Chapter 24
Safe Haven was peaceful at dusk. Most NPCs were at home or in a diner, getting food. PCs didn’t care as much about the time of day and roamed the streets freely. Everyone knew Jace’s party members, and they gave the three powerful characters a wide berth as they moved toward the designated meeting place, Snowy growling at anyone who even thought about approaching them.
Gromphy didn’t get out much, and while most players knew about Jace’s exceptional crafter, few had ever seen him. The goblin wore a 3-piece suit and a top hat and carried a short cane. His appearance likely wasn’t what people expected, and several stared. The black walking stick with a gold handle was a recent addition to the crafter’s ensemble, and Psycho wondered what magical punch the crafter had designed into it.
Their contact awaited them in a private home two blocks off the main street. Anyone could purchase or rent houses. They were like mini strongholds. They provided a private, secure meeting place and gave you a travel node to move into and out of the city without detection. Psycho knocked on the door, and when an elderly butler answered, the ranger allowed Draya, Gromphy, and Snowy to enter first before following. The servant led them to a grand living room with couches, chairs, end tables, a fireplace, and even a primitive piano in the corner.
Before they could get comfortable, their host arrived. He was human, level 13, and dressed as a flamboyant swordsman with a sea captain’s hat. “Welcome, welcome; I hope the locals didn’t gawk at you too much. We residents of Safe Haven aren’t used to seeing such celebrities.”
Psycho and Gromphy frowned at the praise, but Draya smiled and nodded. “And you are Captain Renald Malcolm?” she asked.
“Yes, pardon me, pardon me, I’m terrible at introductions. I’m a bit flabbergasted myself. When your operator, or, well, Jace’s operator, contacted us and volunteered to help me pass the Cloudspark module, it was a complete shock. And now that you are here, I’m a bit speechless. I don’t know what I’ve done to garner such attention, but I’m never one to look a gift horse in the mouth. And being on Jace Thorne’s good side can’t hurt. Oh, but yes, you asked my name. Yes, I am Captain Renald Malcolm. I assume you are Draeklynn Ember. Is it true that you have a drag-”
“You can call me Draya,” she interrupted. For someone who claimed to be speechless, he had a lot of words, and she didn’t feel like answering questions. “This is Psycho, Snowy, and Gromphy.”
Renald’s eyes lingered on the goblin. “Ah, yes, the master crafter. I had no idea what to expect. Why, someone could give you a monocle, and we’d be ready to play Monopoly.”
Gromphy reached into his inner coat pocket, pulled out an eyepiece, and placed it on his face, squinting through the enchanted monocle. “Would this be to thy liking, then?”
“What, no, I mean yes. It looks perfect, but you three obviously haven’t played Monopoly before, or likely any board game, and my references are going to go right over your head, aren’t they?”
“Is there a ship we should be getting to?” Psycho asked, tiring of the man’s incessant chatter. “As I understand, time is of the essence.”
“It is,” Renald said, calming slightly. “Right you are, it is indeed. Please, come with me.” He led them into a smaller side room, empty save for a travel node. “We will have to make an alliance for you to follow me.” After completing the task, Renald activated the node and led the group through the nether.
When Psycho, Draya, and Snowy materialized into a second, much smaller room, the obvious rocking of the ship was familiar to them, and they found their footing quickly. Even though Jace had skipped through the voyage on the last mission, they had experienced three full days at sea. Gromphy had never been on a boat before in his life and fell over after only five seconds. As he dragged himself back to his feet with a hand on the wall, his face turned blue, and he looked like he was going to puke. The skilled crafter pulled a vial from his coat and drained it. His natural grayish skin tone returned, and he maintained his balance more easily.
“Right,” Renald said, observing how his guest adjusted to his ship. “Let’s get you above and introduce you to the rest of my crew.” The captain led the group through the cramped halls in the bowels of his ship before ascending two different staircases and emerging above deck.
The sky grew dark quickly, the sun falling behind a collection of islands to the west just visible on the horizon. The clear sky highlighted the moon bright in the east, almost full. It was still too early for stars to appear, but Psycho anticipated a glorious sight when they did.
“I smash and bash!”
The group froze and turned to their right as a dwarf walked out from behind a stack of barrels. The characters stepped back, except for Snowy, who held her ground with flattened ears and teeth in a snarl.
“Oh, hi, Bash,” Renald said. “At ease; these are friends.”
The surly dwarf lowered his hammer, but Snowy didn’t back down. <He is not a friend,> the wolf informed Psycho. <He has attacked us before.>
Psycho didn’t recognize the dwarf but knew Jace had adventured with Snowy for a while before adding the ranger to his party and trusted the wolf. “Are you sure?” the elf asked, eying the short fighter and Snowy’s persistent, aggressive stance.
Renald noticed the exchange and made a rare astute observation. “Oh, your wolf must have met one of Bash’s many brothers. He is one of the easier NPCs to get in a popular MIM. There are probably two dozen of him walking around the realms. Most advanced players dump him the first chance they get, but I find he is great pirate fodder, and he hasn’t died yet, so I keep him around.”
Psycho despised how openly the player discounted his party member’s autonomy. Jace would never talk so callously about any of them. However, the dimwitted dwarf didn’t seem to take offense. Snowy was bright enough to understand Renald’s explanation, and the hair on her neck lowered as she relaxed her posture.
“Let me introduce you to the other crew members,” Renald said, leading the group away from the open hatch and along the starboard side of his ship. They passed several deckhands that all looked the same, and Psycho recognized them as NPCs that likely came with the boat. They were the true pirate fodder, as when they died, they would spawn anew in the crew quarters below deck. Renald didn’t bother introducing them, as they likely didn’t even have names.
“This is Keyvan,” the player indicated after thirty seconds of walking, motioning toward the quarter-deck. Psycho couldn’t see anyone at first as he looked above the railing that fenced the raised platform. Eventually, he looked below the four-foot rail through the wooden balusters to see a halfling pouring through a spell book and occasionally issuing orders to the crew.
“He is a sea druid,” the captain explained. “He has a few good storm spells and can usually keep my sails filled with wind. In a pinch, he can summon a pod of dolphins or killer whales to fend off a boarding party, but he isn’t that offensive and usually hides during a fight. I hear he really gets powerful at level 15, so I’m waiting it out.”
Psycho shuddered at the memory of the last psychotic, sex-crazed sea druid he had encountered and expected his experience with Keyvan to be vastly different. The halfling didn’t pay them any notice as he cast a spell into the air, and they had to grab onto the railing to keep their balance as the ship lurched forward with a gust of wind suddenly accelerating them.
Another short walk brought them to a salty-looking pirate standing at the ready before the bottom of the stairs leading to the poop deck. “Aye, Captain,” he said in a deep voice through a mouthful of scattered teeth shrouded by a black, scraggly beard. “Are these the reinforcement ya told us about? They don’t seem too potent. I like the puppy, though.” He laughed.
“This is Picket,” Renald said. “I’m a pirate hunter, and he was one of the earlier bosses I had to defeat. If you manage to keep him alive through the fight, he will join your party for the right amount of gold.”
The pirate scowled at his captain and adjusted the cutlass strapped to his portly waist. Psycho readied himself for an attack, but the surly character didn’t draw his weapon. “Argh, there ya go again, talkin’ like I ain’t here. How many times I got to tell ya, I’m not as witless as that dwarf ya keep around.”
Psycho smiled at the aware NPC. He was level 15 already, two above Renald. He likely came that way and wouldn’t advance with the player. Renald ignored the pirate’s comment and motioned that he wished to move past the wide human. Picket grumbled but stepped aside so the player could lead the group up to the rearmost portion of the ship.
The stairs emptied them on the back of the raised deck, so they approached the last crewmember from behind as she stood tall at the helm, turning the large wheel slowly and adjusting to the ship’s recently increased speed.
“Ellanay,” Renald called, clearing his voice. “Do you have a moment? I’d like to introduce you to our new allies.”
Psycho noted with interest the respect the captain gave this party member but didn’t give it much thought as his heart skipped when the character before them turned about. She was an elf, tall and regal, wearing lightweight plate armor that conformed to her slender curves. She stood several inches shorter than Psycho, still tall for an elf, her gleaming auburn hair dancing on her shoulders in the sea breeze. The ranger was instantly lost in her statuesque features and deep green eyes that sparkled in the low evening light.
“Greetings, adventurers,” she said, her voice solid and firm, a striking juxtaposition against the rocking vessel and changing winds. “I am Ellanay Yanellawa, knight of the Moon Blade order. Captain Malcolm has informed us that you will aid us against our upcoming foe. I look forward to fighting beside you.”
“I, uh, we . . .” Psycho stammered.
“We are pleased to meet you,” Draya said, stepping before her befuddled companion. “I am Draya. This is Gromphy, Snowy, and Psycho,” she added, indicating each of her companions as she named them.
The female paladin smiled at the red-headed mage, but her eyes went up toward the elf. “Psycho?” she asked, a hint of a smile on her lips showing through her otherwise stern visage.
“My name is Nal Saikol Gladekin,” the ranger said, clearing his throat and regaining his composure before the stunning elf maiden. “We are honored to serve beside you.” Psycho couldn’t think of anything else to say while staring into Ellanay’s eyes, so he turned to Renald. Picket the pirate had also followed them up to the poop deck. “What are we about to face? How formidable is this Cloudspark?”
Before answering, the captain looked off into the distance. The lanterns hanging about the ship masked how dark it had suddenly become, and Psycho followed the human’s gaze out to sea to scan the flat horizon. So far, no lights or sails were visible. “They come once it is fully dark,” Renald started. “They patrol these islands at night, hunting foolish merchant vessels trying to shave off a few hours’ travel to arrive at port first thing in the morning.”
The ranger’s keen eyes picked out dozens of small islands rising out of the water all about them. Most were too tiny to support a settlement, the perfect size for pirates to launch an ambush.
“The water is shallow here,” Renald continued, “and a ship that doesn’t know these islands could easily run aground. It is far safer to sail around them, but that adds hours to the route, and the ships that arrive at the wealthy ports to the south first get the best prices.”
“So you pose as a merchant vessel,” Psycho surmised, “and strike at the pirates when they try to ambush you.”
“Aye,” Picket said. “That is how he bested me, but Captain Cloudspark is more wary than I be.”
“It’s true,” Renald said. “Two ships will come at us first, one from the east, one from the west. The storm mage will be on his much larger vessel further ahead. He calls his ship Voltspear.”
Psycho raised his eyes at the unexpected name.
“I know,” Renald misinterpreted Psycho’s reaction. “It could have been something cool, like Lightning Bolt. Anyway, he waits to see how the battle goes with his two other vessels. If we are losing, he swoops in to finish us off. If we hold our own or seem to be winning, he keeps his distance and eventually flees.”
Psycho nodded. “So we need to look like we are losing, to draw him within striking distance, but minimize our damages to still have a chance at defeating him.”
“It is a delicate balance we have yet to master,” Ellanay said over her shoulder. The paladin had turned her back to the group to resume her role at the helm. Psycho glanced at her and saw her holding eye contact with Keyvan a level below her. The halfling had his eyes half-closed and occasionally lifted his left or right arm. Psycho guessed the druid was in communion with fish swimming alongside the ship, guiding the vessel through the deepest path of this dangerous route. Ellanay steered by Keyvan’s directions. The higher he raised his arms, the more severely she turned the ship.
“It’s true,” Renald said again, drawing Psycho back to the group conversation. “Serenity is powerful; we can easily fight off the two ships sent against us. Losing on purpose is difficult.”
“Serenity?” Draya asked.
“My ship,” Renald said, caressing a nearby railing. “I mean, what else would I call her?”
“How about anything else,” Draya offered. “You fight pirates. Hardly a serene activity.”
“But my name,” the captain argued. “Captain Renald Malcolm.” He looked around at a collection of blank faces. “Malcolm Reynolds.” Still nothing. “You’ve never seen Firefly?”
“They’ve never been to your world, Captain,” Ellanay said without turning.
“Aye,” Picket added. “I don’t reckon I get any of the references he makes. No need makin’ me feel dumber than I already be.”
“Indeed,” Ellanay said.
“No one asked ya, she-elf!” the pirate blustered, his hand again dropping to the hilt of his weapon. Psycho was ready to offer aid, but it was a hollow gesture, his party loyalty restraining his hot temper. “The sea ain’t no place for an armored knight, ‘specially one with a quick tongue!”
“Hear that, Psycho,” Draya whispered into the ranger’s ear. “She has a quick tongue.” The elf staggered as if punched, color filling his cheeks. Draya laughed to herself.
“Anyway,” Renald said, trying to regain order. “We tried it once. We allowed ourselves to take a beating for several rounds, and Cloudspark drew just within range. He deflected all our catapult attacks, hit us with a single bolt of lightning that took out our mainsail, and we didn’t last much longer than that.”
“He destroyed this ship?” Psycho asked, looking around the pristine vessel.
“Not this one, obviously,” Renald said. “But one just like it. They cost a fortune to replace. We abandoned ship through the travel node below deck. I don’t know if he sunk her, but I’ve reason to think he didn’t pillage it. I’m not doing that again.”
“Beats gettin’ captured,” Picket said.
“You’d just turncoat again,” Renald said. “Always joining up with the victor of each fight you’re in.”
“Aye,” the pirate agreed, not ashamed of the accusation. “Perhaps ya could be payin’ me more to keep that from happenin’.”
“Enough,” Psycho said. “We can help. I believe I can decimate the enemy ships without making it look like they are losing. I assume you normally hit them with flaming pitch and grapeshot.” The elf had seen the supplies beside the catapults while walking through the ship.
“It is the most effective,” Renald said.
“Arrows are stealthier,” the ranger said. “I can pick off the crew individually without making it look like the ship is on fire or taking damage.”
The captain shook his head. “I have a few archers, but the attackers don’t get that close until we are on fire. And the bonuses you need to shoot from one unstable ship to another exceed any normal . . .” his voice trailed off as he remembered to whom he was speaking.
Psycho smiled. “Distance won’t be a problem. Also, I’m betting our crafter can manufacture some ammunition for you to disable the attackers without alerting Cloudspark.”
All eyes went down to the goblin. “Perchance I can conjure something,” he said.
“And what about us taking damage?” Renald asked. “I don’t want to lose this ship, even if I can trade it for Voltspear.”
“I can help with that,” Draya said.
“An illusion?” Psycho asked.
“Well, they aren’t teaching me how to throw fire in school.”
“Yes,” Psycho said, “but the whole ship?”
She frowned at his lack of confidence. “You worry about your arrows; I’ll take care of the magic.”
A bird call sounded in the night air, and all eyes went up to the top of the central mast, where a lookout repeated the sound. “Does he see them?” Psycho asked.
“No, but we are approaching the spot where they usually attack,” Ellanay said. “If you are as good with your bow as you say, you should get up to the crow’s nest.”
“What, uh, but,” Psycho stammered. “I thought I could stay here with you.” It was a stupid thing to say. They were at the ship's rear, and he would have to shoot through all the rigging to hit vessels attacking from any angle but behind.
“Nice try, Loverboy,” Draya laughed. “Get up there and stop complaining.”
With a deep frown, Psycho did as he was told.
