|
Post by Behax on Apr 20, 2024 22:30:20 GMT
Well knowing that Von Lear could do magic was certainly worth something, as was knowing the name of the ship he had to keep a watch out for. But it was what the next sailor said that really interested Astrin. The sly way Astrin smiled indicated that that had been what he was really fishing for. The other sailor’s seemed to hold Von Lear in some level of esteem, but this man knew his true nature.
“Interesting that you would decide to work for such a man....Though are you sure that talking to me is so dangerous at this point? Surely losing this ship was already a death sentence?” He didn’t imagine that Von Lear was too pleased to have had his carefully laid trap so easily overturned, and not to mention his ship was stolen on top of that. He couldn’t think much of the people who had let that happen....Perhaps the officers he and V had executed had in fact..gotten off much easier than they otherwise would have...
Still if he could get anything else out of these men he would.
|
|
|
Post by Grimm on Apr 21, 2024 22:24:09 GMT
The sailor shook his head, “Them’s politics get in the way of that, though I expect his officers is a different story. Talking to you, that makes us traitors to Ly’Ren.” He paused for a moment before he continued, “as for taking this job, we was already paid 5 year’s salary and another 5 on return. Including splitting the bounty on your friends head. A man could retire fat and happy.”
A different sailor spoke up with a possibly solution for everyone. “Von Lear might even pardon you and yer crew if you bring him that half-demon. Sail us back to Ly’Ren port and claim that bounty, you could buy a ship like this.”
Maive had taken up residence where V had been earlier, within earshot of the conversation. She was curious to hear what Astrin’s response to that would be, maybe there would be a way to salvage the mission.
|
|
|
Post by Behax on Apr 21, 2024 22:54:44 GMT
Astrin’s eyes went wide at the figure these men had been paid. He doubted many men would say no to that, even if they died their families would have been well provided for at least for a while. And if they had been successful, (and they very nearly had been), well then they would have been set for life. Still that was a lot of money to promise to an entire crew’s worth of men. Von Lear’s social position no doubt meant he had a lot of personal wealth....But Astrin doubted his pockets were that deep. Did the crown really have that much capital to spend? Or had these men simply been lied to? He may never find out.
He blinked at the suggestion that he could hand over V himself, and then smiled as if he was really considering it. “What an intriguing idea....”
Then he sighed and finally stood from his chair, he likely wasn’t going to get much else out of this lot. Not that the conversation hadn’t been particularly enlightening.
“Or at least..It would be if I had any interest in a pardon or wealth.” Neither held much use for Astrin. What he valued was his freedom, and the sea gave him that. Betraying V...Handing him over to Von Lear....that was a trap. If Von Lear didn’t kill Astrin and his crew anyway just to get rid of them, he’d likely find himself tied to the man in some way just by the very act. That didn’t even take into account what that would do for Astrin’s reputation among other pirates. Many pirates might have had their own dislike and distrust for V, but fighting amongst each other was different from handing over one of your own to the navy. Astrin and his crew would be ostracised from the community.
It also put into perspective just how little was known about himself.
“When we reach Kahtan you’ll all be free to find your own way back home.” He said finally before walking out of the brig.
|
|
|
Post by Grimm on Apr 22, 2024 1:13:04 GMT
Maive was waiting for Astrin when he left the brig, not hiding the fact that she was eavesdropping on the conversation.
“Whatever they said they were offered was most likely true. The Von Lear family is the financial backbone of Ly’Ren‘s Banks. Luther Von Lear being the heir to that vast wealth.” Maive offered him the credibility of the sailors story. Her braided sea-foam colored hair draped over her shoulder, her hood down for once, although the lower mask remained.
“Information is my game, not to mention I’ve sailed under Von Lear…back when he was a Captain.” She wondered if Astrin would take a nibble at the bait she was dangling for him.
|
|
|
Post by Behax on Apr 23, 2024 22:59:32 GMT
“Is that so….” Astrin found himself wondering what Maive’s game was here. He couldn’t help but think she was pushing for something. What, he didn’t know, he also hadn’t interacted with her enough to get a good read on her. V he felt he mostly understood by now. He was in truth a fragile thing wrapped up in anger and wroth, who had a poor handle on his emotions and drowned them out with his hate. He was heading for self-destruction and fast....But Maive, there was something insidious about her and Astrin had felt it from the start.
“Not to mention I’ve sailed under Von Lear…back when he was a Captain.”
“How curious.....” Astrin had to ask himself, was Maive another one of Von Lear’s victims or a spy?....Or even both? He’d be surprised if a spy or even two or three hadn’t found their way onto V’s crew, he was hardly selective about those he worked with, often picking up people who other crews wouldn’t touch.
“It’s none of my business of course, but he must have done something truly horrible to you if the potential reward doesn't interest you.” Clearly at least one of the sailors in the brig knew this man to be a monster and the risks that came with that, but still took his money anyway.
“It’s either that or....You’re here for something else.” Astrin added as he walked away. Turning his back on Maive was, even in his own estimations, probably not a smart thing to do. But he really had no desire to get wrapped up in the web she was spinning, assuming he wasn’t already.
|
|
|
Post by Grimm on Apr 26, 2024 1:34:15 GMT
Maive could tell Astrin was wary of her, his body language spoke volumes to the spy. Even the way he turned to walk away, but she wouldn’t let him off that easy. She licked her lips loving the challenge. Getting into V’s crew had been disappointingly easy, but getting any further had proved incredibly difficult. “Years ago when I was in the navy, I tried seducing Von Lear,” she called out to Astrin pleading for him to hear her case, “…and he burnt off half my face.” She had removed the half mask that hid the lower half of her face revealing a disfiguring burn mark of a handprint across her mouth and chin, leaving gnarled scar tissue in its place. “I believe his words were ‘Let’s see how far that beautiful face gets you now.‘ and well here we are.” She could have left it at that, but she wanted to give his something else to play with. “And you’re right, I am here for something else….” Maive smiled through the scars. “But you managed in a month what I’ve failed for years. Guess I was barking up the wrong tree.”
|
|
|
Post by Behax on Apr 26, 2024 6:50:56 GMT
Despite himself, Maive did pique his interest. She managed to get him to stop and turn back, just enough to see her reveal her face. There was pity in his expression, but nowhere near enough to get Astrin to start dropping his guard. He might be ‘soft’ compared to V, but that didn’t make him a fool.
“And here we are...” Astrin repeated. He regarded Maive for a moment, and then a smirk tugged at the corners of his mouth. “And yet...I’m not sure you learnt the lesson you should have. Still chasing dangerous men who don’t want you.” That....was probably unnecessarily mean, but Astrin found he didn’t care much for Maive’s feelings.
“And you’re right, I am here for something else....”
Ah.....So it is both Astrin thought to himself. There probably wasn’t anything he could do about that now, but it did make him realise that Von Lear was a lot closer to them than he had originally thought. A lot closer. And he wasn’t even sure that V would take him at his word if he revealed this to him, assuming he wasn't keeping Maive close because of this. The safest thing now would be to find a way to get rid of her, oddly in that regard V was his biggest obstacle.
“But you managed in a month what I’ve failed for years.”
For the briefest of moments, Astrin looked confused but he caught up with himself quickly. Well they were sharing a bed, whether anyone actually believed they were having sex with each other Astrin wasn’t so sure. But it wasn’t a difficult conclusion to come to, even if it was a wrong one. He had still made it into V’s bed in a manner of speaking.
“Ha. You could try being less creepy and desperate for a start. It might be fun for you to torment him, but it’s clearly not gotten you far.” He might be blind on one side, but he wasn’t blind to the way the pair interacted with each other. It was a weird game of cat and mouse, and he wasn’t sure that V knew he was the mouse.
Finally he turned away from her once again and headed back up the stairs.
|
|
|
Post by Grimm on Apr 29, 2024 15:48:54 GMT
A peaceful boat left V feeling apprehensive, even as he puffed on a cigarette meant to calm him down. Red eyes scanned the horizon, his leg jittering back and forth in a nervous fashion. Peace left him restless and unsure what to do with himself.
He could see Mal down below chatting with one of Astrins crew, Maive had told him that Malachite had grown fearful of him after the island incident. He had confirmed it through forced confrontation of the teenager and had left it at that afterwards. The half-elf boy was better off with Astrin’s crew anyway. That was a calming thought, one of his problems had been solved. He could let go of his attachment, allow someone else to care and worry about the teens wellbeing. Still it pained him to say goodbye - even if they were staying on the same ship for now. He had found emotional pain cut sharper than any knife he had experienced and the wounds made from it never healed. It was something he never wanted to experience again. He took his eyes back to the horizon waiting for a ship that would never appear.
——
Maive’s smiled remained after she replace the half mask letting her interaction with Astrin cease. The Captains may have been just sharing a bed, but she could almost see the lines of attachment growing. She would work hard to make sure V grew attached to Astrin and in turn attached to his crew. A boat full of hostages was much better than the two they could target before, it gave them a greater chance of subduing the half-demon.
|
|
|
Post by Behax on May 9, 2024 22:40:53 GMT
Astrin had to shield his eyes as he stepped out onto the deck, the dim shade of the lower decks giving way to brilliant sunshine. His conversation with Maive playing through his mind. He didn’t think he could take his thoughts to V...Not yet anyway, however there was someone else he could take his thoughts to and get a reliably straight answer from too.
So he sought out Ren, V’s right hand man and second in command. It didn’t take long to find him.
“Hey! Big man! Mind if we have a little chat? Got somethin’ to ask you,” Astrin called out once he spotted Ren. His voice and demeanour seemed cheerful enough as he nodded his head in the direction of the captain's cabin. He went on ahead but waited for Ren, he pushed the door open for Ren to go in first, and looked around to make sure there were no would-be eavsdropers hanging around before pulling the door closed behind him.
|
|
|
Post by Grimm on May 11, 2024 17:22:42 GMT
Ren had been helping with above deck duty’s when Astrin has called him over. The older man cock his head in question, but he entered the cabin giving Astrin a curt respectful ‘Captain’ as he went past him.
Even before the events at reclamation island it was clear Ren had been set against the types of crews V had chosen. He much preferred the cohesion and companionship with Astrin’s crew, they really were like an extended family. If only he could convince Violet to give up on his revenge, but that was even less likely now that they had taken The Victory. Although there was hope, Ren thought back to the way Violet had acted after that rouge wave.
“What can I do for you Captain?” Ren had to wonder what this was about, especially the way Astrin had looked about before entering.
|
|
|
Post by Behax on May 11, 2024 22:44:27 GMT
To be extra sure, Astrin cast a spell on the door in a language Ren wouldn’t have understood. The spell encompassed the whole room, ensuring that they would have complete privacy from listening ears.
“I would appreciate it if you would share with me your thoughts on Maive,” he said, being completely up front. “While at this point I know I can trust V not to stab me in the back. I don’t believe I can trust him to be objective when it comes to anything that he might perceive as a threat to his...ambitions.”
Astrin walked around to the desk towards the back of the room, he leant against it and indicated to a chair in front of it if Ren wanted to sit down.
“I find her difficult to read, and I’ll be honest. I don’t trust her one bit, but I’m interested to know your thoughts.”
|
|
|
Post by Grimm on May 12, 2024 5:09:09 GMT
“Maive?” Ren’s eyebrows raised in genuine surprise. “V recruited her once he had heard the story about what happened to her uh-“ Ren gestured to the lower half of her face without saying it as he sat down in the chair that Astrin had indicated to. “Despite the undeniable chill she sets in my bones, the information she always provided us checked out. With her aboard The Grim, V was able to sink six- no seven navy ships. Her knowledge of Ly’Ren procedures has also helped us escape from a few surprise situations relatively unscathed.”
Ren thought about other things to tell him that might help him to understand Maive, but he didn’t really understand her himself. “She has no respect for V’s personal space. He doesn’t like to be touched and she’s always getting handsy with him every chance she gets.” It was one aspect that did bother her about him, she seemed almost obsessed with V but respected him very little.
“I just figured she was just a little, you know,” Ren tapped the side of his head. “…messed up, after what had happened to her.” He seemed a little trouble about speaking so frankly about someone else he didn’t know well. “That being said, I know before the events at the island she agreed with Mr. Slade but she remain loyal to V when it came time.”
|
|
|
Post by Behax on May 12, 2024 16:08:15 GMT
Astrin was quiet for a moment, contemplating what Ren had said. His brows furrowed as he turned the information over in his head. Seven ships was a lot even if you had insider information. Procedures changed, strategy changed...Especially if you kept losing ships to the same pirate crew. You would start changing things...It was astounding her information stayed this good for so long.
“I hate to be the one to say this....I know I’m an outsider in this but...Have you ever thought her information was too good?” Astrin levelled Ren with a serious stare. “Something...doesn't feel right.”
He went quiet again for a moment before speaking again. “Agreed with Slade about what?.....” And then another thought occurred to him. “Ren...why did V go for the Ca’lan gold? Fair that kind of treasure is hard to pass up, but it hardly fits V’s m.o....” Of course once Astrin had found out V was also heading for the alleged treasure it had only made it more enticing for him, but he’d never stopped to think about why V was going after it in the first place.
|
|
|
Post by Grimm on May 12, 2024 18:43:51 GMT
Ren let out a heavy sigh. “Honestly - I’m not good at things like this, I was a fisherman before our island was attacked. The worst thing we worried about was who forgot to bring in the boats before high tide or who cut holes in who’s nets.” He confessed. Their life on the island chain had been peaceful. For generations V’s mother had always driven away any foreigners that had came too close to the island.
“Maive agreed with Slade that they should persuade V to take the ship. She wanted to slaughter the lot of you, she even floated V the idea of poisoning yer meals.” Ren admitted that did look bad on the woman, but the two crews had been as different as night and day. Luckily V had sought advice from Ren before deciding on doing anything rash. Being around a morally stable crew had given V’s moral compass a heading.
“It wasn’t the gold per-say, but a piece of gold in particular. V had heard it had made it’s way into the Ca’lan collection. Other than revenge it’s the one of thing he was most desperate to get his hands on and perhaps the most important thing.” Ren paused wondering if he should consider telling Astrin more, but after some internal deliberations he decided it would be for the best. Astrin needed to know just what V was and how dangerous it could be in his company in the future.
“It is a bangle forged during V’s first experience as a summoning vessel, like he was on the beach. While hosting the dark god, V gave his blood to make the gold, the gems he made from the sand at his feet. It was then bestowed to his mother, his keeper, as his anchor to us. Without it and a partner he can trust, Violet will lose his way and the dark god will bring chaos.” Ren hadn’t realized he let V’s name slip. “He had no choice but to go after it.” They had no way of knowing that the item was already in Von Lear’s possession, in fact it had never left. “Maive was the one who brought us a copy of the manifest list.”
|
|
|
Post by Behax on May 12, 2024 19:12:00 GMT
Astrin let out a short hollow laugh. “Most people don’t turn to piracy as their first choice you know....The ocean is full of displayed people like you, like me....Like V.” Theirs was an all too common story. He couldn’t help but chuckle at the revelation of Slade and Maives attempt to get rid of him, not that he was surprised. Someone did try to kill him on the ship before the mutiny. Not that it had ended well. “As glad as I am it didn’t happen, I think we showed on Reclamation Island that just because we play nice, doesn’t mean we can’t play nasty.” There was a dark edge to the smile Astrin gave, V’s crew hadn’t seen everything Astrin and his had up their sleeves.
Astrin’s ears twitched as Ren piqued his interest. He listened carefully as Ren revealed what V’s intentions had been, the importance of this bangle and there was a look of realisation on Astrin’s face as he comprehended more than Ren could know. He swore in his native dialect, the intonation making the context of the word clear.
He looked away for the moment, looking out the windows of the cabin, contemplating.
“It’s only fair....since you have been so upfront with me, that I be the same with you.” He turned his attention back to Ren. “Have you ever heard of the Eidolos?”
|
|