1. Skyway Robbery - Rise

[Interovegas]

Four of the remaining crew made their final exit down the boarding ramp. Knormick turned to look back up at the ship one last time. The gaping wound where her left eye should have been was a silent statement of disappointment pointed at her old captain. Satisfied with her indignant display, the woman of Green River disappeared into the crowd. Any moment to contemplate the loss of half the surviving crew was interrupted by the sloshing of water. Aredfln emptied a quarter of the water barrel onto the deck and was scrubbing the torn cloth from some late crewman's top covering in an effort to leech out the abundant bloodstains.

Aredfln-[Imperial]: "Haugh! t'were it that we couldst lay rush to thine deck. T'will require an enchanter's arts to banish these crimson remnants. Mayhaps Orkan's down serve two purposes eh Captain?"

Aredfln pauses and gives a second look to the magnitude of the stains.

Aredfln-[Imperial]: "Nay, assuredly they are not plentiful enough to suffice this task ..."

A great majority of the crew had to be involuntarily evacuated mid flight just days ago. The members of the Espiegel have few requirements placed upon them but there was no negotiating around the need for a still beating heart. An encounter with a ship had gone awry and the causalties of this misfortune were great and many. It was thanks to Orkan that they even managed to send their supposed prey sinking up into the lightless jungle.

Few words were exchanged among the survivors on their way back. Eight souls crewed a vessel intended for as many as thirty. The three days of hard labour and constant steering helped keep the silent calm. Even without words it was clear that most of the crew abandoned all faith in their captain.

Now there is adequate water and rations down below in the Espiegel for several days. The sun and moon have just reached the darkening equinox of the day and the cool early spring night will begin to set in. The ship is docked in Temming's Rise, the third largest city after the capital and the Free City of the coast and the nearest hub of civilization where Captain Finchroscuma can muster new souls to man the Espiegel.

A rotund woman hollering the way of the captain catches his attention. He cannot make out what she is yelling on about but he already knows what to expect. Before the harbor master completes her addled march up to the Espiegel the captain has produced his writ of privateering. She gives a nod and a grunt and leaves the crew to consider their next steps.