The sound of unrest grew as Caleb left the infirmary. He heard the rumble of angry voices as he waited impatiently at the base of the forward stairs. Shaw, Tavia, and Sienna made their way up before him as carefully took each step in turn with his aching leg.

Bright sunlight dazzled his eyes as he emerged from the dim passages belowdecks. The smell of fresh sawdust had replaced the iron scent of blood. He took in the rest of the scene at a glance.

Sections of railing had been replaced with similarly-designed pieces. Newly carved wood had been installed around the larboard quarterdeck steps and aft-cannon area. For that matter, the cannon itself had been put back in place, cradled inside a new gun carriage.

The boom had been replaced with a darker length of rounded wood. Above the boom, the sail lay slack in the calm. Little pinholes of light allowed the sun to shine through, mute evidence of the recent cannonade’s ferocity.

Two groups of men had been pressed by a crowd of angry crewmen against the larboard side near the newly restored cannon. One group consisted of the Murray brothers: Rory, Ronan, and Regan. The red-haired triplets swore and traded blows with anyone in range.

The other group comprised Ferris Pender and Donal Sheahan. Though sporting bandages on his face and arms, Donal had placed his body between Ferris and those attempting to grab hold of the man.

As if to underline the situation, new screens popped up in his Quest Window.

New Adventurer’s-Level Quest: Quell the unrest amongst your crew for the first time.

Lir and Danu’s Helpful Hints:

Unrest among a crew at sea is not uncommon; it is recommended that this be kept to a minimum by doing the following:

Avoid longer-than-necessary sea voyages. Avoid periods of dead calm or other stretches were the crew has little to do. Divide up shares of treasure equitably and often; preferably just before coming into a port where the crew can spend their gains.

Note: Failure to do this can result in an elevated risk of confrontation and violence, which you should know usually results in death. Despite your continued flirtation with this state of being, we recommend you continue to avoid it.

Caleb had to keep himself from letting out a groan.

Shaw arched his back and opened his beak. The griffin let out a piercing hawk-screech that ended in a leonine growl.

All other speech on deck stopped instantly.

“Thy Captain is on deck!” the drake announced. “Thou hast best listen, else pay the consequence!”

Well, that’s one way to get everyone’s attention, Caleb admitted to himself.

“By Lir’s beard, what in blazes is going on here?” he demanded. “I want explanations, and I want them now, before I break out the whip and cutlass!”

“We’ve got grievances, Captain!” one woman said, before jabbing a finger towards Ferris Pender. “He’s been hoarding treasure!”

“That’s a lie!” Ferris shot back, before being shouted down by the crowd.

“We’ll see who’s lyin’!” A burly man stepped away from where he’d been confronting the Murray brothers. “And who’s dyin’!”

Caleb didn’t know his name, but he recognized his form. Brown haired and beak-nosed, this man was easily the broadest across the shoulders among the crew. He lumbered over towards Caleb so that they faced each other.

“That’s Quaid MacMorrow,” Sienna whispered in his ear. “Leads our sail hauling team.”

“The Quartermaster had me stash the silver we took off the Dromos Bay in the oak closet servin’ as our treasury,” MacMorrow boomed in his deep voice. “When I put the coins away, one of the chests we’d already put inside after the fight with the Taipan was sitting wide open, plain as day, and at least a double handful of coins had been taken from it!”

“I’m no thief, you ripe cabbage!” Rory declared.

“Aye, my brother’s an honest man!” Regan said in support, with an Aye! from Ronan.

“You’re the only one the Quartermaster’s trusted with the key,” MacMorrow shot back. “Ain’t that a fine one-in-a-million coincidence? You even came up with that story about something chewin’ the inside of the closet, just to make yourself look innocent!”

The crowd erupted in shouts both for and against the Murray brothers. Once again, people shoved forward, trying to get past two of the Murrays to grab Rory, while someone tried to reach over Donal’s shoulder to lay their hands on Ferris.

He had the key, you heard him!

Rory’s innocent, he’s a good lad!

Na’ae, they’re all in it together!

“MacMorrow and Rory have bad blood between each other,” Sienna said quietly. “I didn’t think they’d want to be having it out right now. Damned calm is making everyone edgy.”

“Captain, whatever the case might be,” Tavia said, also in a quiet but urgent tone, “this needs to be dealt with immediately.”

“I agree,” Caleb said, before looking to her, Sienna, and Shaw. “Stay ready. Back my play if I call you up.”

He got a nicker, a low caw, and a Yezzir at that.

Caleb reached inside himself, invoking two of his Corsair Sub-Specialties.

Charisma Boost Bluff Assist

“That’s enough!” he shouted.

But only those closest to him paused what they were doing.

He realized with a sick shock that that same warmth, that boost of inner assurance that he’d felt before when invoking those Sub-Specialties was gone. He’d paid it no mind when confronting the Gilarskans. And that had ended in disaster.

“A bit more volume ‘tis needed,” Shaw advised. “I shall–”

“Bide,” Caleb said quickly. “I need to figure something out.”

“Aye, though thou shouldst make it quick, lest someone be injured without cause."

Yeah, no pressure. Thanks a lot, my friend.

Caleb’s mind raced. All right, he’d confirmed that his Corsair-related abilities had gone on the fritz. For whatever reason, he’d either lost or exhausted them.

If only I could boost whatever’s left with my XP. The thought stopped him in his tracks. Wait, why not? I invoke my special skills in the same way as spells…

He quickly called up the two sub-specialties with a flick of a finger.

Charisma Boost: This increases your pre-existing level of Charisma. Charisma is defined as the amount of personal charm or influence a person has that makes others want to follow or obey them.

Note: This is not a form of Mind Control. Even at maximum strength, this will not win over people who are ill-disposed towards you.

Bluff Assist: This ability increases your chance of success when performing a bluff against a single subject.

Note: This ability can be boosted temporarily with the skill XP Edge. The possibility of a bluff succeeding is improved when it is in alignment with the subject’s beliefs.

One sentence leaped out and caught his attention:

‘This ability can be boosted temporarily with the skill XP Edge.’ Just like a spell!

Caleb flipped over to his character sheet. A single entry told him he had XP to spare.

Unspent XP: 320

With that, he reached inside and tapped into that vein like a rich lode of ore. One word whispered inside: Burn. He invoked the two Sub-Specialties once more. He felt a dull warmth as something inside boosted his words, like plugging in an amp and giving his speech a little push. Innately, he felt as much as saw what he had to do next.

It’s time to be a little hard, and a little reckless.

His hand groped for his cutlass, but the belt holding his pistol holsters and scabbard was gone. Likely stored up in his great cabin while he was sleeping off his wounds in the infirmary.

“Sienna,” he said quickly. “Your sword!”

Without hesitating, she pulled her cutlass out and handed it to him.

Caleb strode forward and shouted again. This time, it felt like his voice carried more bass, and it easily traveled the entire length of the ship.

“Quiet on deck!” he shouted. “I’ve heard enough out of all of you!”

Everyone went quiet once more. Caleb sensed that it would not last, so he stepped into the silence. He paced back and forth agitatedly, cutlass in hand.

“All right, listen up! In case you haven’t noticed, your Captain’s been having a very bad time as of late. I’ve been shot at with rifles, crossbow bolts, fireballs, and lightning. I’ve been ripped off by a maulding King. I’ve been forced to find ways to confound both Gilarskans and Myrkur for a full day of fighting and sailing, just to keep you lot alive and out of their grasp. And just now, I’ve been laid out flat for a day and night after nearly bleeding to death. Do any of you know what that means?”

The crew as a whole looked abashed. Most looked down at the deck.

One or two ventured a timid No, sir.

“I’ll tell you!” Caleb thundered. “It means that by Lir’s beard and Myr’s damnation, I am in a really bad goddamn mood! So get back to work and let your Captain sort out this business!”

The crowd started to break up, but MacMorrow stepped forward insolently.

“Why should we? Just because you’re the only one who’d got a cutlass out?”

Out of the corner of his eye, Caleb’s Quest Window updated.

New Adventurer’s-Level Quest: Handle direct challenge to the Captain’s Authority. Bonus of 10% if the matter can be resolved without the death of one or more parties.

Caleb’s vision filled with memories of striking one of his crewmen with the butt end of an assault rifle. Then pitching the unconscious man over the side and into the unforgiving maw of the sea.

It’s so tempting to be that person once more. Dammit, if Danu didn’t call me a hero…I can only backslide so much.

“No,” Caleb explained, as if to a toddler, “it’s because I have a cutlass out…and the fact that I’ll use it on any crew member who questions my authority as Captain.”

Whip-fast, Caleb turned his blade and brought the flat down on the top of the man’s foot as hard as he could. A metallic whap echoed off the forecastle. MacMorrow collapsed to the deck with a howl.

The rest of the crew stared in shock.

“All right,” Caleb demanded. “Anybody else want a limp?”

This time, everyone on deck enthusiastically shook their head No.

“Good. Remember, you’re all more than just a crew aboard this ship. You’re the last of the Arrenmar. Your bonds are kinship and freedom from the Myrkur, not grubbing after a few coins in the gutter. You picked me as your Captain. Do I still have your trust?”

He got a chorus of enthusiastic Yezzirs.

“Then you have my word: I will sort out these accusations, and I will make sure everyone on board has a share of the treasure allocated and paid before we reach a major trading port. After that, we’ll be continuing on until we find you a home. That’s what matters, not how many crowns you can stuff into a pocket.”

As a final touch, Caleb invoked one of his spells.

Wind Cast, Minor

The sail rippled to life as it caught an easterly breeze.

“Finally!” he said. “I need men and women at the sail and at their posts!”

Immediately, the mob on deck dispersed. His Quest Window blinked once more.

Adventurer’s-Level Quest: Quell the unrest amongst your crew for the first time. STATUS: COMPLETE Adventurer’s-Level Quest: Handle direct challenge to the Captain’s Authority. Bonus of 10% awarded due to resolution without the death of one or more parties. STATUS: COMPLETE.

Caleb mentally cancelled the XP Burn fueling his Corsair Sub-Specialties. The dull warmth in his chest faded away as he called out orders to the few that remained.

“Rory, Ferris, remain where you are. Ronan, Regan, I need you over here,” he said, as he waved them over and pointed to MacMorrow’s prone form. “Whatever anger you’ve got, douse it and help carry our lead sail hauler down to the infirmary.”

“My pardons, Captain,” MacMorrow grunted, as he was helped to his one unhurt foot. “My temper got the better of me.”

“You’re excused this one time,” Caleb said. “Take care it does not happen again.”

“You've broken the man’s foot,” Tavia said, as the Murray brothers carried the larger man off. “With your permission, I’d like to help Doc Harper with him.”

“Permission granted.” He looked to the others in turn. “Sienna, I’d like you to make a count, see how much silver we’re missing. Shaw, I want you aloft. This wind I put up is also going to help anyone looking for us, and I want to have eyes on them first.”

He got a Yezzir from both, followed by a blast of downdraft as Shaw spread his wings and took off. Donal made his way over and gave him a Avalonian salute with one bandaged arm before speaking.

“I’m still hale enough to handle the helm, Captain.”

Caleb carefully clapped him on one shoulder. “Never doubted you, my friend. Head south and west, out of the Maulding Shoals. Then take us northwest at the best possible speed.”

Donal headed aft to take the helm. Caleb waved for Rory to approach as he went over to the larboard railing to speak with Ferris Pender. The dark-haired young man held an object wrapped in a kerchief. His hands shook as he held it out to Caleb.

“Captain, sir, thank you for saving me!” he babbled in relief. “I swear on my gaffer and gammer’s graves that I didn’t steal nothin'! I just found this behind the sea chest where I keep my belongings!”

Caleb took the kerchief. To his surprise, whatever was inside felt extremely heavy. Rory Murray joined them just as he unwrapped the object.

“Prayer’s up,” he gasped. “Never have I seen the like!”