Chapter 32: The Depravity of Man
Although the situation is tense, it slowly becomes clear that none of the combatants wish to fight, apart from perhaps Orgon, whose pride is still smarting from a knife injury inflicted from the goblin while Orgon couldn't so much as see his hand in front of his face...
Still, it doesn't take much convincing to broach a peace. Everyone separates, sheathes their weapons, and evaluates the damage. Reve, it seems, is the worst for wear, having suffered cracked ribs and massive bruising when the slave fell on top of him without warning.
Orgon too, has suffered damage, though not so bad that a temporary bandage won't staunch the blood while Judoc collapses in a heap for rest.
The goblin collapses too... It appears he too had exhausted himself through various spell casting throughout the night.
While the two rest the true story begins to unfold, bit by bit.
Everything starts back and the border wars, ended over a decade ago... Judoc hears of the former Lord Gavin Magnus, Earl of Dekamera, who had sought to profit from the conflict, sending his troops not to the front, but as raiding parties along the Wazifi coastline. His forces would plunder, stealing all sorts of goods and enslaving whatever peoples they could round up before returning back.
But Lord Gavin's plan went awry when his son and heir Traveon was taken prisoner in one of the raids... Though the war drew on for several years after, no deal was struck to return Traveon. In fact, he did not return to his home until well after the war ended, on the occurrence of his father, Lord Gavin's death.
Since his return, Traveon, now Earl in his father's place had restarted the raiding parties, in spite of, and in clear violation of the terms of the peace. While Araterre was not directly involved, the Duc Remis D'Ansonne had learned of, and taken an interest in the issue, hoping to stem the illegal raids when possible, or else rectify and return the victims.
While Judoc had thought he was preventing war between Araterre and Megalos, he now hears that Araterre, and these men (and goblins) were also trying to prevent war - a resurgence of the border wars between Megalos and Al-Wazif.
Still not entirely convinced, Judoc turns to the crew of the Watchman who can corroborate little of the story, having never been to Dekamera before and indeed having no real experience with the situation beyond their month-long stint with Tibbets.
It is the slaves though, that seal in Judoc's belief in the story. When asked, they relate their tales of capture some months previous, taken by a small group on the borderlands of Al-Wazif, land previously owned by Megalos. They had been farming, were captured, and smuggled back across the Makarem before being staged for shipping in the same dubious camp where Judoc had met Tibbets.
As proof to their stories, they show Judoc their arms, which are still bereft of slave tattoos or markings, a detail which somehow Judoc had missed up to this point.
When Etienne and the goblin offer to make good on their word by delivering Judoc to the eastern tracks, he readily agrees, sickened all the more with Tibbets and whatever foul business he is caught up in. Orgon, Reve, and Trisso all defect as well, stating that the half-pay they were waiting on wasn't worth waiting with Tibbets, especially given they had no more real power to their vessel.
"Not to worry." The goblin offers as he stands up again once everyone is healed. "He'll get his. These caves are used by real pirates, we've been through them once before tracking 'em. So if he doesn't manage to make his way off quickly... he likely won't make his way off at all."
"Off to the Scylla then?" Etienne offers in Arlaise as there is a moment in the conversation. "And let this disaster of a misunderstanding come to an end?"
The sun is nearing the horizon as the Scylla finally pulls up anchor. Judoc stands at the rails, watching the eastern sky warm with colors of light blue, red and orange. He is just about to go down below, for he has been offered a bed of all things, or in reality, something that more resembles a hammock. They are shared accommodations amongst the crew, though there will be enough of the men on watch for their departure that Judoc should be able to get several hours of sleep undisturbed.
"I'm glad you turned out not to be on Lord Taveon's side."
Even before Judoc turns to see the face, he knows it is the goblin, for even the voice reminds him of Grobbik.
"I nearly shit my pants when you started throwing those fireballs at the ship. I've never used my magic in that way before... Actually, I'm sort of shocked it worked. I was not looking forward to you coming back down into that cave to finish the fight."
"I'm Darkiiri by the way." The goblin thrusts out a hand. "Well met. And here's to hoping that next time we may be fighting on the same side."
~You can say that again! Aiah thinks from her perch high on the mizzen mast. ~Maybe then I'll actually be able to get a normal night's sleep!
OOC: I made some assumptions based on your decision to revert to diplomacy that this would all be acceptable to you. It solves all the requirements stated in your private and furthermore leaves Tibbets out to dry (and likely worse). Feel free to write up a closing post here - or else whatever abuse you wish for me misplaying your character's actions :p.