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Post by Brandwyn on Oct 8, 2010 14:46:30 GMT -5
"I'm kinda curious, what did them Gallican ships want with you?" He bit his tongue as he awaited a response. Then he made a gamble and added, "It wouldn't have anything to do with King Duncan, would it?"
The only outward sign of Tony’s surprise was a slight narrowing of his eyes in suspicion as he thought, ‘now how the hell does he know anything about that?’ He folded his arms across his chest and Spook wrapped her tail around his throat, the end twitching every so often tickled his chin.
Tony glanced at Mort who shrugged and then turned back to Sklaw. “Why would I have anything to do with King Duncan?” he asked innocently. “It was all a misunderstanding. They thought I was someone else.” Tony lied confidently. “I managed to do a bit of trading with them though. But they put me way behind schedule and I have clients to keep happy, so if you don’t mind, I will be on my way now.” He smiled at the other Captain. “Good talking with you.”
He knew it wasn’t going to be this easy to get rid of Sklaw and would have liked to take time to pick his brain and find out just exactly what the man knew about recent events concerning Duncan. Time was pressing, however, and he needed to get on the heels of that Gallican war ship and pray it was the one that carried the King.
As an afterthought Tony added, “If you want to do some trading with them, they just spit up. One went due east and the others southeast. If you hurry you might be able to catch up to them.”
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Post by Firehead on Oct 11, 2010 10:01:45 GMT -5
“Why would I have anything to do with King Duncan?” he asked innocently. “It was all a misunderstanding. They thought I was someone else.” Tony lied confidently.
Ri-ight. In a pig's eye. Sklaw stared expressionlessly across the water at the pirate captain, waiting for him break down and tell the truth, or continue to weave a lie that would dig his hole even deeper.
“I managed to do a bit of trading with them though. But they put me way behind schedule and I have clients to keep happy, so if you don’t mind, I will be on my way now.” He smiled at the other Captain. “Good talking with you.”
Sklaw continued to stare expressionlessly across the water at Tony. Doubtless, this last bit of Tony's speech was the perfect truth--those were the most believeable of lies, in Sklaw's opinion.
“If you want to do some trading with them, they just spit up. One went due east and the others southeast. If you hurry you might be able to catch up to them.”
Sklaw noticed that Tony didn't mention the third ship, and hazarded a guess that Tony wasn't as happy with them as he was making out to be. Tony was probably going after that third ship. And apparently, he didn't want company. He grinned. It was part paredator, part pure enjoyment at watching Tony lie through his teeth. Still grinning, he studied Tony's ship. Easily out-runnable and dodgeable, yet plenty of fire-power. Sklaw weighed the risks, and decided he could do it.
"One question, Tony." he managed to wipe the grin from his face as he spoke, making the question sound as innocent as possible, but the smile quivered at the corners of his mouth. "Do we go with you, or do we follow you?"
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Post by Ringulf on Oct 11, 2010 17:11:25 GMT -5
The Barron excused himself from Duncan for a moment and went to the door of the cabin.
He pulled a cord on the wall and turned back to the King resuming his conversation.
In moments the Admiral was at the door.
"What is our position? The Barron asked.
"We are less then 10 Nautical miles from the rendezvous point." Said the Admiral competently.
"Pursuit?" The Barron asked with a raised eyebrow.
"None that we can detect your Excellency." said the admiral.
"Very good, ready the coracle we stowed aboard, if all has gone according to plan we will be needing it soon."
"At once your excellency." Said the Admiral with a bow then he turned and left.
"Your Majesty," The Barron said back in his formal tone of voice, once again all business with his comrade. "I will need to attend to business, I pray please take this time to rest I am sure you could use it after your ordeal. One of my elite guard will be stationed outside your door for your protection, if you need anything at all please let him know and he will attend to your needs" At that he gave Duncan a formal bow and left the cabin to go up on deck.
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Post by Brandwyn on Oct 11, 2010 20:37:51 GMT -5
"One question, Tony." he managed to wipe the grin from his face as he spoke, making the question sound as innocent as possible, but the smile quivered at the corners of his mouth. "Do we go with you, or do we follow you?"
A look of anger played across Tony’s face before he could get himself under control. Every second they stayed here, their prey was slipping farther away. Already out of sight over the horizon, it would be extremely difficult to catch up with it.
Tony wished he knew what Sklaw knew about the situation and more importantly, how he knew about Tony’s part in kidnapping King Duncan. Although he would have liked to spar verbally with the other pirate to find out what the man knew, he didn’t have time. He didn’t have time to fight him either, but that didn’t stop him from saying, “You forgot a third option.” Tony paused for dramatic effect. “I could sink you right here and now and be on my merry way.”
He glared at Sklaw across the water for a moment, letting the threat sink in. “Fortunately for you, I don’t have time to deal with you.” Tony said, as if Sklaw wasn’t worth the trouble to even worry with. “So suit yourself, you can come with or you can follow or you can sail to bloody Hell for all I care.”
He turned back to his crew and in a voice that could almost be heard to the horizon he bellowed, “Make sail heading northeast!” He turned back to Sklaw, “Just stay out of my way and don’t expect any share of my profits. You try to grab my cargo and I will sink you, that’s a promise.” Tony said as his ship began to pick up speed and started to pull away from the Waveblade.
Tony had been studying the ship as he had talked to Sklaw and could tell she was sitting higher in the water than the Razor, who was fully loaded at the moment. She was shorter too, but Sklaw had what appeared to be extra sail to catch more wind. Tony would bet the ship was just a bit faster and definitely more maneuverable than his, but Tony couldn’t see much in the way of weaponry and he doubted that the Waveblade had the reinforced hull that he’d modified the Razor with. If it came to a fight, Tony was confident the Waveblade would come out on the loosing end of that battle.
What was bothering Tony the most right now, well perhaps not the most but close to it, was wondering what game Sklaw was playing. First of all how had he found the Razor and why was he looking for it? Tony didn’t believe they had just randomly found him out here, they had to have been looking for the Razor or the Grey Lady. Why? Tony couldn’t figure it out. The only thing his suspicious mind came up with was that the vixen that got him into this mess had sent Sklaw after Tony.
Tony thought back to the night they left Araluen and looked at the front of the Waveblade. That could have been them that followed him down the river. Now what did Sklaw know that set him to following the Razor? Had he seen Duncan brought aboard? He wouldn’t have known it was Duncan. Unless he saw someone being carried on and heard about the King as rumor and put the two together. That could be it.
No matter, he had other worries at the moment. He would deal with Sklaw if he had to later; but for now, let him just follow along like a good little pup. Tony moved to the prow of the ship and stood there with his glass trained on the horizon every so often. He doubted the ship would hold to the last course, but one never knew. His scowl deepened as he tried to catch a glimpse of the Baron’s ship and there was no sign of it whatsoever.
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Post by Firehead on Oct 12, 2010 13:02:58 GMT -5
For a moment, Tony looked pretty darned irritated, but he said, “You forgot a third option.” Tony paused for dramatic effect. “I could sink you right here and now and be on my merry way.”
Sklaw gave Tony a mild grin. He had the utmost confidence that the only way Tony would be able to sink his ship while it was under way, would be with a luck shot. "It's not much of a third option, you ask me."
"An' he didn't." Vick supplied from the ships' wheel.
"Who asked you?" Sklaw asked, flipping his hand at Vick over his shoulder.
Tony glared at Sklaw across the water for a moment, letting the threat sink in. “Fortunately for you, I don’t have time to deal with you.” Tony said, as if Sklaw wasn’t worth the trouble to even worry with. “So suit yourself, you can come with or you can follow or you can sail to bloody Hell for all I care.”
Sklaw's mild grin widened.
“Make sail heading northeast!” He turned back to Sklaw, “Just stay out of my way and don’t expect any share of my profits. You try to grab my cargo and I will sink you, that’s a promise.” Tony said as his ship began to pick up speed and started to pull away from the Waveblade.
Allowing the grin to fade to nothing more than a faint smile, Sklaw spoke as he walked toward Vick and signaled for him to shift the Waveblade into position for tagging along with the Gray Lady. "Don't worry, I'm not in this for profit. I'll happily settle for taking the King back to Araluan after the fightings over with."
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Post by Brandwyn on Oct 15, 2010 14:31:44 GMT -5
"Don't worry, I'm not in this for profit. I'll happily settle for taking the King back to Araluan after the fighting’s over with."
Tony barely heard Sklaw’s comment to his first mate, but he did catch it. “I knew he knew about the King.” Tony said softly in Mort’s ear as his ship pulled a bit ahead of the Waveblade, taking them out of arrow range of the other ship and effectively out of hearing distance over the splash of the waves on the hull. It took the Razor a bit of time to get moving, but after they managed to catch the light breeze, they started skimming through the water at a respectable pace. “How could he know anything?”
Tony eyed the Waveblade sourly. “Keep a watch posted on them at all times. I want to know what they are up to.” Then he set about wringing out as much speed out of the Razor as he could get. The wind grew stronger and they flew faster over the waves at a 35 degree angle to the wind. Even though they were making good time, Tony didn’t think they had much of a chance of catching up to the Baron. Most likely the ship had changed course again and it would be like looking for a needle in a haystack. Then there was the uncertainty that he might be following the wrong ship. If he was, then the King was truly lost to them.
Then the thought struck him, what would he do if they did catch up to the Baron’s ship? It would now be two against one, if Sklaw could be counted on to help. Since he knew about the King, Tony figured he probably would help if that meant getting his hands on Duncan.
Even with the Waveblade to help, there wouldn’t be much of a chance of Tony prevailing in a fight with the Baron’s warship. They had the superior fire power, fighting crew and likely a stronger hull than the Razor, even with its fortifications. In a head-to-head fight, Tony would lose, he was fairly certain of it.
Now, if they had one more ship to make it three against one, that might do the trick. Of course there wasn’t another ship, so there was no sense in wishing. ‘Realistically, what are my options?’ Tony asked himself as he climbed back up the foremast to train his glass on the horizon, looking for the warship.
‘We can just follow him and see what he does and then take the King back when he is in a less fortified position,’ Tony thought. That would likely be the best plan. Sklaw could be a problem though. He would likely attack the warship once he caught up to it.
Tony pondered the problem as his ship covered the miles in hot pursuit of the Baron’s ship that had started out on a Northeasterly course.
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Post by Firehead on Oct 19, 2010 13:12:37 GMT -5
The Waveblade rapidly closed the distance that Tony's Krackatown Razor had put between them at the start, with Vick at the wheel, and Sklaw standing forward to the front of the ship, leaning on the rail, head bowed, deep in thought. The main question--besides what would happen after they won the fight--was how would they go about attacking the ship without bringing harm to the King?
As Sklaw debated, he signalled for Vick to take the Waveblade up on the Razor's left-hand side, bring her parallel, and keep arrow's range distance from Tony's ship.
If they coordinated, they could launch a two-pronged attack upon the ship....and maybe they could pull off a stunt that said they didn't care if the King were onboard--if they even knew the King was onboard. Knowing his own resources, Sklaw figured that he and Waveblade could get within shooting range, fire the sails, and scoot out again to set up for the next attack segment.
With the sails burnt out, Sklaw figured Tony could sail around the ship at ease, firing his catapults and, once Sklaw's men got the Waveblades' two set up, they could join him in circling the ship, and bombbarding the sitting duck.
That was a straight forward plan.
The other consisted of qiute a bit more espionoge. Once they caught up to the ship, the Waveblade could hide off the horizon until dark, then sneak in closer and send off a crew of sabatours. They could climb onboard via the anchors--if they were down, which in all likelyhood, they would be--and chop down the sails, tangle the rigging, and suchlike, after, of course, they had taken care of any sentries posted on deck. Then the Waveblade and the Razor, could sneak alongside and infiltrate the ship.
Of course, in order to do either, they'd have to coordinate the attack, and in order to do that, they'd have to talk it over together. If Tony would talk. "How's it feel, to have the rest of your life hinge upon weather or not a pirate will talk... with another pirate?" muttered Sklaw.
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Post by Brandwyn on Oct 21, 2010 14:09:28 GMT -5
Mortimer kept tabs on the Waveblade and noted that she was moving up alongside them and Captain Sklaw was on the foredeck looking like he had some scheme all worked out. Tony was up in the crow’s nest again, his glass trained on the horizon in front of them and to the east. Every once in a while he would scan all the way around and then scowl when he lowered the glass.
Mort really hated it when Tony was in a mood like this. Normally sailing with him was the best thing in the world, but when everything seemed to be going wrong, his captain, and best friend, could get mighty touchy. Mort whistled and then waved to Tony and pointed to Sklaw. Tony looked and the scowl turned into a sigh of exasperation. Then the pirate captain slid down the ropes to land light as a cat on the deck.
“Pull alongside the Waveblade for a parley.” He ordered the helmsman as he passed him, heading for the rail. He waved to Sklaw, but waited until their ships were nearly within grappling range before he asked, “something on your mind Sklaw?” He made note of the look of concentration on the other Captain’s face and figured he had a pretty good idea of where this conversation was going.
“You thinking to take on that warship when we catch – rather if – we catch up to it?” Tony asked him. “I have been pondering the problem of how to outmaneuver them when they have all those oars.”
They could fire the sails and bring the ship to a halt that way, but with the oars and plenty of men to man them, the ship would just keep going. To get close enough to take out the oars by a strafing run, they would be close enough for the crossbowman on board to shoot his crew as well as them to fling grappling hooks onto his ship and be able to foul his own rigging and fire his sails. It seemed rather hopeless to Tony to try a full-on assault on the Gallican warship that outmatched his ship in weapons, armor and on this day even maneuverablity since the wind was being rather fickle today.
Tony also had his relationship with his new ‘friend’ to consider. The Baron had promised retribution if he attacked any of the Gallican ships and he could hardly make use of the Gallican letter of marquee if he had been given. If the King made back, Tony would be marked as the kidnapper and Araluen would become unavailable to him for portage or trade. He would need that privateer status and forgiveness of crimes in Gallica to replace the loss in Araluen. There had to be another way to rescue the King.
Knowing Sklaw, the man probably hadn’t even considered subterfuge as a means to an end. He was more of a direct action kind of guy. Tony was more of an actor, preferring to bluff his way to what he wanted than to take it by force. Unfortunately for them both, Tony was fairly certain that Baron Rathbone was better at both things than either of them were.
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Post by Cutebabys on Oct 23, 2010 7:25:30 GMT -5
{{OOC/OOG: I realize Lee was in this thread in the beginning; would you mind if I pop in?}}
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Post by Ringulf on Oct 23, 2010 8:25:04 GMT -5
Speaking with Brandy, as it her ship, I mentioned your post this morning and she asked me to let you know that that would be fine! Welcome back to the Krackatoin Razor! AKA: the Grey Lady. I am sure you have read the main thread already but if you have not gotten the chance, take a look at "The Cauldren Boils", "Out of the Frying Pan" and "Into the Fire" it sets up what was going on on the Barron's side just before he shows up in "Kiddnapping"
(can't say they didn't have any warning!)
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Post by JezusBagels on Oct 23, 2010 20:03:31 GMT -5
Wesley watched the Barron leave Duncan's quarters and leave a small man behind to watch the door. He was certainly a fighter... but a puny little thing. Wesley could have crushed his skull right there and then. Wesley was sitting on the floor beside the door that this putrid specimen kept vigil over and tapped him on the leg.
"Hey you," he half-whispered. The man slowly turned his head and they made eye-contact but he said nothing. Wesley exhaled sharply through his nose and shot his head forward, like a dog getting ready to attack. Sure enough, the guard recoiled, reached for his weapon. Wesley laughed loudly. "The Barron has chosen his soldiers well. You might last a few seconds if I decided to kill you."
This didn't please the guard too much and he inched away from Wesley, but didn't abandon his post. Wesley scratched his head, tapping his fingers on his axe. "Did you know," he began, "That I killed my father by squishing his tiny head between my fists? I will tell you this story. I-" but nothing more was needed and the man half-ran down the corridor, leaving Wesley alone to watch the King. He chuckled quietly and closed his eyes. _______________________________________________
Ulrich came up beside his captain and said, "Maybe we don't fight them at sea, Tony. Follow them into port, put up false sails so they don't recognize the Razor and fight them on land. It at least gives us a chance, don't you think?" He wasn't too excited about taking on all those heavily armed soldiers and sailors, but it seemed to be the choice that was being made and he rather liked the idea of taking the path with the least chance of dying.
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Post by Ringulf on Oct 23, 2010 22:57:31 GMT -5
...the man half-ran down the corridor, leaving Wesley alone to watch the King. He chuckled quietly and closed his eyes.
Four elite guards came back with the guard who realized that though he might very well be executed for leaving his post, he could not defend the King by himself if Wesley wanted to cause trouble.
The crossbowmen set themselves in the standard formation for inner ship attack or defence. The set in two rows of two and the front two took a kneeling position as the rearguard stood they all raised their heavy crossbows and drew a bead on the resting giant.
The original guard from behind the other two said, "Sir if you do not remove yourself from the door immediately I will give the command to fire, squad, a tight grouping your quarrels must not pass the target"
Were Wesley sat by the door he almost eclipsed a full two thirds of the corridor, and he was not even standing!
The Guard called out, "Detail take aim...."
"Stand down, Stand down imediately do you here! Let me through!" The Barron said furiously and the ranks of guardsmen opened like two gates with their backs against the wall.
The Barron came up within about 10 foot of Wesley, the original guard on his heels.
"What seems to be the problem here other than the fact that this man is occupying your station of duty! Barked the Barron at the guard.
"Your excellency the man made threats to me which in my estimation I would not be able to survive thus not protect the king I felt it wise that if I were to die anyway I may as well do so by your hand and secure the king then by his and leave him vulnerable!
"Thank you Sergeant that was a selfless and honorable descision, your record will reflect it, as will your tombstone, Admaril commit this man to the oars his court martial will be held tomorrow noon, firing squad of elite guard only, he will die for abandoning his post but he will do so with honor. Now Wesley, why are you frightening my guardsmen? They have a job to do just like you do and now that man will die because you made him abandon his duty. That is not right is it? I know your job is to protect the King but you can do that in a bigger way up on deck watching over all of us, besides if it came to a fight I think you would have a hard time even getting your arms free much less standing up and you certainly cant use that axe below, why don't you use this dagger below decks if you need it." and the Barron handed him his long knight dagger. it had a black handle with a gold two headed eaglr on the pommel.
"By the way When I left you on deck I had given you instructions to get food and the keg of Tuetland Ale I gave you as a bonus for your hard work. I know we have not worked together for very long but I expect my directions to be followed. If you feel you need to ask a question I will allow you to do so but do not disobey me again without clarification. I also need to speak to you about a transfer of employment that comes directly from the Lady. If you would follow me up on deck were we can breath perhaps we can talk in private."
With that the Barron turned and proceeded to go up on deck leaving all four guards to Guard the door.
"Please come with me Wesley the guards will watch the king for you and I will assign you to the post later on." The Barron said keeping any sound of patronization out of his voice.
"Remember if you do not let them carry out their orders they will die too. Every man must do his duty and every decision bears consequences." with that he was gone into the Audience room and up to the deck.
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Post by JezusBagels on Oct 24, 2010 0:22:46 GMT -5
"Your excellency the man made threats to me which in my estimation I would not be able to survive thus not protect the king I felt it wise that if I were to die anyway I may as well do so by your hand and secure the king then by his and leave him vulnerable!
"This puny man is a coward and will not do my job for me. He would do it wrong and lose me my pay," Wesley said, genuinely upset by the usurping of his job.
"Now Wesley, why are you frightening my guardsmen? They have a job to do just like you do and now that man will die because you made him abandon his duty. That is not right is it? I know your job is to protect the King but you can do that in a bigger way up on deck watching over all of us, besides if it came to a fight I think you would have a hard time even getting your arms free much less standing up and you certainly cant use that axe below, why don't you use this dagger below decks if you need it."
"The dagger is small and useless. It will do nothing for me. And I can rip this little hallway to shreds if I choose." He took the dagger and handed it to the nearest guard. "Here, maybe it will save your life," he joked.
"Please come with me Wesley the guards will watch the king for you and I will assign you to the post later on."
He got up, splintering the wood in one section of the wall and followed the Barron up to the deck. "Listen to me, new man," he began, one giant finger shoved in the Barron's face. "You have the lady's voucher, and nothing more. My orders are mine and mine alone and anything outside of what the lady has told me, you ask me nicely and I will decide whether or not I want to follow you," he said, a growl under-toning his words. He slammed the butt of his axe into the deck, splintering yet another surface on the ship. Wesley liked Tony more than this man.
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Post by Ringulf on Oct 24, 2010 1:59:55 GMT -5
"Listen to me, new man," he began, one giant finger shoved in the Barron's face. "You have the lady's voucher, and nothing more. My orders are mine and mine alone and anything outside of what the lady has told me, you ask me nicely and I will decide whether or not I want to follow you," he said, a growl under-toning his words. He slammed the butt of his axe into the deck, splintering yet another surface on the ship.
The Barron stood his ground not showing any emotion whatsoever. he was face to face with Wesley as the ceiling of the small area was only an inch above his own head Wesley was bent almost double.
"Wesley, first of all I did ask you nicely I stopped the soldiers from making you look like a big porcupine, I treat you and the king well and have the Lady's confidence, otherwise I would not have her token. Now you can yell and make as many splinters as you want but it will not help you to lash out against people who are on your side. The Lady has chosen to have you work for me, she said these words I did not I have many men and many weapons, I do not really need a very big man who will not listen or help.
I can however use a man who is big and powerful and loyal when he is treated properly so far I have been kind and respectful to you, you have not returned that kindness or respect. I will be absolutely truthful with you now. I respect your great strength and size but I am not afraid of you. You may not like me, but you will listen and help or you will be using all your muscles to swim back to shore for I will not have you aboard my ship if you do not. That is a promise, and I never break a promise. So what is it going to be big man? Do we try to serve the Lady together or do you want to dance??
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Post by JezusBagels on Oct 24, 2010 17:48:13 GMT -5
Do we try to serve the Lady together or do you want to dance??
Wesley exhaled sharply and squinted at the Barron. Then he looked out to sea in all directions. No land. It did look like a long swim and his head hurt. Wesley nodded to him and said, "For now, new man." Then he walked away and took a seat on the upper deck, where no activity could escape his vision and he could be as sure as anywhere that these fools would not lose him his pay.
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