The King's Command
“Shh quiet down, fuckers.”
You creep quietly among the outskirts of Captain Kano’s villa. From your vantage point, you see several patrol units on the perimeter. From a few open windows, it doesn’t look to be that heavily guarded on the inside. To the east of the villa, you see his sloop The Boar docked with members of his crew playing dice and drinking outside. Lady Myrr leads the raid group. There were only ten of you total, way less numbers than you expected. When you brought it up she simply said, We will create more fear if Kano disappears during the night. The others will not sleep as easy.
Lady Myrr whispers her commands, “We’ll split into two groups. Darius’ will strike near The Boar cutting off reinforcements and my group will sneak into the villa, find Kano, and end his life. Once you see the building burning, we’ll meet back at the manor. Kill anyone who gets in your way.”
Everyone nods in agreement. Unsurprisingly, Myrr puts you in her group. You are a little disappointed when Caitlyn is put in the other, especially since Darius was in charge. At first you’re afraid his hatred of you will cause problems for Caitlyn, but then you remember he hates her too. Myrr silently leads the way towards the villa. Staying in the high grass, you use the cover of night to sneak past the patrols undetected. One unlucky pirate chooses a spot near you to relieve himself. Lady Myrr takes advantage of his vulnerable position and greets him with knife to the throat.
Your group reaches the villa with no other encounters. The inside is filled with mahogany furniture and oil paintings. You move stealthily through the hallways. Internally you comment on the decor, Captain Kano sure is a lavish man. Hmm, I would have assumed a pirate captain’s villa to be, well, more rambunctious, you think. It’s quiet. Too quiet… A whirling sound fills the air. Led by your acute senses, your blade automatically moves into a defensive position blocking the projectile that was aimed at your heart.
“Ambush!” you yell.
Several doors in the hallway swing open and men rush out with their scimitars and sabres raised high. You meet the first attacker, parrying his blade before countering with a deadly blow to the gut. The second doesn’t even get a chance to swing before your lighting thrust drops him. The narrow corridor allows your group to fight a few at a time, but each kill is replaced with another fresh body.
Fighting with her back to yours, Lady Myrr shouts, “Show yourself, coward! I know you’re here!”
“Halt your advance!” a voice cries amidst the fighting.
The pirates halt their attack and stand aside for their captain. Kano, you presume, strides forward. His tall frame overshadows his men. His mouth twists into a crooked smile as he takes the pipe from his mouth to speak.
“Well, well. What do we have here? A pirate queen out in the open? So unprotected. So exposed.” Turning to you he adds, “Ah, the prince that I’ve heard so much about. You’re a little more baby-faced than I was expecting. The tales of your swordsmanship made me think you were a seasoned man.”
“Prince?” Lady Myrr asks.
Ignoring her and putting the facts together, you reply to Kano.
“I take it you and Governor Lucius have been talking. You are fools if you think aligning with Rath is in your best interest. They’ll turn on you in a second. You think Rath will just let you rule here without oversight? No, they’ll use you for their own gain and toss you aside once they have what they need.”
“You’re a prince?” Lady Myrr asks again. Captain Kano also ignores her.
“Ha-ha-ha! How dumb do you think I am? Miranna will survive as it always has. Rath is only a means to an end. There isn’t a nation that can rule Miranna. Miranna belongs to the free. If Rath decides to dishonor their agreement, they will meet the same end as every invading nation. Our ships will sink any attack force. Neither Rath nor Brelia has a navy that can defeat us. But that is none of your concern. I’m afraid your time is at an end. I would have preferred to ransom you to Orson, but Darius was very adamant about this part of the deal. He even refused a majority share in your would-be ransom. Can you believe that?”
“Actually, I can. That guy hates me,” you respond.
“Darius would never—”
Lady Myrr starts to speak before Darius enters with a bloodied Caitlyn bound and gagged. He pushes her to the ground in front of you. She looks up to you, eyes watering as if to apologize for getting captured.
“I’m sorry, my Lady. I believed in you, I really did, but this prince has corrupted your mind and your ideals. I don’t know why you took so much interest in him. It should have been me at your side and yet you cast me aside for what? For an irresponsible fling? I’ve known you long enough to see the way you look at him. Why couldn’t it have been me? I’ve always done everything you’ve asked! Yet you treat me like one of your common slaves. I am more than that. We could have been more than that! Miranna deserves a strong ruler. I’m sorry it had to come to this,” Darius confesses.
“I’m sorry too,” Lady Myrr speaks softly. Louder she adds, “Sorry that I trusted a miscreant like you! The deepest levels of Hell belong to fucking traitors like you. You’re betraying me because I didn’t fuck you? I doubt your small cock would even get close to satisfying me. You’re despicable, you’re a bitch, and I will fucking kill you for this. One by one, I’ll remove your fingernails and then move to the fingers themselves next. I’ll break every bone in your fucking body. Then I'll show you your reflection in the mirror before ripping out your eyes, so the last thing you’ll see will be your fucked up, mutilated body.”
Visibly hurt by her words, Darius replies to you and Lady Myrr.
“I will miss that passion once you’re gone. This is all your fault, Prince. Everything was fine before you arrived, although I guess you didn’t really have a choice in that matter. Captain Kano filled me in. Perhaps you both were meant for each other having the whole betrayed thing in common. Before I kill you, I want to make you suffer so I’ll give you a choice. You can save one of your precious ladies here… you’ll just need to kill the other. You have my word, I’ll spare the one who you don’t execute. You’ll still die, of course, but at least you can save one of them. My final gift to you. So, Prince, who will it be?”
You creep quietly among the outskirts of Captain Kano’s villa. From your vantage point, you see several patrol units on the perimeter. From a few open windows, it doesn’t look to be that heavily guarded on the inside. To the east of the villa, you see his sloop The Boar docked with members of his crew playing dice and drinking outside. Lady Myrr leads the raid group. There were only ten of you total, way less numbers than you expected. When you brought it up she simply said, We will create more fear if Kano disappears during the night. The others will not sleep as easy.
Lady Myrr whispers her commands, “We’ll split into two groups. Darius’ will strike near The Boar cutting off reinforcements and my group will sneak into the villa, find Kano, and end his life. Once you see the building burning, we’ll meet back at the manor. Kill anyone who gets in your way.”
Everyone nods in agreement. Unsurprisingly, Myrr puts you in her group. You are a little disappointed when Caitlyn is put in the other, especially since Darius was in charge. At first you’re afraid his hatred of you will cause problems for Caitlyn, but then you remember he hates her too. Myrr silently leads the way towards the villa. Staying in the high grass, you use the cover of night to sneak past the patrols undetected. One unlucky pirate chooses a spot near you to relieve himself. Lady Myrr takes advantage of his vulnerable position and greets him with knife to the throat.
Your group reaches the villa with no other encounters. The inside is filled with mahogany furniture and oil paintings. You move stealthily through the hallways. Internally you comment on the decor, Captain Kano sure is a lavish man. Hmm, I would have assumed a pirate captain’s villa to be, well, more rambunctious, you think. It’s quiet. Too quiet… A whirling sound fills the air. Led by your acute senses, your blade automatically moves into a defensive position blocking the projectile that was aimed at your heart.
“Ambush!” you yell.
Several doors in the hallway swing open and men rush out with their scimitars and sabres raised high. You meet the first attacker, parrying his blade before countering with a deadly blow to the gut. The second doesn’t even get a chance to swing before your lighting thrust drops him. The narrow corridor allows your group to fight a few at a time, but each kill is replaced with another fresh body.
Fighting with her back to yours, Lady Myrr shouts, “Show yourself, coward! I know you’re here!”
“Halt your advance!” a voice cries amidst the fighting.
The pirates halt their attack and stand aside for their captain. Kano, you presume, strides forward. His tall frame overshadows his men. His mouth twists into a crooked smile as he takes the pipe from his mouth to speak.
“Well, well. What do we have here? A pirate queen out in the open? So unprotected. So exposed.” Turning to you he adds, “Ah, the prince that I’ve heard so much about. You’re a little more baby-faced than I was expecting. The tales of your swordsmanship made me think you were a seasoned man.”
“Prince?” Lady Myrr asks.
Ignoring her and putting the facts together, you reply to Kano.
“I take it you and Governor Lucius have been talking. You are fools if you think aligning with Rath is in your best interest. They’ll turn on you in a second. You think Rath will just let you rule here without oversight? No, they’ll use you for their own gain and toss you aside once they have what they need.”
“You’re a prince?” Lady Myrr asks again. Captain Kano also ignores her.
“Ha-ha-ha! How dumb do you think I am? Miranna will survive as it always has. Rath is only a means to an end. There isn’t a nation that can rule Miranna. Miranna belongs to the free. If Rath decides to dishonor their agreement, they will meet the same end as every invading nation. Our ships will sink any attack force. Neither Rath nor Brelia has a navy that can defeat us. But that is none of your concern. I’m afraid your time is at an end. I would have preferred to ransom you to Orson, but Darius was very adamant about this part of the deal. He even refused a majority share in your would-be ransom. Can you believe that?”
“Actually, I can. That guy hates me,” you respond.
“Darius would never—”
Lady Myrr starts to speak before Darius enters with a bloodied Caitlyn bound and gagged. He pushes her to the ground in front of you. She looks up to you, eyes watering as if to apologize for getting captured.
“I’m sorry, my Lady. I believed in you, I really did, but this prince has corrupted your mind and your ideals. I don’t know why you took so much interest in him. It should have been me at your side and yet you cast me aside for what? For an irresponsible fling? I’ve known you long enough to see the way you look at him. Why couldn’t it have been me? I’ve always done everything you’ve asked! Yet you treat me like one of your common slaves. I am more than that. We could have been more than that! Miranna deserves a strong ruler. I’m sorry it had to come to this,” Darius confesses.
“I’m sorry too,” Lady Myrr speaks softly. Louder she adds, “Sorry that I trusted a miscreant like you! The deepest levels of Hell belong to fucking traitors like you. You’re betraying me because I didn’t fuck you? I doubt your small cock would even get close to satisfying me. You’re despicable, you’re a bitch, and I will fucking kill you for this. One by one, I’ll remove your fingernails and then move to the fingers themselves next. I’ll break every bone in your fucking body. Then I'll show you your reflection in the mirror before ripping out your eyes, so the last thing you’ll see will be your fucked up, mutilated body.”
Visibly hurt by her words, Darius replies to you and Lady Myrr.
“I will miss that passion once you’re gone. This is all your fault, Prince. Everything was fine before you arrived, although I guess you didn’t really have a choice in that matter. Captain Kano filled me in. Perhaps you both were meant for each other having the whole betrayed thing in common. Before I kill you, I want to make you suffer so I’ll give you a choice. You can save one of your precious ladies here… you’ll just need to kill the other. You have my word, I’ll spare the one who you don’t execute. You’ll still die, of course, but at least you can save one of them. My final gift to you. So, Prince, who will it be?”