Wardens of Wildemount ((IC))

[Veroe]

https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/criticalrole/images/a/a9/Nicodranas_by_Kent_Davis.jpg/revision/latest/scale-to-width-down/350?cb=20200707045814

http://img4.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20110319182909/last-arena/images/d/d3/Elf_Archer.png

IC: Jaena Pharstreider

A storm was coming to the city of Nicodranus in the Menagerie Coast region of the continent of Wildemount. Not upon it yet though. Above the city the sky was overcast with steely grey clouds, a strong wind blew in from the normally mostly peaceful Lucidian ocean, That wind came with the harbinger of the coming storm-the storm surge rushed in and lifted and rocked the ships taking shelter in the relative safety of the cordoned off harbor of the city. Most of the ships in the area were at the docks now, their crews hurriedly battening down hatches and lashing sails for the oncoming onslaught of the storm nearly upon them.

Thunder rumbled, and the wind blew Jaena's long chestnut brown hair wildly behind her as she walked down the pier. She could smell the rain on the wind too. It was coming. It would be upon them all very soon. She better finish her business quickly.

She pulled the hood of her cloak up to protect her hair as she came up the two masted Caravel moored to the side of it. "Ahoy, Silverpike." She called up to it.

A tabaxi sailor lifted his head to you, "What do you want little girl?"

"To discuss passage on your vessel with your Captain."

"A Sea Fury's wrath rages down upon us," The tabaxi leered back to a gnome sailor finishing the job of tying down the Silverpike's boom arm before the storm's fury was upon it. "And this little kumquat wants us to take her on a pleasure cruise."

The Gnome laughed and leared at her and specifically her bust framed and highlighted by the contours of her leather armor under her cloak. "Plenty pleasures to be had."

she rolled her eyes and lifted her purse jangling the little bag full of gold coins audibly, "My friend, Callum the Quick, from the Myriad told me I can negotiate passage with your ship to Darktow."

The Tabaxi and Gnome looked at eachother.

"We don't know what your talking about."

"We's an honest merchant ship."

"Oh I see. Then perhaps I'll go ask the Windcharmer or the Lady of the Waves." She said naming two other ships given her that were also members of the Revelry here, "Maybe they'll want to make some coin for some simple passage."

She pulled the full purse back under her cloak. These pirates depended on the Myriad and their legitimate fronts to sell the ill-gotten merchandise. So she had sought an audience of one of their front men, Callum the Quick, to help her set this up. Of course the storm and all these ships in the harbor had presented her too good an oppurtunity to do so now. The Cobalt's soul's research allowance wasn't going to last her that much longer. She needed to make some serious progress for them to keep funding her research into the Ancient Madori culture, and right now Lepenne's tomb buried somewhere in the rock of Darktow Island, home of the infamous in these waters Revelry Pirates, was her only lead. She had to reach it and come up with something compelling or their funding and her best avenue to learning more about them would vanish before her eyes.

She turned to leave but halted when the Tabaxi called after her, "Wait. I'll show you to Captain Saldea. She'll decide if you can have your passage."

She smiled climbing up the gangplank to the rocking deck of the Silverpike. They led her to the Captain's cabin. To one side the crew closed the hatch inside the cargo hold but Jaena did get a look inside. Were those people in chains down there?

She schooled herself not to show any of the revulsion she felt. She had to focus on finding Lepenne's tomb, and only Lepenne's tomb, and stop thinking how many of the people down there she had glimpsed had been little enough to be children.

Focus damn it!

She was led into the Captain's quarters. There a bushy haired half-orc woman with sharpened tusks had her boots kicked back on her desk. To one side was the strangest looking contraption of a weapon Jaena had ever seen. It was a long metal tube attached to a wooden handle and shoulder stock. She noticed some sort of smaller version of the same weapon slung onto her hip. She wore thick glasses and a delicate pair of metal tweezers between her thickly muscled fingers as she was working at the innards of what looked like a palm-sized clock in her other hand.

"Captain Saldea I presume," She said with her confident smile glued back onto her face. "I'd like to buy passage on your ship to Darktow if I may."

She kept working on the clock and not even looking up at her, "No one wants to go to Darktow. No one wants to pay to go to Darktow either. Usually that passage is free. The last bit of freedom they enjoy. So why do you want to go to Darktow, little elf girl?"

She shrugged in what she hoped was an innocent way, "Just to do some sightseeing there."

"Sightseeing is it," She finally lowered the little clock down and looked at her and then started guffawing heartily. "Thirty-five gold and we'll take you to Darktow, but if I so much as smell the zhellezzo anywhere near the Silverpike tonight you'll get your passage there but in chains, little elf girl."

 

[justspitballing]

"What do you mean we are not going forward?" Diva'ss asked the elf sailor.

"I mean, have you not seen the tide? The Sea Fury is at it again like she often is, and to sail into her waters when she is taking such a massive piss is a good way to get yourself killed. We got a storm on our hands!" the elf sailor responded.

He was a wood elf, and like all elves, he was likely very unpredictable, so Diva'ss of course did not trust him or the words he said.

"I am paying good coin and other ships are indeed sailing through this piss as you would say," Diva'ss responded.

"They haven't worked this job as long as I have. I do not tempt the Sea Fury. You can, if you want, but I don't."

"Fine! I will find another ship, or swim through the waters if I need to," Diva'ss walked away in a huff.

She went away from the Lady of the Waves with her nose in the air. Her current form was a human woman with long blond hair, but of course it wasn't what she really looked like. She almost always kept her real face well hidden. She looked horrible after all.

Light green skin, one of her ears was significantly larger then her other one, making her entire face look off. Her hair was white and messy and it just barely covered two very small, tiny, horns coming out of her forehead. She was slender too, a step shy of skeletal in form and she was tall. She was about the height of most rather tall human men. Her skin though was smooth, uncut, and it looked like she had never seen a day of combat in her life.

This was untrue, she had seen a lot of fights, but her kind, the verdan, could heal well. Cuts did not stick around on her kind. But her kind did mutate in all kinds of ways, very randomly so. Their entire body shifted and changed over time in ways that were often odd and annoying, at least to her. Thus the larger ear, thus the horns, thus why she was ugly. Thus why she hid it.

She did not like looking like a verdan, she did not like being a verdan. She did not like having black blood. So she always made herself look like other people. She was a warlock, it was one of the many gifts her Goddess Erathis had given to her to be able to look like other people. It was the best gift her Goddess had given her, well besides of course for her great love and acceptance.

Diva'ss walked on looking for another ship to give her a lift to Darktow. She needed to get there. She had heard so many stories about the pirate scum that resided there. Erathis her Goddess asked so little for her love and her gifts, but she wanted law and peace to be spread across the land. As such Diva'ss had to at least try to bring some of these pirates to justice.

She didn't have to much of a plan at this point. She would have to see how they work and go from there. At the very least she could drop a wall of flame on one of their ships and give them a good set back. Anything she could do would likely be a help.

She wandered around the docks looking for another ship to take her where she needed to be.

 

[Shadowlace]

https://cdn.obsidianportal.com/assets/72045/Self_by_Indigo_Summers.jpg

Priscilla had been hanging out on the docks most of the day. The slender halfling lass in leathers was just appearing to be another deckhand or traveler enjoying the sights of the City. This slender and beautiful Halfling was not a traveller but a local, one who knew Nicodranos well.

Ms. Springheel was known by a few as a competent rogue able to live off the extra fat of the city be it in the wharf or even her familiar resting place the Skew had already today preformed a few spectacular feats of prestigious arcane chicanery. Having learned a few tricks the slip of a thing used her invisible Mage Hand to pilfer a few purses here and there. Most done to the strapping sailors who thought a roll in the hay would be fairly risk-free of theft, Priscilla snagged a few rights before they went in.

As she studied the wharf, she found another errant soul with a purse too fat for their own good. Seeing as the chap seemed fairly well off, Priscilla found her self thinking such a bloke wouldn't mind if they lost a coin or five to her? So with that the opportunist took her time to follow the more rotund man from his ship down the lane.

As the brunette shadow stalked the fat human, she listened as he spoke. "Yes, I know a storm is coming but I am looking for stout sailors to book passage. The Empire has become far more unreasonable in its efforts and what not. All I want is to get my goods out of Nicodranos and to Either Marquet or Tal'Dori!"

Priscilla looked at the man and noted he was talking to the person on the other side of him. This person was a stark contrast to the semi-fine clothes and colors of the merchant. This person was a wisp-like her except taller and dressed in more dingey well worn in clothing. Unlike the fat man, this wisp was hard to read, however that didn't change her tactics. Priscilla began to cast and summon her mage hand. With a smile, she sends it out to sit right next to the man's punch and began to mentally work the hand having it loosen the strings.

Sweat beaded on the thiefs' brow. The tension about getting this done right would be a chore, seemed the merchant had dealt with such tactics before and had his pouch attached to his belt then more than just a simple leather throng. As she tugged the Merchant and his associate stopped. They began to scan as the man swatted at the pouch growing perturbed as Priscilla continued to pull on it. Strangely the combination went from her getting the pouch free but the pouch and the belt!

The pouch and belt now hovering, the Associate and the Merchant reacted. The Merchant growing red-faced while the Thin person spun to look right at Priscilla. In mere seconds the Merchants' pants fell free from his waist exposing the world to a rotund underbelly, thick thighs, and a jungle bush only a working girl could love. Shamed he covered himself while struggling to pull back up his pants.

Priscilla seeing the other one, the dingy-clad elf turn and bolt her way knew she was in for it if she didn't act fast. First, she dropped the hand and sighed as her payday would remain a mere afterthought. Then came the second trick. Using an eyelash she borrowed from one of her many 'mothers' and a bit of gum she worked the delicate components together as she moved. Feeling the gum fully around the eyelash she stops and utters an arcane phrase.

Instantly she was gone, her visage hidden by the powerful magic of her Invisibility spell. Priscilla breathed a little easier as she then took her time to skitter away from the now searching elf. As the nimble and clever halfling roamed she found herself roaming closer to the ships.

Priscilla wondered if she should hide on one of these ships until her spell wore off and her pursuers grew tired of looking for her. It was the logical course of action for her at least that is what she told herself. Now the young halfling lass looked for a ship to slip in and hide.

 

[ProfLittleGiant]

Two figures, tall and well-armored, stood in the Grinning Siren Inn, a higher end tavern within smelling distance of the docks. One wore large amulet of Sarenrea. The hood of a light grey tabard conspired with the flames of the inn’s hearth to cast shadows on his harsh, Orcish features. “Well, Jonathan.” He said to the other man. “I have seen you safely to the city, will you be about smiting some pirates then?”

The Half-Orc’s companion wore a tabard as well, only this one was made of heavy flaxen fiber, very similar to the kind used in ship’s sails, over full plate. The tabard was embellished with a symbol of a shield emblazoned with a ship's wheel. A sword jutted diagonally from the shield on the cloth, both embroidered with golden thread. The man, who stood easily 6’9”, whispered back. “Brother Tusk, I appreciate your aid on my journey, unneeded as it was. But I ask you very kindly to keep your voice down.” At first, the slightly shorter man gaped in confusion. But after a surreptitious glance around the inn, he nodded his ascent and pursed his lips to indicate his commitment to silence.
The common room of the Grinning Siren had grown quiet. By the time the men realized this fact, it was too late. Several figures, most human but with an elf and a gnome among their number, circled their targets, bristling with cutlasses and daggers. The sailor-tanned human drew his sword and engaged a fierce looking woman with five rings in her earlobe, their weapons ringing at they clashed together. The Orc raised his hand mumbled a few words in a sublimely calm voice. Four of the pirates dropped their arms gazing softly with divinely enraptured smiles.

By now, Jon was forcing the limp body of the woman from his sword with a booted foot. He grimaced in furious concentration and struck four blows at the stunned men. With each strike of his sword a golden light arched from his blade, burning the flesh of his enemies in divine radiance. The smell of an ocean gale overtook the room.

Jon never saw the gnome creep behind him with a drawn dagger glowing a
sickening orange-purple. Tusk, however, did and permanently turned out the would-be assassin’s lights with a well-placed mace strike to the top of his head.

Jon turned, startled. After pausing a few moments to calm the thrumming of his blood in his veins, the Paladin’s mouth spread into a wry smile. “Alright, Brother Tuck, I believe we DO have some pirates to smite.” The two men then secured their weapons and darted out into the approaching storm.

 

[justspitballing]

Diva'ss walked the docks, moving from ship to ship. A lot were charging to high, were refusing to move, or had already gotten going in hopes of beating the storm. Diva'ss did not want to stay on the docks all night having rain covering her. She was beyond annoyed at this point.

Her keen ears though picked up on a scuffle coming from an Inn close by. She saw two men, one looked human, one looked like an orc, or a half orc. They were moving pretty quickly so it was hard to take note.

She quickly moved herself towards the Inn, curiosity always getting the better of her.

Dead bodies, burned by the powers of a God, rested on the floor. Diva'ss quickly looked over them as she entered the building. There was a significant number of fallen people, all of them with the same harsh burns.

Diva'ss quickly pulled one of the bar maidens aside and asked her the needed to know information.

"What exactly happened here?" Diva'ss questioned.

"Oh, someone at long last stood up for themselves. These pirates seem to make it a habit of attacking people in here daily. Two men though fought back, killed them like they were nothing," the lady, a sea elf, responded.

"Oh, know anything about the two men?"

"Haven't a clue, now do you want to sit down and have a drink?"

"Not much of a drinker, sorry," Diva'ss said and wished the woman a good day and then she quickly left.

By the burns it was clear that one of these men was a paladin, the only question was, what kind of paladin? They clearly wanted the same thing Diva'ss did, justice brought about against the pirate scum, but the two men could very well be dangerous.

But they could also be a help too. The last task Erathis had Diva'ss do was deal with an outbreak of werebats in a small country town and she had almost been eaten alive by the things more times then she could count. She could talk her way out of a lot of fights, but if she got into one, which was very likely, she felt she needed help to get out of it. These men could be help, or they could be a danger. Likely in any case they would be headed to Darktow so fallowing them would likely be a good idea. She would at last be able to find a workable ship for herself to ride.

Diva'ss ran down the docks trying to catch up with the two men.

 

[such_a_bad_man]

Kurdax didn't like the look of the sky as he walked down the road that lead to the docks. It roiled and darkened and had all the earmarks of a storm that was headed for the city with no abatement. He'd heard a few people around town chalking up the disturbance to a Sea Fury that lingered near the coast. Every so often, it would voice its displeasure about so many ships passing its territory. Then, it would calm down and things would get back to normal. At least that seemed to be the general attitude of those he'd spoken to over pints in the pubs or at the end of a performance for his lodging and food.

So far, his time had been a bust for his wallet. Kurdax was counting it out as he walked, unable to fathom how he kept breaking even every week. At this rate, he'd never be able to pay for a crossing to Marquet. Maybe joining a crew on a boat was going to have to be the way he made it across. He wasn't much for sailing; growing up in a subterranean dwarven city didn't do much to prepare him for life on the sea, but he could fake it. That's how he managed to dance his way through most situations.

As he neared the docks, he saw a crew hurriedly unloading their ship. He recognized a few from his performance the other day. They didn't stop to talk after the show, but maybe they were the "in" he was looking for. He hustled down and jumped into the line of people ferrying crates and bundles from the bowels of the ship and running them into a warehouse that stood close by. As best he could figure, the ship had been loaded to go out with the tide. Now, with the storm bearing down on them, they didn't want to risk losing all the cargo if the ship were to sink in the harbor.

Eventually, the quartermaster on the ship noticed the extra hand helping with the unload, and called out to him. "Oy, dwarf! What do you think you're doing?!"

Kurdax stopped, keen to get below decks to heft another box out and onto the deck. "Sorry, friend, I saw you all were in a powerful hurry to unload, so I thought I'd chip in." He turned to hustle downstairs when the older human man put a hand on his shoulder.

"Look, mate, we've got plenty of hands and we're not looking to hire anymore. Pretty shifty way to think you're getting a job, but we're not hiring."

"Well, I'd still like to help. Maybe in lieu of paying me you can point me in the direction of a ship heading to Marquet or at least in that direction."

The older fellow narrowed his eyes at the keen dwarf. "Alright, you help out a bit more and I'll put in a good word with a captain heading that way. No promises about you getting a job, though."

"Deal!" Kurdax exclaimed and went back to work, hefting boxes, crates and bundles for a few hours until the boat was unloaded again. By then the sky over the docks grew darker and darker. It was in danger of opening up on them any minute now.

"Alright, Kurdax, follow me," the quartermaster said as he stomped down the gangplank. Heading along the docks, Kurdax noticed that most of the ships seemed battened down and secured against the storm. It seemed unlikely that they might be heading out anytime soon.

Then, they arrived at the Silverstrike. A rather eclectic bunch mingled on deck and it was unclear if they were staying or going under the circumstances. The quartermaster turned to Kurdax. "Alright, friend, this crew is always looking for more help. But I wouldn't count on you getting direct to Marquet on board. I wouldn't count on them not pitchin' you overboard once you sail away, either. But, if you want a ship heading that way at least, this is the best you can find. Everyone else is staying home and the rest have already left to beat the storm. Tell the captain that Bartleby Jones says you're an able hand. That might get her attention."

"Thanks, friend. I appreciate the opportunity." Kurdax said, shaking the older sailor's hand before walking to the gangplank of the Silverstrike. He lingered there before calling up.

"Kurdax Ironbeard. Performer and able hand. Permission to come aboard." He said, following protocols he'd seen from other ships during his time in town.

 

[TheQueenofCups]

Verity rubbed her fingertips together, finding comfort in the calluses, and pursed her lips. Wind picked up her white hair and dashed it about. She could feel the cool air lick at her neck. Time was running short and ships were in equally short supply. It was a race between the storm and the moon as to which would crash down upon her first.

There was something of a song in it. She would try and hum it into life on the journey to Darktow. If she could get there. She took a steady grip of her instrument case and slung it over her shoulder with a practiced hand and strode down to the docks.

All truths be told, she'd rather stay in Nicodranas. Most days, the city was pleasant, held a warmth that matched her own. They paid well enough and there were all sorts of little cantinas and hidden spots where she could fiddle for coin. They also had a liking for her Tiefling kind at least equal to their distaste, which couldn't be said for all such places. But when a message arrives in the middle of your skull from Ophelia Mardun, there was no real room for refusal.

It would be simple. Deliver a message to the Plank King, lord of all the comings and goings on Darktow, well beyond some argued. Set sail within a day and she would be grateful. Others in her acquaintance would be generous. Verity did not live the sort of life where gratitude and generosity could be lightly set aside.
But the first mate of a sea-bound vessel had danced with her on one of those rickety cantina tables last night and spent enough coin on her songs where she was willing to press her luck to accomplish her task. Halran, Harlan...Harr...?

She whistled up to him as he knotted some thick length of rope to a hook on the side of the prow. His attention captured in recognition, he smiled broadly as he dropped down to the deck, leaning over the rail to see her as the ship rose and fell. Halstan. That was it. Less handsome in the sober light of day than her drink-addled brain had described him last night, but she didn't mind his eyes on her so far as it might be required.

"You've got room for one more, then?"

The sailor's expression soured, apparently, he was an unexpected stickler for the rules. "Would that I could, dear. There's no room, and besides that, with this storm, I can't say Captain's going anywhere just yet."

"All I need is a tiny corner of the cargo hold to lay my head. I can sing for it as well as my supper, and keep you lads entertained on the way. I'll manage the passage back."

There was something in the word entertained that neither fully acknowledged. He looked back at some of the men behind him, thinking, but he looked back and her and sighed. Shook his head again.

"We're headed to a pirate isle. It isn't safe. They've got no need of sunburnt little songbirds like you." It wasn't the first time a human had called her coral skin sunburnt, but usually it was far worse.

"I know where you're headed. I'll be a novelty, then. I'm not afraid of bad manners." She tapped the brace of daggers at her hip with a confidence that was entirely unearned.

She closed her eyes briefly, a thought of herself gleaming against the taupe canvas of the backs of her eyelids. A smile, coy, direct, unyielding took and bent the corners of her mouth. Her pallid, lilac-rimmed eyes narrowed. She felt the magic gild her words. "Will you not be a friend to me?"
In his own expression, she could see something inside the lad gave way, something that was obedient to her and not to logic.

"Come on then, if we even set sail tonight, you'll have the Captain to convince."

Verity watched the wood-planked ladder flip over the side of the ship, undulating within reach. She glanced back at the docks for a brief moment, memorizing colors of sails, the smell of the spices trading into the city, making a note of the bar that paid half what she'd been promised. Just in case. Just in case.

 

[ProfLittleGiant]

Tusk stepped out into the water-saturated salt air of the port aside his friend. He sent a silent prayer to Serenrae that some of Jon’s confidence would rub off. Tusk did usual carry a self-assured air, and he did trust his goddess implicitly, but he often doubted his own abilities. Jon, however, had been valiant and brave and tenacious for as long as he had known the human. (And he was roughly one inch taller boot!)
Tusk felt a single, large drop of rain, or perhaps just the ghost of a rain drop. Tusk vainly allowed himself to believe that rain was a special sign of his favor in the goddess’ eyes. He always felt, or fancied that he felt, a drop or two just ahead of a storm. That he, and only he, had a several minutes warning before the skies began to weep. Obviously, he had never confided his suspicion with anyone, that would be unforgivably vein, and could also prove that the entire experience could not hold up to external verification.

Distracted by several shallow pools of thought, the half-orc nearly missed the approaching beautiful green woman. “Those eyes!” he thought. “Hello, I am Tusk, cleric of Serenrae. My friend here is on a mission of righteous revenge and I have decided to accompany him. Tangling with pirates seems thoroughly more exciting than the 12 days of silent contemplation my temple observes this time of year. And who might you be?

 

[justspitballing]

Diva'ss approached the half orc and the human. It turned out they were taking their time, despite the weather.

The orc's eyes lingered on Diva'ss for a moment as he started to speak. A shiver went down her spine. Could he see through her disguise self spell? Could he see that she wasn't human? Her illusion that she had put up in front of herself made her look like a slightly attractive blond human woman, who yes, got a good number of second glances from the men around her, but the orc's eyes showed a hint that he had picked up on what she really looked like.

She was a very good spellcaster, but there was always a chance someone could see through her disguise, and even a chance they may not even realize it. She pondered the idea of reading his mind for a moment to try and determine what he knew, as a verdan she could do such things, but that would expose herself without question.

She would just have to hope the orc didn't actually see what she was and if he did, he kept silent about it. Maybe later she could get him alone and feel out what he knew.

The comment he made about ignoring his Goddess request for silence instantly rubbed her the wrong way. The commands of a Goddess must always be fallowed! Of course, he was an orc, so he couldn't be fully trusted to obey the proper rules of things. He was barbaric clearly, like all orcs must be.

But, he had just asked her a question. She had to respond fast and properly.

"I am Diva'ss More and I serve under the church of Erathis. She has commanded me to go to Darktow and bring with me her word of just law. I wish to do battle with some pirates myself for they are a blight to all. Unfortunately Erathis has seen to blessing me with gifts of healing and betterment for my fellow kind, and not so much for fighting. I can fight, I would even say fight well, but I feel out of my element here. If we can find a ship together, maybe we can help each other out," Diva'ss explained.

With her last sentence she tried to link eyes with Tusk. Tried to convey that she was interested in him. She of course was not, but if she could get him alone she could figure out if her cover was blown or not.

She was already questioning if this was a good idea. Hopefully at the very least they could find a ship.

 

[desperado1089]

Lost in his own thoughts, Jon returned to earth and smiled at the mysterious woman, not unkindly, his upbringing of acceptance and love for all giving an almost imperceptible enhancement to his casual warmth. "Hello, I apologize. My mind wanders from time to time. I am Jonathan Sunspear, and as my friend suggested, I am seeking the severed head of the leader of a certain band of buccaneers. Or pirates, if you prefer. As for my friend's decision to accompany me, I'm certain his Goddess will forgive him; after all, service to a friend is hardly a sin, now is it?" He looked her over, wondering if Tusk saw what he did; the oddly mismatched features of a Verdan, which he found endearing but judging by the disguise self spell that he could see through, she probably found to be altogether ugly. He leaned in close, trying to be subtle, and whispered, "Your spell isn't working on me, dear Verdan. Do not worry, your secret is safe, even though I find you fascinating and a little endearing, if I may be so bold." He straightened up, and announced to the group at large, "So, shall we be moving on, then?"

 

[justspitballing]

"Yes we shell be moving," Diva'ss responded.

They really could see through her disguise self spell and Jonathan had seemed to already taken a shine to her. Bloody hell, it really did mean she was stuck with them. She had never told her fellow worshipers of Erathis what she was, she did not even want the chance of the word getting out. So now she would have to fallow them if only to make sure they kept silent.

She supposed maybe Erathis saw to it that they could see through the magic and thus force Diva'ss to stay with them. These two were maybe part of Erathis larger plan. If so she was glad her loving Goddess was a smart and wise one. She would not do her wrong even if her motives were unclear.

Diva'ss nodded to her two new comrades and led the way. The next ship they came to was called the Silverpike.

A Tabaxi stood on top of the ship, just finishing with his current tasks.

"Please, pause yourself. We wish to come aboard. We do think you are the only ship left in this whole place that is braving the storm and we don't want to be left behind," Diva'ss said.

"Can't do. The Silverpike be very full now and we will be heading off soon," the Tabaxi said back.

"Please, we will take up little space," Diva'ss said, drawing out her words, entrenching them in magic.

Erathis had blest her too with spells that could control. Diva'ss personal favorite was a rather unknown spell that was only ever referred to as Fast Friends. Diva'ss felt like she should cast something at least just to see if all her spells were no longer having the impact that they should. Here words had been entranced with the spell and it should be able to control the Tabaxi's actions.

"Alright, there be a little room, but just a little, and I'm sure the captain Saldea will want payment," the Tabaxi responded.

"Oh, thank you so much!" Diva'ss stated with glee and got on the Silverpike. Her Goddess hadn't abandoned her. Fast Friends still worked like a charm.

 

[Veroe]

IC: Jaena Pharstreider

"Sightseeing is it," She finally lowered the little clock down and looked at her and then started guffawing heartily. "Thirty-five gold and we'll take you to Darktow, but if I so much as smell the zhellezzo anywhere near the Silverpike tonight you'll get your passage there but in chains, little elf girl."

Jaena gave the half-orc pirate captain a confident smile that was only skin-deep. She wasn't exactly looking forward to being surrounded by a bunch of pirates for a couple weeks on the voyage to Darktow. Especially given the chained up people she saw down in the cargo hold. "You shouldn't worry. You'll find I'm just a legitimate customer asking for a ride to Darktow, Captain."

"Uh-huh," Captain Saldea grunted her attention returning to poking about the innards of her palm-sized clock device. "We'll set sail out of this gods forsaken town once the weather clears."

"Your Tabaxi crewman mentioned something about an irate Sea Fury," Jaena asked, "Do you expect some sort of trouble from her."

"Sea Furies like most exes are always trouble," Saldea said off-handedly.

"You two were in a relationship before," Jaena said oddly feeling like she could relate to this pirate captain.

She guffawed again at that, "Do I look stupid enough to mess around on a Sea Witch, girl. No, not me...someone else, but yet we feel the consequences for his wandering eye." She glared off through the window as it started to get speckled by the first drops of the rainfall of the storm just now over the city. "But he leads the Revelry, and I, just a lowly ship's captain, am not one to question his decisions."

Jaena paused not certain what to say, and not certain why she was telling her so much. Saldea must be very frustrated with the infamous leader of the Revelry, the Plank King, if that frustration was enough to bubble out in front of veritable stranger she just met. "I don't really know what to say to-"

Saldea's eye lifted and she looked her over, suddenly aware of how much she'd revealed, "You best say not a word to anyone over any of what I just told you, girl, or you'll be worse off than just in chains in my hold."

Just then a knock sounded on the door and in poked the head of one of the other pirates poked his head through, "Begging your pardon, Captain, but someone else is here asking for passage to Darktow."

Saldea's eyes darted to Jaena, "Someone you know, little elf girl?"

Jaena shook her head, "No, I work alone."

"Fine," Saldea nodded to the crewman, "Okay, Halland, Show them in."

He opened the door wide to admit inside a Teifling with coral-colored skin. Jaena sized her up boot to horns. She had a lithe figure with generous curves, and a pretty face. She crossed her arms waiting for the Teifling to introduce herself.

Saldea's attention was back to the inner-working of her palm-sized clock. Jaena caught a peek of little spoked metal wheels interlocking with other little metal spoked wheels. She was trying to push in one to turn another that seemed frozen in place.

To the newcomer the Captain announced, "Thirty-five gold for passage to Darktow. We don't have bunkspace for either of you. You two will have to sleep in a corner of the hold. And, oh, it'd be best for you both if neither of you will speak or listen to our cargo down there." She looked up and eyed first Jaena and then the Tiefling woman. "You have problem with that, then get off my boat. If not we sail at first light tomorrow."

 

[TheQueenofCups]

However musically minded the half-orc captain might be, she wasn't precisely Verity's type. Not that she'd clung hard and fast to types or even preferences, and the lady peering over a bit of clockwork certainly looked capable of delicate fingerwork, but she looked rather worried cross. At the very least as if her dinner hadn't agreed with her.

A waste of a charm with an offer on the table. Verity took a scant look about. Everything about the Silverpike seemed serviceable, but a bit dour. It would be quite sad if the first mate was the liveliest man aboard. She had an odd feeling she chose to blithely ignore.

35 gold. 35 gold. And a bit of a delay. But the delay could save her neck and her stomach from the dangers at sea. And she could get the gold back in multiples if a song of the voyage ended up as anything memorable. She could steal it back if she were any good at stealing. A hundred deliberations took place in a moment and she glanced at the rather serious looking elf standing next to her with a wink. A fellow passenger to bounce about the hold with, she presumed.

"No, no problem." She peeled back her white cloak, and reached behind her, revealing the taut strawberry flesh of her hip and side, and retrieved the necessary coin. "All entirely proper."

"You don't want my name, Captain...?" Verity looked down at the half-orc who seemed disinterested in Verity's music, but also her infernal blood. Instead, came a barrage of abrupt inquiries without meeting the Captain's eye.

"Saldea. Captain of this vessel. Silverpike. You heard all that about the hold? No trouble with the law? If your coin is good, and you tell no lies, why do I need your name? You're not going to cause a problem, are you?" All her focus remained on her machinery.

Nothing I won't solve well before you hear of it.

"Nary a one." She turned to the elf who reminded Verity faintly of days long past, perhaps the shape of a woman's chin, the intensity of her eye. "You've paid your fare, then? I'm Verity, though I'd be surprised if my name will be of any greater use to you. You'll want of a drink, surely, once your business here is done?"

 

[Shadowlace]

Priscilla Observed a lot in these moments, the Halfling lass enjoying the freedom of being invisible eventually letting her follow what seems an affluent Teifling onto a ship. Cautiously the leather-clad rogue followed observing and enjoying the view and trying not to get hit by the sultry woman's tail.

While she entered after the Tiefling she observes the Half-Elf and the obvious Captain. Both were interesting in their own rights. The Captian whom she heard was Saldea, she had firearms! Literal firearms like some of the soldiers she had encountered years ago on her trek to The Cereberus Assembly! She has always wanted one. Granted she wouldn't still this Captain's but it is interesting.

Aside from the thick Captain came the Half-Elf. She was definitely not a sailor. Probably another passenger. Which also was intriguing. Almost as intriguing as the fact that the sexy Teifling with from her stout perspective was clearly stacked wanted to go to Darktow!

Last but not least was the cargo hold. What was down there? No, she would let all that slide and instead slipped back into the shadows and then coughed. "Um, I think you guys forgot me!"

Priscilla says buy the door while still invisible. She hoped that someone would open the door and she could slip back out and drop invisibility. For added effect, she knocked hoping that they would buy that she was still outside.

 

[Veroe]

IC: Jaena Pharstreider

To the newcomer the Captain announced, "Thirty-five gold for passage to Darktow. We don't have bunkspace for either of you. You two will have to sleep in a corner of the hold. And, oh, it'd be best for you both if neither of you will speak or listen to our cargo down there." She looked up and eyed first Jaena and then the Tiefling woman. "You have problem with that, then get off my boat. If not we sail at first light tomorrow."

Jaena watched the newcomer closely as she pulled her purse and tossed it onto Saldea's desk for her. "Thirty-five gold, there you are."

"No, no problem." The stranger pulled back her white hood showing her horns and revealed a red-skinned thigh as she reached for her own purse. She was quite an attractive woman all and all. If Jaena was still not getting over her devestating breakup with Aaliyah she'd consider asking her out. She didn't notice a nice-looking pair of daggers on that thigh.

"All entirely proper," The pretty coral-skinned Tiefling handed over her own thirty-five gold coins to the Captain.

"I suppose we'll make our way down to the hold," Jaena said. She was glad she'd have the company of this stranger. Anything from being alone with the people down below in chains.

"You don't want my name, Captain...?" The Tiefling asked the Captain.

Jaena shrugged off-handedly, "I for one would."

"Merrelle Saldea," The Half-Orc Captain said sticking out a tongue past err tusks as she got the jammed little spoked wheel turning again, "Captain of this vessel. Silverpike. You heard all that about the hold?

The Tiefling nodded, and then Jaena when the Captain's eyes darted to her.

"No trouble with the law?"

She shook her head, and Jaena joined her.

"If your coin is good, and you tell no lies, why do I need your name? You're not going to cause a problem, are you?" All her focus remained on her machinery.

"Nary a one," the Tiefling answered before turning to regard Jaena, "You've paid your fare, then?"

"Yeah," Jaena nodded to her.

"I'm Verity," She continued, "Though I'd be surprised if my name will be of any greater use to you. You'll want of a drink, surely, once your business here is done?"

"Jaena Pharsteider," She replied offering her her hand to shake, "Glad to be spending this voyage with you. A drink sounds good, though the storm looks like its getting pretty bad out there. There's a place on the docks that carry some wines from Kammordah from all the way up in the Empire. My father used to carry it on his caravans down here. If you haven't tried some of the Lionet brand let me treat you some time."

"Halland," Saldea said escort these ladies down to the hold and post extra gaurds down there. She pointed at them both as a reminder, "No trouble now."

"Um, I think you guys forgot me!" Came a voice as a halfling girl suddenly popped into visibility at the door.

Saldea had shot and quicker than the eye could follow had drawn the smaller firearm from her hip to point directly at the halfling, "Who is this...A Zhellezo spy?"

"No, no, Captain," Jaena said stepping in between her and the gun pointed right between the halfling's eyes, "She's with me." She lied.

Saldea's eyes shifted it's suspicious glare upon Jaena then Verity and then back to the halfling. "As I recall you said you work alone."

"Well then," She said trying to give the pirate captain a disarming smile, "I misspoke." She pulled her purse out and counted out forty more gold for Saldea. "For her passage and five for the poorly timed joke of an appearance."

Halland pushed the door open and there was a Dwarf. "Captain it seems we have someone else for passage."

Saldea's eyes rolled to the heavens, "Another one. Does he work for you too?"

"Sure does," She said pulling her purse and counting out thirty-five more gold coins. Shit that was the last of her money.

"Thank you for the coin," Saldea said sweeping it all up, "Now get out of my quarters and remember, don't make any trouble for me or my crew."

outside the rain was starting to fall harder and the wind was becoming a constant howl as thunder boomed and lightning flashed whipping the water of the harbor into a rolling mass.

Jaena pulled her hood up to protect her face from the rain and wind. Then she rounded on the Halfling and Dwarf, "Now who are you two, and why did I just save both of your skins by paying for you both with the last of my gold?"

 

[desperado1089]

Meanwhile, on the deck of the Silverpike, Jon could hardly believe that his new friend had gotten them aboard without a single drop of blood spilt. It seemed the nearby guardsmen wore similar blank, shocked stares, and Jon hoped that the Lord Commander would be able to make good on his promise of aid before they cast off. He was itching to slay these rogues and free their captives, and hoped to do so while they weren't at sea, so that the latter had the choice to either stay or help the party crew the ship--the Captain, should they survive the impending battle, would be in no condition to help while chained up in the cages they so callously used to hold people who were far more innocent.

 

[justspitballing]

Now Jon, Tusk and Diva'ss stood on the deck of the Silverpike. She decided to try to read Jon and Tusk's thoughts, after all, she was now no longer trying to keep her cover as a Verdan with them and she wanted to see if they could be trusted. Her ability to read minds and talk through thoughts was very weak, but it worked for simple dialog.

Tusk was hard to read, she couldn't tell what he was thinking. Figures, orcs had such chaotic souls. She couldn't believe she had been forced into working with one. He did look attractive in the fact that he could likely pick her right up and carry her over his shoulder, but he was still an orc, or a half orc to be more precise.

Jon was seemingly thinking of attacking the ship.

She had already burned up one of her spells and had no idea what this ship had as far as man power. Going into a fight fully blind was not a good idea in her view.

'Please Jon, let me talk to the captain first at least. Hold your blade for now,' Diva'ss tried to implant her thoughts into Jon's mind.

She hoped he would listen and then she went to see the captain to pay for them being brought to darktow. On her way there she walked upon a Half Elf, a Dwarf, a Tiefling, and a Halfling having a bit of an argument.

"If you wouldn't mind me getting by," she said, hoping these people wouldn't as well see through her disguise self spell and would see her as the human woman she wanted to be seen as.

 

[desperado1089]

Before Diva'ss walked off to the Captain's cabin, Jon nodded in understanding, tapping his temple, as if to indicate he understood the wisdom of having intelligence on their enemy before engaging them.

 

[Shadowlace]

"Me Zhelezo, dear god I hope not, My Mother would beat me black and blue!" Priscilla says not worried about the gun. In fact, she stepped closure to get a better look. As she does she flips down her little lens and adjusts them as she smiles.

"Ooo a gun, I haven't seen one since I left the Dwindelian Empire! Was it expensive? How does it work? I hear they are loud and deal a decent amount of damage. Kinda like a handheld Cannon!" Priscilla says excited almost ignoring the others and then catches herself.

However, once more she was ignored and shuffled off before she got answers. It wasn't surprising the Tallies all seemed to ignore Halflings. Well until they needed something from one of us. Granted she often took what she needed or wanted to form the Tallies who, lets' face it, often did ignore her. It was still rude.

"Hey watch the clothes, these are the only ones I have." The Brunette halfling said as she looked up at the others and did what her mother had taught her about the tall folk and of coarse manners.

" Names Priscilla Springheel of the Nicrodranus Springheels. Purveyor of Lost Items, Collector of the oddities both mystical and mundane, scout, lookout, an all-around contractor for various enterprises, Pleased to meet you, and thanks for the bailout seems the 'You forgot about me a bit' didn't work as well as I had hoped." The Tight braided Priscilla said with a confident smile looking about the ship and whistling.

The Whistle was after she gave both Verity and Jaena, then winked at the Dwarf. As she does she sees the strange woman walk past into the Captain's Quarters. Priscilla shook her head and giggled. " Well, that should make for an interesting meeting now after...well my surprise!"

Honestly, Priscilla hadn't wanted passage, but with the looks of it she would stick around seems this could turn out to be a very entertaining trip. Also she was thinking on how to get herself one of those guns!

 

[ProfLittleGiant]

As Tusk followed Div'aas and Jon onto the ship, his nerves began to get the best of him. Was he really ready to take on an entire pirate crew with one, perhaps two allies? The cabin they had entered was nearly full of people in a calidoscope of races, genders, and skin tones. Tusk realized that not a one of them was unnatractive, save perhaps himself. The half-orc's mind began shouting to abort his mission. Too many pieces on a board made a game exponentially more complicated, and therefore, dangerous.

The cleric knew that any attempt at surprising the pirates with pure speed and bravado had gone out the port hole, so to speak. A riskier gambit seemed unfortunately necessary. Tusk addressed all present in his most authoritative voice, "It seems that this vessel has become quite popular of late. I am Brother Tusk, cleric of Serenrae. I hope we all can find mutual benefit to our serendipitous meeting. May the Dawn Star shine on us all." The half-orc punctuated his attempt at diplomacy with what he hoped was a winning smile.

 

[TheQueenofCups]

Amused but not uncharitably by the pious exhortation of Brother...Tusk, was it? Verity, taller than most, but not all, reached out and shook his hand. "Well, well, well. You say it quite pleasingly, Ser. It appears I'll not go without an audience tonight. I'd imagined this voyage to be a bit dreary in the coming and going with a bit of pirate in betwixt. And instead, we've been blessed with the Everlight and all the delights a bard who finds herself interested in people might need."

Verity smiled with no specific intensity at each of her fellow passengers, scanning instead to see how amenable they might be for a tip and eager to exit the tight quarters with the curious weapon on display. Half-orcs, halflings, treasure hunters, thieves, clerics, none seemed particularly biddable at the moment with regard to emptying their pocketbooks for a good fiddling. Winks and grins aside, all of them on this vessel together seemed a curious circumstance, with an edge in the air that did not serve her purpose.

Verity would have to be quick on her heels on Darktow, and all this was deeply unexpected, even if her mission required no particular subterfuge to obscure. Whether she might make use of other sorts of fiddling with this motley crew to keep a even keel remained to be seen. She would like to remain and be seen. She stepped to the side to let another green-hued soul, a sort she'd never seen before, reach the table with the Captain. Verity had known the discomfort of a long stare once or twice, so instead, she turned her head away and addressed the others.

"Shall we let this one by then to pay their fare? This cabin is making me a bit nervous, so many in such a small space? We might endure the storm at the Withered Bird, then, before our morning's departure? Drink to Sarenrae and her...seren...dipity. Or are there other machinations in place we daren't speak of?" She narrowed her eyes conspiratorially at you, the purple becoming briefly distinct from the white. She felt a thirst in her throat for ale, for song, for distraction.

She tilted her head to the green-fleshed one, "You'll join us as well?" She stepped toward the doors, pointed outward, entirely unburdened by whether or not she would be followed down the ramp towards the Open Quay.

 

[justspitballing]

"You'll join us as well?" the tiefling questioned Diva'ss and seemingly most of the crew of the ship.

The woman had sharp horns coming out of her head and an eye catching tail. Seeing her horns made Diva'ss conscious of her own. She checked her hair to make sure they were still covered, which was beyond silly because she still had disguise self casted on her and still looked like a human woman, but it wouldn't surprise her for a moment if yet another being saw through her spell.

The tiefling's words of merriment at a tavern to wait out the storm were actually tempting. Diva'ss original plan was just to lay low and keep to herself, but getting to know her new ship mates first hand would likely be a good idea. Plus, she was oddly curious about the tiefling, though she did not know fully why.

Still Diva'ss was a woman of task and order. The task at hand was paying for her shipmates and herself. She lifted a single finger up, indicating to give her but one moment. She then walked in to talk to the captain of the ship.

A half-orc woman sat there, looking over her firearms and seeming to be annoyed and tired.

"Did that Jaena bring you along too?" she grumbled.

"Oh, no, no. I have not heard of that woman before. I come here on my own accord and bring but two fellow people with me. We simply wish for a trip to Darktow and we do believe you are the best way to get there," Diva'ss explained.

"Everyone seems to have that mind set right now."

"None the less I have good coin for the ride."

"Forty-five gold coin is what is being charged. Forty-five for each of you."

"That's a bit high."

"That's the cost."

Diva'ss sighed and paid the sum, not realizing for a moment the woman had purposely over charged her. Diva'ss smiled after her payment, curtsied for it was proper and then left.

She got back up onto the deck of the ship, rain falling onto her face.

"Yes, I can join you. Please, show me this Withered Bird," Diva'ss said to the tiefling now that she could see her once more.

 

[desperado1089]

Jon chose this moment, seeing their new companion exit the Captain's cabin, to speak to her once again. "Excuse me. Diva'ss, was it? How much did the Captain charge for passage? Allow me to reimburse you, if you paid for my passage from your own coin."

He reached for his coin pouch, his eyes taking in both Diva'ss and the pirates on deck all at once, noting their armaments, their numbers, anything that might be useful should they prove troublesome--or helpful. He wished to slay them all save the Captain, knowing full well from personal experience that the captives that they surely had in the hold would not be free otherwise, but he decided to stay his hand for now--maybe they could be won over yet. After all, the easy option isn't always the right one, and the right one would be to wait and see if the rogues and buccaneers he found himself traveling with are redeemable after all.

 

[Veroe]

IC: Jaena Pharstreider

Jaena pulled her hood up to protect her face from the rain and wind. Then she rounded on the Halfling and Dwarf, "Now who are you two, and why did I just save both of your skins by paying for you both with the last of my gold?"

" Names Priscilla Springheel of the Nicrodranus Springheels. Purveyor of Lost Items, Collector of the oddities both mystical and mundane, scout, lookout, an all-around contractor for various enterprises," The halfling girl introduced herself with a cocky little grin Jaena found appealing, "Pleased to meet you, and thanks for the bailout seems the 'You forgot about me a bit' didn't work as well as I had hoped."

"No, it definitely didn't, short stuff." She smiled back taking her hand and giving it a shake, "Just remember for later that Pirates like her aren't known as big fans of being surprised. Generally, they suffer from a lack of any sense of humor." She leaned down so they were eye to eye, "Us Tallies, as a rule never do, right?" She gave her a playful wink then.

She raised back up to her full height then and turned her smile towards the coral-skinned Tiefling, and over the rain and thunder of the storm heard Priscilla whistle as she pretty plainly to observe checked out both of them.

Three more people strolled up to approach them. Jaena perked up as she saw them. One was a big half-orc with some broad shoulders and the other was a human Both were pretty handsome in appearance. The woman with them was just beautiful with blonde flowing hair and a plump breasts hidden beneath her cloak.

Seeing them the tall half-orc nodded to them saying, "It seems that this vessel has become quite popular of late. I am Brother Tusk, cleric of Serenrae. I hope we all can find mutual benefit to our serendipitous meeting. May the Dawn Star shine on us all."

"Serenrae," She asked. Jaena was familiar with most of the gods being a specialist in recovering the lost history of the war between them. Also she was very familiar with the gods approved of within the Dwendalian Empire where her father was from, and through her travels here in the Menagerie Coast she was aware of some of the gods that were not technically legal within the Empire as well. She'd even met a man that said he was a follower of some crazy new god he called the Traveler a few weeks back. Yet she'd never heard of this Serenrae god. Though the appellation, the Dawn Star, did stir memories of references she came across in her historical research of the Calamity.

She nodded to him and said the same she told the crackpot believer of this traveller god, "I'd love to learn from you as much as I can about this Serenrae god some time."

Verity spoke up then leaning in and giving this Brother Tusk a friendly smile."Shall we let this one by then to pay their fare? This cabin is making me a bit nervous, so many in such a small space? We might endure the storm at the Withered Bird, then, before our morning's departure? Drink to Sarenrae and her...seren...dipity. Or are there other machinations in place we daren't speak of?"

"Yes," Jaena nodded, "I don't want to spend too much time on this ship before it sets sail. Let's all head over to the inn and wait out the storm in comfort and company."

So the three of them entered the captain's cabin and they waited a few moments. Then Jaena heard someone cry out loud and the Tabaxi was ushering one of the pirates...the one called Halland towards the captain's quarters. He seemed to be clutching the sides of his head and wincing as if in great pain.

"You don't understand, Eyes, I can hear it singing on the winds. It's shouting it out with every crash of thunder. They're coming for us. She wants us dead. So they're coming to kill us all. I have to warn the Captain. She has to believe me." Halland moaned cupping his hands over his ears. "I'm gonna die in the storm just like when it took my Ma and Da from me as a kid. It wants the piece of it I caged inside me back." Arcs of electricy danced over the fingers in his hair and Jaena could see his eyes sparking with lightning as well. "I can feel it roiling inside me wanting out. It wants to be whole again! They're coming for us!"

"What's wrong with him? Is he okay?" She reached out a hand to him but recoiled as a jolt of electricit jumped out and shocked her fingertip.

"Nothing," The Tabaxi said a little defensively shoving her aside, "He gets like this with every bad storm, but its nothing you should concern yourself with. This is crew business. We take care of our own. Out of the way, please."

Then the other three emerged from the Captain's quarters and let Halland and the Tabaxi-Eyes-was the name-went in thier wake.

The Beautiful blond woman stepped up to Verity and stated, "Yes, I can join you. Please, show me this Withered Bird,"

"Let's go," Jaena said nodding out across the deck of the ship to the pier and what looked like the tavern in question.

As they made their way the storm around them only strengthened. The wind blowing their cloaks and rain pelting them with sheets and sheets of precipitation. Thunder boomed and lightning pranced across the clouds as exclamation to every word they could say to eachother, but eventually they made it to the inn with the sign a falling seagull at the door.

Once they entered and got a table and waiting on their drinks she made it a point to sit beside the Half-Orc cleric and asked him, "This Serenrae? You don't mean the Dawn Star god that was betrayed and murdered during the Calamity do you?"

She nodded to his answer. Her interest in ancient cultures piqued, "Why would you follow a dead god now-a-days though?"

 

[ProfLittleGiant]

Tusk was surprised how readily he walked away from his friend and his friend's quest at the merest suggestion from the elven woman. At least he thought she was elven, or half-elven, Tusk had learned a long time ago to try never to make assumptions. It wasn't just her beauty and confidence that set him nipping at her heels like over-excited wolf pup, more than that it was her interest in his goddess.

With the rain soaking through his linen traveling clothes, around the ring mail hidden beneath, and deep into his skin, the cleric sat again entered the inn and sat down. He had to wounder if his present companions noticed the bodies still laying crumpled about the room. Once seated, Tusk leaned in toward Jaena, his eyes alight. "Well, you see, the reason I have devoted myself to a "dead god" is that Serenrae is not dead at all. Most of her worshipers keep that fact under their hats these days, but I've never been exactly Orthodox. I have a pet theory that gods and goddesses can't die at all, otherwise they wouldn't be gods. I think that their apparent power on this side of the Divine Gate is based exclusively on the devotion of their mortal followers." Tusk punctuated his words with gentle chopping motions of his hand through the air and into his other palm. The half-orc took a breath and took in the room with a sheepish look to see if anyone had been paying attention to his exegesis and wounded if perhaps he shouldn't be smiting pirates with Jon after all.