andres ♔ the terrifying rarity of truth

[bancroft]

♬ Haunt - Bastille

WHO || Thomas, Thoster, Brantley, David L., Andie
WHAT || The Knights intercept a boat shipping something to Andres Isle... with some high seas piracy
WHERE || The Atlantic Ocean
WHEN || December 9th, 2013, 6:00PM
HOW || Actionspam , single thread to start.  

The mission to intercept a shipment heading to Andres - one among many such mysterious deliveries that Wynn suspects have some sinister ties to the movements of Prime Minister Dimitris Sarandis' involvement in a Shadowkind slaver cult - is already off to an interesting start.  No sooner have the crew gotten aboard Thoster's pirate ship and headed out on a course that's meant to intercept the vessel then the winds start kicking up and dark thunderheads roll in on the horizon.  Lightning streaks the horizon as rain starts to fall, and Thomas stands on the deck, looking out with one foot up on the railing, frowning out. 

"Gonna be rough waters.  Not sure yet if that's going to work to our advantage or not."  

Comments

[fixyourproblem]

[Then why is he here if it is safer on the ship? It's not entirely his fault Bancroft decided to visit the ship. But he did uncover the blindfold, so he feels guilty about it.]

I.. I'll take my punishment when this is over.

[He really feels bad about the situation but he is still against throwing the man into the sea.]

For now, we have to decide what to do next and I'm still against killing him.

[He might not have bargaining power, but that doesn't mean he won't try to hold his ground.]

[bancroft]

[ with a scowl, Thomas slices the blade across the man's throat in one ferocious motion. His fortitude save is miserable, and he dies instantly, flopping to the deck as Thomas turns to Brantley. ]

Your punishment is sufficiently covered in knowing that man might have lived if you'd listened to your briefing. You were ordered to neutralize all soldiers or store them below deck before I was signaled to board. Hopefully this is a lesson you need only learn once.

[fixyourproblem]

[That thing happens quickly, Brantley doesn't even have a chance to squint. He just stands there in shock when the blood gushes out of the man's throat. His face turns grim as he is going to express his protest, but the words from Thomas that follow, shuts him up. He glances at the dead man's body, a mark of guilt that he'll carry for a very long time, before turning back to Thomas and Thoster. Nothing comes out of his mouth as he is just waiting in silence for the next thing to do.]

[bluffcheck]

[Thoster feels responsible like he would if this was a real crew of his own. He can't very well control the men (and women) at all times, but they've used his ship and so he feels like he has some part in their actions. But he'll just move along and direct his words to Thomas.]

David and Andie are probably still below with the people these lot had chained up. Did you want to see them?

[bancroft]

[ thomas nods tightly. ] Let's make certain they haven't been abused further by these men. [ he says the word with undisguised disgust, looking down at the corpse with curled lip ]

[fixyourproblem]

[Is this man serious? What about that guy's life he has just abused? Though they were not exactly saints, that doesn't mean you can stab them in the throat and glare in disgust at their corpses. He gives the veteran Knight a brief scowl and hastily turns away to the cargo room to hide his mild dissatisfaction (will 17).]

[asap]

[Before they can get very far... SUDDENLY ANDIE.]

They're Slovechnian shadowkind! The slave people! Former slaves and I thought we weren't gonna kill him! [She shoots an accusing look at Thoster.]

[bluffcheck]

It wasn't me, lass, but you won't find me mourning him. [Less irritable now that he's been healed, he straightens.]

So the Prime Minister's dealing in his own people's freedom. Can't say I'm surprised. [Considering the other mission he was on where he found out about the slave trading.]

[bancroft]

They're not his people. As she says, these are Slovechnians, not Andresians. We've been assuming for almost a year now that the refugees have been getting out safely - both of you were involved in the missions during which we made negotiations with Valentin Milosovici, and began setting up ways to remove ex-slaves to countries where they could start again.

It was Knights like yourselves moving them at first, but we couldn't handle the volume all ourselves. Wynn invested in a number of trusted organizations to help with the burden and follow our model.

I have a feeling if we look closely, we'll find one of those organizations was compromised. Sarandis knew what we were doing, he knew we were behind shutting down the slave trade, and he used our own damn system to funnel slaves out of Slovechnia and straight to his damn labs. [ he's pacing as she speaks out loud, half to himself, not seeming overly concerned whether anyone follows all of what he's saying. his anger grows with each step, his teeth grinding together as his hand balls into a fist. ] If he wanted subjects, he could find them almost anywhere. He chose Slovechnia specifically because of our involvement there.

This is his response.

[bluffcheck]

So we get these people safe refuge, but that can't be the end of it. They'll just keep on doing it. Innocent lives tempted with freedom, then tricked into a darker fate? We've got to stop them.

[Says the guy who nearly died a few minutes ago..........]

[fixyourproblem]

[Still in a less happy mood, Brantley is quieter than usual.]

We can go back and find more information, or we can use this opportunity to infiltrate the island.

[His eyes move around trying to avoid eye contact with Thomas whenever he can.]

[bancroft]

[ brantley's words make thomas wheel around instantly. ] You're all going back to the castle. Jack and I are on special assignment doing precisely as you suggest, and Andres is dangerous enough for the two of us, let alone squires squeamish about taking a life.

Your empathy does you a service, Brantley, but on Andres, it would get you killed in a day. The Isle will remain a Dragon's Claw assignment until Wynn says otherwise, although I suspect the time grows riper to take further action. We've been dealing with Sarandis for almost a decade now, the insidious nature of his villainy slowly revealing itself alongside with his cunning. He holds our identity in his hand, and he's not afraid to expose us to the world - if only to make it more difficult for us to help the Shadowkind he so despises, by gaining us more enemies than we can count overnight. The only thing that's held him back from doing so already, I suspect, is that now it's a card he can hold over us, and that's a powerful tool in the hands of a ruthless man.

No, we count this day as a victory in saving these people from the fate they'd meet on the Isle. Sarandis considers himself a man of science, and if you'd seen the sort of experiments he fancies, as I have, you'd say a hundred prayers of gratitude tonight that these people have been spared.

At least now we know where he's been getting them - and considering it's so close to home, it'll be easy for Wynn to find and shut down the system.

[asap]

[Andie looks a little sick, but she's got a determined look.]

At least these people are ok now. Doesn't help the next batch, but... it's something.

[And they know now, which could help the next batch.]

[bluffcheck]

With any luck, there won't be any next batch- or at least not one that reaches any altered destination.

[He nods to Thomas.] But that's for the professionals, aye? Best of luck to you and Chessing, then. Anything you'd like us to pass along to Wynn when we return?

[He doesn't really think about how Thomas can give his own updates via phone. Pirate problems.]

[fixyourproblem]

[What's wrong with being squeamish about killing someone? He might not be a hero who can save the world, but even this world need someone to think about those who live like Emile, right? That's the reason he chose to be a fixer. So he can help people get out of troubles and have a new start. He releases a sigh before replying to Thomas.]

If you need some help with the immigration and stuffs, let me know, I'm experienced in this area of expertise.

[generaldavideus]

[And as they're discussing all of this, David starts leading the prisoners up to the deck. If he sees the guy they weren't supposed to kill dead, he doesn't acknowledge it.

He figures there was probably a reason. Chain of command and all that. Regardless, he'll stay over here, telling everyone to stay together and wait for orders.]

[bancroft]

[ thomas' eyes move to the people david is bringing up, and he nods to thoster's boat ] Let's get them on our ship, fast as we can. We'll have to take him too [ he gestures to the man whose throat he cut ] so they don't try to rez him or speak with his corpse.

[ he looks back to the others with a frown ] Brantley, we can use your skills in helping to double check all the organizations we have running ex-slaves out of Slovechnia to make certain this wasn't the only one Sarandis had in his pocket.

[ to thoster: ] Wynn will want a full debriefing with each of you on what you saw here. For now, let's concentrate on getting this people free of this wreck before anyone comes looking for them. If you can smash the place up a bit, loot anything of value you find, we can help sell the idea that pirates took off with their cargo.

[bluffcheck]

[No one has to tell Thoster twice to start ransacking. Excuse him while he takes out his aggression at the way this mission has gone on the nearest crate or barrel before he makes his way to the different sleeping quarters to throw things around and see what goodies he can find (search 14).]

[generaldavideus]

[David focuses on getting everyone onto Thoster's ship. It's not an easy jump to make, especially with the weather, but he tries to manage it as safely as possible.]

[fixyourproblem]

[Brantley sighs again before nodding to Thomas.]

I'll take care of the list once we get back.

[Then, he helps David directing the refugees to get on their ship.]

[bancroft]

[ thomas stands aside for a moment, watching them work with a grim expression on his face, before finally gathering up the body of the man he killed and bringing him over to thoster's ship himself.

it's going to be a long ride home. ]

[bluffcheck]

[Eventually, Thoster is satisfied with his job on the enemy vessel and makes his way back to his own ship.]

Everyone safe and accounted for?

[asap]

I guess. Seeing as you're all healed up now.

[She may not be all that pleased with his quickness to try the murder option, but she's still gonna fret.]

[generaldavideus]

[He nods, helping the last of the refugees over onto the ship.]

I think we're good to go.

[bancroft]

[ annnnnnd gonna call dis mission COMPLETO, make sure to say it's done on the XP page for a finished mission bonus ]