Maximino Roldán – the mariner who’d drunkenly fired the shot the night before – had dark angry eyes and sun-darkened carob-colored skin. He also took immaculate care of his sharp triangular beard and narrow mustache. He was possibly Firgovian by birth, but it was hard to tell and could mean anything in the Sundered Isles. Regardless, he didn’t strike Rhys as a man to make a drunken accident. Apparently, he also didn’t remember any of the incident, worse his contrition seemed put on, even as he was being bound to the main mast for a flogging.
Corporal punishment was distasteful at best of times, yet it was grimly effective. At least most of the time. The hardened look in Roldán’s eyes, a flint-like hardness absent of regret, was a further – though unneeded – warning. All it took was a glance at Bryn to know the bosun had seen the same look in the mariner’s eyes and had similar thoughts on the matter.
However, the needs of the ship were more pressing than contemplating a sailor filled with anger after receiving a flogging. Putting it out of his mind and heading towards the sterncastle railing, Captain Silverthrone watched the sails filling with the morning sea breeze. Plots and headings were needed and Mister Lake and his sextant were already waiting.
Undertake an Expedition w/ Edge (4, 2, 3+3), Strong Hit. Voyage Progress 6 of 10. Vow Progress: Letter of Marq 3 of 10.
What began as a breeze soon became a series of gusts that snapped the sails and rigging taught. A weather eye familiar with the sea knew it was a sign of a weather change and by mid-afternoon, there was a darkening in the sky behind them, a sure sign that a storm was forming. Only time would tell if it was a matter of concern.
Undertake an Expedition w/ Edge (6, 10, 2+3), Miss. Use Crew. Weak Hit. -1 Command [+2]. Voyage Progress 8 of 10. Vow Progress: Letter of Marq 4 of 10. -1 Momentum [+8] & -1 Integrity [+3]. Withstand Damage w/ Integrity (3, 3, 2+3), Strong Hit. +1 Integrity [+4]. Oracle says roll twice: Changing Weather and Sail Ho! Storm Obstacle, we’re going to have to escape the storm.
The crew of the Rose kept ahead of the storm, racing ahead of its gusts of fury, for the better part of a day; but it caught them in the middle of the night. The plan had been to keep enough sail to steer but little more and hold the sturdy craftsmanship of the Cardiff Rose to ride out the storm. The plan had worked in that they were still afloat and the Rose had barely protested the rough treatment. The storm, however, continued to cast them about and they were undoubtably far off course. Despite being carried for most of a day, the storm had not let them go.
With a flash of determination, Captain Silverthorne stalked to the wheel of the Cardiff Rose. “Bosun!” His below carried over the howling winds and down the maindeck. “Hoist sail, we’ll fight free of the storm!”
Bryn nodded once, matching his determination to the captains and called the crew into action, scurrying up lines and ladders to unfurl sails and get the Rose underway.
Face Danger w/ Iron (10, 3, 6+2), Weak Hit. -1 Momentum (+7). Vow Progress: Make the Cardiff Rose my own 6 of 10.
The storm hurled winds against them, but it only served to power their escape. Tacking or jibing as the ever-changing wind required, Rhys struggled at the wheel. Slowly – as if wrestling open one finger of the storm’s closed fist after another – Silverthorne worked the ship free. When the darkened sky of the storm was in their wake and the clear blue sky filled the horizon the crew let out a collective sigh of relief.
One of the deckhands, he wasn’t sure which one let out a spontaneous exclamation. “Three cheers for the Thorne and the Rose! Huzzah!” The cheer was picked up by others, but Rhys noted it was a mixed response. All we glad to be free of the storm, but some clearly thought the situation had been the captain’s fault in the first place. Taking off his tricorn, Silverthorne bowed deeply to his crew. He knew full well that their escape had been as much their doing as his, he needed to do more to win the trust and confidence. Rising he touched the iron bangle at his wrist and swore the oath on iron.
Swear an Iron Vow w/ Heart (8, 8, 1+2), Miss. Must overcome a significant threat. Enter the Fray w/ Heart (2, 5, 4+2), Strong Hit. +2 Momentum [+10].
Rhys had a thought of how winning the crew’s trust might begin that very moment, but as he rose from the bow he saw Maximino Roldán determinedly marching up the stairs to the sterncastle.
“You stood the wheel while we did the work to get out of a situation we shouldn’t have been in.” Roldán’s anger made his accent thick. “You might as well have sailed us straight into the storm.”
Silverthorne calmly refixed his tricorn and stood Bryn down with a small shake of his head. This was a challenge he needed to deal with directly. “You didn’t come up here to debate. Is there something I can help you with Mister Roldán?”
The Firgovian spit, a glob of phlegm hitting the deck between them. “You can do the ship a favor and die!” Spitting the last word, Roldán’s hand dropped to the cutlass at his waist.
As a significant threat, Roldán should likely be Formidable. Also, I don’t think the Crew talent should be able to be used. Enter the Fray w/ Heart (2, 5, 4+2), Strong Hit. +2 Momentum [+10]. Strike w/ Iron + Blade Master (6, 1, 3+2+1), Weak Hit. Mark Progress Twice, 2 of 10. In a bad spot.
Expecting the attack, Rhys’s sword cleared the scabbard first. The drawing cut sliced through the mutineer’s shirt and torso, but it didn’t drive him back. Roldán rotated his torso out of the way of the cut and drove in with a shoulder as his cutlass cleared its sheath.
Backed up against the sterncastle’s railing, Silverthorne planted his feat and fell into a familiar stance. Poised and ready he waited, smiling. It was the smile that did it, Roldán unleashed an inarticulate yell and charged in with a wild swipe.
React Under Fire w/ Edge (8, 2, 6+3), Strong Hit. In Control, +1 Momentum [+10]. Strike w/ Iron + Blade Master (10, 3, 1+2+1), Weak Hit. Mark Progress Twice, 4 of 10. In a bad spot. Clash w/ Iron + Blade Master (3, 3, 5+2+1), Strong Hit w/ Match. Mark Progress Twice and Once more for Blade Master due to the match 7 of 10.
With a blinding well-timed beat, Rhys knocked his opponent’s curved blade out of the line of attack and grabbed at the wrist of Roldán’s sword arm. With a sidestep and a savage yank, he sent the mutineer off balance and reeling toward the sterncastle railing. Swiping at his back as he went by, Rhys opened the back of Roldán’s jacket and cut across the still-angry lashes from the flogging.
Roldán went tumbling over the sterncastle railing – half out of control and half to get distance – and tumbling down to the main deck below. Vaulting the railing, Rhys followed close behind. A shifting of the ship under them caused Rhys to land hard and the Firgovian was on his feat first, hacking at his prone opponent.
The saber flicked out, its point cutting cleanly across Roldán’s shin, slicing through trousers, skin, and muscle to clip through bone. As the mutineer stumbled, Reese rose rapidly slashing at exposed limbs, darting around the feeble guard and leaving deep wounds in legs and arms.
Take Decisive Actions w/ Progress (4, 2, [7]), Strong Hit. +1 Momentum [10]. Is Roldan remorseful or fearful? Oracle says: Nope. Vow Progress: Make the Cardiff Rose your own 8 of 10.
On his knees and bracing himself upright with his left arm, Roldán struggled to defend himself in a growing puddle of his own blood. With a final deft strike, Captain Silverthorne struck the cutlass from his hand. Struggling to not collapse to the deck, Maximino Roldán definitely looked up at the Captain, with angry eyes he opened his mouth to speak.
Captain Rhys Elias Silverthorne stabbed him in the throat, no words escaped only a rasping choking sound. With a flick of the wrist, the sword whipped out the side of the man’s neck. The mutineer fell sideways into the crimson pool of his draining blood, sputtering and gasping for air.
The smile he’d worn throughout the fight faded and Rhys found that he was angry at the dying man. It hadn’t needed to come to this and he wondered what he’d done to earn this man’s hate. Somewhere he knew the anger had more to do with Roldán than it did with him, but that knowledge was of little help. “We are in this together.” He started speaking, addressing those around, without knowing what he would say next or what he hoped to gain. “I did not save us from the storm by myself any more than I captured the Hāi-Mā on my own. We are a crew and we rely on each other. We all have a role to play and this was wasteful.” He motioned the corpse in front of him, the light had gone out of the eyes and the body cooled rapidly in sea air. “We are a man down now, our burden is that much heavier. Taking his eyes from the mutineer’s body, he looked at the circle of crewmembers that stood around him. “There is no more dueling while we are at sea. Grievances are only to be handled when we make landfall. This is a law among us now.” It had been a law under Haakonsen as well, but such things needed to be codified. A new charter would need to be drawn up, that would help. With another flick of his wrist, he cleaned his blade sending blood drops over the side of the ship. “Bosun, have someone clean the deck. Something died here.”
Secure an Advantage w/ Heart (9, 9, 4+2), Miss. Burn Momentum, Reset [+2]. Strong Hit. +2 Momentum [+4], and +1 Forward. Vow Progress: Gain the crew’s trust 2 of 10.
Maximino Roldán was given a burial at sea, with no honors or words spoken, it was a quiet and somber moment, but it was right to follow the formality of the affair. He’d paid for his misdeed with his life, further disgracing his corpse would simply have been petty. As his body slid into the water, the watch called out that they spotted masts on the horizon. Masts but no sails, perhaps another survivor of the storm but one that had not been as fortunate as the Rose?
Explore Waypoint w/ Wits (3, 5, 5+1), Strong Hit. +2 Momentum [+6]. Swear an Iron Vow w/ Heart (6, 3, 6+2). Strong Hit. +2 Momentum [+8]. Find Guelderland’s Treaser – Formidable.
The ship had been battered, first by cannon balls and then by the storm. She bore the name Guelderland but had no one to crew her. When the crew had abandoned it, or been taken off it, was unclear. The boarding party reported that she was taking on water and they were adamant that repairs wouldn’t make her sea-worthy. While provisions and stores had already been raided or taken when the crew abandoned the ship. The boarding party had however returned with the captain’s log and a number of maps, though all were in a language that could not be read by anyone aboard the Cardiff Rose. One map was of particular note, it had no names and yet was drawn with immaculate care and precision. A route was marked upon it, complete with coastlines and landmarks. Rhys’ instinct told him it was a map to something valuable and each time he caught sight of the map out of the corner of his eye as he moved about his cabin, his curiosity was kindled anew until at last he touched the iron bangle on his wrist and swore an oath on iron to find Guelderland’s treasure.
Undertake an Expedition w/ Edge (3, 6, 1+3), Weak Hit. Voyage Progress 10 of 10. Finish an Expedition w/ Progress (2, 3, [10]). Mark Progress 2 ticks on the Legacy Discovery Track. Vow Progress: Letter of Marq 5 of 10.
In the early days of the Firgovian Regency, when they had first arrived in the Sundered Isles, they’d found a freshwater spring that came up out the top of a granite cliff that overlooked the ocean. They’d built a fountain on that spot, fed by the spring, and then a castle around it and a port beneath it. Or at least, that is how the story went. Regardless of the history, Castillo Delafuente was one of the oldest Firgovian settlements in the region. Much of their power was projected from this fortified port, or at least it had been. With the assassination of their King, their focus, attention, and many of the ships had turned back towards their homeland across the sea. Most of the ships in port weren’t flying Firgovian colors, most were independent ships like the Cardiff Rose: merchant galleons, pirate frigates, and a lone emissary from the Hand of Theya were moored at the docks or lay at anchor in the bay.
Likely one of the last to arrive, docks and piers were full and the Cardiff Rose and her crew had to content herself with laying at anchor in the bay. The ship’s old pinnace would need to be used to row any crew and cargo back and forth between ships and port.
Leaving Bosun Bryn in charge of the ship, Silverthorne, Lake, and a few of the crew went to shore in the pinnace’s first of many trips. It was easy enough to find a warehouse where they could offload the goods stored aboard the Cardiff Rose and Rhys assigned the task to Lake. Then it was off to find an in with a good bath and quick laundry. The official ball started that evening and other captains had at least several days to make inroads before the event. If Rhys was to have a seat at the proverbial – possible literal – table, he’d need to work fast and make a good impression.
I’m debating on whether this is Secure an Advantage of Check Gear. I’m going with the latter because this is more about having enough coin than it is about Rhys’s charisma. Check Gear w/ Supply (10, 5, 3+5), Weak Hit. +1 Momentum [+9] & -1 Supply [+4].
The inn was hospitable, the warm bath a luxury, and the clothes service both proficient and quick. It cost a pretty penny. If it helped him get into the ball though, it would be worth it.
With his gift wrapped and tucked under one arm, Silverthorne walked towards the gates of the Castillo Delafuente. There were a few who walked, but most were arriving by a near-constant stream of carriages. First impressions, being important, Rhys tried to flag one of the leaving carriages down. Perhaps they would mind the short trip back up to the castle gates, for a bit of coin of course.
Secure an Advantage w/ Heart (5, 9, 1+2), Miss. Pay the Price. You are Stressed, -1 Spirit (+4). Fail Track 4 of 40. Endure Stress w/ Spirit (6, 8, 1+4), Miss. -2 Momentum (+7).
Not only did the carriage not slow down, they sped up and aimed a wheel at a murky puddle. Splashed with mud and his outfit ruined until thoroughly cleaned, Rhys contemplated firing a pistol shot at the driver, but had not brought his pistols with him. He’d thought black powder would have been in bad taste. Frustrated, dispirited, and angry, he stomped back to his inn for a rapid change of garments. His arrival would have to fall into the fashionably late category.
~fin
- Quests:
- Become Governor Silverthorne [Extreme] 0/20
- Acquire Letter of Marque and Reprisal [Formidable] – 5 of 10
- Make the Cardiff Rose your own [Dangerous] – 8 of 10
- Gain the trust and confidence of the Rose’s Crew [Dangerous] – 2/10
- Find Guelderland’s Treasure [Formidable] – 0/10
- Failure Track – 4/40
- Failure Track – 4/40
- Connections:
- Governor Haakonsen of Black Rock [Formidable] – 0/10
- Governor Haakonsen of Black Rock [Formidable] – 0/10
- Discoveries:
- Voyage to Castillo Delafuente [Dangerous] – 2 Ticks
Legacy Tracks
Quests: 0/40 Bonds: 0/40 Discoveries: 2/40
Rhys Elias Silverthorne
Health +5 Spirit +4 Supply +4 Momentum +7 XP: 0/0
Edge: 3 Heart: 2 Iron: 2 Shadow: 1 Wits: 1
Cardiff Rose
Integrity: +4 Hold: +5 Command/Crew +2
Assets:
Path: Crew Commander, Blade Master, Socialite
Wayfarer Stories 