[h3]Westport, Capital of the Seobaghs[/h3]

The port was covered in a blanket of fog as fishermen and whalers loaded and unloaded their ships, seabirds hovering above while the humans and grogars went to work in the capital of the island kingdom. There were also many non-fishermen waiting at the docks; today was a special occasion. The beginning of a joint expedition with Freishann.

Three ships were to depart from Westport; the 'Bowhead' from the Seobaghs, the famous 'Liba', commissioned by the High King of Olira, and the 'Admiral Griobhaech' from Freishann. Bahar, the Captain of the Liba, was currently standing at the pier, hugging tightly to a thick cloak to protect him from the cold western winds. His first mate, the Formorian Has, was standing by him.

"Damn, it's cold out west," said the privateer. While all the ships were in port, only the crew of the Liba was currently at the docks, as well as a couple of magic-wielding Serenist deacons who were to accompany them. "Not like over in Sahil, Has. Water's warm there."

The first mate laughed. "Water may be warm, but the people are colder." Bahar chuckled but said nothing in response. "You nervous to meet these Freishannese? Afraid they'll remember us?" The captain looked over at him.

"Less afraid than I was to fight 'em," he responded, looking up to the crew currently approaching the docks before nodding at them and adding on, "Speak of a Yara!"

Approaching the Liba were two obviously Freishannese individuals, their means of dress giving them away. One, short and brawny, dressed in the uniform of the Royal Marines of Freishann the other, a giant of a man, not dressed to differently from what one would find in any naval town, if not for their distinctly Freishannese cut. 

The larger, the combat mage sent on the expedition to assist the Seobaghs, Magus Sáedir. The other a simple Marine, Seumas Eghaidh. Very noticeable in the conversation that became audible as the Magus dragged the marine down the docks.

“...and to think that we should not invite them for a drink simply because of what happened eight years ago in battle of all places!” Sáedir could evidently be ‘persuasive’.

“Alright, Sáedir! You can ask them, just let go of my arm already.” 

Finally closing to an appropriate range to speak from the docks they abruptly stopped as the marine continued to massage his arm.

Bahar smiled as the Freishannese men approached, and both he and the grogar turned to face them. He stared at the man massaging his arm and chuckled, leaning against the railing of the pier.

"And what happened eight years ago?" He asked jokingly.

The Marine bristled at the question and the Magus answered. “From what he tells me you should know well enough!” He paused before continuing. “Would you care to come for a drink?”

“My man here,” He pounded the back of the marine almost sending him forward before he could stop himself. “Needs one, and burying bad blood is never a bad idea. So how about it?”

The captain looked between the two men, arms crossed to build a dramatic tension, before he burst out laughing. "Yeah, yeah. Never turn down some grog." He stuck his hand out. "I'm Bahar, this is Has, my first mate." 

Grinning Sáedir shook his hand. “A whole lot better now I’ll tell you that! You can call me Sáedir and this Seumas.”

The Grogar nodded at the Freishannese men. "How goes it?" Despite the cold weather, he was without a shirt, and a Formorian sword lay hanging at his side.

Seumas looked Has up and down, “You look as tough as they say.”

Bahar nodded towards the city. "Come, I know a good inn not too far from here," he said, walking away from the pier and beckoning the men to follow. Has stayed behind the captain and quizzically looked to Seumas.

"Yeah? What do they say?" He asked, though clearly knew the answer. While the fact that Bahar took on a Formorian first mate after the war wasn't necessarily controversial, it certainly was a peculiarity, especially in foreign waters.

Sáedir walked ahead with Bahar, Seumas replied. “That Grogar are tough,” he paused briefly, “If you’re his first mate you’re better than most I’m willing to bet.” The Freishannese marine isn’t very well educated in the intricacies of foreign cultural expectations.

The first mate grumbled his response, clearly annoyed with the foreigner's ignorance, but knew better than to say anything. Instead, he called over to Bahar.

"Oi, captain, am I better than most?"

"Most what?" Bahar asked in response. Has looked back to Sáedir.

"Better than most what?"

Seumas listened to the interplay, “Grogar…?” Confused as to how exactly that had gotten lost exactly.

"Ah." Has turned back to the captain. "Grogars!"

"What's the question again?"

"Am I better than most Grogars?"

"Oh." He thought for a minute. "No." 

"Thanks captain." Has turned back to the marine, with an expectant expression on his face. "Well? There's your answer." At this point, the group was arriving at a local tavern and went in to sit. As they did so, Bahar looked to the Magus. 

"So, how're you finding your stay in Olira?"

“Very pleasing!” Sáedir exclaimed. He appeared to only be capable of either loud conversation or bellowing. “I have found a great deal of good food and even better people here!” 

A waitress approached their table with a few tankards of grog. Bahar dismissed her with a nod and sat back in his seat with his drink, eyebrows knitted at Sáedir's mannerisms. "That's uh...that's good to hear my friend."

Seumas sat back with his drink, evidently happy to let Sáedir talk. 

Sáedir continued, “Indeed it is good!” He paused before launching into something else. “I have been stuck on assignment in Thalecliff for the past few years and have done little. As well my friend Seumas here has told me little, what have you done in the past few years? I am desperate for a story.”

"Huh." The Captain chuckled and sat back with his arms crossed. He thought back to his time since the end of the war with Freishann. After he turned down the admiralship, he became one of the most sought-after privateers in both Olira and the region as a whole, escorting fleets and taking out pirates, but as the Emerald Empire grew in their influence on Olirian trade, the waters became tamer, and the need for privateers lessened. He looked back up to Sáedir. "You ever hear of the 'Flaming Dolphin'?"

Seumas sat up a little more and was evidently interested although he does not speak, Sáedir responds. “I have some recollection but I have to say I do not remember the details. It was a pirate ship was it not?”

"Aye, it was." Bahar took one more swig of grog before he sat forward, and Has chimed in.

"You sure this is a good idea captain?"

"Yeah." The captain cleared his throat before he continued. "Few years back, I was hired by the King of Sahil to take down this carrack, the 'Flaming Dolphin'. Now pirates can't afford carracks, so I was already suspicious, but he offered a hefty sum, so I took the job." The first mate turned his attention to his drink, uneager to hear the rest of the story while Bahar repositioned himself.

"Dolphin was different than most pirate ships. First, it only went after merchant ships. The rich ones. Ones who can afford security. Second, most pirates just board the ship, take the cargo, and leave. Dolphin wasn't quite so merciful." He chugged back his tankard as he recalled his memories. "They left no survivors. And what they left behind...it wasn't for those with a weak stomach. When I took the job, I caught wind that they had just gotten another ship."

"We boarded it, another merchant vessel." He paused. "Captain was pinned to the mast of the ship. Cock and bullocks stuffed in his mouth. Rest of the crew looked much the same," he said with a strange detachment, looking down as he sat back in his seat. "But the pirates were careless. Left behind their own corpses as well. I recognized one of 'em. Sailed with a privateer I knew during the war, Captain Arik. Man captured a Freishannese Carrack, was gonna sell it, retire," he said, staring at his tankard before continuing, "guess he decided not to."

"Anyways, I knew a whore he frequented in a village on the coast in Ghabar. Sailed there, waited him out. Caught him with his ass bare, while Has and my crew took the Dolphin."

"Arik got the noose the next week. Nowadays, you can hear peasants singing his name, talking about how he fought the rich man, all that shit. But I asked him why he done what he did." Bahar looked at Sáedir. "You know he said?"

"'I ain't got a reason to live. Just wanted a name before I die.'" There was a long pause before the captain finished, "So that's more or less what I've been up to."

Seumas stayed silent as seemed usual for him but he did seem to appraise Bahar once more after the story. Sáedir raised his drink and spoke, “You did a great good to us all there my man! Let me buy your next drink.” 

Bahar smirked, and raised his tankard in appreciation. "Much obliged." After a bit, a middle-aged man with a long beard and wild eyes entered the tavern, followed by a strange looking woman. While it's well known that female grogars are massive, this woman, who had the features of a grogar, seemed much more feminine, with a body structure of a human woman. The bearded man, who smelled of sea salt and wood, approached they table. "Oi! Bahar me mahn! Has!" The two Olirians rose to greet him.

"Siorc, how have you been?" asked Has, clasping him by the hand.

"Oh, ife behn betar, but I ahm ready far the sea!" Turning and gesturing to the female behind him, he added, "Thes es me dotar, Murca." His apparent daughter seemed much more...tamed than her father, giving Bahar and Has a curt bow.

"A pleasure to meet you both," she said, embarrassedly. Bahar bowed back.

"And you as well." Siorc grabbed his daughter by the shoulder.

"Don't she look jas like 'ar mum?" He laughed, and added, "She es tah be me farst mate on the trip." Siorc nodded to the Freishannese sat before him. "Thase the outlanders?"

While Seumas seemed to have a little trouble following some of his speech Sáedir replied standing and reaching out his hand in greetings, “We do hail from Freishann my good sir so outlanders that does make us! I presume you are to be Captaining the third ship on this voyage?”

"Yar," Siorc replied, "tha nayum es 'Siorc', meh shep es the 'Bowhead'," he said as he extended a hand to Seumas. "A pleshar tah mate you."

He may have had trouble following the speech but the gesture was unmistakable, Seumas responded as he took the hand, "Seumas, I'm one of the marines that'll be aboard your ship." He gestured over to Sáedir. "Sáedir the Magus."

The old whaler smiled and showed the state of his teeth, extending his hand to the Magus with a grin. He smelled of fish and salt. "Aye, 'allo. Any off ya thar cap'n?"

The Whaler’s customs were odd both of the Freishannese followed along through the awkwardness.  Sáedir reached out once more and took the greeting and replied, “No, I believe he was attending to some business with the Honorable Magus Ghúmard back on the Admiral Griobhaech.”

"Ah, Majoos. Yah, aif behn wondaring the wotars 'est off air far yars, bote aif gaht a gote faeling abote thes taim." The whaler clasped tight to Sáedir's shoulders. "Now weif gote sahm rale kangs' monay, ey?" They began laughing heartily, when Siorc’s grogarish daughter pulled him back with an embarrassed laugh.

"Forgive my father, he's not...used to the company of foreigners." She gave a polite curtsy to the Freishannese, and continued, "I am Murca, I recently graduated from the naval academy in Riverlume, it is a pleasure to meet you."

Sáedir responded politely, but not quietly, bowing in a manner that may well as be ripped straight from an etiquette class in Freishann. “The pleasure is all mine Miss Murca. The Academy is across the city from the collegium, closer to the forest I believe? I must admit I have not spent much time in Riverlume.”

"Aye, that's correct," Murca affirmed. "I was admitted as part of the treaty between the High Kings of Olira and Freishann. I was to join the Olirian navy, but I instead chose to assist my father in this expedition." Bahar stood up.

"Siorc here's been going out west for decades," he said. "My suggestion; follow what the man says. He knows his way around this ocean."

“Although Seumas may do better I must say I am the least navally experienced here, it would be folly not to follow that advise friend Bahar.” Sáedir replied with a tinge of embarrassment in his voice. He leaned forward as he continued, “I do have a role which will make this journey much easier. I will be assisting your ship in regards to the wind, I have experience in the matter but only with Freishannese ships. Have either of you used such means before?”

The whaler seemed perplexed by the statement. "Nar...they wend? 'Ow air ye gon nar yoos they wend?" Bahar seemed somewhat more familiar with the concept.

"The Freishannese mages are going to push air into the sails. Is that correct?"

“Yes. It is easier to do when we try just the sails and smaller ships tend to be better controlled as well, I don’t know how well it would work in a storm but we should be able to make a greater pace.”

They conversed a decent ways into the night, not much of import was said. They stayed a longer meeting because of the tasks that awaited them on the morrow. 

[hr]

Crews load the last provisions onto the ships. The three readied to leave harbor each equipped for the voyage ahead with supplies for the months forward and mages to shorten the journey as possible.

The crew of the Bowhead was the last to arrive that day. Wild-eyed and lustful for the sea, they crammed their supplies, and a bounty of harpoons, aboard their vessel, one which seemed foreign to both the Freishannese and the crew of the Liba. Siorc was the last to embark, patting a large, troll-like creature on the head.

"Ell bay saying ye, me dar." With that, the old man leaped about his craft and took to the crow's nest.

"Westard way go!" He bellowed, and his voice shook the bones of the sea.

[hr]

A messenger had ridden out to inform the Countess of Sliagie during her usual patrols to inform her that a letter had been received from the Black Band. It had been carried by a rider at great speed from the Barony of Nóild, a small keep near the river that has relatively frequent traffic to the eastern territories. Before that, the rider from Nóild had assured the Countess’ servants, it had been carried by ship up the river to the Barony for this purpose. 

Now it sat on her desk awaiting her, she sighed. There hadn’t been much point in changing out of her riding clothes, her armor had been left back in the armory since it was only a letter. The messenger had been settled in the barracks for the night. 

The large desk sat in front of her with the completely unmatching chair pulled out as well. It had been a carefully thought out gift from her husband’s parents, unfortunately, they got the design period wrong.

Countess Mellasula shook her head, [i]Losing your focus in your old age?[/i] Smiling she sat down, picked up the letter and read.

[i]My Dear Friend,

I have recently taken a job, one of great immensity, from our allies in the Emerald Empire. While I know that your King has refused personal participation in the conflict, I am also aware that his actions and directives do not necessarily reflect your own. That is why I invite you and your army to partake in the Black Band's actions against the Empire of Matathran.

I am also aware, and have not forgotten, of the many debts owed to me and my men from around the Kingdom of Freishann. Let it be known that any Freishannese men, participate, and any Freishannese army, who come to the aid of the Emerald Empire shall have all debts to the Black Band forgiven with post-haste.

Given the short notice of this request, the minor kings of Sahil, Ghabar, Khasibuil, and Rokai have also agreed to subsidize your war efforts, as well as the efforts of any commander who wishes to add their command to the cause, and is promising trade incentives and the removal of tariffs for all those involved.

Remember, my friend, that in our search for command, we also must take upon ourselves the banners of civilization and the dignity of personhood; these are principles which the ever-growing threat of Matathran have turned on, and to stop this threat at its doorstep is our duty as commanders.

Should you choose to accept this call to arms, speak to the Emerald delegation currently in Freishann, and they will coordinate our transportation through the Dreaming, for another chaotic threat, that of the sea-dwelling Morj, have taken up on the coast of the Emerald Empire.

Your friend and ally,

Gultar [/i]

The Countess went to the door and spoke to the two guards outside, “Tell my officers to recall the patrols and prepare the troops to march on the morrow.”