Waves Breaking, Chapter Twelve
Searching for Answers
The Sacred Harbinger’s ship loomed large as it sailed towards the Deathwish, its ironclad hull pushing through the water.
As the ships approached, the crew of the Sacred Harbinger’s ship hailed them.
Harrow gave orders to drop sail, slow down and release the anchor. He stood at the railing, looking across at the other ship which was slowly drifting by. “We are no pirates,” he called out. “Why do you hail us?”
A man with a tri-corn hat replied. “I’m captain Gideon of the ship, Moonrise, of the Sacred Harbingers. These are Harbinger waters and you are unknown. Who are you and what is your business in these seas?”
“We are an independent vessel. We bring goods for trade. Do you threaten all free people who sail in these waters?” Harrow called out. “Leave us be and we will cause no trouble.”1
The other captain thought about it a moment. “Allow us to board you, see these goods you have for trade, and you will have no trouble.”
Harrow gritted his teeth and nodded. “Very well. We have nothing to hide.”
Captain Gideon stood with Harrow on the deck as his crew went through the Deathwish, looking it over.
Harrow could feel the tattoo on his back, itchy. If these Harbingers saw it, there would be conflict, of that he had no doubt.
“Your ship has seen better days,” Gideon said.
“We’ve had run-ins with pirates,” Harrow said. “You know of the Sea Wolf?”
“Indeed, a scourge of the seas,” Gideon said.
Harrow grinned. “Not any longer.”
Gideon’s eyebrows raised. “You took them down…with this?” He asked, looking at the Deathwish.
Harrow nodded. “Indeed we did. We have prisoners below decks to prove it. We’ll be off-loading them to the nearest authorities once we reach a settlement.”2
“Impressive,” Gideon replied. “Very impressive.” His men had finished, reporting that the Deathwish had fossils and metal for trade.3 “Very well, all seems as it should.” He held out his hand.
Harrow shook it.
“Perhaps we shall meet again.”
“If the seas allow,” Harrow replied.
Good riddance.
As they watched the Harbinger ship sail off, Kaito turned to Harrow.
“So, Captain, where do we sail to?”
“To Malau Skerry, and the settlement Nanua. A vice den sounds like just the place to off load some of goods and get the lay of the land.”
The settlement was a sight to behold.
As they approached, the sun set on the horizon, and the settlement on the shoreline defied belief.
A structure of white stood above the water near the shore, supported by huge white pillars coming up from the sea and stretching back towards the shoreline, the structure curved back down towards land. Poorly-built shacks of wood had been built up on land near the white structure. Inside, through oval openings, fires were lit, smoke rising from smoke holes, and torches on the walls. Figures moved within the structure as well as on the shore beyond it.
“Have you ever seen anything like that?” Kaito whispered, staring.
“If I had, you would think I would remember it,” Harrow replied.
A wooden dock had been built off to the side, where a multitude of ships of varying size stood at anchor.
“Take us in,” Harrow called out. “Move, move!” He roused the crew from their stupefied torpor to get the boat into dock.
With the Deathwish docked, Harrow allowed the crew some shore leave, while he took stock of the settlement they now found themselves in.4
First, he found a buyer for the fossils, happy to offload those, even if the price wasn’t the best. Then, with his coin from that and from selling the load of Metals, he paid the Upkeep for the ship and crew, leaving little left over.
With the essentials taken care of, Harrow spent some time in Nanua, exploring the fascinating structure itself. The white material was smooth and hard, curving and circular. Within closed ‘buildings’, laughter and shouting could be heard as folk of all kind ate, drank, gambled and paid prostitutes.
Finding himself in one bar, the furniture cheap wood contrasting against the smooth white walls, floor and ceiling, Harrow couldn’t help but ask about this place. “How did Nanua come to be like this?” He asked the bartender.
The bartender, a thin woman with a bandage over her eye shrugged. “Made some time ago by people or beings long before we were here. Harbingers came, found it fascinating but before too long, left it behind. They think there’s some curse here, or that this is the work of some past evil. They saw fit to leave it to its own ends and here we are, outcasts, criminals and the like, made the place our own.”
“Who’s in charge?”
The bartender filled his drink, smirking. “Depends who you ask. Jalneth and his thugs think he does, while Maggie and her crew think they do. For the moment, they tolerate one another, though conflict does pop off every now and then. Keeps things exciting.”
Over the course of a couple days, Harrow began asking around. First, about Kaito’s condition, Scaleskin.5
What he found wasn’t much more than rumors and myths, but none of it helpful.
Esana found him at a dice game and grabbed his arm. “Captain, come quick, it’s Kaito, they’ve taken him!”
Harrow followed her through the streets and alleys of white to the largest brothel in the settlement, a large structure with multiple floors.
“Some of us was in there, Kaito too. He went up into a room with a nice lady. Then there was some commotion. He tried to leave, the bouncers stopped him and took him somewhere else. I came to find you.”
“Gather the crew and take them to the ship,” Harrow ordered her before walking inside.
A bar was set up inside with women and men lounging in revealing clothing. A tall, bulky woman stood behind the bar.
Harrow walked up to her. “You must be Maggie,” Harrow said.
She nodded. “And you’re Captain of the Deathwish,” she replied.
“You have one of my crew,” Harrow said. “Why have you taken him?”
She leaned forward. “Do ye know he has the scaleskin?” She whispered. “You do, don’t you? Some here would kill him and toss him into the sea without a second thought.”
“But not you?” Harrow asked.
“Some of us are a little more learned than others.”
Harrow took a seat. “I’ll have a drink if you don’t mind.”
She poured an ale. “This is the best stuff on the island, on the house.” She placed it in front of him.
He took a drink and set it down. It was damn good. “So you saw an opportunity,” he said. “What do I need to do to get my man back?”6
“What do you have to offer?” Maggie asked.
Harrow drank some more before speaking. “How about I take care of a problem you have here, and you give me my man back, as well as information, supplies and anything else I need.”7
“That’s a tall order. What’s this problem you’re going to take care of for me?”
“Jalneth.”8
“When are you going to let us free?” Grimshaw asked.
Grimshaw sat across from Harrow in the captain’s quarters, glasses full in front of them, half empty bottle between them. “We’re at a settlement, Nanua. You and the rest of your crew will be let off here. Before I do, however, I have a proposition.”
“I’m waiting,” Grimshaw said, scratching his beard. He took a drink.
“There’s two power players here. One, Maggie, holds one of my men and pits me against the other. If you and your crew prove yourself to her by fighting with us, she’ll give you employment. That’s better than leaving you here without a cent to your name, ain’t it?”
Grimshaw looked down, thinking. “You’d give us weapons?”
Harrow nodded. “They’d be provided.”
“And this Maggie, what sort is she?”
Harrow shrugged. “Tough, smart, capable, as far as I can tell.”
Grimshaw finished his drink. “Not sure we have much choice but…” he shrugged. “It’s better than nothing.”
Check the footnotes for the rolls I used in this session. Let me know what you think in the comments.
Thanks to Andrew Wylde, BuddhaRandom, and Eric for being paid subscribers.
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Check out the Table of Contents for previous games I’ve played as well as other stuff I’ve written.
Compel + Heart: 5 vs 2,8 → Weak Hit. Success but comes with Demand or Complication. +1 Momentum (5).
Does he believe? Likely. 72 → Yes.
Does Gideon notice anything suspicious? Unlikely. 94 → No.
Sojourn + Heart: 5 vs 5,1 → Weak Hit. Safe refuge but time is short or resources are strained. Make one recover move with automatic success. Repair → At Anchor, +4 points. Integrity → 5.
Gather Information + Wits: 3 vs 9,3 → Miss. Dire threat or unwelcome truth. Pay the price → A friend, ally or companion is in harm’s way.
Oracle: Action + Theme = Protect Power
Make a Connection + Heart: 3 vs 3,5 → Miss. Burn Momentum: 7 vs 3,5 → Strong Hit. Role: Settlement Leader, Rank: Dangerous.
Swear an Iron Vow + Iron: 9 vs 6,1 → Strong Hit. +2 momentum. (7) Vow: “Deal with Jalneth” → Rank: Dangerous. Develop Relationship → (2/10)
Great to see another episode, love this series!
I love it. When i play i stuck at the beginning, but i shee how you play Sundered isles and i enjoyed so much :)