So, here's what I came up with. See if you agree or not:

The musician in the pirate bar is the guy Octavius is looking for. He informs the captain that the Simurgh was destroyed by the navy, and that he's the only one still alive as far as he knows. So they have to find a new navigator, as the one Octavius was looking for is either dead, or can't be found.

This way I can throw in the navigator woman I planned a bit later. Plus, I don't like just going from ship to ship to destroy them so Octavius can get his old crew back. Sounds so...standard. ^^;; I'd rather have at least one person be a chance encounter during their travels.