Jeshal the Ironclaw
Captain of the BlackShip
Staff member
Officer: Captain (Commander)
Fortuna Survivor
- Character Biography
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(Under the command of Captain Anithias Freedom, the crew of the Golden Hide scavenge the wreck of an old ship. Meanwhile Bosun Jeshal builds his schemes. As was usual with these old VI threads, it was unfinished ;D Starring Anithias Freedom, Urel, Armina Rogue, Macavity Ashpaw, Jeshal the Ironclaw, and Xhavek Mokorai)
RAIDING THE CANNON
First post Bugs 9, Yr.1729
Anithias Freedom/Urel/Armina Rogue
Anithias stood on the quarterdeck, paws clasped behind his back as the massive galleon rode the waves beneath him. Urel, the helmsbeast for the day, struggled to keep control of the wheel. "The tide is strong, captain!" he shouted over the roaring wind and the gushing sea spray. "It will be difficult to maintain this course!"
"Stick to the heading, Master Urel!" the captain shouted back, fishing a small golden disk from his front pocket. Flipping it open to reveal a small compass, Anithias studied it almost obsessively. The tiny needle shook faintly, rotating a degree or so back and forth. A large wave caught the Hide on the starboard side, making the ship veer to port. The needle wobbled alarmingly. "Fifteen degrees to starboard!" Anithias shouted above the spray, his eyes locked upon the compass with something akin to desperation. His gaze never left the tiny needle until at last it returned to the heading.
Breathing a sigh of relief, Anithias pocketed the compass. "Good work, Master Urel," he complimented the large fox. "I will be sure to note your competence in the log."
Urel merely grunted noncommittally, still fighting the wheel. He gritted his teeth as the Hide fell into a large trench between two waves, rocking dangerously in the turbulent water. "The sea seems to be fighting us, captain!" Urel shouted above the spray as large breakers crashed over the deck, nearly sweeping a couple of the crew overboard.
Anithias smiled without mirth. "That's why it's called the Sea of Calamities, Master Urel," the golden fox remarked, a grim note in his voice. Indeed, the very sea seemed to be teeming with calamities waiting to happen – in the distance, several seabound storms could be seen brewing. Through a spyglass Anithias could even observe the outer clouds of a monsoon a great distance away. It was not very close to the Hide's location – yet. If Anithias was right (and he hoped that he was very much so wrong), then it would be headed precisely for their destination. If that was so, then they had to succeed. They had to.
"Cap'n!"
The alarmed shout came from the crow's nest. Looking up, Anithias saw the unidentifiable beast gesturing at the sea ahead of him. Pulling a spyglass from within his jacket, the captain peered out at the raging seas. At first he could see nothing, what with the gut-wrenching maneuvering of the Hide that kept his spyglass from remaining on any one point. But then they reached the bottom of a trench, allowing the Hide to stabilize enough for Anithias to lock his extended eye on one object: a large, blackened mast, rising from the water like some ghostly tower. Anithias' heart pounded in his throat. They had done it. They had found the Cove.
The seas became gradually less turbulent as the Hide approached, now sheltered by the many reefs surrounding them. More sunken vessels appeared, either submerged below them or sticking at odd angles from the water. Urel navigated carefully, using the sunken ships as markers to guide their path. Anithias felt himself shiver as the Hide passed directly over a ship sunk in deep water, the only visible aspect its three black masts, which thankfully fell short of the Hide's hull. Surreptitiously Anithias crossed himself, trying to ward off the feeling of ill luck that had suddenly fallen on the ship.
Amid the ghostly skeletons of sailing vessels past, a thin ring of sand appeared in the distance. More wooden frames littered its shores, many more-or-less intact. Anithias did not bother looking at most of these, instead straining his eyes to see without his spyglass; he felt that this moment would be ruined if seen with anything but his own eyes. He could see nothing among the clutter, dimly lit by the stormy sky. Anxiousness seized him as they sailed into the cove, and he had still not caught sight of his elusive prey. Was it possible that it had been destroyed in some storm? If so, then Anithias would never be able to forgive himself for not having come back sooner. How foolish he had been to wait until—
There! As the Hide reached the center of the cove, the golden fox could at last see past a large frigate to the opposite end of the cove, where an immense warship lay in the sand.
It was gigantic. Seventy meters long – nearly twice the length of the Hide – it was three levels from the waterline to the deck. It did not need a quarterdeck; instead it had many more rows of ballistae assembled on deck. Many of these were missing, ripped off by the vicious storms common to this area. Still, Anithias could imagine what she had been like in her day. Glorious and proud, sailing from the Imperial Docks in full pomp and splendor, with the blessings of the Emperor and the sea wind behind it. The unsinkable ship, the new safeguard against all enemies, the power that would defeat every foe it encountered.
And now it lies in the Cove of Lost Ships; an ancient testament to the power of the sea over the power of beast. Anithias shook his head, dispelling the thought. Crossing to the ship's bell, he rang it sharply three times, and waited for the crew to assemble.
It took longer than usual for the crew to gather, the main reason being that a great deal of the crew had spent the rocky ride hurling their breakfast into the sea. Anithias winced in sympathy. He'd skipped breakfast that morning in favour of swallowing copious amounts of salt in an attempt to dry his stomach. It hadn't really worked, inducing dry vomiting instead.
Armina emerged from belowdecks, looking suitably queasy as she crossed to the quarterdeck. She hiccuped once as she reached the stairs, nearly pitching another load there and then. It was all she could do to keep it down. "Julia isn't doing so well," she advised her ex-godfather. The green pallor returned to her face as the Hide tilted slightly, making her put a paw to her snout. "Then again, neither am I," she mumbled, rushing to the starboard rail.
Anithias winced, both at the retching noise and at the guilt he felt. He hadn't thought about how the turbulent seas would affect Julia, especially in her late pregnancy. Perhaps I shouldn't have brought us here, the captain thought guiltily. Perhaps I should have just let things rest. But then Anithias remembered that this was their last chance. His last chance.
When a sizable portion of the crew had gathered Anithias began his speech, hoping that the patience of the crew was still with him. "Crew, many of you have heard of The Amber Cannon. Most of you will know her as a ghost story. Some of you have even claimed to have seen her in the past." His eyes fell on Jeb, who looked very uncomfortable. This uncomfortableness was explained away when he rushed to port and hurled over the rail. Grimacing, Anithias continued, "Let me assure you, she is quite real. She is not crewed by the living dead, nor does she wander as a cursed vessel." He glared at them all, as if to show them the price they would pay for superstition. "The Cannon is now unmanned, and she is beached on this very cove."
There was a murmur among the crew, many of them breaking away to run to the forecastle to see if the ship their older brothers had scared them with stories of when they were young really existed. Attempting to recall order, Anithias continued, shouting to be heard above the muttering, "We are here for only one reason, and that is to save what we can from the wreck. In roughly four hours," he pointed to the dark bank of clouds on the horizon, "a monsoon will hit this cove with a force that will destroy anything in its path. Anything left of The Amber Cannon will be destroyed, and the proof of her fate lost forever. Thus, I want you to salvage anything of historic value from the ship – her logs, her ship's bell, even the boards with her name painted on it, to be kept in the Ministry of War's Naval Warfare Museum. Anything of no specific historic value you may keep after I have approved it." This excited some of the crewbeasts, eager at the thought of a treasure hunt.
Doubt and troubled looks appeared on the faces of several crewbeasts. There was a popular superstition among sailors that ransacking a dead ship, even one about to be destroyed, would incur the wrath of the sea demons. Anithias' face became stony as he looked at these dissenters. "In four hours the Cannon will be wiped from existence," he told the crew firmly. "Anything on her will be lost, gone forever to the sea. We are simply making sure that her legacy does not die here; that some part of her will live on, so that future generations will know the truth. That is a noble pursuit.
"Now, are there any questions?"
Macavity Ashpaw
Doubt and trouble was not an expression to be found on a certain wildcat amongst the gathering. Not unless trouble was something he was intending to cause. As Captain Freedom outlined the plan for the soon-to-be-late ship, The Amber Cannon, Macavity's boundless sense of adventure swelled. This would be a tale to tell all the ladies, how the gallant and charming little rogue saved a classic heritage of the Imperium, with a bit of help from the crew of the Hide. Even if the salvage plan turned out to be a shambles, he could always embellish it a bit... pick up a few scraps of art from some other settlement and bring them back with some tall tales.
The possibility of ghouls and monsters did not faze him too much. He was not completely willing to deny their existence and found them rather fascinating. If there were such beasties aboard, he felt quite sure it would be something to sing about to the accompaniment of his beloved mandolin were he to strike up a conversation.
Macavity beamed around at the crowd, wondering if anyone else would be as eager as he to get started. Freedom concluded his announcement:
"Now, are there any questions?"
The little wildcat gave his silver-fanged grin and raised a paw. Hardly waiting to see if Anithias would give him the chance to speak (which was unlikely with regard to the stunts he had pulled last Soggus), Macavity called out, "Yes sir, if in the event we do come across a pasty-faced bugaboo bewailing that we should get our mitts off his or her stuff, what, in your infinite wisdom do you declare we must do?"
Anithias Freedom
As perhaps could have been expected, the first beast to volunteer his curiosity was none other than Macavity Ashpaw. Anithias felt the heat rise to his skin as Macavity teasingly mocked his declaration against the Cannon's status as a ghost ship. A couple snickers emanated from the crowd, their sources gleeful at seeing the captain outwitted by the ship's self-declared corporeal poltergeist.
Somehow Anithias kept a stoic expression throughout the ribbing. Once the laughter finally died down, he replied, "I would suggest you find a barrel in which to make yourself scarce, Mr. Ashpaw. You seem to be talented enough at the technique, seeing as you practice it whenever you have duties to fulfill." This time the snickering was louder. While beasts were generally hesitant to mock the captain for fear of retribution from the lofty ranks of the officers, they would easily laugh down a fellow crewbeast; if the captain was the spark triggering the ribbing, even more so, for theirs was a laughter supported by the divine mandate.
Macavity Ashpaw
Macavity retained his mischievous smile throughout the jeering that was rightfully caused by the captain. The only tell he made as to his embarrassment was a slight flick of his left ear. A part of him wanted to let it lie, to surrender completely to Anithias's insurmountable wit. Unfortunately, this kitty enjoyed being an insurmountable twit.
"Yessir, although I happen to think duties are best undertaken in a barrel. Provides freedom from distraction, sir." The words were out of his mouth before he could reel them back in, and they kept coming. "I heartily recommend for any beast to try performing his shiply tasks with his or her tail pointing skyward. Mental exercise you see. And different barrels work for different posts. As a captain, sir, might I suggest for you the technique of swabbing your face with couscous, extending the tongue and dipping perpendicularly into a barrel full of crabs, which have preferably been shaken, not stirred?"
It was uncanny how he had managed to spill it all. Even he did not find it very funny once it was aired. Young Ashpaw slammed his paws over his mouth and tried to make himself look very small indeed. It was clear he did not intend any further outbursts for a good few hours.
Anithias Freedom
Freedom's expression of smug victory slowly faded as Macavity gathered himself for one final assault on his captain. The neutral appearance on Anithias' face turned to one of first incredulity, then rage as the little cat went beyond even the loose boundaries of the Hide, the ship with the most lenient respect toward its captains in the history of the navy. Macavity's spewing bordered on the mutinous, a quality Freedom would not tolerate in any of his crew. The captain's flush was drawing toward a purple shade, burning past his fur like a bonfire.
"Mr. Ironclaw, take this whelp to the brig!!!" Anithias ordered, his volume transcending the levels of bellowing. "Hard tack and seawater for a week, Mr. Ashpaw! If you're lucky, I may throw in a few crabs for you as well!" In his state of rage he could not even muster the sarcasm to put behind the word 'crabs', his wit lost in his insatiable anger.
Jeshal the Ironclaw/Macavity Ashpaw
Jeshal gave his usual smirk and called out from the crowd:
"It would be me pleasure, cap'n." He pushed through and seized Macavity by the scruff. "Yer 'ave an appointment wi' me, Mister Ashpaw. Let's not keep me waitin'." The fox grinned malevolently.
The little wildcat could barely stammer out his shock. He couldn't even manage to plead for forgiveness, if it would even have worked. He merely swallowed and allowed the Ironclaw to drag him in the direction of below, his tail curled between his legs.
Stupid life decision number 34...
Xhavek Mokorai
(Slight auto on Mac but I thought the two would very much act this way around each other)
At this fresh develpment of verbal haranguing, Xhavek couldn't help but grin. Macavity was exceedingly skilled at the game of hurling insults. The maverick monitor lizard and the irrepressible cat traded abuse for hours on end, both grinning out of their minds the whole time. Unfortunately for Macavity Anithias was not privy to this odd sense of humor.
Xhavek easily leaped from his perch in the rigging of the Hide and landed nimbly upon the deck his face alight with mischievous and somewhat manic humor. Unlike many of the crew he had staunchly refused to go belowdecks for the duration of the storm but rather did the utmost worst possible thing throughout. In other words he had remained above in the rigging laughing and enjoying the rage of nature in all its fury. Of course he always did that so the crew had gotten used to him laughing in the face of the worst of possible situations.
The short lizard strolled through the still gathered crew a greeting for everyone he passed. With a hop in his step he alighted and stood next to his captain. A quick salute and the small formality over with, Xhavek leaned and whispered in Anithias' ear.
"You do realize zat not all of zem are capable of going at ze zame time Zir Anithiaz? Not zat zey von't all eventually get a chanze to zearch but I think it vize to azzign zome zort of rotation for ze zearch party. I mean I vant a chanze to show Glimmer vhat a gloriouz ship ze Cannon vaz." He pulled back and winked at the golden furred todd. "You're not ze only one he enjoyz a little hiztory now and again."
Anithias Freedom
Anithias watched with mixed rage and animalistic satisfaction as the cheeky deckpaw was led away, his tail curled tightly between his legs. The captain did not feel in any way that he was being unjustly hard on the cat, considering he was well within his right to hang Macavity from the yardarm. Many naval captains and former captains would agree that Anithias was acting with extreme lenience in regard to the male Ashpaw.
Anithias did not turn to face his second mate as he approached, only acknowledging him with a nod when the lizard quickly saluted. He continued to survey the crew as Xhavek leaned in, whispering in his ear.
You do realize zat not all of zem are capable of going at ze zame time Zir Anithiaz? Not zat zey von't all eventually get a chanze to zearch but I think it vize to azzign zome zort of rotation for ze zearch party. I mean I vant a chanze to show Glimmer vhat a gloriouz ship ze Cannon vaz. You're not ze only one he enjoyz a little hiztory now and again."
Anithias considered Mokorai's words without any outward indication of the action. He remained pensive for a moment before replying sternly, his eyes on the distant bank of clouds, "We have less than four hours before the Cannon is destroyed, Mr. Mokorai. I would prefer to be well away from this cove within two hours, three at the latest. If we are to accomplish our goal within the allotted timeframe, we will need all the beastpower we can muster."
A troubled look stole over Freedom even as he spoke. Though he would not say it to his face, Xhavek was right in one respect – not all of them could go. The Hide had several disabled crewbeasts such as Sokea and Lindsay, and Anithias could not justify forcing them aboard the Cannon. Moreover, to dictate every available beast be assigned to the task was folly. To do so would not only generate animosity toward Captain Freedom and the officers, but would also violate the unwritten rule of captaincy – never undertake a dangerous task with a conscripted crew.
"Crewbeasts of the Hide," Anithias called sternly, "those who would volunteer for the away team should gather at the port side rail. Those who wish to remain behind may do so, and I will make no negative remark in my log." The crew quieted before slowly separating themselves into two groups: those who would stay, and those who would go. Anithias looked over them, feeling pride stirring within him for both groups. "Excellent," he declared. "Away team, ready the longboats."
-------------------------------------------------
Nearly a quarter hour later the surface of the lagoon was littered with the slow, scuttling forms of the longboats. As the longboats drew closer the size of the Cannon seemed to be accentuated – as did the difficulty of task before them. If the crew of the Hide spread out along all the levels and explored in teams of two, they might be able to complete the task in under an hour. Of course, that was assuming none of them stopped to gawk or loot and did not encounter any dangerous obstacles, a factor Anithias was not prepared to rule out. This ship was over seventy seasons old, older than either of Anithias' parents and possibly his grandparents – in the merchant dynasties, the heirs tended to marry young.
After much struggling with the grappling hooks the crew finally managed to clamber aboard the ancient deck, standing hesitantly near the line of jagged stumps which marked the original location of the rail. They seemed unsure of where to go, which direction to explore first. Anithias was just as baffled, but didn't show it as he stood before them, gazing out across the tilted plateau. This all seemed unreal, as if in a dream. The chilling part was not the slightly unearthly quality to the scene, but the question that seemed to linger in the air – was this a fantasy, or a nightmare?
"Spread out," Anithias ordered. "Either find a partner or alert somebeast else to where you're going. We have three and a half hours before the Cannon is gone forever, and I want to be well away from here before that storm hits – and I certainly don't want to leave anybeast behind."
Macavity Ashpaw/Jeshal the Ironclaw
The previously impudent wildcat trudged down the stairs to the brig, his whiskers drooping in self-pity. Macavity was barely able to look his jailer in the eyes as the Ironclaw escorted him to his cell and turned the key in the lock.
"'Tis a shame I 'ave ter be doing this ter ye, Master Ashpaw," the metal-gauntleted bosun said, his custom sneer painting his muzzle. "Yer should know better'n ter be hecklin' Cap'n Freedom."
Macavity sighed and flopped down upon the ragged bunk within the prison. His straw boater tipped forward over his eyes to hide the flush to his cheek-fur. "I meant no harm, sir. I was aiding morale, injecting a touch of humour, that's all. Sometimes I get a bit... carried away. Now I've gone and flippin' well spoiled my chance for adventure and there's no telling when he'll calm down."
Jeshal shrugged. "Yer lucky. Most o' the cap'n's I ever 'eard of afore I came ter the Imperium would've slain yer fer so much as lookin' at 'em funny. Seems of late that the darker strands o' society dwell in the Harbour an' not in the Navy. I ain't sayin' I would return ter piracy meself, but vermin 'ave gone soft."
The wildcat half chuckled. "If we carried on that way, there'd be none of us left at all."
The Ironclaw lingered outside the cell bars, watching, until Macavity finally looked up.
"Yer be wantin' ter share in the plunder, aye?"
Ashpaw tilted his head curiously. "I would have liked to. Sure."
Jeshal stepped closer to the bars, his eyes glittering from the stripes of shadow. "Per'aps we can come ter some sort of arrangement, thinks I."
"I'm listening."
"Yer cousin, Sorrona, the gothic kitten what be mostly runnin' the galley while Ms Farren be away, she knows herbs does she not?"
"Pretty well, sir, yes."
The Ironclaw grinned. "Good. I'd be willin' ter share half me takin's from the Cannon in return fer a few select plant extracts. Nothin' ter worry yerself about, mostly relaxing or sedative qualities."
"Having trouble sleeping?"
Jeshal's eyes averted briefly. "I do intend them ter help me attain pleasant dreams."
Macavity considered, and then jumped to his feet. He sauntered up to the bars, grinning cheekily. "Agreed."
The bosun nodded and turned to leave. He hesitated; glanced back.
"There be one other thing."
"Oh?" Ashpaw replied.
"Yer ability ter agitate our respected cap'n..." Jeshal met Macavity's gaze. "I expect yer ter be careful, but it would be in yer best interest ter keep testing the waters, so ter speak."
The wildcat frowned. "What do you—?"
"Push him, Ashpaw. It will help him be stronger," the copper fox lied. "Keep pushing."
Macavity shook his head. "It's not my intention to provoke him. Too much," he added. "He can be a bit of a stiff, but I'm not about to see if I can make him crazy."
Jeshal smirked. "Wouldn't that be a challenge?"
Ashpaw stepped back from the bars. "I'll get you the herbs, but let's leave it there."
The Ironclaw did not move from his spot. "Yer'll do it or a pretty few secrets o' yours might just find themselves out in the open before the cap'n. Secrets such as who sneaked in ter Julia's bunk the other week an' borrowed a necklace ter show off ter ladies once a certain cat got inter port..."
Macavity's fur prickled. He stared at the sinister fox for a long minute, until at last he spoke quietly, "All right."
Jeshal smiled, tipped his hat and headed for the door, keys jangling. Once he was out of sight, Ashpaw continued to glare at the space where he had been.
"But if Captain Freedom hangs me, I'm coming back to haunt you..."
RAIDING THE CANNON
First post Bugs 9, Yr.1729
Anithias Freedom/Urel/Armina Rogue
Anithias stood on the quarterdeck, paws clasped behind his back as the massive galleon rode the waves beneath him. Urel, the helmsbeast for the day, struggled to keep control of the wheel. "The tide is strong, captain!" he shouted over the roaring wind and the gushing sea spray. "It will be difficult to maintain this course!"
"Stick to the heading, Master Urel!" the captain shouted back, fishing a small golden disk from his front pocket. Flipping it open to reveal a small compass, Anithias studied it almost obsessively. The tiny needle shook faintly, rotating a degree or so back and forth. A large wave caught the Hide on the starboard side, making the ship veer to port. The needle wobbled alarmingly. "Fifteen degrees to starboard!" Anithias shouted above the spray, his eyes locked upon the compass with something akin to desperation. His gaze never left the tiny needle until at last it returned to the heading.
Breathing a sigh of relief, Anithias pocketed the compass. "Good work, Master Urel," he complimented the large fox. "I will be sure to note your competence in the log."
Urel merely grunted noncommittally, still fighting the wheel. He gritted his teeth as the Hide fell into a large trench between two waves, rocking dangerously in the turbulent water. "The sea seems to be fighting us, captain!" Urel shouted above the spray as large breakers crashed over the deck, nearly sweeping a couple of the crew overboard.
Anithias smiled without mirth. "That's why it's called the Sea of Calamities, Master Urel," the golden fox remarked, a grim note in his voice. Indeed, the very sea seemed to be teeming with calamities waiting to happen – in the distance, several seabound storms could be seen brewing. Through a spyglass Anithias could even observe the outer clouds of a monsoon a great distance away. It was not very close to the Hide's location – yet. If Anithias was right (and he hoped that he was very much so wrong), then it would be headed precisely for their destination. If that was so, then they had to succeed. They had to.
"Cap'n!"
The alarmed shout came from the crow's nest. Looking up, Anithias saw the unidentifiable beast gesturing at the sea ahead of him. Pulling a spyglass from within his jacket, the captain peered out at the raging seas. At first he could see nothing, what with the gut-wrenching maneuvering of the Hide that kept his spyglass from remaining on any one point. But then they reached the bottom of a trench, allowing the Hide to stabilize enough for Anithias to lock his extended eye on one object: a large, blackened mast, rising from the water like some ghostly tower. Anithias' heart pounded in his throat. They had done it. They had found the Cove.
The seas became gradually less turbulent as the Hide approached, now sheltered by the many reefs surrounding them. More sunken vessels appeared, either submerged below them or sticking at odd angles from the water. Urel navigated carefully, using the sunken ships as markers to guide their path. Anithias felt himself shiver as the Hide passed directly over a ship sunk in deep water, the only visible aspect its three black masts, which thankfully fell short of the Hide's hull. Surreptitiously Anithias crossed himself, trying to ward off the feeling of ill luck that had suddenly fallen on the ship.
Amid the ghostly skeletons of sailing vessels past, a thin ring of sand appeared in the distance. More wooden frames littered its shores, many more-or-less intact. Anithias did not bother looking at most of these, instead straining his eyes to see without his spyglass; he felt that this moment would be ruined if seen with anything but his own eyes. He could see nothing among the clutter, dimly lit by the stormy sky. Anxiousness seized him as they sailed into the cove, and he had still not caught sight of his elusive prey. Was it possible that it had been destroyed in some storm? If so, then Anithias would never be able to forgive himself for not having come back sooner. How foolish he had been to wait until—
There! As the Hide reached the center of the cove, the golden fox could at last see past a large frigate to the opposite end of the cove, where an immense warship lay in the sand.
It was gigantic. Seventy meters long – nearly twice the length of the Hide – it was three levels from the waterline to the deck. It did not need a quarterdeck; instead it had many more rows of ballistae assembled on deck. Many of these were missing, ripped off by the vicious storms common to this area. Still, Anithias could imagine what she had been like in her day. Glorious and proud, sailing from the Imperial Docks in full pomp and splendor, with the blessings of the Emperor and the sea wind behind it. The unsinkable ship, the new safeguard against all enemies, the power that would defeat every foe it encountered.
And now it lies in the Cove of Lost Ships; an ancient testament to the power of the sea over the power of beast. Anithias shook his head, dispelling the thought. Crossing to the ship's bell, he rang it sharply three times, and waited for the crew to assemble.
It took longer than usual for the crew to gather, the main reason being that a great deal of the crew had spent the rocky ride hurling their breakfast into the sea. Anithias winced in sympathy. He'd skipped breakfast that morning in favour of swallowing copious amounts of salt in an attempt to dry his stomach. It hadn't really worked, inducing dry vomiting instead.
Armina emerged from belowdecks, looking suitably queasy as she crossed to the quarterdeck. She hiccuped once as she reached the stairs, nearly pitching another load there and then. It was all she could do to keep it down. "Julia isn't doing so well," she advised her ex-godfather. The green pallor returned to her face as the Hide tilted slightly, making her put a paw to her snout. "Then again, neither am I," she mumbled, rushing to the starboard rail.
Anithias winced, both at the retching noise and at the guilt he felt. He hadn't thought about how the turbulent seas would affect Julia, especially in her late pregnancy. Perhaps I shouldn't have brought us here, the captain thought guiltily. Perhaps I should have just let things rest. But then Anithias remembered that this was their last chance. His last chance.
When a sizable portion of the crew had gathered Anithias began his speech, hoping that the patience of the crew was still with him. "Crew, many of you have heard of The Amber Cannon. Most of you will know her as a ghost story. Some of you have even claimed to have seen her in the past." His eyes fell on Jeb, who looked very uncomfortable. This uncomfortableness was explained away when he rushed to port and hurled over the rail. Grimacing, Anithias continued, "Let me assure you, she is quite real. She is not crewed by the living dead, nor does she wander as a cursed vessel." He glared at them all, as if to show them the price they would pay for superstition. "The Cannon is now unmanned, and she is beached on this very cove."
There was a murmur among the crew, many of them breaking away to run to the forecastle to see if the ship their older brothers had scared them with stories of when they were young really existed. Attempting to recall order, Anithias continued, shouting to be heard above the muttering, "We are here for only one reason, and that is to save what we can from the wreck. In roughly four hours," he pointed to the dark bank of clouds on the horizon, "a monsoon will hit this cove with a force that will destroy anything in its path. Anything left of The Amber Cannon will be destroyed, and the proof of her fate lost forever. Thus, I want you to salvage anything of historic value from the ship – her logs, her ship's bell, even the boards with her name painted on it, to be kept in the Ministry of War's Naval Warfare Museum. Anything of no specific historic value you may keep after I have approved it." This excited some of the crewbeasts, eager at the thought of a treasure hunt.
Doubt and troubled looks appeared on the faces of several crewbeasts. There was a popular superstition among sailors that ransacking a dead ship, even one about to be destroyed, would incur the wrath of the sea demons. Anithias' face became stony as he looked at these dissenters. "In four hours the Cannon will be wiped from existence," he told the crew firmly. "Anything on her will be lost, gone forever to the sea. We are simply making sure that her legacy does not die here; that some part of her will live on, so that future generations will know the truth. That is a noble pursuit.
"Now, are there any questions?"
Macavity Ashpaw
Doubt and trouble was not an expression to be found on a certain wildcat amongst the gathering. Not unless trouble was something he was intending to cause. As Captain Freedom outlined the plan for the soon-to-be-late ship, The Amber Cannon, Macavity's boundless sense of adventure swelled. This would be a tale to tell all the ladies, how the gallant and charming little rogue saved a classic heritage of the Imperium, with a bit of help from the crew of the Hide. Even if the salvage plan turned out to be a shambles, he could always embellish it a bit... pick up a few scraps of art from some other settlement and bring them back with some tall tales.
The possibility of ghouls and monsters did not faze him too much. He was not completely willing to deny their existence and found them rather fascinating. If there were such beasties aboard, he felt quite sure it would be something to sing about to the accompaniment of his beloved mandolin were he to strike up a conversation.
Macavity beamed around at the crowd, wondering if anyone else would be as eager as he to get started. Freedom concluded his announcement:
"Now, are there any questions?"
The little wildcat gave his silver-fanged grin and raised a paw. Hardly waiting to see if Anithias would give him the chance to speak (which was unlikely with regard to the stunts he had pulled last Soggus), Macavity called out, "Yes sir, if in the event we do come across a pasty-faced bugaboo bewailing that we should get our mitts off his or her stuff, what, in your infinite wisdom do you declare we must do?"
Anithias Freedom
As perhaps could have been expected, the first beast to volunteer his curiosity was none other than Macavity Ashpaw. Anithias felt the heat rise to his skin as Macavity teasingly mocked his declaration against the Cannon's status as a ghost ship. A couple snickers emanated from the crowd, their sources gleeful at seeing the captain outwitted by the ship's self-declared corporeal poltergeist.
Somehow Anithias kept a stoic expression throughout the ribbing. Once the laughter finally died down, he replied, "I would suggest you find a barrel in which to make yourself scarce, Mr. Ashpaw. You seem to be talented enough at the technique, seeing as you practice it whenever you have duties to fulfill." This time the snickering was louder. While beasts were generally hesitant to mock the captain for fear of retribution from the lofty ranks of the officers, they would easily laugh down a fellow crewbeast; if the captain was the spark triggering the ribbing, even more so, for theirs was a laughter supported by the divine mandate.
Macavity Ashpaw
Macavity retained his mischievous smile throughout the jeering that was rightfully caused by the captain. The only tell he made as to his embarrassment was a slight flick of his left ear. A part of him wanted to let it lie, to surrender completely to Anithias's insurmountable wit. Unfortunately, this kitty enjoyed being an insurmountable twit.
"Yessir, although I happen to think duties are best undertaken in a barrel. Provides freedom from distraction, sir." The words were out of his mouth before he could reel them back in, and they kept coming. "I heartily recommend for any beast to try performing his shiply tasks with his or her tail pointing skyward. Mental exercise you see. And different barrels work for different posts. As a captain, sir, might I suggest for you the technique of swabbing your face with couscous, extending the tongue and dipping perpendicularly into a barrel full of crabs, which have preferably been shaken, not stirred?"
It was uncanny how he had managed to spill it all. Even he did not find it very funny once it was aired. Young Ashpaw slammed his paws over his mouth and tried to make himself look very small indeed. It was clear he did not intend any further outbursts for a good few hours.
Anithias Freedom
Freedom's expression of smug victory slowly faded as Macavity gathered himself for one final assault on his captain. The neutral appearance on Anithias' face turned to one of first incredulity, then rage as the little cat went beyond even the loose boundaries of the Hide, the ship with the most lenient respect toward its captains in the history of the navy. Macavity's spewing bordered on the mutinous, a quality Freedom would not tolerate in any of his crew. The captain's flush was drawing toward a purple shade, burning past his fur like a bonfire.
"Mr. Ironclaw, take this whelp to the brig!!!" Anithias ordered, his volume transcending the levels of bellowing. "Hard tack and seawater for a week, Mr. Ashpaw! If you're lucky, I may throw in a few crabs for you as well!" In his state of rage he could not even muster the sarcasm to put behind the word 'crabs', his wit lost in his insatiable anger.
Jeshal the Ironclaw/Macavity Ashpaw
Jeshal gave his usual smirk and called out from the crowd:
"It would be me pleasure, cap'n." He pushed through and seized Macavity by the scruff. "Yer 'ave an appointment wi' me, Mister Ashpaw. Let's not keep me waitin'." The fox grinned malevolently.
The little wildcat could barely stammer out his shock. He couldn't even manage to plead for forgiveness, if it would even have worked. He merely swallowed and allowed the Ironclaw to drag him in the direction of below, his tail curled between his legs.
Stupid life decision number 34...
Xhavek Mokorai
(Slight auto on Mac but I thought the two would very much act this way around each other)
At this fresh develpment of verbal haranguing, Xhavek couldn't help but grin. Macavity was exceedingly skilled at the game of hurling insults. The maverick monitor lizard and the irrepressible cat traded abuse for hours on end, both grinning out of their minds the whole time. Unfortunately for Macavity Anithias was not privy to this odd sense of humor.
Xhavek easily leaped from his perch in the rigging of the Hide and landed nimbly upon the deck his face alight with mischievous and somewhat manic humor. Unlike many of the crew he had staunchly refused to go belowdecks for the duration of the storm but rather did the utmost worst possible thing throughout. In other words he had remained above in the rigging laughing and enjoying the rage of nature in all its fury. Of course he always did that so the crew had gotten used to him laughing in the face of the worst of possible situations.
The short lizard strolled through the still gathered crew a greeting for everyone he passed. With a hop in his step he alighted and stood next to his captain. A quick salute and the small formality over with, Xhavek leaned and whispered in Anithias' ear.
"You do realize zat not all of zem are capable of going at ze zame time Zir Anithiaz? Not zat zey von't all eventually get a chanze to zearch but I think it vize to azzign zome zort of rotation for ze zearch party. I mean I vant a chanze to show Glimmer vhat a gloriouz ship ze Cannon vaz." He pulled back and winked at the golden furred todd. "You're not ze only one he enjoyz a little hiztory now and again."
Anithias Freedom
Anithias watched with mixed rage and animalistic satisfaction as the cheeky deckpaw was led away, his tail curled tightly between his legs. The captain did not feel in any way that he was being unjustly hard on the cat, considering he was well within his right to hang Macavity from the yardarm. Many naval captains and former captains would agree that Anithias was acting with extreme lenience in regard to the male Ashpaw.
Anithias did not turn to face his second mate as he approached, only acknowledging him with a nod when the lizard quickly saluted. He continued to survey the crew as Xhavek leaned in, whispering in his ear.
You do realize zat not all of zem are capable of going at ze zame time Zir Anithiaz? Not zat zey von't all eventually get a chanze to zearch but I think it vize to azzign zome zort of rotation for ze zearch party. I mean I vant a chanze to show Glimmer vhat a gloriouz ship ze Cannon vaz. You're not ze only one he enjoyz a little hiztory now and again."
Anithias considered Mokorai's words without any outward indication of the action. He remained pensive for a moment before replying sternly, his eyes on the distant bank of clouds, "We have less than four hours before the Cannon is destroyed, Mr. Mokorai. I would prefer to be well away from this cove within two hours, three at the latest. If we are to accomplish our goal within the allotted timeframe, we will need all the beastpower we can muster."
A troubled look stole over Freedom even as he spoke. Though he would not say it to his face, Xhavek was right in one respect – not all of them could go. The Hide had several disabled crewbeasts such as Sokea and Lindsay, and Anithias could not justify forcing them aboard the Cannon. Moreover, to dictate every available beast be assigned to the task was folly. To do so would not only generate animosity toward Captain Freedom and the officers, but would also violate the unwritten rule of captaincy – never undertake a dangerous task with a conscripted crew.
"Crewbeasts of the Hide," Anithias called sternly, "those who would volunteer for the away team should gather at the port side rail. Those who wish to remain behind may do so, and I will make no negative remark in my log." The crew quieted before slowly separating themselves into two groups: those who would stay, and those who would go. Anithias looked over them, feeling pride stirring within him for both groups. "Excellent," he declared. "Away team, ready the longboats."
-------------------------------------------------
Nearly a quarter hour later the surface of the lagoon was littered with the slow, scuttling forms of the longboats. As the longboats drew closer the size of the Cannon seemed to be accentuated – as did the difficulty of task before them. If the crew of the Hide spread out along all the levels and explored in teams of two, they might be able to complete the task in under an hour. Of course, that was assuming none of them stopped to gawk or loot and did not encounter any dangerous obstacles, a factor Anithias was not prepared to rule out. This ship was over seventy seasons old, older than either of Anithias' parents and possibly his grandparents – in the merchant dynasties, the heirs tended to marry young.
After much struggling with the grappling hooks the crew finally managed to clamber aboard the ancient deck, standing hesitantly near the line of jagged stumps which marked the original location of the rail. They seemed unsure of where to go, which direction to explore first. Anithias was just as baffled, but didn't show it as he stood before them, gazing out across the tilted plateau. This all seemed unreal, as if in a dream. The chilling part was not the slightly unearthly quality to the scene, but the question that seemed to linger in the air – was this a fantasy, or a nightmare?
"Spread out," Anithias ordered. "Either find a partner or alert somebeast else to where you're going. We have three and a half hours before the Cannon is gone forever, and I want to be well away from here before that storm hits – and I certainly don't want to leave anybeast behind."
Macavity Ashpaw/Jeshal the Ironclaw
The previously impudent wildcat trudged down the stairs to the brig, his whiskers drooping in self-pity. Macavity was barely able to look his jailer in the eyes as the Ironclaw escorted him to his cell and turned the key in the lock.
"'Tis a shame I 'ave ter be doing this ter ye, Master Ashpaw," the metal-gauntleted bosun said, his custom sneer painting his muzzle. "Yer should know better'n ter be hecklin' Cap'n Freedom."
Macavity sighed and flopped down upon the ragged bunk within the prison. His straw boater tipped forward over his eyes to hide the flush to his cheek-fur. "I meant no harm, sir. I was aiding morale, injecting a touch of humour, that's all. Sometimes I get a bit... carried away. Now I've gone and flippin' well spoiled my chance for adventure and there's no telling when he'll calm down."
Jeshal shrugged. "Yer lucky. Most o' the cap'n's I ever 'eard of afore I came ter the Imperium would've slain yer fer so much as lookin' at 'em funny. Seems of late that the darker strands o' society dwell in the Harbour an' not in the Navy. I ain't sayin' I would return ter piracy meself, but vermin 'ave gone soft."
The wildcat half chuckled. "If we carried on that way, there'd be none of us left at all."
The Ironclaw lingered outside the cell bars, watching, until Macavity finally looked up.
"Yer be wantin' ter share in the plunder, aye?"
Ashpaw tilted his head curiously. "I would have liked to. Sure."
Jeshal stepped closer to the bars, his eyes glittering from the stripes of shadow. "Per'aps we can come ter some sort of arrangement, thinks I."
"I'm listening."
"Yer cousin, Sorrona, the gothic kitten what be mostly runnin' the galley while Ms Farren be away, she knows herbs does she not?"
"Pretty well, sir, yes."
The Ironclaw grinned. "Good. I'd be willin' ter share half me takin's from the Cannon in return fer a few select plant extracts. Nothin' ter worry yerself about, mostly relaxing or sedative qualities."
"Having trouble sleeping?"
Jeshal's eyes averted briefly. "I do intend them ter help me attain pleasant dreams."
Macavity considered, and then jumped to his feet. He sauntered up to the bars, grinning cheekily. "Agreed."
The bosun nodded and turned to leave. He hesitated; glanced back.
"There be one other thing."
"Oh?" Ashpaw replied.
"Yer ability ter agitate our respected cap'n..." Jeshal met Macavity's gaze. "I expect yer ter be careful, but it would be in yer best interest ter keep testing the waters, so ter speak."
The wildcat frowned. "What do you—?"
"Push him, Ashpaw. It will help him be stronger," the copper fox lied. "Keep pushing."
Macavity shook his head. "It's not my intention to provoke him. Too much," he added. "He can be a bit of a stiff, but I'm not about to see if I can make him crazy."
Jeshal smirked. "Wouldn't that be a challenge?"
Ashpaw stepped back from the bars. "I'll get you the herbs, but let's leave it there."
The Ironclaw did not move from his spot. "Yer'll do it or a pretty few secrets o' yours might just find themselves out in the open before the cap'n. Secrets such as who sneaked in ter Julia's bunk the other week an' borrowed a necklace ter show off ter ladies once a certain cat got inter port..."
Macavity's fur prickled. He stared at the sinister fox for a long minute, until at last he spoke quietly, "All right."
Jeshal smiled, tipped his hat and headed for the door, keys jangling. Once he was out of sight, Ashpaw continued to glare at the space where he had been.
"But if Captain Freedom hangs me, I'm coming back to haunt you..."
