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    EpicVakarian

    Calibration-Master General
    "Ahoy, captain."
    "Ahoy, Raccan," replied Captain Alexia Attwater. "Is the Peregrine back in fighting shape?"
    "Aye, she is. Cannons are scrubbed, deck is clean, barnacles are off, powder stores are refilled. We're ready to go whenever you are, captain."

    Alex nodded, satisfied. She gave Raccan a slap on the back as she stepped aboard her mighty brig, heading up the stairs to the aft to take a hold on the wheel.
    "Right, lads!" She yelled out across the deck, calling their attention to her. "Word is there's an Imperial convoy sailing nearby, hoping to deliver its cargo to Solitude. Supposed to be a mighty haul, so what do you say, lads; you all up for it?"
    The crew shouted wordlessly, securing the convoy's fate. Alex grinned widely, nodding to Raccan, her quartermaster. He yelled, in his deep Redguard voice,
    "Well then, get to work, you lazy maggots! Untie us from the jetty, lower the sails and prepare for an attack!" The crew obediently scattered, and Raccan leaned back against the guardrail. "So, captain. When you say a mighty haul, what might you mean by that?"

    Alex said nothing, only smirked. Raccan knew her well enough to understand what that meant. As the ship set off from Stros M'Kai, Alex flipped open her compass, getting her bearings as the Peregrine sailed out to open ocean.

    The journey was quiet; the seas were calm, and Alex barely had to turn the wheel at all once she'd set them on the planned course. About an hour in, however, there was a call from the top of the main mast. She couldn't hear it, so called for a repeat from the crew.

    "Ship ho, cap'n! Frigate, flying the Emperor's colours, flanked port and starboard by two navy schooners!"

    Alex didn't even need to think twice.
    "Man the cannons! Load the chase cannons with chain shot, the broadsides with round shot; on my first order, fire the chase cannons. On my second, the broadsides. Get on with it!"
    Most of the crew disappeared down into the gundeck, but a few stayed above deck to man the broadside cannons lashed to the guardrails.

    The Peregrine drew closer and closer to the frigate, but Alex didn't order the chase cannons fired. The two schooners had gotten suspicious, and circled round to flank the new ship. Alex waited a few more seconds, before yelling out:

    "FIRE!" The chase cannons shot out their chain shot, aimed perfectly at the frigate's mizzen mast. All four sets of shot smashed into the wood about thirty feet up, and with a mighty crack, it snapped and collapsed onto the deck. Before the schooners had a chance to open fire, she shouted the order again, and both sides of her ship lit up with fire as 21 cannon balls smashed into each ship, tearing them open. The few broadside cannons they had slid straight out of the gashes, effectively removing their teeth, and the ships began taking on water fast, slowing them down to a crawl and forcing them deeper into the water. They were no trouble any more, so Alex simply restored her attention to the frigate, which had turned to try and fire on her.

    "BRACE!" she yelled, forcing the crew to their knees as they took cover. Luckily, the frigate had apparently had the majority of its firepower removed to accommodate more cargo; the damage the Peregrine had taken was easily fixable. Instead of turning to return fire, however, she ruthlessly plowed straight into the starboard side of the ship, the Peregrine's ram burying itself in the frigate's hull.
    "Prepare to board," Raccan yelled, knowing Alex well enough to beat her to the order. Alex nodded to him, handing him the wheel to align the Peregrine with the Imperial frigate.

    While he was doing so, Alex dropped athletically from the top deck onto the main deck, sprinting along the length of the ship to climb the bowsprit, which was currently lined up perfectly for her own ambush. As she reached the tip, she drew her dagger from her left hip, leapt from the bowsprit and landed on the frigate, burying her dagger in the shoulder of a gunner who'd noticed her and was currently lining up a shot with his musket. She could almost feel the tip of it pierce his heart, and watched mercilessly as his eyes rolled back. Yanking it out in a spurt of blood, she shifted the dagger to her left hand and drew a cutlass with her right, ready to fight. Two men rushed her at once; she out-maneuvered one and got him shot by another gunner, while she rolled behind the other man and stabbed him through the chest with her cutlass. She kicked the man from her blade, delaying three more men who were forced backward by the falling corpse, while she blocked a bayonet with her dagger, deflecting the blow to the side as she twisted around it, burying the dagger in the musketeer's ear, killing him instantly. Her blades were a blur, amazed no-one had landed a hit on her yet.
    I mean, I'm good, but I'm not that good. These must just be sailors, not soldiers. No combat experience.
    Ignoring this fact, she continued to cut those men down who dared to attack her, until the remaining sailors threw down their swords and held up their hands in surrender. Once the Peregrine had lined up alongside the frigate, her crew leapt aboard with menacing growls. Piracy was all a big show really; you just had to convince the honest men that you were some hellish thing sent by the devil, and they'd give you whatever they had to make you leave them alive. The crew of the Peregrine had certainly mastered the act; only the captain showed any kind of resistance to it, and even he seemed worried when his wrists were lashed together with rope. The rest of the crew looked terrified, and glanced up at her with horror as she walked among them. She approached the captain.

    She slowly, deliberately planted her feet down in front of him, crossing her arms and gazing down her nose at him. He slowly tilted his head up, squinting to counteract the sun in his eyes.

    "Do you know who I am?"
    "Aye, I do. You're Alex Attwater.
    "Aye. And that must mean you know what I want." There was no answer. "Boys, tie him to a cannonball and throw him overboard. Take what's in the hold, and leave the rest. Someone will pick them up eventually." She smirked at the Imperials as her crew laughed, and went back to the Peregrine's wheel, where Raccan was waiting and smiling. After a while, the hold was packed to the brim with their reward, and they turned southeast to head back to Stros M'Kai.

    "You can handle the unloading, Raccan?" Alex asked as she released the wheel an hour later, having docked at a jetty again.
    "Aye, captain. We'll catch up later." Alex nodded, heading to dry land and toward the village hall.

    The hall was usually empty, since the Imperials had been scattered from the island nigh on two years previously, but it seemed more quiet than usual, somehow. She called for the elderly bell-ringer, who shuffled around the corner.

    "Call them." The man nodded, shuffling back around the corner and into the bell tower. Soon, the bell began to ring loudly, summoning the pirate captains who helped run this republic; Rivers, Rhaean, Francois, Frand, and Proteus and his quartermaster/lover Lu'ah. It was time for their weekly meeting.
     

    fellowknight

    The Devil In The Details
    Pelfhe couldn't stop shaking to save his own life.

    He'd tried clutching his musket rifle harder to steady himself, but only succeeded in making his hands sore and raw. He tried to take a deep breath calm his nerves, instead nearly swallowing a fly through his nostrils. He even tried standing up and walking about The Equalizer's main deck to stretch his legs, but he just couldn't seem to get a grip on the ground below him. His heart was racing and he knew exactly why, he just wished he could hide it somehow. It had become painfully obvious he was a new member of The Equalizer's crew and was getting rubber legs over their coming raid.

    The nord lad joined the crew about two days earlier and had yet to see his first battle. He'd tried his best to appear strong and confident around the others, but he had only taken the position to spite his antagonizing father at home. He wasn't having any second thoughts about joining and actually sticking around, but he'd also never seen bloodshed, except for hunting, which in his father's book "doesn't count".

    Granted, his father had tried to teach him the sword, but Pelfhe had found greater interest in books and sleeping. He was docile and his father hated it. But who could blame him? He'd much rather handle a book over a blade, but he couldn't deny that he longed for adventure, and his father's approval. And thus, when The Equalizer returned to Skyrim's Northern port in Solitude to recruit as they did every two years, Pelfhe was already there and was the second in line to sign up. He'd heard rumors across the sea about The Equalizer's captain and intended to investigate the truth behind 'The Specter'. The first in line had been some Imperial woman, who held a flintlock as if it were a crossbow.

    "Cap'n!" A scout from the top of the mainmast called. "Armed Galleon spotted, few knots off! It's sportin' Dominion colors, sir! I count...For'y-six broadside cannons, rifelman all 'round! They've spotted us and are moving 'round to flank!"

    Pelfhe looked over to the wheel of The Equalizer to see the captain's reaction and response, as did the rest of the crew on-deck. He was garbed in Gold and Black armor that covered him head to toe with his weapons of a bow and arrows and a longsword strapped to his back. In the small space between his covered mouth and where his hood stopped, his eyes shot across his ship to the advancing Dominion Galleon, studying it.

    The Mer on board had yet to take up offensive positions but they would soon enough. Their cannon fire would be too much to handle at once, so an all out cannon-brawl was no use here. They'd need to approach them on their blind-side and disable the cannons manually. He knew just the trick.

    His eyes rolled to his crew.


    It had been a long day for them and he very good and well they had barely the strength to load the cannons, but if the Republic Of Free Men was to last another month, they'd need supplies like these. Though, he knew the Mer to be extremely resiliant and indominable, as was their navy force.

    But this was no pirate crew. This was The Specter's crew, and he intended to take every septim on that vessel, surrender or no. He was no murderer, but times were tough and they would do the exact same thing in an instant. Being that the ship was in the Topal Sea told Barnan they'd either returned from a successful attack, were reporting activity of some sort, or were on their way from one order to another. Any of those options would give Barnan a heads-up on what was going on as far as the war was concerned, along with the 'loot' the vessel may or may not have possessed. Either way, Barnan would find out during the raid.

    "Heedal! Come take the wheel!" He beckoned one of the more experienced sailors among the crew. When the Argonian took hold of the wheel, Barnan patted him on the shoulder. "Position us right on their bow. When i board keep us straight, but keep your distance. We'll handle the main deck cannons. After we unhook the harpoons, move on their port." The garbed captain ordered, as Heedal nodded and began taking such precautions as making sure his hands were dry enough to grip the wheel's several handles. He'd also taken the precaution of avoiding over five glasses of mead, as he usually consumed six or seven. But for today at least, he'd decided to stay sober enough to at least grip the damn wheel. Today was especially hot for him though, so he though a nice bath in a rather shallow pool of water would do him some good. It didn't hurt to be witty and clean all in one, after all.

    Barnan paced down the steps and along the right side of the Main Deck, towards the bowsprit, studying his crew the whole way. They were tense, as was to be expected, but he knew they'd seen all of this before. They knew the routine. He glanced at one of the newcomers, Pelfhe, the young lad from Solitude a few days back who was so eager to join the crew. Though now, while he looked less eager to join the battle, Pelfhe had readied himself as best as he could, stiffening as Barnan passed, a failed attempt to look prepared. Barnan only offered him a glance before he neared the bowsprit, issuing the orders.

    "You all know your jobs! Swordsmen, follow me after the boarding plank has been launched. Riflemen, hang back and take any shot you can get. The rest of you, man the cannons for our departure. When we advanve to the Gun Decks and begin clearing those, move on the side and release the oil. Get to it! Frakig, fire the launch on my three!" He ordered, his men scrambling as the beefy warrior of a Nord hurried over to the metal lever by the bow of the ship, just as Barnan leapt onto the edge, running up and along the sprit.

    "One...Two....Three!" He yelled, as he jumped from the end of the sprit just as the harpoons fired, burying themselves in the enemy ship's lower bow hull. His cloak swirled and fought the wind wildly as his body came down in time to land on the unrolling wooden planks. The harpoonFrakig had timed it well, as he had normally done, and given his strength, he hadn't a problem pulling the mechanism.

    Seconds later, the planks had unrolled to full length to reach the front of the dominion's ship. Barnan spotted five soldiers beginning to form a firing line at the bow, but they were too late. He'd already dove over them, flinging two of his throwing daggers in midair, striking two of the mer in their chests. He landed in less than graceful roll but recovered quickly and almost instantly unsheathed Gladius, his longsword, intitiating a downward slash across one of the shooters, causing him to recoil and fall as the others moved in, swords unsheathed.

    One of the mer stood back, aiming to get a shot as the ignorant warrior sliced through his comrades with ease. With a low kick to the back of a knee, Barnan had a human shiled to absorb the round through his skull, his flintlock forfeit as Barnan raised it up and killed his assailant.

    Frakig unsheathed his Steel War Axe, Grave, just after the captain boarded the Dominion ship in a rather unprofessional manner. He quickly began eliminating the surrounding soldiers but he couldn't hold out forever. More armored riflemen were moving in to assist their comrades, along with sa few swordsmen. The captain had yet to reveal himself. A fine battle already. With his own small opposing force, Frakig raised his axe and rallied them together.

    "Come on then! Don't let me and the cap'n be the only ones to draw blood!" He bellowed, his voice loud and deep, instilling both courage and anger in the hearts of the crew as they follwed the large beast of a man across the boardwalk, issuing their war cry as Frakig hurled his axe into the helmet of one of the mer aiming on Barnan.

    Pelfhe took a deep breath as the collosal nord rallied the men to him before charging across the planks. His legs were shaking uncontrollably as the others quickly sprinted after the warrior, roaring some hellish battle cry he'd never heard before (being he'd never heard any battlecry before, except from his mother and father back when he was a lot younger).

    He gripped his sword and cursed under his breath as he followed behind them. May as well get a taste while i can, and get it out of the way. And with that, he was off, across the boardwalk and into the midst and heat of combat for the first time, yelling his own little burst of courage as he clashed with the enemy.

    The battle that ensued lasted a little over twenty minutes, as it seemed every crew member on the ship would have rather fought to the death over surrendering. The captain himself had foguth bravely but ultimately perished at the hands of Barnan. The ship was promptly burned down after the oil had been placed and was looted before then, leaving only the smoking heap of a ship left. The Dominion Navy stationed at Summerset would no doubt spot the smoke from miles off, so The Equalizer had to be quick in leaving the scene.

    All had gone well. Pelfhe had gained a new scar on his cheek he was still stiff about, Frakig had earned many kills (and thus won in the point game between himself and the captain.), and a small crate of mead had been found aboard the ship and was quickly stored in the lower, colder parts of the ship, to be divided amongst the crew later that night.

    Barnan had heard the bells as he was moving to unload his haul in Stros M'kai and hurried along to the docks. Once there, he ordered Frakig to handle the organizing and unloading of the supplies, heading himself to the nearby village's main hall. He saw the Peregrine nearby unloading supplies and knew who to expect.

    It was, as usual, rather empty, save for Captain 'Alex' of The Peregrine, whom had already found herself a seat at the large table. She looked rough and sweaty, and still had little splatters of blood on her clothes. Her hair looked a mess as well. And the dents in her ship were also a giveaway. He could only guess where she came from.

    Barnan gave her a nod before taking a seat himself, pulling the black velvet bandanda from over his mouth, throwing his hood back at the same time, revealing his buzzcut hair. He felt the contents of his pocket and pulled out an envelope, setting it on the table.

    "Captain Alex. Oddly early, i see. I trust your raid went well?"

    More of a question than a statement, but he needed to know if she'd run into any imperial or dominion forces by chance.
     
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    Simus

    An Excellent Site Member
    "Everything is ready Braids." Trevor said.

    "Very well." Braids said in a calm, sagely voice, masking the enormous butterflies in her stomach. "Begin the ritual."

    Trevor and another mage, an olive-skinned argonian, stood on two soapstone-drawn runes flanking the front of a large dwemer metal portal. Two other mages were flanking its rear, all four mages forming corners. Soon the large and rather ugly metal hoop they were charging would hum with life and open a gateway to Aetherius itself. What would it look like they wondered? A curtain of shimmering gold light? A view of the night sky? A film of orange fire like an Oblivion Gate? Or would it be something to suprise them all? None of them would know until it happened but whatever the case it would be the most profound event in magical history. They would be the first mortals in history to enter the realm of magic and the gods themselves and commune with Juliannos, the god of wisdom and magic. "Do the gods exist?" has been an age old question and today, here, in the Arcane University in the Imperial City, Braids and her team would answer that question with a resounding "yes."

    That is, if this worked.

    Braids couldn't help but be nervous about this. So much that she had to ball her fists up to prevent them from shaking. She was only 16 years old and she was leading a project that was so ambitious as to be considered insane by some. She was a prodigy, a gift to the world. The last two years of her life were devoted to this project. So much had already been done. Incredible breakthroughs, extraordinary work for a teenager but this was the climax of all her work. Something she couldn't afford to get wrong. She couldn't contemplate the results if she did.

    The mages were channeling pure magika, manifesting as blue helices from their hands, into the portal. Empty glass nodes thrummed with power and gave off a brilliant blue glow. "Insert the soul gems!" Braids shouted over the channeling and thrumming and two more mages inserted full black soul gems into sockets on either side of the portal. "We're ready for the lexicon!" Trevor shouted. "Ready!" Braids shouted back, producing a glowing red lexicon, a dwemer knowledge cube. She walked towards the portal, the final piece of the progect literally in her hands.

    "Ancestors of the ancient days bless us." She chanted. "Spirits of the dead bless us. Infinite dwellers of Aetherius bless us. The Nine Divines bless us!" The lexicon opened, revealing its glowing sphere at the center. "Bless us, for we are the faithful! Bless us, for we are the repentant! Bless us, for we seek your everlasting love! Bless us, for we seek than Answer to the Eternal Question! Show us your face great Juliannos so that we may know you!"

    The sphere of the lexicon burst open and the entire mechanism transmuted into a red projection of an Elder Scroll. Braids unrolled the scroll and her eyes glowed red with power. A red beam of light shot from the scroll and the portal finally opened, becoming a door and not a door. A mirror of a thousand shifting colours. The mages stopped channeling and stood in wonder at what they had just accomplished. They had done it. They had really done it.

    "I see..." Braids whispered, in pure awe. She was seeing a thousand different places, a thousand different truths all at once. It was agonizing but also exhilarating. The most exciting pain she'd ever felt. Her mind reeled at the implications of what she's just accomplished. Her mind, her very being, was in Aetherius.

    But then something strange happened. There wa a little black spot at the center of this...crescendo of reality she was in. The spot grew and she felt dread. It kept growing and she felt fear. It was massive now and she was terrified. All the wonderful things she was witnessing were consumed by this spot, as if all reality were being sucked away. Soon she was completely enveloped in darkness.

    "You've done well little Charlotte. Such brilliance in a mortal so young I havn't seen in thousands of years. But I'm afraid your usefulness is at an end. I'm afraid you've been decieved in your belief that Aedra exist or Aetherius can be found, and that I am your deciever. You've still accomplished something great howeve, for I am Hermaeus Mora and you have opened a way into my realm. Now I may share my gifts with then entire world."

    "No..." Braids whispered in sheer horror. She had to anchor her mind again, she had to stop the ritual but it was too late. A massive tentacled horror flooded the darkness with cold purple light and drowned Braids in an unholy black ooze. The impact of the wall of sludge shocked her back into the real world to see her portal expelling the same vile substance like a dragon breathing fire. All she could hear were the screams of trevor and the others as they were consumed by the stuff, their bodies and faces covered in black boils and their skin peeling off layer by layer. It was all Braids could do to summon a ward to protect herself. By that time everyone else was dead. A hulking tentacled horror came through the portal and gave some proclamation in an unholy language of squelches and gibberish. It waded effortlessly through the muck and grabbed Braids with a massive tentacle, lifting her effortlessly. She was too shocked to do anything, even scream. She knew this was the end of her young life.

    "Merciful Mara." She whispered while in tears. "What have I done?"

    The creature raised its arm and let out one last guttural cry, ready to end the small, terrified mage...


    ***

    Braids bolted upright in her bed, a scream on the very tip of her tongue. Her heart was racing and she was in a cold sweat but she kept in control. She closed he eyes and toop deep, slow breaths and after a few moments she remembered where she was. She was in her warm bed, in her cozy little captain's cabin aboard her little schooner the Nightwish. She was safe. It was only a dream.

    Dreams couldn't hurt her, no matter how terrifying. She was shaking and scared but it would pass. She just kept telling herself that as she kept her eyes closed and sat in bed, trying to calm herself down. Then she noticed tears on her face. She was crying. She, Charlotte "Braids" Francois the Witch of the Sea, was crying in bed.

    It was okay to cry. Everybody cried, even captains. She told herself that too. She didn't have to be captain right now. She wiped her eyes and sniffled her nose then reached for the rum bottle on her nightstand. Then realized it was empty.

    "Why is the rum always gone?" She muttered. Then she became instantly alert as she heard a knock on her door.

    "Charlotte?" someone called. Another knock. "Charlotte? Can I come in?" Braids immediately knew who this was. It was her first mate Anette "Netty" Olzan. A tall and strong Nord woman of 42 with long black hair, a fair bust and the bearing of a noble. She had served on the Nightwish under the previous captain, back when it was called the Crimson Sabre and was the closest thing Braids had ever had or would have, to a mother. She was the only person still breathing that had the privilege of calling Braids "Charlotte."

    "Come in Netty." Braids said, immediately trying to hide her emotional state despite knowing that Netty would see right through it.

    Netty walked in, still dressed in her pirate garb of white long sleeved shirt, tan vest, tan pants and brown leather riding boots. She had just gotten off duty so it must be around midnight Braids reckoned. "I heard you thrashing." Netty said. "Are you alright?" Braids nodded but her tears glistened in the moonight and Netty was overcome with motherly pity. She gave a small gasp before walking over and sitting on Braids' bed. She got up next to Braids and pulled her into a big hug. Normally Braids was not an emotional woman but with Netty she could be vulnerable. She hugged Netty back and nuzzled into her shoulder. "What is it Charlotte?" Netty whispered, stroking her captain's always-braided hair. "What happened? What's wrong?"

    Braids let herself cry silently on Netty's shoulder while clinging to the Nord cradling her like a child. Netty was also the only person entrusted with seeing Braids vulnerable. To everyone else she was the inscrutable captain. "Did you have a nightmare again?" Netty asked and Braids nodded silently. "You want to tell me about it?"

    "What's to tell?" Braids whispered "We've talked about it before. Doing so again won't change anything."

    "What happened at the University wasn't your fault."

    "Which part?" Braids asked. "Where I was arrogant enough to think I could usurp Heaven? Or where I consigned sixty people to Oblivion? I should have died Netty."

    Netty turned Braids' head so they had eye contact. "But you didn't Charlotte. You survived to remember what happened and to make sure such a tragedy never happens again. You've suffered terribly since that day. Fate has tried to shoot you, stab you and leave you to the sea and you've always survived. And you've taken the time you've been given and done good work with it. You've shown people the good of magic, you've improved the lives of ordinary people and you've helped keep the last free nation in the world truly free. You've done good work Charlotte."

    "Have I?" Braids asked, doubtful at best. "I'm a pirate Netty. I lead other pirates to rob ships at sea."

    "Ships trying to bring orders and constraints no one in the Abecean Sea wants or asked for. Being a pirate doesn't mean you can't be a good person Charlotte. You're proof of that."

    "Really?" Braids asked. "You...do you really mean that?"

    "Have I ever lied to you?" Netty asked in a motherly tone.

    "No." Braids said. "No you haven't." She sighed, now very tired, and laid her head on Netty's shoulder. Netty cradled it again. "I suppose you're right...I just...I never want to be manipulated again. I never want to be a pawn again. I don't want that for anyone."

    "And so long as you have this ship and this crew that will never happen. As Talos as my witness I promise you that."

    Braids smiled at Netty's invocation of the hero god of mankind. Netty's faith was much stronger than hers and she found that strangely comforting. As if the gods really did exist and she could know them if she believe enough. She hoped that was true. "I love you Netty." Braids said.

    "I love you too, my little Charlotte." Netty said. She got up and tucked Braids back in. She was only half-covered thanks to her thrashing. "Now, captain, you need to go back to sleep and get some rest. We've got a meeting tomorrow and the Nightwish needs you fresh." She noticed Braids' empty rum bottle. "Now, how 'bout I get you a nightcap and sing you a lullaby. How does that sound?" Braids nodded her head and gave a tired "Mhmm." Netty hugged her again and went off, returning a few minutes later with a fresh bottle and a glass of sour mash whisky. Hard to get in this tropical part of the world and her captain's favorite. "Here you are." She said. Braids took the drink and downed it in one shot, immediately feeling the buzz and sleepy that came with it. She gave a yawn and closed her eyes. "Goodnight Netty. I love you."

    "Goodnight my little Charlotte." Netty said, kissing Braids' forehead as she drifted off to sleep. As she did so, Netty began singing a song she wrote herself. Some of the best singing Braids had ever heard.

    "I close my eyes, the lantern dies
    The scent of awakening, wild honey and dew
    Childhood games, woods and lakes
    Streams of silver, toys of olden days

    Meadows of Heaven
    Meadows of Heaven..."


    (OOC: In case it's not obvious already, I'm a big Nightwish fan and this is the first stanza of one of their best songs. Youtube it. It's amazing, and on an amazing album.)

    ***
    The next morning was business as usual on the deck of the Nightwish. None of the crew had overheard the sensitive exchange between their captain and first mate and both had gotten up as if nothing had ever happened. Braids had adopted her usual sagely, if cool, demeanor. She had a reputation as the mysterious, all-knowing mage and she saw no reason to appear otherwise. The ship was just docking at the main port town on the island of Stros M'Kai and the crew could hear the large bell above the chapel tolling. A summons for the weekly meeting of all the "Pirate Lords" of the Republic of Free men. Braids always thought the idea somewhat quaint. The Republic wasn't really a Republic at all. It was a collection of townships, ships and people who's only commonality was a desire to be free from any and all authority and policed itself to keep order. Braids and the other major captains just happened to be the most capable in enforcing this order. The only real rule in the "Republic" was to not destabilize it with infighting or cause trouble for the people who lived here. But if meeting once a week and pretending to vote on things made everyone feel better, Braids saw no reason to change things.

    After the Nightwish docked she and Netty came ashore and headed up to the town hall. Captain Alexia "Alex" Attwater of the Peregrine, a well-armed and infamous Brig, and Captain Barna Frand, of an equally well-armed and dangerous Brig, were already present. They were in light conversation but noticed Braids and Netty as the approached. Netty gave them both a warm smile and Braids a polite nod.

    "Alex, Barnan, good morning." She said in her usual restrained tone. "I trust you have both been well?" The bags under her eyes betrayed her harrowing night but she ignored them.
     

    fellowknight

    The Devil In The Details
    "Alex, Barnan, good morning." Barnan shifted his attention to Charlotte 'Braids', Captain of The Nightwish and infamous Witch Of the Sea. At her side, stood her silent but polite first mate, Netty. Barnan didn't know Charlotte well enough to call her by her nickname, or that of her mate's, but he knew them nonetheless. To the day, he still didn't know what her alias 'Witch Of the Sea' was all about, but he had a feeling he'd find out in time.

    "I trust you have both been well?" Barnan couldn't help but notice the bags of restlessness tucked beneath her eyes and shifted in his seat slightly. She was getting less sleep, it seemed. It could've been a number of things, but it wasn't Barnan's concern.

    They were members of the same organization, if you want to call it that as it was more of a gathering of powerful pirates than anything, and nothing more. He'd fought with her once or twice and had accompanied her to several trade outs, but they were acquainted as mutual acquaintances. He'd saved her life and she'd done the same one or twice in combat. This was the way things were supposed to be in an ever expanding world. Though he had to admit, occasionally, he pitied her, given her past.

    He felt the letter in his gloved hand and was snapped back to reality. He returned the gesture of Charlotte and Netty, and responded.

    "Morning. This weeks been quiet so far, unusually so.." He raised the letter with a ragged cut along the seal, indicating he'd read it. "Found something interesting recently, but it can wait until the others get here. Sleep well, Charlotte? Oh, and hi Netty. You look well."
     
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    Wolfbane

    Why change the past when you can own this day?
    The horizon seemed to be neverending; vast plains of vibrant blues and greens, and the only thing in sight was their home; An island by the name of Stros M'kai. He never thought he'd be happier to see a piece of dry land until this day. They had just gotten done with a month long journey at sea, and he could sense the crew's fatigue and weariness. Even the most salty pirate needs his legs on firm ground. The water was calm; not a single wave slithered across the belly of the ship. It made steering a hells of a lot easier, and it gave the crew some time to rest. Up near the sails and short haired wood elf dangled her feet over her platform; This is Rain and she is the marksmen along with a Khajiit the crew calls affectionately calls fangs. Rain scratched the salt out of her hair and pulled out her spyglass to rely that they are getting close to their home, "Aye, Cap'n! We're getting closer to land," her voice echoed and climbed down the rope and into the ears of the captain.

    Remi continued to leisurely guide his hand over the wheel while trying to hold back a smile as he caught eye of the docks slowly getting closer. The Blue Wolf calculatingly cut through the waves like a the animal of which it's named stalks its prey; swift and quietly. She's sunk her teeth in many a prey, despite her size and lack of all of her "teeth".

    With the wind hitting the back of his neck, he noticed that it was picking up, and so he adjusted the wheel giving her more speed towards their destination. He subtly turned to stare at his lover, Lu'ah. Her eyes were as blue and deep as the sea around them. Her hair was slightly blowing in the breeze, allowing him to soak in her face and real beauty. Under the hard exterior was a loving and fierce soul. It would seem the sea brought them together when he found her adrift. Some could say love at first sight. It seemed that her eyes were fixed on the horizon, just as his was. Both were quite eager to get to their dark, deprived, and free home.
     

    shadowkitty

    Mistress of Shadows
    Lu’ah stared into the horizon as Stros M'Kai loomed ahead in the distance. Home to the denizens of the criminal world. The lowest, dirtiest, cruellest, crudest bunch of ruffians you could ever squeeze into one place. Not to mention the opportunists that took up residence on the island as well. The merchants, traders and whores; all condensed into one rambunctious village that was tacked on to the end of an otherwise lush island. Lu’ah smiled, half excited about setting foot on land again after a month out to sea. Despite the dark, dangerous nature of the place, it was still home. The other half of her loathed the place. It was always noisy, bustling, smelly. Not like the ocean. The ocean was a place she could easily loose herself in, and had done so many times. She almost even made it her final resting place, before Remi had saved her.

    "Aye, Cap'n! We're getting closer to land," the wood elf, Rain, shouted down from her nest high up in the sails. She nimbly scampered down the mast and set foot lightly upon the wooden deck. Her announcement was met with much joy from the rest of the crew. Lu’ah knew they needed a break. A month out at sea, pillaging and what-not did leave a man thirsting for a little down time.

    Lu’ah turned to gaze upon her Captain, her wolf, as he stood at the wheel. A hint of a smile played on his lips and she wondered what he was thinking about as he leisurely steered the Blue Wolf home. The black ship skimmed lightly over the waves. Like it’s namesake, it was silent and deadly. The Brig had sent many an enemy ship to the murky depths below, despite her smaller size and fewer cannons than the typical ship of her class.

    Lu’ah felt a stirring as she watched Remi’s hands slide lovingly over the wheel, making minute corrections to adjust to the wind, giving the ship its head and letting her sink into the tailwinds, pushing her forward with even more speed. It seemed her lover was eager to return to Stros M’kai as well. Lu’ah turned back to the island and could see a few ships she recognised, already docked. The Nightwish and the hulking Equalizer and Alex’s ship The Peregrine . She indicated to Remi with an arch of her eyebrow and he nodded in response, instantly knowing what she meant. It was unusual to see so many of them docked at once. Alex must have called a meeting with the council. Lu’ah sighed. Her plans for an early night with her wolf, it seemed, had been changed without her consent.

    They were nearing the docks, the bowsprit sails already packed away. Lu’ah had already organised with Fixes-many-things, their Argonian Boatswain, what needed to be done with the ship while they were docked. Sails to be patched, hull scraped and tarred, railings to be mended that didn’t fare as well in battle. Most of the time she didn’t really need to tell the Argonian what to do. He was one of the more reliable of the crew members.

    In truth, Lu’ah and her Captain ran a pretty well oiled ship. Each sailor had their job and they knew how to do it without being told most of the time. Lu’ah didn’t really need to do much in the way of ordering them around. That was not to say that they did not abide by her orders though. They wouldn’t have dared to. Lu’ah was as ruthless and unforgiving as her eyes were blue.

    She shook her head, letting her hair flow freely in the wind. She was already dressed in her casual clothing. A white low-cut peasant tunic top that was cinched at her waist by a thick strip of rigid leather, accentuating her ample bustline, tight suede pants and knee high boots. Her swords strapped to her sides; a pushblade hidden down between her breasts. Her arms jingled with the many bangles she wore. A bright blue gem sparkled on a particularly ornate wrist cuff on her left wrist. The dock where they set The Blue Wolf to rest was coming up and the ship glided in silently. The crew scurried about, fixing the lines and hauling out their precious cargo. It was a good haul for a month’s work.

    “I know you are eager to get to shore men, but if I see anything done half-assed, I’ll personally gut you with a f***fing spoon.” Lu’ah shouted down from her position up on the quarterdeck.

    “AYE MA’AM!” they shouted. None of them were certain if she meant it or not. At that moment, Lu’ah certainly did mean it. She was not looking forward to the council meeting.
     

    Blitzz

    A Friendly Brit
    "Cap'n?" Jayden snapped back to reality, his daydream gone with the wind. Treyan stood next to him at the helm, the source of the disturbance. "Cap'n?" he repeated, not sure if Jayden was paying attention or not to his first mate. Jayden turned to look at the man. He was near enough 6 feet tall, with dirty, scraggly black hair that fell like snakes to his shoulders. His eyes were a dark enough brown that many though them black, and the usual stubble dotted the area around his mouth.

    "Yes, Treyan?" Jayden's voice was deep and husky, for his throat had long been dried up by the harsh sun of the early morn. His accent was thick, accentuating every word as only the men of Hammerfell did. He swept a lose braid back behind his ear as Treyan prepared himself to speak, squinting against the sun.

    "You was dreamin' again, Cap'n, the lookouts call land. Stros M'kai be 'bout an hour off. Will we be dockin' north 'r south this time?"

    "South. Anchor 'n' go ashore in the longboats. We'll arrange for the cargo to be shifted once we're ashore."

    "Aye, Cap'n." Treyan turned to bark orders to the crew, as Jayden fixed his gaze on the growing landmass just off the port bow of the ship. They had not been out for particularly long. It had been just four days since they had left the port at Stros M'kai. The heat had been unbearable the whole time, and the winds had done little to cool them. Most of the men had resorted to spending the days below deck. They had been going after a merchant convoy after a tip-off, but instead they had stumbled accross a pair of Dominion brigs. The elven weapons would fetch a fine price, and some of the ships undamaged cannons had even been brought aboard the Vendetta.

    The hour passed quickly, and soon enough the Vendetta was a five minute row from the port. Jayden scanned the vessels. The Nightswish, the Peregrine and the Equalizer were already docked, and the Blue Wolf was just coming in to dock. Jayden relinquished his grip of the wheel. "A'ight you dogs! Drop anchor!" He waited and listened to the chains rattling, followed by the familiar thud of the anchor nestling into the seabed. "I'm goin' ashore. By time I come back I want the Vendetta in perfect shape, or there'll be no fightin' this week." The fights were the highlight of the crew's week, apart from payday. It was enough of a threat that they'd get the job done. "Ready the longboat." Jayden stepped down and walked across the deck to the boat, and sat patiently as it was lowered into the water and rowed ashore. There were enough captains at port that Jayden could guess what was going on.

    Jayden stepped off the boat and onto the pier. It was rickety and old, creaking under his considerable weight. It took a moment for him to reach the sand, before he broke off and headed into the city. The town hall would be empty as always minus the council.

    Just as suspected, when the hall's doors creaked open, there they were. The lot of them had assembled around a long table, but Jayden walked up to the barman first and ordered a meal and a drink. Soup and ale in hand, he took his place at the table amidst the small talk. "Well, isn't this pleasant." He looked up and around the hall. "I think we should find a new place to hold these meetings. Something with a bit more... grandeur, wouldn't ye agree?"
     

    Simus

    An Excellent Site Member
    "Hi Barnan." Netty said, giving the shrouded captain a warm smile. "It's good to see you. Or, at least, what you let people see." She gave a light chuckle, then turned to Alex. "And Alex! How are you sweetheart? It's been far too long since I've hugged you." Netty opened her arms towards Alex, inviting her for just such a hug. Braids remained reserved. Other than for Netty she really wasn't the huggy type. Or the emotional type. She found that feelings did more harm than good and could be taken advantage of too easily. Some of her men joked that it was her cold personality that gave her the power to use frost magic and ice atronachs. She found that quaint but understood where the joke came from.

    She also frowned when Barnan called her Charlotte. He knew as well as everyone else how Braids felt about her given name and how she considered it a privilege for others to use it. He was likely just trying to be friendly and polite but they were little more than acquaintances. The council had gotten to know and trust each other over the past two years in the common interest of defending Stros M'Kai and Braids had certainly developed bonds with the other captains. Barnan just wasn't such a one.

    "Barnan, I suggest you call me Braids like everyone else. I understand you're trying to be friendly but you and I aren't exactly comrades-in-arms yet. I take no offense however. To answer your question, no I haven't been sleeping well. It's nothing you need to be concerned with however." She turned to Alex. "Are the others arriving soon Alex? My crew and I have been at sea for a week and I'm looking forward to a bath and a bowel of clam chowder."
     

    Wolfbane

    Why change the past when you can own this day?
    "Alex loves her meetings Blue," the ship was being prepared to dock, and then dropped anchor and secured to the dock itself, like many of the other ships. Finally they set foot on the creaky light wooden docks. Remi and Lu'ah both looked at each other and sighed while having a few minutes to ponder about what this damned meeting was all about, "What could it be this time? I can think of better things to do," he then grabbed Lu'ah's hip and pulled her close and kissed her making her smile and kiss back.

    "You know her, Wolfie," Lu'ah drawled, giving Remi's behind a squeeze, "Let's hope this will be a fast one. We've had our asses out to sea for a month. It will be great to actually take a bath. Let's just get this over and done with." With great reluctance they made their way to the "city hall" if one had to put a name to it. Before them was, Charlotte 'Braids' Francois, Barnan Frand, and soon there after Jayden Rhaean. Remi looked around and gave a smile to some of his friends at the table while Lu'ah found their usual spots, "Braids! Hard times? Look after yourself better. For me? Netty! How are you? I hope you're keeping well. Ah, good day to you, Jayden and to you Frand," he then kicked a chair to wear it spun around and faced him and propped his feet up on the table, "Alright, Alex. What's the meeting for? Hope you all had a good time at sea. We just got done a month stint on the blue plains. Takes the piss out of you, you know?" He looked over at his lover and noticed that she was playing with her bangles as well as her knife. He knew she hated these meetings, as did he, and he appreciates her coming despite that fact. He smiled at her before turning back and waiting for a reply.

    Lu'ah was fine with Remi taking over in the meeting, he was, after all the Captain and she only the Quartermaster. She sheathed her knife and leant back against the bar, sipping on a tankard of spiced wine. The hot liquid slid pleasantly down her throat.
     
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    fellowknight

    The Devil In The Details
    "Hi Barnan." Netty said, giving the shrouded captain a warm smile. "It's good to see you. Or, at least, what you let people see." She gave a light chuckle, then turned to Alex. "And Alex! How are you sweetheart? It's been far too long since I've hugged you."

    Barnan smirked to himself but it was dissolved instantaneously after Braids replied to his inquiring earlier.

    "Barnan, I suggest you call me Braids like everyone else. I understand you're trying to be friendly but you and I aren't exactly comrades-in-arms yet. I take no offense however. To answer your question, no I haven't been sleeping well. It's nothing you need to be concerned with however."

    And it was true. Barnan had no reason to be worried with her sleep deprivation, though he had a few good clues as to what caused it. Either way, he could careless, as his focuses were on his crew and avoiding death as narrowly as he could. Though a friend of his in the past had told him different.

    He nodded, his 'mask' of cold indifference not shifting in the slightest as he acknowledged her sensitivity with the name.

    "Duly noted, Braids. I apologize, it must've slipped my mind."

    He followed up on her question to Alex, his index finger trailing the jagged cut along the parchment envelope. He turned to Alex.

    "Agreed. If they aren't arriving anytime soon, Alex, I may as well get this letter out of the way while we're all here and alive."

    He, again, turned his attention to Braids.

    "We need to talk after this meeting. And no, it doesn't involve the fact of me calling you by your first name."

    Just in that moment, Captain Remi 'Wolf' of The Blue Wolf and his substantial Quartermaster, Lu The Blue, came into the room and equally greeted everyone. Remi then sat down, also asking as to what the meeting entailed and describing his crew's trip at sea. It seemed everyone had a vacation but Barnan. Soon, perhaps.

    (Sorry if I kinda jacked with your character, Simus. If anything needs to be changed, let me know and i'll handle it. Perhaps we should discuss the reason why Barnan wants to talk with Braids over PM? Or it can be a spontaneous surprise. It's up to you.)
     

    Melee

    I'm back, bitches
    At this exact moment, everything was right in the world for Avis Rivers. A steady, salty breeze ensured that their ship was making decent time. The sun was shining above them, and the crew was still on a celebratory high from the recent raid they had just completed. The slaving ship they had taken down hadn't even seen them coming until the very last minute; speed was something Avis prided herself on, and her ship was the fastest.

    She also got a grim sense of satisfaction from the look on the captain's face just before she shot him down. She loved seeing how fear looked in his eyes and twisted his face, but she would think back on that later. Right now, they had a port to reach. Avis could practically feel the bells ringing in her bones, despite the fact that they were miles away and she couldn't actually hear them. Alex would most likely be the one who initiated the ringing; she did like being there early.

    Jumping up from her bed in her cabin, Avis quickly strode to the door and flung it open before jumping onto a barrel. "All right boys! It's time to really get moving! We're expected in Stros M'Kai so let's not keep anyone waiting!" With a roar of cheers, the crew flew into motion, raising more sails and changing direction for what was possibly their only safe haven on land.

    -----

    Coming back to Stros M'Kai was always an interesting experience. It was rowdy, loud, and the goings-on and residents were not for the faint of heart. Avis and her crew loved every second of it.

    They quickly docked and unloaded, everyone eager to load up on more supplies and spend some of their hard earned income in the markets that littered the port city. Avis waved to her first mate, a Redguard by the name of Havor, and gave him a quick rundown of her plans. "I'm off to the hall to meet with the other captains. I'm not sure how long we'll be staying here, but make sure that everyone is back in time and doesn't get into TOO much trouble while I'm gone." With a wink and a laugh from her friend, she set off down the gangplank and down the cobbled street towards the Republic's meeting hall.

    Avis burst through the large doors to see many of the other Republic "leaders" in attendance. Nobody looked too battered or bruised (Alex had a bit of blood on her shirt, but when you're a pirate you have at least some blood on all of your clothing), so she took that as a good sign. Smiling around at everyone, Avis sat on one of the chairs around the table. "It's good to see everyone here in one piece. How's everyone doing today?"
     

    EpicVakarian

    Calibration-Master General
    The first to arrive was Frand, the slightly older, average height, muscle-bound captain of the Equalizer. He sat down, pulling back his hood and removing his bandana.
    "Captain Alex. Oddly early, I see. I trust your raid went well?" It took only a moment for Alex to realise how he knew she'd been in a raid; her windswept hair and bloodstained clothes gave her away clear as day.

    "Of course," she responded, smiling over at him as she put her feet up. "Good day's work; full hold, and not too much damage. And yours?" Before Barnan could respond, Braids and her first mate Netty also entered. Netty smiled warmly at Barnan and Alex, while Braids just nodded politely.
    "Alex, Barnan, good morning. I trust you have both been well?"
    "Excellent, thank you, Braids. Morning, Netty."
    "Morning. This week's been quiet so far, unusually so." He raised the letter he was holding. "Found something interesting recently, but it can wait until the others get here. Sleep well, Charlotte?"

    Two things ran through Alex's mind; first being that Braids wouldn't be particularly happy with being called by her birth name. The second thing was that Barnan had pointed out something Alex hadn't noticed yet; the deep bags under Braids' eyes, signifying a lack of sleep. Even Alex couldn't help but feel worried about Braids. But she wouldn't take kindly to them asking if she needed help, so Alex ignored it.
    Just then, Jayden Rhaean entered the room, first grabbing a bowl of soup and a bottle of ale.

    "Well, isn't this pleasant. I think we should find a new place to hold these meetings. Somewhere with a bit more... grandeur, wouldn't ye agree?"

    There was some more small talk before Braids spoke to Alex.
    "Are the others arriving soon, Alex? My crew and I have been at sea for a week and I'm looking forward to a bath and a bowl of clam chowder."
    As if on cue, Remi Proteus and his quartermaster/lover Lu'ah entered.
    "There's your answer, Braids," Alex said, smiling slightly.

    "Braids! Hard times? Look after yourself better. For me?" Remi turned to Netty. "Netty! How are you? I hope you're keeping well. Ah, good day to you, Jayden and to you Frand," he then kicked a chair to wear it spun around and faced him and propped his feet up on the table, "Alright, Alex. What's the meeting for? Hope you all had a good time at sea. We just got done a month stint on the blue plains. Takes the piss out of you, you know?"

    And now Avis Rivers, the Bosmer, burst into the room. She sat in a chair and spoke;
    "It's good to see everyone here in one piece. How's everyone doing today?"

    "We're all great, Avis, thank you. Now everyone's here; to business." Alex swung her legs off the table and leaned forward, looking around at the five fellow captains and two important crew members. "So. First order of business; anything important any of you need to tell us? Any troop or ship movements we need to be aware of? Second, have any of you taken any cargo that could help us defend the island? And third order of business is that letter of yours, Frand. Just what kind of interesting do you mean?"
     
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    fellowknight

    The Devil In The Details
    Barnan sat up noticeably as Alex began to issue the agenda for their meeting, addressing his find on the letter. He felt it in his hand and remembered the Aldmeric writing that had stated their grim future. But it'd have to wait until he was sure he had everyone's attention.

    "The interesting that hurts, that's for sure. It seems the Dominion is doubling its patrols in the south. I ran into an Altmer vessel earlier, before arriving here. Military-grade cannonry, expert marksmen, relentless crew, and sharply cut armor on the hull. Dominion troops. The cargo I seized from the ship proves it. Grolim and I will work out a deal for the distribution of the cargo." He held up the letter. "They were looking for us. As usual but...." He gripped the letter tighter.

    "It can wait. Until everyone is done." He saw Alex and the others begin to object, but he raised his voice to halt them. "It can wait until everyone is done with their part." He gestured to Braids. "How'd things go on your end? I overheard you stayed a week at sea."
     

    Simus

    An Excellent Site Member
    Netty and Alex enjoyed a quick hug before everyone else arrived and they took their seats. While Netty was happy to see almost everyone again, Braids had mixed feelings. She liked Alex and Barnan. She even found his slightly dense nature endearing. She also liked Avis, mostly because she didn't bother Braids with small talk. Jayden she respected but found a little to opulent. His ship, the only galleon in their "fleet" being an example of more than someone needed. Then there was Remi and Lu'ah. She found Remi loud, obnoxious and overly-friendly. Someone who wanted to chat Braids up and force "Getting to know her" for its own sake. She didn't have any objections to having friends, it was in human nature to seek companions and to deny it was madness, but it needed to happen organically. Remi hadn't gotten that message. Lu'ah could act professional enough and she was a good quartermaster but she was Remi's little "playmate" and everyone knew it. They went literally everywhere together and Braids found the whole thing both sickening and obnoxious. Not to mention more than a little envious. Remi was a fine physical specimen and a whore like Lu'ah didn't deserve him.

    As the meeting started Alex mentioned a successful raid but didn't go into much detail. Then she opened the floor to the rest of them. Barnan talked of how he raided a fully manned and armed dominion warship and captured some dispatches that seemed to greatly disturb him. He said twice that it could wait when Braids tried to object. Any dispatches that could spook Barnan Frand were of concern to all of them and they needed to know what they said. But he clearly wasn't ready to talk about it and that would have to be his prerogative. Perhaps that was what he wanted to talk to her about privately, although she couldn't think why. That too would have to wait however, as Barnan had passed the torch to her. She cleared her throat and stood up.

    "That's correct Barnan, I was a week at sea. Said week wasn't as eventful as yours but it may have born greater fruit. As some of you may know Stros M'Kai holds some of the oldest and best kept Dwemer ruins in the world, including an orrery that can map the night sky. Two days ago my crew and I raided a Dominion ship on its way back to Alinor from Skyrim. We found a detailed manual explaining how to reverse-engineer our orrery into a sensor to find magical artifacts across Tamriel. This means we could find powerful, and valuable, artifacts with pinpoint accuracy. This would net the Republic desperately needed funds and give us an edge over the Empire and Dominion."
     

    shadowkitty

    Mistress of Shadows
    The meeting started as they usually did. General pleasantries were exchanged. Lu'ah watched with amused interest at the exchange between Barnan and Braids, Braids being more uptight than usual. Then Alex finally got down to business. It was time for the Captains to make their brief reports. Lu'ah narrowed her eyes at Barnan as he waved the mysterious letter yet again. He seemed to want to build up to whatever was contained within the parchment, which annoyed Lu'ah to no end. She hated showmanship. So did Remi for that matter. From her position perched on a bar stool behind Remi, she could see the hairs raise on the back of his neck and she lifted her long leg and carefully dug the heel of her boot into his back. The spot where she knew gave him trouble. She moved her foot and massaged the knots with her heel, seeing him visibly relax.

    Braids then stood and gave her report. Lu'ah raised an eyebrow in interest when she mentioned the Dwemer ruins. Magical artifacts would be an asset to all of them. Lu'ah herself was working on her bound swords spell. It would be useful to have something that would boost her powers. Then Remi spoke of their month at sea.

    "Nothing major to report for us" He said to the rest. "As you know we were a month to sea and only really saw one or two Dominion ships far off on the horizon."
    "There were three, my love" Lu'ah said quietly and Remi nodded.
    "Right. Well they didn't seem interested in us and we were tracking a sweat quarry in the opposite direction." Remi shrugged nonchalantly. "I didn't see the need to chase them down and ask what they were doing"
    "As for cargo" Lu'ah said as she continued her heel massage of Remi's back "We have a belly full of weapons and supplies. Which I am sure we could sell at a fair price to anyone asking. As per usual we will keep the stock at our Inn for a while to give you all first dibs, so come and see us there later." she smiled quickly. Remi flexed his neck muscles and Lu'ah lowered her foot, crossed her legs and relaxed against the bar once again.
     
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    Blitzz

    A Friendly Brit
    The small talk was excruciatingly dull as the rest of the Captains began to enter the hall. It wasn't long before they were all around the table, pretending to enjoy each other's company. Lu'ah and Remi pulled their usual routine of being publicly affectionate, and Braids pulled her usual routine of silently despising it. All was as it should be.

    Alex opened the meeting swiftly, listing the day's agenda as she usually did. Jayden couldn't help but notice the repetitiveness of it all. There, was however, one thing at the end of Alex's small speech. She aimed a question at Barnan, and it was only then that Jayden noticed the sealed envelope in his hand. Jayden's curiosity peaked, and all sorts of ideas began running through his head. What could it be?

    Jayden listened to Braids talking about locating artifacts using a manual she found on a Dominion ship. The only thing Jayden could focus on was the stress in her voice. She was mad about something, even more uptight that usual, and it was distracting him. He also couldn't figure out why no one ever wanted to use things like this. These artifacts could change their fortunes, acting as weapons or something, but no, everyone wanted to sell them.

    Remi had brought back a load of weapons. Jayden would send Lockjaw to pick out the best ones he could find for the crew to use. After Remi was done speaking, Jayden figured he ought to actually say something. "I'm afraid you all seem to have had a more eventful time than us. We took down a single Dominion ship, and looted the cannons from it. I still think we should be building coastal defences; a wall or a fort, something we can defend from when they come for us. We can't hold out in houses and a rickety old hall like this. We could put cannons on the wall. It would make our job a lot easier." Jayden shifted and took his boots off of the table. "Now come on, Barnan. Don't keep us waiting. What's in that damn letter?"
     

    fellowknight

    The Devil In The Details
    Inside, Barnan was eating himself up. Combined with the stress of the letter and the wieght of calculations, Barnan couldn't have been more distressed. But damn was he good at hiding it. The question of the letter's origins came about and Barnan sighed in relief.

    "Now come on, Barnan. Don't keep us waiting. What's in that damn letter?"

    He put the letter on the table and unfolded the parchment, reading the words loudly and clearly.

    "Eight-teenth of Frostfall, 254. In asscociation with joint operations of Dominion and Empire armed forces. Classified information follows. Reading for ranking officers only. Unauthorized reproduction and distribution of this document is to be considered high treason and penalty for such crime is punishable only by said person's immediate excecution by the proper personnel." He paused, then continued.

    "All former documentation and previous bounty letters addressed to the pack of arranged 'pirates captains' of the 'Republic Of Free Men' are to be revoked upon the announcement of this parchment. Freelance bounty hunters and mercenary groups are now encouraged to pursue the 'Republic Of Free Men' and capture or kill each of its members in return for forty-thousand gold pieces per member in addition to ten-thousand for deliverance of each of their assigned ships."

    "All departments of Armed Forces are to be reasigned and tasked with rooting out the pirates through popular gossip and solid rumor, until locational coordinates of said pirates are provided. Await further instructions before proceeding. Alive is preferred but not necessary."

    "In regards to the 'Republic Of Free Men', you will surrender yourselves and accept the penalty for your treason or face death by public execution. Charges for your crimes are as follows but not limited the list below. Murder, national treason, disruption of the peace, theft, damage to public property..."

    Barnan glanced up from the letter. "The list goes on and and on."

    He continued reading. "We expect a domestic surrender, but will use force to dissemble you. Due date for delivery of said affiliatied pirates is undecided but urgency for their delivery remains at an all time high for both military personel and citzens alike."

    He tossed the letter into the middle of the table, alowing everyone to see the official seal at the bottom left corner of the page.

    "I'd say we have two weeks at most. Perhaps we shoul clear the island, cause a distraction for a safe escape, move to Solstheim, and set up shop at the observatory Braids described. Granted, there are better plans but that is one of mine." He ran a gloved hand on his head. "Now would be the time for suggesstions."
     

    Wolfbane

    Why change the past when you can own this day?
    Remi's brow furrowed further as the letter was read. The content was indeed as disturbing as Barnan had said. But things just didn't add up. He looked back to Lu'ah who raised an eyebrow and he could tell she thought the very same thing.

    "I'd say we have two weeks at most. Perhaps we should clear the island, cause a distraction for a safe escape, move to Solstheim, and set up shop at the observatory Braids described. Granted, there are better plans but that is one of mine. Now would be the time for suggestions." Barnan finished the letter with his own thoughts and that's when Remi saw red. Thankfully, Lu'ah stepped in before he said something he would later regret.

    "We have seen this from the Dominion before" she spoke up "Why should we treat this as anything more than the pitiful threats they have throw at us in the past? Bounty Hunters and Mercenaries?" she snorted "They are no match against seasoned pirates. I see many holes in this new missive. Something is off, it doesn't add up. Why now? What makes them so desperate to totally annihilate us completely? It doesn't make sense"

    "Still, we must take this letter seriously" Remi nodded then frowned at Barnan. "But to clear the island and move to Solstheim? You suggest that to any man or woman out there and they would think you had too much skooma. Lu'ah and I would rather die than leave this Island to those mongrels! We do not kneel!" Remi balled his fist and smashed it on the table, the force causing an apple to fall out of the bowl in the centre and roll down the table. Lu'ah watched it's steady progression towards Jayden. She thought of something else...

    "Remi and I fully agree with Jayden's Fortifications idea. Too long have we left this place vulnerable. Granted if what Barnan said is true about two weeks, we don't have time for constructing a fully equipped Fort. But we can do something to make the bay more secure."

    "That is a foolish move if we run." Remi stood, his argument growing more passionate. "We stay and fight. Cannons, strong walls, more fighters and good battle plans will work. Damned if any Imperial or Dominion dog sets foot on our ship either! You think these people want to run?" He pointed out the door to the street beyond "No; they want to fight for their homes because they came here to escape the gripping feelers of the Empire and the Dominion. We will not surrender!" Lu'ah then stood beside her captain and Remi glanced at her "If we're the only ones, then so be it," Remi could tell the other Captains were processing what he just said, thinking of their own plans.

    "We control the seas and it will run with blood if they come at us. Blue soaking in red." Remi subtly squeezed his lover's behind as the speech got them both pumped. If the Captains took too long to decide what they wanted to do they would have to find him and his lover back at their Inn.
     

    fellowknight

    The Devil In The Details
    Barnan couldn't help but roll his eyes at Lu'ahs reply. Both her and Remi were known for supporting eachothers decisions no matter how rash or illogical. And he admired that. It was true love, honestly.

    But their passion for defending the island would get everyone killed if they didn't take the time to think things through and get a look at what was on the table. This is also something they shared from time to time.

    Barnan rose from his seat not a second after Lu'ah finshed her final statement.

    "Stop. You're both thinking like pirates. Pirates with scrambled brains and fiery hearts who've been out at sea for far too long. Do you honestly believe this," he snatched the letter off the table and held it up. "is just for 'bounty hunters and mercenaries? 'Joint operations of Dominon and Empire armed forces'. 'All departments of Armed Forces are to be reasigned and tasked with rooting out the pirates through popular gossip and solid rumor.' "

    He tossed the letter back on the table.

    "Do you even understand what that means? They've reassigned their military to hunt for us. Military. Soldiers are hunting us. Soldiers trained to kill. Every kind of soldier you can imagine will recieve this letter this week and we will run out of time if we stay here. Yes, we have a solid infrastructure, but someone will give and it wil fall." Eyes looked to him and he rolled his eyes again. "I have faith in this guild, and in case you haven't noticed, i act with restraint. There's no reason for me to betray any of you. They're trying to kill us because of our independence. "

    He glared around the others before looking back to Remi.

    "I partially agree with your statement. We should defend this island. It is our life line and we have set deep roots here. But you're not thinking clearly, at all. You have passion for this island becasue it's your home and i understand that. Moreso, i respect that. But we are outgunned, outnumbered, and surrounded. Make the bay secure? Forget the bay! They will attack from all sides, or did you leave out that little tiny detail?"

    He sighed and planted a finger on the letter, casting a glance around as he continued.

    "Now let's look at the facts. They have offered Fifty-thousand septims for each of us and our ships, not including the island and its resources. They will identify us. It's the sea-age. How many merchant ships passing by have seen our faces or recognized our ships? How many see our faces daily on this island before taking to the seas? They will stop these people and question them to no end. Then, they'll torture them unlawfully if they lie or send them down a false trail, and kill them to draw us out."

    "We're considered pirates and they expect us to act like pirates; rash, passionate, dumbfounded, and blunt. They expect us to be loud and open about our existence."

    He leaned in closely, emphasizing on the next few sentences. Everyone needed to understand this part.

    "We can't act like pirates. We must not act but become battle-hardened tacticians, plotting and carving our way into history. Unflinching when confronted with battle. Do any of you know who we are? We are the first independant oranization that encourages all free men and women to embrace adventure and the high seas. We are the founders of this new age of freedom."

    "Where there is tyranny, we are there to offer a way out at absolutely no charge. We are the captains of freedom. Sailors of passion. And as captains and sailors, we have to set an example for those who follow in our footsteps years after us. Will we accept this challenge or will we fall? Our fate is in our hands."

    Pausing, he took in the mixed reactions of the others before continuing. He still had a bit of speech let in him, it seemed.

    "Back to the facts. They have firepower, moreso than us. They have numbers and skill. And armored boats, too. By no doubt, they have gotten the Dark Brotherhood involved. On the same coin, we have hundreds of rallied supporters who will gladly step into our service. We have our own island to control with matching recources. A whole island of men and women, ready to fight for their freedom. They're battle ready. And even if they aren't, we have a week to train them."

    "We're at a vantage point with this island. We can, from this island, predict their movements, cut off their supply lines. A dagger to an iron fist. We strike quickly and we strike hard. It will take months if not years, but in time they'll give in if we persevere. They will expect retaliation and we will not dissapoint them. But we retalliate with control, wit, skill, and speed."

    He met each of the captains' eyes, a fire burning in his own. A light of inspiration he hadn't felt in years.

    "We are not dead in the water. And we are not in danger of extinction. We are the danger. And we will destroy them if they lay a hand on anyone of us or our people. They demand our deaths, call us a 'pack of pirates', and outlaw us. We make the demands and we will decide who goes extinct." He concluded, letting everyone soak in his speech and take it how they wished.

    If they played their cards right and made the right moves, they would last a good three months if they stayed put. On the run, maybe a year if not less. But something told him that they would all find away out of this somehow. They were pirates after all.
     
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    EpicVakarian

    Calibration-Master General
    Alex listened carefully as Frand read out the letter, her eyes narrowing more with each passing word. It sounded not much different to any other letter, if she was honest with herself. The only difference was the desperation with which the Imperials and Thalmor were pursuing them.

    She fazed out, burying her thoughts in her own head and delving into them. On the one hand, Remi was correct; they had seen this before, they had survived assaults from naval forces in the past. Pirate captains had more reliable crews, filled with men they could trust and who trusted them in return. Military ships, however, tended to bear an inborn distrust of their captains, who were often paid hundreds of times more what the crew were paid. In that sense, pirate ships were far more effective.

    However, at the same time, desperation was a cruel mistress. She couldn't help but feel that this was more than had been deterred before; they needed a better plan than before.

    She tuned in to the conversation just in time to hear Barnan apparently ending a speech.
    "We are not dead in the water. And we are not in danger of extinction. We are the danger. And we will destroy them if they lay a hand on anyone of us or our people. They demand our deaths, call us a 'pack of pirates', and outlaw us. We make the demands and we will decide who goes extinct."

    There was silence for a short moment. Then Alex sighed, leaning forward and resting her forearms on the table, crossing her fingers together.
    "Speeches are all very well, Frand, but it doesn't help us deal with what you've just put in front of us." Alex rubbed her temples gently, eyes closing as she struggled to come up with a plan. "So how long do we have before this fleet is upon us? Enough to prepare, train, build defences? Or are they coming tomorrow? Which end of the spectrum? If this fleet is as big as I gathered from your letter, we'll have trouble just fighting it off. We need to use tactics and deception, as much as I hate to admit it. I'm open to suggestions, but for now, Frand, you seem to know best what's being planned, so you're in charge of the defence and counter-attack of this republic. Any objections?" No-one said anything. "Good. Now, Frand, what do you suggest?"
     

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