Pirates! (The Roleplay)

(Touché.)

Natalia nodded in agreement.
"Their speed is the understated reason as to why they are so feared. Obviously, their song is a problem, but nothing that earbuds won't handle. Here, try this."

She turned back into position, staring intently into the dark water.

"There's one," she said softly, gesturing to an almost minuscule trail in the water. "The gills on their spines are perked up, so they sometimes break the surface of the water." Her gun followed the path for a moment, and then sped up on the trail, and she shot. A bubbling squeal rose from the deep, and dark, blueish-black blood mixed with the water.

"If you were to bottle that," Natalia said, gesturing to the blood, "you could earn quite a bit of money. However, the methods for bottling it without the presence of water are quite barbaric, and no one seeks watered-down sirens blood. Without a constant source of water, the siren is effectively drying out in her own body. The blood vanishes. So, modern poachers spray the siren with minimal amounts of water while they collect. It's torturous for the creatures."

She looked almost melancholy, her gaze out on the sea.

"They are quite beautiful in their ways, you know, without the enchantments. They have societies just as we do. We are probably fairly near a siren settlement. When Jack returns, I will ask him to move us a little further out. We're being impolite, I'd imagine."

Natalia was acting strangely. Her eyes fluttered as she dropped her head occasionally. Her words had no bite to them, but they were more surreal, as if in a dream state.

* * *

Jack fished around in the barrels some more. With an exclaimation of pain and excitement, he quickly pulled his hand out of the container, a small prick in his hand.

"Found the syringes!"

He gingerly reached back in, and pulled out a cloth bag with dangerous looking needles poking out of it.

"Cloth might not have been the best choice for this," he mumbled, taking the bag and the medicine back on the deck with Cobiah.

 

"Alright," Jack replied as he crossed the deck and knelt by Natalia. She smiled slightly at him, her eyes clouded.
"Hold on, Nat," he said gently, pushing her hair out of her face. He tossed a vial of medicine and a syringe to Cobiah.
"Fill it to the dotted line, and inject it into this vein," he said, tapping a blue line under Natalia's skin on her wrist. He threaded the surgical needle, and opened the bandage, and cleaned the blood with water and cloth. Natalia's gaze cleared for a moment with pain, but she winced.
"I'm sorry, Nat, but it has to be done."
She nodded weakly, and slumped down.

 

Natalia stiffened as the fluid entered her system, but she then she relaxed, and her hand lightly patted Cobiah's. "Thank..." She was unable to finish her sentence as she drifted into a drug induced oblivion.

Jack began the stitches, stopping every once in a while to clean the wound.

"Good shot," he said to Jared, finishing the sutures, and disinfecting the wound. He placed a fresh bandage over the cut, the tape sticking to her prominent ribs. Scars danced on the surface of the skin on her stomach, rising and falling with her breathing. Jack shook his head, and groaned as the singing started again. This time, however, the song was more melancholy, and it was not meant for the people on the deck. This was a mourning song of the siren's dead, and the waves grew calm as the sirens retreated.

 

"Thank you, Cobiah," Jack said grimly, " but I think our crew might need to wait a few hours. Not only is Natalia indisposed, but the rest of the crew would only be operating on an hours sleep at most. You are welcome to go look in to town if you wish, but I believe we should wait."

(Time skip to the early afternoon?)

 

Natalia's eyes opened with a start as she watched the early sunlight stream into the room. She took a sharp intake of breath, and she watched the dust particles swirl around in the air. Tiny galaxies, she thought. Her mind cleared, and she sat in her hammock, gazing at her room, for the moment simply glad to be alive.

* * *

"Can we load the rowboat for the ride to shore, please?" Jack called, walking down the stairs, his boots making dull thudding noises as they hit the old wood of the deck. He disliked giving orders, but he supposed it was necessary for the time being.
"We need bandages and weapons," he said, "and we're leaving in a quarter of an hour."

 

Gradually, the rowboat filled with supplies; bandages, concealed pistols, water canteens, and some food rations, in case the visit took longer than expected. Jack finished taking stock and sighed, looking up towards the captain's quarters.
"Looks like we're all set," he said. "Everyone that's going, get on. I'm going to fetch the captain."

* * *

There was a gentle knock at the door, and Jack entered, holding a cane. The handle was carved into the shape of a bird, not terribly intricate, but not crude either. It was the color of coffee with lots of cream, and it had a small line around the circumference of the top. The cane was simple, but it had been their father's, so they kept it around. Natalia turned her head to look, and she tried to sit up.
"Is it time to leave?" she asked, her voice soft, but clear.
"Yes, Captain," Jack said, passing her the cane. "But, are you sure you should be going?
Natalia shrugged as she sat up. "I don't expect much trouble in Urela. If need be, we can flee. I will be fine. Thank you, Jack." He nodded in reply, but Natalia could tell that he still worried. She sighed.
"Once we get what we have come for, I will return while others explore the festivities. Satisfied?" Jack nodded again, and his face lightened slightly, but he still was dripping in doubt.
"Come on," Natalia said. "Let's go."

***

They exited the quarters, and walked down to the deck. Natalia cleared her throat, addressing the crew going into Urela, which included Jade, Ellia, Jared, Cobiah, Sierra, and Avice.
"Good morning, everyone," she said. "In Urela, we will be visiting the Hanged Rose, a local inn. We will meet someone, and get the information we need. I will be going back to the ship at that time. Anyone who wishes to come with can join me, but the rowboat will be sent back immediately, and you can come back in the evening if you would prefer. Any questions?"

 

A hint of a smile appeared on Natalia's lips.
"I decided a long time ago to try to avoid trusting anyone," she said. "But, according to my information, this person has some connections to me, and besides, they're the only person who seems to have any lead on the treasure." She unraveled the pulley that was holding the rowboat in the air, and it slowly began to descend. She walked to the edge, and joined her crew in the boat.
"You're right, though, Avice. I don't trust it. That's why I'm having you fine people come along."

 

"As I say," Natalia said, "that's why you are coming with me. In the middle of an inn, you can only fit so many people who know how to fight. I have the deepest confidences in your abilities."
The boat sped towards Urela, where music was already beginning to play, reviving the previous nights festivities.

***

They docked, and went on land. The area was very different from Bainslough. There were glimmers of happiness on almost every face, and while most were dressed informally, with threadbare shirts and long red skirts and linen pants, there was an undeniable feeling of joy in the air. The population was somewhat darker here, with skin the color of chestnuts, and tea. It was very pleasant, with the faint smell of coconuts, and lanterns hanging from ropes across the roads.

Ellia looked around happily. She had lived in Urela for a small while in her time as a prisoner, and although she disliked the memories of her capture, she had always had a fondness for the place.

 

"The center of town," Natalia responded smoothly. "If I remember correctly, that is." She stepped carefully, leaning on the cane and gazing at the area in interest. "It's quite a pleasant town, isn't it?"

The group approached a rather large building, made of lumber and metal. There was a large, iron rose above the door, stained red from the rust, and inside, fiddle music played. Natalia squinted at the door, and with a deep breath, and a muttered 'be ready,' they entered.

***

The first thing that hit them was the noise.

Cheers erupted from the bar crowd, who were standing in a circle, their backs facing the entrance. Fiddle music blazed, and when one peered over the crowd, they could just barely make out a small group of grinning, laughing people, doing an elaborate dance to the music. Every once in a while, someone from the dance would reach out, and switch off with someone in the crowd. The audience was clapping to the music as the dance accelerated, with hands switching, jumps and hysterical laughter. The music ended in a grand chord, and the dance broke apart, with people falling from dizziness and landing in the arms of the audience.

The dance seemed to have a different effect on all the members of the crew. Ellia was laughing, watching the dancers trade off with others for the next round. Jade looked enviously at the fiddle players, wishing desperately to live in a town where such frenzied playing was encouraged and necessary, and Natalia cocked her head in interest, watching the festivities with an amused look. The captain soon turned her gaze away from the commotion, however, and she saw an old man, grizzled from his age, sitting in a corner, watching them intently, and squinting as if trying to discern who they were. When Natalia made eye contact with him, he looked stunned, but his face quickly broke out into a smile. He waved widely, inviting them over.

"Natalia, is it? My dear, you look just like your mother," the man said, greeting them with a warm grin.
Natalia was quiet for a moment, for once unsure of how to respond. She knew, of course, that the man would know her mother, but she didn't expect him to be so forthright.

"Thank you," she finally said. "You are Odin Crane?"

The man bowed his head in response to his name. "The one and only. You are looking for some information, I take it?"

"Yes, on the lost-"

"On the lost island of Fawelore, yeah, yeah." The man wiped his nose with the back of his hand while simultaneously waving off the rest of Natalia's sentence. "Very few people know about that, y'know. If they do, most think that it is a legend."

"But recent studies have shown that it's very much possible, yes?" Natalia asked, cocking her head. The old man tapped his nose.

"Quite right," he said, "but it seems that the discovery hasn't reached many people yet." He waved to her and the rest of the crew.

"Sit down, sit down. I expected just you, I must be honest. Maybe Jack. How is he, by the way?"

Natalia thought for a moment. She was surprised that Odin knew Jack, but she supposed he would, although Jack would have been very young at the time.

"He's well. He worries a lot, but that's just his way." She frowned, disliking the feeling of being exposed. Plus, something else was bothering her.

"Mr. Crane, you know what the treasure is worth, yes? Why don't you go after it yourself?"

The man smiled, and his eyes glazed over, as if remembering a different time.

"Ah, Natalia, treasure hunting is a young man's game. If I cannot get it, Beatrice's daughter is surely a good next step."

He cleared his throat. "I'm afraid I am not sure where the island is, but I know who does. His name is Rhys Plinx. He lives in Norlure."

"Rhys Plinx, Norlure," Natalia repeated.

The man nodded. "That's right."

Natalia thought for a moment, and then stood up. She reached into her pocket and pulled out a coin purse, jingling with gold coins. The amount was enough to feed a family of four for a month, but it was a small loot from the ship they had just pillaged. She offered it to the old man.

"Thank you, Mr. Crane, for your help."

He laughed, and shook his head.

"You really are like your mother. She was very quick to reward people, and quick to get what she wanted. I don't want your money, Natalia."

"Please take it," Natalia said. "You have done us a great service."

The man sighed, and hesitantly took the pouch.

"Alright then," he said. "Are you staying long?"

"No," Natalia said. "We will be departing shortly."

The man nodded, melancholy. In a rare flash of gentleness, Natalia smiled at him.

"I found you from my mother's stories," she said. "She truly loved you."

Odin looked up, tears in his eyes. He nodded in thanks, and the crew left the inn.