Prologue: Red Sky at Morning
Corros and Nicolai find the keys to the galley slaves' shackles on the dead slave master. After that, freeing said captives is a simple, if somewhat time consuming process.
"Who among you are experienced sailors?" Corros asks. About half of the rowers raise their grimy, blistered hands. "Up on deck, then. Your skills are needed above. The rest of you, your strong arms are still required here below. We'll arrange for food and ale to be brought down while we get things sorted." Although there is some grumbling and a few doubtful, worried looks exchanged, the remaining rowers are cooperative and seem willing to help.
Much revived by Jenna's Cure Wounds spell, the cog's captain sets about organizing the ad hoc crew. The most pressing need is a tow cable. The captain- Trelk is his name- arranges its fashioning and attachment, then, leaving his elderly helmsman aboard with a couple of able-bodied seamen, transfers over to the pirate vessel to supervise the towing operation. According to its freed prisoners, the pirate vessel is called Jet Spear.
The trip into Balefyre takes about two hours, with Captain Trelk and the rowers doing most of the work. During that time, the Five search the galley, finding a small chest in Forkbeard's cabin. Nicolai examines it carefully, determining that it is trapped with a spring-loaded poison needle. He disarms the device with ease, opening the chest to reveal 45 gold pieces and a milky green peridot gemstone worth about 500 gold pieces all on its own. With the addition of Forkbeard's personal weapons (both +1), it's not a bad haul, but clearly these pirates had just begun their current cruise.
The dead pirates, all except the infamous Forkbeard, are tossed overboard, and soon the two vessels have a tail of hungry blue sharks. They all pass through a small flotilla of fishing vessels just setting out from Balefyre to look for the day's catch. The crews stand watch the procession wearily from the decks of their modest working boats, the Jet Spear apparently having made quite a name for itself already.
A detachment of the city guard, identified by their orange cloaks and helmet plumes, is waiting on the jetty. From the beak of the galley, Trelk hails them in his booming sea captain's voice, seeming to put the leery soldiers somewhat at ease.
Once the ships are settled in and tied to the jetty, the shaky-legged former captives file off of the galley, giving the Five their heartfelt thanks as they leave. One of the freed galley slaves, a filthy young man barely out of his teens, invites the Five to dinner at the Vander estate in the West Ward. Trelk approaches the Five as well, speaking low and quickly as the leader of the city guard detachment makes his way up the gangplank. The mustachioed fighter, sporting a couple of large, bloody bandaged, lingers nearby.
"You've more than paid your way. Here," Trelk handing each of the Five five gold pieces- the inflated fee each paid in Seagate for the passage to Balefyre. "You took it, so Forkbeard's head, and the bounty on it, is yours by right. I suppose his treasure is yours as well. By law of the sea, the galley is mine. I'll cut mustache in from my share. A fair split, I'd say."
"Well, what do we have here?" Sergeant D'Kord asks, inserting himself into the conversation. "Captain Trelk, you've outdone yourself! I thought your fighting days were behind you. Ah, here's your secret. Who are your new friends, here?"
Trelk introduces the Five to Sergeant D'Kord, second in command of the Fire Watch, Balefyre's city guard. He'd apparently been given word of the Sea Horse's contest with the Jet Spear by the lookout in the stone watchtower atop Beacon Rock. He could be forgiven for failing to believe that the old cog would come out the winner.
"Commander Overmark is going to want to meet you. When you've seen to your wounds and lodging and such, come to the keep. Make sure to bring that with you." he adds, pointing to Forkbeard's still-attached head.
Balefyre's Harbor Ward awaits. The docks are a bustling place, redolent of fish guts and wood smoke, tar and pine.
+1000 XP for saving both ships, freeing the prisoners, and safely recovering Forkbeard's personal treasure.
Your Turn.
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