess smiles, and somewhere in the world Swoop can hear the hearts of millions of men breaking at the though of this beauty with him. "Everyone has a calling in life Captain, yours is a life of adventure and excitment, mine is one of ritual and sacrifice. I know that my lot in life is to bring pleasure to others, to make sure the world is a happy place, but sometimes I wish that others would perhaps come to pamper me the way that I do for them. There are so many cities that have seen the work that I weave, though few of them know the face behind it." At that she sighs.

 

[Bront]

The priestess smiles, and somewhere in the world Swoop can hear the hearts of millions of men breaking at the though of this beauty with him. "Everyone has a calling in life Captain, yours is a life of adventure and excitment, mine is one of ritual and sacrifice. I know that my lot in life is to bring pleasure to others, to make sure the world is a happy place, but sometimes I wish that others would perhaps come to pamper me the way that I do for them. There are so many cities that have seen the work that I weave, though few of them know the face behind it." At that she sighs.

"Well, I'm sure I can take some time to show such a wonderful woman that her work is definately appreciated, and show you a pleasurable time, if you're willing. What would your hearts desire be tonight m'lady?"

 

[IcyCool]

[sblock]Bluff +15
Diplomacy +6
Sense Motive +1[/sblock]

"Lessee now." Bart settles comfortably and takes another puff from his pipe. "Back in those days, Cap'n Smith were a dreadful terror on th' seas. He an' th' devlish crew o' his ship, th' Blood Money, raided th' coastline up an' down Scadria. They were a bloodthirsty lot, they were. They'd plunder an' kill with nary a thought fer mercy. Why, I even hear tell they took a missionary vessel headed fer Tersenne. It were loaded down with money that were goin' to be used to build an orphanage. But that's a tale fer a different tellin'."

"Ye see, part o' th' secret o' Cap'n Smith's success were that when th' navy came a-callin' round those waters, th' Blood Money were nowheres to be found. Th' navy could ne'er find where she berth'd. They'd search fer a time, an' when they was gone, th' Blood Money would start up again. It puzzled th' brains o' th' navy folk. They couldn' understand how Cap'n Smith could keep hidden from 'em." Bart leans in conspiritorialy, "An' th' secret were this: th' Blood Money weren't on th' waters when th' navy came lookin', she were 5 leagues inland." Bart leans back and takes a draw on his pipe. He exhales a couple of smoke rings, and clears his throat.

"In his early piratin' days, Cap'n Smith had met up with a powerful sea hag witch, an' struck a bargin' with her. If'n she'd use her magics to aid him an' his ship, he'd cut her in fer a share o' th' spoils. Thanks to th' witch's magics, th' Blood Money were th' fastest ship on th' water. An' when th' ship needed a berthin' place to lay low, magics let her sail o'er th' land an' berth in a small inland lake. Cap'n Smith jokingly called it 'Gravediggers Cove'. Fer a time, this arrangement worked like a dream. An' then, greed o'ercame sense."

"Smith an' his crew had their biggest haul after hittin' a Verentian treasure ship bound fer Ascalis. In fact, there were so much booty that they could all retire in style, as long as they didn't give th' witch her cut. So they didn't return to her. O'er th' next couple o' years, all sorts o' bad luck fell on th' crew. Some lost their lives, others just lost their money. Th' time soon came when they had to take up th' piratin' lifestyle again. But th' bad luck followed 'em even there. Every target were either a disguised navy ship, or transportin' low-value cargo. After about two months, th' navy put out another search, an' Cap'n Smith made a run fer th' part o' th' coastline where they used to sail into th' air with th' help o' th' witch. He stood up on th' bow o' his ship an' shouted out to th' witch, hopin' she'd be there. Shore 'nuff, she was. She shouted back an' told Smith that he were a fool fer crossin' her, an' she'd laid a curse upon him an' his crew that would end in their deaths. As you can well imagine, this made th' crew powerful scared, an' they urged Smith to promise her wotever she wanted if she'd remove th' curse an' help 'em escape from th' navy. Th' witch bargained herself a mighty high price, an' she took 'em to safety inland."

"They waited out fer a month, an' soon were ready to be back to pillagin'. Afore they left, th' witch hopped aboard, an' told Smith that she were stayin' on to make sure she weren't cheated again. Smith had no arguin' room, so he agreed. Three days out, they found themselves a couple o' fat merchant ships headed fer roight here in Loridunne. Th' Blood Money came up fast on 'em, an' caught 'em by surprise. Th' crew boarded th' merchants only to find that they were disguised navy ships! Th' fightin' were intense, an' soon th' decks o' all three ships were slippery with blood. Though it made her mighty tired, Smith an' his crew won th' day thanks to th' witch's magic. As th' crew finished loadin' th' last o' th' loot from th' two navy ships, th' witch confronted Smith an' told him that she'd be takin' th' whole haul, in payment fer wot she missed out on when he cheated her. Smith refused o' course, an' soon th' two o' 'em moved from arguin' to blows. Because she'd used up most o' her magic in th' battle, this fight went badly fer th' witch. Smith knocked her to th' deck, an' told her he'd only spare her life if she'd swear not to curse or harm him an' his crew. She batted his cutlass away an' started to spit out a vile curse. She got most o' it out afore Smith stuck her through th' throat, but th' damage were already done. She'd cursed his ship an' crew to ne'er sail above th' water again. As fer Smith himself, she only got part o' th' curse out afore he killed her. She'd cursed him to see th' world through a monkey's eyes. Smith yanked his blade out o' th' witch as th' Blood Money began to sink 'neath th' waves. Th' screamin' o' his crew filled his ears as he grabbed fer a boardin' rope an' got hisself o'er to one o' th' derelict navy ships."

Bart finishes up his pipe and taps out the ash. "Where Cap'n Smith went from there is another tale, as the curse were slow to take effect. But I hear tell that th' Blood Money still sails 'neath th' waters 'tween the mainland and Loria, crewed by drowned men an' captained by throat-cut witch. They say ye can hear her moanin' 'neath th' silvery waters o' a full moon fer her lost fortune which still sits at Gravedigger's Cove."

Bart stands up with a groan and says, "These old bones'r cryin' out fer a drink. How 'bouts ye fellers take me to a good tavern an' buy th' first round? Ye do that, an' I'll buy th' second. Once we wet our toungues, ye can tell me th' story o' why ye be lookin' fer Cap'n Smith."