Varis spun the helm. His ship turned to avoid the jagged reefs just below the surface. Varis reveled in the sea's breeze as he guided the ship out to sea. The sea elf called his coxswain to take control. The middle aged half orc took the wheel and began to aim the ship windward. Varis retreated to his quarters for a time as he plotted the entirety of the journey. He made sure to stock up on supplies before leaving port, plenty of high calorie food to keep the crew going with enough fruit to stave of scurvy for the trip. Still, stopping in a port or two along the way to resupply could never hurt. The blue skinned elf looked over his map and, satisfied with their course, exited his chamber.
The Merfolk's Tear sailed for several days along their course. The deck of the ship was nearly empty as most of her crew rested below deck. Varis stood at the nose and leaned over the railing, gazing out over the horizon. The captain watched as dolphins leaped from the waves and fish schooled near the surface of the sea. Before long, Varis saw another ship come into view. The elf took out his spyglass and checked the vessel's condition. It seemed like a merchant ship. No cannons, small crew, and probably a lot of cargo.
"Captain," The half orc called out. "You see that?"
"Aye." Varis called back as he put the spyglass back into his jacket. Varis descended below deck and found his cannon master in the middle of a card game. The gnome stood to attention.
"Merchant ship." Varis said. "Run a shot across her bow." The gnome smiled and nodded as she left to prep a cannon. "The rest of ya," The captain called out. "Time for a resupply."
The crew watched as the iron sphere was fired a few dozen feet ahead of the merchant ship. Varis saw through his spyglass that the crew were scrambling.
"Jiub." The elf said flatly. An older man turned his attention to his captain. "Let them know the rules." The elderly human muttered beneath his breath as his spell latched onto his voice. The old man's voice boomed like a titan's roar as he hailed the target.
"Stop your ship!" He called as his crewmates brought out the wooden walkway. Varis continued to eye his prey as Jiub spoke. "We would rather do this bloodlessly. However, we will not hesitate to kill if you fight. I repeat, we will give quarter so long as you cooperate." The merchant ship dropped its anchor as the corsair drew up besides them. As the walkways were dropped, Varis boarded the smaller vessel with a handful of his crew.
The elf smiled smugly as he silently ordered his prey to stand at the prow. Varis' crew kept their blades sheathed as he took a handful of men below deck to the storage room. The pirates took the majority of the merchants' supplies, careful to leave enough to allow them to return to port and enough gold to let them get a few rooms. The merchant captain glared at Varis as his men loaded the crates and barrels onto his ship. The sea elf ordered his men to return to his ship. The captain stood on the railing and turned to his victims.
"We, of the Merfolk's Tear, would like to thank you for your cooperation and hope that we may do business again soon." Varis hopped off the railing. "Calm seas and good fortune friends. Tymora bless you." The elf smiled as the Tear raised her anchor and returned to her course.
The captain assisted Jiub in recording their plunder. The gold was tallied up and divided among the crew. Varis leaned lazily over the railing at the stern.
"Whatcha' reckon Grall," Varis said to the coxswain. "Think we'll make a profit with this voyage?" The half orc glanced over his shoulder.
"I dunno." He admitted. "We keep making hauls like that, and we probably won't have to sail for a few weeks." Varis smirked at Grall.
"Now where's the fun in that?" The friends chuckled for a moment before Grall's smile faded.
"Listen, captain." Grall turned his attention away from the helm for a moment as he spoke. "I been hearing whispers. A few of the crew… Well…" Grall looked about as if searching for his words, "Look, there's no easy way to say this. Some of 'em are thinkin' of a mutiny." Varis' smile faded in an instant.
"And I trust you know who started this venomous thought?" Varis asked flatly. Grall nodded.
"That youngun, Jasper." The half orc said, looking around to ensure no one was near. Varis nodded gravely.
"The bilge rat always did swing the lead." The captain muttered. "He'll be dancing with Jack Ketch before the Sun goes down. Who's loyalties faltered?" Varis asked, checking the dagger in each boot, as if ensuring their sharpness.
"About, a third of the crew are in his favour. The other thirds are either on the fence or on your side." Grall cleared his throat, "Now, captain, I want you to know that I would…"
"I'm well aware of your loyalty Grall." Varis cut the crewman off. "It's why I don't doubt what you're saying. As they were speaking, Varis noticed the sounds of creaking boards. Not the usual sound of the ship, but more like footsteps. Varis glanced and saw from the corner of his eye the sea spray be blocked by a human like figure. The sea elf lunged and threw the figure down the deck stairs. The form shimmered as a human became visible.
"Grall," Varis growled through gritted teeth, "Lock him in the brig." A number of crewmen came up from below deck upon hearing the commotion. "One of you had better get me Jasper!" Varis drew his cutlass. "Unless you want a dagger in each of your deadlights!" Grall dragged the unconscious sailor below deck as the crew returned below deck to retrieve Jasper. As Varis turned and sheathed his cutlass, he noticed another shimmer.
Jasper appeared before the captain, a wry smirk across his lips.
"How long did you think you'd last?" Jasper asked as he leaned back on the railing. Varis raised a brow. "You really think leaving supplies on the ships we raid is gonna instill fear in them and respect in the crew?" Varis chuckled.
"How long do you think I've been at this, lad?" Varis asked, grinning. Jasper shrugged.
"Don't look older than thirty." The traitor answered.
"I'm sixty seven." Varis said plainly. Jasper's brows raised. "Elves are an old race. That age comes with wisdom, like the understanding of the importance of rules. Now," Varis clapped once. "I'm assuming you didn't waste money on invisibility charms and a shiny new blade just to parley in private. You'd have knocked on my cabin door if that was it. You think you'd be a better captain?" Varis placed his hand on the pommel of his cutlass. "Prove it."
The pair drew their blades in unison. The smooth shing of the steel leaving their scabbards cutting the silence. The two watched each other for a moment. Jasper sneering, Varis calm and professional. In a flash, Jasper closed the gap with a slash, Varis parried and tried to stab, only for Jasper to jump onto the railing and leap over the elf's head, landing a few feet away.
"Decent swordsman, I'll give you that." Varis conceded. The two dueled for a dozen seconds more before the loud twang of a crossbow firing its bolt emanated from the bow of the ship. The bolt embedded itself in Varis' chest. The captain stumbled back as another bolt pierced his neck. He gripped the bolt and looked at his shooter. Jasper gripped him by the collar before he had a chance to see a face. The young traitor stabbed Varis in the gut before throwing him overboard.
Varis came to consciousness on the seafloor. He tore the bolts from his body and ripped his shirt to close the wounds. He found a small cove below the waves and waited for his body to recover before he headed for land. The sea elf swam for a few days before coming to a port town. At first, he intended to recover, earn some gold and leave to hunt Jasper. Instead, he found himself becoming used to the life as a simple dock worker. As the days went by, he found himself less and less interested in hunting the knave, confident that his crew would've slain the man for him.
A few months of this new, strange, quiet life passed before Varis overheard a sailor at the inn. The man was talking about his encounter with pirates on the Western shore. He told of a group aboard a ship called the Merfolk's Tear. Varis turned his head and smiled at the familiar name. His smile faded as the story continued. The sailor said the captain called himself Jasper, and that he led as bloodthirsty a crew as he could find. The pirates killed for fun and burned what was left of the boats they targeted. The man only survived by falling overboard during their rampage. Hearing Jasper was captaining his ship was enough to snap Varis out of his complacency but hearing the bilge rat tarnish his ship's name sent him over the deep end.
Varis swum out to a sea cave, a few miles away from the town. He dove below the waves and dragged a barnacle covered, waterlogged looking chest onto a nearby beach. He removed a key from around his neck and unlocked the old box. Folded neatly in the box was his old jacket, his boots in a corner and hat in another. His cutlass lay across the width. Varis lifted his blade and drew the weapon free of its sheath.
"Still sharp." Varis smiled. "Let's hope I avoided getting rusty too." Varis donned his old attire and set off West, his lust for vengeance newly reignited.