Session Report 52 - Beaufort & The War for Piracy
General Summary
"Arket wouldn't be able to give you a worse time than Tal- ahem, than Ukhu'tali would if you dared to call her Tali. Locke, You'd be begging to get killed."
-Deryll Beaufort
Secrets and Unpleasent Truths
Before dropping his guard completely, Beaufort informs the senior crew of The Drifters that he has to use a bit of magic to ensure that they aren't hiding anything from him and that they pose no threat. He uses a spell which allows him to tell the truth from lies, first asking the group if any of them have any intentions to betray him or his associates. The answers are about what one might expect - no. Beaufort then asks a more touchy question; have any members of the group been conspiring with Harpsbilge or Timberwelsh? Most are able to answer with a simple and definitive no, though Locke finds it a bit harder, explaining that he did meet with the governor of Port Evergreen, but only for business reasons. Laire has the hardest time. In truth, he has actively worked with Timberwelsh towards the extermination of piracy in the past, and this fact clearly weighs heavily on him as he relays it. He assured Beaufort (and his comrades) that he no longer has ill will towards pirates - hasn't for a while - and that he has stopped basically all association with Timberwelsh.Then, Beaufort launches his final and most chaotic question: is anybody hiding their true identity or anything else of particular importance? Locke goes first, identifying himself as the King of The Green Sea (much to Beaufort's surprise that this doesn't appear to be a lie), but otherwise claiming to be hiding nothing else of importance. Beaufort allows Locke free of the truth magic. Grov goes next, proudly proclaiming his full name (and all associated titles he's accumulated), and Beaufort releases the magic on him as well. Ramone is much the same and states his identity and lack of major secrets quite openly.
Laire and Gunther are the only two who Beaufort has not released from the magic yet. Neither is eager to answer. With a sigh, Gunther goes first. He explains that he can't truthfully tell Beaufort much about his identity, save for the fact that he is indeed the same man that Beaufort knew from Port Rose. Details of what identity he has obscured, he explains, lie in a painful past best left buried. Sensing no ill will in the secrets that Gunther keeps, Beaufort decides not to press him, releasing the magic. This business does not thrill him either, and he apologizes for needing to resort to such uncomfortable probing.
Finally, Laire is up. He is equally unwilling to divulge his full identity but echoes the fact that he bears no ill will. He explains that under his true name, many people are chasing him - in fact, he doesn't entirely know who or why. Saying the name is a risk, no matter to whom, and he feels that it will only put him and his friends in danger. Locke, hearing this and wanting the situation resolved, goes out and says it, "Lothlaire Fortier". Beaufort recognizes the family name and understands well why Laire would have apprehensions to saying it. He asks Laire twice over to ensure that he bears no ill will, and has no lingering associations with The Regal Timberwelk Navy. Satisfied, he doesn't probe and releases the magic. He repeats his apology for resorting to such measures and hopes to put this interrogation behind him.
Tales From New King of The Green Sea
"So," Beaufort asks, "why did you call yourself King of The Green Sea, and why was it not a lie?". Locke is more than willing to answer, telling Beaufort tales of how they killed Lazzo and their various other exploits over the past couple of months. Beaufort is impressed, commending the group as a whole for their great work.The Drifters ask Beaufort about a few tangential things which he might know about. They ask if he knows any figures who wear white masks. He does - quite a few actually, including Adalwhyne, a fellow Council member, but none matching the description of the mysterious figure encountered on The Isle of Statues. Laire also asks about two individuals - a tiefling named Conundrum and a human(?) named Atlas. Beaufort doesn't know either but suspects that Atlas is likely an alias.
On another topic, Locke asks Beaufort about Valsepthei, and if he knows anything about the journals. Beaufort knows not about the journals but does tell the group exactly where Valsepthei is - and warns them that it houses a labyrinth from which explorers rarely return.
As for Beaufort...
Beaufort, in the meanwhile, doesn't have too much to tell. After parting ways during Heartstopper, Beaufort was captured by the Harps and tortured for information, losing the fingernails on his left hand, sustaining several scalding burns, and a few other injuries. Before more happened to him though, more of his allies (including Ukhu'tali) rescued him and helped him escape to this island, where he has been for a little over half a month at this point. He is enjoying his retirement, and, though he wishes to be of aid to his allies and the cause, does not want to exit retirement for any reason.Three Front War
The topic of discussion eventually settles upon the big question: where is the Obsidian Chest? Beaufort, seeing as Pix isn't here, assumes that the halfling has gone off and sailed the chest to Francisco with a crew who he trusts more. This is indeed the case, but Gunther raises his concerns with the fact that Pix sailed through The Dread Sea to get there - the stomping grounds of Thrazmohk, who surely has his eyes on the treasure as well. The group and Beaufort agree that this does not bode well, and run under the assumption that Thrazmohk has likely seized control of the chest.Either way, the group informs Beaufort, things aren't good. If Francisco gets the treasure every copper of it will go directly to Sin Oro. Doesn't seem too bad initially, but if the best pirate on the seas ceases to be a pirate and the Pirate King's Treasure, which was the thing that attracted so many to the seas in the first place, is lost then all hope for the future of piracy dies. And without that hope, Harps will take their purchase on the lives of those who remain. Ill omens all around.
Locke makes it clear that he wants the treasure. Beaufort concurs and discusses a three-pronged strategy for reclaiming the chest and, hopefully, saving piracy itself from the jaws of destruction.
The War on Dread
The primary front of the effort to save piracy will eventually need to be a battle upon the Dread Sea. Thrazmohk continues to pose a presently insurmountable threat with his incredibly large armies and great personal strength. Overcoming this will be no easy task, and may involve obtaining the strength needed to kill a Dread Lord for good. Beyond this, even if The Drifters were to gain great power, it would be impossible without allies. Thus, in order to win The War on Dread, The Drifters must gain personal strength and allies and, ideally, obtain the means to slay Dread Lords.The War of Secrets
Strength does not come from effort or talent alone. A great deal of strength is to be gained from knowledge and its proper application. There are many secrets of the seas well hidden from sight, some of which might prove vital to gaining the upper hand over all those who would end piracy. Beaufort knows some of these secrets himself but makes it clear that for many of them, he physically cannot utter them without endangering or ending his own life. He makes it very clear, however, just how much gravity these secrets carry, and how some might change the tides of the war.The War on Harpsbilge
The final issue is perhaps the most concerning in the long run. It is no doubt that Thrazmohk having the chest is bad news, but it is unclear if he poses a direct threat to piracy aside from his involvement with the Pirate King's Treasure. Harpsbilge, on the other hand, continues to lead a vicious campaign against piracy on all fronts. The Trader's Sea especially, where the Harps mainly operate from, is the source of ever-present threats. There exists an urgent need to cripple the Harps by whatever means achievable, ideally hurting everything from firepower, to supply lines, to information networks. Beaufort mentions that The Spider is supposedly fighting a battle of information with Captain Steel, and the death of Captain Steel, or even a noteworthy general like Gallihan, might hamper the Harpish effort, and possibly waylay Estella Fairford in any attempts she may make against Thrazmohk or against any remaining pirates.Hello To The Shaman Queen
Finishing discussions on the war for piracy, Beaufort kicks back a bit, musing on all his years on the seas. He jokes that the crew, though clearly quickly rising, have only been on the seas for half a year and that the truly know the seas one must spend a lifetime on them. He mentions that it took him several decades before "Tali" warmed up to him - then quickly corrects himself to be clear that he's referring to Ukhu'tali. Locke is quick to pick up on the nickname, but Beaufort warns him very clearly that this isn't a nickname that just anybody should call her.As they discuss this, the giant green roc that Grov spotted on the Crow's nest some weeks ago is seen in the skies. Beaufort trails off, and something - no, someone, plummets from the back of the bird, splashing into the lake. The figure is none other than Ukhu'tali, who greets Beaufort, calling him "Beau". She then realizes that The Drifters are there and halts her jovial attitude. Beaufort tells her that they are friends, though The Shaman Queen does not fully buy it. She tells the crew they are lucky she found them when she did - she was planning to kill them after their statement in the papers that, after killing Lazzo, she was next. The group very quickly realizes that this was surely the doing of Scarlet Herring, and the group tries to dispel the tension by informing her that the person who published that is insane.
Locke is having a very hard time stopping himself from calling her Tali. A very hard time.
Ukhu'tali agrees not to come into conflict with the group, especially since they are friends of Beaufort, though makes it clear they should not consider her an ally. Though she doesn't say it explicitly, she strongly implies that she'd like to be left alone with Beaufort, and The Drifters relent, bidding the retired captain farewell. He assures them that they are welcome back when next the opportunity presents itself.
Questions of Authority
Returning to the ship, Locke gathers the senior crew to propose a plan. He suggests informing Harpsbilge, Timberwelsh, Francisco, and anybody else who might want it about the location of The Obsidian Chest, then heading to Dread Isle while the others fight Thrazmohk and each other and sneaking away with the chest while the others are distracted. This plan is not met well. Half the senior crew is outwardly opposed to it - Gunther most of all - and the remainder are quietly uncomfortable with the plan. Gunther's ongoing feud with Locke comes to a boiling point, and he admonishes his captain for such reckless and foolish plans. He brings into question whether or not he can be trusted in his decisions. Gunther is especially angry as he feels that the captain's approach to the Lazzo situation is what led to him losing his fingers in the last fight. Laire cannot take the argument and steps out for a minute. The others try to intervene to calm Gunther down, but they have a hard time denying that he has some good points.After finally being given room to speak, Locke concedes some of the points but makes clear that ultimately he trusts and relies upon the rest of the senior crew, and that the reason he's willing to come up with such outrageous plans is because he'll talk with them and they'll tell him which are bad and which are brilliant. He backs off on the Dread Isle idea and apologizes to Gunther. The dwarf has clearly said his share, and neither wants to tension to continue. The two agree to put it behind them. Such negativity isn't healthy no matter the circumstance.
Crocodilia
The Drifters head next to an isle which they come to know as Crocodilia. What happened here has been struck from the history books. The crew agrees not to touch it with a 10-foot pole. A day passes.Serious Conversations Belowdecks
Grov and Gunther have a discussion on ideas of loyalty and belonging. Grov is still worried about Gunther's feud with Locke, though by now Gunther has put it behind him. Grov himself has had some issues with his ideals of loyalty, especially with the fact that he has been placed in a situation where he must choose between his loyalty to Sin Oro or his loyalty to piracy. Ultimately, what matters most to him at the moment is the found family that he has as a member of the crew, but that doesn't mean he will simply abandon Sin Oro if he has a chance to do good by it.Meanwhile, Laire talks to Locke about his dislike of Locke's willingness to reveal Laire's identity like he did to Beaufort, and how he feels uncomfortable exposing either side of who he is or who he was to the other. Especially being the son of a Timberwelk naval family who has surely put more than their fair share of pirates to a watery grave. Locke apologizes, and Laire sits in a corner for a bit before he regains his energy to get working again.
The crew set their course next toward the apparent location of the journals: Valsepthei.
Report Date
01 Jul 2023
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