The Seawolf listed aside as cannonfire erupted from the vessel they were chasing, thunderous sounds followed by the whizzing noise of near misses and ending in distant splashes well behind them. Her first mate, who currently had the helm, had just barely turned the ship to avoid the shots, but they were now traveling in a direction slightly away from their prey. Davek spun the wheel in the opposite direction, and her crew scrambled to get the guns loaded and the ship moving in the proper direction so as to give chase. Their target, a merchant vessel from the lands across the sea, was larger and heavier than they were, but they also had a great deal more canvas with which to catch the wind than the Seawolf, and a powerful gust had come up a few moments ago. The sun was barely visible through the darkness that covered the sky, black clouds blocking out much of the light and leaving their chase shrouded in shadow.
To top it all off, she had only gotten up about five minutes ago after a particularly stormy night. She hadn't had a drink in almost a month of either rum or of her preferred carmine red, since their stocks of the former had gone bad and her last source of the latter (besides her crew) had departed her company for reasons that the woman hadn't adequately explained when they had last made port. Lorelai had said something about dark clouds on the horizon of Skye's future, and advised her to remain off of the ocean for a time. She most likely hadn't thought of it quite this literally at the time.
"Captain!" Davek called to her from the bridge of the ship, a scowl present on the burly young man's face. "They opened fire on us without a second thought! Should we return the favor?"
(Not sure if you wanted to name your crew, or if Skye was willing to feed on them frequently. I think you've implied otherwise for the latter, but I could have misread at the time. Or I'm retarded. You know, one of those. )
Captain Skye was already at the desk in her study, hunched over a couple maps when she felt the ship sway and heard the explosions from outside. The redhead stumbled out of her chair, "Whoa!" She exclaimed, but having her sea legs under her, she moved swiftly like a cat to keep her balance. The pirate vampire moved into action immediately. She grabbed her maroon overcoat, pulled it about her shoulders, and stormed out of her chambers and through the narrow hallway to the main deck.
When Skye burst forth from the double wooden doors onto the main deck of The Seawolf, her copper eyes burned brightly, and her lips twisted into a crooked smile wide enough to bare her fangs. "It's a skirmish they want is it?" she shouted up to Davek. The captain strode up to her first mate, slapped him on the shoulder with a grin and pulled out her looking glass to stare out at the cloudy sea. When the bandanna-clad redhead pulled her looking glass down, she scowled. "Let's teach them what happens to merchants who attack The Seawolf." Skye twirled so she could address her crew, "Stay on your toes boys and girls. Think of all the feasts and treasures they must have on that ship. And the rum!" The pirate vampire grinned wickedly, "AIM FOR THEIR SAILS!"
After she addressed her crew, Skye walked up to the prow of her ship, and stared up at the swirling black clouds grimly. For a short moment, she thought she could almost hear Lorelai's voice floating on the sea. That brought a scowl to Skye's lips. Silly superstitions, she thought to herself. A pirate does not hide from the sea. With that, she the redhead twirled on her heel and strode back to Davek at the helm.
(She probably would avoid feeding on them unless she absolutely had to, but she would definitely be grumpy. =P And you seem pretty good with names so far, so that sounds good if you wanna do it unless I come up with an idea for a crew member or something).
(Okie dokie. If you feel like inventing anyone in a certain position, feel free. I'll only be making them up as they're needed.)
Davek returned her grin upon receiving the slap on his shoulder, and then wheeled the boat about to give chase. Those among her crew that were rolling out the guns all shouted, "AYE CAPTAIN" in near perfect unison upon Skye's command to aim for the sails, and the whole bunch cheered exuberantly upon the promise of rum, Davek's voice one of the loudest among them. The man had been suffering from lack of booze as much as any of them.
On board the other ship, Skye had seen men in blue uniforms scurrying about, reloading their guns and aiming to intercept the Seawolf's current path. They moved quickly but professionally, experienced sailors at the very least, but despite their bigger sails and favorable wind, the Seawolf was gaining ground on them rapidly, and were outside of the arcs that the other ship's guns could hit. Skye knew that they faced a choice now; Either to turn and fight, or try to outpace them until they could find some favorable terrain. The Seawolf hadn't seen land in weeks, so it came to no surprise to Skye when she saw them turning, angling for a broadside with the guns that hadn't fire yet. Davek had seen it too, and turned the ship on an angle, giving a slightly bigger target but also keeping them out of the line of fire for a little bit longer.
It helped that that also gave her own gunners a decent shot at the other vessel, one that they took eagerly. The thunder of the Seawolf's cannons sounded seconds after Skye had rejoined Davek at the helm, and the man shot a grin at her as one of the smaller masts on the other ship fell down, having been cut in half by their return volley. The other vessel's movement slowed, but before they could close the distance between them the other vessel had oriented itself for a full broadside, and opened fire once more. Davek ducked, and Skye felt something large and heavy move past her head at a speed faster than even her eyes could track, and several men on the deck went down screaming. Grape shot.
Heavier rounds tore into the front and side of the smaller ship, smashing through wood and hammering into the crew quarters, but the Seawolf wasn't stopped or even slowed by the hostile fire. "We'll be alongside her in a minute captain! Should we give them a taste of their own medicine, or prepare to board before the bastards can reload?" Davek shouted over the noise that now pervaded the deck of the pirate ship, his hands still steady on the wheel of the ship.
The crew of their prey was scrambling to reload and take up small arms, but from here Skye could see something odd up on the deck of the other vessel. Behind the wheel of the other ship and the burly fellow who manned it, the captain of the vessel stood (wearing one of those atrocious looking ornate hats that sea faring men seemed so fond of) beside a woman in an elegant white dress, an umbrella and a fan hiding much of her features from view. Neither seemed at all phased by the chaos going on around them, as the captain was quickly bellowing orders while his companion stood completely at ease.
Skye smirked as the Seawolf drew closer to their bigger but slower prey. Her sailor's instincts told her what they would try to do next. As the ship maneuvered around to engage the Seawolf, Skye's eyes lit up. Sea battles required careful planning, baiting, and a delicate touch. It was only a matter of time now until the battle, and the redhead was growing hungrier by the second. Being not only a pirate but a vampire, at sea, Skye was the hunter. She had her prey right where she wanted them, and they looked pretty juicy.
The redheaded vampire still had that eerie smirk as one of the masts on the bigger ship came crashing down. So far everything was going according to her plan, and her smirk was growing. The captain glanced back at Davek, giving him a wink and a nod. As the larger ship whirled around for a volley, Skye's eyes narrowed and when suddenly they opened fire, her eyes widened. The captain hit the deck in an animal-like crouch. Her copper eyes darted side to side, and Skye growled, fangs bared before getting back to her feet and glared at the helm of the bigger ship. Not only did they have the audacity to attack her ship, but they tried to shoot her with a cannon! Yes, Skye was most definitely going to enjoy watching these snobs writhe about on the deck before her.
The redhead was also unphased by the explosions around her except for a building annoyance and anger within her - and of course that constantly nagging hunger that drove her. In fact, the redhead actually relished the battle going on around her. Her adrenaline was pumping, and the prey was close at hand. Things were just getting started! She whirled around and nodded to her first mate, "Prepare to board while the wretches are distracted. We'll teach them a lesson in proper manners eh? Show them no mercy or quarter, but leave the snobby bitch to me." Skye snirked with an evil grin.
When they were ready to board, Captain Skye would lead the charge with her men and go for a quick kill as soon as she could with her badarian revolver. She was quickly growing tired of the antics of this merchant ship. The vampire meant to show them just how terrifying a pirate can be and to do it quickly. Surprise and fear were a pirate's greatest ally and it would help her crew in the coming battle. The captain grinned as she prepared for the raid. The fun was just about to start!
Another loud cry of "AYE CAPTAIN" from the crew greeted Skye's instruction, and they made ready to board. She knew well that they would follow her instructions to the letter, firstly leaving the captain and the lady on the bridge to her, and second leaving not a soul alive on their opposing vessel. They came up alongside the other vessel soon enough, and grappling hooks quickly secured along the other vessel. Both sides exchanged a quick hail of gunfire, handcanons and rifles firing from across the shortening gap between the ships, but unlike the Seawolf, the sides of the other vessel were not made with cover in mind. Not a soul from her crew was struck down this time, which was probably a good thing given the difference of a numbers between the crews of the two vessels. Her crew only numbered about thirty at the moment, not including herself and her officers, and she could see at least forty men on the deck of the other ship.
The ships were soon close enough together for the first few boarders to go across, a second hail of gunfire coming across to clear more space in the enemy deck before a quartet of her crew flung across the gap on ropes. They were moving up a gangplank as well, but the defenders were organizing swiftly, and that rush would no doubt end in a brief struggle over the middle ground between the two ships. Her crew had done this sort of thing before before, and it was becoming increasingly obvious that, while the men on the other ship were able seamen, warriors they were not. As well organized as they were, their lack of fighting skills would only take them so far against the battle hardened men (and women) of the Seawolf.
At this point, she had several options open to her. The simplest would be to wait for the plank to lower, and join or possibly even lead the charge across it. She'd be in the heaviest of the fighting, but she would be in the middle of the other vessel, and the bloody spectacle of her cutting a swath through the opposing sailors would likely be enough to clinch that battle in her crew's favor by morale alone. Alternatively, she could take a line across to join in the party that had begun to carve out an island of relative safety for them, and while they were pressed severely now that pressure would likely ease up greatly once the battle between the two crews began in earnest across the gangplank. That would also put her the farthest from her own personal target, however, as she would be on the opposite side of the ship from the bridge. Finally, it would be something of a risk, but she could try leaping across the gap between the vessels. The enemy bridge was higher than that of the Seawolf, and there were no lines nearby that would make that task any easier, but with her superhuman strength it might be possible for her, and the worst she could suffer for failure from it would probably be a dip in the sea below. The gap was about twenty feet across, and the opposing bridge was five feet higher than the railing of the Seawolf, which would be her assumed jumping point.
(You are of course free to come up with your own solutions, these are just all I thought up off the top of my head.)
This is more for my benefit than yours really, but it's to keep track of the numbers of enemy combatants and whatnot.
Seawolf crewmen: 29 active, 3 wounded on the deck of the Seawolf
Also Skye, Davek (first mate,) Korelin (navigator) and Burtrend (cook and quartermaster)
Korelin's a she, Burtrend's a he. Just to clarify. And so that I remember, because sometimes i r stoopid and forget these things.
Mystery vessel crewmen: 46, 12 wounded on the deck of the
Also the captain and the mystery woman.
As the battle developed before her eyes, Skye grinned evilly in approval. The captain and her crew had been in many battles like this before, and the scene was developing just like she planned. Since the merchant ship started the assault, she assumed their confidence in their artillery weapons. Not keen on taking too much damage to her prized ship, the vampire decided to surprise them with a quick boarding raid after the initial volley that took down their small mast.
Seeing her men and women carry out the plan amused and pleased the redhead as she strode up to Davek's side. Initially, she had intended to lead the charge across the plank with him, but when she reached his side, her copper eyes glanced up at the bridge of the larger ship. Skye's eyes narrowed, and a smirk gradually grew more crooked on her features. Almost immediately, she clapped her hand on her first mate's shoulder, "You lead the charge today, my friend," she said with a semi-informal salute. "I have something special planned for our new guest!" The intense gleam in her eyes and the crooked smile on her face were a classic sign to her longtime first mate. Skye was about to do something crazy.
The captain whirled around, overcoat swinging outwards, and walked as if on a mission to one of the masts holding up her maroon sails. As she stormed toward the mast, Skye shed her overcoat, revealing her lighter clothing. Black leather pants with a loose maroon tunic. Her scimitar and badarian revolver hung on either side of a sash at her waist, and a skull pendant hung from her neck. Her red-orange hair was tied under her customary bandanna, and her golden nose ring flashed in the waning sunlight. Skye stood at the mast of her ship for a short moment, eyes boring into the bridge of the merchant ship like wild fire. The vampire took a deep breath and smirked in anticipation.
Slowly, almost inaudible at first, a low growl began to slip through her lips. As her growl grew in volume and pitch, Skye's eyes gleamed intensely and her fangs bared. The captain took off toward the railing of her ship. Sprinting, the sounds of battle grew quiet around the redheaded vampire. Eyes staring straight ahead, all she could hear was the stomping of her boots on the deck getting faster and faster and her growl growing ever louder as the railing of her ship swooped in on her. Skye hit the top speed of her stride just in time to step up to the railing. The redhead shrieked out her battle cry and launched herself in the air, flying in an arc toward the bridge of the larger ship.
The vampire pirate soared upwards, air rushing around her face and forcing her eyes to narrow. As her ascent rushed upwards, Skye's crooked smirk persisted. The vampire kept her arms tucked close to her body, and her launching leg bent forwards. The redhead grinned evilly as her arc soared above the bridge of the enemy ship, staring at her prey and licking her lips. She landed with her descent onto the deck of the enemy bridge, rolling into an animalistic crouch. As soon as she secured herself with her crouch, Skye bared her fangs at her two potential victims and hissed with the fury of a hungry vampire. When she looked up, the vampire's copper eyes gleamed brightly, turning completely white and seeming to swirl like little pools of mist. Staring at the captain of the ship with her milky white eyes, the vampire's gorgon gaze bored straight into his eyes and his soul, attempting to provide him with the eternal embrace of cold stone. As soon as Skye ceased her demonic glare into the captain's eyes, her hand shot to her waist, whipping out her badarian revolver with the speed of a duelist. Unless the captain turned to stone, she would fire a shot or two aimed right between his eyes.
If those actions subdued or killed the captain, Skye would storm straight toward the mysterious lady, barrel of her badarian revolver aimed right at the lady's head, "I suggest you get on your knees if you want to live!" She would say with her signature smirk. (if it didn't subdue the captain, she would remain in defensive position).
Skye's jump: She makes it without a hitch!
Resistance: The good captain fails his check! Lament!
"Aye aye, cap'n!" Davek replied, grinning broadly in return following the slap on the back. Though he might not know her plan exactly, the big man knew how she operated well enough to know that look, but he showed no fear at it. He locked the Seawolf's wheel to keep her from listing about and started down toward the back, but he paused and turned back to her to say; "Good hunting captain!"
Before her jump, when she stood on the mast of her vessel and her gaze bored into the pair standing on the opposing bridge, something odd happened. One of the two recognized her gaze, and turned to face it. She only saw a hint of movement, but the umbrella of the elegantly dressed woman beside the captain turned slightly, and Skye caught sight of pale skin and a pair of deep, dark, emerald green eyes. Those eyes met hers for only a moment before the lady turned away, but Skye hadn't seen even a hint of fear in them during the brief exchange.
The gangplank between the vessels was lowered just as Skye started her run, and she watched as Davek stormed across it, a sword in both hands and a deep belly laugh sounding from his throat as he met the other vessel's defenders. The captain of the opposing vessel turned toward Skye as she shrieked and hurled herself across the gap between their two ships, her inhumanly strong legs allowing her to jump from one to the other without any trouble. The wind seemed to still as she rose to the apex of her leap, and Skye landed in a roll upon the bridge of the enemy vessel. The captain had drawn his sword as she was in mid air and advanced on her, putting himself between her and the woman in the white dress. He seemed about to say something, but as he saw her fangs and her milky white eyes he stopped mid stride, a look of horror upon his face.
That look was set in stone for eternity, for his body stiffened and then solidified instantly, clothes and all. A statue of plain granite he had become, set to remain as such for all time, or until Skye released him from its dark magics.
Not missing a beat, Skye drew her gun from her belt and pointed it at the green eyed woman. She had put away her fan, and now faced Skye with a carefully composed look upon her strong, sculpted features despite the weapon being pointed at her. She wore the garb of a noblewoman, but from the lack of both fear, and of the arrogance that might have kept it at bay normally, Skye doubted whether this one was some pampered noblewoman. Instead, she found cold calm within the woman's eyes. Those eyes proved to be the most remarkable feature about her, however, as her face was framed by plain curly brown hair, and her facial features edged more toward impressive and determined than traditionally beautiful.
"There is no need for that. I am surely no threat to you, and I am afraid that this dress does not offer much freedom of motion." The lady said calmly, and Skye heard a few shots go off behind her amidst the battle going on on the deck. The sound of booted feet rushing up the steps behind her signaled that Skye would be having company shortly, and a glance behind her revealed that three men, including this ship's first mate, were rushing up the narrow steps toward her, apparently heedless of the fate of their captain even though the statue he had become was standing in plain view.
Seawolf crewmen: 26 active, 4 wounded on the deck of the Seawolf, 2 wounded on the deck of the opposing vessel
Also Skye, Davek (first mate,) Korelin (navigator) and Burtrend (cook and quartermaster)
Mystery vessel crewmen: 40, 12 wounded on the deck
Mystery woman on the bridge
Skye arched her eyebrow at the lady's reaction. Her eyes narrowed and bore into the woman's gaze. The captain had been on enough of these raids to know how the usual noblewoman would respond to a situation like this, something like oh please don't hurt me!, eek! aahhhh!!, or some general hyperventilating. This was definitely not it. A pity since Skye oh so enjoyed feeding from a hyperventilating victim. This woman's attitude piqued Skye's interest. "I can see that. You might consider taking it off then," Skye snarked in response to the woman's reference to her dress. Her tone of voice was just deadpan enough to make it uncertain if she was actually serious, and the corner of her lips curled up malevolently.
Skye was skeptical of the lady's words. There certainly wasn't anything about her gait or her gaze that seemed acquiescent. But as the vampire heard the crewmen scampering to the stairs, she didn't have time to ponder such things. The pirate dropped a hand to her hips and scowled, "How annoying. Someone needs to teach your peons some manners. You stay right there and watch what happens to those who defy me." Skye's eyes glowed brightly like molten copper, and by the time she had turned toward the approaching seamen, her fangs bared with a vicious sounding hiss. She replaced her badarian revolver with her scimitar and charged to the top of the stairs to block the route of the oncoming soldiers. She wasted no time, immediately unleashing lightning strikes slashes at the first attacker in line. With each cut of her sword, Skye growled. The vampire taunted the soldiers before her with her fangs, hissing for greater effect. She didn't have time to play their games though and sought to deal with their silliness as fast as possible.
Skye: HP = 70/74, PP = 38, EP = 52/64, Status = Fine
Rolls
Attacks (Skye) : All three guaranteed to hit!
Damage: 4 + 4 + 20 - 12 - 1 = 15 damage per hit
Down he goes!
Attack (Enemy) : Hit.
Damage: 4 + 5 + 15 - 7 = 17 damage. Skye's armor is at 1/25 TP.
Because Skye is a vampire, however, she only takes 1/4 of that, so 4 damage. :|
"Oh, but it is so cold out today. I'd catch a chill if I took it off out here." The woman deadpanned in turn, and just as when Skye had spoke, it was unclear just how serious she was. The noblewoman's pose remained steadfastly neutral, neither aggressive to the point that she might attack Skye nor acquiescent to the pirate captain's whims. Unfortunately, before she could properly deal with the woman there was a more pressing call upon Skye's attentions, but she heard the woman speak again as she turned to deal with the three men charging up the stairs; "They're not my peons. If you want to berate someone for their lack of competency, dignity and common sense, talk to the freshly christened garden ornament."
The bulky was made to pause by the sudden hiss accompanied by the display of her fangs, and the pirate took that opportunity with to start swinging. Her blade whirled in front of her, the flashes of light that were the only thing that could normally be seen of her swordplay not even present courtesy of the dim light. She watched the man's face turn from fear to pain to shock and back as lines of blood appeared across his broad chest, his own sword trying and failing to intercept the half vampire's weapon before it carved into his flesh. After her third strike landed just under his throat, he fell backwards against his comrades, and Skye might have been glad to hear a gasp of surprise come from the woman still standing on the bridge behind her.
The three men tumbled back down the stairs for a moment, but one of them quickly climbed over his dying fellow to suddenly lash out at her with his cutlass. The attack was artless, almost clumsy, but despite that Skye couldn't deflect it before it landed. The blade knocked past her guard and cut a long line in her abdomen just below her breasts, tearing her clothing and causing her front to soak with her blood from the severe wound.... Or it would have been severe, and probably covered her in her own blood, if not for the fact that it sealed itself before the cut was even complete, a few drops of her blood running down her freshly exposed belly. And that was it.
He looked on in astonishment as his blow healed itself, doing little more than tearing Skye's shirt and getting a bit of blood on it. His fellow, who had been moving the body of their first mate out of the way, hadn't caught the measly effects of the strike and was still rushing up the steps to join the fight, but Skye still had the stairs effectively blocked off. She would only have to fight one at a time, and the stunned fighter in front of her was wide open for her response.
Scimitar whirling in her hand, Skye's glowing coppers burned into the eyes of her first victim. He may have thought he was an opponent, but he was really just prey in the eyes of a very hungry predator. As Skye watched the welp's expression turn to horror, the vampire smirked evilly, her amusement growing as she saw that inevitable realization in his eyes. Realization of who she really was and how little chance he really had. Tongue slithering over bared fangs, Skye whipped the final thrust just under his throat, knocking the man back into his fellow soldiers.
That was when she sensed it, the scent pouring into Skye's nostrils and flooding through the vampire's veins like a tidal wave of desire. The hair on the back of her neck stood on end, and her stomach clenched. Skye stared down at the fallen man ravenously with wildly burning eyes. Blood was in the air, and the vampire inside her was hungry.
Distracted by the overwhelming scent of blood she hadn't tasted in nearly a month, Skye was taken off guard by the incoming soldier's clumsy attack. Unable to deflect his cutlass in time, the vampire yelped in agony as the blade cut through her abdomen, and she staggered backward in surprise. Although vampires had the power of regeneration, they weren't immune to pain; Skye had every cut to remind her of that. Luckily the searing pain numbed almost as soon as it arrived, skin folding back in on itself and mending the gash.
Skye straightened up and glared in anger down at the perpetrator. His heart thudded in her ears, and she could see the throbbing of veins in his neck with her predatory vampire gaze. The vampire arched up her scimitar and slid her whip-tongue along the blade, licking up the blood along the edge. Her eyes burned into the soldier before her tauntingly, and she groaned inwardly from drops of crimson sliding down her tongue like sweet wine. The lick was fast but taunting, daring the soldier to step forward. Whether he did or not, Skye bared her fangs and shrieked in hunger and rage. Predatory glint in her eyes, Skye charged the stunned man before her. Scimitar whipping around furiously, Skye's swordsman instincts aimed for the man's vital areas. The coppers in her eyes burning brightly, Skye hissed and snapped her fangs menacingly with each slash. The vampire could not, would not wait to feed. She was determined to taste that tormenting scent of blood. They would die, and their blood would be her's if she had her way.
Lightning strikes on the poor guy in front of her.
Skye: HP = 66/74, PP = 38, EP = 52/64, Status = Fine
Rolls
Attacks (Skye) : Hit!
Damage: 1 + 2 + 20 - 13 = 12 damage per hit.
He's not dead.
Attack (Enemy) : Hit. This guy is extremely lucky. >.>
Damage: 4 + 3 + 15 - 7 = 15 damage. Skye's armor is destroyed.
Another 4 damage.
The sailor watched Skye lick the blood from her blade with a look of horror and terror, making no move to capitalize on the apparent opening. Before he could strike out at her again, however, Skye's blade flashed through the air once more, scoring deep cuts on the stunned man's body, but he recoiled away from the blow that would have taken his throat, instead only taking a wound across his face. Momentarily blinded by blade, he swung his sword wildly and somehow managed to score another hit on her.
His cutlass went higher this time, slashing across her collar and causing another narrow line of blood to form across her skin. Unfortunately, the cut also tore into her shirt, and the entire front of her clothing either dropped off completely or came apart. Regardless, in the end her chest was exposed, though the half blinded man probably couldn't be blamed for not noticing. The sailor at the bottom of the stairs, however, did notice, though with her display of her fangs he only let his gaze settle on Skye's bare chest for a moment. The stairs were still blocked by the blinded man, however, and he couldn't come up to join the battle.
On the deck, however, the battle was already practically over, her crew having wiped out over two thirds of the enemy fighters already and already surrounding the rest. Some had tried to surrender, but her crew had followed her orders to the letter, and the terror evident on the faces of the corner warriors as they battled against increasingly poor odds was plain for her to see even as far away as she was. The man at the bottom of the stairs turned to try and aid his comrades, leaving Skye with no one around her save the blinded man and the woman, who had apparently decided not to comment further.
Overconfident from the success of her attack, Skye was once again caught by a clumsy swing of a cutlass from this useless man in front of her. Inwardly, the vampire berated herself for fighting so clumsily. The swordsman within her cringed. Outwardly, she was enraged. Cheeks hot with embarrassment and fury, but it was just a little embarrassment and a lot of fury, Skye glared ferociously at the second man who was scampering off to meet his death another way.
Then her glowering eyes reverted back to the blinded man in front of her. This annoying little man had not only had the audacity to cut her twice but ruin one of her favorite shirts! Scowling horrifically, Skye began to slink quietly toward the blinded man in front of her. She let the vampire senses flood into her and take over her body. Not only could she sense the blood and the fear of the soldier in front of her, she had the ability, or so she assumed, to stalk him silently, stealthily. As soon as she was close enough, Skye struck out with her scimitar, intending to impale his stomach. Assuming that worked, she would waste no time. Eyes glowing angrily, she lashes out with her fangs, intending to not only sink into the flesh of his neck but pull the side of his neck right off. Blood spewing about like a fountain, the vampire shoves him to the ground and hungrily mauls his neck on all fours. Growling and sucking wildly, she sucks up the soldier's last remains of life, looking just like someone who hadn't fed properly in a month would look, wild and ravenous.
(I don't actually need to roll for this since Skye can't miss him.)
The man who had torn her clothing was half blinded by blood, and flailed his sword around wildly in an effort to ward Skye off. He failed miserably at this, however, and her blade sunk into his belly after one particularly wide swing. He let out a gasp of pain and dropped his sword, after which he was easy prey to the ravenous enraged vampire. His cry of terror and pain became a loud gurgle when her fangs sunk into his neck and promptly tore a good chunk of it right off, and he went down onto the deck, Skye following and feasting on his life's blood.
After that, Skye's memory became hazy as she sated her thirst upon the dying man, gorging herself on the blood welling up from his shredded neck. The sounds of the battle below, the sound of the rising winds, the occasional distant crack of thunder from the storm brewing overhead and the cry of horror that emanated from the woman standing on the deck behind her; All were drowned out beneath the pulsing of her victim's final heartbeats.
And, all too soon, Skye felt his heart beat its last, one last shudder on the muscle's part, trying to keep its bearer alive before going still. One last squirm from the man beneath her, and his final gurgle became a death rattle as his last breath left him.
Captain Skye rose, her unnatural hunger sated and the after effects of the minor wounds that she'd sustained gone. The battle on the deck was over, the last of the sailors on the ship they'd taken lying dead upon the deck. Even after having fed, the smell of blood was heavy and distracting upon the air, even mixed with the salty scent of the ocean. A glance behind her revealed the noblewoman finally showing some reaction, staring at her blood coated form with horror and terror, a hand held over her neck as if afraid that Skye might fling herself at her and attempt to do the same. Davek and two of her men were making their way up the steps to the bridge, but they were pointedly not looking at their captain.
Whether that was because she was covered in gore, or because they respected her enough to not stare at her breasts, or perhaps a combination of the two was up to Skye to guess. Regardless, her first mate quickly reached the top of the steps and said; "We've secured the deck, and we're clearing the areas below as we speak. The ship is ours, along with whatever lies within it. What would you like us to do with it? Sink it, or should we try to tow it in and claim it as salvage? The port of Viorica is within a week's distance...." He trailed off, having caught sight of the woman in the dress, "What would you like us to do with her, ma'am?"
The woman gulped nervously, still clutching at her neck, but she managed to get together a passable imitation of her previously held confident demeanor as she responded; "I have a business proposition that I would like to set before your captain, whoever he might be. And in private, for his ears only."
Finally defeating the poor wretch before her, Skye gorged on him victoriously. Looming over the sailor in an animal crouch, the vampire forced his shoulders into the deck roughly, preventing him from wriggling out of her grip. After tearing the chunk out of his neck, she dug into the wound with her teeth. Her lips worked on the flesh, pulling at it and spitting out the chunks as she guzzled the sailor's blood. Unlike the victims that the captain liked to keep in her quarters who she savored like sweet wine, Skye had no use for this man. His blood was like cheap beer. No use for that except to chug it as fast as you can to get drunk, and chug she did. Not a single movement of her feast was designed to pleasure in anyway, even if a man dying man with a gaping hole in his neck could feel pleasure, Skye wasn't giving him any. The pleasure was all Skye's. Just like chugging cheap beer, Skye got more into it the more she drank. The blood rushing down her throat was like water to a dehydrated sailor. The vampire kept up her guzzling feast until the last and final breath fled the man's lips sealing him off to death's cold embrace.
Concluding her feast, Skye jerked her head backward in her animal crouch. Drops of blood sprayed forward from her sudden jerking motion, crimson streams running down her lips and neck. The vampires eyes, smoldering like burning copper, scanned the deck of the ship like a predator. Satisfied that the battle was won and no stragglers remained, Skye rose to her feet, abandoning the soldier beneath her to death's clutches. The redhead staggered momentarily, the scent of blood flooding into her flared her nostrils. The deck swirled around her as if struck by vertigo from getting up too quickly. It wasn't long until Skye was able to conquer the sensation though. The vampire glanced over her shoulder and saw the woman staring at her, a delicious and long overdue expression of horror obvious in her features. Skye smirked malevolently at the woman, whip tongue snaking along the tips of her ivory white fangs. The redhead swiped the back of her hand across her lips, flicking blood from her fingers onto the deck nonchalantly. She clucked her tongue on her cheek and winked tauntingly at the woman.
As Davek started to address her, the captain scooped up her tattered tunic from the floor of the deck. Skye scowled at it but pulled the maroon fabric over her shoulders, tying it in a knot just under her breasts to fashion a make-shift cover for her chest, at least until she could get back to her chambers to get another shirt. Still scowling because the tied tunic looked rather silly, the redhead's cheeks flushed in embarrassment. At least it allowed her a little more dignity in front of her crew. She glared around, daring someone to comment on it. Content that no one did, Skye turned to Davek and was just about to respond when the noblewoman burst out with her indignant proposition.
The pirate's copper eyes sparkled with glee, and her lips curled into a wide grin of pure, unadulterated malevolence. She hadn't turned to the woman yet, so Davek was the beneficiary of her evilly gleeful expression. Ever so slowly, Skye turned around to face the woman. Hand on her hip ostentatiously and a crooked grin on her lips, Skye called up to the woman, "Oh? You want to speak to the captain do you sunshine? He is a very busy man." Skye glanced to her first mate with a smirk, "A rather mean and grumpy fellow too don't you think Davek?" The redhead sighed, making a rather dramatic show of raising and slumping her shoulders, pressing the hand not on her hip to her chest. "Alas, you wound me buttercup!" Skye's grin was getting wider, more crooked, and evil by the second. The vampire shifted her gaze to Davek again, "Aren't I friendly Davek?" Skye shrugged with a mock frown as if genuinely hurt, "Ah well.. You heard the lady! Take her to the captain's quarters! He'll be very interested to hear her proposal I'm sure!" The redhead then walked to the bottom of the stairs, and did her best to look sweet for the lady. "Personally darling, I would have chosen me," and with a wink, she whirled on her heel back to Davek and slapped her hand on his shoulder, giving him a nod. "Good work out there." The vampire surveyed the deck, "After the crew clears out the ship, just sink her into the abyss. She's fat and clunky, nothing compared to our sleek, lovely lady. Don't want to draw too much attention to ourselves when we make port." The redhead glanced over her shoulder at the woman in the dress one more time. "Get her comfortable in the captain's quarters," Skye said with a smirk. Then Skye turned to the remaining crew on the deck, standing before them and saluted. She grinned widely, pumping her fist in the air. "To the Seawolf! And rum! ......and the Captain!!" Skye laughed and mingled with the crew, congratulating each of them on the well-fought battle.
Davek, to his credit, tried as hard as he possibly could to hold a good poker face s Skye showed him her look of evil grin. He almost succeeded, his expression fighting between a smirk and a scowl, but she could see the glee returned in the man's eyes following the noblewoman's demands, and the smile eventually won the battle for his facial expression. Her first mate didn't respond verbally to the woman, allowing Skye to take the lead, and when she turned around and smirked at the cornered stranger she found the woman holding a much better straight face than Davek had.
Her first mate nodded at the question that Skye had directed at him, still smirking himself as he said; "Aye, the captain's not one to be parleyed with lightly. I'd hate to be one to waste his time!" The woman's expression twitched slightly, hints of her obvious fear appearing on her face, but Skye hardly needed that to tell that she was afraid. The vampire could practically taste the fear radiating from the woman, and the predator in her yearned to validate that fear despite the hearty meal she'd just taken.
Despite her fear, however, she still managed to look a little bit confused as Skye put on her dramatic airs, but Davek smiled back and nodded, "Aye! Not many on our humble vessel or as kind hearted as Skye here, once you get to know her!" His smirk changed to one as malicious and dangerous as Skye's, "Or as gentle." He trailed off meaningfully, the warning rather clear to one who knew the normal practices aboard the Seawolf in regards to Skye's guests. The stranger, however, did not, and she merely looked confused by the strange words. Trying to make herself composed, there was nonetheless a nervous tension in her voice as she said; "That is for me to worry about. I'm... Sure that he will see good reason to listen to me."
The two men who had followed Davek up to the bridge took either side of the strange noblewoman and led her away at Skye's orders, and Davek trailed her down the steps to the deck of the other vessel. Most of the bodies had already been searched, and the handful of men left on it were busy dumping the bodies over the side of the ship. The seawater below was red with blood, but Skye could see more than a handful of fins breaking the surface of the waves. "Thank you, ma'am. They were good sailors, but poor fighters. We only lost three men, and have six more injured. None are hurt too bad, but they'll not recover any time soon. We'll be missing Lorelai's healing soon enough, I think. And aye, we'll leave a keg of her own powder near the bottom once we've scoured her for valuables."
The noblewoman looked confused again at the exchange, and was then led across the plank and onto the Seawolf, disappearing into the door into Skye's own quarters shortly thereafter. Her crew paused in their tasks and joined Skye in a cheer, particularly at the promise of rum. They returned to their tasks, setting about clearing the ship with practiced efficiency. There was still much work to do, of course, and much of her crew were still belowdecks on the enemy vessel. She could join them down there and help sort through the ship's cargo for valuables, but Burtrend, her quartermaster, was already below and would probably know well enough what the Seawolf needed most. The captain's cabin of this ship hadn't been plundered yet, however, and it would likely have the items of greatest monetary value, if not practical value. Of course, she still looked slightly silly with her torn shirt tied under her breasts, and the mysterious woman was waiting for her in her cabin.
Skye stood at the edge of the captive ship, her new prize that she was about to rape, pillage, and send to the bottom of the ocean. Fingers wrapping around the railing, the vampire watched the scene developing below her with rapt interest. A swarm of fins converged on the crimson stained sea. The sharks were no-nonsense predators. They darted straight for their prey like a torpedo and ripped into the bodies as soon as they got a grip with their jagged teeth. To the vampire watching from above the surface, there wasn't much to see except the rapidly converging fins, the sudden bubbling up of the water upon contact and the bodies being pulled away into the abyss a few second later. Skye knew exactly what was happening though, and she imagined it in vivid detail. In her mind, the vampire saw the sharks ravenously thrashing side to side to rip their prey to shreds, tearing flesh from the bodies of the unfortunate dead sailors. They had only one thought, to feed. If not the ultimate predator, they were certainly one of the most fearsome, an animal with no thought but to feast. Skye wondered how much like the sharks she was. She identified with the overwhelming desire to feed, with the exhilaration of the hunt, and the euphoria of success. The vampire felt some sort of deep respect for the sharks, being fearsome predators just like herself. Still, there was something very primal to it all. There was no hint of emotion, no sense of mercy. For the shark there was no bargain. Either it fed or it died. There was no gray area. As a half-vampire pirate captain, Skye was full of gray area. She just didn't like to think or talk about it very often. Skye promised herself that she would never be like a shark, as much as she admired and respected them.
As Davek updated her on the status of her crew, Skye startled out of her reverie. The captain nodded, "Aye. I could tell what sort of types they were from leagues away. Not too surprising. These merchant ships are all the same. Mindless automatons, the lot of them!" Skye paused and glanced about the ship to make sure none of the crew listened in. She lowered her voice and gazed at her first mate meaningfully. "Alas, the fact that they attacked us first was strange, don't you think? Arrogance, perhaps? Stupidity? Definitely. Yet, I'm still suspicious. I believe there is more than meets the eye to this ship." The redhead's copper eyes darkened ever greater at the mention of Lorelai, her last blood donor and resident ship doctor. "The crew did an impressive job, but yes Lorelai has a knack for constantly reminding us of what we lack with her absence." Skye scowled for a moment, thinking of the healer woman but then shrugged, her face turning back to her usual crooked grin. "Ah well. Ye know what they say about idle chatter at sea. Fills the mind with nonsense!" The captain winked as she began to walk away, "If you find rum, let them celebrate, but don't let them drain it all in one night!"
As Skye began navigating through her crew, she offered congratulatory gestures to a few and laughed along with them. The captain wandered her way through all the people until she found Korelin, her navigator. The vampire grinned and touched her arm in a friendly gesture. "How is our heading to Viorica, Korelin? Any new developments that I should know of?" The captain began walking, indicating that she wanted the navigator to follow her. "Come with me. We'll see what kind of treasure this oaf of a captain had stored away in his quarters." As they made their way to the unfortunate former captain's quarters, Skye glanced up at the statue higher up on the ship, "I must say he looks much better now than he did before! He ought to thank us eh?" The vampire pirate smirked evilly. She was clearly pleased with herself and her crew on their great victory and wasn't about to pass up the chance to revel in it!
Davek shrugged slightly and replied; "I'd be set right set to agree with you captain. There wasn't any cargo in the top hold, at least not cargo meant for selling. Lots of supplies like food and water, shot and powder, plus lumber and canvas and such for quick repairs at sea, but no trade goods. Maybe there will be more in the lower holds, but it's odd to store such where they can't be easily removed when the ship reaches port." At the mention of rum, however, the man smirked and nodded, his own grin just as crooked as Skye's, "Aye aye ma'am! Wouldn't want to deprive the crew of their celebration, but we can't be drinking all of it at once!"
Skye found Korelin standing on the top deck of the opposing vessel, overseeing the dumping of the bodies into the sea. The woman had been at sea since she was fourteen, and now she was nearing her fiftieth year, but despite her age she had lost none of her mental acuity. Her navigator turned toward Skye with a respectful nod and evenly replied; "It's a straight shot back East to get to Viorica captain, with no islands or particularly dangerous waters between here and there. If we can get through this storm alright, we shouldn't have any major problems sailing there." When asked to accompany her to the captain's cabin, the older woman grinned and nodded, "Of course captain!"
When Skye indicated the statue standing on the other vessel's bridge, her navigator adjusted her glasses slightly and nodded, smirking. "Tis a strange form of immortality you've granted him really, if you think about it. Unless the statue he has become is smashed, he will live forever. I always wondered if they could perceive what was going on around them, those that you've turned to stone. It must be maddening if they can, being unable to affect anything in the world around them but watching it all."
The door into the captain's cabin was unlocked, and it opened to a fairly large, open chamber. The rear wall was a series of stained glass windows, and the only clear window (on the right side of the room) had a telescope sitting in it, staring outwards. The left wall had a small bookshelf on the side of the room closest to the door, but was dominated for the most part by a fairly large feather bed with a set of cabinets sitting underneath it. On the right wall, there was a chest in the far right corner next to the telescope and a wide oak desk with a padded chair sitting next to it. On the desk were a series of charts and maps, as well as an aging, leather bound book with no markings on the cover, probably a journal. Finally, on the wall with the door there were a trio of paintings, one of which was of the late captain himself, standing in what he probably thought was a heroic pose, standing with one knee raised up on a rock as he was view from the side, the setting sun behind him and a sandy beach forming the backdrop of the picture.
Another was of a fairly attractive woman lying on her side, her body barely covered by a translucent sheet of fabric draped over her. That painting was actually fairly well done, if edging slightly toward tasteless, and Korelin remarked; "I suppose that one's probably got a lot of long looks, ehh? During those long lonely nights..." The other two paintings were fairly unremarkable, one of a forest stream and the other of a mountain range, and neither was particularly well done. "I suppose we'd best get to searching the place. Where would you like to start?"
Skye came to a halt, hand at her hip and gazed up at the statue of the former captain at Korelin's philosophical words. The captain seemed to ponder the idea with great interest, eyes narrowing as if weighing options in her mind until she finally inclined her head toward Korelin. "Perhaps he'll be the first man to see the wonders at the bottom of the sea then, eh?" A teasing grin tugged at Skye's lip and she nudged her navigator's arm. "That is unless you want to put his ugly mug in your bedroom." Copper eyes flashing back to the statue one last time, the triumphant pirate captain smirked at him victoriously. "He's most certainly not setting foot in mine," Skye scoffed smugly as she laughed to herself, heading into the unfortunate captain's quarters with an obvious swagger in her gait.
Once inside, Skye surveyed the lair of her former attacker, looking for clues to explain his curious but ill-founded bravery. She was looking at the stained glass windows when Korelin's comment drew her attention to the risque painting of the scantily clad woman. The captain snickered, joining in on her navigator's mockery. "Oh I'm sure there were many of those, weren't there? Sooo very lonely nights out at sea, heh." Her eyes traveled over the curvy form of the woman. Even though she'd just fed, Skye's stomach twinged. The vampire inside her wanted to sink her fangs into that lovely but regretfully quite waxy flesh. "As for me, that painting would just make me hungry... and drive me batshit crazy if I didn't have anything to sink my fangs into." When Skye's eyes moved over to the captain's portrait, the redhead snorted in amusement. Copper eyebrow arched, Skye turned to Korelin and pointed at the portrait, giggling mischievously. "Ha! Look at that, he's doing it wrong!" Skye placed her hand at her hip, arching her hips to the side and gazed diagonally to the corner of the ceiling majestically. "If you're gonna do it, and I'm not quite sure ya should... it has to look just right. Has to be natural." Then she moved to another pose with both hands at her hips, pushing her thumbs into the pockets of her leather pants and smirked. "Am I right Korelin? Who looks better?" She pulled one of her hands out of her pockets and gestured to the portrait, "That troll over there... or me?" Skye gestured to herself with a look that suggested she knew just how awesome she was and snickered a little more until she finally sighed, "Yes I suppose we should get to work shouldn't we?"
The captain glanced around the quarters of her quarry, taking in the surroundings with her cold, calculating copper gaze. She pointed to the maps laying on the desk, "Why don't you take a look at those maps, see if you find anything interesting." Skye said as she walked briskly to the leather bound book that appeared to be a journal. The pirate looked down at it for a moment then scooped it up in her hands, flipping to the last entry to read through that as well as an entry or two before it. "Hmmm.. just what were you up to you scoundrel of a captain...?" Skye muttered to herself thoughtfully as she read the entries.
Korelin let out a bark of laughter at Skye's suggestion, and said; "It's the bottom of the ocean for him then, I've got little enough space in there as it is! And he wouldn't do much for the decorum, methinks. Maybe if he didn't have that stupid hat on, and was about twenty years younger I'd consider it!" Korelin nudged Skye back, smirking, and then followed her forth into the captain's cabin.
Korelin leaned back, placing a hand on her chin and adopting a look that was half contemplative and half a mirthful smirk, as if she were actually comparing Skye's pose to the portrait of the other vessel's captain. "Oh, definitely you, my captain. Of course, with the way you look, I'd think that you could pull off any pose!" Her navigator replied, smirking, but then nodded at the suggestion that they ought to get back to work. "Aye aye, captain."
Korelin took up the maps and placed them on the bed in the corner, leaving Skye to look through the captain's diary.
The last entry, dated the previous day, read;
The first of the islands that our mysterious passenger noted to us is within two days sailing at our current speed if Ogren's calculations regarding our position are correct. The weather continues to favor us, though a storm can be seen off on the horizon, and crew morale is good despite our lack of profitable cargo. These are dangerous waters, but I am confident that Lady Alvarien's word is good, and that we will see our just reward for braving these dangers if we can aid her in accomplishing her goals. She still refuses to tell me why she seeks these gems or why she is willing to forsake all of the treasures that she claims lie with them in order to obtain them, but if it means that I can retire and live out my remaining years in peace with my granddaughter, then I'm willing to put some faith in her word.
The lack of luxury cargo has had an unintended bonus, in that were were able to acquire a great deal more food and drink than normal, and as such we have been able to increase our rations. I haven't eaten this well in all my forty years at sea, and the large stock of rum that Fevor was able to acquire has been pleasant enough, if a bit crass for my appetites. Perhaps I'll finally cave, and open that bottle of elven wine that I've been saving in my storage chest for so long?
The sightings of strange creatures has continued despite my order that those on watch be denied access to our supply of rum. I begin to grow tired of the superstition of my men, who up until this journey have been nothing but reliable. Ogren is the worst, and I begin to wonder if I really should sign my vessel over to his care when I retire to the mainland. Perhaps I will have to rewrite my will and testament once I return home, but for now I have taken him off of night watch and put him on deck duty.
Lady Alvarien has adjusted surprisingly well to life at sea, all things considered. She is polite to the men, pleasant to speak with, stays well out of the way, makes no outrageous demands upon our supplies, and hasn't once complained at keeping quarters with Ogren despite the man's lecherous reputation. I have never once seen her stumble, not even in the heaviest of winds, though the weather has been nothing but favorable since our journey began. The islands she has asked us to bring her to weren't marked on any maps, but she assures us that they exist, and that we are on the correct heading. How she can know either for sure is beyond me, but with the amount that she paid for passage I am willing to accept her word on the matter.
Unfortunately, despite the favorable weather not all is well. The men on night watch have begun to speak of strange creatures visible within the water, though their reports are not consistent. Ogren alone has spoken of three completely different creatures, and as none are willing to back his word I am disinclined to believe him. The fact that six other sailors have spoken of similar creatures is concerning, but as none of them are consistent I am, for now, willing to pass it off as mere superstition, or perhaps an attempt to irritate me for the perceived slight at not carrying any valuable cargo.
Regardless, our journey is underway, and we will not turn back due to a fraction of the crew's irrational fears.
Finally, the entry prior to the one before the last one, dated another three days back;
Good fortune! While I was attempting to acquire cargo for our next voyage, a young noblewoman approached me, and offered to make me a business proposition. Normally, I would brush off such attempts, but this time something made me stop. I am quite glad that I did as well, as Lady Alvarien offered two thousand denarii for the assistance of my crew and I, plus an additional thousand when we return to port, in retrieving a series of artifacts that she says belong rightfully to her family. In addition, she assured us that there would be other treasure along with the items that she desires, and has said that we may take what we like of whatever we find. I am skeptical, but with the amount that she is offering and with the promise that the journey will take no more than a month, I decided to take a chance.
She will arrive on our vessel tomorrow morning, and we will depart immediately. Ogren, my faithful navigator, has looked at the maps that she has provided me and assured me that at least one of the islands she indicated exists even though they weren't on our own charts. He claimed that the place had a foul and dangerous reputation, and I am wary of such, but with the added firepower of our new guns I am confident that we can ward off any pirates that make a try at us, particularly with the grapeshot we picked up from the wreckage of the 'Amelia.'
Since we'll have to return to Viorica in order to drop off the Lady, I chose to forgo on further attempts to acquire cargo for sale, and instead purchased added stores of shot, powder, rum, water and foodstuffs. Some of the men, particular Fevor have raised complaint at this, but I am the captain of the 'Daedelus,' and I will not be questioned in my decisions by my hirelings, particularly the dozen new men who we took to replace those lost in that storm we had to go through in order to return here.
The captain's handwriting was long and flowing but not particularly difficult to read, allowing Skye to be done with the three entries just before Korelin announced; "Captain, these charts are almost identical to ours, except.... There are islands marked on here that aren't on ours! They look like they've been drawn in by hand, and recently too, within the last two weeks I'd guess off hand. We're within another day or two of one of them if this is accurate, but I don't know how we could have not known about it. This is a well traveled shipping lane, surely someone would have seen it."
Skye opened up the journal and flipped to the last entry. She cocked one of her red-orange eyebrows and snickered at the old captain's handwriting. It fit the type of man she thought him to be to the T. The vampire mused thoughtfully, her signature smirk growing as she read.
Ah so my new vixen is an adventurer! Sponsoring such a big mission all by herself... heheh. How ironic... and fortunate that she's managed to outlive her mercenaries. The crew will love the idea of a hidden treasure trove, and I could use a new adventure. We'll see if she keeps her secrets so close once I get through with her...
As she read, Skye took a short break to wander over to the storage chest, opening it up to find the captain's treasured elven wine. After a short perusal of the chest's contents, Skye scooped it up and set the bottle down on the desk to keep reading. The redhead grinned excitedly at the idea of strange monsters, but didn't give it much thought for the moment. Instead she eagerly turned to the previous entry.
Ha! Not just an adventurer I see... Well mannered, pleasant, and companionable. Ohoho this is going to be fun. Polite, driven, and willing to do anything for what she wants. ....I can taste her already! And once again those pesky secrets. Easy enough for me to acquire. Unmarked islands, mounds of treasure, and mysterious gems. This is almost too good to be true! My, my I've been looking for a good quest for a while now and a good reason to avoid making port to boot! I'll have to warn Davek about these creatures, however. Don't want the crew to wet themselves on night duty.
Excited to get moving, Skye skimmed through the third to last entry, chuckling at one line in particular. Ward off pirates indeed! If only you knew how wrong you were my dear captain... But then I wouldn't have this interesting adventure on my hands and this fine lady to drink from. Thanks I guess!
Skye looked up, snapping the leather book closed just as Korelin exclaimed about the islands on the charts. "Aye Korelin! It's confirmed in these here journal entries as well. It says here our new guest is quite the adventurer and claims these islands contain ancient artifacts and boatloads of treasure. I will most certainly have her come talk to you... once I've finished with her. If she is in anyway secretive, let me know. For now, take the charts and adjust our heading to the closest island. I'll inform Davek of the news. Now just see if there's anything you want in these drawers and we'll be off."
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