AN// This is a continuation of the That First Step... (SI). You want to start there. I would...
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AN// This is a continuation of the That First Step... (SI). You want to start there. I would also like to thank everyone that have helped me beta this story, without you guys it would be a lot worse.
Now, on with the story!
______________
I slowly found myself waking up to the sound of creaking wood and rope. Huh? Oh yeah. Ship. Slowly and carefully I moved to sit up, swinging my feet over the edge before running my silver hand through my hair, gathering it all up and tying it back into my normal ponytail.
Glancing to the side revealed that Ren and Sheila's hammocks were already empty. Rubbing the bridge of my nose, I did my best to ignore my growing headache. Two weeks since I was last in my real form, and only long enough to turn a bronze cannon into a new foreleg, at that.
After two weeks, the constant pressure of being in mortal form caused headaches to start. After three weeks, it got really bad.
Four weeks was hell.
Getting up with a small groan, I stretched and headed towards the stairs leading up on deck. The weather outside was actually quite nice, if warmer than I would have prefered. The sun was shining, and there were a couple of clouds in the sky. Not that many, though, most people would find the weather kind of pleasant, especially with the wind taking away most of the sting of the sun.
Being a blue dragon, though, I was more comfortable ten degrees below the freezing point of water, so I had to admit it was a bit too warm for my preferences.
Looking around, I tried to locate my current objectives; consorts, something to drink and something to eat.
Climbing up the stairs onto the raised rear deck of the ship, I walked up next to Sheila, "Morning."
"Midday more like it," she said with a smile, "Even Ren was up before you this time, lazy lizard."
I just grinned and stole a quick kiss, "Not everyone was raised on a farm, love."
She sighed and turned her back to the ocean, leaning against the railing as she looked up at me, "I still have trouble sleeping past sunrise. And I moved away from home fifteen years ago!"
"Time as a mercenary didn't help, I suspect", I said and brushed a strand of blonde hair behind her left ear, "So where did Ren run off to?"
"Scaring up some food in the galley," Sheila said with a smile, "I think she's tired of porridge and biscuits."
"Scaring the cook more like it," I chuckled before I shook my head, "Well, more variation would be nice."
*Ding Ding!*
"AHOY! SHIP ON THE HORIZON!"
I glanced up towards the lookout at the top of the main mast. Ship huh? Slowly turning, I scanned the horizon and it didn't take long until I spotted the speck just becoming visible in the direction we were traveling in.
"You spotted it?" Sheila asked as she moved to look in the same direction I was.
"Yeah, just about. No details, it's just at the horizon…" I said and shook my head, before spotting Alexis moving to the bow of the ship while carrying a spyglass, "Let's go check with Alexis. I mean, even if I saw a flag I wouldn't be able to tell if they were friendly or not."
Nodding, Sheila lead the way over to the ship's captain. I quickly followed her along the deck, doing my best to stay out of the way of the crew as they were scrambling to positions.
"Morning Captain," I said as we reached my fellow Planeswalker. While she originated from a Plane similar or almost identical to the modern Earth I was from originally, she had been stuck on this world for a bit over five years. That's one reason why she had this ship after all; she'd had plenty of time to gather favours, money, and powers here.
Alexis glanced up from the spyglass briefly, "Morning," she said, "Finally decided to wake up?"
"I didn't sleep that long…" I grumbled and moved to stand next to her, "See anything?"
"Still a bit far away," Alexis answered and lowered her spyglass, "Can't see the colors yet. You?"
"Not clearly," I admitted, "But luckily I can fix that."
We were in the middle of the fricking ocean, so I barely even needed to pull to gather a bit of blue mana. Sending a scrying viewpoint flying quickly towards the horizon, I held my silver hand forward, forming a viewing sphere in the air above it.
Some ten or so seconds later, the viewpoint finally moved close to the ship, flying along it so Alexis could get a good look at it, along with the red flag with the golden crown in the middle.
Alexis slid a hand down to rest on the hilt of her sword, "That's a merchantman from Aridia."
Her first officer Boltar spoke up from her other side, "Heavy in the water too, Captain. She's carrying cargo."
Alexis slowly nodded in thought, before she looked over at me and Sheila, "She's a good target."
I looked at the ship through the viewing portal before sending the viewpoint into the ship through the hull. Seriously, this wasn't even remotely fair. They didn't have any kind of scrying protection.
"Hmh, are those spices?" I asked, "It's a bit dark, but those look like spices to me. And food. If I'm not wrong those are bales of cloth as well."
Boltar looked like he wanted to sell me his right arm to learn how to use the scrying spell, then he looked at Alexis, "That's a perfect target, Captain."
I shrugged, "We're guests, Alexis. If you want to go after that ship, go ahead."
She looked at the scrying portal for a moment before she looked over at Boltar, "Get the men ready, but keep things quiet for now. The closer we get before we raise the black, the better. We have a prize to catch."
"Yes, Captain!"
He hurried off to get everyone ready, as Alexis turned to us, "Thank you. It'll help morale quite a bit, the loss of the silver and the cannon wasn't popular."
"The ship is hungry, time to catch some prey," I said and brought the viewpoint back out, moving it around the ship to look for cannons, "Want some help?"
That got a small smile from Alexis, "Dragons. Yes please."
Now, on with the story!
______________
I slowly found myself waking up to the sound of creaking wood and rope. Huh? Oh yeah. Ship. Slowly and carefully I moved to sit up, swinging my feet over the edge before running my silver hand through my hair, gathering it all up and tying it back into my normal ponytail.
Glancing to the side revealed that Ren and Sheila's hammocks were already empty. Rubbing the bridge of my nose, I did my best to ignore my growing headache. Two weeks since I was last in my real form, and only long enough to turn a bronze cannon into a new foreleg, at that.
After two weeks, the constant pressure of being in mortal form caused headaches to start. After three weeks, it got really bad.
Four weeks was hell.
Getting up with a small groan, I stretched and headed towards the stairs leading up on deck. The weather outside was actually quite nice, if warmer than I would have prefered. The sun was shining, and there were a couple of clouds in the sky. Not that many, though, most people would find the weather kind of pleasant, especially with the wind taking away most of the sting of the sun.
Being a blue dragon, though, I was more comfortable ten degrees below the freezing point of water, so I had to admit it was a bit too warm for my preferences.
Looking around, I tried to locate my current objectives; consorts, something to drink and something to eat.
Climbing up the stairs onto the raised rear deck of the ship, I walked up next to Sheila, "Morning."
"Midday more like it," she said with a smile, "Even Ren was up before you this time, lazy lizard."
I just grinned and stole a quick kiss, "Not everyone was raised on a farm, love."
She sighed and turned her back to the ocean, leaning against the railing as she looked up at me, "I still have trouble sleeping past sunrise. And I moved away from home fifteen years ago!"
"Time as a mercenary didn't help, I suspect", I said and brushed a strand of blonde hair behind her left ear, "So where did Ren run off to?"
"Scaring up some food in the galley," Sheila said with a smile, "I think she's tired of porridge and biscuits."
"Scaring the cook more like it," I chuckled before I shook my head, "Well, more variation would be nice."
*Ding Ding!*
"AHOY! SHIP ON THE HORIZON!"
I glanced up towards the lookout at the top of the main mast. Ship huh? Slowly turning, I scanned the horizon and it didn't take long until I spotted the speck just becoming visible in the direction we were traveling in.
"You spotted it?" Sheila asked as she moved to look in the same direction I was.
"Yeah, just about. No details, it's just at the horizon…" I said and shook my head, before spotting Alexis moving to the bow of the ship while carrying a spyglass, "Let's go check with Alexis. I mean, even if I saw a flag I wouldn't be able to tell if they were friendly or not."
Nodding, Sheila lead the way over to the ship's captain. I quickly followed her along the deck, doing my best to stay out of the way of the crew as they were scrambling to positions.
"Morning Captain," I said as we reached my fellow Planeswalker. While she originated from a Plane similar or almost identical to the modern Earth I was from originally, she had been stuck on this world for a bit over five years. That's one reason why she had this ship after all; she'd had plenty of time to gather favours, money, and powers here.
Alexis glanced up from the spyglass briefly, "Morning," she said, "Finally decided to wake up?"
"I didn't sleep that long…" I grumbled and moved to stand next to her, "See anything?"
"Still a bit far away," Alexis answered and lowered her spyglass, "Can't see the colors yet. You?"
"Not clearly," I admitted, "But luckily I can fix that."
We were in the middle of the fricking ocean, so I barely even needed to pull to gather a bit of blue mana. Sending a scrying viewpoint flying quickly towards the horizon, I held my silver hand forward, forming a viewing sphere in the air above it.
Some ten or so seconds later, the viewpoint finally moved close to the ship, flying along it so Alexis could get a good look at it, along with the red flag with the golden crown in the middle.
Alexis slid a hand down to rest on the hilt of her sword, "That's a merchantman from Aridia."
Her first officer Boltar spoke up from her other side, "Heavy in the water too, Captain. She's carrying cargo."
Alexis slowly nodded in thought, before she looked over at me and Sheila, "She's a good target."
I looked at the ship through the viewing portal before sending the viewpoint into the ship through the hull. Seriously, this wasn't even remotely fair. They didn't have any kind of scrying protection.
"Hmh, are those spices?" I asked, "It's a bit dark, but those look like spices to me. And food. If I'm not wrong those are bales of cloth as well."
Boltar looked like he wanted to sell me his right arm to learn how to use the scrying spell, then he looked at Alexis, "That's a perfect target, Captain."
I shrugged, "We're guests, Alexis. If you want to go after that ship, go ahead."
She looked at the scrying portal for a moment before she looked over at Boltar, "Get the men ready, but keep things quiet for now. The closer we get before we raise the black, the better. We have a prize to catch."
"Yes, Captain!"
He hurried off to get everyone ready, as Alexis turned to us, "Thank you. It'll help morale quite a bit, the loss of the silver and the cannon wasn't popular."
"The ship is hungry, time to catch some prey," I said and brought the viewpoint back out, moving it around the ship to look for cannons, "Want some help?"
That got a small smile from Alexis, "Dragons. Yes please."
I really want to put a "Ah here we go again" meme pic. But as I fear the mods, I'll just say that I want to put the meme in here.
Srsly its been roughly 5 years now since you started this story and my god those 5 years. I don't even remember where we were last time at the end of the previous thread.
So anyway congratulations of 5 years of writing since That First Step
Srsly its been roughly 5 years now since you started this story and my god those 5 years. I don't even remember where we were last time at the end of the previous thread.
So anyway congratulations of 5 years of writing since That First Step
- Location
- Christchurch, NZ
Atregos seems oddly chill with likely violent assault, murder, and theft here? I get that it's his friend, and he might not want to interfere, but he doesn't seem to care at all. Am I just remembering him wrong?
Krazyfan1
Worrying for the future.
- Location
- Australia
Alternatively, its less "Violent assault, murder, and theft" and more, "Scaring them, light bruises at worst, and removing stuff they don't necessarily need"
Tranquil Zebra
Equid of Peerless Tranquility
- Location
- Norway
Pirates were considered hostis humani generis, or "enemies of mankind" in the old days. I never really bought into the whole romanticization of piracy. They might have been democratic, socially liberal and somewhat egalitarian, but they were still outlaws making a living of plundering the fruit of honest labour.
The founder of a multiplanar trading emporium basically just went "Lol, sure we'll help terrorize and rob these honest traders because a good friend lost her moral compass somewhere these last five years" and it's sort of putting me off. Piracy consist of terrorizing and robbing people at the least, up to and including murder if the other crew fights back. This is basically grabbing a gun and robbing a store writ large. Why is it okay if you fly a pirate flag?
The founder of a multiplanar trading emporium basically just went "Lol, sure we'll help terrorize and rob these honest traders because a good friend lost her moral compass somewhere these last five years" and it's sort of putting me off. Piracy consist of terrorizing and robbing people at the least, up to and including murder if the other crew fights back. This is basically grabbing a gun and robbing a store writ large. Why is it okay if you fly a pirate flag?
Grey Rook
Genuine Nerd
- Location
- The Quantum Foam
Because the setting goes out of its way to make it okay. Because the writing is set up to make it okay. Because the people Atregos identifies as Good Guys think it's okay. Like with most everything else, it's just Protagonist Centered Morality. I'd bet that if someone else decided to pirate his property, he'd be outraged, but it's fine when he does it himself to someone else.
To be fair, privateers weren't; they were more like enemy combatants. Whether there's a moral difference is, of course, up for debate.
It also depends on how big of assholes the nation in question is. The Spanish Imperial fleet during the age of sail were quite willing to brutalize and enslave anyone who got in their way or they thought they could squeeze gold out of.
And as @Vanigo said, if Alexis and her ship are acting as privateers, it's a slightly different situation.
And as @Vanigo said, if Alexis and her ship are acting as privateers, it's a slightly different situation.
They are; it came up towards the end of the last thread.
"Think you can stop them in their tracks?" Alexis asked, "Are you planning on using weather magic?"
I shook my head, "Weather magic isn't exactly my cup of tea, but I have some tricks. Can't promise they'll stop, but I think they will be too confused to steer their ship," I said, and looked towards the slowly approaching vessel.
Alexis nodded and turned to Boltar, "The crew?"
"Ready, Captain," he said with a nod, "The guns are ready."
"If we do this right, we might not need them," she said, and looked towards Ren, "Shields ready?"
Rengosa nodded, having dropped the illusion covering her armour in again, "I can't promise I will be able to block a full salvo from that thing. If they have as much of a punch as Gnomish or Goblin weapons…"
"Anything you can do would be appreciated. Sheila?"
"Ready," she said and took a slow breath, "Let's do this then."
Putting a foot on the rigging, she gripped a rope for support as she peered forward towards the approaching ship, the wind tugging on her skirt and shirt.
We waited as she looked towards the ship as it got closer and closer, before she yelled back, "Mister Boltar."
He nodded and turned to yell, "Raise the black! Hard to port!"
The ship started to list, creaking hard in the wind as the men started to shift the sails around. I, on the other hand, focused on the other ship and pulled on my pools of mana. Pouring magic into an illusion spell, I wrapped it around the enemy vessel, twisting and pulling as I wove the magic into a rather simple but potent illusion I tied to the ship.
Anyone in its area of effect couldn't talk. Or rather, couldn't understand each other. Difficult to command a ship when everyone on it speaks nothing but gibberish.
There we go.
Now, to slow things down a bit…
Pulling on my magic again, I cast a second spell. This one much simpler, but also an illusion. Nothing as complex as the last one.
This one was just heightened an emotion. Dread. Not as random as fear, but just as powerful. They had already seen the flag, now we just needed to wait for…
The ship turned hard away from us. The wind caught the sails wrong, and they stopped billowing and just kind of fluttered.
Now…
Canceling the speech illusion, I stepped up and put my hand on the railing and waited. Come on… you're prey. Disabled, slower, larger, under-armed. The hunter approaches. Nothing you can do.
Do the sensible thing. Sacrifice something to get the predator to show mercy.
Their flag started to lower, and a plain white one started to raise in its place to the cheers of Alexis' crew.
There we go. I kept the illusion going a bit longer to make a point before dropping that one as well, as I glanced up towards the black flag. Alexis had an interesting one, a white wand and sword crossed on a black background with a pair of angel wings.
Hmh. She really should throw some dragons in there as well.
"Do I want to know?" Alexis asked as she stepped down, her hand lifting from her sword.
"Just some basic illusions," I said and grinned, "With no real magical defenses and not expecting it, well…"
She patted my shoulder once as she moved past with a smile, "Mister Bolton, bring us up alongside them. Men at the ready."
"Aye, Captain!"
"Expecting resistance?" I asked her quietly while keeping my eye on the prey ship.
She glanced at me briefly and then shook her head, "No. Nobody with any sense would use a false white flag. But since when does everyone have sense? But better to be careful than not."
Very true.
I shook my head, "Weather magic isn't exactly my cup of tea, but I have some tricks. Can't promise they'll stop, but I think they will be too confused to steer their ship," I said, and looked towards the slowly approaching vessel.
Alexis nodded and turned to Boltar, "The crew?"
"Ready, Captain," he said with a nod, "The guns are ready."
"If we do this right, we might not need them," she said, and looked towards Ren, "Shields ready?"
Rengosa nodded, having dropped the illusion covering her armour in again, "I can't promise I will be able to block a full salvo from that thing. If they have as much of a punch as Gnomish or Goblin weapons…"
"Anything you can do would be appreciated. Sheila?"
"Ready," she said and took a slow breath, "Let's do this then."
Putting a foot on the rigging, she gripped a rope for support as she peered forward towards the approaching ship, the wind tugging on her skirt and shirt.
We waited as she looked towards the ship as it got closer and closer, before she yelled back, "Mister Boltar."
He nodded and turned to yell, "Raise the black! Hard to port!"
The ship started to list, creaking hard in the wind as the men started to shift the sails around. I, on the other hand, focused on the other ship and pulled on my pools of mana. Pouring magic into an illusion spell, I wrapped it around the enemy vessel, twisting and pulling as I wove the magic into a rather simple but potent illusion I tied to the ship.
Anyone in its area of effect couldn't talk. Or rather, couldn't understand each other. Difficult to command a ship when everyone on it speaks nothing but gibberish.
There we go.
Now, to slow things down a bit…
Pulling on my magic again, I cast a second spell. This one much simpler, but also an illusion. Nothing as complex as the last one.
This one was just heightened an emotion. Dread. Not as random as fear, but just as powerful. They had already seen the flag, now we just needed to wait for…
The ship turned hard away from us. The wind caught the sails wrong, and they stopped billowing and just kind of fluttered.
Now…
Canceling the speech illusion, I stepped up and put my hand on the railing and waited. Come on… you're prey. Disabled, slower, larger, under-armed. The hunter approaches. Nothing you can do.
Do the sensible thing. Sacrifice something to get the predator to show mercy.
Their flag started to lower, and a plain white one started to raise in its place to the cheers of Alexis' crew.
There we go. I kept the illusion going a bit longer to make a point before dropping that one as well, as I glanced up towards the black flag. Alexis had an interesting one, a white wand and sword crossed on a black background with a pair of angel wings.
Hmh. She really should throw some dragons in there as well.
"Do I want to know?" Alexis asked as she stepped down, her hand lifting from her sword.
"Just some basic illusions," I said and grinned, "With no real magical defenses and not expecting it, well…"
She patted my shoulder once as she moved past with a smile, "Mister Bolton, bring us up alongside them. Men at the ready."
"Aye, Captain!"
"Expecting resistance?" I asked her quietly while keeping my eye on the prey ship.
She glanced at me briefly and then shook her head, "No. Nobody with any sense would use a false white flag. But since when does everyone have sense? But better to be careful than not."
Very true.
Could you link to the last thread, too? It has been a while, and it would be useful to be able to check where the story left off.
the repeated 'But doesn't work well. You can probably just cut the second one out and leave it as 'Better to be careful than not.'
@Vanigo linked to one of the later parts of the last story just prior to Hiver's update.
It would still be nice to have it at the top of the page with the link back to the very start of the series.
"You know," Sheila said softly, "I remember the last time we encountered pirates." We were watching the other ship as Alexis conversed with their captain, the crew gathered up in the upper hold. Alexis' crew was watching them, weapons ready
I nodded, "That was different."
"Different how, really?" She asked, and put her hands on the railing.
I frowned a bit at her, "This isn't done out of malice or greed. We aren't hurting them unncessarily, the prey was taken cleanly to feed the crew of this ship. I'm not seeing anybody getting captured and sold into slavery, this is a war thing. Besides, we are the hunters this time."
Sheila looked thoughtful as she looked down at the other ship, "Maybe. It just feels… I don't know."
"In any case, Alexis deserve our help for all she's done," Rengosa said and moved up on Sheila's other side, "That alone make this worth it."
That got a nod from Sheila.
"Sweep the hold from the aft!" Alexis yelled in command, and a dozen of her crew moved to follow her orders. She then glanced back at us and pointed at me, before motioning for me to come.
"And now she's giving orders," I sighed, "What an unusual circumstance. Being ordered around by a woman, what is the world coming to."
That got a laugh from both my consorts, and Sheila grinned, "Something you aren't used to?"
"Never happened before."
With that, I walked down from the raised superstructure, and then over the plank laid between the railings of the two ships. Jumping down onto the deck, I looked around before I moved up to Alexis and the other captain.
The other captain was a older man with longer dark hair starting to go gray, a long beard, and green eyes.
"Captain," I said, giving her a nod before doing the same to him, "Other Captain."
Alexis sighed slightly, "Atregos, let me introduce Captain Hornswallow. He wished to meet the man that created those illusions around his ship."
"I have never seen such a thing, Mister Atregos," he said, "Nor have I seen such as your hand."
I raised my silver hand turned it over, "Eh, not my best work. But it works for now. You're a mage?"
He shook his head, "No, don't have the aptitude."
"Where is your ship mage?" Alexis asked, "All ships have one. Where is yours?"
Captain Hornswallow sighed, "Not at the moment, we were on our way to find a new one. Mister Darwell was lost in a storm two weeks ago trying to keep the ship from breaking apart."
"I take it he was successful then?" I asked, and glanced around. If I was a mage looking to cause maximum confusion and damage, where would I be?
Captain Hornswallow shook his head, "Not exactly. Fell and broke his neck on his way up the stairs."
Nodding, I quickly wove a spell to let me see magic, before I slowly turned and looked around. Nothing on the deck or upper hold. Slight shine where the fabric was below decks. But it seemed to be in every crate. Enchanted fabric?
No telltale glow of a mage. At least none I could identify. Alexis, Ren, and Sheila all glowed, both them and their equipment. Alexis' sword shone like it was made of liquid moonlight.
"As far as I can see, Captain," I said, "he is telling the truth. I don't see anyone using magic onboard. The fabric seems to be enchanted, however."
That got a satisfied nod from Alexis, "Very well, Captain," she said and turned back to him, "Let's go over your cargo manifest. Let's see what you can spare for us."
He looked surprised before he nodded, "...It seems like your reputation is true, Alexis of the Angels," he said, "Very well. Let's go over the cargo manifest. Would you care for a cup of tea, my Lady?"
"Thank you, that would be lovely."
I couldn't help but be amused as the two of them left for the cabin. I was hardly worried that he would somehow overpower her. The idea was outright silly.
But it seemed Alexis had gotten herself a reputation on this Plane. A good one as well, even despite her current profession as a privateer.
Turning around, I walked to look down at the men subdued in the hold. Just stay where you are and you'll be fine.
I nodded, "That was different."
"Different how, really?" She asked, and put her hands on the railing.
I frowned a bit at her, "This isn't done out of malice or greed. We aren't hurting them unncessarily, the prey was taken cleanly to feed the crew of this ship. I'm not seeing anybody getting captured and sold into slavery, this is a war thing. Besides, we are the hunters this time."
Sheila looked thoughtful as she looked down at the other ship, "Maybe. It just feels… I don't know."
"In any case, Alexis deserve our help for all she's done," Rengosa said and moved up on Sheila's other side, "That alone make this worth it."
That got a nod from Sheila.
"Sweep the hold from the aft!" Alexis yelled in command, and a dozen of her crew moved to follow her orders. She then glanced back at us and pointed at me, before motioning for me to come.
"And now she's giving orders," I sighed, "What an unusual circumstance. Being ordered around by a woman, what is the world coming to."
That got a laugh from both my consorts, and Sheila grinned, "Something you aren't used to?"
"Never happened before."
With that, I walked down from the raised superstructure, and then over the plank laid between the railings of the two ships. Jumping down onto the deck, I looked around before I moved up to Alexis and the other captain.
The other captain was a older man with longer dark hair starting to go gray, a long beard, and green eyes.
"Captain," I said, giving her a nod before doing the same to him, "Other Captain."
Alexis sighed slightly, "Atregos, let me introduce Captain Hornswallow. He wished to meet the man that created those illusions around his ship."
"I have never seen such a thing, Mister Atregos," he said, "Nor have I seen such as your hand."
I raised my silver hand turned it over, "Eh, not my best work. But it works for now. You're a mage?"
He shook his head, "No, don't have the aptitude."
"Where is your ship mage?" Alexis asked, "All ships have one. Where is yours?"
Captain Hornswallow sighed, "Not at the moment, we were on our way to find a new one. Mister Darwell was lost in a storm two weeks ago trying to keep the ship from breaking apart."
"I take it he was successful then?" I asked, and glanced around. If I was a mage looking to cause maximum confusion and damage, where would I be?
Captain Hornswallow shook his head, "Not exactly. Fell and broke his neck on his way up the stairs."
Nodding, I quickly wove a spell to let me see magic, before I slowly turned and looked around. Nothing on the deck or upper hold. Slight shine where the fabric was below decks. But it seemed to be in every crate. Enchanted fabric?
No telltale glow of a mage. At least none I could identify. Alexis, Ren, and Sheila all glowed, both them and their equipment. Alexis' sword shone like it was made of liquid moonlight.
"As far as I can see, Captain," I said, "he is telling the truth. I don't see anyone using magic onboard. The fabric seems to be enchanted, however."
That got a satisfied nod from Alexis, "Very well, Captain," she said and turned back to him, "Let's go over your cargo manifest. Let's see what you can spare for us."
He looked surprised before he nodded, "...It seems like your reputation is true, Alexis of the Angels," he said, "Very well. Let's go over the cargo manifest. Would you care for a cup of tea, my Lady?"
"Thank you, that would be lovely."
I couldn't help but be amused as the two of them left for the cabin. I was hardly worried that he would somehow overpower her. The idea was outright silly.
But it seemed Alexis had gotten herself a reputation on this Plane. A good one as well, even despite her current profession as a privateer.
Turning around, I walked to look down at the men subdued in the hold. Just stay where you are and you'll be fine.
Last edited:
- Location
- Land of Confusion
So, when are you going to have Atregos visit Avatar-land?
If you're going to use historical examples of piracy, you should include examples of whom the pirates were preying on; in particular, the piratical culture the Western culture of Earth romanticizes was a fairly predictable reaction to the East India Company, which was arguably ethically even worse than Blackbeard. And that's saying something.
Grey Rook
Genuine Nerd
- Location
- The Quantum Foam
I seem to recall that Hiver has repeatedly stated that he doesn't watch anime, so probably never.
Kind of a pity, I think, but there's nothing to be done about it.
- Location
- Land of Confusion
Avatar isn't anime, but that's probably quibbling. Pity.
That's actually one of the like... four, I watched. I have seen Avatar, about half of Naruto, Girls Und Panzer and I did enjoy Macross Frontier.
Tranquil Zebra
Equid of Peerless Tranquility
- Location
- Norway
I would like to see him swoop into the Divinity universe around the time of Dragon Commander. The undead are basically just people, and the lizards will probably call him an inferior creature at some point.
girador
There are only four circles in this picture
- Location
- behind a screen
Honestly him meeting a priest of Rathma in Sanctuary would probably be really helpful for his opinions on necromancy.
We left the captured ship behind, and sailed on. I stood on the aft deck, watching as she disappeared into the distance.
Behind me, the crew started to sing.
I understood why, they had taken a prize. A valuable one as well; those enchanted fabrics would be sold at a nice price. With no damage taken, and no deaths on either side.
Minimal danger to them. That was a lot to celebrate.
Alexis even left the spices behind onboard the merchant vessel. A good tactic… they didn't lose all of their cargo, and didn't lose any men. They would continue sailing and trading. And would be more willing to surrender in the future, knowing they wouldn't be hurt and that they wouldn't lose all of their cargo.
Wise move.
"Mister Atregos, may I have a word?"
I looked to the side, seeing Alexis' second in command moving up to stand next to me, "Can I help you, Mister Barlow?"
"It is your woman, sir. Miss Ren," he said quietly, "The way she dresses… it is attracting attention among the men."
I nodded, and returned to watching the ship in the distance; it was raising its sails, and they were starting to fill, "Would be surprised if she didn't."
"You're not worried, sir?"
"If I thought there was some danger, perhaps," I said and shrugged, "But she can handle herself. However, you may wish to warn your men to keep their hands to themselves, or they might lose them."
He sighed, "Wish it was that simple. A beautiful woman like that… they may not listen."
"I suppose you may have to stock up on hooks and peglegs then," I suggested, raising my eyebrows at him, "They seem to handle Captain Castle well enough. Rengosa is just as, if not more, dangerous."
"I'll pass the word, sir."
"Please do. And also let them know that we are here as personal guests of Captain Castle. If they were to somehow survive Rengosa and myself, they would have to answer to her."
"And me," Sheila said as she joined us, "I'll have a word with her though, we both need new clothes," she commented, and leaned against the railing as she looked at her robes, "These don't exactly fit in around here."
"I think you look good," I supplied with a smile as Barlow struck a retreat with a nod, heading back towards the stairs.
That got a smile from her, and she moved to stand a bit closer to me, "Thank you. But these things are kind of… warm in this weather."
I grinned, "You're actually warm for once!"
She shook her head, "My robes are fine. But they aren't made for tropical climates or deserts."
"A bit silly considering how often we end up in one," I teased, before I shrugged, "Kinda a shame that enchanting clothes for that kind of thing wastes enchanting capacitance that could be filled with useful things."
She nodded, and I slipped my arm around her waist, "Yeah," she agreed, and frowned, "...I'll ask Alexis if she has any spares of what she's wearing. It's not just the warmth; long robes aren't the most practical to wear aboard a ship, especially if we're to spend quite a bit of time here."
I'd be the last person to complain about my Consorts in short skirts, so I just nodded, "Sounds like a plan."
"Alexis said we're heading for a port where we'll take on supplies," she continued with a small frown, "And that there was a lead there for the artifact."
"Hope so," I agreed, "I have some idea of what we need, but hopefully there will be some money left over for some metal, wood, and some other stuff. We're dangerously undergeared, all of us."
Sheila looked thoughtful, "Everything I have is fully enchanted, though. You enchanted it. Even these spare robes."
"Clearly not enchanted enough," I protested, and gave her a nuzzle at the side of her head, "We need shields, armour, weapons. Defenses and backups."
Sheila leaned slightly against me and frowned, "I prefer my magic to weapons, you know that. I've never really trained with anything like that, a little with a crossbow. And I know Ren hasn't either."
I smiled at her, "That we can fix. About time it's my turn to teach you two something."
"I'll think about it, okay?"
"Sure."
Behind me, the crew started to sing.
I understood why, they had taken a prize. A valuable one as well; those enchanted fabrics would be sold at a nice price. With no damage taken, and no deaths on either side.
Minimal danger to them. That was a lot to celebrate.
Alexis even left the spices behind onboard the merchant vessel. A good tactic… they didn't lose all of their cargo, and didn't lose any men. They would continue sailing and trading. And would be more willing to surrender in the future, knowing they wouldn't be hurt and that they wouldn't lose all of their cargo.
Wise move.
"Mister Atregos, may I have a word?"
I looked to the side, seeing Alexis' second in command moving up to stand next to me, "Can I help you, Mister Barlow?"
"It is your woman, sir. Miss Ren," he said quietly, "The way she dresses… it is attracting attention among the men."
I nodded, and returned to watching the ship in the distance; it was raising its sails, and they were starting to fill, "Would be surprised if she didn't."
"You're not worried, sir?"
"If I thought there was some danger, perhaps," I said and shrugged, "But she can handle herself. However, you may wish to warn your men to keep their hands to themselves, or they might lose them."
He sighed, "Wish it was that simple. A beautiful woman like that… they may not listen."
"I suppose you may have to stock up on hooks and peglegs then," I suggested, raising my eyebrows at him, "They seem to handle Captain Castle well enough. Rengosa is just as, if not more, dangerous."
"I'll pass the word, sir."
"Please do. And also let them know that we are here as personal guests of Captain Castle. If they were to somehow survive Rengosa and myself, they would have to answer to her."
"And me," Sheila said as she joined us, "I'll have a word with her though, we both need new clothes," she commented, and leaned against the railing as she looked at her robes, "These don't exactly fit in around here."
"I think you look good," I supplied with a smile as Barlow struck a retreat with a nod, heading back towards the stairs.
That got a smile from her, and she moved to stand a bit closer to me, "Thank you. But these things are kind of… warm in this weather."
I grinned, "You're actually warm for once!"
She shook her head, "My robes are fine. But they aren't made for tropical climates or deserts."
"A bit silly considering how often we end up in one," I teased, before I shrugged, "Kinda a shame that enchanting clothes for that kind of thing wastes enchanting capacitance that could be filled with useful things."
She nodded, and I slipped my arm around her waist, "Yeah," she agreed, and frowned, "...I'll ask Alexis if she has any spares of what she's wearing. It's not just the warmth; long robes aren't the most practical to wear aboard a ship, especially if we're to spend quite a bit of time here."
I'd be the last person to complain about my Consorts in short skirts, so I just nodded, "Sounds like a plan."
"Alexis said we're heading for a port where we'll take on supplies," she continued with a small frown, "And that there was a lead there for the artifact."
"Hope so," I agreed, "I have some idea of what we need, but hopefully there will be some money left over for some metal, wood, and some other stuff. We're dangerously undergeared, all of us."
Sheila looked thoughtful, "Everything I have is fully enchanted, though. You enchanted it. Even these spare robes."
"Clearly not enchanted enough," I protested, and gave her a nuzzle at the side of her head, "We need shields, armour, weapons. Defenses and backups."
Sheila leaned slightly against me and frowned, "I prefer my magic to weapons, you know that. I've never really trained with anything like that, a little with a crossbow. And I know Ren hasn't either."
I smiled at her, "That we can fix. About time it's my turn to teach you two something."
"I'll think about it, okay?"
"Sure."
Crossing my arms, I stood at the bow watching the anchors drop, while the crew worked hard to pull the sails back up. Likely was some kind of fancy name for it I didn't know.
The island we stopped at was clearly inhabited. There were jetties and smaller boats around, along with stone buildings, at least a hundred or so.
Not a big place, not nearly big enough to hold the Archangel at a dock, but large enough to resupply at. Now was the question of how to get the supplies I needed. Ren had carried some of our gold for trading. Sadly, we had already sold the majority of it.
A couple of necklaces and rings remained, but that was it.
I needed supplies to get everything working. That was the problem with not really being a combat spellcaster. I mean, I could cast spells, but that's not really my speciality. Enchanting was, and I needed something to enchant for that to work.
Not like I could just enchant nothing.
...Could I?
I mean… enchanting was magic, and it worked along lines of magic that was woven around the object. The shape of the object or the structure didn't really matter, did it? Well, what it was made of did, because the material caused troub-
Something hit my chest, and I just barely managed to catch the leather pouch before it fell to the ground. I blinked at it in surprise, before raising my eyes to Alexis, "Huh?"
"Your, Sheila, and Ren's shares of the prize we took," she clarified, "Usually it's handed out after it's actually sold, but I figured you three needed to stock up. Consider it a loan."
I grinned, "Thanks," and tossed it over to Sheila as she and Ren joined us. They were wearing more or less the same kind of thing as Alexis now, and I had to admit it looked good on all of them.
Sheila shook her head and tossed it back to me, "Have fun."
"Huh?"
"You know what you need for the equipment you're making. We'll sell what jewelry we have left, and use that cash for some clothes and other supplies," she clarified with a smile.
Oooh.
Shiny.
Tying it to my belt, I then blinked at the gloves Alexis was offering me, "...Oh, right, the hand."
"The hand indeed," she confirmed, "Less attention would be good," she said, before she looked between the three of us, "...That goes for all of you. Ren, I know you and Atregos are starting to get headaches, but keep things down. In a few days, we'll leave and I'll make sure to stop and take on some extra food on an uninhabited island. We should be there in about a week."
I nodded along with Ren as I put the gloves on, "Trouble? Us? Surely you jest."
Alexis just sighed and looked to Sheila, who nodded,
"I'll keep an eye on them."
Ren just kind of rolled her eyes and moved up to me, "New armour?" she asked, "For you, I mean?"
I frowned at the pouch of money before I shook my head, "Not for my real form, at least. Not nearly enough. But I'll find some stuff to get us all some new gear."
She nodded and nuzzled at my chin, "Good."
"How do the clothes feel?" I asked, as I put my arms around her waist.
"Humans are silly."
"Very. But you look good."
The look in her eyes told me that was a good thing to say, and she nuzzled me again before pulling back, "They are lowering the boat. We should get moving if we want on the first one," and walking off with an unnecessary amount of sway in her hips.
I swear, Sheila is giving her lessons or something.
XXXXXXXXXX
While Sheila and Ren were visiting the local general store to see what they could haggle, something Sheila was way better at than me anyway, I was looking around the harbor.
Mostly, I needed metal and a bit of wood. Pretty sure gems the size I needed would be completely out of my grasp, but I could work with glass in a pinch. I had already spotted a couple of discarded bottles that would work, after some purifying.
Sadly, just junk metal wouldn't work. A lot of the stuff I had seen was either pig iron or, at best, steel. Both of which sucked for enchanting.
Shaking my head, I moved past a guy hauling a box of fish. I looked around, taking in the scent of the sea, which admittedly was very nice.
Place was nice. Well, okay, maybe nice would be pushing it. But it didn't seem to be actively hostile, not oppressive in any way, which was nice. Could have been a bit cooler, but can't have everything.
Pretty nice all in all.
The sound of metal against metal guided me along the so-called street, until I found a stone and wood building with smoke coming out of a chimney. I could hear hammers on metal from the inside.
Smithy. Might have what I needed.
Pushing the door open, I looked inside. A smithy is a smithy is a smithy. Don't really care what Plane you are on. There is an anvil or two and a forge. The details may differ, but that's a smithy. This one was no different.
What differed, was the smith.
A naga was half coiled up on the floor as he hammered the shit out of what looked like an axe head. He was wearing a leather apron that almost seemed to turn into a blanket over his coiled lower body. Sensible, keeping metal sparks away.
"Hello?" I asked, and he paused mid swing, turning to look towards me.
"Yes?"
Is it racist that I expected him to elongate his esses, and not sound British?
"Yes, my name is Atreus, I'm looking to purchase some metal," I said with a smile, "Bronze to be precise."
"Don't have much bronze," he said, and shook his head.
I looked around, and then pointed at what looked like a pile of metal scrap at one end of the room. Weapons, horseshoes, and various other metal pieces like barrel rings. In the middle of it all laid a cannon with a crack down one side, "What about that one?"
He shook his head again, "Two pounder gun. Don't have what I need to melt the damn thing. Never should have bought it in the first place."
"How much?"
The naga shifted to look at it before he shrugged, "Twenty-five crowns. What I paid for it, I'm just glad to get rid of the damn thing to be honest."
"Bit steep," I said and moved over to inspect it, "I mean, I would have to melt it down too… fifteen?"
Some quick haggling, and we eventually agreed at twenty-two crowns. I had no idea how much that was, and in all honesty, I didn't really care.
I counted out the coins from the coin purse, and handed them over, "Thank you, pleasure doing business."
The Smith nodded, "Glad to be rid of it. Want me to gather some men up to help you move it, or do you have so…" before he kind of trailed off as I bent down and picked it up.
Son of a… that's one heavy fucker. Must be two hundred and twenty kilos at least!
With a groan, I forced the cannon onto my shoulder, "No, I'll manage. You wouldn't happen to know where I can find some leather and hardwood too, would you?"
The island we stopped at was clearly inhabited. There were jetties and smaller boats around, along with stone buildings, at least a hundred or so.
Not a big place, not nearly big enough to hold the Archangel at a dock, but large enough to resupply at. Now was the question of how to get the supplies I needed. Ren had carried some of our gold for trading. Sadly, we had already sold the majority of it.
A couple of necklaces and rings remained, but that was it.
I needed supplies to get everything working. That was the problem with not really being a combat spellcaster. I mean, I could cast spells, but that's not really my speciality. Enchanting was, and I needed something to enchant for that to work.
Not like I could just enchant nothing.
...Could I?
I mean… enchanting was magic, and it worked along lines of magic that was woven around the object. The shape of the object or the structure didn't really matter, did it? Well, what it was made of did, because the material caused troub-
Something hit my chest, and I just barely managed to catch the leather pouch before it fell to the ground. I blinked at it in surprise, before raising my eyes to Alexis, "Huh?"
"Your, Sheila, and Ren's shares of the prize we took," she clarified, "Usually it's handed out after it's actually sold, but I figured you three needed to stock up. Consider it a loan."
I grinned, "Thanks," and tossed it over to Sheila as she and Ren joined us. They were wearing more or less the same kind of thing as Alexis now, and I had to admit it looked good on all of them.
Sheila shook her head and tossed it back to me, "Have fun."
"Huh?"
"You know what you need for the equipment you're making. We'll sell what jewelry we have left, and use that cash for some clothes and other supplies," she clarified with a smile.
Oooh.
Shiny.
Tying it to my belt, I then blinked at the gloves Alexis was offering me, "...Oh, right, the hand."
"The hand indeed," she confirmed, "Less attention would be good," she said, before she looked between the three of us, "...That goes for all of you. Ren, I know you and Atregos are starting to get headaches, but keep things down. In a few days, we'll leave and I'll make sure to stop and take on some extra food on an uninhabited island. We should be there in about a week."
I nodded along with Ren as I put the gloves on, "Trouble? Us? Surely you jest."
Alexis just sighed and looked to Sheila, who nodded,
"I'll keep an eye on them."
Ren just kind of rolled her eyes and moved up to me, "New armour?" she asked, "For you, I mean?"
I frowned at the pouch of money before I shook my head, "Not for my real form, at least. Not nearly enough. But I'll find some stuff to get us all some new gear."
She nodded and nuzzled at my chin, "Good."
"How do the clothes feel?" I asked, as I put my arms around her waist.
"Humans are silly."
"Very. But you look good."
The look in her eyes told me that was a good thing to say, and she nuzzled me again before pulling back, "They are lowering the boat. We should get moving if we want on the first one," and walking off with an unnecessary amount of sway in her hips.
I swear, Sheila is giving her lessons or something.
XXXXXXXXXX
While Sheila and Ren were visiting the local general store to see what they could haggle, something Sheila was way better at than me anyway, I was looking around the harbor.
Mostly, I needed metal and a bit of wood. Pretty sure gems the size I needed would be completely out of my grasp, but I could work with glass in a pinch. I had already spotted a couple of discarded bottles that would work, after some purifying.
Sadly, just junk metal wouldn't work. A lot of the stuff I had seen was either pig iron or, at best, steel. Both of which sucked for enchanting.
Shaking my head, I moved past a guy hauling a box of fish. I looked around, taking in the scent of the sea, which admittedly was very nice.
Place was nice. Well, okay, maybe nice would be pushing it. But it didn't seem to be actively hostile, not oppressive in any way, which was nice. Could have been a bit cooler, but can't have everything.
Pretty nice all in all.
The sound of metal against metal guided me along the so-called street, until I found a stone and wood building with smoke coming out of a chimney. I could hear hammers on metal from the inside.
Smithy. Might have what I needed.
Pushing the door open, I looked inside. A smithy is a smithy is a smithy. Don't really care what Plane you are on. There is an anvil or two and a forge. The details may differ, but that's a smithy. This one was no different.
What differed, was the smith.
A naga was half coiled up on the floor as he hammered the shit out of what looked like an axe head. He was wearing a leather apron that almost seemed to turn into a blanket over his coiled lower body. Sensible, keeping metal sparks away.
"Hello?" I asked, and he paused mid swing, turning to look towards me.
"Yes?"
Is it racist that I expected him to elongate his esses, and not sound British?
"Yes, my name is Atreus, I'm looking to purchase some metal," I said with a smile, "Bronze to be precise."
"Don't have much bronze," he said, and shook his head.
I looked around, and then pointed at what looked like a pile of metal scrap at one end of the room. Weapons, horseshoes, and various other metal pieces like barrel rings. In the middle of it all laid a cannon with a crack down one side, "What about that one?"
He shook his head again, "Two pounder gun. Don't have what I need to melt the damn thing. Never should have bought it in the first place."
"How much?"
The naga shifted to look at it before he shrugged, "Twenty-five crowns. What I paid for it, I'm just glad to get rid of the damn thing to be honest."
"Bit steep," I said and moved over to inspect it, "I mean, I would have to melt it down too… fifteen?"
Some quick haggling, and we eventually agreed at twenty-two crowns. I had no idea how much that was, and in all honesty, I didn't really care.
I counted out the coins from the coin purse, and handed them over, "Thank you, pleasure doing business."
The Smith nodded, "Glad to be rid of it. Want me to gather some men up to help you move it, or do you have so…" before he kind of trailed off as I bent down and picked it up.
Son of a… that's one heavy fucker. Must be two hundred and twenty kilos at least!
With a groan, I forced the cannon onto my shoulder, "No, I'll manage. You wouldn't happen to know where I can find some leather and hardwood too, would you?"
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not too familiar with mtg lore but wouldn't enchanting nothing to be anything be like making something out of nothing; is this finally the start of dragonboi's first forays in the creation of a personal realm?
L... less, less attention dragon boy. I don't think you know what those words mean.
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