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Gremlaith Ulfricsdottar and the Lay of the Black Mask
Topic Started: Nov 17 2017, 12:03 AM (621 Views)
neildarkstar
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Overlord
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...and never... NEVER! Let the mother-in-law know... ;)
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Serethil
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Et'Ada
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*laughing* Oh so true! Thank you Sis (and neil - again)!
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Kane
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I have a feeling that Grem will grow into a wunnerful Cap'n. Love the little chuckle from Talos at the end. :P
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Serethil
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Et'Ada
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Thank you Kane!
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Serethil
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Et'Ada
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Chapter 22: Well, hells.

So. First watch dawned on a nasty sleet-storm. The second mate, now promoted to first - since I’d had to kill his predecessor - wanted to sail anyway. And I said, knowing how awful Ghost Sea storms are, “No. We stay hove to until this is done.”

And he rushed me. Shit. I dodged, and wove, and eventually managed to drop him with a belaying pin to his right temple. Damn. He’d nearly broken my arm, and I was going to have bruises in places I didn’t even want to think about! But first I tied him so he couldn’t get loose, then giving the rest of the crew the stink eye, I hollered down the companionway, “Cookie. Get up here.”

When she did, I told her to go get the captives; find them clothes, get them armed, and bring them up top. She snarled, but did as she was bid, and shortly the captives began straggling out onto the deck.

Only just in time. The crew was standing around in a mob, muttering. “Don’t even think about it. I’m perfectly capable of killing you all. When the storm is done, we’re heading back to Windhelm, where any of you - or the captives - may certainly leave the ship. Of course.... the Eastmarch guards may have - issues - with that....”

They muttered a bit more, then grumbled their ways to their normal work. I set the captives to working with the crew, to learn at least a bit of what needed to be done to sail the ship. No one was happy about it, least of all me - but I would see that they did what I ordered. I really didn’t want to have to kill them all though. For the main thing, I needed them to sail the ship back to Windhelm. Beyond that, the thought of wholesale killing - well, it turned my stomach....
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Areial
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Et'Ada
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Good read... sometimes a girl has to do, what a girl has to do!
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Serethil
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Et'Ada
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Thanks Sis! I do believe that Grem is lately discovering she's not the hard-boiled woman she thought she was....
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Kane
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I like the move of setting the captives free. If things go south, they would likely fight for her.
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Serethil
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Et'Ada
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Well, she hopes so! Though of course, they're underfed etc. Thanks, Kane!
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Serethil
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Et'Ada
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Chapter 23: Windhelm finally - and I never thought I’d be glad to see it!

I was twitchy as a wolf being stalked by a sabre cat. I didn’t get much sleep - and Windhelm was a seven-day away, or more. I expected mutiny and my death a dozen or more times each watch - and when the docks showed ahead, I almost wet myself in relief - which I couldn’t show, having had to keep the tough-lady mein in place the entire voyage.

Most of the old crew headed ashore. I wished them the luck of the guard collecting bounties on them. Unfortunately, most of the captives chose to return to their land-bound lives as well, Arivanya first among them. So. That left me, Cookie (who probably had no where else to go), a couple of the younger and less hardened crewmen and three of the captives who apparently preferred life aboard to whatever waited ashore.

I set about holystoning the decks. Someone had to do it of course.... I was all but done topside when I was startled to see Ulundil walking up to me.

“Lady. I wish to thank you. You have done as you said you would, and I am happy to have my wife home alive.”

“Well, I’d have done it faster but there was a lot else going on.”

“Aye, I’m sure. I would reward you, but of course, coin is lacking.”

I shook my head. “I didn’t ask for reward, and nor did I set about it for that. I’m minded to - discuss - the guards and what they did to you, with the jarl.”

He nodded, but then whispered “Best not. That would just mean things got worse.”

“Aye. I suppose so. It galls me to leave it there...”

“It’s best. I can - do somewhat for protection, the which I should have done earlier.” He turned to leave, then said softly over his shoulder, “The gods keep you. Especially Talos.”

My jaw dropped. I watched him away toward the stable building, shaking my head. An elf talking about Talos. That was just about the strangest of the strange!

As my gaze roamed over the docks, I noticed Hides-in-Weeds. I strolled down to where she perched on a bollard, and settled my butt against the step opposite.

She sent me a sly, bright glance. “So. You have taken yon ship, and freed those held aboard. And now your crew has left, so you are unable to sail her?”

“Aye. As you have seen. Perhaps I will look for a buyer for her. She’s a lively girl, and in decent shape altogether.”

She grinned then, all teeth the way they do, which sent a shiver down my spine. “Well, perhaps you might consider another favor for me?”

I slanted her a glance. I was quite sure I didn’t want to hear this.... but I bit anyway. “What do you have in mind this time?”

“If you take - as many of us as wish to.... escape this life, we will sail the ship for you. We will wish to go home, you know - to Black Marsh.”

Since my chin was tipped down and my eyes were hidden for the most part, I allowed a small eye-roll. And then I said, “Sure. Why not?” Sometimes, my mouth is not my best feature....
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Areial
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Et'Ada
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<wince> that might leave a mark! stuck in Black March cause all got off ship... unless something happen's along the way!
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Serethil
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Et'Ada
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*snicker* Yup. Open mouth, insert whatever.... Thanks Sis!
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Lapuaboy
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Thane
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Grem really does have a hankering for adventure! I haven't decided if is her good nature (which she really hasn't fully recognized I think), a possible lack of foresight or her restless spirit that drives her into these...situations. Very nice! :thumb:

She is something of a wildcard, Grem is. :)
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Serethil
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Et'Ada
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Thanks Lap! Yep - some of all the above I believe!
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Serethil
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Et'Ada
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Chapter 24: A crew - and some.... issues....

So, a seven-day later, I had a full crew - minus one former captive who refused to sail with the Argonians. I shrugged, paid him his due, and sent him off with my blessing. Bad idea that, but I didn’t know, did I? At least not then....

Hides-in-Weeds watched me closely the first few days. Finally, tired of such scrutiny, I said bluntly “So, what is it you look to see, watching me?”

If she was surprised, she hid it well. Staring at me unblinking, finally she hissed “I look for duplicity.”

Hmm. Well, I suppose I couldn’t blame her there. “I’ve made compact with you fairly. Your folk sail this ship to Black Marsh. I’m - quite - aware that once there, you will all leave, and once again I will be the captain of a ship with no sailors....”

She hiss-laughed. “Ah. You are not so dumb. I thought not. And those who thought you were now owe me - a bet we had, see you!”

I bent a glance on her, and just waited. No, I wasn’t patient - but pushing never yet obtained information - unless of course you held a knife at the being’s throat.... which I didn’t just now....

Eventually she hissed again. “Eh. Here is the rede. We will all be grateful for return to Black Marsh. Long we have been under the Nord yoke in Windhelm. It is not a bad city, or land - but those who rule.... well, they have no love of the beast-races. You though.... you see us as - simply - people. And.... you agreed to this - voyage - even knowing you would perhaps have no way back once we debarked in Black Marsh.

“See you. We are not so faithless, Talos-daughter. There are always those in the Marsh who fail to listen to their elders. You will have a crew for return. Fear not. We would not treat you so - for you are not faithless and foresworn.”

I gave her the hand to heart, lips, and head that signified belief and reverence. And I worried no more - or not over getting home anyway. I wondered about the “Talos-daughter” business though....
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Areial
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Et'Ada
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:clap: Good read!! and a crew, albeit it might be a young or slightly foolish one!
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Serethil
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Et'Ada
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Well, the first time there's a storm they'll have to grow up, ain't? Though of course, being Argonian, they wouldn't maybe drown! Thank you Sis!
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