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Post by Rojo on Mar 27, 2008 7:26:20 GMT -5
The main -and safest- sea. Mostly only traders will be seen here, but pirates are more plentiful in certain areas. Anytime someone is travelling by sea, they will have to start via the Master Sea.
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Post by Asila on Jul 22, 2008 16:03:53 GMT -5
The Sea Serpent, with it's banners secured so that her identity would not be immediately betrayed to any merchant or pirate ship she may chance across, sailed at a brisk pace through the brilliant blue-green waters of the Master Sea. Without a cloud in the sky and a consistent, sturdy wind to billow the sails, her crew was idle.
Roche, Lionel, and Ignatius had engaged themselves in a card game to pass the time, tossing the occasional gold coin or trinket upon a weathered table as they upped the stakes. In the background, the metallic clang of swords sounded as Astra and Dixey tried their skill at swordplay.
Astra had Dixey on the defensive at the moment and seemed to be winning, but the crafty pirate chose to turn what seemed a sure loss into a win by raising his sword as though intent on bearing it down upon the Captain, whose lighter build made her vulnerable to this style of attack. She braced herself for the parry but in doing so hindered any other movement, and her opponent chose that moment to change the direction of his sword and catch her behind the knees with the broad side of the blade. Astra fell backward, spluttering.
"Why, you dirty cheat!" She exclaimed when she could organize her words coherently. She didn't know whether to laugh or curse.
Dixey only shook his head. "You make it too easy, Captain." He said, grinning. "You fight like an honorable swordsman. What would you do if you came across Blackheart?"
Astra stood. "Kill him like I have any other who dared stand against me," she growled with conviction, annoyed that Dixey of all people was chastising her. Her thunderous expression had the desired effect, for Dixey held his hands up in silent surrender. The glare hadn't wiped the stupid grin off his face, but she wasn't sure that anything could.
She stalked off to study the horizon and tried to ignore Dixey's guffaw, but was speechless when she noticed the distant ship. It seemed that the man she had assigned to the crow's nest had fallen asleep, for no one had warned her of the ship that she now saw there. It was still a great distance away, not much more than a speck on the horizon, but she immediately commanded the crew to prepare to loose the Serpent's banners and steer toward the unknown ship.
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Post by Rojo on Jul 22, 2008 16:24:31 GMT -5
The black sails billowed in the wind. The Crusader moved across the ocean with ease, almost as if the sea and ship were old friends, which they were.
Atop one of the sails stood a figure, his jacket whipping around him and his hair likewise. He looked out on the horizon, holding part of the mast to keep his balance. Below, Faelin was talking to Turin by the wheel of the ship, whilst other various men of Squall's ship scurried about, carrying cargo or pulling ropes or smoking.
"Cap'n's got summat, I tell ye, he's been standin' up there all day, lookin' for summat..." Turin whispered to his tall elven friend. She stared down at him, him being a dwarf mostly. "Maybe he's looking for someone, apparently when we was picking up that cargo of spices, some crew from another ship broke in to Squall's quarters- stole something too," A look of comprehension and fear passed over Turin's battered, knobbly face. "Ye don't think..." "Aye, and I be more than thinking..." Faelin nodded to the horizon, where a ship was sailing along. "But tha' ain't The Sea Serpent, the sails be all wrong!" Faelin rolled her eyes. "She hides her sails, my short friend, don't you listen when we make port?" "Nay, I drink, mostly."
Squall pulled his telescope from his belt, pulled it out to its full length, and looked towards the aproching ship. He grinned. He recognised that ship, there was no mistaking the scars of battles upon it. Only a captain took note of such things... "Keep the wind behind us!" he hollered, half-turning to watch the effect; the call moved out, and men came up out of the lower decks and held tight ropes and adjusted poles and put everything tight. After all, he wanted to look his best for the elusive Gold Pirate, as Turin constantly called her.
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Post by Asila on Jul 22, 2008 17:16:30 GMT -5
Astra had pulled out the old-fashioned spy glass that had once been her grandfathers and couldn't believe what she saw. "Well, won't you look at that, Dixie? Speak of the devil..." She had the satisfaction of seeing the aging pirate frown as he pulled out his own telescope so that he could inspect the approaching ship for himself. "Black sails," He murmured. "Aye, 'tis Blackheart all right." Dixey lowered the telescope and looked to his captain, who was staring the ship with the feverish gleam in her eyes that her crew knew so well. They had best prepare for a skirmish, for the proud pirate captain would seldom settle for less and it seemed she had a bone to pick with the captain of The Crusader.
She leapt onto the rope ladder that trailed from the crow's nest and called to her men from the elevated position. "Let her color's fly! It is Blackheart himself who we face next and I can think of no better way to greet him than with the Serpent's crest lifted by the wind!" She exclaimed, using the old metaphor for the banners that her grandfather himself had invented. As the crimson, violet, and silver banners fell over the pale white sails, she demanded that her crew turn the ship so that it did not sail against the wind. She made sure that her crew was ready to draw abrest the rival ship when it came close enough. It would not do to be rammed, though she doubted Blackheart would risk damage to his precious ship in such a way. There wasn't much they could do now other than wait for The Crusader to draw closer, their hands on their swords as they awaited the inevitable confrontation.
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Post by Rojo on Jul 22, 2008 17:26:30 GMT -5
Squall pushed the spyglass back to normal and put it back safely on his belt. Then he jumped, riding the sail down and coming to a drop next to Faelin and Turin. The dwarf sighed and looked up at his captain. "I'll change, shall I, Cap'n?" Squall nodded and the short figure ambled off below deck, grunting at an underling who was sleeping. "You think we'll be welcomed warmly?" Faelin asked, leaning against one of the masts and staring at the three sails of the opposing ship. "Without a doubt." Squall replied, grinning broadly and moving towards the front of the ship.
He half turned again. "Lift the flag, Jove!" he called to a man with an eyepatch and bandana. The man hurried off and not very much later, a black flag with a skull went up, but the skull had three missing teeth and an eyepatch Beside it was a skilled drawing of a human heart, blacker than the sail is was painted against.
Now, as the distance between the ships closed, Faelin moved closer to Squall. "Why're we fighting her, Captain?" she queried, staring across. Squall didn't bother to turn "'Cause I want my bloody map back..." he murmured, moving up to the prow of the ship and waving his arms to the other ship.
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Post by Asila on Jul 22, 2008 18:14:49 GMT -5
Astra watched Blackheart's crew hoist his flag with a faint pang of envy. Her father and grandfather had believed that the emblemed pirate flags were frivolous and had never designed one of their own. Of course, they had also picked out the loudest color scheme on the three seas. Her father used to say that even if they had a flag, an eye blinded by the brilliant colors of the banners would never pick it out. She grinned at the memory but kept her attention upon the approaching vessel.
Now that the ship had drawn closer, she signaled to the crew member behind the wheel and had him turn the ship now that the two vessels had begun to draw abrest of each other. "Drop the anchor," She called to her crew. The ship needed to be stationary for this meeting. She had immediately picked out the man with the tricorn hat as the infamous captain that she had yet to meet. His wave confirmed this and she met his gaze over the water. She had looked forward to meeting her rival, and he did not let her down in appearance. It even seemed fitting to her that his brilliant green gaze was as unusual in hue as her own. Without looking away she said in a low voice meant only for Roche, "The map you claimed is in my cabin, correct?" The tall man with the dark countenance nodded, but replied in her same low tone "Aye, Captain, but I hope you will leave it there and refrain from taking your taunts too far."
"Now, Roche," She said sternly, "Would I do such a thing?" The man only looked at her and she chuckled. "Don't worry, I'll try to tone it down a bit." He looked doubtful, but Astra was no longer paying him any attention.
When all was ready, her crew gathered around her and walked toward the railing that faced The Crusader. She chose that moment to answer Blackheart's wave with a salute and a grin.
"Ahoy there, Blackheart! I hope you have fared well since my vessel last had the good luck to share a harbor with yours!" She called out to the rival captain now that the ships were close enough for the words to carry. She was blatantly alluding to the theft and a few members of her crew groaned. Astra ignored them, choosing instead to grin brilliantly at the handsome captain as she awaited his retort.
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Post by Rojo on Jul 23, 2008 5:47:55 GMT -5
As the ships drew nearer and nearer, Squall too signaled back to lower the anchor, the ships stopping side by side. The Captain of The Crusader grinned. "Astra, Astra, Astra...My dear little piratette.." he shook his head "I'll be wanting my map back if you please, and suggest that in the future you don't steal things that are over your head."
Various crew members winced. Faelin shook her head and smiled to herself, the Captain could be so foolish at times...but just then, there was a loud clanking and thumping and Turin appeared on the deck, fully clothed in shining plate armour that covered him from head to foot, leaving no weak spot save for the eyes and joints on his knees and elbows, which were made of a weaker metal. He was hefting a pitch black, fully loaded and very dangerous Crossbow. "Did I miss 'nythin?" he asked, looking between Squall and Astra. "Nope. But flames'll start shooting between them in a minute...she's got something of the Captain's..." Faelin whispered in his ear, leaning down to his level.
Everyone on board The Crusader had stopped. They were all watching the two Captains, two of the most well-known and feared pirates ever to sail the seas squaring off in the most polite manner possible amongst pirates.
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Post by Asila on Jul 24, 2008 0:47:33 GMT -5
Astra narrowed her eyes at Squall, the grin she had employed for the sole purpose of mocking him faltering. He had chosen his taunt well, for nothing infuriated the golden-eyed pirate captain like an enemy's suggestion of his own superiority. Fortunately for her, Lionel, who was always close by during such moments as these, placed a steadying hand on her shoulder. She didn't realize until she halted that she had begun to pace forward. If it hadn't been for her father's closest friend and her own mentor, she may have done something stupid at that moment. Like grab hold of one of the ropes that trailed from the mast and cross the gap between the two ships so that she may have her chance to slit the rival captain's throat.
"Keep your temper in check, Astra." Lionel murmured just behind her. "It would be unwise to board Blackheart's ship when it is you who has something that he wants."
Upon hearing these words Astra's smile returned to her. Well, it seemed that Lionel had not only read her mind, he had just summed up the situation as only a strategist could. With his advice in mind, she payed greater attention to the ship's crew and noticed the armored dwarf that she had managed to overlook when her mind had clouded with anger. Yet another reason to let Squall come to her. The dwarf could cause her crew, clad by nothing more substantial than cloth or leather, some severe casualties, but only if he could reach them and she doubted he would dare to cross in such heavy gear. If he were to fall into the water, he would drown.
Astra's mocking grin returned to her countenance. Now that she believed Squall was truly at a disadvantage here, she was feeling smug. "You lost that map when it fell into the hand's of my crew, Squall." She announced with confidence. "I have yet to meet the crew that can best my own." She stared at Squall across the water, her bland expression implying that she did not see him as a threat. Her eyes, however, had not lost their feverish, blood-thirsty gleam.
Most of her crew did not even attempt to hide similar expressions. They had known once Blackheart's flags had been announced that there would be no escaping him, and now that their initial shock at her blatancy had passed they supported her actions. The tension was mounting, and there wasn't a single pirate upon the Sea Serpent who didn't itch to draw his blade.
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Post by Rojo on Jul 24, 2008 6:32:43 GMT -5
Squall stared across the ship. "The map that just happened to fall out of my locked desk and into your crew's hands?" He raised an eyebrow "I think not. There a few pirates who would steal from me. And there are few pirates who would fight you, but you stole from me, and one good turn does deserve another..."
A cry rose up from most of the men on The Crusader, locking eyes with and sizing up their opponents they would soon pair up with in some cruel dance of death.
Squall decided to pick at a nerve and casually said whilst picking at his fingernails: "Hmm...you're father was quite the pirate, wasn't he? Too bad what happened...I would have so liked to have stolen his hat. Great big thing with a feather on top...gods what I'd do for that hat...but once again, so bad he had to lose to mere swashbucklers..."
Everyone on Squall's ship took a breath at this. Suddenly their expressions of bloody-minded murderousness was replaced with doubt. Faelin palmed her face, and Turin's grip tightened on his crossbow.
You could cut the atmosphere with a spoon, let alone a knife. Squall had prodded for the one point that would make her tick..there was no doubt now...there was going to be a fight, a fight to end all fights between these two Captains...
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Post by Asila on Jul 24, 2008 15:35:13 GMT -5
Oh, that was a low blow, and Astra was now shaking with fury. For a long moment the pirate captain stood very still, the wind tugging at her loose linen shirt and billowing breeches. The golden colors seemed to imply that she had been consumed by flame not only by metaphor but also in a literal sense. Lionel let his hand fall from her shoulder. There would be no holding her back now even if he had desired to. The woman held a vendetta against anyone who spoke dishonorably of her father, and she would not suffer this insult. He shared a look with Dixey, but the aging pirate only met the glance with his impossible grin and, shrugging as though to say "Oh well, there's no helping it now", he grabbed a stray rope. Ignatius, who had no ability whatsoever to hold his temper in check, seemed about to leap off the rail and swing across. Lionel sighed and, grabbing a rope of his own, prepared to do the same. Astra's moment of shocked outrage soon passed and, once she had freed a rope from the mast that stood behind her, she ran toward the railing and nimbly leaped over it, calling to her rival as she bridged the distance between the two ships, "You will pay for that insult, Squall!" Her crew followed, roaring in support of this exclamation. Only Roche and a pair of archers who were good for little else stayed behind to pick off any pirate who dared try to cross to the Serpent and claim the map. Such was generally Roche's responsibility, for while he could not be trusted to fight at one's back, he proved a ruthless guard when watching over items of worth. He was truly a greedy, deceitful individual and even now he carried the map that he had assured Astra was in her cabin. If things went badly for her, it would no doubt prove a useful bargaining chip. Astra was the first of her crew to successfully land upon The Crusader and, drawing her sword, she immediately stormed toward Squall. Ignatius was already hacking at any pirate he could with his heavy broadsword, and Dixey had made his way toward the armored dwarf with a peculiar, jovial bounce in his step that was not appropriate for the situation. But the crafty pirate loved a good challenge and what could be more difficult to triumph against than a dwarf in full battle armor? Lionel had landed near a familiar figure amongst the rival crew and, as he moved to cross swords with her, the movement faltered. ((Feel free to have Turin make use of his crossbow while the crew is swinging over to board Squall's ship. He could hardly miss the opportunity, right? Plus, I already implied that not everyone landed successfully and Astra will really have it out for Squall if she discovers that one of his men wounded or killed a few of her own. ))
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Post by Rojo on Jul 24, 2008 18:44:19 GMT -5
"Come on then, ya wee girl!" Squall yelled, a look of complete joy on his face as he drew his longsword, ready to block the blow as Astra came rushing towards him.
Turin easily picked off a man rushing for one of the crew's back, the crossbow bolt going through the man's neck. But as he was about to reload, a rivalling pirate waltzed towards him. "Ach, come to me axe, yeh Baz'dakk!" He tossed aside the crossbow, pulling from his back a great double-ended waraxe of clear dwarven make- a goblin head stuck upon one end, an orc head atop the other. As the mad Dwarf rushed forward, screaming some war cry, he swung his axe wildly towards Dixey.
Faelin sighed as she unsheathed the mighty cutlass from her waist, ready to cut through any foolish welps who tried to assault the elven maiden. But as an opponent drew near, she recognised his face, memories flashing through her mind of playing in a forest so long ago, laughing under a waterfall, and climbing trees. She shook herself mentally, rushing forward again, a determined frown set upon her brow. She would not let family get in the way of this. As they locked blades, she raised an eyebrow. "So, how's cousin Mary? What about your mother? She alright?" Faelin asked in an almost conversational manner, as if they were meeting up after many years.
Meanwhile, the crew were fighting furiously, most using abstract weapons such as brass knuckles or "Bloody Johnsons"* as they were called in most ports, but the rest wer using swords, smashing and hacking and using every dirty trick in the "Pirate's Big Book Of Dirty Combat."
*Gloves completely covered in barbs, invented by Johnson Brawvich.
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Post by Asila on Jul 25, 2008 0:00:31 GMT -5
((Huh, "Bloody Johnson's" What an interesting weapon... Oh, and I decided to get specific with the type of sword that Astra wields...)))
As though Astra hadn't been angry enough that Squall had insulted her deceased father, the 'wee girl' comment brought her already heated blood to a boil. "Aye, but a great brute like yourself has not the speed to rival mine!" She retorted just as she lunged. She had set the thinner blade of her rapier on a direct course for the captain's heart. The battle had only just begun, and already she was going for the kill. Her rage, for the moment, at least, clearly had the best of her.
Dixey arced his silver brows at the dwarf. "Do you really think I would lean into the kiss of such a great weapon so easily, mate?" He said, seeming intent on boasting his wit with clever words as he stepped out of the path of the cumbersome dwarf. Ah, but such evasive maneuvers (though they were his greatest advantage against his heavily armored opponent) would not get the job done, so he drew his longsword and slashed as the dwarf as he passed. The blow, should it land, would only spark against the plate of armor that covered the dwarfs side and do no real damage. Like the Spanish matador who taunts the stronger bull, Dixey was only trying to enrage his opponent. ((or perhaps the simile should have compared my Dixey to your Squall *grins*))
Lionel drew his cutlass back and, pivoting so that the movement of his body added strength to his arm, he once again brought his sword to clash with that of the elven maiden he now recognized as Faelin. He answered her questions with a light smile as he fluidly kept his sword in motion, but his dark green eyes were sad and tinged with regret. "I know naught of Mary, for she never writes, but I assure you that my mother is still the intimidating dragon we knew in our youth. And what of your family?"
Ignatius was still slashing wildly at any opponent who had the misfortune to cross the battle-crazed pirate. His wild charge had already earned him a few nasty gashes upon his thick arms, but he was an adept swordsman despite his hot-headedness and Squall's crew would find him quite the challenge.
Astra's crew fought with the energy and skill that truly made them a match for Squall's, and so far casualties were pretty even between the two sides. Unlike their captain, they too were not above dirty tricks.The pirate whose neck Turin had managed to send an arrow through had lost his grip on the rope and fallen into the water between the ships and was immediately lost to the depths. However, for the time being it was only Roche and the two archers still aboard the Serpent who had noticed the unlucky man's fall, but rest assured, their captain would be informed the moment the battle had ended and, should she live, she would not take the news lightly...
((Don't worry, she's going to live. Though I'm thinking of having her lose, though only after she puts up one hell of a fight. *ponders* Of course, that would mean that whether or not she lives would be up to Squall...))
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Post by Rojo on Jul 25, 2008 8:52:49 GMT -5
Squall laughed at Astra's comment. "Ha! Then you are lucky that this brute has more than meets the eye!" and with that, he easily swatted Astra's rapier away and dropped low, sweeping his legs around to trip her up.
Turin growled as his opponent moved aside, turning to face Dixey with suprising speed. He was a dwarf, meaning he was naturally easily angered, and he swung again, the ugly dead face of the orc moving to make contact with the opponent's waist.
Faelin blocked the blow and shrugged. "Ishmael's doing well in the trader buisness, Father's doing negotiations with the King of the Black Forest, and Carlein is ambassador for the...Assasin's Guild now, I think; thanks for asking." She pulled her sword away momentarily, then brought it around from the left, swinging for her cousin's side.
The crazed pirate was tearing through the crew like scissors through paper. The Pirate who had earlier been adressed as Jove hurled himself into Ignatius' path. He brandished his two daggers threateningly before running forward, a small blue parrot upon his shoulder screeching "FLY YER COLOURS!" As Jove swung both knives towards Ignatius.
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Post by Asila on Jul 25, 2008 15:03:11 GMT -5
With a curse, Astra tried to leap over Squall's legs as he swung them in an attempt to take her own out from under her. If she hadn't rushed so recklessly into that first lunge, she may have even managed it, but she had still been slightly off balance after that first strike and even her quick reactions couldn't make up for that. Squall managed to catch one of her legs and she stumbled. Allowing her own momentum to take her out of Squall's easy reach, she slashed at him. She knew the desperate strike had little chance of landing, but she needed to slow her rival down while she tried to regain her balance.
Dixey's grin faded as he moved his sword to counter the dwarf's attack. He had been surprised by how quickly the pirate had been able to turn and greet the older man with an attack of his own. There was no side-stepping this one, yet he could hardly match the dwarf's heavier battle ax with his sword when the dwarf, like his weapon, was clearly stronger. Instead, he caught his sword just beneath the blade of the ax (so that he may slow it's approach) and stepped into the dwarf, just out of range of the business end of the ax. He was now too close for the dwarf to use the long-handled weapon, so Dixey, with his grin back in place, attempted to thrust the elbow of his free arm into the dwarf's helmet before trying to leap out of reach.
Lionel nodded in response to these tidings. Before answering, he lunged away from Faelin's cutlass, for the attack was one that he could not successfully block. The blade, which had been directed toward his side, instead sliced a clean gash into the fabric that draped over his abdomen as he nearly failed to step far enough out of range. Lionel arced his eyebrows in response, but did not immediately rush in for another attack. "I am glad to hear that they fare well, Faelin. But what of you? Is the infamous Captain Squall Blackheart a tolerable individual to serve under?" Though he had little taste for this battle he must hold with a cousin against whom he held no grudge, he nonetheless lunged closer, setting his cutlass on a course for her abdomen in the hope that he could slice a gash into her shirt that would match his own.
Ignatius blinked at the daring pirate who had stepped into his path. It was an unusual individual who would go out of his way to face him. The burly pirate did not even pause as he met the attack of the strange man with the stranger bird. He held the heavy weapon in front him, the broad side of the blade facing Jove's daggers, and proceeded to barrel forward, very much like the bull that Dixey had earlier compared Turin to.
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Post by Rojo on Jul 25, 2008 16:13:46 GMT -5
Squall grinned, and was about stab Astra as she stumbled, but she thrashed out desperately. The Captain blocked a blow from the left, grabbed Astra's wrist, flashed her quick grin, then lifted his boot and kicked forward with all his strength, letting go of his opponent's wrist as he did, hoping to knock her off the side of the boat.
Turin glowered as the intruding elbow came moving towards his armoured face. He grimaced and returned to primal urges; he threw the axe into the mast where it stuck and jumped upon his opponent, wrestling with Dixey's arm and trying to force the sword out of his hand as the two rolled around.
Faelin smashed the sword away in a way only a pirate could. "Oh, it's alright...pay's good...I wouldn't advise bunking up with him though; his bed smells worse than a mountain troll's cave after a three course meal of rancid dwarf." She brought the cutlass up in an uppercut, hoping to get Lionel to stagger backwards. "So, what's Goldy like?" she returned, she gestured her head in the direction of the two Captains.
Jove didn't move, waiting as the violent man got closer, and as Ignatius came so close, Jove dropped down, sliding between the opponent's legs, putting his daggers out to the sides in hope of slashing his legs. THe Parrot stood strangely still through all this... "LOAD THE CROSSBOWS!" It screamed.
Meanwhile, some of the crew were trying to board the Sea Serpent, but all so far had been taken down by the archers...
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