(( First I intend this to be a Full Active Chat Story, but with my Wi-Fi acting up and me not feeling well I am starting it here and will do more in Chat. Feel free to join in on here if you can not make it for the 'live' stuff. ))

Early one morning before the sunrise, the chill was in the air reminding everyone Winter was coming. And it may be a bad one. A sound breaks the silence as a slight bell can be heard on the waters. Slowly a ship comes into view being towed by another. A House Xueris ship is towing in an House Atianna ship. Both look to be in bad shape having barely survived an encounter. Holes just at and above the waterline threatens to sink the Atianna ship so it is towed into a low water level berth. More than half of each crew is dead or seriously injured. Both vessels require major repairs.

Selene sees it coming in and hopes the Atianna ship isn't the one that Melody left on yesterday. She asks to go aboard and, if allowed, searches the ship for residual magic as well as looking for other clues about what happened.

She then casts a few spells on herself (Endure Elements, Waterbreathing) before diving in to have a look for clues below the waterline.

Askaari already looking into matters with the Doge takes an interest in the two ships and looks into what befell them out at sea. Talking to any officers that still lived first, then the sailors, and then taking a look at the ships themselves last. He wasn't exactly an expert on ships anyways.

Selene can not detect any magic on the Xueris or Atianna ship aside from the normal magics each House uses to improve sea going operations. She and Askaari find remains of Ballista bolts that have struck the ships at the waterline or just above the water line to cause the vessels to partially sink. Melody was not on the vessel and should be counted as safe. Askaari is able to get information from surviving crews that they were attacked by three vessels flying Pirate colors; however at least one of the ships the crew recognized as a ship belonging to House Groas that was reported as "Lost at Sea."

Seeing as it was at least ships flying the colors of Pirates he dons his awesome disguise of Biggis Dikkis that has connections in the underworld and then goes about there to gather information about the attack the purpose, and who was behind it.

hearing word of the massive loss of life and limb he would trundle down to the docks to see if The One God would allow some to be saved. The social dandy would be set aside and the professional medicae is donned as he seeks permission to be allowed to board either or both of the ships to offer medical aid. His skill as a surgeon as well as his magical healing elixirs would be employed. It might also be noted that with just his touch those hovering at death's door are brought back from the brink and become stable enough to treat.

Sarina was on duty that day dressed in her Officers uniform at the PA. STartling green eyes took in the condition of her familys ship being towed in and immediately she starts an investigation. She starts to wonder if there is any "Kraken" involvement with this which is the normal "go to" for any Atianna these days. She begins to inspect the ship from head to toe taking point in this investigation with the P.A

Nathmis Dankil is able to save many lives that would otherwise been lost, but a great many on both ships still died. Sariana is able to determine that there is no evidence of House Kraken's involvement one way or the other. Askaari is able to use Underworld contacts to learn that someone on the Waves has declared themselves "King of the Pirates" and that this King has half a dozen ships under his Flag and has possibly captured more. The survivors of the two Houses state it felt like they were trying to capture not sink the ships; only when the attackers lost a ship did it get bloody.

Sariana finds no magic was used in the attacks and the attacks made were with Ballista aimed at the waterline in an attempt to disable or sink the vessels. Without magical repairs it will be more than a month before either ship is ready to sail again, two for both of them to be ready.

Baele hears about it and is all smiles when he goes out to check on the ships that came in. Looking over the damage then finding any officers and seasoned sailors still alive asking questions about the tactics of approach, attack, formations flags used in communications between the attacking ships, were they prepared for the confrontation, did they come upon the group as if they knew where they would be.

Baele knows the ships are all legitimate ships with registries at a number of ports; all of which had been reported as destroyed or lost at sea. The Captains and First Mate that survived the attack note the Pirates used correct flag alerts for Republic law, but used deception to gain trust of the incoming vessels; one pirate ship feigning injury to get the ships close enough for boarding.

Word quickly spreads of an House Atianna ship coming back with two ships in tow after leaving port a day before. The Captain; Gloria Temptaton, explains "Though the mission is still classified by The Family, I can say Pirate rabble was put down by the strong arm of House Atianna and her Allies. The Vicious Lady; remains ready to go out and kick some Pirate arse." Crew of the Vicious Lady cheer and enjoy several days of liberty back in port while the captured ships get repaired.

Sarina did not have time for celebration and "hooplah" as she filed her report and explained that there is a so called "King of the Pirates" that needed to be investigated and looked into, She had EVERY intentions of following this to its conclusion since it involved her FAMILY first...and then the PA second. She made arrangements to take the ship BACK out to sea as soon as possible for more investigation work as a decoy ship

Selene has been busy studying the charts and the logs recovered from that pirate ship in order to find their base.

Having visited the island now and seen the ships and pirates that are gathering he's all for heading back and shaking the timbers of that Minotaur pirate admiral and take the leadership away. Then bring the fleet in under House Sterkers control. Since there hasn't been anyone he's seen wanting to do much about it.

The enemy fleet is too large to handle on one's own; you Must come together with others and devise a plan.

He'll just go in like they did last time. But while walking around, go directly to kill the leader.

Serina has already said she would go but if this takes too much more time she wont be doing it under the authority of the PA. This has dragged out way past when she would be employed since her family is no longer members of the Republic

Sarina could hop right onto the Sterker Lurker ship he's going in on. So could Selene if she wanted to do her studying up close and personal in the pirate cove.

Selene will accept that suggestion, and make sure Askaari is buffed up before combat.

(( Exp processed for Forum Roleplay posts. This story is closed. ))