9/28 "We'll rob them both"

The Quartermaster returned to the boat, swimming from the shore with the usual proficiency. She started speaking as she pulled herself over the side.

"Got a bit of the rum in me, decided it'd be a grand idea to go talk to an old friend'a sorts. Grimmore. Looks like they're likely to pull together an alliance with Achyon and the Fireblooded up the mountain. Might be a bit of good info to pass to the Moxtli, buy us some good will and whatnot, aye?"

At least something good had come of it. Well, aside from seeing Vales again, that had been alright. She supposed.
(Anne orn Salis)
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 Captain Reave appeared in high spirits as he swigged away at his rum, his admiral's coat woven of quite literally his own shadow flowing around his shirtless physicality as snug as a robe while the marauder considered what he had heard.

It had been a strange series of events on this island, but Maertock could not deny all the intrigue was thrilling. There was money to be made just about everywhere, to speak little of the potential heists. Their fleet could finally grow.

"Grimmore…..name doesn't ring a bell, but it sounds familiar. Explain, what's their stake in trying to fuck around with the cantankerous cogs and the salamanders? They got some kind of grudge against their city?"

The merman was familiar with the sentiment. He'd spit a particularly grumpy bit of spit into the sea like a bullet.

"That is good information, but explain further. Give us background details we can use."
(Maertock Reave)
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"Oh, right. Sometimes I overestimate the amount I've blabbed when drunk."

Funny that.

"So, as ya know, my name's Andromeda Salis, even though I prefer Anne these days. There's supposed to be a 'cos' in there somewhere, its a whole pretentious thing the old Essharan Empire nobles do. Er, anyways, so I was a minor noble before I went down in the storm, and the family we were tied to were the Grimmores. Big, important family in Esshar before the monarchy collapsed. They broke from the rest of 'em not long after, have been trying to reclaim the Empire. Osrona's the target of the ones here. Well, the first target, at least."

She produced her own flask of rum, taking a swig before continuing.

"Anyways, that's their stake. The want the region under their control, but Osrona's the one'a symbolic importance. My guess is that the Moxtli are making that a littledifficult what with how territorial they get. And they're harassing Achyon too. I ain't sure where the Fireblooded come into it, but that's about the size'a it."
(Anne orn Salis)
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 Maertock would take a deep, long dreg from his massive bottle of rum as he clicked his teeth lightly together. Politicking had been half the reason he'd turned his back on Atlantis forever, the veneer of purity over a caste system of oppressive social dynamics.

"Interesting, so different factions are playing at the pearly city then? Sounds like the ideal time to steal a ship for our fleet if you ask me. Another for our collection, but yes, I assume this family is not the only one that has stakes in the power structure of Osrona?"

The fishman would nod lightly at that, gesturing ambiently with his webbed, massive palm as the iron blade rattled by his side.

"The Moxtli are fun, and good trade partners at that. They're the least likely to eat us despite probably being cannibals. We already have a blood feud with the Fireblooded cause I'm pretty sure Murtock robbed one, good on the man. If push comes to shove, could make some coin out of a desperate underdog and rob a ship under their nose."

Maertock would nod lightly.

"What factions would you say....matter in Osrona?"
(Maertock Reave)
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 The Quartermaster frowned.

"Ugh. I hate that I think like this -thirteen goddamn years of noble upbringing."

Still, she forced herself to continue. Ultimately it was to the ship's benefit. So, she moved along.

"In Osrona itself? The church, their army. Ain't really any notable guilds -at least, not that I recall from before the Storm, or that I've seen since we've been ashore. In Esshar on a wider scale? All'a them, given time. I've little doubt we'll end up rather formidable in time -moreso than we already are, that is."
(Anne orn Salis)
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 Katja sits at the edge of the ship, listening to both of them converse at the coming conflict between Moxtli and the other factions vying for control. There would be conflict, which is something that Katja had no problem contributing to.

There was a lingering doubt, however, that plagued her frame. One born from a stripping of lifeforce. The cuttlefish sprite alongside her moved that much slower, recovering from willpower being sapped.

"Stealing a ship while Achyon is busy would be easier, but that will immediately paint us a target."

She sets her gaze to the Captain, her expression evening out. "What's the play for once we get that kind of animosity?"
(Katja)
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 Maertock would consider the matter for a time with a light tap of his chin, his shadowy overcoat everflowing with audacious ambience around him despite the curious lack of an actual shadow for the otherwise massive man. It appeared as if he'd stolen it for aesthetics alone, truly a pirate in every sense of his demeanor.

"So the Church, what about those other old families besides the Grimmores? They have any living souls with ancient reserves of relics? Or did they leave Osrona for good come the sacking?"

The marauder did love a good sacking.

"They're not mutually exclusive plans Katja. We're going to fucking rob both. The matter is really which is more convenient first."

Maertock would wave his webbed hand at that lightly with a bark of dark laughter, his piercing blue eyes alit with a great white's shadow.

"When we piss everyone but Moxtli off? We throw in with them after making itout like kings with a goddamn tri-imperial fleet. The envy of the high seas. I can taste it...."
(Maertock Reave)
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 Katja says, "They'll all hate us, while hating eachother. "
 Katja says, "It works. "
 Katja asks, "How are you going to expand our crew to manage three ships?"
 The Quartermaster shrugged.

"The Pelleaux and Astor families moved back in after the reclamation, far as I recall, but ain't sure about relics. A lot got lost when the Monarchy collapsed. Or looted. They've probably got some goodies hidden away though. Or a bunch'a coins, at the least. Ain't sure about any of the 'minor' families, though, like mine."

She shrugged. It was what it was.

"Either way, it oughta be fun, and make us rich. And that's what matters, really."
(Anne orn Salis)
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 Maertock would mentally note down the disenfranchised nobility on his to rob list as he clicked his teeth together with a nod to Anne, tapping his chin lightly as the captain of the Deep Company took a long, deep breathe of the sandy, salty air.

Esshar. Their home, for now. A port full of amusement and riches to acquire.

"With the wealth we'll acquire, finding new crew members will be a simple task. Our notoriety will beget all manner of vagabond and fiend, scum and scoundrel, who favors a life lived free of law and scrutiny."

The pirate would nod firmly at that.

"The tribes are a likely source."
(Maertock Reave)