The Gholibin raider makes a noise like a dying beast as the longship's prow rises from the water, its aft end filling with seawater. Bubbles rise violently to the surface as the ship, holed aft by Erris and Candra, sinks beneath the green waves. Coils of mist gather over the dying ship as her middle, then her prow slip under the surface. The Reckoning's crew watches from a safe distance as the enemy vessel vanishes beneath the roiling waters.
The Gholibin raider seems to have come from the island that you glimpsed briefly in the mist, the one with the twin crags, that, by reptutation, is home to the Dragha.
Baj says, "Mister Erris! Would you be so good as to bring that chart to the Captain?"
Erris, his sleek rapier in one fist, passes the rolled-up parchment to Rhyll with a smirk and a flourish. "An' it please you, skipper."
Rhyll nods and says, "Job well done Erris, job well done". He takes the chart from Erris and heads up to the quarterdeck where Baj, Revas, and he can get a good look at it. He rolls out the chart for himself and his two officers and starts to study it.
Dacien moves to the starboard railing and lowers a rope ladder to Talon and Tully as they pull alongside, "Missed alla the fun, ye did!"
Talon grabs the rope and says, "Thanks. Smells like Gholibin around here."
Dacien chuckles, "It'll wash off."
Talon holds the ladder and says to Tully, "Up you go lad."
Dacien gives Tully a hand on the last step of the rope ladder and hauls the young man up to the main deck.
Dacien calls for crewmen to man the davits and haul the longboat up from the water as Talon begins to climb the rope ladder.
Talon says, "There's a ship out there Mister Dacien, I spotted it from the row boat."
Dacien says, "Aye, Deeshon spotted it as well. A small merchanter."
Unrolled on Revas' map table on the quarterdeck, the parchment is a crudely drawn chart of three islands, inked in purple. and a set of arrows that indicate the gentle currents that ply among the three. The one in the center is the largest, a kidney-shaped north-south island with a line of hills drawn down the middle and a double-x marker in the center. There are several three-fingered hand symbols drawn around the periphery of the central island, one at the very center of the kidney's curve.
Baj stands at Rhyll's shoulder, wiping away the rapidly drying Gholibin blood that covers him. "What do you make of it, Captain?"
Rhyll says, "Not sure but I'd bet that "X" marks the Dragha's lair."
Revas squats close with his rheumy eyes, studying the chart. A few notations are scrawled on the chart in Gholibin runes. "Can't read me this Gob-speak, sar, but I'd wager we're here..." the navigator says. He thumbs the chart on the left side, facng the concave curve of the central island.
Baj nods and gestures to the hand symbols, "And these?"
Revas shrugs. "Gholibin villages? Such as they are. Best we steer clear of 'em."
Baj says, "Agreed."
Rhyll says, "Well, with these charts it should be smooth sailing. Lets head for here." Rhyll points to the double "X"."
Baj frowns and sighs loudly, "And when we arrive? What then, Captain? A frontal attack against the Dragha?"
From the brief glimpse of the island in the mist, you estimate that north-south, the island was about three leagues long. If the dimensions on the chart hold true, the island would be perhaps two leagues east west, with the double-x about the center of that.
Revas looks towards Rhyll, curious about that himself.
Rhyll looks back at the two and says. "I don't plan to attack the Dragha, which I think would fail any way. I'm going to talk to it."
Revas says, "I see, sar. Verrry good, sar." He studies the chart intently.
Baj arches an eyebrow but remains silent.
Rhyll smiles back at the two.
The morning fog would normally burn off, this being a fine Sunmath day, but it clings to you and the Reckoning like a live thing. For a moment, the misty curtain opens again, to reveal the ship, approaching the Reckoning, now a league off and closing. She looks to be a swift Mazirine merchanter, but no colors fly from her mast. Her crew crowd the rail.She has a row of weapon ports below her rail, but these are closed, and as you watch, a set of signal flags raises on her forward mast. AHOY. WE APPROACH. INTENT PEACEFUL.
Deeshon calls down, "She's bound for us, Captain!"
Rhyll says, "Mister Mirko, get the scorpions ready. We'll parley but we'll be prepared."
Baj turns and calls down to the main deck, "All hands, battle stations. Lock and load all scorpions. Do it fast and be quiet about it."
Vendig says, "Luncheon's cancelled, you louts! Look sharp!"
Rhyll says, "Bring up to them broadside Mister Revas, I want to be able to get a good shot off at them if we need to."
The other ship draws near, but remains out of scorpion range, clearly nervous about approaching too closely, awaiting your reply. She is hard to see in all this mist.
Dacien snaps orders out as he runs for the rigging, "Farlan! Ferlan! Get them weapons loaded and run 'em out! Candra! Full complement for boarding, keep 'em hid well but be ready! Prilehn, same fer your archers! Move, now."
Baj says, "Shall I have Mister Erris run up a flag of parley?"
Rhyll says, "Please do Mister Mirko. But let's be prepared for treachery."
Baj says, "Aye, Captain."
The twins hurry to comply, running out the scorpions but not opening ports yet. Candra nods to Erris, and their maries take station on the deck, squatting down behind the masts and rails. Prilehn and her dozen archers crouch in the fo'csle, weapons ready.
Baj turns and calls up to Erris in the rigging, "Mister Erris! Flag of parley from the main topmast, if you please?"
Rhyll turns to Almira and says, "Stay close, Master Wizard, I want you to see if you can smell a ploy here."
Almira sighs. Ever catlike and fussy, he was expecting to rest after his exertions.
Erris runs up the flag of PARLEY in the Reckoning's foremast.
After a moment, the other ship signals back. PERMISSION TO COME ABOARD?
Erris looks down at Rhyll for his reply.
Baj looks to Rhyll as well.
Rhyll nods in assent.
Baj calls to Erris, "Signal agreement, Mister Erris."
Erris flies the flag of agreement. There is some activity on the other ship, a boat is winched down from her, and a small crew embarks for the Reckoning.
Rhyll stands at the rail and watches the approaching ship.
Baj calls up to the tops, "Eyes open, Mister Deeshon!" He turns to the main deck, "That goes for everyone, keep on your toes. I do not trust anyone in these waters!"
Rhyll says over his shoulder, "What do you think they are up to?" The question is posed to all his officers.
Almira ventures, "Perhaps they are lost..."
Vendig says, "No good, that's for sure, skipp'r, or I'm no sailor."
Baj shrugs as only an Urag can, massive shoulders lifting nearly to his ears, "Maybe they came to steal the Dragha's treasure and they want to talk us out of it?"
The boat has about a dozen Reith and two Urag on board. The longboat oars in close, covered by the watchful scorpion crews on board the Reckoning. A pale-skinned, dark-haired Reith calls up to Rhyll from the boat, with a Tol Nedran accent, "Captain Raven requests permission to come aboard, sir?"
Mera hurries to the rail to look down, dark eyes wide.
Dacien bounds up behind Baj and Rhyll, "Captain Raven?!?!?"
Baj looks down into the longboat, brow furrowed.
Even Vendig chokes on his pipe. He spits out pipeweed, coughing and gagging.
Rhyll turns to Mera and says, "Is that him?"
Mera nods. A tall, lanky figure, wearing a black bandanna on his head, is standing in the longboat now.
Baj turns and studies Mera for a moment, nodding slightly.
Rhyll walks to the rail and shouts down, "Please, Captain join us on the deck. It's not everyday one gets to meet a legend."
Dacien leaps down to the main deck and slides to a stop at the rail, gesturing frantically for sideboys to join him to render honors.
Rhyll turns and says, "Mister Mirko, Mera, Almira, would you two care to join me to meet with our guests?"
Baj says, "Aye, Captain."
Candra rolls down a rope ladder to the longboat, and Raven scrambles up it, followed by his eight Tol Nedrans. He looks about. The man looks world-weary, his eyes penetrating, his once-dark hair shaggier and graying now, a smirk on his face. He's tall, tall as Baj, but looks thin and poorly fed. He clambers over the ladder, nods to Candra, then spots Talon nearby and blinks. His eyes narrow but he doesn't say anything to Talon, and turns and offers Rhyll a nautical salute--fist over his heart.
As Raven's foot touches the deck of the Reckoning, Dacien pipes him aboard as if he were an admiral.
The Tol Nedrans crowd over the rail behind him, unarmored, a tough-looking bunch for all that.
Raven smirks. "Been a while since I've heard that. Grateful to you."
Mera stands behind Rhyll, not hurrying forward to make a scene.
Dacien nods and bows, too awestruck to speak.
Vendig whispers to Dacien, "Tale is, he sank more bluecoat ships than anyone in these waters. Met him once. What's he fallen in with that Nedri lot for?"
Dacien shakes his head, unable to take his eyes from the legend before him.
Almost all the crew have heard of Raven, but he was presumed dead long ago. Is this the same fellow?
Rhyll walks forward and stops about ten paces in front of Raven then says, "Welcome aboard the Reckoning Captain Raven. I believe last I heard of you you were in chains in a Mazarin jail. How and what brings you here to my deck?"
Baj stands at Rhyll's shoulder, eyes on the Nedri hardcases more than Raven.
Talon stands in the background making sure he gets a good look at the newcomer.
Raven says, "The Reckoning. So Tyree's no longer aboard her?"
Rhyll says, "Alas, I fear not. Captain Tyree is no longer with us."
Raven shakes his head. "My sorrows. Not all of us escape the Gatherer as I did. But he always did have a fine crew."
Rhyll says, "But not a man on this ship was not loyal to him, or does not mourn his passing. So to what do we owe the honor Captain Raven? And why are you out here with these Nedris? And even more to the point--what's back on yonder ship if you catch my drift?"
Baj sniffs deeply, scenting for any hint of what was left behind on the other ship. He does smell the subtle reek of Vorghol on these men.
Raven sees Mera. "I think we're after the same thing, Captain Rhyll, and I propose an alliance. My crew and yours, united for this errand that's been delayed these last fifteen years. I don't think even the Reckoning will be able to take on the Dragha alone."
Rhyll says, "And as to my other two questions Captain?"
Raven shrugs. "My benefactors, such as they are, set me free of the bluecoats. What's on that ship--the Renegade--is my crew."
Baj growls low in his throat and moves close to Rhyll, whispering in his ear, "They have the smell of the Dark Ones about them, sir."
Rhyll takes a step forward and says, "We don't deal with Vorghol Captain. I personally find them detestable and offensive."
Mera says, "Captain Rhyll, don't be so hasty. An accomodation can always be found..."
Rhyll quickly raises his hand and says, Please hold your tongue Mera. This is between myself and Captain Raven."
Raven looks towards his daughter, then back to Rhyll. "We can split the haul, fifty-fifty."
Baj moves away from Rhyll and takes a step toward the Nedri, nostrils flaring.
One of the Tol Nedrans, with a huge handlebar mustache, fingers the truncheon at his belt. In his land, Urag know their place, and this tough looks like just the one to try to teach it to Baj.
Rhyll says, "Tol Nedrans have no part in this business. I won't split any dragons with them."
Baj grins at the Nedri, baring his canines, "You reek of the grave, errand boy, do not try my patience or I shall send you there, parley or no parley."
The mustachioed man frowns at Baj, but holds his tongue.
Rhyll says, "I must say I'm disappointed in your new choice of companions, Captain Raven."
Mera says, hastily, "And who are you to pass judgement on him, Rhyll? Were you locked up in a hulk for years?"
Baj moves back to Rhyll's side and whispers to his Captain again, "Perhaps he would prefer to stand among Free Men again, Captain? Loose himself from the chains of his new masters?"
Raven says, "Izmeralda, there's no need. Captain Rhyll, we're gentlemen of fortune, you and I."
Rhyll snaps a look at Mera and says, "I will remind you, lady, you are a member of this crew and I am your Captain. Under the circumstances I will let this outburst go, but not again."
Baj says, "Perhaps he would remember himself better if he were to see Free Men in action?"
Benning stands close by, hands in his robes, with his usual grave mien.
Talon steps forward and says, "Captain, if I may say a word to Captain Raven. He and I are old acquaintances."
Dacien regains his senses and steps back from the tense situation, tucking his bosun's pipe into his shirt.
Raven eyes the younger Sarry. "I know you, boy," he says.
At this Rhyll throws his hands up in the air and says, "I don't believe this. Whatever it is you have to say Mister Talon make it brief."
Talon nods and says, "That you do uncle, I'm Corbie's son remember me?"
Rhyll does a double-take.
Raven grins, "Little Birdie, we called you. But you're not so little anymore, are you? D'you mean to tell me my nephew and daughter are both in this crew?"
Mera does the same double-take.
Talon says, "It appears so. Unfortunely I haven't properly introduced myself to Mera as her cousin. As you may or may not know there are many who claim to be the long lost son or daughter of the famous pirate Captain Raven."
Rhyll turns to his crew and says, "Any one else care to step foward as members of Captain Raven's family? Perhaps an aunt of second cousin twice removed?"
The Reckoning's hands glance at each other, but no one comes forward.
The mustachioed man looks towards Raven. He can't believe this either. "Captain, they've turned down our offer."
Raven tells him, "I know that, Sorreg. Who's Captain here?"
Sorreg replies, "It's Lord Valkris' ship, Captain..."
Talon says, "Uncle if there are Vorghol on that ship, we can in no way accept a deal with them. If, on the other hand you wish to change crew, I think that can be arranged safely."
Rhyll puts his hand to his chin and nods.
Baj hauls himself to his full height and stares into Sorreg's eyes, teeth bared, "Vorghol lap-dog."
The Nedri glances away, clearly intimidated by the formidable Urag.
Raven says, "I thought you'd see the sense of it, Talon. Would you turn down their help against the Dragha?"
Talon begins to speak but then Rhyll cuts in.
Sorreg grips his truncheon, but doesn't reply. He glares at the back of Raven's head.
Rhyll says, "The day I need the help of a stinking corpse that is too dumb to find his own grave is the day I buy a a small farm on the mainland and start raising pet dogs for Lucard's court ladies!""
Baj laughs loudly at Rhyll's outburst.
Dacien joins the laughter.The rest of the Reckoning joins in the derisive laughter.
Sorreg snarls at Rhyll, "You'll regret those words, pirate!"
Rhyll turns to Sorreg and says, "You say it like it's a bad word, Nedri. Look around you--we are all gentlemen of fortune, even your misguided Captain here."
Talon stares at Raven to see how he will react.
Raven says, "Belay that, Sorreg!" He looms over the man, and Sorreg relents, saluting the Captain. But a Nedri right behind Sorreg, a young man, nervous and anxious, hotheaded, pulls a dagger from his boot. He hurls the weapon at Rhyll, but it goes wide and finds another target, sinking blade into Mera's chest.
Blood gouts down Mera's tunic front as she sinks to her knees. She tries to speak, eyes glazing, but words don't come.
Talon rushes to Mera's side and attempts to stop the flow of blood.
Baj jumps forward, drawing both blades as he closes on the young Nedri, "Reckoning!!! To arms!!!"
Dacien snaps his chain loose and leaps into the fray alongside Baj.
With a roar, Candra and her marines leap from their hiding places.
Rhyll calls out "Benning quickly see to Mera!" He draws his sword and steps to Raven and says, "You better pray to what ever black Powers you've sold your soul to she survives. Or I will carve your your heart out where you stand."