Post by Horas on Jan 16, 2009 19:59:55 GMT -5
Somewhere near the mouth of the Mander.
"I see one! Looks like a merchant's ship," said Dykk Harlaw as he pointed out the direction. Using the looking glass attached to The Shoulder Breaker, Creyon took a peek for himself. Vrol was doing the same with his own looking glass.
"Lucky, I didn't think we'd find anything today," said Vrol. Since the the fall of the Shields and the loss of their naval fleet, entering the Mander had become a perilous undertaking for any cargo ships headed to Highgarden. Besides Ironborn, other pirates were now thriving on the lack of naval security. "25 or so men. Armed but not armored. It'll be a simple smash and grab," said Vrol to Creyon.
"Alright give chase, but let's try not to smash it. It's a nice fast ship by the look of it. Get up next to it and we'll attack from port side. This should be easy loot boys, start rowing!" roared Creyon, and his men enthusiastically started churning their oars. To keep morale up he had given everyone working on the Shields' defences the day off. He also organised this little trip to the Mander for any of his men who wanted to come and share in the spoils."
The merchant ship was indeed a fast one, but Creyon didn't want to tire out his men before the fight, so he kept the Iron Maiden at a steady pace, resisting the temptation to speed up the chase. Slowly but surely the Iron Maiden was gaining on the merchant ship, and Creyon started winding up The Shoulder Breaker. 400 yards out he look through the scope, and targeted the first man he found. Not expecting to be shot at this range his unsuspecting target was standing upright, looking back at the Iron Maiden. Creyon took a short breath in, exhaled slightly and held it there. Gently, he squeezed the trigger. In almost the same instant the dart went through the unarmored man's chest, and the butt of his crossbow rammed against his shoulder from the recoil.
He chucked The Shoulder Breaker aside, and swung around Mother which was hung around his back. Quickly kicking his foot into stirrup at the front of the crossbow, the weight of his body held it down as he used both hands to pull back and cock the drawstring, bending back the extra thick yew prod. 300 yards - another man down. 250 yards - and another. By the time the ships were parallel he had taken 6 men down. "Take in your oars! Vrol! Portside, hard!"
Vrol spun the steering wheel anti-clockwise, and the Iron Maiden met the cargo ship, rocking it slightly. "Charge!" Creyon and his men leapt onto the cargo ship and went to work. There was some resistance, but by the time 8 men had been chopped down the captain surrendered the ship and the rest of the crew fell in line.
"Your name," asked Creyon.
"Otto," said the tall man.
"Creyon Harlaw," said Creyon before bowing.
"I recognised the Harlaw scythe."
"Otto... you seem awfully calm for a man in your situation," mused Creyon with a smile. Gevin the Gross nudged his axe against the man's skin a little tighter to scare him.
"I understood the risks coming here. I was prepared for the worst," replied Otto, devoid of any emotion.
"Yet you still came. What is on this ship that needs to get to Highgarden so urgently? I'm guessing that is where you are headed yes?"
"Just wine from the Arbor. I can go elsewhere, but I can get twice the price of most goods at Highgarden because of the piracy preventing goods from getting there by sea."
"Piracy you say. I don't know if you are brave, greedy or just stupid," laughed Creyon.
"I also have business interests at Highgarden. A few warehouses and middlemen in my employ. I need to get goods through or they will continue to bleed my business dry. Not getting this shipment through will bankrupt me before the month is out."
"So you value your coin over your life."
"Living in poverty as a beggar at the Arbor is not much of a life."
"Aye. That it isn't. Otto, what do you think of a business venture, between the two of us."
This time Otto showed some expression, obviously surprised at this turn of events. "What... do you mean?" asked Otto, wary of getting his hopes up.
"I was thinking of something along the lines of the sale of misappropriated goods that were meant for Highgarden at Highgarden."
"You want me to sell goods you... misappropriate along the mander to Highgarden."
"Something like that, but on a much bigger scale. It is... difficult for any Ironborn to sail into Highgarden on a longship and sell anything without raising suspicion and accusations of theft. We will setup a business on the Shields, buying stolen goods from Ironborn ships. Under my protection, you will be able to sail to the Shields untouched, and the transport the goods to your sales network at Highgarden."
"That could work. What are your terms, and how will you ensure my safety from the other Ironborn?"
"I will give you a flag bearing my arms that you can fly when you come across any Ironborn. My cousin Dykk Harlaw will also sail with you on your ship. You will be able to bring him out from below deck anytime you have explaining to do to Ironborn. Oh, and we will split the profits 80-20 favouring me. You supply the transport and sales network at Highgarden. I will supply the purchasing network on the Shields. Profits from goods you bring from Highgarden to the Shields you may keep for yourself."
"60-40."
"You insolent fool, you are in no position to be negotiating," roared Vrol.
"I've got this Vrol," said Creyon, gesturing for him to step down. "80-20. And let go of the man Gevin."
"70-30."
"Done!" Creyon smiled and shook Otto's hand. "As a show of my sincerity, except for 2 barrel of your best wine for my men's consumption, you may keep the rest of your cargo today. When you are done with your shipment to Highgarden, look for me at Oakenshield. Dykk will know how to find me."
"I will," replied Otto.
///////
"You are being too generous with that man, and how do you know he won't kill Dykk, run off and never come back?" lectured an unhappy Vrol.
"I don't as a matter of fact," shrugged Creyon. "I doubt he does that though, that one is too greedy, and has a good nose for business too by the looks of it. I was generous precisely because I needed to give him a reason to come back. IF he chooses not to return, we will lose some wine and maybe Dykk. If he does though, it could be the start of a very profitable venture."
Results:
Creyon Harlaw increases towards Expert Naval Command
Creyon Harlaw increases to Master Crossbow
Vrol Volmark increases towards Expert Battle Axe
Vrol Volmark increases towards Expert Naval Command
Creyon begins business venture with Otto
"I see one! Looks like a merchant's ship," said Dykk Harlaw as he pointed out the direction. Using the looking glass attached to The Shoulder Breaker, Creyon took a peek for himself. Vrol was doing the same with his own looking glass.
"Lucky, I didn't think we'd find anything today," said Vrol. Since the the fall of the Shields and the loss of their naval fleet, entering the Mander had become a perilous undertaking for any cargo ships headed to Highgarden. Besides Ironborn, other pirates were now thriving on the lack of naval security. "25 or so men. Armed but not armored. It'll be a simple smash and grab," said Vrol to Creyon.
"Alright give chase, but let's try not to smash it. It's a nice fast ship by the look of it. Get up next to it and we'll attack from port side. This should be easy loot boys, start rowing!" roared Creyon, and his men enthusiastically started churning their oars. To keep morale up he had given everyone working on the Shields' defences the day off. He also organised this little trip to the Mander for any of his men who wanted to come and share in the spoils."
The merchant ship was indeed a fast one, but Creyon didn't want to tire out his men before the fight, so he kept the Iron Maiden at a steady pace, resisting the temptation to speed up the chase. Slowly but surely the Iron Maiden was gaining on the merchant ship, and Creyon started winding up The Shoulder Breaker. 400 yards out he look through the scope, and targeted the first man he found. Not expecting to be shot at this range his unsuspecting target was standing upright, looking back at the Iron Maiden. Creyon took a short breath in, exhaled slightly and held it there. Gently, he squeezed the trigger. In almost the same instant the dart went through the unarmored man's chest, and the butt of his crossbow rammed against his shoulder from the recoil.
He chucked The Shoulder Breaker aside, and swung around Mother which was hung around his back. Quickly kicking his foot into stirrup at the front of the crossbow, the weight of his body held it down as he used both hands to pull back and cock the drawstring, bending back the extra thick yew prod. 300 yards - another man down. 250 yards - and another. By the time the ships were parallel he had taken 6 men down. "Take in your oars! Vrol! Portside, hard!"
Vrol spun the steering wheel anti-clockwise, and the Iron Maiden met the cargo ship, rocking it slightly. "Charge!" Creyon and his men leapt onto the cargo ship and went to work. There was some resistance, but by the time 8 men had been chopped down the captain surrendered the ship and the rest of the crew fell in line.
"Your name," asked Creyon.
"Otto," said the tall man.
"Creyon Harlaw," said Creyon before bowing.
"I recognised the Harlaw scythe."
"Otto... you seem awfully calm for a man in your situation," mused Creyon with a smile. Gevin the Gross nudged his axe against the man's skin a little tighter to scare him.
"I understood the risks coming here. I was prepared for the worst," replied Otto, devoid of any emotion.
"Yet you still came. What is on this ship that needs to get to Highgarden so urgently? I'm guessing that is where you are headed yes?"
"Just wine from the Arbor. I can go elsewhere, but I can get twice the price of most goods at Highgarden because of the piracy preventing goods from getting there by sea."
"Piracy you say. I don't know if you are brave, greedy or just stupid," laughed Creyon.
"I also have business interests at Highgarden. A few warehouses and middlemen in my employ. I need to get goods through or they will continue to bleed my business dry. Not getting this shipment through will bankrupt me before the month is out."
"So you value your coin over your life."
"Living in poverty as a beggar at the Arbor is not much of a life."
"Aye. That it isn't. Otto, what do you think of a business venture, between the two of us."
This time Otto showed some expression, obviously surprised at this turn of events. "What... do you mean?" asked Otto, wary of getting his hopes up.
"I was thinking of something along the lines of the sale of misappropriated goods that were meant for Highgarden at Highgarden."
"You want me to sell goods you... misappropriate along the mander to Highgarden."
"Something like that, but on a much bigger scale. It is... difficult for any Ironborn to sail into Highgarden on a longship and sell anything without raising suspicion and accusations of theft. We will setup a business on the Shields, buying stolen goods from Ironborn ships. Under my protection, you will be able to sail to the Shields untouched, and the transport the goods to your sales network at Highgarden."
"That could work. What are your terms, and how will you ensure my safety from the other Ironborn?"
"I will give you a flag bearing my arms that you can fly when you come across any Ironborn. My cousin Dykk Harlaw will also sail with you on your ship. You will be able to bring him out from below deck anytime you have explaining to do to Ironborn. Oh, and we will split the profits 80-20 favouring me. You supply the transport and sales network at Highgarden. I will supply the purchasing network on the Shields. Profits from goods you bring from Highgarden to the Shields you may keep for yourself."
"60-40."
"You insolent fool, you are in no position to be negotiating," roared Vrol.
"I've got this Vrol," said Creyon, gesturing for him to step down. "80-20. And let go of the man Gevin."
"70-30."
"Done!" Creyon smiled and shook Otto's hand. "As a show of my sincerity, except for 2 barrel of your best wine for my men's consumption, you may keep the rest of your cargo today. When you are done with your shipment to Highgarden, look for me at Oakenshield. Dykk will know how to find me."
"I will," replied Otto.
///////
"You are being too generous with that man, and how do you know he won't kill Dykk, run off and never come back?" lectured an unhappy Vrol.
"I don't as a matter of fact," shrugged Creyon. "I doubt he does that though, that one is too greedy, and has a good nose for business too by the looks of it. I was generous precisely because I needed to give him a reason to come back. IF he chooses not to return, we will lose some wine and maybe Dykk. If he does though, it could be the start of a very profitable venture."
Results:
Creyon Harlaw increases towards Expert Naval Command
Creyon Harlaw increases to Master Crossbow
Vrol Volmark increases towards Expert Battle Axe
Vrol Volmark increases towards Expert Naval Command
Creyon begins business venture with Otto