Pirates.

The word left a bad taste in Nelanna’s mouth. If there was anything more vile than the bandits she’s dealt with before, it is pirates. And this city she has come to is run by them. Danger lurked on every corner. The lack of guards was unnerving, and the knowledge of how unlawful the ways of this city is did not help. But the most disturbing fact of them all was that, despite how much everyone else knew that this place is filled with crime, there was nothing that could be done about it. Guards were out of their league if they were attempt to storm the city. It would only bring them more trouble than it is worth. If they take on one pirate, they take on all of them. Because if there was anything all pirate groups could agree on, it is how much they hate authorities. If a single guard so much as dares to step foot in this city they make an enemy of all its residents. A large group of guards would spark a war.

But Nelanna is the exception.

Although she is fearful deep within, her courage is relentless. She kept a brave face as she made her way through the dangerous streets. The heat from scornful eyes burned at her. Some were unaware of who she was, but others lacked the care and disliked her presence anyway. The weapons strapped to her person were a clear signal to them that she was a threat, whether she came in peace or not. If it came to a fight, she was prepared to cut her way through.

A young boy carrying a sack with unknown contents caught her eye. He did not appear armed, but in this place, she could never be too careful. She approached him with confidence, showing that she meant business and would not back down. “You there,” she called to him. He dropped the sack against the outer wall of a small shop and looked up at her. He glanced around as if he thought she was speaking to someone else. When there was no other person, he pointed to himself in question. “Yes, you,” Nelanna said, though more softly this time. “Do you know of The Bloodsail Corsairs?”

The boy’s face seemed to pale at the name, and he averted his eyes while rubbing his nape, “I-I am sorry, but I can’t help you.” The boy turned away and entered the shop. Nelanna raised her brow suspiciously. Obviously he knew something, but perhaps even the townsfolk here are afraid of this certain gang. And it would be within reason.

Word on the street has it that this specific crew is more gruesome than most. Currently they are one of the biggest groups, with their captain being a ruthless killer that would slay his own kin just because they were in the way. He supposedly runs an illegal business aside from piracy out at sea, a business that attracts the worst villains from across the land. This group has recently been spreading their havoc into new territory. Many bandits she has taken out were connected to The Bloodsail Corsairs in some way. And now that she found where they reside, she decided to take the chaos out at its core.

“Ahoy.”

Nelanna spun on her heel at the sound of a woman’s voice. A beautiful lady stood before her with hands on her hips, a small grin and a knowing look in her sea blue eyes. Her unruly locks were red as blood, her skin fair and flawless with an attractive mole under the outer corner of her left eye. Her hat and clothes made it obvious that this woman is a pirate. “I overheard ya askin’ ‘bout The Bloodsail Corsairs,” she said, her pirate accent very heavy. “Do you know of them?” Nelanna couldn’t help but ask. The woman laughed, “Know of ‘em? Ha! I’m a member of their crew, proudly! Whatever business ya got with them, ya got with me.” She crossed her arms over her revealing bosom, “What the hell do ya want with me shipmates?” Nelanna raised a brow at the woman’s wording. Shipmates. Not crew? That did not sound like the words of a captain to the elf, as captains tend to claim they own every member of the crew, rather than consider them equals as shipmates.

“So you aren’t the captain?” Nelanna asked calmly. The pirate blinked slowly, her grin fading. “If ya wanna speak with the captain, then just say so,” she just about snarled. “Fine, I can take ya to the captain. But if ya plan on brewin’ any trouble you’ll be diggin’ an early grave.” She shouldered past Nelanna and guided her down the streets. The Champion did not trust this woman, but she had no other lead. And, if a fight came her way, she was confident in her skills to make it out alive.

The Pirate Haven, just off the Vilpamolan Coast. Brigade has found himself in this town a number of times before, it is always bustling for business and as a mercenary business is very welcome. On this particular visit Brigade isn’t doing his usual run o’ the mill mercenary stuff, this occasion the owner of a rowdy pub wants to meet with Brigade.

“You want me to do what?” Brigade questions in a gravely voice. “Look I know, this isn’t your usual job for a mercenary in a town like this. But my last bar keeper was stabbed last week and none of the other crew want to take over! I’ve heard that you act as an occasional butler, so I thought you might would be interested in this.” Said a rather large man, he wouldn’t put the thought of a pub owner in ones mind, he looked more like one of the trouble makers that would be starting a fight, but he was, in fact, the owner. The words “How long?” Came from Brigade as he cut off the pub owners’ speech. “Huh? Oh! Three weeks.” Said the owner. “Free meals, free lodging and 50 silver pieces, per week.” Demanded Brigade.
“That’s outrageous!” Exclaimed the owner. “I will give you 25 silver pieces per week!”
“Then I’m afraid you’ll have to find yourself another bar keeper.” Brigade calmly said as he stood up and turned towards the exit. Shocked at Brigades’ unwillingness to negotiate , the large man began to raise the pay so that he didn’t have to find someone else. “I’ll give you thirty silver pieces!” The man said as he watched the mercenary keep walking towards the door. “Forty pieces!” The mercenary slowed his pace ever slightly. “Forty silver pieces and f-free company t-twice a week.” The large man said. As those words filled Brigades’ ears he stopped his reach for the door handle. “An interesting proposal, I duly hope you are speaking about women.” Brigade said as he slowly turned his head towards the owner. “Y-yea only the finest women will accompany you on the beginning and end of each week. Do we have a deal? Brigade.” The man said as he was regaining his composure. “Sure. I’ll be your bar keeper for three weeks, no training required.” Brigade said with a smirk. As the tow men shook hands brigade couldn’t help but grin and think about how his negotiation skills where coming along. “I came in here expecting 25 silver pieces a week without any lodging or meals! I can’t believe what a walk to the door after an outrageous demand could do! I probably could have asked for more.” The last thought brought down his grin.

“Well this is the last day, honestly this hasn’t been too bad. The couple nights a week have certainly helped make this enjoyable.” Brigade thought as he was cleaning a glass. The past three weeks went fairly smooth. First couple days where pretty rough Brigade would have to admit, but it wasn’t necessarily the job itself that was rough. He just hadn’t been a bar keeper in several years, rusty, one might call it.
“A couple of fights here and there, a guy got stabbed, or was there two guys that got stabbed? Heh, one guys’ hair was set on fire by a mage that got drunk, oh yeah, he ended up getting stabbed, that’s right.” He recalled as he was just about to finish up for the day. A masked man walks in the front door and spots Brigade. The man was wearing dirty torn cloths, not that it was too far out of the normal in this town, his mask although was a dead giveaway that he was there for trouble. Brigade immediately caught sight of the man and noticed that the man was walking towards him. Brigade could tell that the man was like a giant but when he got closer his immense presence was nearly overwhelming to Brigade, nearly. The giant was nearly a foot taller than Brigade and easily another hundred pounds heavier at minimum. “What can I get for you good sir?” Brigade asked with his gravely voice. “I’ll have a four shots of whiskey, in a full size glass.” The giant said with a voice like thunder. “Very well.” Brigade said to the man as he prepared his glass. “There ya go” The bar keeper gave the giant his drink. Once the giant received his glass he pulled out a potion of lesser strength and poured it into the glass and drank it. The potion mixed with the alcohol would have an increased effect on the mans strength and dull his pain slightly, or so the man thought. Although the giant wasn’t very smart, he was very strong, even more so with the potion. Brigade had a feeling that the giant would not want a fight with someone, mad that would mean someone would be getting very, hurt. “If anyone wants to steal money do your best to persuade them out, but, if someone tries to force you to hand over any money, then you may put your skills to work.” Brigade recalled what the pub owner said to him on the first day. “Don’t say it big guy, just don’t say it” the bar keeper thought. “Aight’, now, hand ova’ all yer’ money.” The giant said as he reached his gargantuan arm toward the bar keeper. Brigade took a breath and put away the cup that he had been cleaning. “I’m afraid that you haven’t paid for your drink yet. So, the only one that will be handing over any money will be you, mister.” “Er, HUH?” The giant said as he slammed his fist onto the counter. Brigade glared up at the man and began walking around to the exit of the counter. As Brigade was walking he slipped on his white gloves and unbuttoned his overcoat. The giant tracked Brigade with his eyes and began to walk towards the bar keeper.

The giant threw a right hook at Brigade, the bar keeper countered with a left jab and a step behind throwing the giant off balance. While the giant was off balance Brigade stepped closer towards the front doors, the giant stomped towards Brigade and reached out with both arms to wrap around the bar keeper. Brigade steps to the right of the giant while grabbing his right arm twisting the giant around, striking the giant in his chest with Brigades’ left palm with enough force to launch the giant through the front doors and into the dirt outside. Brigade steppes through the swinging doors and straightens up his jacket and collar.
He then notices two women standing near the giant, perhaps the giant landed in their path. “My apologies, ladies.” Brigade said as he gave a slight bow.

Nelanna kept watchful eyes on the back of the pirate as she was guided through the streets. The elf was contemplating, trying to weigh out the pros and cons of following this woman. Pirates lie, they deceive, they kill and steal. They have no sense of honor. It was highly likely that she was being led into a trap. But what would be the point in that if there was no one to hide it from? The town is full of pirates that would be more than willing ensnare her, kill her, rob her, and whatever horrible things she was too fearful to even consider. What would be the point in a trap if they could all surround her, overwhelm her with their greater numbers? And this woman was her only lead, currently. If it turns out she’s playing her for a fool, Nelanna could fight her way out. And if she’s captured, Kohaku is only a portal away and could be summoned with a single thought. No hands or lips would be required.

And so she continued following her. The glares of others was beginning to get on her nerves, and in the corner of her eyes she spotted a few suspicious figures emerged from the shadows, watching, waiting. Nelanna felt hostility brewing in the atmosphere, and she felt a fight might be near. “What exactly is so special about the Blood Corsairs?” She asked, pretending to be ignorant. The woman looked over her shoulder with a snicker, “Yer askin’ for a pirate crew ‘n’ ya don’t even know what yer dealin’ with?” She suddenly halted and spun on her booted heels, arms crossing over her chest. “Tell me, what exactly are ya wanting with me crewmates? Most would ask fer ‘em fer coin er even business opportunities, but you gotta know what kinda crew they’re dealin’ with before they go lookin’. If ya stick yer nose in some crack without knowing what’s inside, ya might lose it.” Her eyes scanned over Nelanna for a moment. “And ya don’t look like the kinda woman who’s lookin’ for coin, or even the kinda business we deal with. So what do ya want?”

Nelanna raised a single brow, “Isn’t that your captain’s concern?”

“It’s my duty to me captain to bring someone who’d be worth his time. If ya ain’t gotta good enough reason ta see ‘im, then I ain’t takin’ ya to ‘im.”

Nelanna narrowed her eyes with careful consideration. She couldn’t tell the pirate that she’s there to arrest their captain. That would be asking to be killed. So she gave the softest of smiles, as if she were gazing upon her dearest friend. “As a matter of fact, I do have business with him. I may not look like it to you, but I have secrets of my own that might surprise you.” She winked to add dramatic flare. She did not lie, but the way the truth can be twisted and carefully spoken to be deceitful made her tongue tingle. The pirate blinked, looked over Nelanna once more, then grinned. “Alright then,” was all she said.

No sooner than she turned back around did shouts arise from a nearby bar. Nelanna took a gander towards it with a raised brow. It sounded like there was a fight. Then, a very large man abruptly went flying through the doors. He landed with a loud thud only steps in front of her guide. The two women paused, although the pirate did not seem concerned. Perhaps these things happen a lot? For a pirate city, Nelanna wasn’t sure why she felt surprised. A man walked out soon after, straightening his coat. He was dressed like the proper gentleman in a suit and tie. His hair was black with gray roots above his round ears, and a neatly trimmed beard.

She blinked with disbelief. Was it the elderly man that threw the other out of the bar? Their size difference was drastic! “Next time, try aimin’ towards the back of the bar. It’s more fun to knock over tables and ruffle more feathers,” said the red-haired pirate.

Where on earth did Nelanna come to?!

“Ruffle feathers”, the pirate said. She seemed familiar to Brigade, the Corsairs maybe? He had dealt with them a couple of times before. The Corsairs would usually have business with “higher ups”, or at least those that looked the part, and the other woman certainly looked the part. He began walking towards the man still lying in the dirt. “I’m afraid that ‘ruffled feathers’ would mean a cut in pay. One that is charged to take care of something must not let anything happen to that which is in his care, lest he be blamed for the tragedy and receive no coin.” Brigade said calmly as he knelt down and went through the giants pockets. “Although I doubt that you would be one that concerns yourself with such matters.” He said with the same, calm, gravely voice and serious expression as he held up four copper coins. Brigade stood up and placed the coins in a pouch that he pulled from a pocket within his coat and replaced the pouch. Brigade then turned to look at the woman that was accompanying the pirate. “I haven’t seen the likes of you around here before. You wouldn’t happen to be a noble of some kind would you?” Brigade could tell that the woman wasn’t a noble. No. Her eyes gave it away. They showed that she had no desire for money or social standing that the pirates might could offer her. She had a dignity about her, not one that someone could find in a noble, but a type that could be found in accomplished warriors. She wasn’t just any warrior, she was powerful.

Brigade had not met many foes that he felt would beat him in a battle. But this woman. Was different. Perhaps-if he played his cards right, Brigade could see something. Learn something. “Surly you aren’t here for just a tour?” He said in an attempt to get more information.