A pirate shuffles his way through the crowded deck to stand near Rael Gol. He has on a rather ornate tricorn hat that seems a bit over sized for his head as he is constantly re-adjusting it. A dingy wrap is around his shoulders covering his mouth and lower face so that all you can see is a singular eye patch over his large hooked nose. He moves with great dexterity, given that you can hear his thumping shuffle of a peg leg. Each thump generates an odd jingling sound of coins being shook against each other. "Captain, we cannot be to soft. I say we needs ta kill them. Once word of a pirate has gone soft it is nothing but Work, Work, Work all the time!" [Private to Rael Gol: An odd smell of turpentine and sulfur drift from this pirate. That and you swear this pirate did not come over with the boarding party.]

You hear murmurs of approval from the rest of the pirate crew. The odd looking pirate shuffles a bit more and nears Angrboda. "And as for Pollidemia and her jester Astralgyx, we have plans for them both. No need to involve these few, Lets just kills them now and get those demon hearts over with?" [Private to Angrboda: An odd smell of turpentine and sulfur drift from this pirate. That and you swear this pirate did not come over with the boarding party.]

The green frog demon takes a step forward and croaks "Your out of line, get back to the mistress." He places his clawed hand on the pirate shoulder to push him. Instead the action causes the scarf around the pirate head to shift and fall off. "Curses!" In a flurry of bells and clothes the pirate tumbles out of the way. "Foiled again, I'll get you meddling kids." Now standing before you, in a garish jesters outfit, is Astralgyx. "I knew you were all bad news. You just wait till Pollidemia hears about this." He points to Maria "She's a Pirate! You think you can take her word? We had a deal!" The frog-demon grabs the bent handle and pulls out a small boxy looking tapered object. Pointing the smaller end at the jester he lets forth a croaking snarl. A thin, blue, beam leaps from his item and pierces the puff of smoke that was Astralgyx and continues into (and through) the deck of the slavers ship leaving a pinky sized burned hole. The cloud of vapors that was Astralgyx begins to overwhelm those present with the rancid smell of rotten eggs and turpentine. The Pirates begin to shuffle across the gangplank back towards the mistress.

Rael had was beginning to think about who the odd pirate reminded him off when all hell broke lose. He glance at the pirate with the magical weapon "Did you get him or did he get away?" he asks in a shaken voice.

Ok what just happened?  Did you just blow up the Jester?....starts laughing and offers his winesack to the green skin demon....

"Well, that's just great. Angrboda says, frustrated, "Hopefully those hearts are not activated remotely.  It is pretty certain that your sorceress friend is mad at you now."  She turns to the captain of the ship, "As for working for our passage I am not versed in the skills of a sailor nor am I inclined to learn how.  If you have need of the sorcerous arts I would be most happy to oblige however.  Also apparently my salvation is not in question here.  Not that I require any more payment for my help in freeing your man, I just wanted to point out the facts.  Now if you will excuse me I need to go gather my things." she says politely and turns to go.

[Private to Cirok: You happened to be below decks on the Mistress when an overwhelming smell of Sulfur and turpentine fill the decks. A great cloud of foul smelling smoke billow out from below decks. You quickly head down to see if any of the stores had caught on fire. Instead you come across a smallish man dressed in the most outlandish pirate outfit you can imagine. He single handed moves one of the "canons" and points the end of it out a tiny door in the side of the ship. He then yells out to the ship that the captain had intercepted.
]
A hatch in the side of the Mistress opens revealing the gaping end of a large, black metal cylinder. From inside the Rogue Mistress you hear a shout. "Bah You missed, Not even a Scratch. Don't worry I'll send your regards to my queen!" Curses and shouts from the pirates fill the deck as you see the Mistress crew scrambling to get across the gangplank. A tremendous thunderclap and a billowing white cloud issue from the black cylinder. From the lower decks a wrenching, tearing noise indicates that something just happened to your ship. It felt similar to your ship hitting a rock or reef.

A second hatch in the side of the mistress opens a short distance from the first. You can see crewmen from the Mistress scrambling to get below decks. A second tube comes into view pointing towards your steerage. "I have to keep up the reputation, do I not?" As a second loud thunderclap, smoke, and wrenching of your own ship.

By now most of the mistress crew has made it back aboard their own ship. Valmir and his crew begin to make their way towards the Mistress as your ship begins to rise in the air tearing away at the gangplank. Out of the corner of your eye you can see two great chains snaking towards your vessel, A golden one from above you, and and inky black one from below you.

Angrboda scowls at the boat and the chains, "Why does everything have to be so impatient to kill me?" she asks the air as she hurries and gather's her things hustling back to the Mistress she moves deftly across the gangplank and steps aboard the strange ship.

Rael got mad, it was not every day he get mad usually he was not the kind to dwell on violence but when he got mad dukes of hell be warned...

Flashing his knife he darts into the Rogue Mistress, he was going to find that imp and gut him, meanwhile his other hand was fishing for his potions, he was not going play this fair the imp has lost this chance.

Sighs as he sees what is going on...grabs his belongings and runs to the Mistress following Rael to see what he has planned.

The appearance of the Astralgyx comes as a complete surprise to the warrior woman ... as does his seeming disintegration at the hands of the frog-demon's device.

But before the warrior woman can give voice to her disbelief, danger is upon them once more as Valmir's ship is rocked by canon fire.

While the others chase after the jester, Berta remains with Angrboda, ready to assist and safeguard the woman as she allows, but won't abandon ship until the Sorceress does so.

"I think the Captain of the Rogue Mistress was correct - Pollidemia would have betrayed us ... and undoubtedly will waken these cursed hearts - if she can.  Perhaps distance will save us, or perhaps she needs something else to accomplish that, else she'd as like have done it already.  Or else she needs the Tenatir for her plans and so held back."

"Whatever the reason - until I am dead, I will do my best to keep living !"

Closer to the gangplank, Rael and Viktor take off after the demon jester. Just as Rael makes it to the Rogue Mistress the gangplank partially tears free dumping one of Valmir's crewmen overboard. Either by fate, or by pure instinct, Khazim is able to leap the short distance remaining onto the other deck. Now however the Gang is hardly holding on. Angrboda and Berta take their chances as they slide across the periless gangplank. Having to mimic Khazim's own actions, they leap the last few feet onto the deck of the Mistress as the gangplank tears completely away. Valmir takes a running leap in an attempt to make it aboard the Mistress. However, an updraft shifts the vessel just as he leaps, making his aim off. Missing his intended mark by a few feet, he plunges from view.

Rael Gol, in his pursuit of vengeance, breezes by the other pirates plunging into the hold. Rael Gol and Viktor make it to where the two large black cylinders were, only to find a throng of pirates angrily voicing their opinion about this incident. Astralgyx is no where to be seen. His only lingering presence is the ever present smell of rotten eggs. From above deck you hear Maria call for vigilance and a ship wide search for the intruder. As you move about the ship you eventually notice that the ship is moving away from the wreck of Valmir's airship. You can see the great black and gold chains tearing the wreckage apart. The wind whips lazily through your hair, though you realize you are going much faster you can hardly feel the movement.

As things begin to calm down Maria sends word for each of you to meet her in the rear cabin. Her cabin is in the aft portion of the ship, a spacious area with a large row of stained glass casement windows looking off the stern. The cabin is sumptuously decorated with hangings of velvet and samite with the hint of exotic oils in the air. About the room you can see a few chests of various sizes and two tall wooden latched cabinets. One has the sigil of Chaos on it's door, while the other the triangle of Law. Hanging on the wall are dozens of metal tubes on curved handles similar to the ones on Maria's belt. A small cabin boy, a hideously ugly demon, bows to Maria and the group as they enter.
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:09, Fri 18 Sept 2015.

Maria moves about the cabin after nodding to the cabin boy. "I told each of you that you would be given some sort of compensation. I will still help you get rid of those infernal hearts. It is customary for those who aids the Mistress to be given a gift. I'm allowed to give two such gifts from these cabinets." She indicates the tall cabinets emblazoned with the symbols of the higher lords. She moves over and unlatches both doors so that you can peer inside.

Inside the cabinet with the eight pointed star you can see the following items: A scimitar in scabbard, A metal shod Quarterstaff, A suit of Plate Armor, and a Suit of soft leather armor.

In the cabinet of Law you see: A small steel device shaped like a Cobra's head, A miniature backpack with six straps, A small matte-black glass pear, a small matte-black glass apple, a metal tube similar to what both the demon-frog and Maria carry, a small silvery disk about 6" (15cm) diameter.

"I have one of my crew currently setting up a place for you to store your gear. He is a native of your own land. Cirok is his name, You want something, talk to him. In addition he is going to go with you on the next stop. He will have the description and basic instruction on retrieving what we need. On that note. I did say that I can get you to where you are going, and that you will be working as part of the crew. That being said, when the Tenatir was kidnapped from us, our navigational equipment was damaged. We have the ability to make one more jump, and it will not be far enough to get to where we are going. Mikkl say's he has found something that will help us repair our own device, we are on our way now. Your job is to get the parts we need and bring it back to the ship."

Rael was still breathing hard more from frustration than the physical running, he really wanted to get his hand on the imp but by now it had dawned on him that this would not be the case, not now at least.

He glanced at the cabinets and shook his head "I want nothing from the high lords be they chaos or law both can go and burn themselves for all I care and I shan't take anything with their marking." he spits with disgust. He had enough higher powers meddling in his life and experience thought him no gift come free from those entities.

"Rael, you have an innate distrust for all things magical.  That's all well and good when it is only your life at stake." Angrboda says as she moves to take the leather armor, "How are you going to feel however when one of them," she indicates the rest of the party, "Dies, or explodes because you just couldn't be bothered to take the one item that might have been able to help them?  Never overlook a tool, no matter how distasteful you may find it to be." with that she takes the armor and looks it over, admiring the craftsmanship.  "Besides, you are a healer, I am sure there is something lawy that does healing of some sort." she finishes offhandedly before turning to Maria, "I assume we are to only take one, or are all of these items available for our use?" she asks, eying the law cabinet with some interest, "If he decides not to take his, can I have it?" she says indicating Rael.

"Only two items in total can be gifted. It has been tradition since the first captain. I have never tested beyond the two. I do know that you can take the two from the same cabinet, it does not have to be one from each." She pulls out a small three legged stool and sits down. Pouring herself a drink from a nearby pitcher she takes a short drink and continues. "From what has been passed to me these can only be offered to one who has helped the Mistress, who is also not of their crew. I am able to offer your two items because you helped her without knowing so. I could not take something from this cabinet without a consequence. At least that is what has been told to be by the former captain."

She takes another drink. "You mentioned healing. I have seen both the apple and the Pear placed over wounds and help heal. Those two items have been able to suture even the deepest gash."
This message was last updated by the player at 17:00, Fri 18 Sept 2015.

Angrboda bites her lip in frustration, "Well knowing the rules would have been nice before I selected the piece I wanted, a;though it does make it convenient that Rael doesn't want one now."  She says looking to the others, "so does anyone care that I take the armor?"

Rael shakes his head smiling a small bitter smile as Angrboda called him a healer. Closing his eyes he saw the lush room with pile of bodies, arcane symbols drawn in blood on the walls... "I am as much a healer as you are fey..." he speak softly than he speaks up.

"The reason I dislike magic are numerous and long, I would not bore you all and if you care I'll share a glass of wine and we could discuss this further, suffice to say I have learned that no gift come without a price and every choice we make matters... but if I may suggest, you are asking the wrong questions."

He grins and bows to Maria "What you should be asking, is Maria can you please tell us what you know about the items in these two cabinets?"

"I have only seen the fruit used before. I have only seen these cabinets opened a few times. Each time the contents shift, it just happens that I have seen the fruit before. Next time it is opened there will be different offerings. This is what the ship is offering you." she makes a motion to the Chaos cabinet. "I know that most of those items are demon bound, though I have yet see anyone fail to bind a demon gifted from the cabinet." She then flicks a finger to the cabinet of Law. "That one is full of similar enchanted or technological items. Again I've seen no gift ever reject the recipient. I can see that it is offering you a pistol. I do not see any charges. I would not be able to tell you what kind it is."

She points her index finger out from the hand holding the goblet and motions it towards the suit of armor Angrboda is inspecting. "If you have not claimed it, it has not been gifted. Similarly, you do not have to take anything, it is merely being offered."

"Oh we are definitely taking the items, even if I have to pick them both.  Never turn down a gift or a useful tool." Angrboda says, waiting for the rest of the group to answer her question about the armor.

Angrboda take the armor...perhaps take a fruit in case we need our chests healed from the demon removal...or would something to destroy the imp or Polledemia be more helpful?...offers his winesack to Maria after taking a drink..

The perilous leap from the failing ship to the deck of the Rogue Mistress discomfits Berta less than the news that the Jester cannot be found, be he fled or merely hiding ...

The warrior woman leans over the side of the ship, the winds whipping her long red tresses as she watches Valmir's airship being torn apart, turning away thankfully as it begins its final plummet to answer the call from their new Captain.

Like Rael, Berta is wary of what is offered and the price attached, though admits the merit in Angrboda's assertion that such things are but tools to be used.  Even so, she makes no claim herself, indeed ...

"You are welcome to Yara's armour," she tells Viktor.  "It is heavier than I am comfortable with and, I think, more your size than mine.  I will be happier to wear my old guard's mail."

Angrboda takes Rael's not wanting to take anything as concession that she may indeed claim the armor, she nods and turns to Maria, "Very well, I claim this leather armor." she says happily and then turns to the group, "Should we take the healing fruit as the other item?  I suggest the pear, because I like pears but whichever you wish is fine."

If everyone else agrees...then the pear it is...Berta I will use my armor for now but we can put it with our things for now...did you need help with your armor? smiles and looks Berta up and down and chuckles...

A knock came at the cabin door, two sharp raps upon the dark wood before it opened at the hand of the demonic cabin boy.  In stepped a shorter, somewhat stocky man with dark brown hair gathered in a braid down his back and dressed in a loose shirt, baggy trousers and dark leather boots.  A purple sash circled his waist, from which hung a cutlass typical to those worn by many of the crew.  His brown eyes started on the captain but then darted about the room, while his expression moved from slight surprise to pleased convenience.

"My apologies, Captain," he said touching his forelock in deference, "but the lockers are prepared for the new arrivals, by your command." He looked about again at the newcomers to the 'Mistress, lingering a touch on each in quick appraisal.  "These are them, I gather.  If you're done I can take them away, or I can wait outside if you don't need me yet." His accent was recognizable to those in the room as Young Kingdoms.  Without a doubt this man was from their world, though now he was as far from home as they.

He hovered just inside the door, waiting for Maria's direction one way or the other.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:17, Sat 19 Sept 2015.

Rael shrugs "The healing fruits are nice but I would consider something else if I were you."

He than smiles at the new comer, it was nice to hear a Young Kingdom accent once more, it almost felt like home.

"Welcome in Cirok." Maria uses the hand with the goblet to wave the newcomer in. "You might as well stay and get used to your new charges. They are still deciding on what gifts to accept from the ship." She takes another sip of her drink. "You should all have time to get settled in. It will take several hours to get to the derelict."