Id seen n with more alcohol in their bodies than blood turn cold sober when faced with sothing that scared them. I didnt have anything to scare that badly nor did I want sothing to suddenly appear for the sake of sobriety but I wasnt as sloshed as I should have been after finishing off an entire bottle of whiskey in an evening. Maybe my body was resisting the alcohol, maybe my conversation with Hali had shook a little. Either way, I was rational enough to co up with a plan before I left my table.
The bartender glared at when I motioned him closer. People had various initial reactions to my imbalance. While my crew seed to be getting more or less used to , everyone else either turned up their noses or glared.
Whattaya want? he demanded. Hed made pay up front, so he didnt even have the promise of incoming money to motivate him to be helpful.
I tried to change that by placing a silver on the counter. It was worth more than my liquor had been. Im looking for a place to pick up magical items.
I recomnd the market in the morning, he replied, though he eyed the silver.
If I was interested in market stalls, Id do that. I said. I need the sort of operation thatd open its doors for tonight.
I was gambling. Id never purchased magical goods on the black market before, but was trying to sound like I at least knew what I wanted. My bluff seed to work, because the barkeep picked up my silver and eyed it.
What kind of goods would you be lookin fer?
Concealnt. Not stealth stuff, I an stat concealnt.
He snorted. Pity.
I know, I know. Im no ones favorite patron. But Im trying to change that. Wouldnt you like to see without magic convincing you Im ugly?
You are ugly, ya snot! Doesnt matter what kind of magic is to bla. No magic item is gonna fix you up, neither. He rolled my silver across his knuckles and made it disappear in his palm. But iffin youve got the coin, Ive got the friends.
Then we have business.
A short while later, I was in a normal armorers store. I could guess at the operation that was going on based off the details.
The clerk who opened the store for us and laid out the type of items I requested no doubt worked here during the day the key ring he had looked official enough. Judging by the way he moved through the place, he wasnt worried about his boss the armorer finding out, so he was probably the true boss of the place despite his seemingly low position.
I wasnt given the chance to peruse the shelves or check out wherever they had their illicit goods hidden. First ti custors werent given that level of trust, even if I was rich and sothing else might have caught my eye.
Speaking of riches, I hoped this wouldnt be too expensive. Id had quite a bit of gold for one person not too long ago, but Id divvied a lot of it up to have my crew make purchases. Only what wed taken from the schooner allowed to consider such an investnt.
But it should be a worthwhile investnt. Id started thinking after seeing Halis necklace again. The usefulness of my Hide True Nature ability was nearing its end people were learning my na. My ability only hid my curse and ocean magic.
And if people knew who I was, the analyze skill level required to see through went down considerably.
An item like Halis though it had disadvantages, shed pointed them out to before, but it could give a chance at a different na.
So here I was in the middle of the night, with people the local guard would love to get their hands on, perusing goods that could not have been obtained honestly. I wasnt sure whether to be impressed or disappointed with the selection.
Id half expected the black market to have a stall full of trinkets to choose from. Instead, I was looking at two small trays filled with jewelry. What was impressive, was that each piece of jewelry had so function like what Id asked for.
Ring of veiled character, ring of anonymity, necklace of obscurity, necklace of persona all of them related to hiding my stats.
But, I wasnt just trying to hide them. I was trying to create an illusion, like the one that had convinced Hali was a sailor.
That took most of the goods off the table. I quickly narrowed down the rest by my disliking rings too many sailors lost fingers due to the darned things. Burdette himself was an example, though the man still persisted in wearing them. That left with a choice of two necklaces. I chose the one that didnt look like a gaudy bauble.
The chain on this, can it be changed without affecting the item? The clerk nodded. I unclasped the fine silver, diamond studded chain and dropped it in the tray. I was left with a rather plain looking dallion shaped like a compass rose. Do you have a simple leather cord I could use? I asked. Ill take this one.
The clerk retrieved a cord for and nad a price in silver. I was relieved Id been worried sothing like this would cost gold. It was a fair weight of silver, but still.
I guess there were benefits of goods acquired cheaply and without any tax applied.
My bartering attempts got nowhere, and feeling more than a little uncomfortable at whether I was even supposed to barter with this man, I paid the asking price. It was worth it.
I slipped out to the street and almost imdiately began to duck down an alley to avoid a gang of n patrolling the streets. That is, until I recognized them.
What has you lot wound up? I asked.
Surprised at seeing their Captain, the group stamred and made way for Burdette.
Captain, the man said. It would seem Ive made a mistake
You sure that we are missing 16? I hissed through my teeth as I followed Burdette. What, you conducted a muster in the town square?
Those n were in a group that asked to explore the waterfront night life, Burdette said. The other group leaders accounted for themselves.
Youve contacted each group? I demanded. You said you heard of this not an hour ago, yet you t with every group in the port?
He hesitated. Not every group, but the vast majority all have
I cursed. Recall the n to the ship. No! Wait twenty minutes, then give the signals. I want you to have a proper count waiting for when I arrive.
When you arrive? Burdette said. But sir
No buts, Burdette! You return to the ship imdiately with the rest of these n, I said as the crew around us ground to a halt. You said Phillip knows where this fort is?
Yes, he said, still wavering.
I nad Phillip and four others all fighters who would accompany . The rest I ordered back to the ship.
This port call was a mistake.
16 n had asked Burdette to visit a brothel. Burdette had let them go. Later, another one of my crew spotted them not carousing with soiled doves, but stealthily making their way towards the local garrison.
There might be sothing sly going on, but to it spoke of a coordinated desertion. 16 n had decided they would rather try their luck with the local authorities than serve under on my dood mission to turn the waters red.
For all that I pitied my crew and what I made them do, this desertion made angry. Furious. Theyd abandoned their fellows. Theyd abandoned .
Phillip guided towards where the n were last seen. The size of the garrison unsettled . We were supposed to be visiting a town just large enough to accommodate us either the town had grown quite a bit since Burdette had last visited or my first mate hadnt shared my cautious viewpoint.
There was a two story stone hall making one end of the rectangular garrison. Long, narrow barracks extended from this hall like legs on a stool. With this arrangent, only short sections needed to be dedicated walls, as the buildings themselves served the purpose. It was no castle, but it was more than enough. The gates were barred, and there were no windows in the outer wall. At least, not on the ground level. There were windows on the second story of the hall, but even they were designed to allow archers to fire through and deny intruders.
I pointed towards them anyway. My small gang and I werent enough to break into an ard garrison and drag 16 unwilling people away, but I could at least learn more.
I summoned water against the northern wall of the town hall, away from prying eyes at the gate. Freezing the water and shaping it, I ford handholds. They were not strong handholds, and would disappear without my magical focus, but for my 11 levels in climbing? Kids stuff.
Ascending to the second story porthole I suppose army people called windows in a fort sothing different, but darned if I knew the terminology I peered through. It was a spartan if cheerily lit ss hall, with logs cracking on the fire and glow-rocks sitting in polished sconces along the wall. Seated among the tables were my 16 crewman.
They were eagerly tucking into a stew, while the commander of the garrison questioned them.
And your Captain has no way of sailing his ship without the aid of a crew, such as yourselves?
No, the crew spokeswoman said. I was surprised to see that it was Debra, the forr slave consort-turned cook. He gives orders, but nothing happens unless we do it. If we ssed sothing up, the ship went the wrong way.
He can raise and subrge the ship on his own, soone else popped in. No clue how he does it, though.
Interesting, the commander said. What about ship effects? What do you know of those?
I rember he talked of this bleeding effect when we were butchering those monsters, another voice cheerfully supplied.
Any wound bleeds far more around that ship than it should, Debra said. A simple cut making als could be life-threatening to a low levelled person without dical care.
Seaborn could not control this effect to not include you?
Couldnt or wouldnt, soone muttered, to the agreent of others.
A large white flare appeared over the wharf with a crack. Exactly 15 seconds later, another sunburst and crack sounded that was my crew signal to return, created by using common signal items. The deserters had heard it and went silent. A mont later a guard entered and reported the signal to the commander, though there didnt seem to be any urgency in the report. Such signals were matters of interest, but most crews had so ans of disturbing the peace to recall their n.
The commander dismissed the guard with orders not to investigate. Turning to the deserters, he calmly said I take it that was for you?
Hes noticed were gone, one of the forr slaves whimpered. Hes going to co for us
Hes welco to try, the commander said. Breaking his teeth here would make the job of the confederacy much simpler.
The ex-slave didnt find the commanders bravado reassuring, despite the fact that I agreed with the commander on this one.
Commander, Debra said. I dont an to be rude, but surely you can see our sincerity and our helpfulness. You must send for soone to break our curse imdiately! Or in less than a day well be of no more use to you at all.
I took the liberty of sending a ssage to the appropriate authorities the mont I admitted you lot, miss. The Commander replied. If there is a way to break your curse, Im sure well find it.
While I watched my crew betray every secret they knew, my anger faded. Yes, theyd turned their back on , but they were just trying to be free. Didnt I appreciate what that ant anymore?
I dropped down beside Phillip, who waited below. I pulled out a pen and paper, scribbling a note while I gave him instructions. A minute later he was off, and I was repeating my climbing trick. Shouted commands to stop from the gate around the corner indicated Phillip hadnt been stealthy enough in his approach, but it didnt sound like he was caught.
Soon, another guard appeared in the hall with a ssage. Commander, this was just thrown at one of our sentries, it was wrapped around a rock. Its he glanced at the deserters. It may be of interest.
The commander accepted the note Id just penned and read it, then deigned to read it aloud to my crew.
To my wayward crewn; I know the challenges and doubts in your minds. I know the struggle you feel and I sympathize with your attempts to be free. For that reason, anyone who returns to my ship within an hour will be welcod back without reprisal. After that hour, the Deaths Consort will sail. You will be left behind at the whims and in the graces of whover youve attempted to make deals with for your life. May they have more rcy on you than mine did. The commander folded the letter and placed it in a pocket. It is signed Captain Donic Seaborn.
Were dood, the sa woe-sayer spoke. Hell sail away and doom us!
We knew hed sail before we left! Debra snapped at him. The commander now has an hour to do whatever he plans. Well, commander? I dont think any of us desire to return, but I suppose you want us to sabotage him or spy for you?
Bloody stars, when had my cook beco so calloused?
I think not, the commander said. Tempting as it is, Id have no control over you once gone, and youd be surely watched. Better at this point to deny him the crewn.
I want to go back! The woe-sayer exclaid to my surprise. Youve only got so many hours to free all of us from this curse, and you dont seem in a rush to do it. If you wont free , then Ill take my chances another ti!
No, the commander said. Regardless of whether youre of any more use, I will at least deprive this Captain Seaborn of your able hands even if it seems he has more than enough. Besides, for the next day you all can point directly to wherever the Deaths Consort is, yes? Do you know how valuable that ability is these days? Finding the ship when its beneath the waves is nearly impossible its a costly magic that only gets results once the cursed ship is already moving once again, only letting the armada stay a step behind him. I will have each one of you pointing towards it for as long as I can!
We will help you, Debra said, forestalling the outraged cries. Just please help us so that when our usefulness starts to expire, we can be saved!
Of course, the commander said. As promised.
I dropped from the window, having heard as much as I needed or could stomach. Lets go, I said to the man keeping watch. We slipped around the town and into the ocean, swimming to the ship to avoid any potential trap on the shore.
We left without 16 people.
Having eavesdropped on the conversation between the deserters and local guard who I now had no doubt were in contact with a broader network I saw no reason to stick around for the hour Id promised. Thered be no one coming.
Still angry at Burdette, I sent him to work below decks while I gave the orders for preparing to sail. Hed had a proper muster waiting for when I ca aboard, and was doing a decent job looking penitent for his mistakes, but his mistakes were things that wouldnt just be forgiven even on a rchant ship, much less my ship!
If those pursuing us were able to break the deserters curse if they deigned to try than this port visit will have cost the service of those people. If they were not able to be freed and they couldnt return the ship in the hours that remained those 16 would be dead, killed by the curse that tied them to the ship.
The crew knew that we were leaving people behind. They were no doubt wondering whether it would have been better to make a break for it too. Wouldnt that have been sothing? Davy Jones lieutenant caught when his crew deserted him en masse, leaving him high and dry?
Captain, Rhistel said. I heard sothing that may be of interest to us at so point
Not now. I snapped. I wouldnt mind sitting down to chat with the elf but he really should know better than to introduce an irrelevant topic when we were setting sail. The Deaths Consort could strike a shoal as easily as another ship.
When we were away, I could feel indicators towards each of my lost crewn. I couldnt feel anything of the sort earlier. It seed that the further I got from them, the more distinctive the indicators beca. Right now they were all in a clump vaguely that direction, and only my knowledge they were on the island let say with confidence exactly where.
Set your course 030, I instructed the helmsman, turning northwards around the island. A minute later I cursed and was forced to surface by 40 feet to avoid a reef. I ordered Arnnaith to retrieve my charts from my cabin, as I couldnt rember the local waters well enough to take the risk navigating blind. I wasnt happy with what I saw: the Broken Isles were known for chaotic seismic activity, ground breaking and shifting regularly with new islands forming in magnificent eruptions. These charts were out of date, but even they indicated large shallows between islands and reef growths making channels dangerous unless they were broken up.
I guided the ship to a depth just below the surface, the crows nest nearly peeking into the troughs of the waves. Then I left standing orders with the helmsman to have reef yelled to if anything ca up that we risked a collision with due to depth. As the only person who could alter the depth of the ship, Id do so imdiately for the surface with that ssage.
I went to my cabin, and sent Arnnaith to bring Burdette. When the forr Captain entered, it was with his hands behind his back and his shoulders squared.
That will be all, Arnnaith. I said. The half elf shot dirty looks at the first mate while he closed the door behind him. Well Burdette, I said quietly. Tell what in the forsaken depths happened on that island.
It was my mistake, sir. Burdette said. The town had grown larger than I thought since I last saw it, I should have called off the whole thing, but I feared what that might an for the crew! They were already in town you see, and to deny them then it might have driven them all away.
And so with this fear of rebellion so freshly in your mind, you authorized a splinter group to go off alone?
It was Debra, Captain! We both knew and trusted her, as if Burdette ever trusted any of the forr slaves. Their group just wanted to visit the brothels on the pier, that was all! Why should I deny them that?
It was Debra, I said. And Debra the forr consort was going to lead the rest of them out whoring. Is that what youre telling ?
Burdettes mouth opened silently at first. When he found the words, they were quieter, less sure. Theres no accounting for taste? I recall she was very successful as a consort when she still had the trade
I kicked over my chair and cursed the man. Theyre as good as dead now! Dead! Do you hear ? Because theres no way theyre getting back to the ship before their ti runs out. And whats more, until their ti runs out, they can point straight at us for all our pursuers!
Burdettes face lightened a shade at that news, but what he said was Are you sure they cant be freed?
A nasty chill stuck to my spine. Are you curious, Mr. Burdette? I asked, my tone soft once again. Holding out for your own chances to break for it?
He swallowed. Im in it for the seamanship levels, he said. I know what I get if I stick with you.
And are you content with that? I asked, no longer sure if my hook truly had him. Would you sail with for eternity if I guaranteed you a hundred levels? Or does your pride demand you sail under your own flag?
His jaw clenched. His Adams apple bobbed as he worked his throat in an attempt to swallow and find the right words. You get past even level 30 in seamanship, he said hoarsely. And Ill swallow my pride enough to work for an elf, you mark .
I sighed, suddenly incredibly tired. Get out.
Captain, allow to say that Im truly
GET OUT! I yelled, sending him flying against my cabin door with a water push. The man scrambled to unlatch it and flew through, closing it behind him faster than hed opened it. Weary, I collapsed to my bunk. When was the last ti Id slept soundly? It seed like so much had happened since then; now with the promise of pursuit sure to co with the rays of dawn as ships tried to utilize their new homing-beacon hostages to point towards .
I pitied Debra and the others. Im sure theyd try to study their curse, but I didnt believe for a minute that my enemies would surrender any ti that the deserters could be pointing at .
Without even taking my boots off, I closed my eyes for just a few monts.
REEF! Ca the shout at my cabin door. Bolting awake, I imdiately began surfacing the ship. A mont passed. Two. Three. All quiet. Then a bump and a scrape along the hull as we hit it at an angle and dragged across it. Then we were above the waves, greeting the pre-dawn morning.
Scrambling out of my cabin, I gave the order to have Abner check the damage even as Arnnaith fell into my shadow. Burdette was at the bow cursing, but though he saw he didnt approach. It was a bad move to have a first mate too afraid to approach his Captain, but what I really wanted to do was have him lashed with Promise of Misery, and that would be even worse for the crew.
Get Varinya in the crows nest, I ordered. Tell us what her eyes can see on the horizon.
I went to the quarterdeck and looked behind us not seeing any visible sign of what wed struck but my seamanship abilities highlighting movents in the water around a large reef. The water depth here wasnt anything to speak of either, diving back down wouldnt benefit us much because it wouldnt be long before we had to surface again. We were making our way between two large islands, and there were more if smaller ones on the horizon. That would be even worse for diving.
When Id looked at this chart before, Id known we would have to sail on the surface for parts of it. That was before Id realized how much sailing below the waves frustrated my enemies. I had no doubt they had ans of detecting us if I stayed here too long, especially since they already had an idea where to look.
Thinking of my crewn, I was able to feel their indicators. They werent all on the island anymore. They werent even in the sa place anymore. In fact
Sails on the horizon! Varinya yelled from the crows nest. Three, and at least two have Antarus colors. One is real big!
Those werent the only ships. Judging by the indicators of my crewn, they had ships sailing around the islands we were passing through, trying to cut us off. This was a coordinated attack too coordinated and large scale for the Broken Isles to muster so quickly.
Climbing the rigging to the royals gave nearly as good a view as Varinya, and even if it was too far to analyze the ships I was able to recognize two of them through my spyglass.
The Erald and the Athair. No sooner had I heard about their Captains from Hali than they were right on my tail.
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