Posted April 27, 2024
Devin closed the door to Aeshma's shop and left the witch and the spectral Felinoids to their work. Rousing accordion music and drunken voices were coming from the Gun Deck, but he headed for his cabin, wanting to keep a clear mind for what lay ahead. He sat on his bunk, deep in thought about what he had learned. Shock and confusion had almost overwhelmed him when Aeshma had blurted out that the High Queen of the Banshee be Aylar's familiar! And that be under a charm when she should not be able to lie! He knew the surprise must have shown briefly in his eyes before he got everything back under control, but with such a fantastic claim he could be forgiven a bit of shock. Captain Aylar may have claimed the siren, but he was not a mage. He was certainly not one of such power to be able to bind the extremely powerful High Queen of the Banshee to himself! In the space of seconds Devin's mind had spun wildly with the implications of possible shadowy omnipotent machinations and Council schemes as he sat the lovely witch down and carefully untangled her tale.
He couldn't deny he still didn't like the truth of it, or at least the truth as Aeshma believed it to be - and she believed his lady phoenix was now Captain Aylar's familiar. Devin had the results of his query. He knew Aylar the Red Mane now. The question became what did Aylar know, and what did Aylar want. Did his Lady of Stars know? What be ye getting us into this time, M'Lady? Aeshma had sworn his lady had accepted Aylar and the name he bestowed. His lady had cause to know that name well, but if Captain Aylar even slightly thought to make her a prize won he would soon learn differently. He laughed softly. It would be just like his lady's sense of humor to go along with it just to see when the High Queen's grandson might put things together and realize just who he'd gotten himself bonded to. it seemed his Lady of Stars had a special talent for causing disruption in the Banshee High Court. He had no doubt that should any in the Courts challenge Captain Aylar over it though, that Court would find itself in for a refresher lesson on the inadvisability of pissing off a phoenix - especially this phoenix. Devin was almost sorry he wouldn't be there to see it. It could be a dangerous game, but one with possibilities.
Still, why had she not called on him for this? No, that was unfair. He knew why. Just as he knew, hoped, that she didn't know what he'd hidden so deeply for so long. Could it be she didn't realize it was a bond and not just a link? Be that it, M'Lady? Didst ye not tell him how to Call ye apurpose, or doth ye not realize what ye and he hath done? Either way, like it or not, until Devin could break her free and determine the ramifications of it all, he had to protect them both - and hope his goddess approved.
The next day Devin helped Aeshma and the others unload the Ship as the Crew moved to the Dragon Turtle's Island. The Black Emanuelle and Count Karnstein should be arriving tomorrow with his dwarven carpenter and the Ship was scheduled to be beached for those repairs. They worked quickly. Another ship had been spotted which looked to arrive sooner and they both knew a Council ship with the replacement Guide and a possible captain was due very soon. Devin did not trust the Council ship, or what they might try with the Crew. It was lucky that Kyp had returned and had such a friendly rapport with the Dragon Turtle. With Pugwash missing and with the Council threat on the horizon, he had persuaded the Crew it was better to stay on Dragon Turtle Island rather than possibly trap themselves in the Grotto. The Council ship and crew would not chance angering an elder Dragon Turtle, and Count Karnstein's carpenter could be employed repairing the pier and buildings for Kyp and the Crew.
As the sun sank, painting the sky with brilliant fire, and the last of the Crew's items were offloaded, Devin turned to Aeshma. "The Count be a Brethren Captain," he told her. "Be that so, once he be here any Council officials are required by their rules and the Code to deal with him in all matters of the Crew until Captain Aylar returneth. Mighty is an honorary Warchief on Monkey Island. They wilt have to face him, Monkey and the cannibals if ye go to the village, so let them keep ye defended if ye need go there." He thought of the Count's meeting with Beckett. "Lastly, doth not trust the Council nor anyone who tries to get the Crew to leave the Dragon Turtle until Captain Aylar or the Admiral tell ye."
She nodded while looking at him with worried eyes. He knew she understood it would be dangerous, but he had not let her know how dangerous. His Lady of Stars had called him for a reason, and he now knew that reason. The 'living' Crew could not sail the seas they would sail, nor walk the otherworldly paths Devin would now walk, protected by his goddess. Aeshma had prepared and left a small stock of potions for healing and curing and some resistances. He had not told her they could not help him where he was going. Only the special ingredient he had requested from her would be needed ... and it was not to be for him.
"Doth ye read the humans' classics, divine one?" He smiled at her puzzled nod. Bowing over her hand he brushed the back of it softly with his lips as she carefully dropped the small vial he had requested from her hand into his own. "Then 'With my shield or on it,' lovely Aeshma," he quoted. "I shalt return with M'lady, or not at all."
Devin winked at Aeshma mischievously as she climbed down to the waiting catamaran and cast off. His gaze turned to the darkening sky. Tonight was the first night of the full moon. His time of biding was over and he was eager to get to it at last. He retrieved his lute from his cabin and returned to the deck, watching as the moon rose until it seemed to barely touch the sea. Running his fingers lightly over his braid he softly whispered a chant as he walked to the forecastle railing. Out on the horizon his half-elven eyes spotted the sails of a ship flying the Council's flag. They were out of time. Looking over his shoulder he signaled to Cap'n Rummyfangs at the wheel and returned the Felinoid's bare-fanged grin. He watched Sensei climb to the crow's nest. At Cap'n Rummyfangs' command the ghostly crew the Aasimir witch had called upon last night swarmed onto the deck to raise the anchor, hoist her colors and unfurl the sails.
He thought again of the words Aeshma had said his lady had spoken. Deep within him the predator stirred and his gaze grew more intense as his grin broadened. Knowing what he knew now, he rather thought Aylar would not let vengeance rest. Devin certainly would not, and her request had not been made to him. Let the Council come. Without the Ship as hostage, which harbored the Crew's spirits now secure, and with Captain Aylar and the Crew out of their reach, the Council was thwarted.
He smirked as he gave a two-fingered impudent salute across the water to a swearing Captain Jac on the deck of her ship. She knew they wouldn't be able to follow him. Play nice indeed. Ye shouldst have known better, Captain Jac. I be not playing. They shalt not take her Ship, They shalt not take her Captain, They shalt not take her Crew - and they most certainly shalt not take M'Lady. There be only two ladies that command me loyalty, me goddess and me Lady of Stars - and whilst one holds me life, the other wilt forever haveth me heart.
Turning his gaze forward once more, Devin bowed deeply to Her and then straightened as his moonstone earring glowed with the moon's reflected light and the silver runes on his lute drank in Her power. This would be the easiest part. Strumming his lute, he sang in a clear melodious voice, keeping his eyes on Her as a moonlit path illuminated the waves and his goddess opened the Way.
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ooc: Devin's suggestion of Dragon Turtle Island to keep the Crew safe was GM dice approved.
Aylar, apologies for stealing the Ship without permission, but I require it for my task. Alas, the opportunity to thwart the Council be just too good to pass up. I do plan to return it. Talk to the GM's dice if I fail. I be enjoying that you've managed to cause an incident that be majorly inconveniencing the High Council from the old campaign. Well done!
He couldn't deny he still didn't like the truth of it, or at least the truth as Aeshma believed it to be - and she believed his lady phoenix was now Captain Aylar's familiar. Devin had the results of his query. He knew Aylar the Red Mane now. The question became what did Aylar know, and what did Aylar want. Did his Lady of Stars know? What be ye getting us into this time, M'Lady? Aeshma had sworn his lady had accepted Aylar and the name he bestowed. His lady had cause to know that name well, but if Captain Aylar even slightly thought to make her a prize won he would soon learn differently. He laughed softly. It would be just like his lady's sense of humor to go along with it just to see when the High Queen's grandson might put things together and realize just who he'd gotten himself bonded to. it seemed his Lady of Stars had a special talent for causing disruption in the Banshee High Court. He had no doubt that should any in the Courts challenge Captain Aylar over it though, that Court would find itself in for a refresher lesson on the inadvisability of pissing off a phoenix - especially this phoenix. Devin was almost sorry he wouldn't be there to see it. It could be a dangerous game, but one with possibilities.
Still, why had she not called on him for this? No, that was unfair. He knew why. Just as he knew, hoped, that she didn't know what he'd hidden so deeply for so long. Could it be she didn't realize it was a bond and not just a link? Be that it, M'Lady? Didst ye not tell him how to Call ye apurpose, or doth ye not realize what ye and he hath done? Either way, like it or not, until Devin could break her free and determine the ramifications of it all, he had to protect them both - and hope his goddess approved.
The next day Devin helped Aeshma and the others unload the Ship as the Crew moved to the Dragon Turtle's Island. The Black Emanuelle and Count Karnstein should be arriving tomorrow with his dwarven carpenter and the Ship was scheduled to be beached for those repairs. They worked quickly. Another ship had been spotted which looked to arrive sooner and they both knew a Council ship with the replacement Guide and a possible captain was due very soon. Devin did not trust the Council ship, or what they might try with the Crew. It was lucky that Kyp had returned and had such a friendly rapport with the Dragon Turtle. With Pugwash missing and with the Council threat on the horizon, he had persuaded the Crew it was better to stay on Dragon Turtle Island rather than possibly trap themselves in the Grotto. The Council ship and crew would not chance angering an elder Dragon Turtle, and Count Karnstein's carpenter could be employed repairing the pier and buildings for Kyp and the Crew.
As the sun sank, painting the sky with brilliant fire, and the last of the Crew's items were offloaded, Devin turned to Aeshma. "The Count be a Brethren Captain," he told her. "Be that so, once he be here any Council officials are required by their rules and the Code to deal with him in all matters of the Crew until Captain Aylar returneth. Mighty is an honorary Warchief on Monkey Island. They wilt have to face him, Monkey and the cannibals if ye go to the village, so let them keep ye defended if ye need go there." He thought of the Count's meeting with Beckett. "Lastly, doth not trust the Council nor anyone who tries to get the Crew to leave the Dragon Turtle until Captain Aylar or the Admiral tell ye."
She nodded while looking at him with worried eyes. He knew she understood it would be dangerous, but he had not let her know how dangerous. His Lady of Stars had called him for a reason, and he now knew that reason. The 'living' Crew could not sail the seas they would sail, nor walk the otherworldly paths Devin would now walk, protected by his goddess. Aeshma had prepared and left a small stock of potions for healing and curing and some resistances. He had not told her they could not help him where he was going. Only the special ingredient he had requested from her would be needed ... and it was not to be for him.
"Doth ye read the humans' classics, divine one?" He smiled at her puzzled nod. Bowing over her hand he brushed the back of it softly with his lips as she carefully dropped the small vial he had requested from her hand into his own. "Then 'With my shield or on it,' lovely Aeshma," he quoted. "I shalt return with M'lady, or not at all."
Devin winked at Aeshma mischievously as she climbed down to the waiting catamaran and cast off. His gaze turned to the darkening sky. Tonight was the first night of the full moon. His time of biding was over and he was eager to get to it at last. He retrieved his lute from his cabin and returned to the deck, watching as the moon rose until it seemed to barely touch the sea. Running his fingers lightly over his braid he softly whispered a chant as he walked to the forecastle railing. Out on the horizon his half-elven eyes spotted the sails of a ship flying the Council's flag. They were out of time. Looking over his shoulder he signaled to Cap'n Rummyfangs at the wheel and returned the Felinoid's bare-fanged grin. He watched Sensei climb to the crow's nest. At Cap'n Rummyfangs' command the ghostly crew the Aasimir witch had called upon last night swarmed onto the deck to raise the anchor, hoist her colors and unfurl the sails.
He thought again of the words Aeshma had said his lady had spoken. Deep within him the predator stirred and his gaze grew more intense as his grin broadened. Knowing what he knew now, he rather thought Aylar would not let vengeance rest. Devin certainly would not, and her request had not been made to him. Let the Council come. Without the Ship as hostage, which harbored the Crew's spirits now secure, and with Captain Aylar and the Crew out of their reach, the Council was thwarted.
He smirked as he gave a two-fingered impudent salute across the water to a swearing Captain Jac on the deck of her ship. She knew they wouldn't be able to follow him. Play nice indeed. Ye shouldst have known better, Captain Jac. I be not playing. They shalt not take her Ship, They shalt not take her Captain, They shalt not take her Crew - and they most certainly shalt not take M'Lady. There be only two ladies that command me loyalty, me goddess and me Lady of Stars - and whilst one holds me life, the other wilt forever haveth me heart.
Turning his gaze forward once more, Devin bowed deeply to Her and then straightened as his moonstone earring glowed with the moon's reflected light and the silver runes on his lute drank in Her power. This would be the easiest part. Strumming his lute, he sang in a clear melodious voice, keeping his eyes on Her as a moonlit path illuminated the waves and his goddess opened the Way.
=========
ooc: Devin's suggestion of Dragon Turtle Island to keep the Crew safe was GM dice approved.
Aylar, apologies for stealing the Ship without permission, but I require it for my task. Alas, the opportunity to thwart the Council be just too good to pass up. I do plan to return it. Talk to the GM's dice if I fail. I be enjoying that you've managed to cause an incident that be majorly inconveniencing the High Council from the old campaign. Well done!