The Life of Captain Antoinette Mokyza ‘Gold’ Cadieux — by Captain Antoinette Mokyza ‘Gold’ Cadieux; shipwright, procurer of wealth. III: An Account of my Falling in with the Crew of the Troveseeker.

Still desperate to return to society, perhaps even more so now that I was a dragonborn of means, I came swiftly ashore to meet the newcomers. They were five in number: a human, two orcs, a halfling and, to my glee, a fellow dragonborn. They lost no time in drawing their arms, and I would surely have been slain on the spot, but for the intervention of the dragonborn. I explained what I had found in the ruins and that I would help them gain access to the vault if they would but take me to civilization. The human, captain of the Troveseeker, introduced herself as Bismuth, the two orcs as Zinc and Silver, the halfling as Nickel and the dragonborn as Brass. Bismuth accepted my offer upon seeing the small sample of riches I had returned with.
Following my sodden map and using my knowledge we bypassed the remaining traps and arrived at the chamber of gold. It took several days but we looted everything, including the idol, although this last act was done against my better judgement. We left Bittersweet weighted down with treasure. I watched as my island home eventually disappeared over the horizon. I was not used to idleness and, asking how I could help, I became an active and respected member of Bismuth’s crew. I realised that what I sought in ‘civilisation’ was what I had found aboard the Troveseeker. I asked that I be taken on as a permanent member of the crew, and was dubbed ‘Gold’.
It wasn’t long before a strange ship appeared on the horizon, quickly gaining on our treasure-laden vessel. Bismuth attempted to outmaneuver them but soon we were boarded. The attackers revealed themselves to be bounty hunters and it transpired that Nickel (whose birth name was Billiam Pastiman) had sold out the rest of the crew for both his freedom and the ownership of the Troveseeker. The rest of us would be taken to Jessamy to face ‘imperial justice’.. Naturally, we refused to be taken alive.
After a brief skirmish, in which Bismuth and Zinc were wounded, the bounty hunters lost their resolve, retreating to their own ship along with Billiam. We broke away, with myself at the helm, although our pursuers were not far behind. I endeavoured to lose them in a storm that was careening towards us on the wind. It wasn’t long before we were lost in the rage and roar of Kaigun’s fury, tossed to and fro like mere driftwood. I know not what became of the traitorous halfling.
We were wrecked on a remote atoll, and it was my fault, although Bismuth and the others would hear nought of it. Fortunately we were able to fashion a makeshift vessel from the remains of the Troveseeker, dubbing her Stormherald and pushing out towards a proper port. The treasure of Bittersweet had been lost beneath the waves, and with it much of our hopes for the future.