Just south of the Isle of Grihem is a smaller island that has had many names over the years and none
that have quite stuck. It's been a tricky potential holding for some time, with stubborn holdouts
from the Gyre's forces occupying the space in secret until their King was defeated and slain, and
various groups of Abandoned have been skirmishing over the area ever since.

These days, the locals have been referring to the an area on the Island known as Saltcliff cove,
named so undoubtedly due to the high grey cliffs that extend out over some of the inlets and
beaches located on the Isle's eastern shore. Saltcliff cove, it is said, is now a growing
village until itself, a 'Pirate Cove' as the locals are calling it, where those who spend their
days and nights laying waste to the Compacts trade ships come to distribute their treasures
and seek relaxation until their next mark has them headed back out to sea.

When the party of Grimhall men and assorted willing allies first docks upon the shores they
are careful to arrive as stealthily as possible, and one ships members disembark towards the
beaches. They can see that even at this late hour, there are fisherman attempting late catches,
though they do not appear to be hostile, merely surprised to see such finely armored figures
approaching.

Valdemar is fairly spry in his rubicund and diamondplate armor, though he clearly won't be sneaking up on anyone in it. But he moves with ease in it as his longship is brought ashore and he hops over the side to help with getting it pulled up onto the beach and moored once the water is shallow enough. "You lot," he counts off about half the crew of the longship before ordering, "Stay here. You know the drill, no one takes our ships. They are our way home. The rest of you, with us." With this, he gives the fishermen a glance before looking around for Ember and Harlex to ask, "Do they look apt to talk, you think?"

The fisherman are already talking, just to one another. Though the words are hard to make out from this distance they seem to be in Arvani, and one is animatedly gesturing to the other and pointing at the Duke and his men departing the ship. Whatever the gesturing man has said earns him a clap on the ear by the other, and a closer look might hint towards family resemblance between them. In his distraction however, whatever he'd been luring in with his net slips away, leaving the red-eared younger man laughing uproariously at his brother's (fathers?) misfortune.

Harlex is incredibly spry in shadowmeld, he moves without a sound until they reach the beachhead. With him, he's brought a platoon of mercenaries spread between the ships. Bolstering numbers. A select few are among those that join them ashore. The hood of his jacket is drawn up, but he turns his head to appraise the fishermen. "Folk like that know which way the wind blows. They'll talk, long as they think it'll keep them out of it."


Ember is clad head to toe in armor -- literally head to toe, as her dark hair is masked by a cowl-like cap. The Bloody Baroness carries herself with even more sternness than is typical. If she's generally got a frown on her face during social affairs, well, this is where the real frowns get unleashed. "Anyone can be made apt to talk, Duke Valdemar," Ember replies, in a low, calm tone. "Especially when it's possible that they just lost either their dinner or their day's livelihood." She motions towards the net.

"I meant quickly, Baroness. We don't want to waste too much time trying to 'convince' them to help us. But we also don't want them to warn our quarry that we're coming. Keep an eye out for any signs that they might betray our presence to the pirates," Valdemar clarifies to Ember after nodding at what Harlex has to say about the fishermen. Waving the landing party on, the Duke begins to make his way toward the locals, calling out to them when close enough, "You probably guessed we're not from around here. We're wondering if you might help us get our bearings?"

"Yeah! Yeah we did! You come on ships? Big ones like them noble houses got? From far away?" It's the younger man who peppers them with questions, standing up to greet the approaching group while his father untangles and curses at the net. "I'm Red, on account of my hair see?" Cause its ginger as ginger gets. "This here is Pa. He's called that because he's my Pa." Red isn't turning out to be the sharpest conversationalist. "I'm not new to 'ere, I was born 'ere, but lots of them here now weren't. Not here here, I mean there here, by the cove." He points to an area amid the cliffs a little ways out that looks like it could hold caves, and possibly other signs of life. "We fish and sell our catch in Ma's kit..er her 'Tavern' its a tavern now see on account of the pirates making a city." His father catches the tail end of the chatter and cuffs him on the ear again. "Hush up now! Idiot." Eyes roll.

Harlex lingers in the background, not much of a talker -- how surprising. But he's listening, his attention off toward the cliffs indicated by the young man. "That's all right," he tells Pa with a raised hand. "We'll leave you to your work, old timer. These new faces around these parts, they're up yonder -- that way? What do they do up there?" He asks, clarifying the information. He takes one gold count out of his belt, flicking it into their boat. "For bein' generous with your time."


Ember raises an eyebrow to Valdemar in response, but whatever her eyebrow-lift implies, she doesn't vocalize -- it seems fond enough. As Harlex hands over a gold piece, she asks, in her rigidly patrician tone, "Your... Ma's tavern. Is it popular? There's no harm in taking pride, if it is." She asks the son this, hoping that Harlex's gold will cross the father's palm and buy her a moment to milk the poor lad for more information.

There's a mysterious figure. It's not that Katya herself is actually that mysterious, or the armor is. But it's possible that the combination of it, and the fact that it might be the sort of shock of 'who is this' that might make her stand out some as she ventures off Ember's ship to slide in with the others. Smooth as could be.

Valdemar looks off in the direction that the young man, Red, indicates as well, going as far as to take off his helmet for a moment to try getting a better look. He nods at what Ember tells the youth, about taking pride in his mother's tavern if the place is doing well, before putting the helm back on. "Maybe the sort of place we can get a drink once we've finished our business here," the Duke adds, giving the mysterious figure a glance as she arrives.

Pa finds that he's much less concerned about his son's running mouth once there's a gold coin on his way. "Make it two and I'll let him tell you everything he feels like...long as when you leave, if you leave, you take us wherever you're headed." Clearly the man is shrewd enough to consider that /if/ something gets ugly he and his could be easiest to blame, and the codfish for pirate taverns trade isn't so booming its worth risking life for. The old man nods to his son. "Yeah, they are, up yonder thataway." He points yonder, in the direction of thataway. "Its Aruj the Cruel and his men...they call the meanest one Bruiser but not cause he bruises, cause he looks like Capn Aruj's old dog, Bruiser. He's dead though. The dog I mean, not the man-Bruiser or the Captain. HE is famous, I'm sure you've heard of him. Escaped slavery in Eurus by strangling his captors with his bare hands, all seven of them! Now he's richer than the King of the Compact! I mean, I 'eard that anyway." Now Pa does give Jr. another smack.

"Don't talk if you're not talking sense, boy. Aruj the Cruel was one of the old King Marin's closest advisers, and is out here finishing up 'is business, everyone knows that. Waiting for orders from that Sea Witch...whatsername? Kereva?"

"Yeah its super popular!" The son pipes up to Ember. "Even the Captain drinks there most nights!" He's so proud.

Harlex gives him half a gold count, instead of the whole. "The rest when we're done here. Fetch your wife and wait ashore," there's a condition coming, "What do you mean by /his business/? What exactly is Aruj doing on this island?" He wants specifics and, making it clear by the steadiness of his gaze on the old fisherman, the family's life depends on the truth.


Ember gives the son a smile, but her smiles are not her best suit, and she keeps it muted because when she tries more than that it usually comes off as too intense and a little creepy. Her eyes track to one side, spotting the mysterious armored figure, but then her attention is caught by Harlex's question. Her gaze settles back on the man and his son, with an uptick in intensity, like she might stare a hole through them if they don't answer.

The old fisherman nods, seeming to take Harlex's meaning quite distinctly. He nudges his son and this gesture for silence is taken more seriously, the boy goes quiet and his father does the talking. "Capn' claims that he's here doing what pirates everywhere do. Resting and recreating between gathering up his crew and heading back out to sea. There's been more of them in the waters here lately, pirates, and its easier to blend in, even for him. Just instead of setting up his dens of amusements out towards the Saffron Chain where there's...erm....competition and all, he holed up here. There's hardly much population here to speak of what with how often fighting between groups breaks out, place is cursed some say, but we never thunk it. Place /was/ quiet, but not so much anymore."

Katya is quiet. For, honestly, a number of actual reasons. Chief among those is the fact that there's probably a good chance she'd become less mysterious if she talked. But since no one seems to be paying that much attention to her she ventures closer as the fishermen begin to tell their stories. One hand settles on her sword, the gesture casual, just a place to set her hand while she glances towards the others at the answer to Harlex's question.

Adding to that the fisherman claps his son on the back, "Fetch ma then, tell her not to pack or talk to anyone and find us further down the shore, where these fancy men's fancy ships are." He dips his head, like that's all there is to say.

Mention of the Sea Witch furrows Valdemar's brow, though that might be difficult to see with his helm on. "We can make room on our ships for you and your family, old timer. There is a settlement at the north end of this island, or you can come back to Grihem's Point with us, but either one will mean needing to give us oaths in exchange for protection," the Duke tells "Pa" after listening to the older man's answers to Harlex's questions, nodding his head a bit as he makes note of what it said.

"That'll be fine. My wife ain't as young as she was, running a tavern doesn't suit her, I'd like us to settle somewhere more peaceful. If that requires oaths, we'll make them." The boy himself has already rushed off 'yonder' towards his mother and presumably the tavern Captain Aruj frequents.

Harlex nods the man and his son away, there's no more need be said. He focuses on the cliffs. "We can search the cliffs, might find caves they're usin' for whatever Aruj is planning with this Witch. Or we catch him and his men in their revelry at the tavern."


Ember purses her lips. She nods to Harlex, and seems to have no input as to the plight of the fisherman's family -- that seems well in hand already. "If we go to the tavern, there would be no mistaking us, and word would reach them if they're somewhere in the cliffs. However, if we search the cliffs and there's nothing there, we've wasted time and will likely be noticed anyway." Her eyes turn to Katya, still bearing that super-intense stare. "Do you have any thoughts, my Lady? It seems that we might be in a position to gamble and hope the gods give us luck..."

Crap. Does she have thoughts? "It might be worth it sending someone unknown, and unarmed, to the tavern as a spy. Make certain that they are there or not...or." Katya then glances towards the fisherman, "We could send someone that has every reason to be at the tavern. If they aren't there, then we search for caves...if they are..."

"Mm. If the boy is quick in fetching his mother, she might be able to answer it for us. Otherwise..." Ember draws in a breath through her nose, and gives Katya a nod, as if in thanks for her thoughts. Her eyes track to Harlex and Valdemar next, seeking their two cents, one would assume.

As discussion turns to whether to check for the caves first or head straight to the tavern, Valdemar listens to the suggestions made by the others, and then nods at what Katya suggests. Looking at Harlex, the Duke goes on to ask, "Do you have any men with you that could pass as a pirate, at least long enough for us to get a look at the caves? My guess is that searching them first will probably draw attention to us more slowly than going straight to the tavern. But it is a good idea to have someone keep an eye on the tavern in case they are there, and move out because they find out we are here."

From over 'yonder' there seems to be more activity suddenly. Not the threatening sort however, what can be overheard drifting down the cliffs when the wind shifts is laughter, and the smell of cookfires, and what may be a very quality tavern, or else the only one in the city, because it sounds busy. Caves higher up on the cliffs are harder to discern anything about, though some might have fires of their own, there are lights hard to place in the shadows.

Harlex folds his arms across his chest, raising one dark claw to scratch at his beard. He nods to Ember and Katya. "We'll give them a chance to return with the wife, have them report to us if he's present. Good suggestion." There's a hard look at his mercenaries at the Duke's request. From the corner of his mouth, he whistles. Gesturing to one of them. She approaches. A black haired Prodigal, clear enough by the tribal marks that trail from her cheek down to her throat beneath the polished Crimson Blade armor. "Risu. You're on assignment." She salutes, ready to take orders.


Ember rests her hands on her hips for a moment -- crossing her arms is probably too bothersome in full armor. Or maybe just too noisy. She sniffs at the cookfire aroma at the air, and glances in its direction. "If he is in the tavern, it presents its own set of concerns. Men who are drunk are sloppier than men who are soberly patrolling... but men who are drunk are far more fearless."

"But far more easily surprised." There's no argument about them being fearless, or sloppy. Katya shakes her head, tugging her helm off to slide a hand through her hair, then she tugs it back in place, "So which is it?" For this she looks towards Valdemar's final say.

"There is also the fact that we are trying to bring this island fully under Grimhall control. There could be innocents in that bar, and any who get killed in the process will make our long-term work here more difficult," Valdemar agrees with Ember about the difficulties if they end up having to fight in the tavern. He then turns to the Prodigal that Harlex calls over, explaining, "If the boy doesn't return with his mother soon, we are going to want you to go find this 'tavern' that they were talking about, and see if Aruj is there. If so, keep an eye on him and leave a trail that we can follow. If not...well, I suppose you've have an easy time of it. We'll come to you once we've taken care of him, if that is the case." When Katya asks which it will be, he tells her, "That depends. If Red gets back soon, we can make a more informed decision. If not, we're heading for the cliffs to look for these caves." With this, he glances off in the direction that the boy went.

Red would not dilly dally! Well he would but his father explicitly told him not to, and these people seem kind of intense about something and so he wants to do a great job. "Oh, you guys are still down here? Well if you wanted to meet the Captain he's at the bar, its takin' ma so long to get down here cause he keeps asking for her to sing the one about the naked b...nevermind um, anyway so its taking her a minute but she's on her way. They'll be too drunk to ask for songs soon and start passing out or pairing off. Which HE" Pa, by the eyeroll in his direction. "Thinks I don't know about but I DO" He might?

As they wait for the young man to return, Harlex conducts his soldiers into formation. "They'll be high-tailin' it once the commotion starts. Any come down this way, cut them down to a man." Good pep-talk. He returns to the others as the information is passed, a sharp-eyed glance given to his companions. "Chaos might be our best advantage here. A few pirates escape, seems acceptable long as we get the Captain."

Katya's content to wait, and while waiting she seems content to look around. When the boy returns she glances at him, listening, then she looks towards Valdemar.

"Yes, exactly. Besides, any who escape will likely be caught fleeing the island by the ships I left out on the water. We're mainly here for Arjun. Once we have him, alive or dead, we can sweep for the caves to see if they hold anything of interest. Looks like it is going to be a tavern fight after all," Valdemar nods at what Harlex tells his men, as the Grimhall reavers who are along form a shield wall. Looking at the fisherman and his son, the Duke then says, "Go toward our ships, tell the men there that Duke Grimhall sent you to them, that you intend to accept the protection of the Compact. If we run into your wife along the way, we will urge her to hurry and catch up with you."


"I suppose it's good that we don't have to include their pairing-off in our plans. After all, Duke Valdemar is probably the most beautiful among us, and I wouldn't want to put that mission to him." Ember gives a little quirk of one eyebrow, basically the only clue that she's joking -- otherwise her tone is totally dry and deadpan. One of her soldiers hands her something. A scythe! Holding it over a shoulder like a farmhand headed toward the field, Ember says, "I'm ready whenever you are, my Lords, my Lady."

And so our brave party is off yonder, in the general direction of the tavern. There's no one posted guard outside, nor much sign of life in the rest of the town, any shops and dwellings darkened for the late hour. The tavern itself is really more of a shanty that serves booze and fish-related stews but its warm and crowded, and the patrons choices imply the booze is a bit better than the food.

Harlex checked perception + survival at difficulty 30, rolling 19 higher.

Ember checked perception + war at difficulty 30, rolling 41 higher.

Valdemar checked perception + war at difficulty 30, rolling 24 higher.

Katya checked perception + war at difficulty 30, rolling 3 lower.

Harlex keeps his hood drawn and moves close. The first thing a predator does at a watering hole is size up everything present. His eyes shift to some far too drunk to be a concern, the half a dozen that might become an issue, a large man beside a peacocking Captain in an old navy coat. He looks to the others, speaking barely above a whisper, "I'll approach the Bruiser from the back, when he's dead our target won't have any cover. He'll fly to the door. Someone just needs to be waiting."


"I will stand at the door," Ember says, and though she says it with certainty, she does look to Valdemar to his assent. It's his island, after all. Or... will be. Hopefully. "My weapon is suitable for blocking an escape through a doorway, and perhaps too ostentatious to march into the bar with right off."

Katya's oblivious to basically anything that isn't in front of her face, and nothing about planning works out for her. She just stands around looking pretty? Mostly. "I can help." Somewhere. Anywhere.

Valdemar glances back at Ember when she makes her joke and shakes his head a bit before remarking in reply, "I'd probably need an extra bath before returning to my marriage bed after that." As they get to the village though, his attention is focused on the "tavern", and after getting something of a look inside, he listens to Harlex's suggestion. "Yes, someone definitely needs to remain near the door to make sure Arjun does not get away. Anyone else tries to run, let them," he says, then inclines his head when Ember volunteers for that job, "Everyone else needs to get through the door as quickly as possible. We don't want to get caught at a funnel point like that."

Harlex checked dexterity + stealth at difficulty 30, rolling 1 higher.

Valdemar checked dexterity at difficulty 10, rolling 2 higher.

Harlex checked dexterity at difficulty 10, rolling 46 higher.

Ember checked dexterity at difficulty 10, rolling 7 higher.

Katya checked dexterity at difficulty 15, rolling 9 higher.

Harlex wields Silverfang, a curved alaricite sword with a vicious single-edge.

Ember wields a sinuous oak-hafted etched steel scythe.

Valdemar wields Blood Reaver.

Harlex checked dexterity + medium wpn at difficulty 40, rolling 7 higher.

Katya wields Sorrow, a diamondplate sword.

Harlex has a lot to compensate for in this tight space. He grips the scabbard, moving his right hand toward the hilt. It all happens in the flash of a second. Suddenly, slicing through the shoulder of that giant, is a gleaming alaricite sword. Its enough to spring things into a riot, the sudden wordless spark of violence. He's decidedly ready for more, preparing to use that curved blade to an advantage. Blood and cries call up as it begins.

"GRAUUUGHAHAH" or something like it is Bruiser's bellowed response to being so rudely attacked out of nowhere by a stranger! Why his distorted expression might be registering offense, but its hard to take away much besides 'ugly' from his features. Bleeding from the shoulder seems to distress him greatly, and he looks for the source of the pain and aims to inflict some of his own. Using a large rock he happened to have on his lap under the table. Huh. It and the full force of the mans body weight is aimed straight at Harlex's face.

Harlex checked dexterity + medium wpn at difficulty 40, rolling 27 higher.

"AUGAUAGRRRG" all of this Indignity and now the mean man has caused Bruiser to drop his FAVORITE ROCK. It's parried off the Crimson Blade's Blade almost flawlessly. The result is...very noisy.

"Larry!" The Captain appears shocked by this turn of events, so shocked he doesn't realize he's using Bruiser's given name, which only makes the large brute bellow harder as he searches vainly for his rock on the floor. It is then that Aruj the Cruel takes in this group of potential assailants with one dark, wary eye, and a scowl...and then turns abruptly and heads towards...the kitchen...and whatever stairs, entrances, or exits might be thataway.


As the other three prepare to make their swift and terrible entry -- and indeed, as Harlex initiates the fight -- Ember stands at the door, hanging back and holding her scythe across herself like a particularly heavy quarterstaff, ready to use it as a barricade to block any exits.

Valdemar checked dexterity + athletics at difficulty 30, rolling 20 higher.

This show isn't /just/ about Capn and Bruiser, there are also four other generic looking pirates still sober enough to put up a fight, and they jump into the fray to do so. Two go after Valdemar, one goes after Harlex, the other decides to try Ember and Katya at once because nobody ever told him some girls can fight. Valdemar gains on Captain Aruj, gets close enough to possibly get hold of his fancy stolen Thrax military jacket and hold him back.

"You're only going to die tired!" Valdemar yells harshly as he rushes in the same direction that Aruj does, not about to simply let him get away through some exit that they did not find. Holding the haft of his rubicund greataxe with his hands a foot or so apart from one another in a defensive manner.

Katya checked dexterity + dodge at difficulty 30, rolling 20 higher.

Ember checked dexterity + dodge at difficulty 30, rolling 7 higher.

Flouncy pirate attacking Katya and Ember takes his first slash at Katya, who dodges his blade like a pro while his movements are decidedly more amateurish. He slashes at Ember next, just as uselessly, allowing both women a chance to get in a blows of their own. Meanwhile Bruiser is just getting more and more agitated and instead of his rock, stumbles upon an overturned wine bottle just under the table. Determining that will do, he smashes the end of it, creating a makeshift weapon of jagged glass and aiming it towards Harlex's eye. The Captain turns around and decides to try attacking instead of fleeing, with a curved blade that pirates seem to favor that nicely compliments his eyepatch look.

Katya checked strength + medium wpn at difficulty 30, rolling 43 higher.

Ember checked strength + medium wpn at difficulty 30, rolling 22 higher.

The sexist pirate gets Katya's blade right into the gut, makes a satisfying gurgle, and keels over dead. Everywhere glass ceilings are heard to crack lightly. Hairline fractures, but all the same.

Harlex checked dexterity + medium wpn at difficulty 50, rolling 35 higher.

Valdemar checked dexterity + huge wpn at difficulty 40, rolling 5 lower.

4 inflicted and Valdemar is unharmed.

When the captain takes off for the other exits, Katya starts to move, and it looks like she might have sprung into action to try and help chase him down. Only there's a rather rude pirate that thinks he's going to get one over on her and Ember. Only she showed him! Pfft. Stupid pirate.

The satisfying clank of metal on metal fills the room, most recently from a glancing blow from Aruj's blade to Valdemar's well-armored shoulder. Engaged thusly however he can't turn tail and run again, and so does his best to fend off what blows may meet him in response.

The sound of glass crashing against metal isn't quite as familiar, but it is very LOUD and yet again Harlex has ruined one of Bruiser's weapons. His bellowing remains annoying, as he's still bleeding from that original wound, and has placed himself open to Harlex inflicting further ones.

Harlex keeps the brute distracted, trusting the others to handle the Captain and his goons. The Crimson Blade isn't letting anything get near him, but as that broken bottle shatters, he flips his sword to its blunted side and moves to strike Bruiser.

Valdemar checked dexterity + huge wpn at difficulty 30, rolling 31 higher.

Harlex checked dexterity + medium wpn at difficulty 40, rolling 11 higher.

Valdemar gives Aruj a menacing, toothy grin when that curved blade glances off of his shoulder, before bringing his greataxe around and swinging for the pirate captain's lower body since he has already shown himself likely to run away.

The blow from Valdemar's axe is direct and the Captain isn't sensible enough to be wearing anything like armor under that stolen military jacket, he was only going out drinking after all. One leg seems cut at the hamstring, bringing the Captain to the ground instantly and covering the floors towards the kitchens with blood. "I'm not...he's...." but the sentence becomes screaming before it can be anything else.

Bruiser is definitely further bruised, but not yet a man fallen. No rock, no bottle, so he just battles the old fashioned way and what he aims at Harlex now is a fist. A really large, meaty one directed at the Crimson Blade's jaw.

Harlex checked dexterity + medium wpn at difficulty 40, rolling 36 higher.

There are other assorted pirates here! Ish! Two have fled..through a window which they broke in order to do their fleeing, and in the chaos it works...at least for the moment. They'll find the patrols Valdemar left outside the city a problem for them, and will be apprehended and awaiting the crew upon its return. The last one decides to be less sexist and attack /just Ember/ hoping that Katya has forgotten he's there.

Ember checked dexterity + dodge at difficulty 30, rolling 4 higher.

Ember checked dexterity + medium wpn at difficulty 30, rolling 13 higher.

There's a SCREAM as loud as any other that has occured as Harlex's blade slices right through Bruiser's hand. His favorite hand, and his favorite rock, both rolling around somewhere on the floor, and the strongman begins convulsing into shock, not /dead/ but clearly bested, there's no more fight in him and those big dumb eyes almost seem to be asking Harlex to put him out of his misery. What is life without your best friend, your Pet Rock?


Ember has stuck to her word, holding the door. She's also proven remarkably non-lethal, for someone with the name 'the Bloody Baroness.' Indeed, when one of the pirates attacks, she backsteps out of the way, and as he tries to correct his momentum, she's there with her scythe... not to slash him, but to lift up its bottom end and slam it forward into his head like a battering ram.

Harlex doesn't flinch as his sword slices through the hand, watching Bruiser fall. He lowers his weapon and glances at the rock and the big man on the floor. Shaking his head, he gestures and speaks quietly among the chaos. "Keep pressure on it, you'll be fine. Still got that other hand, don't you? Stay on the ground, Larry. You and your rock'll make it through this."

With Aruj on the ground, Valdemar lines up the blade of his axe with the man's neck, but pauses before swinging. Putting one heavy foot on the pirate's hamstrung leg, he does not yet put any pressure on it. Instead, he leaves the threat of that pain there as he asks, "You're not...what? I suggest you begin making sense soon. That screaming is making it awfully difficult to focus on keeping my foot up."

Bruiser whimpers but doesn't argue with Harlex, he does the opposite of arguing or close to it, by passing right out. Staying on the ground for sure.

"I'm...not a PIRATE....I mean, I am but only recently and only a little. I'm...ouch..." He winces and sucks air through his teeth, obviously in pain. "An actor..." he mumbles. "AN ACTOR ALRIGHT? Larry here, he had some experience with pirates, he worked for one of the Gyre King's men, but that man died in Setarco. Bru...Larry kept his ship, he was the only one left so it was his, we figured. He met me watching my troope of...players perform 'The Pirate of Escuma' and he thought I was real good, and so we kind of...we had this plan." Not-Captain Aruj explains.

Harlex sheathes his sword and studies the knocked out giant on the floor. He tongues his canine tooth and looks around the bloody mess. There's a rather dry, "Huh."

"I..." Valdemar is having trouble finding words after listening to the man's confession. Lifting his axe, he stalks away from "Aruj the Cruel" and takes off his helmet to toss it on the floor. Looking back over his shoulder at the fallen man, he almost spits the next words to come out of his mouth, "An /actor/? A fucking /actor/? I am glad that you admitted to at least /some/ piracy, because stupidity is not a capital crime But if I've ever met someone who deserves to die because of idiocy, it is definitely you, Aruj." He then begins to look around for liquor.