[center] [img]https://i.imgur.com/FIrDblL.png[/img][/center]
[center][h1][color=1ABC9C]Captain Beckett, Rory, & Gnarly[/color][/h1][/center]

[color=silver]
The [i]envoys[/i] from Port Verge listened as the few among the passengers and crew that were bold enough, stepped up to say their piece. Gnarly groaned in disgust at the sound of their voices, Rory made it clear with her bored expression that she couldn’t give a single fuck what any of these people had to say, and Beckett…well he simply chuckled at the unfolding of it all. Before he responded with words, he blew a kiss to Minerva and [i]sweet[/i] Phia, as she had been called, then stepped forward to address the group of volunteers.
 
[color=1ABC9C]“I like the moxie on you lot.”[/color] He said, the amusement pouring from his words plain as day. [color=1ABC9C]“But, please, throw away any notion that there’ll be some kind of negotiation here…It’s just not in the books.”[/color] Beckett raised a hand and motioned to each of them with a finger as though he were counting them.
 
[color=1ABC9C]“Two Shifters, an Elf wearing leaves for clothes, a clanker, aaaaaand [i]YOU[/i].”[/color] He said, going from Minerva to Menzai, then Phia to Bastion…and finally pointing at Arya. [color=1ABC9C]“Pretty little Tiefling…you get to come too. Oh, and don’t worry, you can bring the little creature on your shoulder as well. It should be safe…unless we get hungry.”[/color] Beckett roared with laughter at his cruel little joke. Gnarly joined him, loving the bit of torment more than a sane man should. Once their laughter died down, Beckett continued. 

[color=1ABC9C]“Everyone else stays put…[b]Or else.[/b]”[/color] The joy of getting to say those diabolical, if not a bit cliche, final two words was palpable in his smirk as Beckett reached into his pocket, pulled out a neatly folded handkerchief, unfolded it and shook it out like a magician about to do some kind of parlor trick, and then looking back to Rory as she raised a hand, casting some kind of spell to make the handkerchief levitate from Beckett’s grasp higher and higher in the air until it was suspended above them all. 

Beckett simply raised his hand to the sky, and the sound of several guns firing in the distance shattered the silence of the moment. In seconds, that perfectly pristine handkerchief levitating above them was torn to shreds by the hail of bullets. 

[color=1ABC9C]“If you’re foolish enough to test us after that little display…well…my friends, you’re simply wishing for death. I imagine that makes things crystal clear, eh?”[/color][hr]
And that was that.

Whether by volunteering, or by [i]being[/i] volunteered, you now find yourselves as a part of this little expedition. You were escorted off the ship and away from the other civilians and crew members you chose to fight side by side with, and that endured the harsh landing alongside you. Your arms have been bound behind your backs, threats of injury [i]or worse[/i] have been issued against you if you were to try anything. Your questions, comments, and concerns were ignored along the way as you traveled.  

Oddly, however, each of you were allowed to keep your gear. Weapons, armor, nothing of the sort was taken from you as the three pirates began to lead you to your destination date with the Pirate Prince. Not even birds. 

Beckett, Rory, and Gnarly the handsome Orc direct you through hot and humid forest, dangerous…crock infested wetlands, and more as you journey to Port Verge. In a matter of a couple of hours, you see it…the small town on the southern tip of the island. You feel the ocean breeze as you cross the threshold of the trees, and you can smell the salt of the sea on the air thick as could be. Stopping some hundred feet or so from the threshold of town, Beckett halts and finally addresses you all. 

[color=1ABC9C]“There are some rules we should discuss before the next phase of our [i]fun[/i] little adventure…but first, I’m curious, any questions you might have had before or things you wish to know now…here’s your chance. I’ll be as true as a priest, but just this once.”[/color] [/color]