Pirating Mission No. 3

The deck rocked gently with the swell, the Isabelle was ready for sea, sails trimmed and the crew gathered on the fore deck. This was to be the third mission of the pirate crew, the most difficult one yet it appeared. Sweetrabbit, the wife of the late Antonius, former owner of the Isabelle (named after their daughter), was coming along on this expedition to see how Cynthor and his friends were treating the Yacht. She had heard rumors about his "fishing" trips, and had decided to come along and see what was really going on.

The ships Captain, Cynthor, stepped forward and spoke to his crew. "This lovely lady be Sweetrabbit, an shes the lass I tole ye all was coming along fishin with us this fine day" he said with a quick wink. "I want ye all tae be on yer best behavior an if the gods smile on us, it'll be fish fer dinner!"

"Gold fish" mumbled Thordin with a grin. "I'm sorry Thordin, I didn't catch that. What was it you said?" Sweetrabbit asked the dwarf with a sharp look and a sweet smile.

"Golden sea bass he said, Sweety that's all" Cynthor interjected quickly. "This be the fishin crew, Sweety, meet Slithex an Shalinga, me first mates, Treebeard, not quite sure what he does, but catches fish well, Flodge, deckhand, Thordin, the lookout, Voto, the cook, an our newest crewmates Rini, the sailmaster, an Elkington, quartermaster." Sweetrabbit nodded and smiled then followed Cynthor over to the wheelhouse.

"Quartermaster Elkington, er the fishin supplies aboard?" Cynthor queried the monk in the bright orange robes. Holding up a bucket of worms and several fishin rods, Elkington smiled and nodded, then he headed aft. The Captain then told the crew to cast off, watching as Thordin fumbled his way up the rigging to the crows nest. Rini helped Flodge weigh anchor with no idea why he insisted on putting it on a scale after they pulled it out of the bay. Treebeard entered the wheelhouse and set his axe down, leaning on the haft. "Captain, we need to speak of OUCH!" he yelped as Sweetrabbit bonked him on the head with a mithril frying pan. "Watch where you are putting that axe, Treebeard! You scratched the deck with that axe blade!" Sweetrabbit said as she chased Treebeard about the wheelhouse. He escaped out the door and disappeared to the aft of the ship, holding his head and wincing. Slithex and Shalinga entered the wheelhouse, looking aft and shaking their heads, smiling.

"I hope the rest of the crew is a bit more careful with our beloved ship that Antonius left to you." Sweetrabbit stated sweetly. Cynthor reassured her that he would speak with Treebeard and that incidents like that were rare, these fisherman took great care of the yacht. With a dubious look on her face, Sweetrabbit left the wheelhouse and went below decks to inspect the galley and speak with Voto, the cook.

"Subtlety an deception lads, that's what we need tae pull this off. Ye both know what tae do when we close on that vessel, aye?" Slithex and Shalinga both grinned and nodded in response to their Captain's question. Just then Rini entered the wheelhouse. "Permission to relieve you at the helm sir!" she stated, matter of factly. Cynthor nodded and headed aft to speak with Treebeard. Returning from belowdeck, Sweetrabbit headed aft as well with a smile on her face. She had been quite pleased with the condition of the galley and the rest of the ships interior. At the rear of the ship, Elkington was sitting down puffing on a cigar with three fishing rods in the water trailing behind the ship and Cynthor was huddled up with Treebeard, whispering and glancing about furtively. "I see the fishing has begun." Startled, Cynthor looked up and nodded. Soon Sweetrabbit was fishing alongside Elkington and Treebeard, with Voto coming by often to take the caught fish away to the galley.

As the day wore on, the hot sun beat down on the deck, the ocean spray occasionally rising over the side of the ship (due to that hunk of dock permanently strapped on the aft side of course) and the fish stopped biting.

Suddenly a shout broke the tranquility of the day. "Ship tae starboard, ship tae starboard!" echoed down from the crows nest as Thordin jumped up and down excitedly pointing. Raising a spyglass, Cynthor could see the orc sailors on the deck and the Flag fluttering from their mast, crossed swords above a chest of gold, the orc symbol for a merchantmen vessel. "Pirates! Evasive action Rini! All hands man yer battle stations! Treebeard, do what ere it is ye do! Sweety, come with me tae the wheelhouse!" he uttered. As Sweetrabbit moved forward, he gave a quick hand signal to Slithex and Shalinga, and nodded, then followed her to the wheelhouse.

"Why are we turning towards that Pirate vessel, Cynthor?" Sweetrabbit asked, a puzzled look on her face. "They got us surrounded lass, we're gonna hafta fight er way free. Ye stay in ere with Rini where its safe!" he quickly responded as he prepared his bow. Sweetrabbit placed her hands on her hips and peered at Cynthor. "Oh no you don't, You're not leaving my sight! I know your up to something! Why did those two Lizard men just dive overboard? Cynthor!" running out of the wheelhouse she followed him up to the bow, question after question aimed at him. Meanwhile, the ships were closing fast and Treebeard, Elkington, Thordin, and Voto had grappling hooks out and ready.

"I tole Slithex an Shalinga tae scout fer fish lass, so when we drive off these pirates we'll be prepared tae resume, that's why they went fer a swim" Turning to his crew, he yelled "Prepare tae repel boarders! All hands retreat in reverse!" As the ships came together, 5 grappling hooks sailed over and snagged in the rigging of the orc Merchant vessel, and 5 of the crew, swung across, boarding it. Cynthor began firing arrows as fast as he could at the orc sailors, covering his crew, and answering Sweeties questions as well. She wanted to know why they had boarded the other ship instead of waiting to repel the attackers so he responded "The best way tae repel boarders is board'em first, then they's so busy battling ye, they doan board yer ship, now let me get back tae Captaining lass, I'll answer yer questions later."

Just then a ruckus at the far side of the Orc ship indicated Slithex and Shalinga had made it aboard and begun the attack from the rear. Cries in Orcish of "Pirates!" could be heard. "Aren't they yelling Pirates in orcish Cynthor?" Sweetrabbit asked, tapping her foot. "Their yelling that their Pirates, trying tae scare us they er, woan work though, this is one tough bunch a fisherman I got fer a crew!" he retorted, continuing to fire arrows. Soon, the surviving Orcs were gathered at the bow of their ship with their hands raised.

Within a short while, 12 large chests lay on the deck of the Isabelle, the crew gathered around them. Prying open one of them with a crowbar, Shalinga stepped back as gold coins spilled out all over his feet. As the crew cheered and smiles broke out, Sweetrabbit bent over and picked up one of the coins, studying it and turning it over in her hand. "Cynthor, dear, did you say these orcs were pirates?" "Aye lass, that they was, indeed!" he replied. "Then why do these coins come from Orc lands, with the seal of the orc king on them? It looks like the mark of Orc merchants on these coins if you ask me."

Thinking quickly, he said "Of course its Orc King gold, din't ye read page 24 of the Cosrin Observer? He donated 12 chests of Gold tae the Serenity Orphanage. These scoundrel Pirates musta swiped it, an was makin off with the loot. Tis a good thing we caught the blighters, eh Sweety?" Nudging Treebeard and smiling, he beamed at the rest of the crew, knowing they were all gonna be Gazillionaires at last. "I see." replied Sweetrabbit, turning and heading to the wheelhouse with a sly smile on her face. "Women!" blurted out Cynthor, then quickly adding "No offense Voto er Rini, ye two er good crewfolk."

Leaving the hapless Orc ship behind, they headed back to Moorgate under full sail, eagerness and smiles on everyones face, even Sweetrabbits. After dropping anchor, Cynthor and Treebeard stood on the deck by the chests, planning what to do with it, when Sweetrabbit joined them. "What are you two waiting for? Load those chests on the cart, now!" she stated, matter of factly, pointing at a cart and driver waiting on the docks. Looking at each other confused, Cynthor and Treebeard just stood there. "Sweetrabbit, we'll take care of the chests, no worries lass" Cynthor said, then yelped as she bonked him on the head with her mithril frying pan. Treebeard tried to dodge, but he was too slow and got bonked as well. "Now, load thoses chests. I am taking it straight back to the Orphanage, no delays. Get moving!" Scrambling, they quickly loaded the chests, chagrinned looks on their faces.

Climbing up on the cart, Sweetrabbit turned to Cynthor, a smile on her face. "I knew we would catch lots of ..fish... so I had a cart awaiting our return. A good thing I did, it would seem. The orphans will be so pleased. Good day, and keep taking good care of the Yacht, Cynthor dear. Oh, and the last issue of the Cosrin Observer only had 23 pages." As she rode off to Serenity to deliver the gold, the Pirate crew stood on the dock, disbelief on their faces.

Later that night, a they sat around a table in the Salty Seadog, drowning their sorrows, the laughter of a group of children passing by drew their attention. Looking out the window, they saw a large group of orphans passing by, wearing brand new clothes, holding spinning tops, stuffed rabbits, yo yo's and snacking on pies, cakes and candied apples. "Ah well, it could be worse mates." Cynthor stated, taking a long drink of whiskey. "How could it be any worse, Captain?" Rini asked. "I coulda tole Sweety them orcs stole that gold from the Moorgate Women's Auxiliary." He quipped. Raucous laughter, cheers, and the sound of clinking bottles could be heard emanating from the Salty Seadog as the Pirate crew celebrated another missions end. Fin.

Cynthor