95.

95.

The two-headed sea serpent had interrupted both the setup of the Tempest and my own operations incorporating it to my little fleet. The first problem was taken in hand by Rhistel and Jack as they saw to the proper outfitting with the supplies we had escaped with and made note of the things we’d need to replace.

The second matter required a more personal touch. I’d been able to raise Redmund; despite his limited time onboard the lad had such a connection to the ship – largely my doing I suspected – that my skill was still able to connect to him.

There were few others. Being their final resting place only counted for so much. None of the soldiers who’d perished were options. A half dozen of my old sailing mates were. Of them, I extended my offer to four.

It made me smile to see Virgam’s body assemble. The old hand and I had essentially run the ship together. He was a fine addition to the roster of skilled seamen.

He was also surprisingly amenable to my news about his new curse. Or rather, he was resigned to it. After decades at sea dodging ill luck he seemed to think it was the cost of the trade.

His motivation for staying was to send relatives his earnings. Many among my crew had that stipulation. I’d devalued coin long back and gold was casually traded with cards or other games of chance, yet I encouraged this habit. My arrangement with Antarus would be the first time my crew got the chance to share those earnings.

After I’d raised the additional crew from the Tempest I gave them some time with Drese to process the switch, then let them integrate into the crew as a whole. In the evening, we drew the two ships alongside each other and hosted a big celebration for our new acquisitions.

Those we’d raised from the Raven had admitted they’d struggled to join the broader crew, and it was Jack’s pushing that eventually caused the merge. We wanted to avoid that issue going forward, and Gerald was capable of whipping up an amazing spread with the options from ship stores.

Privately with my officers, I’d gone in depth on the Tempest’s perks.

Last Stand: never give in – no matter what. Active ability: sacrifice vessel integrity for offensive boost.

This skill was right in line with the Raven’s Defiant and Burning Sea perks – make a sacrifice at an opportune moment to cause devastation. It wasn’t lost on me that the hulk’s strengths had come from hoarding and preserving durability while the Tempest’s involved spending it.

Deckplate Promotion: The Captain of this vessel began as a seaman on board. His advancement is an inspiration to all those under him. Gives all crewmembers an attribute bonus of 10.

This was almost the same as the Raven’sattribute bonus perk, but slightly more powerful for two reasons: more attributes granted and they extended to all my crew, all the time – not just while in the ship’s sphere of influence! Most my crew had allocated their points immediately, before we’d even surfaced. They weren’t at an age or development level where they could expect to develop their stats organically.

Escort: This ship sank to the bottom of the sea to fulfill her duty of safe escort. She has risen from the depths to take up the mantle again. Defensive bonus when protecting designated allies.  Takes percentage of damage on behalf of protected ally.

The Escort perk was a nice defensive pairing for all my other offensive ship perks, but still contained the two-edged sword of durability maintenance. When not in battle, repairs to the ship could be worked on to bring durability back up. When we needed an immediate fix, however, that cost XP. Spending XP on repairs was a waste when it could be going into permanent developments instead.

Mentorship: The Captain of this vessel spent long days educating all on the ways of true seamanship. All nautical skill leveling increased by 20%

Of all my perks, this was the one I was most proud of. I’d once had a facsimile of it while on the Death’s Consort. The training we’d done with that buff during the mighty storms had forged the slaves and misfits of my crew into worthy seamen. With this perk they’d progress faster.

Faster development would fulfill my obligations to many of them, where I would then release them from their curse and turn them lose on the world to lead civilian charters in monster hunting or commerce …

If I had a ‘grand plan’ that would be it.

We’d spent an extra day searching for the Tempest and another getting her ready and sleeping off the hangovers, so we were behind the schedule I’d drafted for meeting up with king Jovan.

We made up the time quickly enough.

For all that I’d complained about the Internment, I’d gotten used to her. I’d gotten used to the Raven operating at a fraction of her speed to stay alongside. I’d gotten used to plotting course corrections to account for the extra drift.

Suddenly, we were making faster speed than I could have imagined. Both ships cut loose and we raced! Drills and demonstrations to train up seamanship were one thing, competition was another. The Raven was the objectively faster ship, but that was before skills came into play. I helmed the Tempest and kept the best hands with me to make it closer to fair.  Jack had the lower-leveled crew in his old brigantine and they were reminded that despite their proficiency they were the rawest recruits in sight and the sharp side of Jack’s tongue would cut anyone who dared slack!

We were neck-and-neck most of the day and pulled ahead a few times, but Jack pushed his crew into making the most of the Raven’s advantages and we were usually catching up when dusk came.

We made what was quite possibly the fastest traversal of the Antarus-Andros trade route ever done.  Along the way we paused to cull a pod of Liopleuros – the sea predators that had once taken a crewman of mine no match for my current subordinates. We saw other wildlife but on consulting with Rhistel determined not to kill everything we crossed – not everything was a potent threat to us humanoids and there was something to be said for not chumming the water behind you.

I’d planned to restock at a cache but with our lead time I diverted out of our way to hit a second as well. The gold and silver were safely alone where we’d left it and now acted as ballast until the crew could send it home.

Finally, we came upon my home island. We spied on it from just below the surface, of course. Our approach was from the south-west but the rendezvous point we’d been given was off the northern side of the country. I wanted to take a look at the state of things and we made our way around.

My home elicited barely a twinge of sympathy in my heart. It was in full production mode, the port crammed with a wide assortment of ships, and the town visibly bustling with bodies in the streets. Smoke billowed from the smithies and the shipyard had several new constructions being managed by shipwrights.

“Someone’s got the ants bustling,” Gnar quipped.

“They’ve been working in war mode,” Hali said from my other side in the crows nest, the water around our waists as we spied through looking glasses. “Most of them don’t know it yet, but they’ll be in evacuation mode soon enough.”

“All those people …” I muttered.

“They won’t be evacuating, not unless they try in a fishing boat. They’ll be supporting the upper class in fleeing.”

I snorted. I didn’t carry the same chip on my shoulder towards nobility that I once did, but I still didn’t mind the thought of a little friction between the classes.

When we submerged and scouted out the port’s mouth, Gnar pointed out exactly what we’d expected to find: naval mines. They’d heavily protected the area against submerged threats with weighted-down explosives.

“We still haven’t had to contend with those.” Gnar said. “My idea was that Sadeo could shoot the ones directly ahead of us with the chasers, but this area is thick with them!”

“Don’t worry about those little things. If we ever need to get past them I’ll take care of it.”

“As you say.”

Since we didn’t need to get into the port, we left the mined entrance alone and sailed around the island. We found that while the port was bustling with activity, the less defended hamlets and fishing villages on the coast were abandoned, in a handful of cases they were visibly overrun.

My heart ached at the thought that little boys wouldn’t grow up dipping their toes in the surf anymore. They wouldn’t have that initial exposure to introduce them to the marvels of the endless ocean. It was too dangerous for them. It would be irresponsible to allow it.

On the other hand, the sea was always dangerous, and any who came to her now would have a more real understanding of exactly what that meant.

When we reached the rendezvous point we found a small fleet in an interspaced formation that seemed designed to allow counterattacks from the neighbors of any vessel that found itself facing monsters.

I thought of half a dozen ways I could cause havoc at a glance and I’m sure Gnar and Arnnaith came up with more. I didn’t need to be so antagonistic though. I gave the signal and our ships surfaced.

Antagonizing them wasn’t my goal, but I supported a little intimidation. Any watchstander who saw both the Dark and the Tempest emerge from the water side by side was sure to feel their sphincter tighten.

As a peaceful gesture, the Raven and its nightmare field turned to stay out of range of the armada, incidentally showing a broadside bristling with ballistae. I ordered a white flag to be run up under my normal colors, the blank white a stark contrast to the black field with white skull, the crossed skeletal forearms holding daggers with broken manacles hanging from the wrists.

A half mile from the nearest ship I brought the Tempest to a halt. I held off dropping anchor until I met with whatever representative they sent to confirm all was well and we weren’t going to shoot each other.

The representative was suddenly on board my deck, like a painfully embedded fishhook. I turned and looked right at where they’d teleported on board, thinking they were hidden in stealth. “You again.”

“Geez, that’s a creepy ability!” the petite adventurer said, standing from her cover by one of the longboats and straightening her oversized tricorne. The crew nearby were instantly on edge, but I stood them down.

I’d met this adventurer before. That was … a very bad time. I’d been in the midst of my slippery-slope freefall into villainy while scrambling from Davy Jones. This adventurer had showed up trying to turn me against Jones … unaware that the ancient mariner was paying attention through my eyes to everything she’d said.

I hadn’t just been putting on a show when I’d chased her off. She’d vexed me several times over. I was able to admit that I was entirely in the wrong and she should be an ally now, but something about her bubbly demeanor and exaggerated over-the-top strength still irked me.

“You’ll have to forgive me, but your name slips my mind.”

“You pierced my stats last time we met, can you do it now?”

I couldn’t pierce her stats now, despite having a better grasp of the analyze/observe combination. She must have leveled. Given her confidence I couldn’t see her stats, she must have leveled substantially.

“Still with that odd ‘jumping’ class I see,” I bluffed. I remembered that much.

She blanched for a second before recovering. “Hey now, that’s no fair! What’s my name?” Ohhh, her grin was still unsufferable.

“Imp. Now you’re the representative from king Jovan?”

“It’s Meagan, and yes I am! He’s actually travelling to the coast and should be here day after tomorrow. Can we bring a communications mage by tomorrow so you can talk?”

“Do so. Pass the word there’s to be no interaction my with my second ship, the Dark Raven. It possesses a defensive system I don’t want any potential allies subjected to.”

She glanced at the black-sailed brigantine standing by behind us and muttered under her breath “that’s not ominous or anything.” She recovered and straightened. “Will there be anything else you require?” she asked with the amused tone of someone feigning imperiousness.

“We will stand by for tomorrow’s communication. Tell the armada not to get defensive if we patrol about for sea monsters.”

“Yeah,” she said, dropping the affectation. “That would actually be real appreciated.”

She turned to look back at the nearest ship at the same moment Will Thorpe burst onto the deck from below. Before he could shout ‘wait!’ she’d vanished.

He ran to the last spot she stood and stared at the ship she’d presumably teleported to. He turned to me with a goofy grin forming on his face. “Captain, I’ve got to go see about a girl.”

I huffed. I thought Will was absolutely crazy, but his condition for staying on with me was to level up and sail around until he’d found this Meagan adventurer again. An arrangement was an arrangement.

I stepped forward and clapped him on the shoulder, then released him from my crew. My awareness of him slipped and his curse vanished. He was returned to the same healthy state he’d been in when he joined me way back when – though with substantially higher stats and skills.

He smiled and took a deep breath. “Cap’n … it’s been an honor!”

Then the blasted fool turned and took a running leap, planting a foot on the gunwale to dive overboard!

My water whip lashed around his ankle and yanked him back, bringing him to an uncomfortable landing on the wooden deck rather than the swan dive he’d been attempting.

“Ow! What the … Captain!” He looked at me all aggrieved like I was trying to stand between him and his one true love.

“You half-baked landlubber! That ship is over half a mile away!”

He looked at the distance. “I can swim that, easy!”

I shook my head, imagining him getting eaten halfway there. Then imagining we covered for him, and he managed to swim right up the side of the ship and smooth-talk his way on board, only to be hoisted over dripping like a rat …

“Take the longboat.” I said, gesturing.

He looked at the boat, then to the water, then back to me. “But, it’s the ship’s last one?”

“We’ll replace it with everything else we’re replacing.”

His goofy grin returned. “Thank ya’, Cap’n!”

As he scrambled to his feet I reminded him that he had other possessions on board he was entitled to take with him; such as a change of outfits he’d probably appreciate very shortly. He decided gathering them was worth the five minutes delay.

When he returned topside with his belongings, I called for attention. The crew stamped into orderly rows like the navy men they’d never been. Will’s eyes widened at the sight of everyone gathered there specifically for him.

He was the first of us to leave for his own way – the first who’d signed on with my new vision, anyway. He was going to get a proper sendoff whether he liked it or not!

It helped that he was well liked by everyone. His diverse skills and talents had brought him into contact with nearly every aspect of the ship, and his disarming and genuine personality made and kept friendships. He’d been the one Hali had enlisted on Tralni to pull me from my spiraling depression after losing crew. I would always remember the sight of the little girl in his arms, shyly presenting me with a flower in thanks for saving her town.

He’d had an impact on everyone, and so he went to those who’d made orderly ranks of their own volition for him. He shook one person’s hand and they slipped him a memento. The next removed a cursed dagger and gifted it.

By the time he’d said all his goodbye’s his possessions had more than doubled.  Friends had laughed and helped him carry things to the longboat. He bumped fists with Gnar, who grunted and reminded him to be careful as he didn’t have his cursed resistances anymore.

Then he was before me.

I’d had a coin pouch fetched from the stores below. It was heavy with gold, but dropping it into his hands it didn’t feel like enough. “You’ve been more than I could have asked for in a crewman, Will. I wish the best in your …” I glanced at the Antaran ship. “Pursuits.”

He grinned. Then he proffered his hand, which I shook firmly. “Thank you Captain Seaborn. I appreciate all you’ve done for me, and I’ll gladly tell any who’ll listen that you’re the man to find to learn the ways of the sea!”

He turned, and one last thought pricked my mind. “A moment more!” I fished into my adventurer’s bag. Back when I’d first found the item, it had had a few contents still. One of which was a journal. I’d read it some time back and even made a few notes on things to follow up on, but the item had more value elsewhere.

“This journal belonged to a noble and adventurer long ago. If you’re willing, take it and return it to the house that lost it.”

While I handed it over, I used my Leadership skill to generate a small quest tied to the journal. The XP would be my final gift to him.

He took it, and his eyes lit up. “I got two quests!”

“Two?”

“Yes! Yours, and also a chain quest to uncover the mysteries inside!”

I sighed. “Of course you did.” Will really was born to be a blasted adventurer. Maybe he’d even help them redeem the title … just a little bit.

I lowered the ship to save the trouble of putting the longboat over the side. Then the crew jeered Will as he fumbled about.

“Shoulda leveled your rowing skill!”

“He would’ve if he knew it was keeping him from his lady friend!”

“It’s not too late to swim, Will! It’ll be less embarrassing for ya!”

He returned their mockery with a grin and one-fingered salute. For all his fumbling, he did get the oars set and then he was gone, rowing out to a new chapter of his life.

I whispered some words to Gnar and he nodded.

“Alright, sods! Ya just going to stand there and watch while a shark comes for your friend? I want to see an honor guard! Get on those ballistae! Who’s keeping watch? If the answer’s ‘nobody’ I swear every last one of you will be swimming laps until moonrise tonight!”

While Gnar distracted everyone else from the melancholy feeling of seeing a friend leave, I indulged. This was part of my goal: to train and set my trainees loose on the world. If they were all as competent as Will, a whole new class of mariner would be born.

“Thank you, and good luck.”

Will’s friends aboard the Raven were distraught that he was gone and they’d missed their chance at goodbye. I told them they were welcome to form a sendoff package of their own to pass to him with all the other items that would be changing hands tomorrow. Then I informed Jack that the two ships would do an expanding/contracting circle patrol around the armada. The Tempestwould take the expanding circle, gradually moving away from the fleet, while the Raven would sail several miles out and then return in the same manner. Threats would be engaged, for major threats we would signal each other and tag-team.

It was a good way to stay busy for the evening. It was also a good way to show how helpful we were, as I caught a herd of kelpie lurking on the shore-side of the fleet and watching us tear into them surely improved the morale of the navy folks watching us. Or it scared them. I couldn’t ask which. Hali was amused by my wonderings when I asked what she thought and told me to never change.

Just after dusk Jack signaled us with us with a lantern that a kraken was lurking. We rushed to assist but it seemed to have decent instincts and made itself scarce before we arrived. I would have rather faced off with it than know it was hanging around – kraken weren’t usually considered stalking predators but they were known to play with their food.

We anchored separately, I took right next to the armada so my Domain could see anything coming up on them. Jack stood off to keep the Antaran navy from having to pass wisdom checks or go mad.

Our proactive patrols seemed to earn us a reprieve during the night, and we saw no further incidents until dawn the next day. Then things got weird. The morning was breathtakingly clear up until the first rays of dawn touched the water, then vapor started to come off the surface.

Within an hour the armada was blanketed in fog so thick I couldn’t see the forecastle from the helm. If the navy was trying to make way they’d have been blind.

That didn’t seem so out of proportion, thick swells could blow in quickly so the manner they appeared wasn’t so outlandish. What really made me feel like it was a challenge from the ocean was the fact that I took us below the surface to get a better look about through the seawater.

The fog encircled the armada with a quarter mile buffer. After that it was like there was a swirling wall … and a beautiful clear morning beyond.

I wrote down my observations and suspicions that the fog would move with the ships – at least for a certain time period or distance. I also jotted down some notes on how the navy could manage to sail: mostly by using sound signals like whalers and fishers sometimes did while having the highest leveled Seaman at the prow reading the currents and yelling instructions back to the helmsman. It wouldn’t be safe to do quickly, but they could move blindly like that.

It had been brought up to me that while my tutelage might be a person’s best opportunity to learn the ways of the sea and quickly level their seamanship, most would never take the chance. If they all did I couldn’t manage that many people. What I could do was create a primer of hazards and dangers to expect – something that could be shared and spread by layfolk. I’d set aside a manuscript just for this project and it amazed me how quickly it seemed to fill up.

The sudden fog went up like smoke after roughly 4 hours, at which point a longboat set out to meet us with the promised communications mage, a polite ambassador, and several guards in addition to the oarsmen. (I was used to picking apart things at this point, but the oarsmen were highly leveled and knew their stuff – I even recognized one of them in passing.)

I kept an eye on the communications mage because that was just a made-up title for a specialized air mage, and my father had given me ample demonstration of how dangerous someone like that could be. Nevertheless the man was polite and perfunctory – the perfect military man for relaying messages.

It appeared that king Jovan was on shore and ready to join the fleet; a large contingent of guards would be escorting him from the shore. I had no doubt these were elites, men with combat professions and readied with potions to do battle underwater. My marines were recognized as THE premier combat profession for watery environments, however, and we were ‘invited’ to send a squad to join the escort.

Suspicious peasant me suspected a trap to isolate and kill my squad, but I didn’t need Hali to tell me that this was actually an act of trust and denying it would be a terrible faux-pas. Well, I needed Hali to explain it all to me later, but I did instinctively identify what the right move was. Gnar delegated the mission to Tarball – I wasn’t sure whether it was to give the halfling some real-life practice at squad tactics or because Gnar thought it was amusing and the gregarious little man tweaked expectations for cursed fighters.

I sensed Tarball’s squad as they trekked to the beach, met the king, then marched under his rowboat while he was ferried to his flagship. Without any incident, they returned while the communications mage started listening.

“His majesty would like a word with you and his admirals, Captain Seaborn,” he eventually relayed to me. “They’d like to discuss the next step. You are invited to bring an appropriate bodyguard and Miss Desdemona.”

Author's Note:

What's this? A second posting only a week after the last?  Unheard of!

Hope you all enjoy this chapter and the upcoming weekend!