A Mutiny in Murvos - IC

[Scratcherclaw]

Castor gives the man a nod before stepping into the crew quarters and looking for the former first mate's body. With a grimace, he looks around for a key or keyring. Surely a man like him wouldn't let that key out of his sight, right?
 

[Fialova]

Sébastien

With no one to stop you, you are able check all of the stores that Mr. Tilleroux and Ms. Kyriarchia strictly rationed. You find that you have less than two days worth of food, water, and room had the crew entered port in its full capacity, but with the seven of you remaining, it is nearly a week's worth. There is also, by your measure, enough spare cloth, rope, and other materials to keep the ship going for a bit less than half a month.

Ship Stores

* 50 person days of food rations
* 50 person days of water rations
* 50 person days of rum rations
* 30 days of ship consumables

Rum rations are not included in the WWN mechanics for ships, but I have added them to better mesh with reality. While not necessary for survival, crew members with access to rum (in addition to their normal water rations) will have their base morale levels raised by 1 until the no longer have access, either from their rations being withheld, or the stores being depleted.

Danelos

With some jiggling, you are able to pick the lock, revealing a small room that is clearly Demos' stash. Inside are two large, sturdy, locked chests, as well as a large leather satchel that is sealed with a simple pull string. Just as the door opens, you spot Terzo stepping into the captain's chambers as well.

Castor

After a moment of searching, you are able to make out Mr. Tilleroux in the crowd. Apart from his blood-stained clothing, and the shortsword he'd been wielding in the battle, all that is on his person is a similarly blood-covered ring of keys.

Terzo

With loot in hand, you make your way into the aftcastle, past where Ernst is looting Mr. Galatas' bedroom, and find your way into the captain's chambers. 

The room is quite spacious, with a higher ceiling than the other rooms you've been in. His bed, to your right, is covered in fine silk sheets, neatly tucked to suggest he'd not yet entered it that evening. A large, ornate wardrobe can be seen immediately to your left, likely full of the various outfits you'd seen him wear. Two cushions sofas can be seen underneath the large windows that make up the enter aft-facing wall, and in between them - right up against the rear wall - is a shelf displaying a stone bust of Demos' own head, one of his wife's, and a golden statuette of Pharon.

Past that, on the other side of the bed, is his desk. On it is a burning candle, a quill in an inkwell, and his logbook open to the most recent page. Nearby to this is Danelos, who enters another door on the opposite of the captain's bed just as you arrive, peering into a small storage room.

[ratwizard]

"Terzo, you fought well out there," Danelos says as the gruff man enters the captain's quarters. "Take a look at this. Demos' hoard." He gestures toward the small room. "Would you mind giving me a hand with one of these chests?" The Gleoisian takes the leather satchel out, rifling through it.

[Scratcherclaw]

Let's see if one of you does the trick, hm? He picks up the keyring, wiping some of the blood off on whatever clean cloth remains on the corpse. Gods, give us strength when we have to scrub this all down. With a sigh, he walks back to Tilleroux's former quarters and tries each key to see which might open the lock.

 

[Namelessjake]

A week. That gives us some room to get away from Murvos at least, Sébastien thinks as he finishes looking over the supplies. Although it will be hard to sail her with our number. The sooner we make port and recruit more crew the better.

Now to deal with Dan and Terzo. Those two need reining in before their greed causes any more bloodshed. The fools don't realise the true value of what we have.

"I'm heading up to the captain's quarters," the Imardanian calls out to Castor, before heading up back out on to the deck, and making his way inside the aftcastle.

"Find anything good?" He calls out to the captain's captain as he approaches.

[BartNL]

"And so did you, migo. Now, shall we?" Terzo replies yo Danelos as he jingles the late captain's keyring.

[ratwizard]

Danelos cracks a grin, looking up from rifling through the satchel at the jingle of keys. "Well then, let us see what our old friend Urebano has left for us all."

[Fialova]

Danelos & Terzo

Terzo is quickly able to get both chests open, while Danelos searches the leather satchel. Both men are soon faced with the sight of a large pile of coin in one of the chests, and an assortment of fine sheets and other linens - mostly of silk and satin - in the other. Danelos, meanwhile, finds that the leather satchel is filled with an assortment of salt-cured meats that Demos appears to have kept for himself away from the crew's rations. As you peruse your findings, you hear Sébastien shout out "Find anything good?"

Loot

* 5 person days food rations (in the form of salted meat)
* 5 spools fine silk
* 1 spool fine satin
* 2 spools linen
* 5246 silver coins

Castor

The later first mate had many keys, so it takes you a moment to find the right one, but when you do you find that the chest opens with ease. Inside you find two pairs of boots - one well-worn but of fine make, the other immaculately cleaned and polished, appearing as if they are new and completely unused. Apart from that, most of the chest is full of the man's different sets of clothing, though tucked beneath all of that you do find a small, old leather-bound journal. The front of it bears the insignia of the Imardin navy, with the name 'Ephraim Tilleroux' etched into it.

Sébastien

Making your way upstairs, you are approached by Ernst in the officer's lounge area as he is stepping out of Mr. Galatas' old room. "Hey boss," he says, as he sees you coming up the stairs. "Got some good shit in here, where you want it? Also, we got a chest but ain't got a key. Was about to check the old man's corpse for it."

[Scratcherclaw]

Castor raises an eyebrow, pulling the journal from its hidden nook. There must be some dirt in here if he's hiding it away like this. Alright Tilleroux, what's your secret? He flips past the cover, seeing if he can read the contents.
 

[Namelessjake]

Boss, huh, Sébastien thinks at Ernst's comment, having not realised quite to the degree he had started taking charge.

"Let's pool anything of any use or value in here. It's one of the few places without any bodies," he says, gesturing to the table of the officer's lounge. "Good idea," he adds as the man makes mention of checking the first mate's body for the key. "Ms. Kyriarchia had her valuables in her footlocker."

[ratwizard]

Danelos looks up from his satchel of cured meats to the glint of silver. "Now would you look at that," he says with a whistle.

"We found our lost wages," the Gleiosian shouts back toward Sebastien. "Come and give us a hand! Everyone!"

This has to be thousands of silver. Split seven ways, there's more than enough for what I will require. Better to play the hero than the thief.

[Namelessjake]

Séb's ears perk up hearing Danelos' shout. He quickly makes his way inside the captain's cabin.

"Good thing the bastard didn't spend it," the Imardanian says, entering the room and making his way over to Terzo and Danelos in the storage cupboard.

"I told Ernst to pool everything in the officer's lounge, we can see what we're dealing with then," he says, moving to help with hauling the plunder.

[BartNL]

"That's a treasure, migos."

[ratwizard]

"The bastard was keeping some price cuts of salted meats, too," Danelos says, dangling the leather satchel out with a hand. "We'll eat well tonight. They'd boil well, I'd imagine."

He eyes the Imardanian as they work to move the plunder into the officer's lounge. "Speaking of, did the rest of you go below? How are our supplies? We'll need them to last if we expect to scrub all this Gods-damned blood out."

It's a shame so many of the crew perished. Perhaps we could have let a few of them live, if for no other reason than to delegate the swabbing. We'll be on our hands and knees for hours with just the seven of us.

[Namelessjake]

"We've got a week's worth of supplies, so we should be good," Séb says answering Danelos' question. "It'll be hard work sailing with just the seven of us, but we should be able to make it work long enough to get to a port, that's not Murvos. Speaking of, we should raise the sails, there's no point getting any closer to Gleios for now and risking being seen or the bodies washing ashore."

"Kairon and Telwari went to check the hold, but Castor found the cargo manifest. We're hauling wine, silver, and coffee. Should be able to fetch enough coin to stock up and sign on some more crew. " he adds. "Although I guess we need to come together and talk about what's next - once we've dealt with the bodies."

[ratwizard]

"I agree," Danelos says with a nod. "Murvos is no longer safe. Any number of people would recognize the Pelican. If we've need to offload cargo, and quickly, there's always Talguta. Though with the state of things I should expect a considerable markdown."

"As for what's next, that is a discussion that should precede anything else now that the ship — our ship — is secure... The bodies aren't going anywhere, but we are. Let us gather the others."

[Namelessjake]

"Fair enough," Séb says, with a shrug, not really minding what gets dealt with first. We didn't really discuss what comes next before committing to this. Hopefully we're all on similar pages, he thinks, wondering what the others might intend to do next.

[Fialova]

Castor

The journal is clearly old, and well-worn from its time at sea, but you can still make out much of it. Fortunately, the author mostly penned it in Common, though there are segments - seemingly poetry and other pieces of prose - that are written in Imardanian instead. From the dates you see - and the name on the front - you are able to gather that this journal was kept not by your late first mate, but by his father during his time as a petty officer in the Imardanian navy. The last entry is from more than 30 years ago, and overall spans a career of about 17 years at sea. There are multiple points where Mr. Tilleroux - or simply Emmet, as he is referred to in the book - is mentioned lovingly by his later father, alongside other names you can only assume are his siblings and mother. There are notes on pirates sunk, merchant crews rescued from storm, and the man's penchant for bedding port wenches when at port outside of their hometown. Your persusals of all of this is interrupted, after a bit, by a shout from Danelos coming from above, saying, "we found our lost wages," followed by, "come and give us a hand! Everyone!"

Sébastien, Danelos, Terzo

"Good fuckin' job," Ernst says, stepping into the captain's quarters after Sébastien. "So how much we talkin'? How much silver that piece of shit save for himself, rather than payin' us our fair share?" At the mention of the meat, the man offers a wide grin and licks his lips in response, as he playfully pats his stomach. 

Kairon

As the two of you are continuing your inventory of the hold's contents, you hear a shout from above, from Danelos. "We found our lost wages," he says, which you hear faintly echoing through the hold. Shortly after, you hear, "come and give us a hand! Everyone!"

"I'm going up," Telwari says, as the voice is heard from above. She sets down one of the sacks she was eyeing, returning to the staircase headed up.

[ratwizard]

Danelos watches Ernst lick his lips, hungry for both meat and money alike. Some part of me wonders if he would have simply backed whatever play led him toward those things. Though can I claim to be much different? At least he is honest about his intentions.

"Quite a lot of coin," he answers the man. "I counted what could only be thousands. Months of our work, and it was all in his damned closet."

[Scratcherclaw]

Castor flips through the pages of the journal with rapt interest, feeling like he's stepping into history with each passage. Didn't take Tilleroux for the sentimental sort. And with the love his father had for him, how'd he grow into such a prick? He finds himself growing lost in the pages even after he hears the call from above. He stops after a few more moments. Oh, that was Dani! Did he say he found our coin? He closes the book, tossing it on the desk behind heading back up to find the others.

He steps into the quarters, giving Danelos a smile. "The decks aren't that thin. Did I hear you found our wages? Dig up anything else interesting?"

[Namelessjake]

"Aye they did," Séb says as Castor joins them. "And not just ours. We're all set for a good while, assuming we don't get found out," he adds, knowing their individual cuts of the lost wages are significantly greater now most of their fellow sailors lay dead below deck.

[Chanchabruhh]

Kairon straightens up, his attention snapping to the shout from above. "I'll follow you," he says to Telwari, setting down the crate he was inspecting.
 
As Telwari heads up the staircase, Kairon quickly follows, Reaching the top, Kairon steps onto the deck, prepared for whatever awaits them. "Let's see what Danelos has found," he says.

[Scratcherclaw]

"Oh, wow!" Castor exclaims, wearing a broad smile as Séb explains the uncovered treasure trove. It mellows as the Imardanian continues, as he realizes the price paid and the risks faced. "Right. I guess we'll need to be careful. And maybe come up with a new name?" Pelicans are kind of pricks anyways.
 

[ratwizard]

"A new name, and a new crew," Danelos agrees, meeting Castor's smile with a conceited smirk.

"We overthrew one bastard of a captain, and now we have the chance to decide for ourselves which way our sails are blowing. The way I see it, this ship needs firm leadership, but fair. Pay that is never forfeit. And a captain with more ambition than the headless git back there on the aft deck."

"Now, I know any one of us here would do a better job than Demos did. But his should not be the bar to measure our fortune with. For that reason, I would like to put forth my name for consideration. Any others?" he asks, looking toward the others but finding himself focusing on Sebastien and Ernst in particular.

[Namelessjake]

Ambition? I wonder what he has in mind, I know I've thought about it, Sébastien thinks, listening to Danelos.

"Forget about pay. Like I said before, we all risked everything for this ship, as such it belongs to all of us, we all should share in the profits," Sébastien says, feeling himself grow full of zeal. And there's plenty profit to be had.

"I too put myself forward," he declares. "Each man should say what they would do as captain and then we should all vote on it. That's the fairest way to decide it, and as you said - we need fairness" he adds, looking to Danelos.

"And besides, I fear any duels to the death might leave us without the manpower to get to port," the veteran sailor adds, cracking a smile, before turning to look around, curious to see if anyone else intends to throw their hat in the ring or if it will just be between Danelos and himself.

[Scratcherclaw]

Captain Danelos has a certain ring to it. Castor looks at the man with an affectionate smile, though it does not linger as he listens to the Imardanian's words. But Sébastien seems to have a vision for more than just himself. More than just blind ambition. Though Dani would look dashing in a captain's uniform... His mind wanders, a new fantasy flashing past his eyes.

"I'm certain someone other than myself would be more qualified." He gives each a meek smile before taking a half-step back. But it wouldn't hurt to listen to what they have to say, right?

[BartNL]

Terzo sees his fellow mutineer start his speech. And why should he be captain, when it was me who won us the battle, mierda. Terzo steps forwards, and answers the call:
"I will take responsibility for our deeds tonight. For my deeds. I killed the captain Demos and mr. Galatas. It was my strong arm that won the battle. I would take the captaincy if you would have me."

[Fialova]

As the rest of you discuss where things are going from here, Kairon and Telwari finally join from the depths below. "We're voting for a new captain?" the young woman asks, glancing around at the men who'd announced their candidacy. 

"Aye," Ernst replies. "Them three so far have put their names in," he says, motioning towards, Danelos, Sébastien, and Terzo in turn. "I've been on this crew a long time and I ain't got any leadership in me, so I'm votin' for whoever got our backs the most," he continues. 

"Hm," Telwari says, looking to each man. "What would each of you suggest as our next course of action, and our purpose going forward? We can't exactly continue where Demos left off," the woman continues, curious to hear each man's response.

OOC

Each of you speak to your plans for the ship and its crew going forward, both its immediate future and long term goals. The two npc crew, as well as the other PCs, can then base their decisions on who to vote for based on your respective speeches. 

[ratwizard]

Terzo, a man of prowess and practicality. Still, it is some surprise to me that he would put forth his name. I had not placed his mind beyond much other than booze or women, Danelos considers, studying the man. Perhaps his ambition would be rewarded if he is made an officer.

"A fine kill, indeed," Danelos admits of Terzo. "But being captain demands more than good aim. It requires vision. I've led men on the field of battle and secured my way into courts of grandeur. A captain needs to be someone a crew can look to for unerring direction, exceptional acumen, and surety of purpose. I can be that man, if you will let me."

"As for where we go next? Our aggressive plotting has been rewarded — we have seized thousands of silver, wages long due. But the real wealth comes from this ship that we can now call ours. I say we retain this forward momentum. Invest heavily in ourselves. Bring this ship back to working order with a slim, but effective crew, and a clean title of ownership — equal parts for the seven of us."

"We've proven our mettle to ourselves," he reminds the others, gesturing toward the top-deck where their final battle took place. "Now we need to prove it to the world. We will build connections in various ports. Earn well-paying contracts. Shipping, smuggling, escorting high-value members of society. Whatever advantages each of us can provide, we will seize upon our opportunities and make our struggles all worth it." He nods assuredly, looking between the others.
 

[Scratcherclaw]

"Well said, Dani," Castor remarks with a proud smile after the aspiring captain's speech. "You always did have such a way with words. To be both handsome and well-spoken..." His voice trails as he looks downward sheepishly, cheeks a faded rosy hue. The things he's said to me, even a Teirosi poet might blush.

[ratwizard]

Danelos' cheeks bloom red. With pursed lips, he gives Castor an assuring nod, though the Gleiosian stays quiet. Must he always display such passions outside of the bunk? No matter. With his heart comes his vote, and they may both be mine.

[Namelessjake]

"Aye, you dealt the killing blow, but we took this ship together, the responsibility lies with all of us. That's how the Gleiosians and the Imardanaians will see it anyway," Sébastien says to Terzo. 

We'll probably get away with it for a time, but eventually Demos' partners, the insurance companies, the widows, they're all going to start asking questions," he continues, now talking to the group. "They'll paint us as monsters and hang us all. Trying to operate as a legitimate vessel will make it all the more easy for them to do it."

"Demos and his ilk have been stealing from people like us for centuries. I say we take the Pelican, crew her up, fit her with guns, and give them their monsters! I've sailed the Forelle Sea for nearly 20 years and its ripe with fat lazy merchant captains who'd fuck over their crew if it meant another silver in their pocket. I say we raise the black, and we take back what's ours!" the Imardanian says, slamming his fist on the table to punctuate his words.

"We've taken one ship, we can do it again. Vote me in as your captain and I'll make you wealthier than you ever imagined. The bounty of the Forelle Sea split seven ways! Masters of your own destiny!" 

Mechanics

Use Authority-1 to convince Telwari to vote for Séb.
Cha/Lead: [2d6+2]=9+2=11 vs her Morale Level.

[BartNL]

Terzo takes notes from the speeches of the other captain candidates. Nobody wants to hear about numbers now, right? Then as it's his turn, he speaks:"Of course I was not the alone in our battle. But I did finish the fight. None did as well as I have. Or do you call me a liar? You call upon having 'vision' Danelos, but I recall that my aged eyes are better than yours still, boy. What high-society folk would have need for a mutineer crew? Smuggling, aye, that's better but that's just being a merchant ship with more risk. The best smugglers are regular merchants with secret holds and cooked books. That's not us." Terzo pauses and turns to Séb.
"And you, Sébastien, if you need to round up your years on board to make a point, you didn't. I have more years on you both anyway." Terzo takes a step back, and looks at everyone in the room.
"Let's raise the black and be the savages from the seas, aye? Then who do you want for a leader, a proven warrior and the killer of Demos? Or do you want a man who helped? The feared crew of mutineers led by a man who assisted in killing his old captain." Terzo says chuckling.

[ratwizard]

Danelos listens to Sebastien's rousing speech, an anxious twinge forming in his mind as he finds he has underestimated the temerity of the man. He'd raise the black, then? It was always a consideration of mine, but hardly where I had hoped this mutiny would lead.

Still, he considers. It is not so dangerous a position. The Imardanians have their focus on Chathra, and Talguta cares little for whose flag flies as long as coin rolls freely. We could carve a place for ourselves in these bloody waters indeed. But it is not the only way. Nor is it the best way.

The Gleiosian listens further to Terzo's speech, narrowing his eyes as he meets the man's own. "News of Demos' death will hardly reach shores beyond Ciranthium — which is about as far as his pitiful influence stretched, anyhow. With a proper scrub and a new coat of paint, the nobles of Brennis, of Akiro, of Amkhara, and beyond would see us as who we announce ourselves to be, not whose ship this may or may not have belonged to before."

He glances towards Seb. "We can be masters of our destiny, while not damning our livelihood to the only safe harbor of Wastrel's Wharf. The only limit to our wealth is the one you both seek to set upon ourselves."

Terzo claims great vision, but he is myopic — only able to see as far as he can throw that weighty boomerang. Although, if they both aim to operate as privateers, it seems I will have little choice in the matter in the end.

He eyes the others, hoping to gauge their reactions before continuing.

Mechanics

Using Folie a Deux-1 on Ernst to get him to believe I am absolutely sincere in the claim we can make more money going above-board than raising the black.

[Scratcherclaw]

Castor listens to Sebastian's speech with a level of discomfort, shifting uneasily next to Danelos. Seems so unlike him. Turning to piracy? Just killing everything and everyone in our path? The discomfort turns to slight horror as Terzo's ego meets with the sea's barbary. He shakes his head. "Sailing around, committing wanton slaughter on people just like us? That can't be right." Being a brute doesn't make you fit to be captain. If you've spent so long on board, that just means you've never amounted to anything else.

He lets out a weighty sigh. "I stand with Danelos. What he gives is a real path, more than just... bold promises of killing innocents. Leadership based on more than a selfish definition of strength." He grimaces. "Any one of us could've killed Demos. Getting there first doesn't grant you some kind of divine favor."

[Namelessjake]

"Piracy is not wanton slaughter Castor," Sébastien says firmly. "It is simply about exerting power and reputation. Killing may occasionally be necessary, but too much is bad for business. The best case scenario is a ship surrenders at the mere threat of violence, we take their cargo and let them go. If they have a captain much like Demos, they may even thank us for it," he explains. It would seem I'm already fighting an uphill battle against the establishment here. Their words carry weight, even out here.

"You refute your own point," he says, turning to Danelos. "If murderous mutineers can make safe harbour on the far side of the Forelle Sea, why not pirates? If we're smart about things, many ports will remain open to us. I'm not proposing we sail around attacking everything we see. We would pick our targets carefully," he says.

"You would have us become the errand boys of those rich enough to hire a ship," the Imardanian continues. "We'd have the ship, aye, but we'd still rely on their coin to eat and keep her sailing. You'd be trading Demos for a hundred like him!"

[ratwizard]

Danelos gives Castor a firm nod, feeling no small relief the man has thrown his lot beside him. He knows of what I am capable. He believes in my command.

"Thank you for your confidence," he says to the navigator, a look of sincerity in his eyes. He turns to Sebastien, listening to the man's objections.

"A mutiny against Demos upsets his family, his financiers, his associates: a drop in the bucket amidst the size of the Forelle," he responds to the Imardanian. "Yet an attack on a merchant ship, and suddenly we've gained the ire of many more parties of greater wealth and power, not to mention the navy of your homeland."
 

"You would have us become the errand boys of those rich enough to hire a ship," the Imardanian continues. "We'd have the ship, aye, but we'd still rely on their coin to eat and keep her sailing. You'd be trading Demos for a hundred like him!"

"And that is the way this world works, my friend. Everyone relies on the coin of bastards like Demos, exactly as you say — whether taken gently from their hand, or torn freely from their hand. I am not saying we cannot make a handsome living, raising the black. I am only saying we should pursue more prudent measures, first. I know I can perform that balancing act as captain, would you allow me the chance."

[Namelessjake]

"Like I said, we would chose our targets carefully. The Imardanian Navy is formidable aye, but if we leave Imardanian shipping alone, they have no reason to come for us. Hell, weakening the other islands but capturing their ships even helps them. It'd be in their interest for us to keep sailing and plundering," Sébastien retorts.

"And what would you do when they offer no work?" He asks. "Aye taking their coin may still be relying on it in a manner of speaking, but with me as Captain we'd be free. Free of their chains, no longer bound to serve at their leisure, beholden to their whims, we'd be our own men!"

[BartNL]

"Stop bickering, mierda. Any choice of jobs we make now is not without risk. I'd let the crew vote based on that. At least for the first job. Then the crew can decide for themselves what they need, and what they are willing to risk." Terzo intervenes.

[Namelessjake]

"Yes we should vote," Sébastien says, realising neither candidate is going to convince each other. "We'll run around on the shores of Gleios at this rate," he adds, cracking a smile.

"So I'm assuming the three of us are voting for ourselves, and Castor has voted for Danelos. Which just leaves the three of you," he says, looking to Kairon, Ernst and Telwari.

[ratwizard]

"Aye," Danelos agrees with a shrug. "We've said our mind. Now let us cast our votes." He looks toward the three remaining crewmembers.

Ernst, I can see him siding with any of us three. Telwari? Most like to side with Sebastien. As for Kairon, I cannot claim to know his mind on these things.

[Chanchabruhh]

"For the next captain, my vote goes to the one who can lead us with strength and fairness," he begins, looking between Danelos and Sébastien. "I cast my vote for Danelos."

 He pauses, letting his words sink in before continuing. "As for our future—whether to become smugglers or pirates—we need to consider
not just the immediate gains but the long-term consequences. Smuggling can be profitable and carry less risk of deadly conflict, while
piracy might offer greater rewards but at a higher cost."

Kairon looks around at the crew, meeting each person's eyes. "I vote for us to pursue legitimate work as proposed by Danelos."

[Fialova]

Telwari and Ernst listen on as each prospective captain gives their spiels, nodding with the points they agree with, shaking their heads with those they don't. While she'd initially seemed more inclined to side with Danelos' plans, and his captainship, she seems to shift her allegiance after Sébastien's speech. Ernst, meanwhile, seems to be on the latter man's side from the beginning, only slightly wavering in the face of Danelos' strong argument for a more peaceful route. Both cast their votes in favor of Sébastien, leaving the decision at a tie of three to three for each man.

"What, a tie?" Ernst asks, turning to face the others, before landing on Terzo. "Right, well looks like you ain't it, so who'd you prefer to be orderin' us around now?" he asks, motioning towards Danelos and Sébastien with his words. "Gonna be one of them, you just gotta pick who it looks like."

OOC

Bart and Terzo will now decide the tiebreaker, given that Terzo's lack of votes makes his candidacy no longer viable. 

[ratwizard]

Danelos squirms inwardly as the Imardanian gains two votes more to his one. A tie, then, neither with a majority. And now, Terzo will decide the fate of our lives. He looks upon the man with no shame, hiding the grim thoughts plaguing his mind. He hardly seems the closest admirer of either of us, but if he still seeks to raise the black, then...

"Who, then?" he asks Terzo.

[Scratcherclaw]

Didn't expect a tie. Castor raises an eyebrow as the votes are tallied, turning his attention to Terzo. It might as well be settled then. He's probably voting for Seb, right? There goes the dream... He lets out a quiet sigh. But better Seb than Terzo. At least he holds some honor.

 

[BartNL]

"If this is how it's gonna be, I will vote experience and years over the naïve dream that violent mutineer smuggler will ever be taken for legitimate traders while smuggling on the side. Sébastien will be our new leader." Terzo speaks.

[Namelessjake]

Sébastien gives Terzo a nod of approval as he casts his vote in Séb's favour.

"Then it's settled," he says.

That was a bit close for comfort. I will need to make sure I have the backing of any new crew we sign on, he thinks, unconvinced the question of leadership is truly settled for good.

"To business then. We will raise the sails and start on getting rid of the bodies," he says. "Once the ship is cleaned up, we'll give her a new name and change course for a different port. Any suggestions for the name?" He asks, hoping to begin to reunite the divided crew with the christening of the Pelican's new identity.

[BartNL]

"We need a name that spreads fear. Lich or something." Terzo responds to the new captain.

[ratwizard]

Danelos lets out a prolonged breath, his posture uneasy for a brief moment before he tightens up. "My congratulations," the Gleiosian offers Sebastien, his tone measured. "You've proven yourself a capable captain. May our futures together be as prosperous as they are free." He nods as the man suggests their first order of business. So it is, then — shed one leash to be under the leash of another. Still, a day ago and I was a sack of shit with no coin and no future. Today holds a different outlook. He smirks. Besides, First Mate is still on the table.

"She's of Gleiosian make," Danelos says, tapping a closed fist on the sturdy table before them. "That is one thing that we cannot forget. If we desire a name that inspires fear, then I suggest invoking the name of Ianessa. In my tongue, the people call her the Harbinger. The mere sight of her alone is enough to make a man weep and beg, for his time has come — unless he delays her hand with bountiful coin. For that reason, I put forth Harbinger's Approach. You need not be from our land to understand an ill omen.""

[Scratcherclaw]

Castor slides an arm around Danelos, giving him a quick, tender squeeze. "I'm sorry, Dani. You'd have made a great captain, I'm sure of it." He whispers, hoping to console his paramour. He releases a weighty sigh, giving Sebastian a nod. "Aye, congratulations. I hope you'll lead us to greatness."

Castor shakes his head at Terzo, his face forming a slight scowl as the man gives his suggestion over the ship's new name. "History and present day suggest the most fearsome ships didn't rely on a name to build their reputation. It feels like it's... trying too hard." He pauses, caught in thought as he mentally files through the annuls of history. "The Cassowary, the Salacious Saint, the Seahorse, the Silver Sabre." Could make a case either way for the Sirensong I suppose... "Famed crews that built reputations on their deeds, not on some scary name." And built that reputation on more than fear alone.

"I'd suggest something more normal. The Dromedary, the Vixen, the Dancing Serpent, the Emerald Otter, the Aventurine," he rattles off one by one, cheeks slightly flushing as he realizes he's getting carried away. "Um, just to name a few."