Seaborn

Chapter 78.

You have advanced to skill level 11 in Traps.

You have advanced to skill level 6 in First Aid.

Aside from the pair of skill-ups, working as a support role for the fight had still netted me just under 50,000 XP for killing the kraken. Among my crew, that was the lowest reward. All the others had played a more direct role and inflicted more damage so not a single one of them got below 100,000 XP for the kill, along with a cool 15,000 XP as a reward from my leadership-generated quest Kill the Kraken. I didnt get that quest reward since Id generated it, but since I was essentially giving my crew free bonus XP, there were no complaints from me.

My expenditure to maintain the ships durability had run up to over 36,000 XP, it taking about 3 points of experience for every durability point Id wanted. I came out ahead, but my reward for killing such a sea creature certainly had nothing to do with my own advancement, and was instead my investment in my crew.

I raised the ship to the surface and invited the prisoners to reorganize under Gnars supervision and expand their cramped quarters to the first deck, but I maintained exclusivity on the main deck for the moment. Drese and the medicos began to go through the whole lot more thoroughly.

I had the reason for our presence brought up to me. I had a chair prepared from the Captains cabin, but Mirash had to carry her to it, she was so weak.

But her eyes were clear and met mine with the same intensity. While Mirash backed away from her, giving us space, she folded her hands in her lap like shed taught noble girls poise in her spare time. A smirk tugged on the corner of her pale skin.

Yet her composure was a thin veneer. Any analysis would show the debuffs crippling her health and stamina would take time to overcome. She used to have hair that would flutter in the breeze, but the wind here only blew through the short remains she had. Her paleness wasnt a choice, but a sign of ill health and marred by sores to boot. She was doing her best to ignore all this, but I couldnt help the pity that crept into my eyes.

None of that, she said. I made my gambles, and you rescued me. I wont have pity!

You can hardly stop me, I responded, even as I knelt beside her chair and took her hands between mine. Im sorry I couldnt get you sooner.

Her faade shuddered and a tear pooled in the corner of her eye. I knew youd come for me, you daft lummox I just knew that if I asked youd come.

Well, it was my turn to save you again.

Her hands squeezed mine with all her strength, which I gently accepted. She looked away from me for the first time since Mirash brought her up while she tried to compose herself. I did the gentlemanly thing and gave her several moments to do just that before redirecting the conversation.

Tell me what happened.

Ohhh when to start? Youre a bastard, you know?

I do know all about it, but something in your tone makes me think youre not talking about my birth.

I was in the Broken Isles looking for clues to Seaborn and you didnt even tell me Id had a conversation with him!

Ah that. Well I didnt want to put you in a position to test your loyalties.

She grumbled. Smart, but it left me on the back foot when you started destroying the island that night.

Now thats an oversimpli

I know all about your side of it, but this is my story remember? After that fiasco I was brought back under suspicion of colluding with the enemy. After some thorough investigating, only a slight hitch of her voice betrayed her at that statement, I was found innocent of collusion but deemed incompetent. Theyd already had me on thin ice for several reasons your friend Lawless Jack exposing some of my connections not the least of them and deciding that I would not serve my role a spy and longer, her voice, so strident and matter-of-fact until now, finally cracked. They they offered me up as a sacrifice instead.

I held her hands, letting the story sift into place while I filtered through to the most pertinent questions.

Hali, do you still have an obligation to Antarus? If she did then friend or not, I was limited on what I could share with her and how I could help her.

Her mouth opened and closed. I remember I still remember my father coaching me through the oath that bound me I was nine. Until death takes me or my lord releases me. Well, I fulfilled my oath and the king expunged me from service.

She took a deep gasp as her body seized before relaxing just as suddenly. Her eyes opened with the half-focused look of someone examining their stats. Its gone! My oath to the royal line really was fulfilled, its gone!

I wasnt an expert on oaths. I couldnt reason why she had one in her stats or why it was only gone now that she claimed her end was fulfilled, but Id take it. This was a special moment for her, a joyous moment. I was glad to see her have some happiness after her imprisonment.

Which brought confusion when she started crying. I wasnt so emotionally nave as to think tears couldnt come with happiness, but she started heaving and bawling. I leaned over her chair and held her tight, and she cried into my shirt.

Waving off the curious and the worried among my crew who checked on us, I let her exhaust herself. Id thought I was just letting her get a grip of herself, sure that her iron will would exert itself because of course it would this was Hali! She was tough as nails, wasnt she?

I either had an unfair perception of her or I was underestimating the impact of what losing a life of service meant even if it was a betrayed service.

When Halis crying subsided to sniffles, I gripped her head in my hands and kissed her forehead. Rest now. Here you are safe. Rest.

I wanted to spend so much more time catching up with her, and I intended to. Id done the minimum I had the time for and she had the endurance for now, but we hadnt covered everything we needed to.

I motioned Mirash over. Is the handless mage I singled out earlier conscious now?

Conscious and astute. Woke up and asked Gnar if he had the pleasure of being rescued my Domenic Seaborn and if the good lad was taking visitors.

I barked out a laugh. Bring him up next!

Are you going to go through the whole crew one at a time? Theyre getting antsy.

Should just be this one, then Ill give them free reign of the ship.

Mirash shrugged and ducked below deck. Less than a minute later he was walking a slightly off-balance Marcus Renshaw up. Marcus brightened when he saw me, which was clear given his slightly green complexion. Since hed been holed up in a coastal town, it had never occurred to me that the motion of the sea might bother him. Maybe it was the carcass of the kraken hanging over the side that turned him green.

Or maybe it was the sight of his own wrists that did it.

Marcus, I said striding forward and seizing the silver chain linking his manacles. Havent we found the key for this yet? I trailed off as I noticed the problem.

Its good to see you too, and it still would be independent of your responsibility saving my future prospects! He exclaimed. But as you can see, these werent designed to come off.

Tell me about them, I ordered. I can tell that theyre inhibiting your mana.

Oh can you? Picked up enchanting as a side profession while I was away?

I ignored his words and didnt bother explaining my Domain. It was the least important of topics. He didnt hold out and explained to me how they his manacles were specially constructed for him, with a bar driven through the bones of his forearms and attached to the inside of the manacles, before a chain link was forged to link them all together. The end product was an easily enchanted restraining device that with an enchanters attention could also restrain his mana. It was designed to be a near-permanent solution, as only losing his arms with the restraints would allow him freedom.

This is a lot of effort for someone to go through just to throw you in the bilge of a prison ship, I said.

The conditions of this ship notwithstanding, Marcus answered. I was being dressed up like a present.

A present for who? Who would want you?

Why for ahhh, Im going to ignore that jab. I was being gifted to the nation of Makam.

A nation? I was confused earlier, now Im baffled.

Lets just say that they have an interest in me and would appreciate seeing me life this. He jangled his special restraints.

I clapped my hand on his shoulder and led him towards the bow. Yknow Marcus, that explanation would have been good enough when I was paying you five silver an hour for your time.

I kept the friendly smile, but I intended to have more answers than riddles and let that sink in for him.

Hrrm. You were an unruly student among the many, many life accomplishments I have done, some might have involved thievery from Makams imperial magical school, including a certain level of destruction for said school. With that unfortunate history, I didnt see any reason not to hire myself out as a war-mage to some of their neighbors and after one thing led to another, I found myself with a bounty on my head amounting to over a thousand gold.

You had a thousand gold bounty on your head!?

My dear lad, it was a thousand gold a long time ago, and rather than increase the quantity of the reward they started tacking on boons such as titles and recognition. I can only imagine what other crimes Ive been falsely accused of since, its probably grown. He sounded very satisfied with himself.

Did Makam capture you when Tulisang was invaded?

He coughed. No, thankfully. If they had this miracle of finding me never would have had the chance, Id have been dragged off to their heartland months ago. No, I was found and captured by an order of assassins. As it turned out, Id killed a member of their order years ago and they remembered. They captured me, dragged me north and then bounced me around to several of their holdings in the Broken Isles to show me off. Then they cut off my hands and sold me to a representative of Antarus who arranged to have me sent with the rest of this lot. He waved his stumps at the decks below. Im simplifying this a lot, but I figured if you didnt give a young girl more than a few minutes than an old man like me cant claim too much of your time.

I snorted and regarded him. Youre holding up well for all that.

It was an unpleasant time, but I disciplined myself to master all the branches of magic; I can deal with some unpleasantness. He held up his stumps. Some prosthetics would be nice. I wonder if I could look up my friend who went into research?

First lets get those things cut off you. We have an enchanter on board if necessary, but thatll probably be a last resort.

Really? You have you own enchanter? You really have grown! Some time and quality tools should be able to get through these, but Ill need a healer or some good elixers to deal with some infection.

We have a master life mage with us.

Marcuss eyes snapped to mine. Hmph. Specialists. I cant say I blame you for studying with one and Im sure Ill appreciate him. Stretching and sounding overly casual he continued. Since you havent mentioned anything about what happens next, Ill put a bug in your ear: theres a retired magic tutor on board who would love not be handed over to Makam and would be willing to trade all of his knowledge in a deal. He nodded to me and walked shifting his balance every few paces back to the hatch below.

I watched him go and shook my head. Finding him after all this time amazed me. Our relationship had been mercenary at first hed charged me more for his time than anyone but an administrator should expect but wed developed a sort of friendship. Hed been the first to find out that I was Davy Jones lieutenant and not held it against me, though his own curiosity had its role in that decision. If he wanted to sign up with me, hed be the first person I offered a job.

Gnar! I bellowed below decks. Rather than climbing up to answer me like a human, Gnar bellowed back from two decks below.

What, Captain?

Assume command of the ship until I see Travis sorted out!

Aye! he yelled. I was proud of him for that little bit of nautical spirit.

Everyone in the first deck below me was giving me looks. I ignored them. Have Drese awaiting my call. The main deck is opened to all.

I trotted past the kraken carcass and gauged my dive as I picked up speed, ending in a sprint with my foot pushing off the gunwale and my arms sweeping out and forward into a spear just as I broke the surface of a wave. I started swimming and burned a steady rate of stamina just to get to the cutter faster. When I reached her keel I swam up, broke from the ocean and pulled myself over the side.

Still dripping wet, I approached Travis at the helm and started clapping. My one co-sailor out of the whole crew you did well! You did very well! I am proud of you. You managed the Rocs Eye in my stead and I couldnt have asked for more.

Travis whod obviously had his nerves put through the wringer straightened up a bit and puffed his chest out more with each word. Twas nuthin, Capn!

Not only did you stand in my place, I went on, standing in front of him at the helm now. You turned a group of strongarms into a band of seamen when it counted, and you sailed straight towards the arms of a kraken! My man, youre a sailor beyond keen!

Aww, shucks, sar!

Oh, let him go on when hes in the mood, Gerald interrupted, carrying a bucket of seawater in each hand. He spoke to Travis as if I wasnt there. Hell forget that heroism isnt the standard, so when he remembers to give you credit for it you better take it!

Those buckets reminded me that I had things to be doing. Travis, I said, my tone returning to business. Ill see you rewarded for your effort. Anything I should know before taking command of the Rocs Eye?

Sar! He saluted. Shell ave a bellyful of waer soon and the port side was done stove in!

I saw it, thank you Travis. I returned his salute and activated my ability.

Would you like to raise Rocs Eye as your ship?

You may only have two ships in your fleet, choose which ship to replace from your fleet interface.

I chose the Final Internment, and the little cutter below my feet was once again under my command.

Exchanging ships back and forth was the kind of cheating ability that people would analyze in libraries and discuss how to maximize the benefits for the profession. I had an effect on the Final Internment that was going to make it a pain and a half to deal with all the people on board, so I got around it by swapping ships to one without that effect. The Final Internment wasnt a cursed ship right now, and I could sail back and address everyone on it without a relationship penalty.

Unfortunately, the Rocs Eye was too small to fit everyone it was crowded just with my boarding party! and I didnt want to leave everyone to fate, so Id have to take command of the hulk again. Hopefully by that point, Id know where I was going to stand with them all.

I felt the wounds in the Eye and skimmed the new perks she had. It was a melancholy thing; now she was getting bonuses because of my longer history with her but I would be discarding her in only a few hours, this time for good.

But first she had a few more things to do.

Travis, I said, summoning constructs to assist. Take us alongside the Internment.

Aye, Capn!

I helped directly, and we pulled up alongside more like under the hulk and I motioned to the waiting Drese. Hed gotten a half-hour nap since wed last needed him, I doubted hed even counted his XP for his help with the kraken. Still, he carried on and I mentally increased the time I promised him to himself once this was over.

You have instructions for me, Captain?

I looked him in the eyes. Its time, Drese. I need to try.

He crossed his arms and held his chin in a hand. And can you level? That would be a good indication of Davy Jones own hold over you.

Rather than discuss it, I tapped into my XP reserve and tried to apply some to advancing. Last time wed tried had been a failure, Jones mandate for me to not level still impairing me.

This time, it worked!

Congratulations! Level up! You have reached level 11.

I did it! After so long, I was finally able to level up again!

And with that, I had 3 attribute points waiting for me to assign them, too! And I knew just the inconvenient stat that needed them

Congratulations! You have earned +3 to your main attribute: Charisma.

Diving into my stat sheet, I saw a beautiful thing:

Name

Domenic Seaborn

Age

24

Race

Human (Cursed)

Profession

Captain of the Deep

Level

11

XP

514,700

Health

230

Mana

260

Stamina

260

Strength

22

Agility

23

Dexterity

21

Constitution

23

Endurance

26

Intelligence

26

Wisdom

25

Charisma

17

Luck

19

Skills

Seamanship 19

Swimming 17

Sea Legs 15

Rowing 8

Carpentry 3

Fishing 8

Singing 2

Cooking 2

Analyze 9

Observation 10

Climbing 11

First Aid 6

Lock Picking 4

Stealth 8

Leadership 9

Trade 1

Traps 11

Dirty fighting 4

Artillery 2

Unarmed combat 8

Swordsmanship 8

Small blades 10

Spears 9

Axes 7

Light armor 5

Archery 4

Magic

Air magic

Water magic

Life magic

Ocean magic

Mental magic

Achievements

Lifesaving VII

Trickster

Perks

Adaptable

Heart at Sea

Scarred Visage

Titles:

Slaver

Patricide

I saw a stat sheet that was all within balance. I didnt feel anything suddenly changing with my features, and the new perk I had explained why.

Scarred Visage: suffering from charisma imbalance has left you with a rough countenance.

Insight into my scarred visage told me that the imbalance penalty where people would dislike me was gone, though people would naturally react to someone who looked like I did differently than someone walking down the street. I was a bit disappointed as Id been hoping Id be returned to normal with my rebalancing, but a rough face wasnt the worst thing to live with.

I wasnt imbalanced anymore!

Congratulations, Captain. Drese said with a small bow, sensing my excitement. Now, I believe theres something else you wished to try of even greater import to you?

I nodded and motioned Gerald over. He sensed the air as he joined us.

We giving this another shot?

Thats right.

Well whatever the result Dom, Im still with you.

Thank you, I said, and my eyes burned a bit. Hed been a true friend to me ever since we found ourselves sharing company again. This wasnt the first time wed tried undoing the curse, and hed been patient each attempt.

He found himself in the odd position of being one of the only members of my crew not wanting to stay cursed. Gnar and his team all saw themselves as with me for good, and wouldnt give up the advantages being cursed had at this point. Jorgagu wanted to be free of the curse, but Drese suggested not experimenting on him because his profession brought an aspect of magic into his curse that might complicate things.

There was a ship full of people who wanted to be rid of my curse, but I couldnt help them just yet. Soon.

Well, lets get started. I said quietly. Drese?

The master life mage began to walk me through the process again, now that my control over life magic had increased. The trouble with curses was that it wasnt just about power but about the source; Drese couldnt undo any of the curses on my crew, it had to come from me. I had to be willing to remove the curse and powerful enough to manage it as well. For the longest time, Id been missing one component or the other. Now, this clicked into place as well.

Life magic was like a lens that brought a distant ship to view, or more like a lens that brought clarity to the magical spectrum. With it, I was able to understand more of how the magic of the curse held together.

My curse was and this was from Dreses own mouth exceedingly comprehensive. It wasnt as simple as someone cursed with lycanthropy or a curse that made a spirit haunt a grave. Those things could be no less complex to undo, but they usually had a much simpler process. There wasnt much room for change or alteration.

Not so with mine. I was not only a cursed being, but my very profession leveraged that curse. It was able to spread the curse to other people based solely on their acceptance of it. The parameters of their curse could be changed.

What I was trying to do was pick apart one piece of my curse. I couldnt even conceptualize undoing the whole thing: no one but Davy Jones even had that option. What I could do was take the restrictions around just Gerald and unwind them.

Gerald gasped, and then he disappeared.

Not from sight, but from the perception I had of my crew that told me where they were and what their condition was.

He wasnt one of my crew anymore.

It had worked!

It worked! The two of us shouted together a moment before our arms wrapped around each other and we started laughing like madmen. It worked! It really did, I can free them! I can free them now Tears sprung from my eyes and flowed down my gaunt face. I pulled away from Gerald but he steadied me. I can finally keep my promise to them. I can undo one of the mistakes I made!

Well get to them soon, Gerald said. Youve saved miss Hali, next youll save your old crew. He shivered suddenly. Strange, I seem to have forgotten my coat temperature hasnt been something thats bothered me in months!

This was the most crucial step, Drese said, not unkindly but reminding us that we were doing an experiment. Freedom was your most important goal, but is your curse adaptable? Can you lose a crewman and then get him back?

I have my doubts. Like I said before, if one of my crew dies I cant re-conscript them, even though I can conscript the recently deceased.

Drese got straight to the heart of the issue. The question, he said, turning to Gerald. Is whether you feel comfortable continuing and risking your newly returned freedom?

Yes, Gerald said without hesitation, making my heart swell just a bit. Im here for Dom.

Captain? Drese turned it over to me, and I took a moment to shake Geralds hand and look in him in the eye before I activated my Raise Crew ability again.

I found his name on the list of people I could raise and selected him. Typically, that was where the person I made the offer to would get a prompt, but this time the prompt that came up was for me.

Gerald will be unavailable for recruitment for 22 hours.

I read the prompt to the others and it surprised them too. Drese postulated it was a working of my profession, and that my upgraded Raise Crew ability had shortened the time from a standard 24 hours. All in all, it suggested that I could return Gerald to my crew but that I wouldnt be able to swap crew back and forth.

The question will be, Drese continued. Whether you can re-conscript him again and again or once more?

Why would it just be once? Gerald asked.

Because he has Raise Crew II. If he only received the opportunity to enlist your services again with the upgrade, we wouldnt know it because we never had the opportunity before.

This allows plenty of choice as it is, I said. Its good enough even if there is a restriction later. It also lets me make the prisoners on the Final Internment an offer that wont need to be permanent.

We all climbed up a rope ladder over the side of the hulk, where the deck was crowded with people seeing the sun for the first time in weeks or months. I noticed there were camps even among the oppressed, as the humans kept separate from the others as well as other segregations that I didnt understand.

Mirash saw and greeted me before adopting a confused expression. Did you do something different with your face? I used to feel unsettled looking at you. Before I could make any reply at all he went on. Gnar! Over here! Dyou think the Captain did something new with his face?

Former prisoners of all races made way for Gnar. He sure did! Used to be I always had the urge to smash it. Now its just ugly!

Laugh it up, you two, I said, accepting the ribbing. Improving my level meant that my fighters pushing the level cap would get their improvement Gnar would have noticed that immediately of course and understood what had happened. Gnar, keep your men stationed throughout the crowd. Im going to address them.

I pulled myself into the rigging above to be visible to all, with the not-so-subtle reminder of my prowess below me. I raised my voice and explained to all who could hear who I was and what I was doing with them.

I recognized that they were all deemed criminals for one reason or another; whether that be for regular crimes or prisoners of war. That didnt mean that I considered them prisoners myself. What did I care if they had fought against Antarus or got caught accepting bribes?

I would be having a quick interview with all on board over the next weeks as we sailed east south-east. Based on that interview (with the help of the ship records documenting their crimes and Halis expertise) I would make a judgement.

If I judged that they werent worth my interest, I would release them on the shores of Andros (for the humans) or Carr (for the non-humans) along with all the others I wasnt interested in. They would be free to make their way from their however they saw fit.

If I deemed that they should not have been prisoners in the first place but deserved to die, I would have them executed. I would not release them like a lionfish amongst the others I let go, nor did I want sedition among my crew.

If I was interested in them, I would make them an offer of service. I would use their services for an agreed upon time, after which I would free them. Theyd all heard of the fate of the Deaths Consort, so I made a demonstration to prove my sincerity.

Jorgagu was my crewman, and he identified as cursed to all who analyzed him. In front of everyone, I released the orcish enchanter from my service. It took a solid five minutes to do, and was indeed a bit different than releasing Gerald had been, but once he felt the curse vanish the massive orc released a bellowing war cry.

The message was clear: I could afford to release a powerful orcish enchanter from my service. I would keep my word.

Once Id made my speech I ducked below to repeat it for anyone who wasnt able to crowd up top and catch my every word. Then I mingled, a pair of orcs flanking me, as I got a sense for the many groups involved.

The nonhumans were the most receptive of course, but the orcs among them were challenging. Checking with Gnar about it, I discovered that every orc on board had been captured from different engagements. Rather than being a straight supplement to my current war band, they each viewed themselves as carrying the leadership of their former group, and would try to assimilate our orcs into their nonexistent ranks rather than the other way around. It was a headache, and for once Gnar agreed, since he was the one who was going to have to duel all of them to pull them into his team.

The madu were respectful to me, but when they saw Drese supporting me they turned practically honorific.

The chortin harbored resentment to humans in general, which left them in a catch with me as their rescuer.

Among the non-humans, there was a halfling a fully grown man no larger than a child! He looked like hed started out a lot rounder, and wore his brightly colored rags with a foppish sense of fashion, but I was fascinated. I could count on one hand the number of halflings Id met in my life even with all my travels. Tarzor Stoutfoot had an interesting tale, for sure.

The humans were the most standoffish, of course. There was no other group that I was more vilified in than my own race, and even among criminals that held true. It was also true that most of the non-humans were prisoners because of their races, while among the humans there were more genuine criminals. Some I saw as hard men who were doubtless being sent south-east to make some coin at the slave markets, but others I walked away from with the certainty Id never let them step foot on land again.

There was one curious exception among the humans. A character by himself who ignored everyone except to step out of their way and stared at the remains of the kraken hanging over the side. He had an unfortunate appearance, starting with a severe overbite, a pair of buck teeth, thin neck, and the inability to grow facial hair on his neck or chin, resulting in scruffy muttonchops and a wispy mustache. All in all, a very mousey looking fellow.

His antics analyzing the kraken drew my notice and I analyzed him before speaking.

Name

Philomon "Mouse" MacGregor

Age

19

Race

Human

Profession

Alchemist

Level

4

Health

60

Mana

100

Stamina

40

Strength

4

Agility

5

Dexterity

8

Constitution

6

Endurance

4

Intelligence

10

Wisdom

7

Charisma

4

Luck

11

Good grief, man! I exclaimed, making him jump and spin. A stiff breeze is going to do you in! Howd you manage to survive the trip this far?

F-fortifying potions with s-scraps and waste.

I wasnt actually expecting an answer so hearing that hed somehow made potions with the waste the prisoners had in the decks below you know, I wasnt going to think too deeply on that.

Well, I see youre fascinated with our recent

Need the eyes. He blurted. Eyes would be valuable. Skin too. Blood would have been better, but it wasnt kept. Waste. What about its internal organs? Stomach would be good. Liver too. Brain? Maybe as a binding agent. Waste. When can we start harvesting?

He turned such expectant eyes on me after his ramble that I found myself at a loss for words.

Thats Mouse, Hali said, being supported by the teenage madu whod been trying to provide for her when we rescued them. Number one synthesizer of street drugs in Pristav. After a third failed manhunt by the city guard, he was caught by a group of adventurers posing as sellers of water dancer proboscis. At my look, she added Truth is stranger than fiction.

Mouse didnt deny any of it, in fact he didnt react to Hali at all. He continued to stare at me, waiting for my judgement on harvesting the kraken.

Mouse, I said, how interested would you be in a job?

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