Fable - Ask Gale's Grasp Archipelago

[Jeriah Thackett]

Thackett was getting used to the movement of the slave ship. What he wasn't getting used to was the groans of the dying.

In the bowels of the ship almost forty criminals had been chained. They were some who had not been captured easily. Wounds left to fester and all they were brought was water and biscuits.

Thackett knew where they were going. Gale's Grasp archipelago was off the coast of the Allirian Reach. There were at least three ports where one could turn a profit on unwanted criminals. Coin in the city coffers was better than dismembered criminals in the gutters.

Thackett looked at the captives to his left and right.

"Were going to make our move tonight," he whispered.

Thackett always had a plan. It wasn't always a good plan, but he had long ago given up on letting anyone rule his destiny.


Riley Briseis

 

[Keres]

Keres was not getting used to the movement of the slave ship. She hadn't had anything in her stomach for fucking days.

She had found herself in many a grim situation, but this.. This was truly fucking tragic.

She shifted uncomfortably in her chains, the cold iron biting into her wrists, the cuffs seething with magic that kept her own abilities locked away. Her body ached from cuts and bruises she’d sustained during the fight to resist capture, the dull throb of hunger gnawing at her insides. The stench of sweat, blood, and rot filled the cramped space, mingling with the groans of those too weak to fight back anymore. With the voices of the ghosts that clung to every single one of them.

Her head pounded.

Dark eyes narrowed as Thackett leaned in, whispering his intentions. She cast a skeptical glance toward him, her lips curling into a grim smile.

“We.." she muttered back, her voice rough from exhaustion but still laced with bitter sarcasm. “A bunch of half-dead miscreants, taking on a ship of armed slavers.." she sighed. "It's starting to feel more unlikely by the day, Thickett."

Her eyes scanned the hold, taking in the state of their fellow captives. Most were wounded, feverish, and malnourished. If they made a move, they would need more than desperation to back them up.

“These people can barely stand, let alone fight.” She shifted her position, feeling the iron cuffs tug at her wrists again, reminding her of the frustrating powerlessness she felt without her magic.

But despite her scathing words, a flicker of defiance burned within her. She hated feeling helpless, hated the idea of being carted off like a caged animal. And even though she knew the odds were stacked against them, part of her wanted to believe in some sliver of hope.

She shrugged, her gaze hardening as she met Thackett’s eyes. “But I’d rather die fighting than rot away in this hellhole or be sold into another one. So, what’s the plan?”

 

[Aerend]

Lips pinched in disgust, causing the recent split lip to start bleeding again. The humans were talking again. Half-lidded eyes slid to the prisoner whispering about a plan. Ren was certainly a long way from home. And a long way from her brother. The Anirians had captured her and sold her. And she was determined to have her revenge on those round-ears.

Long fingers flexed as she moved her wrists against her bindings.

A ripple of frustration crossed her brow as she hit against that mental barrier from her magic. It was almost painful. Separated from a very part of her bones.

Her shoulder thudded lightly into Jeriah Thackett's shoulder as the ship lurched on the waves. Head whipped to the side as she eyed Keres on the other side of the blonde. The stench to the elf's delicate nose from the vomit, piss, and grime from the other prisoners was almost enough to make her gag.

Amber eyes slid between the two. "Alright humans," it was clear of what she thought of them. "You have my attention. But this," she raised her shackled wrists. "will be a problem." So were the rest of the bottom feeders chained with them. There was an orc down the line. Perhaps another elf. But these humans were so pathetic and weak.

 

[Jeriah Thackett]

“But I’d rather die fighting than rot away in this hellhole or be sold into another one. So, what’s the plan?”

. "Alright humans," it was clear of what she thought of them. "You have my attention. But this," she raised her shackled wrists. "will be a problem."

"No, they won't be."

Thackett sprung his right hand from his cuffs. He clenched his fist and rolled it around. Wearing the metal shackles hurt.

"Also they've got a skeleton crew of guards to save on costs. They're running a three and two shift pattern so they have minimal guards when they think we're all sleeping."

"The problem, is that I haven't a clue how we sail a ship. So we need to find someone who can or work out how to force enough of the crew to sail us somewhere..."

 

[Keres]

Keres narrowed her eyes at Thackett, her disbelief palpable as she watched him free his hand from the cuffs. “Impressive,” she said, holding up her own shackled wrists expectantly, a wry smile tugging at her lips as she jangled the chains. “Care to share how you managed that little feat?”

"Oh wonderful, we have her attention.." Keres muttered to herself.

She shifted her weight, scanning the dim confines of their prison before her gaze returned to Thackett. “That crew won’t lift a finger for us unless there’s a fat bag of coins waiting for them. And unless that’s what's shoved up that elf’s arse,” she gestured toward Ren with a dismissive wave, “I think we’re out of luck there.”

 

[Aerend]

A huff of annoyance at Thackett's parlor trick. And the ease at which he got those cuffs off. She quickly shoved her shackled wrists beneath his nose, fingers itching to light something or someone on fire at her impatience.

"Get these things off me."

A clipped command, head tilted to the side. Her hearing picking up on everything that the little human whelp of a girl muttered. "I'd like to show you what I can shove up your arse you little shite." The redhead locked eyes with Keres like she'd like nothing more than to do just that, violence promised in her gaze.

"I say we start killing the crew and then see who wants to live to sail for us."

 

[Jeriah Thackett]

"Well aren't we little bundles of violence," Jeriah observed.

"But no, I'm not removing any more cuffs until I've decided it's time to act. We need to finish the plan and act when the shifts have changed and most are asleep."

The ship lurched, the ghost of the trees that had died for the vessel moaning. The moans of the slaves close to death were even louder.

"But you might be onto something red. If we deal with the crew on duty, one of us could see and lock the others in their cabins. At least below deck.

"The gold they're after comes for delivering us. An outcome we want to avoid. But maybe we can get a few to help. Maybe a few here have sailed. Think we can pass a message up and down and see?"

 

[Keres]

She huffed again, jaw tightening as Thackett refused to unlock her cuffs. Her fingers curled into fists and her knuckles brushing the cold metal that kept her from summoning even a spark of power. She muttered darkly under her breath but finally relented, lowering her bound wrists to her lap with a sharp exhale.

“Fine, Captain Paranoia, but when the time comes, I’d better be free to do more than glare.”

Her gaze shifted to the redheaded elf, amusement flickering in her expression as she let the threat hang in the air. “Oh, I’m sure you’d shove it somewhere creative. Very inspiring.” Her words were light, but her tone was edged with wariness. The promise of violence was unmistakable, and Keres filed the redhead’s temper away for future use—or avoidance.

Turning back to Thackett, she gave a dry laugh. “So, you’re banking on ‘a few’ of the crew being scared enough to play nice? Or that some of this sorry lot actually knows how to sail? Because I don’t know about you, but I’ve seen toddlers with more seaworthy skills than most of us.”

Her expression hardened, the faintest crease forming between her brows. “Still, you’re not wrong about the message. If there’s anyone with half a clue about ships or sailing, we’ll need them. The rest?” Her voice dropped, icy with determination. “We keep them alive if they’re useful. If not, they can go overboard with the crew.”

She shifted against the wall, testing her cuffs again with a frustrated grunt. “I’ll play along for now, Thackett, but if you’re wrong, you’d better hope I don’t get out of these cuffs before we sink.”

 

[Aerend]

Fingers itched. One hand shot forward to try and grab for the fabric of Thackett's shirt, fingers would curl into its fabric as she'd attempt to pin him in place. Her anger and frustration clearly coming to a boiling point but she'd pause before taking things further.

She was a bundle of violence. And rage.

"Careful," she growled lowly before releasing him, her shackles clanking slightly. The same threat Keres offered to Thackett was repeated wordlessly in her own ambered gaze as it leveled on the newly freed man. She took a breath, shoulders still stiff as she grumbled something beneath her breath.

"I'll spread the word this way," her sharp chin angled to the side. Only time would tell if the other prisoners who claimed seaworthy skills were telling the truth. And if they were lying? Aerend would have no problem ending their lives. Especially the human ones.

It took a few moments but eventually a whispered word reached her very pointed ear. She'd lean forward to Thackett and Keres. "The half orc, goblin, and human said they can sail."

 

[Jeriah Thackett]

“So, you’re banking on ‘a few’ of the crew being scared enough to play nice? Or that some of this sorry lot actually knows how to sail? Because I don’t know about you, but I’ve seen toddlers with more seaworthy skills than most of us.”

Thackett looked around the room. In the darkness it was hard to make out the fellow captives.

There was a good chance that they would be a danger to the plan, let alone unable to help.

. “I’ll play along for now, Thackett, but if you’re wrong, you’d better hope I don’t get out of these cuffs before we sink.”

"Noted, thank you."

One hand shot forward to try and grab for the fabric of Thackett's shirt, fingers would curl into its fabric as she'd attempt to pin him in place. Her anger and frustration clearly coming to a boiling point but she'd pause before taking things further.

He was surrounded by amateurs. Thackett supposed he couldn't throw out any insults when he had also been captured. That was what they all had in common, not carefully, lucky or intelligent enough to avoid being caught.

"Now I can't tell if I'm frightened or aroused."

Perhaps it would only make the elf more angry or perhaps she would think twice before manhandling him again.

He needed violence if his plan was going to work.

It took a few moments but eventually a whispered word reached her very pointed ear. She'd lean forward to Thackett and Keres. "The half orc, goblin, and human said they can sail."

"So we're all in agreement? Next shift change we deal with the first guard to come and bring down water?"

 

[Keres]

Keres let out a slow breath, her lips curving into something that wasn’t quite a smirk but certainly wasn’t friendly. “Finally, a plan with some teeth,” she muttered, shifting against the wall to ease the ache in her shoulders. She cast a glance toward Aerend, the redhead’s simmering rage a near-constant presence now. That one was going to explode sooner or later—Keres just hoped she wasn’t in the blast radius when it happened.

She watched the exchange with a sharp glint in her dark eyes, her lips twitching at Thackett's flippant remark. She didn’t miss the way Aerend’s rage simmered just below the surface, and for once, she found herself silently agreeing with the redhead’s barely restrained urge to throttle the man.

“Death wish?” she muttered, leveling Thackett with a flat stare.

Her gaze flicked to Aerend as the redhead relayed the information, brows arching slightly at the mention of their supposed sailors. “A half-orc, a goblin, and a human walk into a mutiny. Sounds like the start of a bad joke,” she deadpanned, though her tone held an undercurrent of skepticism and she huffed. They were fucked.

Leaning back against the damp wall, Keres shifted uncomfortably, her wrists pulling at the cuffs with a faint rattle. “Fine. Next shift change, 'we' deal with the first guard and start the plan."

She turned her attention back to Thackett, her voice sharpening. “And when the time comes, I expect to be out of these.” She rattled her cuffs pointedly. “I’m not doing this blind and bound. Clear?”

 

[Aerend]

"Now I can't tell if I'm frightened or aroused."

"Why don't you say things like that when I'm unbound?" That same promise of violence never left her amber gaze. "Next shift change," she agreed vehemently.

"Then you better get these fucking things off," her shackled wrists lowered to her lap. The ship lurched along with her empty stomach. Her delicate ears picked up on the wind howling outside and above deck. Its turbulent rage something that called to her very bones. It was wild. Free. Unforgiving.

As was the water beneath them.

But with these stupid cuffs, she couldn't call to them. Even sense them as she normally could. She'd never felt like this before. And it was unsettling. And only cut the fuse to her already shortened temper.

A little while later, her ears picked up on the footfalls down the steps. The ones she knew she could hear before Jeriah Thackett and Keres. "Guard is coming."