[o] Marauders

Silver dollar, golden flame
Dirty water, poison rain
Perfect murder, take your aim

The storm overhead made great cover as Thal and her crew maneuvered out of Jack Tar Landing. With the approaching Deepfrost and the past few months of minimal activity, the men were thirsty for action, and who was she to deny them? They needed to restock their coffers, and they could all do with a win, herself included. 

They sailed around the Brizo Sea, heading in the direction of Torchline but taking their time as they kept their eyes peeled for any other vessels. The crew was especially chipper, singing shanties as they tied riggings and adjusted sails. Strong winds and dark clouds rolled in along with an echoing thunder that shook the wood beneath their feet. None of the men were fazed, familiar with the section of perpetual lightning storms. In fact, it made it easier to hunt for targets, disguising their approach until it was too late. 

The crow gave the signal for a ship in the distance the same moment Thal spotted the white sails. From what she could tell, it was a merchant ship, perfect for looting. It sat low in the water, heavy with the burden of goods. She shared a smile with her first mate, knowing that they were about to see some action. He immediately knew what that meant, moving about the ship to prepare the crew. Steering them towards their target, she let out a long whistle to raise the flag. While it was usually hidden under a loose plank, but the sailors soon had it flapping in the windy rain. Its Jolly Roger stood stark against the black fabric despite the darkness of the storm, a doomed warning to the people aboard the other ship of what awaited them. The Marauder was too fast for them to avoid, but they'd be able to prepare their people to be boarded. 

Thal grinned, passing off the wheel to another while she met her men at the starboard railing. A flash of her fangs and the branding of her daggers was enough to send the men into a battle cry, adrenaline bouncing throughout the group. It was intoxicating, and she relished in the anticipation of the events to come.

I don't belong to anyone,
but everybody knows my name

Thalassa

kaiden

There is no shame in survival
Only strength

Kaiden was swimming beneath the waves when the water above them was stirred. Glancing upwards, the mershark's eyes widened as the sky darkened. No, wait. It was a ship. A massive ship. The current was disrupted and the mer rotated to avoid being pushed backwards into a spike-laden coral. It was a second ship.

Intending to leave the ships to their meet and greet, Kaiden began to dive down. At least until screams reached their ears. The sounds were muffled by the water and the fact that they could even reach the mer at their depth was alarming. Growling under their breath, the mer debated their course of action. Clearly, something was amiss, and they did not want to get caught up in any drama. But their curiosity said that a simple peek couldn't hurt.

With a thrashing tail, Kaiden ascended through the water. The sounds of chaos grew louder before becoming a raucous cry as the top of the men's head breached the surface. As the water lapped at the bridge of their nose, Kaiden glared at the two ships. With a quick scan, it became apparent just what was happening. Pirates.

Eyes brightening, the mer eagerly began to swim towards the merchant ship. If the merchants were busy with the pirates, surely a single mer could snag something for themselves? They circled the smaller ship, looking for an opening.

coding by kaons

Silver dollar, golden flame
Dirty water, poison rain
Perfect murder, take your aim

The poor merchant ship barely put up a fight. 

Most of the crew lowered the wooden planks to board the vessel while a few over-eager sailors flew across on ropes, whooping and hollering as they landed among the terrified passengers. The opposing crew had a handful of 'brave' souls who decided they might stand a chance against the pirates. They lunged forward, angry and reckless. Sadly, for them, their eyes gave them away, wide and darting between attackers. It made her men laugh as they circled like bloodthirsty sharks. She'd let them have their fun while she dealt with the goods. She might even join later if she was in the mood. 

Putting on her 'terrifying pirate captain' persona, Thal walked across the plank. Her hair whipped in the wind like a Jolly Rodger of its own, her dark horns glinting in a flash of lightning. The blue of her eyes seemed to glow with an unearthly fire of violence and rage. The edge of her daggers caught the light, making people flinch with images of the pain they may cause them, even though she had no intentions of doing so. Yet. She was the Blood Pirate Captain incarnate.

Thal hadn't noticed the mermaid circling below, and she probably wouldn't have cared if she had. As she stepped onto the deck of the merchant ship, she flicked her wrist for a group to follow her. A singular man appeared to be the owner of the vessel, the nice coat and hat giving him away as much as the hopeful looks thrown his way. She knelt before him with a sharp grin and pointing knife. "Lead me to your valuables and I might let the rest of you live." Her head tilted as she let him make the decision, knowing it was the best he'd get. It was already too late for the uprisers, but maybe he could spare the innocents. They were only after the goods anyways. 

The man looked to his people, shaking with fear. His crooked teeth came out to bite his lip. A whimper might have even escaped, not that she could hear it over the shouts and clanging of metal around them. She thought he might decline her offer, leaving her to search the ship herself, however, he turned out to be smarter than his dimwit face suggested. His head bobbed in a shaky nod that made her smile. "Good choice. Now lead the way." Lifting him by the armpit despite her shorter frame, Thal shoved him forward, waiting for him to stumble towards the cargo hold, and their treasure.

I don't belong to anyone,
but everybody knows my name

Thalassa

*insert Jaw's theme song*

Kaiden's ears perked up at the word, 'valuables'. Silently following the gorup along the flank of the ship, they waited until the soudn of footsteps stopped. Laying a hand on the bottom of the ship, the captain inched closer and pressed their against the wood to determine exactly where the pirate captain and merchant were.

Once the mer had found the perfect spot, they turned and put a small distance between them and the ship. Taking a breath, Kaiden grinned and shifted, letting the sleek and powerful form of a tigershark take their place. With a thrash of their tail, the mer slammed into the bottom of the boat, right beneath the group in the hull. A small crack appeared and the mer continued their assault, slamming into the wood and biting at it to try and rip a hole in the hull.

They couldn't enter the ship, but Kaiden could rip a hole in it and let the change in pressure suck the goodies out of it.

KAIDEN

code by sky

Silver dollar, golden flame
Dirty water, poison rain
Perfect murder, take your aim

The moment her foot hit the hull of the ship, it shook, the vibrations rattling through her along with the sound of a dull thud. Her eyes narrowed as she paused to take in the scene. The shivering merchant stood next to her along with her first mate, Spook, who looked equally shaken by the sudden bump. Her own crew knew well enough to avoid crashing the ships into each other, and it hadn't felt like that was the case. But then where had the impact come from?

A small trickle of water led her eyes to a crack spreading across the wood near some crates and a locked chest. Before she could give any kind of direction to secure the treasure, another slam wracked the wooden vessel, and she could've sworn she saw teeth poke through the hull. She might have pushed aside the worry if the water hadn't started pouring from the cracks with alarming speed. 

Jumping into action, she grabbed the merchant's arm, shoving him upstairs. "Get your people on your lifeboat! Now!" Shock and fear made him freeze for a moment, trying to decide whether she was being merciful or not. Perhaps it was a little of that mixed with the need to rid herself of any dead weight as she dragged Spook towards the chest. "Grab that end." Despite his thin frame, he moved with surprising speed and strength, helping her lift the heavy container towards the stairs. A pang of disappointment for the other valuables potentially lost was shoved down as she prioritized mitigating any losses. 

They made it up top quickly, alarming the crew with their hurried movements. Thal didn't ease into her commands. "Prepare to disembark! Keep your eyes to the water! We're under attack!" They'd dealt with plenty of sea creatures, and the sailors hopped into action, pulling away the gangplanks and aiming harpoons at the dark water below. Their eyes were serious, all signs of amusement gone as they watched the waves for signs of an enemy.

I don't belong to anyone,
but everybody knows my name

Thalassa

kaiden

There is no shame in survival
Only strength

As water rushed into the ship, various items not grabbed by the pirates began to flow out. Some sank to the depths or Kaiden to retrieve later as they wished, including a trunk that would later be opened to reveal gems, a box of jewelry, and a case of weapons. The mer would retrieve from of the choice shiny items and leave the rest. Material goods were really their interest.

What did catch their eye was the tasty-smelling crates that floated to the surface. One in particular was enticing and the mershark shifted back to investigate. Pulling out a knife, the pirates would see an arm snake out of the water and begin prying open the crate. Upon realizing that it would take more effort, Kaiden held on with their other hand and heaved themselves up so that the water line was at their shoulders. With a grit of their teeth, the mer managed to open the crate, revealing various dried meats. Perfection.

Grabbing a strip of jerky with their teeth, they looked up with wide eyes as they registered the pirates watching them.

coding by kaons

Silver dollar, golden flame
Dirty water, poison rain
Perfect murder, take your aim

The other ship's remaining crew made it onto their dingy just in time to see their vessel keel to the side. She suspected the hull must have blown completely as it plunged forward into the waves. It wouldn't be long before it was at the bottom of the ocean, collecting barnacles and other sea life, serving an entirely different purpose as it decomposed. 

Her own crew stood at the ready, preparing to launch the harpoon towards a figure that had appeared in the water. It bobbed above the surface next to a crate, dark hair peering over to peel off the lid. On instinct, she held out a hand, her voice booming over the ship. "Hold your fire!" The sailors froze on command, eyes flashing between her and the man rifling through the contents of the container. Sighing more quietly, she shook her head. "It's just a merman." If it had been a shark or kraken or any other vicious creature, she wouldn't have hesitated, but Hadama had been kind to her, and she hated the idea of harming one of his citizens or possible brethren. 

To add to matters, it didn't seem particularly motivated by the valuables sinking below, more invested in the dried meat. Was that the only reason it'd sunk the other ship? Curiosity piqued her, and Thal found herself leaning on the railing to call out. "Hey, you! Up for a trade?"

I don't belong to anyone,
but everybody knows my name

Thalassa

kaiden

There is no shame in survival
Only strength

Kaiden's eyes narrowed as they sized up the women leaning over the railing. A trade? The mer already had plenty of food to choose from amongst their haul. And why would a pirate offer a trade in the first place? Didn't they just steal? It seemed risky.

Yet, Kaiden was in the water and could easily escape if things went south. Their curiosity gnawed at them, prevailing even over the screaming of the mer's survival instincts. As their tail thrashed against the water, they squared their shoulders. "What kind of trade?" Kaiden deepened their voice and puffed out their chest as they spoke. Negotiation required intimidation, right?

"What could you possibly offer me that I don't already have?" That was a line from a book that they'd been forced to read in exchange for help once. Why the crazy lady had made them read a made-up story in exchange for pie, Kaiden would never understand.

It had been a horrible book too. Everyone interesting died.

coding by kaons

Silver dollar, golden flame
Dirty water, poison rain
Perfect murder, take your aim

Thal could think of a lot of things a Mer probably didn't have: books, fire, bread, legs. She could write a whole list but figured this specific merman appeared particularly motivated by food. Leaning against the railing with easy confidence, she tilted her head in a way that had the overcast light glistening on her blue-black horns, a smile playing across her lips. "I've got a couple prime steaks that I was planning to eat for dinner along with a few bottles of top shelf bourbon. I'd be willing to offer them to you..." Her eyebrow raised in silent suggestion. "In exchange for a portion of the treasure you sunk." She'd only caught a glimpse, and that moment had told her that they'd only retrieved a fraction of the prize from the merchant ship. It would be such a waste to leave without it.

However, if that deal wasn't enticing enough for the merman, she gave him a shrug as she called out, "And as an added bonus, I won't let my men use you as target practice." The way she winked said she was joking, but the laugh of her men behind her said otherwise, their harpoons still locked and loaded. A single spark would also serve to ruin his prized crate, yet she left that part out for now, waiting to see his response to her initial offer.

I don't belong to anyone,
but everybody knows my name

Thalassa

kaiden

There is no shame in survival
Only strength

Kaiden tapped their chin, "Steaks are good. But you'll have to do better than some bourbon. Why in the world would I want to dull my senses?" That meant death on the open sea. Unless the mer wanted to brave the city's crowds, they didn't have anyone watching their backs. Alcohol was a horrible choice for them.

The threat had the mershark flashing their teeth. "And risk war with Hadama? You'd be a fool." The King was certainly annoying at times. Bossy and an overbearing. But Hadama was genuine in his care for the mershark and it was a fact that Kaiden was grateful for. Even if they would take that to their watery grave.

Ducking under the water, Kaiden quickly retrieved what appeared to be a golden chalice. Resurfacing, they threw it full force, with a bit of water magic to assist, at Thalassa, "Here. Give me the steaks and leave." That was all that she was getting after threatening them. If the pirates left without fulfilling their half, Hadama would be made aware of the situation by a surly shark later.

coding by kaons

Silver dollar, golden flame
Dirty water, poison rain
Perfect murder, take your aim

Raising her hands, she gave a humorless laugh. "Okay. No to the alcohol." It just meant she'd get to enjoy it herself. She shrugged her shoulders as she leaned against the railing again. Thal quickly thought through the rest of her inventory, considering what might entice the man. Tilting her head, she offered, "What about more meat? I'm assuming you don't get much in way of avian protein, especially not from Halo. I have a cage full of ningos that you might be interested in." Her eyebrow raised in question.

Although disappointed by the man's reaction, she wasn't surprised. Her threat had been less than subtle. In fact, his response earned a level of respect from her. Perhaps that's why she laughed at Hadama's name drop, flashing the merman a sharp grin. "How would he know? Dead men tell no tales. I'm sure the same goes for mermen." Not that she was feeling particularly blood thirsty today. If anything, he was proving to be too entertaining to dispatch.

When he rose from the water again, the glint of gold flew through the overcast lighting. Snagging the chalice from the air with impressive reflexes, she glanced at the item. "I'm not sure this alone is worth the steaks, but it's a start." Thal signaled to her men with a single finger. They looked at her uncertainly before vanishing to retrieve the trade.

I don't belong to anyone,
but everybody knows my name

Thalassa

kaiden

There is no shame in survival
Only strength

Kaiden nodded firmly, internally perking up. "That is acceptable." They'd never had ningo before and the promise of meat had them licking their lips.

Although the woman's following response made what few hairs they had on their neck stand up, Kaiden shoved it down and instead let out a 'tsk', "He'd find out." They couldn't help but petulantly grumble under their breath, "He always seems to know whenever I do anything." There seemed to be no escaping the King's keen eyes. No doubt, Hadama would hear about this particular encounter a well.

The mer ground their teeth after giving over the chalice, "Not enough?" She was greedy. How annoying. "Fine. Give me a second." Diving back down, Kaiden browsed the sunken treasure for shiny things. It took a few trips but soon the mer had thrown various items onto the boat's deck. If any hit the crew, the mershark wouldn't hold back their laughter. The items presented included a few necklaces, a small trunk of gold, and a large ruby that had barely fit in the palm of their hand. Surely that was enough.

"Satisfied? Now pay up, or I'll sink your ship next."

coding by kaons

Silver dollar, golden flame
Dirty water, poison rain
Perfect murder, take your aim

The acceptance of her proposal was met with another sharp grin while the men scurried to retrieve the crate of ningos. Perhaps she was greedy, but those steaks weren't cheap, and she'd really been looking forward to them. Regardless, the prospect of more treasure was worth the sacrifice. Not that she would have seriously considered offending Hadama for it, hence her pleasure with the agreement.

The following rainstorm of valuables initially took the crew by surprise, a jeweled necklace nailing one in the eye, but they eventually got the idea. Grabbing a few empty sacks, they started treating it like a game, seeing who could catch more. A few even placed bets, backing the larger of sailors. Cheering and laughter was echoing over the deck before long, all thoughts of merman hunting gone from their mind. Snagging the large ruby for herself, Thal inspected it with visual appreciation. "I suppose this will do." 

Recognizing that it was their turn, the men began lowering the items off the end of the ship. The crate of steaks was fitted with waterproof linings to keep them dry while the cage of ningos had flotation devices added to the bottom to keep them from sinking. Whatever the merman decided to do with them next was up to him. "It's been nice doing business with you. If you ever want to strike another bargain, just ask for Captain Thalassa." She sent a wink his way before retreating from the railing, signaling to her men that it was time to leave.

I don't belong to anyone,
but everybody knows my name

Thalassa

kaiden

There is no shame in survival
Only strength

Kaiden was viciously satisfied when one of the crewmates was hit in the eye. Unfortunately, the others seemed to wise up and avoid injury afterwards. Still, they'd take the small victory. Especially with how annoyed they were over the pirate captain's lackluster enthusiasm over the gem.

Still, the mershark watched with wide eyes as their prizes were lowered into the water. It was clear that the crew was offering far more than Kaiden had anticipated and the mer was suddenly unsure just what to do. Reaching over and pulling one of the ningo cages closer to them, Kaiden absentmindedly waved at Thalassa as she and her crew left, "Sure. Will do. Thank you and bye."

Now where in the world were they going to store these things?

-[FIN]

coding by kaons