Arc 721, 18th of Vhalar
"Weigh anchor!"
The deck of the Libertalia was abuzz with activity as the chain was pulled and the heavy weight that kept the brig from drifting with the currents and tides began to be lifted out of the water. Sailors hurried to their stations, hauling on the rigging side that the ship's sails could be unfurled.
Darius stepped up and onto the quarter deck so that he could be seen by the crew as they went about their familiar tasks to enable the brig to set out to sea.
"Our task is simple," he announced to the crew. "Find the Dread Otter and end its trials of piracy!"
There were murmurs of agreement, but little detail of a plan. That was because they knew little of their prey.
Darius first became aware of the pirate sloop in the aftermath of an ambush on the road between Hopetoun and Smooglenuff Manor. Those who had attacked them had attempted a mutiny aboard the ship and had been marooned and left to fend for themselves.
That the four sailors had resorted to banditry was a source of disappointment to Darius. Had they sought shelter in Hopetoun, he would have happily taken them in, and - had they been willing to earn the respect of the other settlers through hard work - they could have spent their trials in peace. Instead, they had lived their last moments in fear and pain as a bear tore them to pieces. As far as the bearded baron was concerned, it was a pointless waste of life.
Those who remained aboard the Dread Otter would receive less sympathy. They had not ceased in their attempts to raid the coastline, threatening some of the smaller villages, but they had not dared to get close to Hopetoun.
Until now.
Less than a break had passed since sentries on the settlement palisade had caught a glimpse through the morning fog of the outline of a ship that matched the sloop's description. It had retreated behind a nearby headland, but its presence still endangered Hopetoun's food supply.
The settlement had a pair of fishing boats that were critical providers of seafood each trial - especially during Vhalar, when the harvesting of crops on the land would soon come to an end - but they were vulnerable, and so they were called back to the shore so that the Hopetounians could meet the new threat.
Darius had wasted no time in heading down the the dock and boarding the Libertalia, where he was addressing the crew.
"We hunted Breachfang," he reminded them, "but the sea wolf knew no better. It had been brought to the surface by the eruption and it was acting on instinct."
Darius thumped a fist onto the taffrail, surprised by his own passion.
"But these pirates have no such excuse! They are preying on other Faldrassians and we must put a stop to it!"
The murmurs of agreement from earlier erupted into a roar from the sailors as the anchor was catted and fished. The unfurled sails caught the wind, Astra turned the wheel, and the Libertalia began its journey by slowly creeping into the fog.
The deck of the Libertalia was abuzz with activity as the chain was pulled and the heavy weight that kept the brig from drifting with the currents and tides began to be lifted out of the water. Sailors hurried to their stations, hauling on the rigging side that the ship's sails could be unfurled.
Darius stepped up and onto the quarter deck so that he could be seen by the crew as they went about their familiar tasks to enable the brig to set out to sea.
"Our task is simple," he announced to the crew. "Find the Dread Otter and end its trials of piracy!"
There were murmurs of agreement, but little detail of a plan. That was because they knew little of their prey.
Darius first became aware of the pirate sloop in the aftermath of an ambush on the road between Hopetoun and Smooglenuff Manor. Those who had attacked them had attempted a mutiny aboard the ship and had been marooned and left to fend for themselves.
That the four sailors had resorted to banditry was a source of disappointment to Darius. Had they sought shelter in Hopetoun, he would have happily taken them in, and - had they been willing to earn the respect of the other settlers through hard work - they could have spent their trials in peace. Instead, they had lived their last moments in fear and pain as a bear tore them to pieces. As far as the bearded baron was concerned, it was a pointless waste of life.
Those who remained aboard the Dread Otter would receive less sympathy. They had not ceased in their attempts to raid the coastline, threatening some of the smaller villages, but they had not dared to get close to Hopetoun.
Until now.
Less than a break had passed since sentries on the settlement palisade had caught a glimpse through the morning fog of the outline of a ship that matched the sloop's description. It had retreated behind a nearby headland, but its presence still endangered Hopetoun's food supply.
The settlement had a pair of fishing boats that were critical providers of seafood each trial - especially during Vhalar, when the harvesting of crops on the land would soon come to an end - but they were vulnerable, and so they were called back to the shore so that the Hopetounians could meet the new threat.
Darius had wasted no time in heading down the the dock and boarding the Libertalia, where he was addressing the crew.
"We hunted Breachfang," he reminded them, "but the sea wolf knew no better. It had been brought to the surface by the eruption and it was acting on instinct."
Darius thumped a fist onto the taffrail, surprised by his own passion.
"But these pirates have no such excuse! They are preying on other Faldrassians and we must put a stop to it!"
The murmurs of agreement from earlier erupted into a roar from the sailors as the anchor was catted and fished. The unfurled sails caught the wind, Astra turned the wheel, and the Libertalia began its journey by slowly creeping into the fog.
