| Arcadian Vengeance |
| Summary: | A small group from the Zephyr Legion decide to lay a trap for an infamous Pirate. Said pirate bit way more than she could chew. (GM'd by Mercy.) |
| Date: | Friday June 8th. |
| Related: | Arcadian Coup (part of the vale of tears plot) and Blackwater Betty Memoirs. |
| NPCs: | Captain Sir Kory, First Mate Tess, First mate Brune, Blackwater Betty. |
| Players: |
   |
| Central Ocean |
| Water water everywhere, and not a drop to drink. |
| Juin 8th sunset. |
WHEN you've had enough of a person, you end up coming up with an elaborate scheme to get them, including having a trading ship filled (with useless crap) and spreading the rumor that it's got d'Juliano Gold all inside it. Then you send out your best captains to follow the lure, and see if anyone bites. The Admiral herself didn't come on this journey, instead having both Antina d'Juliano and Commodore Hraelfmir both leading this particular setup. White hallers, Pirates, or even those new comers, The Armada is no longer playing games, and the festival is over, thus, it's back to business, with prejudice.
And wouldn't you know, two ships flying a Pirate's flag took the bait, one is a simple sloop, though the other, a frigate, is clearly the Sea Dragon, Blackwater Betty's personal ship, and they are going after the slow moving wide frigate like some vultures, as a flare is shot up in the air for those ships following in its silent wake to come, along with useless crap, marines pour out of the hold of that particular ship as Captain Sir Kory of Arcadia was the captain tasked with being the bait.
The sun slowly drop from the sky as time marches on, and soon guns will ring out over the waves, and yells from both pirate and marine are heard as it's time for the sea Calvary to come in and support their mates.
Remember, dead souls tell no tales, and the depths await those who fear the sea.
Hanging back some distance is the Aqeuorian Descanda, the Typhoon. The medium-large war ship with it's 20 Carroballista and eight 10 lb cannons is running a little light on regular crew for this venture and has loaded up with extra Marines under arms for some serious hunting. A stout wind blows making the water a little choppy but no white caps, brisk under a clear sky. You can't exactly /hide/ a ship of this side so Hraelfmir has held her back, plenty of eyes scanning the sea and keeping tabs on the sails up ahead as they go tacking back and forth across Captain Kory's trail.
As soon as the flare goes up, the other incoming sails identified, Hraelfmir comes on deck and orders begin to be shouted. The proud and noble Typhoon eases out of her tack to take a direct course, spilling out full sail to pick up as much speed as she's able to start closing. "Open th' weapons lockers! Everyone on deck! Hurry up, ye dogs! Prep th' carroballista 'n the cannons. I want chain shot made ready for tae tear out their masts, lads 'n lasses! We do nae want them tae be escape'n us today!" Bare feet and boots thunder over the deck as crew take to the ropes and Marines see to the weapons.
The Typhoon's bow now cuts through the water rising a white cap wave to either side of her. Magnificent white sails gleam against the blue sky and slate colored sea.
Meanwhile the Hurricane, the descanda ship she's served as sailor on for some five to ten years and now finds herself captain of, which is arguably one of the more minor changes in her life as of late. It's a peaceful job trailing the prize ship, until some idiot pirate wannabe takes the obvious bait and she jumps up on deck, shouting orders similliar to the Commodore's as they prepare to engage the enemy.
Dertan stands alongside Antina as she works the ship and crew. He's barely spoken a word since the ship left on this excursion, his attention instead focused primarily on the white flecked blue of the sea as it whips by the bows, the organisation of the crew and the occasional item of interest on the horizon. Right now his attention is very much fixed on the shape of the pirate vessels, his eyes flicking first from one then the other. Occasionally he will glance at the shape of Hraelfmir's ship, watching and learning. He's not dressed to draw attention, although the black leathers are surely somewhat uncomfortable out here beneath the often unfiltered rays of the sun, but the pale length of his longbow and his posture no doubt mark him out from the rest of the crew anyway.
The merchant frigate is a flutter of activity as Marines come out their their crossbows and begin to shoot from both sides, the frigate itself doesn't;t have guns, which makes it an easier target, and all men on board know how to swim if need be. The sea Dragon wastes no time in ramming into the merchant ship, as the sloop comes around the aft of the frigate and looks to see the Typhoon coming. "ALL HANDS TO CANNONS YE SCURVY DOGS!" Is shouted from the captain of the sloop as he mans the wheel and is ready to try and give the sea dragon time to pilfer that precious loot from the merchant frigate. Though the ship is there, there is as of yet, no sign of Blackwater Betty.
Dertan draws an arrow from one of the quivers he's got slung across his shoulders with the familiar hiss of fletching rubbing on fletching. He places the arrow into position and shifts his stance just enough to enable him to both ride out the motions of the waves and hopefully aim together. "Do you have a favored target Captain?"
Antina isn't able to get them within firing range, alas, but she's keeping the ships in her sights and urging the men onwards to close the distance, meanwhile ensuring the multitude of canons and powder are ready and prepared for when the moment comes. For dertan all she offers is that seemingly d'Juliano signature grin. "Fire at will sailor," she murmurs playfully
The wind is good, caught by square sails on three tall masts, with a four mast aft with jibs and other rigged sails standing out the back of the Typhoon. She's a sight to behold with her perfectly crisp black hull accented with a bright, clean white stripe down her sides with bloody red accents. The flag of Aequor snaps in the wind, bold with blue and white.
Men and women are at their stations, working efficiently on deck. Subtle course adjustments are made as necessary to continue the best speed to close on the pirate raiders. Blackwater Betty or no, they have a duty to provide backup for the crew and marines on board Kory's frigate. Hraelfmir moves to the starboard side railing and lifts his spy glass to glean what details he may of the oncoming sloop that's turned to intercept ere he shouts, "Standby starboard cannons 'n carroballista!" Then he lowers the glass and says to his First Mate Brune, "Soon as I give th' sign I want ye's tae cut 45 degrees tae port so we's can try tae broadside her. Then adjust course direct tae keep on for th' Sea Dragon so we's can try tae ram 'n board her. Captain Antina can handle th' sloop, lest someth'n happens we can't close in."
The Commodore's First Mate 'Aye, aye's" and she goes to the man at the wheel, ready to pass on the orders."
"Captain we are taking on water, her volley completely.. c.. cap.. CAPTAIN DOWN, ALL HANDS ABANDON SHIP!" The first mate was going to ask for orders, but he sees his captain shot and killed, right though the eye with a black and white fletched arrrow. The Sloop is now a pile of floating wood, and the powder is close to being ignighted as Pirates jump overboard, though, not to excape, but swim across the sea towards the hurricane, those stuffy arcadians will pay for what they did! Antina now has about twenty five angery pirates scailing the side of her ship.
The sea dragon takes a few shots to it's full, but the chain shot misses it's mark, and in this case, decides to fire back, half of the sea dragon's crew having boarded the Merchant ship as fighting on that deck ensues, the rest of the bloody pirates aim their guns and artilry right at the Typhoon.
Antina , if anything, welcomes the pirates on board her ship! If there's anything she's good at truly, it's swordplay! Unsheathing her sword from it's sheath she leads the charge of her more combat capable sailors while the rest continue to press the assault, her shouting orders never ceasing, wether it is encouragment, orders, or taunting of the enemy.
Dertan leans into his bow, moves it a few degrees and then lets loose a single arrow. His hand immediately goes to claim another arrow from the most inconvenient of his quivers on his back and another arrow is in the air moments later. Theres no doubt he noticed that the captain fell over, since he's picked another target already, but he doesn't even crack a smile at the victory.
The Typhoon turns just a hair later than ideal and some of the shots fired are clear misses, splashing at sea. It isn't that Brune isn't a good First Mate, because she is, but it does take time to get used to working with her, and she with his crew. Hraelfmir himself is yet new to the Descanda and only been sailing her a couple of months, getting a feel for her and his Aequorian crew. Much different from his Four Corners crews he's had before, though better disciplined. "Reload starboard!' Orders are shouted and Hraelfmir looks to his wheelman, "Bring her bow in for the Sea Dragon! We're going tae ram her!" They need to be careful so they hit /only/ the Sea Dragon and pin her against Captain Kory's frigate for the best possible impact.
Sails still full but crew ready to furl them in a hurry once the ships are physically engaged at close quarters, the Typhoon continues to cut through the water and close the distance with speed. She's coming in fast now, aimed for the Sea Dragon!
Hraelfmir himself draws his new cutlass, a gift sent by the Archduchess Jasmina d'Mordran with it's black and purple wrapped hilt within a steel basket, the quicksilver blade gleaming. The Commodore himself wears his steel breastplate, his dark hair pulled back from his face and tied off with a grey ribbon. "Brave ye'selves 'n prepare tae board her!"
Well, if this isn't an Arcadian Clusterfuck, the one doesn't know what is! Pirates are falling to Captain d'Juliano's sword, if it wasn't for her golden hair, some would swear it was mercy on the dack of that descanda, but no, it's antina, who is even more deadly with a blade than her mother is. Along with an Eagle Eyed archer who are absolutely showing how much skill thease Arcadian Sailors and marines actualy have.
The Typhoon and Hurricane crash into the Sea Dragon at the same time, making a very noisy crunch as the pirates begin to panic, and turn to fight for their lives. Of course, boots on the Deck of the Hurricane are heard, as a woman with a black skull mask and a cutlass steps into the fray, the smoke around the mask giving her a very haunting look. "d'Juliano, I'm going to sent your head to your Cunt mother in a box." The woman says as she stabs a few of the sailors and advances twoards the new Arcadian heir. "I'm going to enjoy this… Rematch." She says as the mask comes off, and there, almost like a bad dream, is Kallifa, out she escaped the caravan going to alascae is anyone's guess, but it explans how she was able to catch pirates with ease, the woman was playing both sides.
Sir Kory makes a jump onto the Sea dragon as he begins to bash pirates over the head with a rather huge hard wood club. "Hey man, name's Kory, give up easy or I'll have to kill ya." he says, still soft spoken as that club is simply sending people into the mast, or overboard. A number of Pirates with blades and hooks heading towards Hraelfmir's crew.
Dertan takes a few steps back towards the rail even as arrows leave his bow to strike the flesh of two pirates unfortunate enough to peek up over the edge of the railings. In the rush of the boarding others slip past, surging into the waiting marines. He looks focused, pausing once to glance back and find a slightly better vantage point (and check he's not about to be stabbed in the back. What a sad end that would be).
There's alot of expressions on Antina's face, but it's telling that none of the emotions displayed is suprise as her eyes fall on her sister. Sadness, Anger, and then Determination all find their way onto that face though. She's soaking in the blood of her enemies and frankly it's going to take all her willpower to not add her older sisters blood to that mess as well. "Fine then Kallifa, let us have a rematch, and then i'm dragging your ass home to mother, and I doubt you'll get off with just a marriage," she states coldly as she lines up with the girl.
Hraelfmir is among those who /are/ braced and as the Typhoon suddenly crashes into the Sea Dragon, he's prepared to disembark and lead the charge! His body sways with the shock as he holds tight to a rope and then he leaps across to land on the pirate ship's deck. At once he's hacking and slashing but has not yet drawn any of this three hand cannons. His dark eyes are sharp for anyone who looks like Blackwater Betty or her officers, unaware that the pirate Captain has already boarded Antina's ship!
Meanwhile some of the Typhoon's crew were less prepared for ramming! Some of them have been knocked to the deck and even a couple feel overboard - idiots! The Descanda shudders and those more able bodied throw hooks to secure the war ship to the Sea Dragon. Others turn the carroballista around to see if they can still fire upon the enemy ship! It's a free for all, now!
Antina is a one man army as she readies her sword and charges for her sister. There's some clashing of swords as the pair studies one another, neither truly making a real attack yet. Then Antina notices her sister reaching for something and without even thinking dives and slashes at the womans ankle as she slides past, and then in one fluid motion rises from the deck and crashes the pommel of her sword into Kalifa's head, knocking the girl straight out. "Don't fuck with the little guppy," she snarls once it's done, and then takes stock of the situation with the other crew members.
Blackwater betty is down, wait, the captain's a d'Juliano? The Pirates realize that either they were pawns, or this was a setup, and now, with no ship to sail away on, some dive overboard, and the rest give up. Kory smiles as his crew begin tossing the useless junk in the hold overboard, making room for captives. Crew on the Hurricane shackle Kallifa, though respectfully, and offer Antina the black skull mask, it's an exact copy of the one her mother has in her study, a momento of this battle.
Whispers aboard the ships continue as 'Eagle Eye Kaedon' and 'Swift Guppy' start maing their rounds, two bynames for thease two, and of course, Hraelfmire's crew work on clearing the sea dragon's hold of any stolen goods, and both crews work to dislodge the ships, and make ready to tow the sea dragon back to New Kashmir.
Antina stands above the wreck of her unconcious sister, protective and stalwart until some sailors come to cuff her, though antina gives the order that Kalifa should be housed in a private cell. Before anyone can question her decision she marches off, ending the conversation and makes her way towards dertan who she offers an enthusiastic, if tired, grin. "I think you might've earned a name for yourself today, the crew are whispering about you Your Excellency," she remarks good naturedly.
Hraelfmir engages a burly looking fellow that steps into his path, whipping his cutlass up to try and behead the fracker before the man can attack him. But though he is large, the pirate is quick to block the Commodore's blow, forcing the blades aside. Almost the fellow punches the Typhoon's Captain with his off hand when shouts are going up, the pirates surrendering as they see Kaliffa is down! The shock of his blade being parried has staggered Hraelfmir and the next thing he knows, the pirate he was engaging has jumped over the side!
Cheers go up from the Typhoon's crew! Up in the masts, from her decks, and from the Sea Dragon where various of them are engaged. Yes, even Brune! A moment later Hraelfmir gets to shouting orders, "Secure th' scum! Disarm'm and bind their hands behind their backs! 'Ware of their tricks." Then he's pointing to specific crew, "Brune! Get ye a handfull o' crew 'n go below. Let us see what booty she's haul'n." Then he grabs another, "Teek, ye 'n Spider go 'round 'n see tae th' wounded." And so they work to secure their prize and see to their injured.
Dertan watches the pirates surrender before turning to look at Antina as she approaches him. He is slow to answer, considering those words before he shakes his head slightly and says. "I don't see why. You have several men and women aboard who could have made the same shots. They only reason I could make them was that I was protected by you and your marines." Another pause and he adds. "You did very well Lady. It was quite remarkable to watch someone so young command a vessel so finely."
Antina chuckles softly and rolls her eyes at that, but she doesn't push the issue, because she's the same way, rarely seeing accomplishments as 'her own'. "I have good role models, and for years i was forced to play second fiddle to my perfect older sister. Our positions may have changed, but that drive from our earlier days ensured i was far more skilled than most my age," she remarks with a shrug before turning to him with a kind smile. "And just because anyone else could have done what you did doesn't make it irrelevant, you still shot true, be proud of that," she murmurs more quietly
"Don't get me wrong." Dertan tells Antina. "I am quite satisfied with my shooting today." He runs a hand along the line of his bow before slinging it back across his shoulder. "But I appreciate the words. Thank you." He glances across to Hraelfmir's vessel. "It looks as if this was a resounding victory for you and your mother. I'm glad I could help."
The curvy first mate of the Hurricane, Tess, who was at one time the first Mate of Mercy herself, though here just to lend advice to the young captain, who needed none. She smiles widley. "Cap'n, ye did an amazing job, ye mother will be over th' moon with yer performance, and it be a real pleasure to serve under ye, might make this postin perminate for meself." She says with a smile and looks to Dertan. "I seen you shoot a bullet out of the sly, and now I seen you hit a man in his eye, ye earned yer nickname eagle eye." She says as she gives a curtsie to Dertan and a crisp salute to Antina before moving off to handle crew work.
Kory walks over to Hralefmir and pats him on the back with his overly large ham hand. "Oy bruv, we won the day! was a good show, sad that Blackwatter betty was Kallifa this whole time, The countess isn;t going to like this, but maybe Lady Antina's showing today will aleviate some of that pain." He says and moves to the bow, spotting his best friend in the whole world, Dertan, and waving. "Oy mate! Good shooting!"
Hraelfmir turns when Captain Kory lays hand to his shoulder. He pauses in giving orders and checking the prisoners to listen, then cocks a black brow, "Blackwater Betty is th' lady Kalifa d'Juliano?" Yep, he missed that, then twists his mouth, "They should ha' let me kidnap her like I had planned tae do 'n give her a taste of no one be'n will'n tae pay /her/ ransom. Bah! She deserves hang'n, but she be noble 'n family. They'll probably slap her hand 'n let her go again." The Commodore shakes his head and goes back to overseeing his crew. At least it was over quickly and with few losses!
Was that a faint hint of a flinch from Dertan when Kory called him mate? Maybe. He gives the massive knights a vague token of a smile before going right back to purposefully trying to ignore him. "I assume we are heading back to shore now that you have your captive?"