Chasing the Mirage [Izvilvin and Jdd]

[jdd2035]

Cain was sitting at a table scribbling something on a few pieces of blank paper with a bit of charcoal from the fire place. It was more or less ideas that he had developed over his life on the sea. "Bluff on top of the water, sharp below you are going to be one fast girl and you're going to fight like a crazed leopard seal." He was not so steeped in thought and his sketch that he did not notice a young lad about seven or eight he though come into the inn where he was sitting presently.

The lad was pink in the cheeks and had curly hair about the color of the charcoal a dull dirty dark grey. But he presented himself well wearing breeches, a white shirt with a light blue waist coat and loafers the kind that had a coin inserted in the toe but presently had wooden buttons in stead. Waiting a few moments for Cain to notice him the lad finally said "Excuse me. Would you happen to be the Captain of the Peregrine? One Captain Cain Jodin?"

Cain snapped out of his present state of mind and shook of the 'huh? what?' look from his face and looked to the young lad and replied "Yes, I'm Captain Jodin how may I help you?"

The young lad smiled "Oh I am here on behalf of your prize agent Mr. Bondon. He has asked that you meet him at his office at your earliest convenience."

Now for those who are not in the know. A prize agent is a man or woman that has both the business and legal acumen to be able to take a captured enemy ship and sell both it and its cargo. The prize agent gets a percentage of the prize money as does the ship and her crew. It is all legal and both Privateers (such as Cain and the Peregrine) National Navies both can enjoy the fruits of such endeavors. Neutral captains and ship owners

Cain for a moment looked puzzled "I'm sorry but I didn't know I even had a prize agent."

The young lad beamed at Cain and said "this prize agent is the agent for most of the Republic's Navy and since you have just been given a marque it was assumed that you would have need of one."

Now Cain he always thought of himself as a merchant he had a very excellent rout that took him around the island of Corone and even to a few parts of the main land. It was quite smooth sailing for the most part the occasional uppity pirate wannabe, the typical storm but nothing much more than that and he was making steady money, his ship was making steady money and his crew was making steady money and the occasional unique or valuable item added in as a bonus. It was nice and steady and his crew was very happy about it. If it weren't for the damnable civil war, the Empire and all of it's taxes and over reach Cain would still be just a regular merchant captain. Shaking his head Cain said "forgive me but I do not need a prize agent thank you. I am just a merchant captain."

The young lad still beaming at Cain replied "Begging your pardon sir but the prize agent says that you being a merchant captain you should be kingly interested in what he would like to talk to you about."

All right Cain took the bait and followed the bright smiling young lad out of the inn and to the prize agents office.
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As it turned out the prize agent was the lads father and bore a striking resemblance with the boy but with a bit of a healthier, robust fat build his naming being Mr. Porter and after all the pleasantries and introductions Mr. Porter spoke in earnest "Captain Jodin, may I call you Cain? Sir I have taken the trouble to find you and invite you to my office to tell you about an extraordinary opportunity for a ship and Captain like yours. You see there is a very complex situation that a man with your budding talents and situation can easily take advantage of."

Cain smiled he enjoyed the word play and all that but there was only so much cloak and dagger that one guy can take "Will you please tell me what it is?"

Mr. Porter smiled pleasantly at Cain and explained "Yes, the Meritocracy of Raiaera has developed a fast new ship especially in open water built especially to transport goods and people. Unfortunately my informants have told me that it has been taken by a crew of pirates and is hunting along our spice and silk trade lanes. Now the Republic doesn't want to chase her because they don't have the ships and don't want an incident. That's where you come in being a Privateer you can legally take that ship as a prize which the Meritocracy will reward you handsomely for. All of the cargo within the captured ship you can sell to me and fetch another handsome reward. Not only that but by capturing this ship will make your own trad rout all that much safer one less pirate in the world and all."

Cain liked this opportunity he would still rather just be a merchant but he liked this opportunity "Well what's the ships name?"

Mr. Porter smiled and said "It's the Mirage."

[Izvilvin]

Not far from the bustling port, Izvilvin sat atop a barrel gazing out to sea. The rippling waves and cawing gulls filled his sensitive ears, drowning out the conversations by the bazaar and the stomp of hustling boots. Much as he loved the busyness of the seaside and the constant activity, the generally jovial interactions of the Radasanthian public, he embraced the need to get away and stare into the vast waters.

There was something romantic about it. Leaving the mainland and tearing through the water brought him a sense of freedom and serenity - he felt alone and at peace, a feeling of calm. He enjoyed drowning in the loud splashing of the ocean, letting it take over his senses and meditating within the rush.

A breeze plucked his ivory hair from his shoulders and tossed it back; Izvilvin lifted his chin in response to let it caress his neck. It hadn't been long since his last excursion to the sea. Cain had hired him to protect the Peregrine and its inhabitants, very recently, and he'd done his part to ensure their safety. It was the first time in many years that the warrior took an active role in a ship's well-being, the first since his initial meeting with Alydia Ettermire, and he found that he'd missed the feeling.

He glanced over to the port proper. He was close to an unoccupied space on the pier, where barrels, crates and nets were piled up away from the crowd. Izvilvin could see men, women, and children clamoring, examining new wares or greeting friends and family who'd just arrived. They led a different life than he, a life that a part of him pined for - how different would things be if he remained still and established a home? He'd have friends and perhaps a family within a manner of years, a skip through time for a dark elf who's natural life could extend through centuries.

Izvilvin smiled and entertained the thought for a moment longer. He'd already lived a human's lifetime, but time was different for elves - he felt like a young man might, full of vigor and adventure. He'd seen only a handful of what the world had to offer, and there was much more to do.

He leaned back and let the wind embrace him again. The breeze could carry him to his next quest or he could find it on his own, but it would happen either way.

[jdd2035]

Cain had what little vague information that the Mr. Porter could give him ~the Mirage was incredibly almost frighteningly fast, it was maneuverable and was crewed by pirates.~ After stepping out of the prize agents office he had a few other things that he needed to do the first place was to the weavers shop. For the trade off for the whale oil was bolts of wool cloth that would be sent to the next port and so on and so on and so on. Seven and a half tons of wool cloth bolts and skeins of cloth that would be made into fine sweaters and vests that would go to cloth citizens of Corone and the cloth was in Fall colors deep reds, oranges, and yellows. There was also grey's, blacks and a royal blue. Cain had considered a vest made out of the red stuff when he delivered the cargo to the next port.

The next port that got Cain to thinking of the Mirage they were going right through their hunting grounds. Most likely by now his status as a privateer even a reluctant one had to be rumored through such channels. It wouldn't be long either way before a pirate would hear about it and he couldn't treat his ship and its valuable cargo as bait. He would have to actively hunt this ship if he so chose to try and take it as a prize.

He gave a near by rail a thump "why couldn't the empire just leave us alone?" he asked the air. If the empire would not have tried to board his ship he wouldn't have had to fight back, wouldn't have sunk the thing and cause such a controversy that he was given that bloody of Marque. Damnable civil war come to think about it. It was necessary and he would do it again if he had to he understood that but he didn't like it.

There was more stops he needed to do as he mulled over the whole idea of taking a prize to actively hunt another ship board it and either kill or imprison her crew. The crew were pirates after all but still it didn't fit quite right with him was just a merchant that's all he wanted to be and to go down this path to actively go down such a path it worried him he was worried for both him self and his crew. It was such moral dilemma he knew his crew were good at what they did they could tack through the wind and have the sails sheeted home in less than five minutes and they could run the Peregrines four pounders in and out in between two and two and a half minutes, less when their lives counted on it but there was not coming a fine line he did not want to cross.

Cain saw his vanguard captain and made his way up to him. Ce wasn't trying to be quiet but he was still kind of deep in thought. Stepping up beside him and leaning against the rail "Hello, Mr. Izvilvin how are you finding sea life?"

[Izvilvin]

As the ocean air coursed over his body, Izvilvin might have looked deep in reverie and unaware of Cain's approach. The warrior heard him, though, the man's boots knocking solidly on the planks beneath. The drow had gotten to know Cain's weight of step, the nearly imperceptible shuffle of his right foot as it occasionally dragged just a little bit more than his left.

He opened his eyes and glanced sidelong as the human passed him by, leaning against a nearby railing and, considerately, not blocking the flow of the wind.

Their first adventure established an interesting dynamic of communication. While Izvilvin couldn't piece together words in tradespeak the way his ally could, he'd long ago learned phrases that were close enough to his intentions. There had been a few bumps and awkward pauses, but they'd come a long way in their brief time together.

"Sea life is wonderful," he exclaimed, his eyes beaming. "The smells of the water are bringing life into me again."

They had only just arrived on land the previous day, giving the pair just enough time to rest and shake the salt away. Izvilvin had spent his time sleeping and cleaning the blood from his weapons - Mjolnir was self cleaning, of course, burning away the liquids it touched, but his more mundane gear ran the risk of deteriorating if not taken care of. It had taken the majority of the morning, a testament to their treacherous first outing.

Izvilvin's eyes danced across the human's scarred face. He looked rough, but that was normal. Either his mind was full, or his body was weary.

"Are you with problem, Captain of the Peregrines?"

[jdd2035]

Cain looked out over the bay and saw his ship the Peregrine being loaded with the cargo that he had offered to transport seven and a half tons of wool cloth very fine wool cloth. It was a good load and the rest of the cargo space would happily be offered to the crew for their own entrepreneurial endeavors and as he looked out at the Peregrine he though of how to word his question. "I have been given information about a pirate ship hunting in the waters we are about to sail into."

Cain paused a moment to let the drow absorb what he was saying the ship looked like a kind of any hill with the crew working up and down the ratlines, shrouds and yards. "I have been allowed to hunt down this pirate ship and capture it."

Again another pause Cain continued to look at his ship and more specifically his crew letting his eyes focus closer on the individuals "The problem" Cain pointed at his gut "is if we start hunting we are one mistaken pennant away from becoming pirates our selves."

He hoped the drow understood and asked "would you hunt?" Cain asked still mulling the entire situation in his head. A wagon had stopped near the ship and began unloading the last skeins of wool for the ship. The next loads would be for the crews individual purchases and of course there was also the provisions for the crew even if the ship was going on a two week cruise shoe would be loaded with enough provisions for the crew for six months.

"By the way, if you are interested in making some extra money I have room for seven and a half tons of more cargo. If you would like to ship any thing in bulk let me know and we'll help you out." It was an offer given to each one of his crew including him self which he had ordered nearly five hundred pounds of fine porcelain.

[Izvilvin]

Izvilvin watched Cain carefully while he spoke, seeing the thoughtfulness of his eyes and the subtle tweaks of his face during those pauses. The Captain wasn't so sure about the endeavor, Izvilvin could see, but the drow also knew that he wouldn't be receiving this information unless the human was strongly considering the idea.

Pirates. Thieves. Murderers. Izvilvin was familiar with them, but his encounters with the sea rogues were limited to Scara Brae many years ago, and occurred on land. They were trying to take advantage of a small fishing village's good season, demanding their excess profits. He grimaced as the memories flooded back, taking him from the moment temporarily.

At Cain's question the drow scoffed, nimbly tilting his body and dropping onto the dock from his perch on the barrel. "I have hunted much," he responded, crossing his arms and meeting Cain's gaze with his violet eyes. "For pirates, I will hunt again. And I would be joyed to be at sea once more."

Izvilvin didn't feel any strong concern about Cain's thoughts, though he allowed a train of thought to run through his mind. Hunting pirates sounded like a noble gesture, but the drow didn't know any of the details of them. What were they guilty of? Whom had they wronged? The warrior decided these were questions for later, and he would allow Cain time to gather his own thoughts on the matter. Time would give him clarity, Izvilvin knew, for the human was a decisive sort.

As for money, Izvilvin could merely shrug. He had no use for gold besides using it for food and shelter. "I do not explore the merchant life," he said after a long pause, searching for words which came slowly. He lifted his arms and looked down, as if presenting himself to Cain for appraisal, his cloak opening with the movement. "These are the things that belong to me."

It was indeed true. Mjolnir and Icicle, each claiming a hip, were accompanied by Izvilvin's breastplate, two sai, several daggers of different types, and a handful of other weapons strapped to the dark elf's limbs. Everything that he owned was attached to his body in one shape or form, within easy reach of his deft fingers.

But from the corner of his eye, something caught his attention. He looked over to the main area of the port, where barrels were being wheeled down toward the city proper. "But," he thought, "a cask of d'jhinrae and a cask of ale, for the trip and for your crew, I will buy."

He smiled at Cain and hesitated, briefly, his mouth twisting up. "Or two."

OOC: That weird word means wine

[jdd2035]

Cain nodded and replied "We'll be sailing with the tide....It'll be another two hours." With that Cain after giving the blessing about the booze departed for the next two hours taking care of other business and the like.

Upon his return the last of the ships stores, were being loaded and jolly boats were being loaded into the water and rowed out with a cable attached between the boats and the ship. The Peregrine herself was quite a bit lower in that water having a full belly of cargo and provisions including ale and wine from Izvilvin's generosity. There was already the feeling of life in the ship the gentle vibration of the water pressing against the keel, the sound of the holy stones scraping against the decks, the splash of water against the side, the whistle of the breeze against the ropes and the crew keeping one another organized through boatswains piping, and cadences coming from the hauling crews.

Besides Izvilvin Cain had ten other lubbers join his crew they were all directed to different lines where they could add to the labor but not cause much in the way of the problems if they messed up. Every one on the ship was in their place as the Peregrine was slowly towed out to sea. The jolly boats were hauled in and for several minutes the Peregrine had remained some what stationary. The moderate airs began to push at her stern and made her yaw around. Cain smiled letting the breeze waft at his hair and then gave the order "We shall profit from these airs. Make Sail!" The boatswain starting the crew to work shouting orders and the crew began to rush about the ship; climbing the ratlines and working their way out onto the yards. With each order given and piped by the boatswain the ship began to get underway.

To the uninitiated a lubber is just that uninitiated more specifically they are people who have grown up on land and know little or nothing about ocean life and seamanship. It is not a bad thing but it does have a stigma attached to it. Most lubbers become ordinary seamen in short order or leave after a cruise. Either way lubbers don't stay lubbers for long.

With each sail unfurled the Peregrine surged forward gaining speed and the sound of ropes and blocks creaking and the masts straining as they were pushed forward before the hull could catch up. Cain felt the back stays and they were iron tight which at the moment they should be and he was pleased he had opted for manila cordage instead of traditional hemp. The Peregrine began to catch up with her sails and start moving in earnest.

Finally the back stays relaxed and gave some slack the Peregrine caught up with her self and Cain asked "present speed?" A log was thrown into the water clear of the wake and a midshipman called out "six knots four!" Cain smiled and nodded "Not bad for these airs lets make it eight. Set the cruise and top stun'sls." A few moments later on either said of the sails a new spar was extended and a sail was attached and the ship gained even more speed. The log was thrown in once again and was registered at eight knots six. It was quite the respectable for a ship like the peregrine.

[Shinsou Vaan Osiris]

Congratulations!

JDD has chosen to convert earned EXP to GP, and receives 440 GP

Izvilvin receives 465 EXP and 35 GP

[Shinsou Vaan Osiris]

All rewards have been added!