Sometimes, despite your best planning...

[Baron Sir Katzu the Farquestor]

((OOC: ...the dungeon wins.))

Katzu observed the bowline of Farquestor with his usual mix of interest and disinterest. It had been some time since he'd put out to sea, and his legs had gotten too accustomed to life on land.

"My lord," Hiranobu began, "Are you sure this is wise? The Kami do not favor ship travel this far into the season. Surely Susano-o will not favor this voyage. You are formidable and have tackled many Oni and minor Kami, but this close to the sea it is unwise to challenge Susano-o..." Well into his 80's, Hiranobu had survived many wars, and many of Katzu's misadventures battling gods and daemons. Katzu valued his experience and wisdom, but often felt his fear of the Kami after all he had experienced to be a bit foolhearty.

"Don't worry, Hiranobu. Susano-o-Kami and I have a special kinship. We both love the water, and we are both tricksters. I'm just going out for a few days to keep my legs and constitution fit. If Susano-o-Kami tries anything, my desire to protect our people will draw the love of Hachiman, and I'll let brothers do what brothers do." As Katzu went up the gangplank, he turned and smiled, "Just keep the Red Hand from murdering each other!"

As Katzu boarded the ship, faint flecks of ocean spray could be seen in Hiranobu's eyes. "Special kinship, Katzushima-san? Oh this will be fun playing with you... Let the games begin."

[Baron Sir Katzu the Farquestor]

The spray of the sea awoke in the old Monk memories he hadn't remembered in quite some time. Memories of plying the sea lanes with Sir Feral Lynn Hammersong, known among the navies of the world as 'The Fink.' This time, however he was not passenger or crewman but instead master and commander of the vessal. Looking over the railings he saw the endless seas of Amtgardia and for a moment lost himself in their infinite magesty and mystery.

"Sail ho!" came the call from the crow's nest "Neverwinterese flag! Merchanter by the looks of 'er! Heavy-laden, M'Lord; her waterline's near-touching the deck!"

Katzu glanced around the crew. Their eyes were wide and their purses empty for being so long on land. Most of these men he had provided a steady income as his security force, but he knew they had taken an extreme dip in pay to do so.

"First Mate and Quartermaster with me. Raise the Wetlands flag, lads." The order went to raise the Wetlands jack as Katzu and his two senior officers went to his stateroom.

The stateroom had been set for dinner, 'White light was it nearly seven bells already?' Katzu thought as the other two stood behind their usual chairs and waited for Katzu to sit, as was naval and Japanese custom. Katzu sat and they followed.

"Gentlemen," Katzu began. "Many of you were part of my old crew, but more than a few were new additions after I returned to Crimson Moon. We started as a Pirate crew, and the looks I'm seeing out there..."

"...We saw it, too, M'Lord. You are concerned they'll see your crest and it get back to Neverwinter. Precipitate a war." As always, his First Mate understood his mind. Katzu noded and the First Mate let through an envigorated smile. "Then our course is obvious, M'Lord. No quarter."

"No Quarter," Added the Quartermaster.

Katzu sighed, then nodded again. "No Quarter."

The three stood and the other took flanking positions to Katzu as he left the stateroom and assumed the helm on the aft castle.

"Lads and lasses, brethren of the court, hear me now!" He noticed their ears perk up when he called them Brethren, and he continued. "We've forgotten the call of the sea; we have forgotten ourselves! As your Lord it was my job to see you properly taken care of, and in that I failed." Loud protests of 'NO' roared up from the crew, but Katzu raised and hand and they fell silent.

Running over to the side rail, he sprung onto it like a cat, betraying the agility his overweight frame still had hidden in it. "Pirates we be, and Pirates aren't pirates without a hold full of gold, a flagon o'rum down yer gullet, and a busty wench at yer side, and that's what I now aim to give ye! That yonder Neverwinterese galleon be ripe fer the takin', and I mean to take 'er! Are ya with me, Brethren!"

A rousing "AYE!" thundered from the crew, bow to stern, and Katzu smiled, feeling more alive than any time in years, maybe even as far back as his flight for his life from the Daimyo's Samurai.

"BOSUN! BEAT TO QUARTERS! SIGNALMAN! HOIST THE COLORS!!!!!!"

As the yelled order of "BEAT TO QUARTERS!" echoed from man to man through the ship, the Wetlands flag dropped faster than lightning, replaced by the black flag bearing a white skull and crossbones. Panic and screaming erupted on the Neverwinterese ship as they scrambled to get fit for engagement, and a roar met their terror in response.

Jumping back to the quarterdeck, Katzu was greeted by the Gunner's mate with several individuals with sacks over their heads and chained at the wrists. "M'Lord, we found these stowaways on board. Shall we use 'em for fightin' or fer food?" With that the Gunner's mate pulled off the sack of one of the stowaways, revealing...


((OOC: First person to reply gets it!))

[Lord Master Godric Greywolf]

"Get this gods forsaken sack off my head or I'll be eating my morning oats from your skull!" Godric Greywolf yelled and thrashed around trying to get free. "And I'm getting very hungry!." Then godric hears the mouse around him

[Baron Sir Katzu the Farquestor]

Katzu smirked, "Well happy birthday, Murica! Its Godric of the Red Hand. How've ye bee...." He was cut short as a canon from the Neverwinterese merchanter fired a 'keep away' shot across the bow of Farquestor. Katzu looked visibly annoyed.

"Godric, we'll talk later. Ye be press-ganged into the crew o' the Farquestor. Grab that bow near the mainmast and give me some harrassing fire on their deck! STARBOARD CANNONS, CHAIN SHOT AND CANISTER! FIRE!" As the order was echoed to the fire decks below, Katzu looked at the Gunner's mate and said, "Pressgang these dogs into the powder magazine! They'll ready charges fer our canons or be loaded into 'em!"

Katzu barely heard the sound of the mate saying "Aye, sir!" before he was knocked off his feet and his ears rang with the tell-tale noise of a shell detonating near him. Thrown nearly off his ship, Katzu managed to summon the will to Teleport himself onto the aft deck just before the sea claimed him. Holding his painful leg wound and calling on the healing power of water, Katzu began to reknit his wounds just as his gun decks opened fire, chain shot snapping their masts as his ship bore ominously closer to the low-riding merchantman.

"SAILING MASTER!" Katzu yelled over the noise of the cannon volleys, "THE GUNNERS DID THEIR JOB! BRING US HARD INTO THEM! CALL GUNNERS TO MAN THE SWIVELS!" As he went back to healing, he saw the ship list and turn to bear on the merchanter. Then, over the din, he heard what he was really concerned about...

From across the water, he heard, "FARQUESTOR! I DISPEL THAT MAGIC, I DISPEL THAT MAGIC, I DISPEL THAT MAGIC, I DISPEL THAT MAGIC, I DISPEL THAT MAGIC, FRONT! FARQUESTOR! I DISPEL THAT MAGIC, I DISPEL THAT MAGIC, I DISPEL THAT MAGIC, I DISPEL THAT MAGIC, I DISPEL THAT MAGIC, MIDSHIPS! FARQUESTOR! I DISPEL THAT MAGIC, I DISPEL THAT MAGIC, I DISPEL THAT MAGIC, I DISPEL THAT MAGIC, I DISPEL THAT MAGIC, AFT!"

'Well bugger all,' thought Katzu, 'Time to step up the game...'

((OOC: Godric, do some Legolas s**t! It'd be cool if we had more stow-aways, right?!?))

[Ambellina Farseer]

From behind an itchy veil of a stinking burlap sack, the irritated voice of a woman roared out, "UNBIND MY HANDS AND LET ME FIGHT!"

At that, Ambellina's hands were set free. She ripped the sour-smelling burlap sack from her head and she rushed below deck to fetch her own weapons. The weight of her own steel in her hands brought to her as much blood-lust as comfort. She burst back onto the deck and readied herself to board the Neverwinterese ship. She glanced about to take inventory of her new comrades, as many of the newer faces could otherwise be mistaken for enemies in the heat of the impending battle. She and Godric locked eyes and nodded at each other. She scanned the faces for the rest of their brothers of the Red Hand, but saw none. 'They must have also been unbound and are retrieving weapons,' she thought.

Ambellina took a deep breath and smiled as their ship drew close enough for her to see the terrified faces of the crew on the other ship.

"It's time, boys!"

[Baron Sir Katzu the Farquestor]

Finally fully healed, Katzu stood as he saw about a dozen gunners rush from below decks carrying small canons mounted to metal poles that sank neatly into pocketed holes on the quarterdeck. As the sailing master neared the ship, the first six gunners emplaced and fired, a spray of rifle shot and fire spewing from each one and shredding the crew and port side of the hull. As they withdrew, the next six took position and emplaced their swivel guns. It was time.

Running down to the quarter deck, Katzu quickly scanned the group. The First Mate was dead in the shell detonation, and his Master Gunner was co-ordinating the deck clearance. Katzu could only guess at the location of the Quartmaster, but knowing he was a second or third son of some Goldenvale noble it didn't surprise him if he'd later find him having taken a splinter and passed out somewhere. Just as he was about to give up hope he spotted Ambellina, yet another Red Hand refugee who he guessed had stowed away while playing in one of Fitz's hair-brained idea of an 'adventure.'

Taking to the railings and drawing his rapier, Katzu shouted, "LAUNCH THE GRAPNELS AND REPEL ANY DOGS WHAT THINK TO BOARD THE SHIP! AFT PARTY ON ME, FOREWARD PARTY ON THE LASS AMBELLINA! FOR FREEDOM! FOR PLUNDER! AND FOR THE PRIZE!"

At that the gunners canister shot the deck one last time to make the landing clear as Katzu's party threw hooks into their topsails and swung over to the back half of the ship, where combat began in earnest.

Short bow fire hit the initial crew over the rail, but Katzu knew better and had made sure all of his boarders were armored enough to take small bow fire on the assault. As for Katzu, such contrivances as armor were smart, but uneccesary, an arrow meant for him bounced harmlessly away off his sword, and another he merely swatted out of mid-air as he climbed the stairs to the aft castle, ducking a riotous sword swing from the Neverwinterese navigator. Another parry, a quick roll and a deep slice to the navigator's back and Katzu was alone on the aft-deck.

Surveying the battle on a ship was so much different from a field engagement, but there were still things to do. Calling up his Wizard's training, he sent a telepathic message to Ambellina, 'We need the anchor dropped so they don't pull any foolishness, then work your way down and secure the gun deck so they can't fire at our waterline and sink us.' As his spell took off, Katzu noticed a group of merchanters coming up from below on hit side fo the ship. Pulling from the Wheel of Fire, Katzu launched a ball of searing flame at them, bouncing off the steps and burning every one of them. Climbing and jumping over the aft castle, Katzu signalled his men down below to secure the powder magazine and the guest quarters for hostages.

'Now where was that blasted Captain...'

[Lord Master Godric Greywolf]

As Godric seen Ambellina, he started to give covering fire for her and some of the other crew. Then when one of the other ship's crewmen shot an arrow at him and grazed his shoulder. He could feel the blood trickle down but it wasn't anything serious. "if that is thee best you can shoot,then yall are in trouble!" Godric yelled to the other ship. Then he knocked two arrows and shot at ambellina. The arrows went passed each side of her head and took out two men behind her that were gunning for her

[Ambellina Farseer]

((OOC: THAT'S that Legolas sh*t right there!))

Ambellina glanced over her right shoulder and nodded the the crew behind her, then turned and did the same on her left. She held up her sword and yelled "WE ROLL DEEP!" Immediately, from somewhere behind her, she heard the echoed Red Hand battle cry "DEEP AS HELL!" and she knew her back was well guarded. With the new confidence she felt well up in her heart, she charged forward, felling enemy after enemy, letting none of the Neverwinterese ship's crew slip by unwounded. She left any wounded to her own crew mates to finish off. She plunged forward through the shrinking crew of the Neverwinterese ship, seeking her brother and comrade, Katzu. She knew he would likely be trying to do something potentially dangerous. As she stopped in what felt like a lull in the battle to scan the deck, she felt an arrow whiz through her tousled hair. She looked in the direction from which the arrow came, and saw Godric standing at his post, smiling and holding naught but his bow. He had just loosed an arrow. She quickly turned and, to her horror, a man lay at her feet, an arrow through his eye. She noticed that some of her hair was stuck in the arrow's fletching. In the midst of the commotion, she'd not heard this man approaching her. She turned back to Godric and gave him an appreciative wave and nod. She turned back to her immediate surroundings and found her target. She burst through the new wave of armed merchants and ran toward the starboard rail and loosed the anchor. She'd gotten Katzu's message just in time, for as the anchor fell, she turned and saw someone at the helm, attempting to turn the Neverwinterese ship away from the Farquestor. Just as the ship began to turn, the anchor struck the bottom of the Gulf and held fast. The ship jerked to a halt and staggered many on board. Ambellina took the opportunity to make for the helm and slay the man that attempted to turn the ship.
As she lopped off one of his arms, she held her sword to his chest and said calmly, "You'll not be doing that again," only to lop off his other arm.
She left the man there, bloody and wishing he'd stayed home instead of venturing out on this mercantile vessel.

[Lord Master Godric Greywolf]

As Godric sees ambellina moving towards the wheel of the ship, he notices that the enemies were getting more and more spars. maybye because most of them were dead with missing limbs or an arrow in them. So Godric jumps onto the Neverwinterese ship and grabs two cutlasses from a dead sailor and starts to go below deck "There has to be sum Rum or grog on this damn ship." as he is about to go below deck, he notices that Ambellina is going for the captain's quarters. "There should be some Good quality rum in there" and so he heads towards ambellina. When he gets up to her he yells "Duck!" and he throws himself at her. she ducks and Godric spears the guy behind her. They wrestle around for a moment then Godric gets up and looks at the dead sailor with his knife in his throat and says "Happy Berthday Merica" Then opens the door for Abellina and says with a smile " Ladies first"

[Ambellina Farseer]

Ambellina burst into a fit of laughter at the shenanigans of her brother at arms. After a moment, she feigned a curtsy and a lighthearted, "Why thank you, sir." She nearly tumbled as she bowed from the rock of the ship and the giddiness that possessed her.
Suddenly, feeling the spark of a thought she was certain was not her own, she righted herself and frantically scanned the deck. Godric, seeing the anxiety in her eyes, quickly comes to attention and demands "What is it? What is the matter?!"
Ambellina stops, her eyes fixed on a door, and though she knew not what she would see behind it, she knew they had to hurry. "Katzu," she nearly whispered, and immediately Godric and Ambellina launched forward, shoulder to shoulder, to aid their friend and brother...

[Baron Sir Katzu the Farquestor]

For an old man, Katzu was unusually spry. That being said, he had never been considered a swordsman of any real skill. His magics nearly exhausted, he had confronted the captain in his own quarters as he was bundling up a load of treasure, perhaps to escape. As the Neverwinterese captain heard Katzu he spun, steel-drawn, and eased into first stance; a classicly-trained fencer.

"You much be the Farquestor. I smelled your stench a league off."

"I'm Farquestor, but judging by how easily my ship is overrunning yours, I'd say your sense of smell is better than your captaincy." Quickly the enemy launched three testing shots at Katzu, which he parried with a few quick flicks of his wrist. The Captain's brow furrowed a bit, and he shifted to third stance in an attempt to feign weakness. Had Katzu not taught the trick to several of his students before, he'd have bought it, too.

"So you mean to take my ship I take it."

Katzu smirked and settled into first stance, "No, mate. I've already TAKEN your ship. Dueling you for command is just... Etiquette. I could just disarm you and lock you in the room until I'm ready to scuttle this little boat, but that seems a bit... beneath me."

Under his feet, Katzu heard the muffled scream of a gunnery master yelling "FIRE ALL!" The captain smirked as Katzu realized Ambellina and her crew didn't go below and stop the gunners after they handled the anchor.

Canon fire caused the merchantman to rock from the recoil as a dozen heavy-pounders ripped into the no longer magically-armored hull of Farquestor, blowing huge holes in her sides as she started to take on water. Below decks he heard the gunners yell, "RELOAD AND FIRE AT WILL!" As Katzu stopped to listen, the captain took the advantage and drove his rapier deep into Katzu's chest.

Katzu hissed from the pain and involuntarily dropped his blade. His opponent smirked as Katzu sneered at him. He had one spell left, and he was going to make it count. Cupping both hands, he slapped both of the captain's ears at the same time, rupturing his ear drums. As he staggered back, Katzu drew his enemy's sword from his own chest and stabbing the enemy captain. Finally, and just to make sure he got his point across, Katzu summoned Fire and Air and smirked, "White Light go with you in the dark places you will walk." Then, just as Ambellina and Godric entered the cabin, lightning crackled from a dying Katzu's hands and arced across to the captain's sword that was functioning like a lightning rod so that no spare bit of power was wasted.

As the charred and smoking body of the Neverwinterese captain fell to the floor, Katzu likewise dropped to his knees. Dragging himself to the body, Katzu withdrew the enemy captain's sword.

"Tough old bastard," Katzu said, and then darkness overtook him.

[Lord Master Godric Greywolf]

"Yes but he didn't have friends like us" godric says as he lifts katzu on to the captain's bed and heals him. "Lets just hope the take is worth all this". Godric then finished healing katzu andstarts looking around. Then looks at the captain and searches him for loot. Find a hefty bag of gold and jewels on the captain and says "well so far so food

[Lord Master Godric Greywolf]

Then godric looks at ambellina and says"I think we should get down below and take or those gunners before they sink our ride home." Then as he was looking around the room he said,"hey, maybe we can take this ship back to homer port and sell the booty and keep the ship"

[Ambellina Farseer]

Ambellina did not move. She did not speak. She stood over Katzu's body. Watching. Waiting.
When Katzu's eyes opened and a victorious grin spread across his face, Ambellina's open palm met Katzu's cheek with a SMACK. Before Katzu could frame the words to respond, Ambellina scolded him firmly.
"If you EVER decide to chase and kill the captain of another vessel, you bring another man with you! What would have happened had Godric and I not been nearby?! Chunko is not on board either ship. Are we to cart your lifeless body back to port in the hold?! I'll not have it. Now, while Godric and I go TOGETHER and take care of other business, why don't you collect the valuables from the captain's quarters and pile them on the table? There's a good lad. Behave now."
As Katzu attempted to speak, Godric and Ambellina both turned on their heels and, by the time they reached the main deck, were at a full run. They knew they must get below deck and take out the gunners.
As they both looked for doors that would bring them below deck, Ambellina felt the strange and now familiar prickling feeling in the front of her mind of a thought that was not her own. She knew then exactly where to go. In an instant, she nearly wished that Katzu would see fit to send these messages to others, as well.
Before she was aware of what was happening, her feet had brought her to a determined sprint.
"This way!" She yelled over her shoulder to Godric. When he turned, he saw her, half the deck away, aiming straight for the half-open door in on the port side of the deck. He burst into a full run, charging faster than Ambellina had ever seen him move before.
The bloodlust and victory that hung in the air was nearly tangible as Godric and Ambellina reached the door. The sounds of shouted commands and curses bellowed up the stairs and out the door as if the voices alone were their own army. The two exchanged excited nods and took the stairs together, both knowing the plan without ever speaking a word.

[Vlad na Scrath]

As Ambillina and Godric reached the bottom of the stair, they saw a mass of the Neverwinterese's men turn to them. Just then A hole opened to the sky a Vlad came down though to new skylight. "Sorry I'm late to the party, had to eat my fill." With fire burning in the red of his eyes and a smirk that was never good he looked at his comrades, laughed and said, "Shall we?".

Turning to the horde that had already drawn their weapons and rushed forward at the three, carelessly and foolishly having faith in their numbers, Vald grabbed what appeared to be a knife with a rather large blade from his back, but with a flick of his wrist it extended to a polearm, he was ready.

The three began making quick work of the forward line like a butcher to a lamb. With blood flying through the air and bodies piling up, it seemed as though the fight was nearly over before it had begun. From the other side of the gundeck three quite large figures stood and began a slow precession past the bodies of the fallen to join the battle. Vlad looked at Godric and Ambillina, who by this time were starting to show their boredom, "It looks like the appetizer is over, ready for the main course?"

[Baron Sir Katzu the Farquestor]

After Ambellina and Godric sped off, Katzu grumbled under his breath, "...collect the valuables... pile them on the table... good lad... Behave..."

'Balls on that,' he thought.

Grabbing the Captain's sword, Katzu stormed through the deck back to the quarterdeck, holding it aloft as he moved. Where he walked the fighting stopped. Godric and Ambellina were good fighters, but know nothing when it came to matters of naval tradition. The Sword was the ship, whether it was by will of the crew or the crown mattered not. Who held it held the ship; its Master and Commander.

Word passed through the ship to stand down and yield arms; the ship had been taken, and nobody would be ready to die if the Captain had already fallen in battle.

As he neared the aft castle, sword still aloft, both crews on the top deck stopped fighting and turned to look at him.

"Bend ear, ye scabberous dogs! I be Katzu the Farquestor, and the ship be mine by right of blood. Where be ye quartermaster?"

A voice cried out "He died in the first boarding, Cap'n!"

"Well as yer Captain and Quartermaster be slain, I claim control of this lubberly wreck, and plan to keep to the code of the sea. Any what oppose say so now!" With no noise from the deck, Katzu nodded. "Very well, Farquestor Crew to port, Merchanters to starboard! Those what want to sign articles stand before the mast!" Two groups of people formed up, and about six stragglers stood before the remnants of the mainmast; naval tradition for a desire to join the crew of the conquering ship.

Looking around, he saw that his First Mate and Quartermaster had likewise died in the assault. Grabbing one of the younger members of Farquestor, Katzu said, "Go get the Red Hand. Tell 'em the fighting's over. If they refuse, tell 'em I have no qualms with sinking this ship with them aboard..."

[Baron Sir Katzu the Farquestor]

Katzu watched as the merchanter's crew was disarmed and they hurried the cargo and plunder aboard. The merchanter's carpenter was enlisted for a cut of the booty to aid Farquestor's carpenter and druids in getting her sea-worthy again. During the three-day patch job, Katzu had ordered that any Red Hand unwilling to sign the ship's articles be held in the brig until they returned to shore. Finally, with no further business, Katzu and crew disembarked with much less fanfare than they boarded with.

'White Light go with them,' thought Katzu, 'the unlucky bastards. All alone and adrift on the open sea with a week-long job of refitting their spare mast to replace the main Farquestor had snapped.'

As Katzu returned to the con, he looked down to the deck and said "Bring up those three ingrates from the Red Hand! Ambellina, Godric, and Vlad. I'll have words with 'em in my quarters. And off with the hand of any crewman what lays hand nor paw on the female!"

As the orders were passed down, Katzu went into his quarters to prepare for his three little troublemakers. They were good at what they did, but having a woman, a vampire, and Godric aboard (especially the woman) meant no good could come of this trip.

[Lord Master Godric Greywolf]

As Godric read the articles, he agreed with most of it. So he signed the article and started helping mend the Farquestor. His training and skills as a druid helped get the ship repaired quickly. There were a time or two when he caught a few of the crew staring at Ambellina when she wasn't looking. Even in the fall The Gulf of amtgardia is hot. so most of the workers were shirtless. Ambellina was close to near that as she helped repair the ship and being beautifully busty didn't help keep the men from staring. But a few death threats from Godric and most of the eyes were kept down. ((OOC not trying to be rude or offensive just complementary Ambellina))

So as Godric reached the captain's quarters of the farquestor he began to look around at the sea. Something did not feel right. He knocked on the door and was told to come in. As Godric watched Katzu at the head of the table a sighted sum rum. Godric went and poured himself a glass and sat down at the table. " Katzu i would like to discuss the future of the merchant ship. I believe that we could use it to haul in more supplies and bounty than just a single ship. Or we could put it to use under the pretense of the merchant ship but really use it to smuggle goods into and out of Crimson moon. What are your thoughts on this sir?"

[Ambellina Farseer]

Ambellina next entered Katzu's quarters. As she entered, Godric and Katzu both rose and nodded to her. Ambellina laughed and asked them both politely to sit and make no such formalities. They had both been her brothers at arms. There was no need for those kinds of gestures.
Ambellina began. "I understand I am a troublemaker, sir? If my actions have offended my captain, please accept my humblest apologies. I meant to start no trouble."
Godric took another drink of rum and began to speak but Katzu raised a hand in a command for silence. Godric took another drink of rum, his eyes fixed on the table in front of him.
Ambellina stood silently behind a chair opposite Godric, hands folded behind her back.
"We will wait for your cohort," Katzu said. "Ambellina, please, sit," he commanded politely.
Ambellina took her seat and folded her hands in her lap. She stared at the door, waiting impatiently for Vlad. She had seen him but moments ago. Where in the name of the White Light had he gone off to?!
So the three sat in ear-shattering silence and waited...

[Vlad na Scrath]

An apparently unneeded knock was heard by the three just a Vlad barged into the room. "Katzu, really? You want us to sign these articles, we have shed blood together and have been through more than most brothers! But ya know if i need to prove myself to you then so be it!" ,Vlad said as he tossed a paper sheet folded into a pair of foils with a lower bales. "Anyway what's next Captain?"

[Baron Sir Katzu the Farquestor]

"Brothers in arms is one thing," Katzu started, "but out here and on the account? That's quite something else. Most of these lads left port to get away from the good old boy networks and the politics. Out here... Well out here democracy reigns supreme, cept in time of battle." Gesturing to the chairs, Katzu said, "Sit. We have things to discuss."

As they all took their seats, Katzu stretched his neck and looked out of the window. A storm was brewing; that much was certain, but the color of the clouds... No matter; if he was needed he'd hear bells.

"On board my ship you obey my command, even if it makes no sense or you don't like it. Its what the articles are for. I have no doubt Ambellina's tough enough, but it wouldn't be a thing for these Scallywags and Old Salts to slit your throat (pointing at Godric,) stake you (pointing at Vlad,) then the entire crew take turns with her, and its those same articles that keep her safe, so be mindful of that.

"Now, Godric's talking about using the merchanter, which I'm gonna say no to. They don't want to go on the account so I'm not gonna press 'em. The sea's too harsh a mistress to force slaves to haul canvas and pull anchor, so we let them limp back to Neverwinter with tales of how they survived. Besides, aren't the Red Hand the good guys? When does Piracy jive with the charter?"

Looking at Vlad, Katzu pointed and - very matter of factly - said, "Don't eat my crew. Do it and I'll maroon ya where there's naught but you and sea turtles for a hundred nautical miles."

"And as for you," Katzu said, shifting his focus to Ambellina, "You look like s**t, but your top is stunning. Ye might not want to flash those puppies around too much; not sure how long we'll be out here and after a time, the lads get lonely. If the crew quarters become uncomfortable or unwelcoming, ye can come room in here with me." Gesturing around probably the most spacious room on the ship that wasn't the hold, Katzu said, "I think I have the room."

Grabbing the bottle of rum, Katzu said, "Now I plan to keep us at sea a few more weeks, but there's a place I'm bound for, and if I'm right we should be rich beyond our dreams when were done. Trust me."

[Ambellina Farseer]

((OOC, I belly-laughed at that.))
Ambellina looked down at her simple and very dirty garb. Nothing revealing, and nothing too tightly fitted... She had made sure of it before boarding the Farquestor back at port. As she pondered why these comments were made to her in addition to the salty looks she was receiving from the crew, a wave of pity washed over her.
'Those poor bastards,' she thought. 'They've not even seen a woman in months, let alone bedded one.'
At that, she decided she'd be finding a new cabin for herself. Even if it was the hold. At least there she could lock a door and sleep in peace, away from the crew's nighttime thoughts and the stenches and sounds that come with them. She wished Fitz hadn't needed to stay behind and mind the tavern and its new employees... She snapped her mind back to the present and narrowed her gaze on Katzu's face.
"Aye, captain. My thanks for the offer. I don't foresee a problem, but I'll be sure to let you know if that changes."
Ambellina took a glass of rum and waited for the others to make their peace with the Captain.

[Vlad na Scrath]

A mighty fine reason that be indeed, sir. I'll serve ship and her captain, what positions are open for people such as us? Valid said as he swigged his drink.

[Lord Master Godric Greywolf]

So Godric takes a few sips of the captains fine rum. Then a thought comes to head. "So we are heading back to port then? Good. I believe it's time to get back and start the plans for the building of Fort Red Hand. I believe that we may have enough in my split to coax the De lokies to have their goblins begin the ground work". Godric then kills the rest of his rum and thanks katzu for his time and advice. As he gets up he asks"is there anything else I should know about or anything I can help with?"

[Baron Sir Katzu the Farquestor]

Katzu did a double-take at Godric. "Did the thunder of the canons make ya deaf, lad? I do believe I said I plan to keep us at sea a few more weeks. But if your in such a hurry..."

Bells. Warning bells. Looking outside, Katzu saw the clouds had become thunderous and black, the wind whipped the ship like a cat-o-tails, and lightning lit the sky like the sun.

Katzu was calm and level-keeled as he'd never been before. "Get out to the rigging. Now."

[Lord Master Godric Greywolf]

Godric gets up and runs through the door, turns towards the deck. He looks up and sees the bow and quiver full of arrows that he left beside the wheel and his belt with 2 swords. He then slings the bow and quiver across his back and puts on the belt with his swords, then climbs to the rigging up to the crows nest. As he is climbing up he looks out across the water and sees some thing moving under the water. when he finally gets to the crow's nest he looks straight down. What he sees takes him aback little. then he yells out " Kraken!!!!!!!" People on the ship start to grab weapons and are awaiting orders. Godric the knocks an arrow and waits for what is to come. he can see that the thing in the water is massive. After a second he decides that maybe he could use a little armor. he then casts the great armor spell stone skin on himself. "Never can be too careful" he says to himself.

[Vlad na Scrath]

Finishing off his drink as Master Godric runs out the door, Vlad smirks and thinks " why is he all upitty? What's the worst it could be?". After turning to grab his bow and blade, he hears what sounds to be the archer yelling something obsurd. " Oh well better go check it out...". Outside on the deck everyone seems to be running like mad men, "You there!!!", Vlad said as he slammed his palm into the chest of a seaman that was running by, "what is the ruckus about!" Hearing the news Vlad looks up to the crows nest and wave at Godric. "AMBILLINA!!! where you at? Its time for some practice!" Vlad yelled as he extended his pole and checked his quiver, readying himself, focusing on the rage he knew he would soon have need of.....

[Ambellina Farseer]

Ambellina and Katzu at once fixed their eyes on the door. The warning bell still sounded. The voices grew louder and more panicked. The two broke their fixed stare and their eyes came to the open bottle of rum on the table before them. They both reached for it, Katzu's hand landing first. He calmly picked the bottle up from the table and poured two half-glasses, offering one to Ambellina. She nodded as she took the glass from him, they toasted to "Adventure and Victory" and gulped the full contents of their glasses. They placidly set the glasses on the table again and rose, both striding toward the door. Ambellina excused herself as she exited the Captain's chambers and hastened below deck.
When she emerged, mere moments later, she was armed and ready for battle. She found Vlad and Katzu in the commotion and posted herself between them. Vlad's eyes were wild with anticipation. Katzu's thoughts were masked by his usual air of apathy...or was that boredom? She gave up the attempt at reading his posture and expression that resembled that of someone with no skill or experience. She glanced up at Godric, and despite the great distance that separated them, she could see the excitement and the fear plainly on his face. Godric stood ready to loose his arrow at the first sign of an attack. Ambellina wondered what her posture and expression said about her...
She was yanked from her thoughts back to the deck of the ship by a spray of water, and what could've been the sound of the sea opening its mouth to swallow a whole fleet of ships. The crew fell silent. Waiting. Ambellina could not see over the rail, but somehow knew that the sea beneath them now bore its teeth. Her grip tightened on her weapons and wished more of the Red Hand was there to fight at her side. She thought of the battered hull of the ship and prayed in the name of the White Light for the ship to stay afloat.
Ambellina heard the frantic voice of a crew mate, "IT IS NEAR TWICE THE FULL LENGTH OF THE FARQUESTOR, CAPTAIN! IT MAKES CIRCLES AROUND US AS IF SEEKING OUT T--,"
"ENOUGH!" Katzu shouted, cutting off the man's speech with words as sharp and as striking as a master's blade. "Make yourself useful. Make yourself ready. Mostly, make yourself silent, boy!" Turning his attentions to the crow's nest, Katzu asked for a more informative report from Godric. "What say you, Godric? Have we still an enemy below us?"

[Lord Master Godric Greywolf]

Godric hears this and he replies, "well it ain't your mama with a plate of cookies! you may want to prepare for the worst because this looks like a kraken who is very very pissed off. " Godric then sees the tentacles moving under the water towards the ship." you may want to armour up, this overgrown squid thingy looks like it just ate a cow and it don't look like it's all hearts and puppies either!"

[Baron Sir Katzu the Farquestor]

Nov 15, 2012 16:11:02 GMT -5 Ambellina Farseer said:

Katzu's thoughts were masked by his usual air of apathy...or was that boredom? She gave up the attempt at reading his posture and expression that resembled that of someone with no skill or experience.

((OOC: This is why Erin always has permission to RP as me; she's spent too long studying me. LOL!))

Katzu listened as Godric reported back. Nodding at the information, he noticed Ambellina looking at him for instruction. "Druids below. The hull CAN NOT FALTER. Use all your skills. Warriors to Harpoons. Any manjack deserting his post had best throw himself to the Kraken and save himself the bother of meeting...."

At that point the ship rocked fitfully as a giant tentacle wrapped itself around the quarterdeck.

Katzu drew his blade and yelled, "ACTION STATIONS! ACTION STATIONS! ITS HIM OR US, LADS! ADVENTURE AND VICTORY!"

The crew returned the roar of "ADVENTURE AND VICTORY!" as they grabbed any sharp blade as the druids ran below decks to start mending and hardening the ship against the massive tenticles trying to latch on and constrict the life from the ship.

Katzu charged the tenticle as the swivel guns aimed and fired at the base and the waters below. His connection to the aether of magic still hadn't come back from the fight, which meant it probably hadn't come back to those who had likewise burned their power in the boarding action. This would be a straight up brawl, and Katzu only hoped his crew would be able to at best scare the beastie off.

And that was at best.