Captain Vallo: A Pirate Life... not for Him [Chronicles of a Thousands Fists]

You can already see the natives hiding in the bushes with blow guns and small bows. The children were just a decoy.


The teenager turns to the bushes and says:"He a igth pa, he say de men on da boat were killed last night... I liked da Hunter of waves, he always brough us gifts..."


The dozen warrior rise from their hiding spot and their leader speaks up.


"I am sorry you bring bad news with you Captain.


My name is Maakil, I am da leader of da red crab tribe, how can we help you finish your tale on a happier note?"
 
Vallo jumps back a step or so and looks suitable shocked at the sudden appearance of the tribemen.


"Oh you near made me jump out of me skin."


He falls silent as the leader speaks, then continues on in his rambling way.


"Well there's the rub lads and lasses, there's the rub. You see there be a boat load of dead people on that there ship and the last thing I would be wanting is them to be getting up and walknig about again, as slaughtered people have a want to do, if you knows what I be getting at. So the aid, help, task I see as set before us, is to first stop that from occuring.


Now a decent burial I be thinking is a good way to stave off that sort of monkey business. A decent burial in a beautiful place such as your island would be even better. So I be thinking that we take off the bodies and build a funeral pyre then bury the ashes of our dear departed friends in a suitably beautiful place, have a pray that they move forward to their next reincarnation, and that it have a better fate than this one. Then I be off to chase and kill the scallywags that did this vile act in that smaller boat, you keep the larger one to do with as you wish."


He throws Maakil a dazzling smile, clearly expression who pleased he is thinking up such a brilliant plan.


"So how you be liking my plan?"
 
Maakil smiles:


"In our beliefs, who belongs to da sea must return to it, dose men belonged to da watah, and after we burn deir bodies, and pray for de rest of dem souls, we will return de ashes to deir home.


Den we will bless you so you can avenge de deaths of so many good men !"


Maakil turns away making bird noises, and suddenly around a hundred indigenes more are coming.


They prepare a special ritual were they use palm oil and dried herbs to cover their skins "Dem dead should only be touched by sacred hands!" and propose you follow the ritual too if you want to help drag the bodies to the beach, and starts praying the gods of the surf and of the sea with a chant, recommending the souls of their early departed servants.


Once the chant ends, half of the men prepare three large funeral pyres, while the other half weaves liana ropes and use them to get the bodies down to the beach.


The day slowly passes, and at the end of it, when the sky turns purple and orange and the water becomes dark blue with golden reflects, the pyres burn strong and hard, and people are chanting and dancing around them.


"When a seaman dies, we believe his soul comes back to da sea and he becomes a dolphin and will live a happy life watching over other seamen." says Maakil holding you a coconut filled with an exotic and particularily strong alcohol cocktail judging by its smell "What do you believe in Vallo ?"
 
Vallo joins in with much enthusiasm, he strips off down to his Crimson breeches and then rubs the palm oil and dried herbs into his skin following, quietly for once, and joining in where he can. He joins the men pulling the bodies to the pyres quietly praying in his own unique way.


He joins in the dancing when it starts, before turning back to Maakil and takes the strange cocktail from him.


"What I believe in? I believe in enough booty to weigh a man down so he can't move, a lass on each knee to bounce and watch theirs bounce, a warm cabin, a cool wind, loaded firewand, a fine cutlass, having your name known across creation, and not caring who is pissed at you, kill only when you have to save yourself, your loved ones, or to stop this sort of thing from happening again, never ever pay for what you can get for free, never slight a man who's done you a favour until that favour's returned, if wishes were fishes we'd all eat cod. Fates a bastard and the gods in heaven don't give a fuck, they'd take a man's name, life and twist it for there own needs, freedom's a lie, but its a lie we all pay heed to.."


He drains the last of the drink from the coconut before standing and walking to stand in front of the pyres and starting to sing.


"From Azure docks we bid adieu


To Suke, and Sal, and Kittie too


The anchor's weighed and the sails unfurl


We're bound to cross the watery row


For we know we're outward bound


Hurrah, we're outward bound


The wind it blows from the east nor'east


Our ship will scud ten knots at least


The purser would our wants supply


So while with life we'll never say die


And should we touch at Abalone


Or any other quarters far


Our purser he will tip the chink


And just like fishes we will drink


Then at last our captain comes on board


Our sails are bent, we're manned and stored


The Roger's hoisted at the fore


Good-bye to the girls we'll see no more


For we know we're homeward bound


Hurrah, we're homeward bound


One day the man on the look-out


Proclaims a sail with a joyful shout


"Can you make her out?" "I think I can;


She's a pilot standing out from the land"


And when we're hauled into Azure docks


Them bloomers all come 'round in flocks


Them pretty girls, we hear 'em say


"Here comes Jack with his twelve-month pay"


Next we go to the Dog and Bell


Where there's good vittle there to sell


When in comes Archie with a smile


"Drink up me boys, it's worth your while"


When poor Jack's money is gone and spent


Nor more to be had, no more to be lent


Then in comes Archie with a frown


Saying "Rise up Jack, let John sit down"


And so poor Jack must understand


There's ships in the harbour needing hands


So stows his gear like he did before


And says farewell to the Azure shore


For they knows they's outward bound


Hurrah, they's outward bound"


Vallo wipes the tears from his eyes as his final chorus finishes.


--------------------------------------------


PERFECTION IN LIFE


Cost: 5m; Mins: Performance 2, Essence 2; Type: Simple Keywords: Combo-Basic, Fate, Virtue (Compassion)


Duration: One scene Prerequisite Charms: None


Not every person in Creation has a glorious destiny, but every person can live up to his destiny with grace. One of the duties of the Chosen of Venus, then, is to see that mortals and Exalted all live up to their potential. A Sidereal uses this Charm while he gives a performance of some kind, such as singing, dancing, reciting an epic poem or the like. Audience members feel the sense of completion, triumph and peace—the exaltation—that comes from knowing you are exactly where you should be, doing what you should do. The Seer’s player rolls (Charisma + Performance) against the highest Dodge Mental Defense Value of his assembled audience. If the roll succeeds, everyone who witnessed the Exalt’s entire performance (and is not a creature outside fate) gains a temporary Willpower point. A person can receive this bonus from the same Exalt only once per day, but the extra point can put the person over his Willpower maximum for the scene.


02-06 05:43:43 nobble Vallo rolls 7 dice to cha+perf 2 successes 7,2,7,2,4, 5,2


stunt?
 
***


That my friend is one of the best 3 die stunt for a performance roll I have ever seen :D
 
------------


doesn't stop the die roller rolling cac though ;)


02-06 11:08:04 nobble Vallo rolls 3 dice to 3 dice stunt Failure 4,6,5


so still only 2 successes
 
Everyone in the tribe is enjoying the festivities and is hypnotized by your performance.


At the end of the night, Maakil offers you a blue coral necklace with strange inscriptions carved on it:


"You did a good ting today my friend, you brought joy ta them sad souls.


I dunoo how you're going ta find dem murderers, but dis is a mark of honor and a lucky charm, we decided to make you a member of our tribe.


Its symbols mean you're one of da sacred islands who's left home, and wheneva you see someone wearing dis sort of necklace he will help you if you ask, but you must promise ta help dose wearing da mark if they need you... would you do us de honor ?"
 
"Well t'was just the start of what I'm planning to do, but I couldna let them jolly lads and lasses rise up again. It wouldna be right. Lest now they're rested and understand that I'll get those scullers that did this."


Vallo looks then at the offered blue coral necklace and his eyes well up again.


"Well you fair bit caught me there that you have, I'd be proud and honored to be one o'yur sacred isles thats left home, that I would." He punches his chest with the side of his fist and coughs blinking his eyes to clear the tears. "And any soul that be so needing help, I will be the one to help them, that I will."


He gently takes the necklace and places it over his head.


"Well all that talk of leaving home, and it looks like the tides right for me leavin your beautiful isle. Just afore I go though, you ain't perhaps heard about a group or person calling them selves the Black Bandana. It be no bother if you've not, just a passing enquiry."
 
"I am sorry my friend I dunno no Black Bandana... you might wanna ask old mama Fishbone dough...


She knows many tings from dis world and oders. You can find her near de Blue Smoke Volcano... but I don't recommend you go near her... de price to pay is not worth de answer you get." answers Maakil.
 
"Old Mama Fishbone you say. Now there's a name, a name to start a tale and a tale as such that could be told to many a soul. Well if that be your lead I'll be taking it, and see where the flow be taking me."


-----------------------


Vallo will wrack his brains to see if he or any of his contact may know of this Black Bandana... and where Blue Smoke Volcano is on this island or a near by one?
 
***


Int + Lore... or you can simply ask :mrgreen:


As for your contacts, are you trying to use them before or after you are going to see Mama Fishbone ?
 
"So can ye be telling me where this here Blue Smoke Volcano is?"


-----------


all depends on where Blue Smoke Volcano is and where my contacts are..
 
"You sure you wanna go dere friend ? most men who have gone ta see de old mama never returned quite de same..."


Maakil points you the west pole direction and looks sad:


"You follow dis direction from where you stand right now, until de water turn ta a deep blue, and de fish start flying in de air instead of swimming in de sea, den you go south and you will find old mama fishbone's turf !".
 
"Well m'heartie this is Cap'n Vallo you be lookin at, the Crimson Pirate, there aint ney danger I ney faced afore, ney baddie I ney faced down eye te eye, and pulled on their whiskers, tapped their cheek and laughed all the way home, and let me lose my jigging feet if that there aint the truth. Ahh Haarrrr!!!"


Vallo laughs out loud, slapping his thigh.


"Now don't you go worrying about me m'heartie, I'm Captain Vallo, I'm a Island off wandering the seas, and I've got some other people to talk to afor I talk to this Mama Lassie."


Vallo moves forward and hugs Maakil, slapping him on the back, before he starts to move off towards his little boat, picking up a little song as he does.


"Our anchor's aweigh and our sails are all set


Bold Riley, oh, boom-a-lay


The folks we are leaving, we'll never forget


Bold Riley, oh, gone away"


"Goodbye, me darling. Goodbye, me dear, oh


Bold Riley, oh, boom-a-lay


Goodbye, me darling. Goodbye, me dear, oh


Bold Riley, oh, gone away"


He hugs, slaps the backs of many a man, ruffles the hair of the children as he picks his way back to his boat.


"Wake up Mary Ellen and don't look so glum


Bold Riley, oh, boom-a-lay


By Whitestocking time you'll be drinking hot rum


Bold Riley, oh, gone away"


"Goodbye, me darling. Goodbye, me dear, oh


Bold Riley, oh, boom-a-lay


Goodbye, me darling. Goodbye, me dear, oh


Bold Riley, oh, gone away"


He slings his bag back into his boat, he and the other men push it out into the waves.


"The rain it is raining now all the day long


Bold Riley, oh, boom-a-lay


And the northerly wind, it does blow so strong


Bold Riley, oh, gone away"


"Goodbye, me darling. Goodbye, me dear, oh


Bold Riley, oh, boom-a-lay


Goodbye, me darling. Goodbye, me dear, oh


Bold Riley, oh, gone away"


He hops into the boat and hoists the sail.


"We're outward and bound for Azure bay


Bold Riley, oh, boom-a-lay


Get bending, me boys, it's a hell of a way


Bold Riley, oh, gone away"


"Goodbye, me darling. Goodbye, me dear, oh


Bold Riley, oh, boom-a-lay


Goodbye, me darling. Goodbye, me dear, oh


Bold Riley, oh, gone away"


The wind catches the sails and he is off away from the island.
 
***


so ? where to first ?


Mama Fishbone obviously lives within the bordermarches and your contacts are in the more civilized part of this world (back to the Red Tree Island and other pirates den).
 
Maakil gives you some provision, enough for a month of sailing.


Au menu, dried fish, dried fruits, dried seaweeds... and two bottles of that fine nectar they gave you a taste of tonight !


Then you sail out towards the west. About a week after you find that the color of the water has changed, the sea looks more and more alive, swarming with life, and while fish scales turn to shiny gold and silver, the sea itself becomes of the deep blue as if you were surrounded by the abyss.


***


roll Wits + Sail (hazardous encounters ^^)


then willpower + essence (welcome to the bordermarches).
 
During the week sailing, Vallo keeps himself active around the boat mending little tears in the sails, singing to the fishes and bemoaning to the sea the lack of rum onboard.


--------------------------------


03-13 07:25:49 nobble Vallo rolls 8 dice to ess+will 3 successes


4,4,3,7,3, 6,10,1


03-13 07:25:23 nobble Vallo rolls 7 dice to wits+sail 7 successes


5,10,10,8,7, 7,1
 
Finally the dark azure smoke of a volcano is in sight, a huge column of smoke, you spotted two days ago.


The further you come closer, the bigger it gets, but it doesn't smell like lava... more like... lavander ?!


Birds occasionnally jump out of the waters to salute you with an acrobatic figure or just a simple "hello" before diving back into the sea. There are crabs walking on the sea approaching your frail ship, joyfully singing your arrival to the waves and the island like parrots, and all sort of fishes glide peacefully over the seas.


The Blue Smoke Volcano is a small volcanic island, it wouldn't take more than a day to cross it from air to fire, and the apparently active volcano emits a blue smoke and lets out a strange shining lava which apparently ends up in a river of blue quartz as soon as it touches the sea.


You circle the island once to look for... actually anything... and you at last find a small beach of orange and white sand. From where you are, several signs, wooden pikes with various wonders (skulls, feathers, fangs, shark jaws, dried coconuts, dead monkeys and jewels) have been put there, leading to a direction within the tropical forest of yellow palm trees.
 
He laughs and claps at the fish and birds as they float and fly about him, remembering the leasons he had been taught about the border marches and even the quick visit the Fisherman brought him on.


The border marches the place where story and tale become more and more important. He steers the small boat toward the beach, holding it steady and he quickly cuts a length of rope off the end of the fishing nets he has in the bottom of the boat. He quickly ties the rope scoring it slightly here and there as he works turning the length of rope into a rough knot rope flower. He finishes his work just as the boat beaches itself, as it does he leaps out of it onto the sand and over to the wooden pikes to hang the simple flower next to the other wonders.


"Yo ho!" he cries as he turns and walks lightly up following the direction they point towards the forest of yellow palm trees.
 
"Nod so loooooud, I coud hea ya fam a miiiiiiiiile away..." answers a distant voice.


Following the path drawn by the pikes, you soon can see a small cabin made of earth, blue crystals and wood. A figure looking like an old woman awaits there and yells, spitting.


"Whaaad is id ya wand, I bed id mus be impordah, else you wouldenha com all de way here to seek ooold Mama Fishboooone."
 
Vallo freezes when Mama Fishbone first yells in his direction. He then starts to quietly walk forward trying not to cause much noise as he steps along the path.


When he reaches the old woman, he bows extravagantly before her and flashes her a dazzling smile.


"Gather close dearest lady and I'll tell you a tale, a tale of such sadness and heart rending suffering that your very soul could be shivered in to pieces." He wipes a tear from the corner of his left eye.


"A tale of darkest E V I L and good men and women slaughtered for ney reason but tha reason itself. The tale of the loss of a merry sailor, and his jolly band. The tale of the mystery of the Black Bandana left tied on the slaughtered master's wrist. The tale who's journey brought me to you. A tale I wish to reach the end of, the end that ends the Black Bandana."
 
The old woman has eyes as dark as a shark, her face looks like an old rotten amphibian, her hair like blue and read seaweed, her arms wear scales like fish and she constantly drips water from her brown silk simple clothes.


Her back seems broken and she moves very slowly, she sits on a log next to her cabin:


"A tale you say, I lov tales, I hav maaaany of mah oooown."


She listens to your story with great interest and frowns lowering her head she whispers:


"So he got out... that is going to be a hell of a story to tell..."
 
Mama Fishbone smiles:


"Yea mon, HEEEEE got out... and ye knoh wha ?! it means baaaaad nooz foh da rest of ya.


Ya wanna hear a tale boy, I liked yo tale, but mine's much bettah. If ya pay de right price I'll tell ya da tale of de Black Bandana !" she adds with a vicious smile and a malicious look.
 
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