The Sea of Swords was calm this day as the sun began to sink. Land was not yet in sight, but various smaller islands that cropped up around the coast were visible in the distance to the west. Going a steady eight knots, they were to see the palace spires just before the sun dropped below the horizon. Markus had the wheel, keeping the Weather Witch steady with an idle hand. Truthfully, he simply wanted to watch over the Blood Axes and their approaching destination. Men had begun to cow under his eyes, he'd noticed. They were as vicious as a sea eagle's, apparently. Whatever helped maintain his image. 

Calliope ascended the stairway to stand beside him, slightly more terrible in appearance than usual (which was saying something when it came to the superstitious crew) due to her diadem. Markus thought it fitted her, and if he was honest with himself there was an attraction to her he rather disliked. As much as everyone here was apart of the crew, and even acted like a true team, a pirate ship was a collection of cutthroats working for mutual gain. Somehow it wasn't the case with her, and it irked him to no end. He brushed it off. He was probably feeling the usual yearnings of a seaman that's not been at port with women for far too long. 

A cry above betrayed Jax, and the Captain looked up to see him waving and pointing southwards. Markus knew what he meant. Hefting the glass scope to his eye, he grinned. "There it is." Markus said as the horizon suddenly bloomed before him in greater detail, and he was relieved to see what looked like large trees before the fading sun were towers the size of ships. He smiled and handed Calliope the scope. Markus whistled with two fingers to ready his crew, and they leaped into action. Grimey hung on the rope to add weight to it as Sron and Halvar used their rippling muscles to yank it down, lowering the back mast to slow the ship for their approach. 

Sketti and Jim had hauled weaponry up onto the deck to keep everyone armed with crossbow bolts and ammunition for their wheelocks and flintlocks. Reginal the Vrettonian laughed haughtily and took a flintlock pistol, loading it like he was born to it and holding it in a professional pose, as if he was being called to duel. Bill and Will gathered up their arms and chainmail jacks, doing their best not to meet their deceased brother as of yet in the afterlife. 

Calls from the Bloodaxe navy echoed across the water, and on deck they arrayed for battle. To Markus' delight, in the distance he saw the fleet of Dalib Sahab floating idly, unaware of what was about to cut into it like a swooping hawk. 

The Blademage took the scope out of the dark sorceress's hand and said. "Would you like to open up with some fireworks once we're in range?" 
[@Penny]