[center][img]http://www.desktopimages.org/pictures/2013/0121/1/fantasy-art-ships-fantasy-battle-war-ocean-waves-pics-191789.jpg[/img][/center]

-Private Quarters-

Delilah Laxen paced at the bay window at the rear of [i]GREAT AQUARIUS[/i] as the events leading up to now played out over and over in her head. As a mercenary ship it was their choice to take contracts and following Izals illustrious career as a fighter not a lover they had taken up a contract with the dockmasters of Karaz Kharagul. According to what they knew, an honest mercenary ship had run rogue and made off with a large shipment of wine, iron ore, and various other goods shortly after leaving the docktown. A month later they found the ship in the hands of mutineers and brigands, the dockmen believing they had been plotting to take over for quite some time. 

It was a small vessel meant for crossing large distances quicker than your average crew could manage without a team of dedicated rowers. If the original casters on board had turned over to the brigands then the ship would be well prepared for a quick escape. Fortunately that was not the case, one of said wizards having run along with the scheme while plotting his escape. They were charged with aiding the brigands but the fine and subsequent punishment had been waved entirely, should they agree to aid whatever crew went off to finish the new handlers.

In the back of her mind Delilah trusted her own crew to watch their backs when a new face came aboard, knew that the caster on their ship was here to clear his name by aiding them and return a free man, but doubt and suspicion were a big part of how she operated. Every captain worth their name along the Shallows eyed [i]GREAT AQUARIUS[/i] as competition. Two failed attempts on Delilahs life, one taking place [b]aboard[/b] her own ship no less, had forced her into being more suspicious than ever.

"No sense hiding in my quarters. We've got a ship to tame and brigands to punish." While outwardly confident in tone and posture, that nibbling doubt ate at her chest as she strapped on her sword belt. 

[hr]
-Main Deck-

When Delilah made her way on deck, all hands had weapons near. A ballista sat at the raised main deck. Nearly two dozen great iron headed bolts rested close by as a team worked the strings back and loaded. Many ships sported such weaponry or cannons but the Captain of [i]GREAT AQUARIUS[/i] doubted any other ship sported the accuracy they did. As a pirate hunting ship on the regular it paid for itself to know how to hit your targets where it hurt. 

Below deck on either side of the ship were 3 cannons, a total of 6. Black powder wasn't terribly expensive but it could get messy if a stray spark touched the kegs. With fire magic being just as unsteady it came down to black powder anyways. For ammunition they used smooth marble stones enchanted with sturdiness, capable of being used over traditional balls of equally heavy but expensive iron. 
Word had come down an hour ago that [i]TRUE BLUE[/i], the vessel gone rogue, had been sighted moored close to one of the many islands dotting the shallows. They were quick to raise anchor and set sail when they realized what was heading their way.

Making her way up to the Helm, Delilah gave a nod of approval to everyone she passed before reaching the Wheel. As always, Izal Valencia guiding the ship towards its intended prey. Behind him was the magic caster Rollard Dulin, chanting from his tome to conjure gusts of wind into the sails regularly. With his aid they'd made great progress on catching the supposedly faster ship in record time. To him she gave a friendly head nod before taking up a spot beside her oldest friend and father figure.

"Mr.Valencia, I trust we are ready for a fight?"

A silly question for someone like him but it was pointed more at the others aboard. Anyone strong of arm without a dedicated task had been delegated to whatever task handed down to them by their superiors. If they weren't willing to scrub the decks they weren't kept on board for long. Delilah had no patience for those with overwhelming pride that deemed themselves too good for honest labor. 
Battle would be upon them in short order. As soon as they were in range Delilah expected to receive a volley of arrows and shots from [i]TRUE BLUE[/i]. Death was their sentence and everyone on that ship knew it. 

[Hider=Enemy ship]
ROUGH OVERLOOK - Do your best explaining where you are.
[img]http://www.fantasticmaps.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/pirateship.jpg[/img]
[/hider]


[hider=Accompanying music]
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oF4thORJYsI[/youtube]
[/hider]