Pirate Age

[Winter]

~"Never interrupt your opponent while he's making a mistake"~​

Akiyoshi was about to respond and lead them towards the carriages when a voice broke through the crowd of conversations, pulling the attention of everyone towards him. Despite that this man named Colt held their attention, it would appear both the master swordsman and his oldest daughter where among the few who seemed to show immediate caution towards him. Satia however was almost caught in a trance, though it was likely more because of her age as the younger swordswomen was still far from finishing her training and was still dealing with the trials and tribulations of being a teenage girl. "I see" replied Akiyoshi as his hand rose to his chin, looking thoughtful as his thumb rubbed against his stubble for a moment. "I suppose you should accompany us then" he said, almost on a whim without seeming to question him about the information he was sharing with them. "After all it would be prudent to accept information given freely, especially considering our situation" spoke Akiyoshi before he looked to Alicia who gave a simple nod, "I agree, though I might question the credibility of this information. It's nothing personal, but we don't know who exactly employs you and I don't believed that this information comes to us without a motive or an intention" she said as she looked to Colt, "A name alone doesn't warrant my trust" she said before looking to her father who inclined his head, "You're right, we should remain cautious, however we should hear what this gentlemen has to say" he said before he nodded towards Colt.

The group would eventually be taken by carriage to the Tashigi estate after passing through more visually stunning areas. Streams, rivers and meadows dotted their journey and each one seemed bursting with some kind of passive wildlife which made the land really feel like a magical place. It was easy to see that the people respected the land and it became more and more obvious when beautiful locations appeared untouched, left for nature where wildlife thrived. The warm humid air stroked against the skin as the gentle breeze exhaled like a breath between the valleys and mountains, causing the rich green flora to sway lazily. "Almost there" commented Alicia as a pink petal flew into the carriage before falling gracefully to the floor. A minute went by and they would see beautiful trees of pink dotted between the green flora, tiny pink petals falling from the branches to create a beautiful display as the carriages pulled up to a large estate which appeared to retain the same architecture they'd seen in Port Hurasai.

The land they owned was large and vast, but so open that you would expect that people could easily just stumble upon it and explore it as some kind of countryside attraction. A few people could be seen walking around, either tending to the beauty of the land of merely talking among each other as they headed to who knows where. What was more is that they all wore the same colors and attire, save for a few defining details here and there. "My students" commented Akiyoshi, feeling he should explain a little. "Learning the art of the sword requires discipline and with it, many different virtues of which are not always centered around combat itself. It is believed that the first swordsman learned from nature, harnessing the energy of the world to become something greater. It is said he thought of each element as a teacher, a guide to inspire him as he made his journey across the realm of man. I believe in these teachings, and so feel it is important my students learn to commune with nature and the lessons they have to teach us" he said as they moved further into the land. "But before one can learn from nature, he or she must first learn to respect it" he said, finishing his short explanation for why the students where expected to maintain the gardens.

Once the carriages stopped they were outside the main gate of the large building which made the Tashigi home. Other buildings could be seen within their land, some of which had been passed on the way in, but it wasn't explained what purpose they served. "Feel free to make yourselves at home and know that you're welcome to explore the gardens, however I think it'd be best if we settled inside first to discuss where you'll be staying and to talk about the information that this gentleman has to offer us" he said, motioning to Colt. As they moved passed the gates they would be confronted with a courtyard, the center of which stood a large statue of a women with a soft smile who appeared to be looking down at a flower she was holding in her hand. She was beautiful, and appeared to carry a likeness to Alicia especially. At the base of the statue read the name 'Sakura Hikari' and she would be the late mother of Alicia and Satia. Those who knew of her legend would instantly recognize her and the name, though it was unlikely unless you were a swordsman.

The inside of the house was every bit a well kept as the outside. Ornaments, paintings and the occasional artifact filled the spaces around the walls, creating a homely and interesting environment as the group would enter. "Please, come with me" said Akiyoshi as he lead them down a hall to what appeared to be a large open room with a ceiling and no walls, rugs and pillows situated around a small table which laid in the center of the room which overlooked the back gardens. It was a strange room, though it was pleasant as it allowed an easy flow of warm air, providing a comfortable room without losing the connection to the outside beauty that surrounded them. Akiyoshi was the first to take his seat as he crossed his legs, sitting at the far end of the table on top of a pillow. He motioned for everyone to take a seat. Once everyone was seated he would prompt Colt to present his information to the group.

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Tashigi Estate​

One

Two

Three

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The type of room we're in​

Meeting room

 

[Prince]

Colt internally twitched at the thought of getting into a carriage with them. His entire goal was to warn them, then get out. Extending his visit this long could lead to a damper on his plans, but he also knew he had to be completely courteous to Akiyoshi. A lesser bard, or even the greatest bard without the Sonus Sonus Devil Fruit, would have likely been dismissed immediately. The only reason Colt was taken into consideration, and he believed this with absolute conviction, was his ability to adjust to not only exactly what Akiyoshi wanted to hear, but how he would have preferred to hear it. Already being granted significant special treatment, Colt erred on the side of caution and took the possible detour that was getting into the carriage. Only to add to the slight stress of the situation, Colt was put into the carriage with Akiyoshi, Alicia and Satia. Surrounded by elite swordsmen, even Colt wouldn't have been able to escape if he needed to. Not only that, it seemed Satia had taken an odd fascination with him. As she glanced over at him with a soft stare, Colt had to look away as he knew with just the twitch of an eye that Akiyoshi was waiting to reply or reprimand the situation. Alicia was far more neutral, likely due to the age gap and her adventures with pirates. This didn't make the infatuation of Satia any less of a liability for Colt.

Colt essentially stayed passive until given the go by Akiyoshi. This was not how he wanted this to turn out. He didn't want to end up right in the middle of the Tashigi homeland, and if anything this delay would slow down his ulterior motif. Not only that, this more private setting eliminated a large sense of security that existed in the public. Colt just knew no matter how he spoke, he would be grilled for information and pressed in the worst way possible. Accustomed to it or not, Colt wasn't surrounded by a group of pirates. These were elite swordsmen Colt boldly attempted to convene with weaponless, and even if he had his rifle, he was in a great doubt it would be useful. Standing in the serene estate of the Tashigi, with the abundant beauty of nature and its open atmosphere, had Colt feeling trapped.

"The Great Port of Hurasai... it is a large and fruitful trade center within Yula Fei. It has a powerful strategic placement, and it has a beauty that few markets can compare to..."

Colt had to be careful. He had to begin with an intelligent introduction. Hurasai had been attacked some time ago, but Colt needed to explain why. Every word he spoke, every sentence he got out only empowered the persuasion and influence of his Amoi Koe, but the longer he drew things out, the more suspicious it would be. Needless to say, remaining poetic and informative was terribly difficult. But, like a Greek storyteller, Colt added a tune and verse to his words that drew out every syllable he said.

"...the first siege on the port is still a fresh wound in many minds. I am sure. What I am here to tell you is that another siege is imminent, far greater than the first is both size and tactics. Several ships have already brought in a dormant flank of traitors. Their fleet is that of small ships that cannot easily be detected, but will so quickly glide to shore that their attack will be swift and harsh. I know this because those that wish to attack Hurasai have enlisted several hundred mercenaries. The man that I work for has access to all of this information, and he does not help you for any hope of an alliance. He would siege this island if he could sand sack it for all it has, but the forces required to do that are immense, the casualties even greater, and my boss is no brute; he hasn't been involved in a real war in a decade. He sent me to warn you because he would rather see his enemies fail than Yula Fei conquered. The enemy of your enemy is your friend."

 

[Arcadius]

Kadi gave Lev a look that showed rather fully what he thought about his new nickname, but he nodded to her question. "Yes, I think it would be wise. Can't say I have much choice at the moment, anyway. All I had was lost on Karalean. Might as well try to give a closure to that incident, being the sole survivor."

The bard was already climbing into the carriage with the Tashigis, taking the last free seat. Arcadius turned to the second vehicle, nodding the rest of the crew towards it. "Seems the second one is for the rest of us. By the way, since it seems we will have a while, can anyone tell me what happened with Waterdeep, respectively, why are all of these people cheering for you?" he asked as he climbed aboard. "I mean, no offence, but... well, you're pirates. People usually cheer your kind when your legs dance the gallows tango. And usually, nobility hires pirates, it doesn't let their daughters become ones."

He sat down and gave Runali Lev a sly smile. "You're not pirates, are you. I've read a lot about politics surrounding seafaring states, claiming piracy on ships they don't wish officially connected with the current governing body is one of the oldest tricks in the book. Everyone can hide themselves behind the black flag, after all."

If my older, and wiser, self was sitting in that carriage, I'd give myself a slap so hard it would spin my head around. Twice. I was young, and I thought I gobbled all the wisdom of the world. For some reason, I thought that was enough to consider myself as a smart person, but, well... I just proceeded to tell a bunch of pirates that they were in fact some government lackeys, or I just told bunch of government lackeys I knew they were government lackey. Either was, it was incredibly dumb thing to speak out loud. I was angry at the captain for giving me that silly nick name, and I felt need to have the upper hand in the matter. I thought that such brilliant deduction would stop them to call me 'Kadi', but frankly, it was a nick name. Nick names sticks harder than any known glue in the universe.

 

[Fox of Spades]

Nolan could feel the tension in the air, whatever Colt was going to tell them, it sounded like it was going to be deathly important.

He shuffled into a carriage with his fellow Stardusk pirates and sat down. Thankfully, Arcadius broke the silence and asked about Waterdeep. The memory brought back variety of emotions, triumph, fear, guilt. It was the first time he had ever killed a man, but it was the also the first time he had helped save lives. "You're fine with Kadi, right?" Nolan chuckled a little, the nickname was rather cute, but it did have a nice ring to it. "Well, aren't your everyday plunderers and kidnappers, I guess you could say we're nice pirates." He smiled a little.

"Waterdeep was complicated. You see, these Kraken Skull pirates kind of took control of everything in the city, and they were terrorizing the citizens and the royal family too. One of our crew mates, Kai," he wondered how the man was doing. Hopefully, wherever he was, he was alright. "Well, he had an axe to grind. The royal family and him, they were friends and he and the Kraken Skull pirates, there was bad blood between them." He looked at the others and hoped that he was telling the tale correctly. "Long story short, we helped Kai save Waterdeep and sent those pirates running. Ray, released everyone in the prisons, so it wasn't just us, we had backup and it was almost like a war. Hopefully, we can help out here too." Nolan wanted to start worrying again, but instead he brought up the party that had happened afterwards. "The king and queen were so happy, they ended up throwing a party. You should have seen Luro, he drank everyone else to the ground."

That was pretty much their adventure in Waterdeep, though the real thing, there was no way it could be summarized.

The carriage passed by beautiful landscaped before they finally reached the Tashigi estate. There, they were reunited with Alicia, Satia, their father, and Colt. They were led to a meeting room, and there, Colt began to speak. He spoke of traitors and mercenaries and Nolan found himself lost in the man's words. Despite the terrible news, there was no doubt, this bard was a gifted speaker. He winced at how bleak everything sounded.

 

[Mizos]

Luro looked over at Ray as he gave Colt money not to talk about Kareth his shoulders drooping a little as he wanted to hear it again in song, though Ray did make a good point that he had already heard it and he did want to hear the one about the two bummed man again.
However the captain came forward and stopped Colt from singing anything before Akiyoshi lead them to the carriages with Colt going with the Tashigi's, Luro actually felt a little for the bard as it seemed Alicia didn't trust him and he wasn't sure what to make of Satia, she seemed to be staring at him with a weird look in her eyes one Luro decided to just avert his gaze from a small laugh coming from him.
He glanced in the direction of the carriage a little sad he couldn't listen to the conversation they were having before climbing into the carriage with everyone else.
Luro couldn't help but grin at being escorted in a carriage he would have been fine walking to their homes especially with how beautiful this place was, looking out the carriage window there was even more beauty then when they first arrived.
He still had to get used that Alicia was apparently nobility but he wouldn't mind if the nobles in other towns lived like this.

Luro turned from the window and looked back at Arcadius as he spoke to them, asking about Waterdeep. Luro wasn't sure how exactly to answer that since he only remembered bits and pieces of it, there were pirates on the ship and they killed them, Ray had an army, Kai took out the fish captain then there was a party.
Thankfully Nolan was there to answer it for him which Luro nodded in agreement as everything he said sounded correct at least to him.
When Arcadius spoke again Luro tilted his head at the man as he spoke to them questioning their ties to being pirates which made Luro cover his mouth as he turned his head trying to hold on his laughter, he failed at it however as Arcadius went on to call them government workers of all things.
"Hahahaha that's pretty funny Kadi," Luro said holding his stomach as he leaned forward. "Ahhhh Nolan's right though we're pretty nice pirates, I'll admit I'm surprised by the greetings we get sometimes. If you wait until we finish our business here I'm sure we can change your mind. Once the captain gives permission I'll more than happily show you the kind of pirate you're thinking of."

When the carriage arrived Luro walked with everyone taking note he had permission to walk the garden, at least after their business was done and he wasn't going to pass up taking a walk around their home. He was curious what the buildings nearby were and decided to try and check one out later, he could invite someone along and make a day of it.
Putting the thought aside Luro passed a statue of a woman and stopped to stare up at her for a moment, he looked down and read the name on it though he didn't see a Tashigi at the end but looking back up at it she looked a little like Alicia.
"I wonder if this is her mom," Luro said poking the statue before turning and moving to catch up with the group.
When they entered the room Luro watched Akiyoshi take a seat before he walked over and sat down on one of the pillows setting his rifle next to him, Luro folded one leg and rested his arm on his knee as he looked over at Colt as he decided to share his information which...he didn't fully understand.
"The enemy of your enemy is your friend, but what happens when the enemy of your enemy becomes an enemy because your enemy was a friend of another enemy," Luro said crossing his arms. "Hmmm so is he a friend or an enemy of a friend's enemy. It doesn't seem like anything's changed for what we were doing before...maybe I missed something. Colt was your name right, are you speaking in riddles...or are you singing while speaking?"

 

[Grothnor]

The Tashigi Estate was huge and sprawling across lush open land. The Skalter's summer mansion was likely only slightly smaller in terms of square footage, but the spread of the estate's buildings covered almost three times the land, Ray guessed. All the buildings back home are so huddled and close. Then again, the winters here must be much milder.

"They certainly seem to have a lot of gardeners." Ray remarked off-handedly. The driver of the carriage explained that they were Akiyoshi's students, and that they were learning to learn from nature. Ray nodded understandingly, but the idea caused him to inwardly scoff. The 'first swordsman' was most likely the first person to smith a sword. Wielding a sword isn't about 'connecting with nature,' its about mastering your fears and harnessing your passions with your will... at least in Lendria. Who knows, maybe its the same conclusion reached through different means.

When Nolan asked if Arcadius was okay with his nickname, Ray rolled his eyes and murmured, "Better 'Kadi' than 'Mickey Cad'." He laughed when Arcadius suggested he was a government agent. "Government lackeys, ha! The reason I 'hide behind the black flag' is because the Red Basilisk won't have me." Ray said, referencing the flag of Lendria.

When they arrived at the estate, Ray paused in front of the statue to read the plaque. He got the feeling that he had heard the name somewhere, but for the life of him, couldn't remember. He moved on into the meeting room, though it was more of a gazebo than anything. Once Colt began his speech, Ray began reflecting on why he didn't care for him. It has to be more than 'professional' jealousy. He thought in reaction to Colt's unflagging charm. Besides, he's good, but not that good. I certainly don't like his wordiness, but I can hardly fault him for doing something I'm just as guilty of at times. When Colt finished his speech with "The enemy of your enemy is your friend," Ray smirked victoriously. Not where I come from: My enemy's enemy is a problem for later. For now, though, they might be useful. Ray recited the Lendrian version of the common adage to himself.

 

[Capt. Blu]

Hearing that Arcadius would be joining them, she merely shrugged. She couldn't care less what he planned, considering he wasn't hurting her crew. The look he gave however made her smirk. "Something tells me you don't like the name Kadi. Heh, blame Luro." She hopped on the second carriage with the others, sitting on the edge to listen to the Tashigi family and Colt across them. Too bad the carriage holding Colt and the Tashigi family moved ahead of them. She couldn't hear much of the conversation on the carriage ride there, if they even had much of one. However, there was plenty to talk about as she sat between Nolan and Luro with her feet propped up. The first topic was about Waterdeep. It made Runali give a sigh of remembrance. It started off as- well, it started off as a mission to help Kai and then they ended up saving a kingdom. "Nolan hit the nail on the hammer. We simply went in to aid Kai, well many know him as the "Leviathan", and then well, we saved a king and queen and their kid. And then an entire city. Then partied the night away. Though, we hightailed it out of there because the Navy had been on its way. Kai stayed back to help rebuild the city." She nodded, deciding to sit up some.

The carriage passed by landscapes that seemed near perfect as if they hadn't been touched by the hands of man. Everything looked so natural and so beautiful. Runali almost didn't want to venture out, in fear that touching the landscape alone would ruin the art. Her trance was broken when Arcadius probed on about their lives and then insinuated they were working for the government. "Ha! You think we're government pets? You're pretty dumb to think that one." She teased and looked at the others. "Sure, you can call us nice if you want. I think of it more as minding our own business. We do that and end up getting into other's business...Ironically. Other than that, we aren't worried about anything else. Sure, call us 'nice'." There was no real way to put it. Sure they were pirates, but they didn't have time to go around killing everyone they saw and stealing from them. They had treasures to find and places to see. Each one of them had a personal goal to fulfill too- and if Runali knew them well enough, it didn't involve mass murders.

She went back to staring at the scenery. It was hard to believe some picture perfect places exist. Soon, the carriage stopped and everyone was following the family towards the Tashigi estate. "Geez, I'd think in your recruitment...you or at least guy could mention first 'Hey, also I come from a class of fairly high up people'. Or you know, something of the sort." Continuing on their path, Runali thought it nice that Akiyoshi would let them explore freely after their business affairs. The status that they were pirates just seemed to fly over everyone's head. "So much for proving ourselves worthy, eh Satia?" She smirked at the thought. Despite the girl's initial disapproval, she was completely wrong about everyone else's opinion. "Heh, should read the papers more often." She teased playfully, only for her attention to be caught by the statue. There was no doubt the statue held a resemblance to their friend. Runali wouldn't believe it if the statuesque woman wasn't somehow related to at least Alicia.

Stepping inside, it was almost baffling to know the picture perfect natural environment compared to that of the picture perfect indoors. "You all must thrive off of cleanliness." The comment was more a thought spoken aloud than an actual comment, nonetheless it was heard by the others. They found themselves in a spacious room- spacious due to the lack of walls. Runali didn't hesitate to fall onto one of the large pillows. She followed suit and crossed her legs as well- although eventually ended up having her legs pulled up to lean against her knees. Colt began and the only reaction Runali had to the sudden news was a raised eyebrow. Indeed it was dire, but the others were right...in their own way. Could he be trusted? Something about the way he spoke made him sound pretty trustworthy, but Runali wasn't going to voice her opinion on his credibility. "So... plan of action? It seems those guys are coming sooner than later- unless of course you think otherwise."

 

[Winter]

Akiyoshi appeared very relaxed as he listened to what Colt had to say, raising a hand to his chin as he thought about the information. To a degree some of it was already known such as the amassing fleet gaining strength, however Colt confirmed it's motive as he explained the intended tactics after first having out right told them an attack was imminent. Alicia and Satia remained quiet as their father considered the information and for a moment both Akiyoshi and Alicia shared a brief glance before the older man faced Colt. "I see" he began before he eyed Colt carefully, as though the swordsman was peering into Colt himself, digging through his body to unearth the secrets he might hold within. For Colt it might have felt uncomfortable in that moment and he might have even felt a little colder from the look the man was giving him, however Akiyoshi raised his eyebrows and sat back more comfortably in his seat, allowing Colt to relax. "Well, regardless of motive the information is definitely appreciated. However there are questions which come to mind, young Colt" he said, taking a pause to consider his own words for a moment, "I am curious to why you bring this information to us, rather than the Princess and her generals. Why inform us of this information, when we are merely civilians without influence over Yula Fei's military" he said before awaiting the reply with curiosity.

Alicia turned towards Runali while they awaited Colt's reply to answer her question. "Well, after this meeting I should think we'll be meeting with Princess Omoiyari in order to inform her and to find out what she intends to do about the incoming invasion. She'll have her generals with her too, so it'll be quite intense I imagine" she said before adding, "The Princess sent Satia to find me and it is likely she knows we're here already. I should think the Princess is allowing us to settle but I'm guessing we'll be summoned to the palace for a briefing tomorrow morning" she said before leaning over slightly to look past Runali at Luro, "And that mean you need to be on your best behavior... I mean it, this is super important" she said with a tone that carried the gravity of the situation. The thought of Luro insulting the Princess made her blood run cold, not because she'd have Luro killed or anything to that degree... but it would be incredibly embarrassing, especially given their friendship and the level of respect the situation would ask for... and in front of all those high ranking officials. Satia would arrive a moment latter with a trey of small cups filled with tea, including an opal porcelain tea pot. Alicia blinked, "You left the room?" she asked, the younger swordswomen giving a small smirk, "It appears you're not as observant as you think you are" she said, causing Alicia to roll her eyes a little.

The tea was merely water and leaves but carried a beautiful scent with an even more beautiful taste. It was made from the leaves grown in the natural beauty of the land, heated with water which was brought fresh from the River Jinse. The tea was a blend which couldn't be recreated with any other kind of flavors or substitute ingredients, it was merely a small gift of taste provided from the land itself. Satia placed the trey down in the middle of the table, "Please help yourselves" she said, motioning to the piping hot tea.

 

[Prince]

Colt was actually prepared for this question. There was a definite reason he was coming to Akiyoshi instead of the Princess, and that reason followed a unique strand of logic. If Colt went directly to the Princess, or even tried to, or even tried to speak with their militant advisers, then he would have been rejected immediately and his words would not have gone as far. The royals, their formal advisers and their military were often so thick in their blue-blooded bureaucracy that even former warriors had lost the ability to see when they are being warned. These swordsman, though. These swordsman were different. They lived their lives as warriors and would discern and dissect Colt in such a way that if he warned them truly, then they would listen. This is why Colt went to Akiyoshi, and this is why Colt actually found comfort in this question.

Colt was also far better at manipulation than he let on. He knew from the piercing glance of Akiyoshi that he was being watched. He knew that he could not hide his fear, but to wear it on his sleeve. He knew of their honor and believed they were above shooting the messenger. He knew that Akiyoshi would be waiting to see if Colt hesitated or seemed like he was lying, so he never did. Every word he said was true in the most technical sense. True enough that the lies hidden between them were undetectable, especially granted his skills. Added layers of influence were brought into the conversation as Colt allowed himself to show more fear in his demeanor when the gaze of Akiyoshi grew more intense, or maybe how he allowed his eyes to wander on the somewhat curvaceous body of Alicia as she walked by to Runali. His eyes were quick to dart on her, on her very obviously, then right back to Akiyoshi even more distraught as if he had just made a mistake. This was the level of manipulation Colt played. He was there for a cold, cruel mission, but he was acting as humanly flawed as any man might around dangerous warriors and beautiful women.

"I was paid to speak with you, and so I shall. To be honest, I wasn't at all keen in showing up to speak with anyone about an upcoming battle nor visiting some of the best warblades alive, but I work for coin," Colt explained, being still completely honest. "If I were to frank, I believe the royals would reject any notions I might provide. They don't share the same... the same eyes you do. In front of them, I could be calm and cool while to you I might as well have a blade to my throat already. - which I'm grateful I don't!" Colt smirked at his own joke, although it was likely in poor taste considering the situation. "Nevertheless, if I speak to you and you believe there is any merit to my words, you will then speak to the Princess and whoever else in her escort might matter. Your words will carry weight while mine would be little more than feathers in the wind." Colt let out a sigh before adding, "besides, if I personally had to choose whether to confront their military or your blade, I can definitely assure you we would never have met."

 

[Fox of Spades]

A plan of action sounded good. Nolan listened as both Akiyoshi and Alicia began to speak. The latter asked Colt some questions and he nodded his head and waited. He didn't know anything about Yula Fei, but Colt suddenly finding them and popping up with helpful information was a tad convenient. How did he know? Did he have eyes and ears around the city? Then again, to be fair, Alicia's family seemed to be quite well known.

Satia came back with a cup of tea and Alicia told them to help themselves, so he took a cup between his hands and thanked the sisters. The warm tea would help with the nervousness he was feeling and it smelled so good too. Nolan took a sip and thought about looking around the market before they returned for something similar, the only drink they had so much of on the ship was rum, so a change would be lovely.

He listened to the conversation and everything started to come together. Colt explained why he had come to them instead and it made sense, though from what he had heard of the princess from Alicia, she sounded nice enough.

 

[Arcadius]

I decided to not push it further. Maybe they were simply lying, or maybe they didn't know even, the captain being the one on someone's payroll. The crew were there to follow orders and not ask too many questions. In any case, I decided to stop pushing it and go with the flow. I was in unfamiliar territory, and it seemed to simply do as others did and listen.

Arcadius followed the group and kept himself quiet. From home, he felt fairly comfortable around aristocracy, being a mild noble himself. If anything, he knew that by politely listening, noone ever was insulted and no social situation turned into a disaster.

What he heard, well... it concerned him, mostly about himself. The news the bard brought were, at best, ominous, and he seemed stuck in the mids of things, owning a debt of life to Alicia, who definitely didn't look like she was going to back out of Yula Fei's oncoming trouble. Not that he felt bound too tightly by the debt, but one had one's pride.

 

[Mizos]

Luro casually rocked back and forth listening to the conversations around him, still not sure how to understand Colt so he just looked between his fellow cremates catching Ray's smile for a moment only to turn his attention to the captain as she mentioned a plan of action.
He smiled himself at hearing this as he was looking forward to what the plan was, the captain seemed to think they were coming sooner which was probably what Colt had said if that was the case it meant they were just going to fight them first before taking a look around Yula Fei.
When Alicia spoke to him about the princess Luro tilted his head slightly at her but before he could respond his eyes moved to Colt as he answered Akiyoshi's question, for a moment Luro just stared at the young man a small smile on his face as he listened to him.
The more Colt spoke the more Luro seemed to smile, though whatever caused this seemed to go away the moment he finished speaking and he turned back to see Satia put tea down.

Luro picked up one of the cups and brought it towards him sniffing the tea for a moment, he stared at the liquid his eyes narrowing slightly as he set the cup back down folding his hands together.
"There's no rum in this," he said a tinge of sadness behind his voice.
Luro picked the cup back up with his right and with a sigh gripped the teacup using his finger and thumb while moving his middle finger to the bottom for support right before he brought the teacup to his mouth and in one motion downed the tea before setting it back on the table.
His eyes widened a little and he picked the cup back up staring into the now emptiness before pointing at it with his other hand.
"This is pretty good, not as good as rum but not bad at all. Tashigi you're pretty good at this. Did Big Tashigi teach you?"
Luro looked at Akiyoshi at this but instead of waiting for a confirmation he set the cup back down and raised his attention to Alicia remembering he hadn't answered her from earlier.
"Don't worry about the princess Alicia the last time I spoke with a princess, aside from Waterdeep, she didn't try to have me killed on the spot like the others. She just had me sent to the gallows instead so I'm getting better at talking to them. Well her fiance had me sent she was just stared at me with her mouth open but it was a complete misunderstanding, I didn't know he was her husband-to-be or I wouldn't have commented on wanting to...'dock at her harbor' the way I did." Luro said waving his hand at his polite translation.
"I would have used fancy words instead, I won't make that mistake this time I promise. I'll just use the fancy words first that way everything will be okay."

Luro grinned at Alicia as he did intend on trying his best since this was his friend who was asking, he took a moment and glanced over at Arcadius who had been quiet this whole time, he arched a brow a tad worried to see he wasn't saying anything.
"Kadi you haven't said anything. You're about to get pulled into a fight with pirates that's probably going to be very very violent. If you don't respond with it they're probably going to capture and kill you, maybe not in that order depending. Can you defend yourself, cause running away wouldn't be good they'll probably shoot you in the back, or if they won't I might accidentally. I'm still getting used to your presence and all. I'm okay until you turn around."

 

[Grothnor]

Ray sat quietly, bored, but unsurprised by the dryness of the meeting. Most noble affairs were dull for him, so he spent his time trying to figure out why he didn't like Colt. When Satia entered the room with tea, he finally picked up on her infatuation with Colt. I guess it is 'professional' jealousy. He had her in the palm of his hand without even trying while I mucked up my introduction. This Colt guy is good, though that's probably because he lies his ass off all the time. I prefer not to lie: too much of a pain trying to remember what you say to who.

Ray offered to help when Alicia asked for Luro's best behavior, knowing full well how much damage even a perceived slight could do to a family's reputation. "Don't worry, I'll keep an eye on him." He began thinking of possible excuses for any of Luro's potential faux pas. "Maybe I can work the 'idiot savant' angle...." he wondered softly.

In the back of his mind, Ray was eagerly anticipating the war meeting. Lendrian Military History was his favorite subject at the Lendriani Royal Academy in his younger years, aside from Fencing and Music. To be party to the strategy and planning of a battle like the epic wars from Lendrian history, if not actively helping plan it, would be like becoming a part of history.

 

[Capt. Blu]

It was rather odd that Colt would come to a family instead of the Princess of the land. For a brief moment, Runali reminded herself that there was in fact a princess here, just as there was one in Waterdeep. And also that Alicia knew the princess on friendly terms. Man, she had lives to watch over... Capable or not, their lives were her responsibility since she was captain. Pushing that thought aside, she looked over at Alicia. "Meet with the princess. Man, what deja vu." She laughed and tilted her head to Nolan. "You'd think we'd have some sort of Government Immunity with how many royals we had the honor of helping. Ah, but a pirate's a pirate, no matter how helpful." She nodded to Alicia, giving her a small salute. "Aye, aye swordswoman Alicia. See the Princess we shall. Though, I wouldn't count on Luro being behaved. This is about as good as it gets." She then laughed a bit as Ray decided to volunteer to help. "Heh, good luck." Colt began to explain himself, so Runali listened up. He did bring up a valid point. It was hard not to agree with him. Normally to talk to royalty one had to go through multiple others, and then there was a chance that wouldn't even work. It indeed was a hassle compared to telling ones who were in close relation to the princess.

Satia slipped off without a word and even Runali missed it. She was a quiet one, but at least she returned with drinks. Runali took one of the cups of tea and quietly sipped the drink. With a look of surprise, she turned to Nolan. "You should definitely get some different recipes from this place." The meeting for Runali was admittedly a bore, but it was still important. She had to know what to do in order to make sure everyone was safe. As a captain, she masked her boredom and sat attentively to make sure she didn't miss anything important. However, as a young woman- younger than her entire crew at that, she was quite bored.

Something occurred to her. Luro brought it up, and yet she didn't quite pay much attention. Runali leaned back a little on her pillow to look at Arcadius. "Oi, Arcadius. What do you plan on doing? You're not thinking about going to war are you? Because that'd be ridiculous. Unless you have some skill... Then again, with wars being prepared I doubt trade and travel ships will be moving out for sometime." She looked at the Tashigi's for confirmation. If it was true, Arcadius would be stuck in Yula Fei with everyone else. "Might want to add that to the list of things to figure out."

 

[Arcadius]

The list of things I needed to figure out was starting to get quite long by that point, or very short, depending on your point of view. I had nothing but clothes on my back, and was a stranger in a strange land. Some would see that as a great trouble, seeing themselves stripped of all they owned and nothing at their disposal. Other would see the cup of tea in front of them, and think: hey, I have a cup of tea. Things could be worse. I could be sitting here without a cup of tea. My misadventure on the sea placed me into the second group of thinkers. By no means, I have abolished luxury and fine taste, but I realized that it was a bonus to life; that you could do without it, and be still happy from the fact that you were alive, even if the range of your selection was limited.

On the subject of tea, it was not what I expected. Back home, tea meant a big mug of thick, black liquid, sweetened with honey or sugar. It evoked cosiness. It was a thing you sat down with, and inhaled the vapour, smelling of good old times and honey. The green tinted liquid in the small porcelain cup in front of me was nothing like it. The beverage was clearly steeped for a shorter time, producing much more clear result, and there was no honey, just a crisp, clear, slightly bitter that cleared one's mind and helped to focus.

"Mmhmm..." Arcadius answered over the cup of tea. He got himself a moment to think, putting the cup down slowly. "As said, I steer ships. My task is to bring them safely home, and in the end... combat is simply not part of that. Cannons and ammo are useless weight that slows you down, they steal away power you could use for faster escape. I have rudimentary knowledge of sword and pistol, and I dare to say I am a decent shot, but I never had to actually apply the knowledge. If you can run away, well, why waste time fighting?"

He took a short moment, before looking at Akiyoshi. "I apologize for intruding into conversation of our most gracious host. There was a disaster at sea roughly week ago. The ship Karalean was lost, and I fear I am the only survivor. I overheard you mention you have ships scouting around your island, has any of them seen captain Majion or any of his crew?"

 

[Winter]

The old swordsman continued to radiate an aura of serenity and wisdom despite his potential as a warrior. His features remained relaxed and his composure told the room that he felt no fear nor worry for the future for whatever it might bring to him. It was an admirable trait and stood as a testament to his ability to be unwavering in the face of danger, a trait they all shared to some degree. Akiyoshi noticed the look the young man had given his oldest daughter and appeared not to be phased as he merely raised his cup of tea to his lips, taking a small sip before setting it back down. He listened to Colt's reply to his question and once he'd finished he gave a satisfactory nod in response, "Very well then. I will consider this information carefully before bringing it forwards to the princess, however you must understand that the words of messengers carry little weight in the midst of imminent battle. Even should these words be repeated with my voice, their origins may still be questioned" he said before inhaling, exhaling a long breath. The old man stood from his seat, "I believe the business portion of this meeting is concluded, you may stay here for the night in the comfort of my home. But I trust the man you report to will be anxious for your report and so I will have a carriage arranged to take you back to Hurasai in the morning" he said, his words deep yet smooth and settling. Akiyoshi looked to Alicia for a moment as she spoke to Runali before looking back to Colt, "If you have interest in my oldest daughter I suggest you proceed with caution... she is very much like her mother. Also, she's partial to fruits and beautiful scenery" he said with a small smile.

Akiyoshi would look to Arcadius as he asked a question and shook his head, "I'm sorry for your loss and I'm afraid I have no information for you. The ships which are scouting the perimeter belong to the military and report to their commanding officers respectively. I should think you'll find better answers from the generals or the office of which the military works from" he said in a regrettable tone.

Alicia looked over at the mention of her name and blinked before turning a very slight shade of red, hearing the subject point of the conversation. "Father!" she said, her tone converting her embarrassment. Akiyoshi let out a small chuckle, "I might be an old swordsman but I would like grandchildren during my time on this world" he said with an obvious tone of teasing. Alicia stood up almost immediately as he finished that sentence and looked to her friends, "Let me show you to your rooms, shall we?" she said, intentionally changing the subject as she would lead them all out of the room towards the staircase, leaving the room first and fairly quickly. Satia gave a small giggle into her hand before her and Akiyoshi shared a grin. The second floor had two great hallways with rooms on either side and Alicia took each of them to rooms where they could lay their things and sleep for the night, which seemed appropriate as it was already getting late. The sounds of birds singing their final song could be heard from outside along with the orchestra of crickets that laid a pleasant backdrop for the setting sun. Before long the Tashigi estate was lit with torches, creating an even more beautiful display to those who would take the opportunity to venture out onto the shared balcony of the rooms. Some of the torches could be seen moving among the great gardens of the estate, likely the night patrols which had been enforced by the Princess since discovering the imminent attack was coming. She felt it was prudent to ensure all the towns, villages, estates and cities were well protected in this time of danger.

The night came and went soon enough and before long the sun would rise above the mountains in the distance, cutting a blade of light across the landscape which sat under the gaze of the estate. As predicted, a unit of guards arrived at the estate to summon them to the palace to sit an audience with the princess and her generals. Once everyone was dressed and ready they soon found themselves in carriages once more, taken off to where a large building stood in all it's beauty, adjacent to Sovereign City. It's architecture matched the rest of the city, however for a building which housed the ruler of such a nation it appeared some what less than what you might think considering the size and depth that Hurasai and Soverign City offered. "The Palace of Heiwa" Akiyoshi announced as the carriages headed closer towards the large complex. Guards met them at they arrived and checked to ensure they were expected before allowing them through. The place was heavily guarded and bustling with beauty which rivaled, if not surpassed the Tashigi estate. Large fountains and beautiful natural features dotted around a small mote that appeared to the run around the perimeter of the complex. Small bridges arched over the small man made river, made from deep red wood with engraved symbols carved into it. The sight seeing was short lived unfortunately as they soon found themselves ascending the many steps up into the palace entrance.

Once inside more guards greeted them before taking them to a large set of closed doors which were opened for them as they arrived. The interior of the room was massive, high ceilings and decorated walls made for great interest as tapestries of history could be seen, hanging over artifacts and in some cases books that covered a great many amount of subjects. In the center of the room sat a large table and at the back of the room was what appeared to be a throne, though vacant for now. "Welcome house Tashigi and friends" called a soft voice as a young women stood from the furthest seat of the large table. She was incredibly beautiful, second perhaps only to the women they met on board the Albatros. She smiled warmly and in that alone radiated and air of serenity and kindness. In an instant and for no reason at all, one could tell why she was so loved by her people. Around the table sat four serious looking men, one of which appeared clad in decorative armor. These were the Princesses generals and the ones who had pledged themselves to protecting Yula Fei with every last breath. Each nodded respectively to Akiyoshi who returned the gesture. "Please, take a seat all of you" she said, waiting for them all to do so before she once again sat. "For those of you who are new to these lands, welcome. My name is Mei Omoiyari, the Princess of this nation. This meeting is to decide how to proceed with the imminent threat that looms over us all. StarDusk pirates, I've heard much of your adventures from my informants in Waterdeep and I was very interested in meeting you upon learning you had arrived here" she said, giving them a soft smile as she spoke. "Of course I will not ask that you aid us in this struggle, but I would ask if you would shed some light on the tactics of pirates with my generals. Yula Fei is not experienced with dealing with pirates and I think it would benefit us greatly to learn what we can from those we can trust" she said before inclining her head towards Alicia, "And in the company of good friends I can certainly place my trust in this" she added.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~​

Following the death of her parents the Princess was charged with running the nation of Yula Fei. She was already adored by the people and was known for her compassion for all of her subjects across the land. Her people and the protection of their way of life are always considered to be her highest priority and it was by her word that the guards now patrol the streets, helping the people and keeping them safe even if most of the threats come from some of the islands wild life which sometimes wonders into towns and cities. She is incredibly beautiful and when traveling through the cities and towns of Yula Fei she will often be seen carrying an Oil Paper umbrella as well as being escorted by guards clad in royal armor. The Princess conducts herself in a very gentle manner, offering soft smiles and presenting herself in a calm serene manor. She does have the capacity for temper and will sometimes become firm when she feels the need to drive her point across. Many mistake her youthful appearance along with her sudden ascension to the throne to be the markings of a naive leader who would struggle with such responsibility. However she has proven time and time again that she is more than capable and has earned the respect of those around her, including the generals which had once served her mother and father.

 

[Mizos]

Luro tilted his head at Arcadius' words, they made sense but at the same time they were extremely confusing. So he knew how to fight but chose not to...as he continued to speak Luro nodded a few times bringing a hand to his chin. He understood what Arcadius was getting at it, when he really thought about it his words made perfect sense.
"So....you're a coward? Am I off a bit?" Luro questioned.
He waited for an answer but he ended up turning to Ray picking up on what he said Luro's eyebrow arching seeing he was going to keep an eye on him in some way...he was going to be fancy so Alicia wouldn't be embarrassed, did that mean Ray was going to help him speak to the princess?
"Ray I'm not trying to flirt with the princess, she's the Tashigi's friend who runs a nation. You don't get on the bad side of a woman who has an army at her disposal, learned my lesson on that one, it's written right here." Luro said pointing at his notebook before putting it away. "You don't have to keep an eye on me, I'm not going to try and smooth talk her, we're just going to talk. I might recite some poetry I know since I'm being fancy but that'd be it. Now when I find a lass to listen to my troubles then you can help me out. By the way you'll have to tell me what this 'savant' is later, it sounds like an interesting drink."
He turned back to Akiyoshi as he spoke to Colt seeming to do a part of his fatherly duty and embarrassing his daughter, Luro smiled a little seeing the scene and offered a wink to colt.
"She's got a mean punch Colt be careful," he said before looking back at Alicia as she went to take them to the rooms.

When night fell Luro sat up from his attempt at sleep and rubbed his eyes, since he realized he wasn't getting to sleep anytime soon he stood up and tiptoeing grabbed his rifle before making his way towards the balcony, the moment he was near it he vaulted over the edge hanging for a moment before falling to the grass below, he ended up landing on his bum but he held in the hurtful moan that threatened to come out and standing up made his way towards the courtyard a wide grin on his face.
All those times of climbing out of windows was coming in handy, he knew it would one day.
Regretfully just like when he climbed out of windows a guard noticed him and seeing the tattoo on his chest didn't take too kindly to his presence in the courtyard, Luro had brought his rifle in case something like this happened but staining this beautiful landscape with blood and a body would probably make Alicia mad and the captain did order he behave himself.
"H-hold on a second I'm not a bad pirate. I'm with StarDusk we came here on the Coral," Luro said holding his hands out trying to explain.
It took a very long conversation and the guard still seemed hesitant but he offered a nod and moved out of Luro's way.
"Thank you...oh by the way this is going to be a weird question but..."

After a bit of a walk Luro stood in front of a set up target his rifle set on the ground and a bow in one hand an arrow in the other.
"Thanks for helping me find a place but you could have given me another arrow, I only have one."
The guard shook his head and turning walked away apparently returning to his patrol, Luro doubted he was going to go anywhere far what with the threat going on, he wouldn't be surprised if he had someone else watch him but in the end he got what he wanted so he wasn't going to complain.
"I'm a little sad I couldn't thank Alicia to her face, it's been a while since I've held one of these," Luro said inspecting the bow.
He messed with the bowstring a bit pulling back on it before he looked at the arrow, running his fingers along the fletching and spinning it around inspected the arrowhead and shaft a grin forming on his face before he spread his feet and readied the bow.
"Alright...." he mumbled as he eyed the target in front of him, and raising the bow slightly released the arrow...only to see the it hit near the top of the center target, almost hitting the next line up.
Luro eyes narrowed and a small sigh escaped from him as he walked over and pulled the arrow out before backtracking.
"Not dead center," he said pulling out his flask taking a small drink from it. "Take a drink every time."
Luro moved the arrow to the bow but didn't ready the bow, instead he closed his eyes and took a long deep breath, he waited for a moment letting a small breeze blow by, his hair and clothing fluttering in the wind and as he waited a small smile slowly found it's way onto his face and opening his eyes he readied the bow and fired once more.
The arrow hit dead center of the target and Luro raised a fist in victory grinning to himself.
"Now when I can do that repeatedly with my rifle it'll be real progress," Luro said going to retrieve the arrow. "Big Tashigi's words made sense back then. It's one of the few things I understood."
Luro pulled the arrow out and stared at it glancing to his right as another breeze blew past, the feathers ruffling a little on the fletching.
"I know the wind can affect my shot, thus instead of acting against it and fighting to hit my target I can use the wind to help guide my shot, adjust to it and in a way work together...least that's probably what he meant...that's what I believe anyway. My rifle on the other hand can't do that, I have to anticipate how the wind's going to affect my shot and act accordingly. There's no working together there, I'm probably fighting against nature in that situation."
Luro knelt down and picked his rifle up moving the bow to his shoulder and holding his rifle with both hands.
"You're one of my finest creations, yet so far from perfection it hurts."
Luro quickly brought a hand to his head feeling a headache coming on, a small chuckle escaped from him as he slowly removed his hand.
"I'm thinking too hard about stuff...I should probably get back...right after I return this stuff to the guard...and find some lasses to speak with."

Luro made sure to return with enough time to get some sleep, but still got a little bit of extra sleep in before joining everyone to go see the princess.
Looking upon it Luro figured the palace would be much larger than it was, though he couldn't deny he was happy to see it was moderate...or at least more moderate than the nobility he was used too.
The beauty of nature was apparent here too and Luro had to admit he was a little envious Alicia got to grow up around this, her could see why she enjoyed beautiful scenery if this what she'd been around for so long.
"Palace of Heiwa...Hei....Hai....Hie..." Luro kept repeating the name to himself trying to pronounce it right again, at least until they were inside and got to meet the princess which after seeing her Luro offered a very firm nod seeing to give his own mental consent about her.
"Is everyone in Yula Fei pretty?" Luro asked crossing his arms. "Except you big Tashigi, you're not pretty. Well I mean your man pretty not lady pretty...I forgot the word for it."
Luro made a mental note to ask if she had a spare throne he could have, her's looked incredibly comfy and he admitted he needed another one just in case the one in the rum room was destroyed or he broke it...if he could even do that.
Luro took a seat as the princess requested, making sure to sit next to Nolan this time and brought a hand to his chin as she spoke to them mentioning her intent for the meeting, which seemed to be asking their advice.
"Pirate's probably get along with nobles if more of them were like this," Luro said with a nod.
Since she had addressed them Luro didn't want to be rude and not say anything so he decided to respond to her.
"Hello princess...oh wait your highness," Luro said remembering his manners. "Thanks for the welcome your highness. Also I must say you have a beauty that would cause a married man to cheat on his wife...twice I might add!"
Luro leaned over to Nolan and spoke again wanting to clarify at least one thing.
"You're not married to your lass I think so you're okay Nolan, but still be careful," he said before looking back at the princess. "Tactics are more the captain's thing so unless they're bloodthirsty men seeking to destroy everything with rage and almost endless malice she could offer better advice then I could, actually she might offer better either way. I'm only used to dealing with those sorts. Oh they'll cheat though that I know, if it's low down and dirty they might do it, kidnapping, firing on your town to draw out your people. Had that happened once ruined a good evening at the tavern. Again that's if they're horrible horrible people, which not all pirates are. Also I'm pretty sure we're aiding I think I want to anyway, I find a good way to release a bit of stress is a good old fashioned beat down, or drinking, or napping but the first one is preferred your highness. You agree with me right guys, from the looks on your faces it seems you agree, your eyes and face seem to say no and so does your body but I bet deep inside your heart it's a maybe."
Luro gave a small shake of his fist grinning at the men before folding his hands together on the table going silent, now Alicia could relax that was a great first impression he if could say so himself.

 

[Grothnor]

Before Ray settled into his room he asked the servants to retrieve his wardrobe from the Coral Pearl, then asked if they could draw a bath for him. There was no way in hell he would appear in front of royalty reeking like a Pirate if he could do anything about it. When the bath was ready, Ray made a final request for a bottle of sake. He would have preferred a bottle of wine, but doubted they had any on hand and didn't want to burden the servants overmuch with a scavenger hunt, as hauling his clothes from the ship was plenty.

He let out a grunt of satisfaction when he stepped into the warm water. It was his first bath since his untimely exodus, about a month ago. The first week onboard drove him crazy with how filthy he and his clothes were getting, but after that he started getting used to it. He contemplated inviting one of the servant girls to join him, but he decided all he really wanted was to be clean. He settled into the tub, let his hair down (quite literally) and reminisced upon all the crazy and wild adventures they'd had so far, sipping sake into the night.

Ray slept like a rock and woke up the next morning refreshed and energized. For the war council he decided to wear his armor, since he figured if they were to plan a war, he'd best look ready for one. He wasn't terribly surprised by the comparatively small palace: Lendria's old Royal Palace was smaller than it could have been, but through history it was constantly under threat of being sacked and destroyed, and was several times, so they learned to build small so their repairs weren't as costly. Ray absently wondered if the Palace if Heiwa was like this for similar reasons.
Luro's first awkward comment fortunately was quiet enough to not be heard by the princess. Ray just gave him a look and hoped he'd wise up. They sat at the table at the princess' behest, Ray taking the seat on the other side of Luro, who started talking again.

"Hello princess..." Ray kicked Luro's shin under the table. "Oh wait, your highness," Luro corrected himself. Ray let out a sigh of relief that was cut short when Luro continued to speak. By the time he finished his speech, Ray was so vehemently kicking Luro in the shins that it was painfully obvious to the princess and seated generals that he was. The way Nolan was wincing it was hard to tell if it was out of embarrassment for Luro or in pain from stray kicks from Ray.

Once Luro finished, Ray stood, composed himself and said, "I apologize on behalf of my wit-addled friend here. Those who escape marooning don't always emerge mentally intact. What he means to say is that on behalf of the StarDusk Pirates, we would be happy to render assistance in whatever way we can, your Majesty." Ray sat Luro down rather forcefully before continuing. "I would like to introduce Runali Lev, Captain of the StarDusk Pirates, Vanquisher of the Kraken Skull Pirates and Champion of Waterdeep."

 

[Fox of Spades]

​

Nolan slept fitfully, it was hard to just relax and let loose when they knew that the bad kind of pirates were just across the horizon and sailing towards Yula Fei. War and bloodshed plagued his dreams, but after a bit of tossing and turning he fell into a deep sleep. When this was all over, he'd write to his family and Annie, and he'd tell them about his friends and all the crazy adventures they had gotten themselves into.

He thought about inviting the Stardusk pirates to The Anchor and his hometown for a night of celebration and the thought made Nolan grin. If they ever passed by Portside, he'd make sure to bring it up.

The cook got up early in the morning and prepared for what would be an important day, they took a carriage to the castle and were eventually brought in before the princess. Luro sat down beside him and he crossed his fingers and hoped for the best. Of course, that was too much to ask for and soon Ray was kicking Luro like mad (he was kicked once too) and he was choking on his own spit. "Luro," he hissed, his cheeks had gone several shades of red and his eyebrows were furrowed in irritation. They weren't making much of a good impression were they? Sure, the princess was pretty but what was Luro thinking? Oh Gods...never mind.

Thankfully, Ray came to the rescue and Nolan gave his friend an approving and thankful nod of the head.

"It's pleasure to make your acquaintance your majesty and I apologize as well, it's been a long night." He placed an arm around Luro's shoulder and gave him a pat that was harsher than necessary. "He might have had a little too much to drink too." Nolan straightened himself up then looked at Arcadius. He was really coming with them wasn't he? He tried not to worry too much and when Ray introduced the captain with much confidence Nolan beamed and nodded his head. He had a couple of questions in mind but he wasn't all that knowledgeable when it came to battle tactics. Mostly, he scrambled around the deck following orders and trying to knock enemies out with the butt of his rifle. He had only ever shot a man back at Waterdeep, but he felt like he would be doing it again and soon.

He decided to leave the talk about battle tactics to the captain and he turned to look at Arcadius instead. "Kadi?" He whispered. "You're really coming with us?" There was still time for him to turn back. Nolan didn't know him too well, but he didn't seem like the sort to get involved in wars. Then again...he worked on a vineyard, he wasn't the sort to get into wars either, but here he was—and he'd follow these people to the ends of the world too.





​

 

[Capt. Blu]

As soon as the meeting was confirmed to end, Runali stood and stretched her legs. Overhearing Akiyoshi attempting to assist Colt in wooing Alicia, and Alicia's quick rebuttal made Runali smirk a bit. "Huh, never thought our calm and peaceful swordswoman could be swayed by mere words." Runali teased as they headed out to find rooms for each of them. Her particular room was nice and lavish just like the rest of the Tashigi Estate. Being bred from such a high status made Runali wonder why she'd ever want to be a pirate...but then again, even some got bored of the high class routine. Instead of getting people to fetch her clothes from the Coral Pearl, she decided she'd try out the wardrobe fitting to the country. Her sleep was quite comforting. Instead of gently swaying back and forth on a hammock in the ship, she was in a soft bed surrounded by pillows. Runali sure loved the perks of having her crew, besides the fun journey of course.

The next morning, the crew was once again touring through the country, this time on their way to the Princess' castle. Hearing Luro trying to remember the name of the castle, Runali laughed a bit. "This should be fun." And with that, they were all entering the castle grounds.

As they walked in, Runali made note of the guards and then watched as the princess herself walked in. Luro so happened to say what she was thinking. "He does have a point. She is pretty." The captain was only encouraging his odd behavior, knowing that Luro meant well. The shipwright was just an odd one. Runali took her seat and listened to Luro speak, not making any effort to stop him. She was actually quite amused at how many times Ray decided to kick him. If anything she would have thought that was more obvious than Luro's behavior. Even Nolan joined in the effort to keep him silent. She was positive that Alicia would have words or a sword for him later. "Oh man you guys are great..." The captain mused before clearing her throat. When things calmed Ray decided to properly introduce them, along with extravagantly introduce her. This was unexpected, and it made her sit up a bit. "Aye, laying it a bit heavy aren't you Ray?" She cleared her throat and then nodded to the princess. "Captain I am, vanquisher and champion? Well, that was a group effort, I can assure you."

She scratched the back of her head and then cleared her throat. "Aye. Of course we're going to help. Alicia is our swordswoman and our friend." She had been called out about yer tactician skills, so there was no point in trying to deny it- although she was modest. "Well, truth be told, Luro is right. No matter how drunk he sounds." She rested her hands on the table, looking from her crew then to the Princess. These are pirates and they go after the same things, valuables and women. Some even go to conquer islands. They would more than likely strike where the island is weakest. Which, is normally the town itself. They'll pillage the easy stuff first...and even then, it might simply be a distraction for a group to strike at the heart of Yula Fei. That, well, that being you prince- your majesty." Runali adjusted her hat and then looked at the table in thought.

It was shocking how much the girl knew about pirating, despite being the youngest pirate of the crew- and one who only a few weeks ago lacked a profound skill in weaponry. (Over the course of practice, she had improved in swordplay thanks to Ray and Alicia. Guns and long ranged weapons were still not her strong suit.) "Depending how many ships come in, there will be some that may try sneaking through the back door- uh, literally and figuratively." Runali paused again and then nodded for finality. "Yeah, that's pretty much all I can tell you about it. Hopefully, that helps." She leaned back in the chair and watched as the attention fell back on the princess.