Precious Cargo [ Maiden ]

[SanctifiedSavage]

Vailea, and by extension, the Red Jewel, spent most of her time on the water. They only made port for repairs, resupply, and the occasional dump of loot, only to acquire more. It was a long cycle, the turning of a wheel that would ever be eternal if Vailea had anything to say about it.

It'd been working for some two thousand years. So far, so good.

That also meant a long history of both evading capture, fighting on the water, and hunting down promising targets. Merchant ships and transports were always her favorites. Why wouldn't they be? Generally lightly guarded, at least by comparison to the pirate ship staff, and full of all sorts of interesting things. Even if she didn't find something specifically for her, the Red Jewel's crew was so varied in their wants, tastes, and desires that there was usually something for everyone.

If nothing else, bodies could be animated for crew or she could consume a soul for extended life. A messy affair Vailea tried not to do if she was going to keep anyone alive from a ship. It tended to breed too much fear and resentment in anyone left alive.

It'd been some time since their last haunt, but that didn't mean much to the crew. There was a degree of patience to a crew used to working with the undead that might not otherwise be present on a pirate vessel. Especially when the captain was a lich as old as Vailea. Something would cross their path, something always did. The waters were too warm, trade was too frequent. The Red Jewel lazily sailed on a steady wind into the evening when the call went up.

Merchant ship. Off the port side. A bit of magic to kick up the wind in the dark sails and a sense of hunger and anticipation rippled through the crew. New ship, new loot, new people to play with.

A general rule of thumb that Vailea liked to live by. If they saw the merchant ship, odds were the merchant ship saw them. The chase had started, then, as far as she was concerned. Best get ready to received their guests soon.

She stood on the deck, dressed in her usual affair, with an unlit cigar in the side of her mouth. Watching the merchant ship, a smaller one than their own, turn with the intent to outrun them. Assuming they had their own magic user, it was going to come down to a battle of who could out magic, out maneuver, and out last who.

Vailea would put her coin on her own ship every time.

The large pirate ship cut through the water as the full sails carried her swiftly after the merchant ship. Lighter it might've been, but that only counted for so much. The closer they became, the more they could hear the orders carried on the wind from the merchant ship.

A giant fireball left the deck of the Red Jewel, blasted through the hastily constructed defenses of the merchant ship, and ripped through the main mast. As it toppled over, Vailea knew they were dead in the water. Any seasoned sailor would've known as much too.

Time for the fun, then. She slipped from the upper deck and, flanked by two slender, hungry wolf-like ghouls, she launched herself from the Red Jewel and onto the deck of the merchant ship. Anyone that went down beneath her blade, felled by one of her crew, or was mauled by one of her ghouls was quickly raised up as one of her own undead servants.

The fight, if it was a fight at all, was brief and bloody. It usually was when the living fought the undead.

Ship captured and undead lifted, Vailea dealt with the captain a moment. He was a defiant, strong willed man who fell beneath one of her ghouls when he insisted he would rather die than anything else. So she granted his wish, more as an example to the rest of the remaining, living crew. Best to get them to fall in line.

With the background noise of two ghouls eating the captain, Vailea walked along the deck to see who was left alive. Who was left to keep. She chewed idly on her cigar as she surveyed the remaining. Feeling amicable and in a great mood, she announced with delight, "Do we have any volunteers who want to join the Red Jewel?"

Not that she was expecting any to step forward, but it was only polite to ask.

@Maiden of Loss

[Maiden of Loss]

Aislynn had found herself staring out at the emerald seas, her aquamarine gaze watching the bow of the ship part the waves and the foam rolling in and out from the churning tide. Journeying back from Thanatos, the minstrel found her mind's eye wandering as well and just the same, she wondered how much she had made while selling her wares at the market. It was enough for a return trip home and certainly the funds would last her through the season. Autumn was one of her favorite times of the year, even on the sea. She felt the cooler air hit her pale face and it reminded her of home.

Though a few landscape paintings had sold during her trip to Thanatos, she found herself wondering if she should've stayed the extra day to pawn more. A few paintings had gone, at least, and she found herself fortunate for that. One had been of a full moon setting on the water and the other had been of her home in the frozen tundra, full of blues, snow and sparkling icicles. Though the city of Thanatos wasn't very fond of outsiders like herself, she had made a decent impression on the local mercantile and so, once every season, they let her pawn her wares.

During the middle of her reverie, she heard a loud shout from the crew and before she knew it, a fireball came hurling down, splitting a mast in two. She cursed softly to herself and the tall, lithe elf quickly acted, striding her way from the bow of the ship and moving quickly towards the rest of the crew. "Never a dull moment, is there?" She said softly to herself, if a bit wryly. Clad in her travelling clothes of a midnight blue corset, black leggings, a black over skirt and leather boots, Lynn was thankful she had her blade, Albatross, with her. The silver sword seemed to sing to her in response and the bardess cast down a brief glance to it as she made her way towards the captain and crew.

"By the stars, what's going on here?" The tall elfess asked of the equally frightened captain and crew, her aquamarine eyes hardening a moment as she spotted the pirate ship in the distance.

"Pirates, lass, flying colors of blood red." The captain replied to her before he went about his business of preparing for combat.

The bardess couldn't help but sigh. What a messy and unpleasant business it was, the thought of dueling with pirates. Lynn was quite used to it, however, dealing with pirates often in Cerenis. Still, a bit of dread filled her chest and the large woman moved gracefully towards the deck. She saw the sails of the other ship billow in the light, autumn breeze, the Starstrider elf readying herself mentally for battle. That was when Lynn's eyes froze on a woman standing on the deck of the other ship.

She heard the captain yell to the crew to turn the vessel around and back towards port. The lithe elf began to untie her blade from her side, slipping it off her belt and into her pale and steady hands. Her body tensed for a moment and though she was no stranger to combat, she felt a small spike of anxiety and adrenaline rush into her veins.

Lynn glanced up from her blade and steadied it between her pale hands, readying it for combat, if need be. Always be prepared, that was one of her mottos, and the merchant ship was desperately losing its battle of speed with the pirate ship. The elf gazed back to the deck and to the golden-skinned woman. She guessed she was the one making the orders from the looks of it and the pale elf couldn't help but be curious. Being a bardess as she was, Lynn was observant and though the golden woman seemed young, she carried herself like someone much older.

That made her stomach twist in an unexpected sensation of fear and more adrenaline. Lynn kept her gaze on presumedly the other ship's captain and she swore she seen two strange creatures behind the other woman. The elf frowned. If there was anything she couldn't stand, it was undead and it looks like the captain had plenty of resources. The small merchant ship didn't stand a chance.

The elfess shifted her stance, ready to fight if need be. But she didn't dare act until Vailea was close enough to study a bit further. Lynn was a patient combatant, after all and most of her magic worked only in close range. She stood silent and waiting, frozen, simply weighing the golden-skinned woman as she slipped onto the ship's deck. Her lips thinned into a line, studying the tall figure as she put down the man that had been captaining the merchant ship. From what Lynn could tell, Vailea was a lot more ancient than she first appeared. The elf studied her movements and her gut told her that they were in serious trouble. Still, the elf couldn't deny this: the golden-skinned woman was easy on the eyes and that red silk robe gave the impression of someone regal, someone quite used to being in charge and the Starstrider elf didn't like it; not one bit.

Lynn kept her silver longblade at the ready in her hands and she dared let her lilting, soprano voice rise in answer to the other woman. "I'm going to guess that we don't have much choice if we want to live." The middle-aged elf answered steadily, with practiced neutrality. She felt her long, white hair whip around behind her in the breeze and she prayed to the stars, that this mysterious figure was indeed in the mood to parlay. Lynn's eyes briefly shifted to those wolf-like, hungry ghouls and her lips tilted downward in a slight, nervous frown.

@SanctifiedSavage

[SanctifiedSavage]

Vailea's heavy boots thudded as she walked up the line of survivors. Most of them were sailors. Deckhands. Most that were skilled fought, then fell, only to be risen up as fresh corpses to replenish any she might've lost. She was an old lich with plenty of magic to puppet an army, if she wanted it.

Never mind the necromancers on her ship.

She let the lingering sounds of her ghouls feasting on the previous captain fill the ensuing silence, like a gruesome melody, when no one immediately answered. Even chewed on her cigar, full of patience. Her own crew, undead, casters, and fighters alike, were peppered amongst the would be prisoners. Some were down below, already digging through cargo and likely taking whatever they thought was the choice pieces for themselves.

Not that Vailea cared. Gold wasn't really what she was generally after. Sailing for a thousand years or more had left her well off. The lich was damn near decorated in enough gold to fund the purchase of another ship if need be. Rings, bracelets, and earrings aplenty. She much preferred interesting trinkets or people. Things that she might not see or find every day. Some of the crew still clutched futilely to weapons, thinking it might save them. Unaware, perhaps, that they'd already lost the fight. Or maybe hoping that they would go down in a fight rather than be taken prisoner.

No matter with that. Vailea didn't need their willing participation to be part of her crew, after all.

With her own sword tucked into the sash at her hip, Vailea passed a particularly tall elf before the lady decided to speak up. There was no need for her to brandish a weapon. That wasn't her true strength and that was already made obvious. Though she could certainly fight with skill, if necessary. One did not captain a pirate vessel for two thousand years and not know how to swing a sword.

A smile pulled at Vailea's lips and she spun on the heel of her boot to look at the one who'd spoken up. What an interesting sounding lady, too. "I don't need you alive, if that's the answer you're after." Vailea gestured vaguely around. Half her crew were some form or function of undead – the unspoken answer obvious to her. "But if you'd like to keep all your organs on the inside, and in full control of your own body, then most likely." Submit of your own volition, or become an undead volunteer was the implication. Vailea always liked to see who opted for the former and the latter. Made for take overs of merchant ships interesting.

Besides, her crew needed people to play with too. Living people.

She took a couple more steps closer, eyeing the sword the lady elf held with some mild interest. "Are you, lady elf, intending to take down me and my crew on your own? Do you not know when to lay down your sword and admit defeat?" It sounded like the lich Captain was taunting her, because she was. It always amused her when there was one or two that would make a brave showing. The former captain had done just that, and he was a pile of broken bones and split, torn meat on the deck behind her. His body wouldn't even be raised to be part of her undead crew.

She'd toss him in the ocean to feed the sharks that had already gathered, hoping to catch a bite or two of whatever might fall over.

While it seemed a waste to do the same to the elf, she'd do so if it meant the rest of the crew would fall in line.

Granted, that also didn't seem like it'd be necessary. Already, some around the tall elf were dropping to their knees and shouting out that they would join her crew, that they didn't want to die, that they'd do whatever they must. As the shouts went up around Vailea and her newfound elf lady friend, she smiled and pulled the cigar from her mouth. Waiting to see what decision the elf would make.

@Maiden of Loss

[Maiden of Loss]

Aislynn couldn't help but scowl, watching the fallen sailors and deckhands be risen in such a despicable way to be used after death, after they were discarded. She knew perfectly well, however, that she would be next if she dared defend them and her magics were still partially unknown to her. Who knows if it would work against the undead? And honestly, she would rather not find out; not unless she had to. Though the elf didn't believe in the afterlife, she did feel a little sick watching those undead figures rise, serving the golden-skinned pirate before her. Lynn knew what she was up against and the pit in her stomach had her believing that direct combat wouldn't be wise with this old lich. If anything, she had a feeling it would end poorly.

Not to mention, she had a feeling the woman wasn't piloting her own ship alone and this thought slowly had the tall elfess lower her blade. Her aquamarine eyes hardened, considering the woman speaking to her and though surrender wasn't an appealing option for someone like her, Lynn didn't see much other option; at least, for the moment. Her gaze slowly shifted to the poor sight of the captain slowly being torn apart and she still thanked the stars that he was dead, at least and no longer suffering.

The elf's gaze then shifted back to Vailea and without a word, she silently placed her blade down on the wood of the deck beneath her as a sign of silent surrender. Her aquamarine eyes, however, told a different story; rebellious and full of zealous hatred for the woman before her. Her lips parted softly, the small fangs outlining the elf's mouth being barred for a moment in that same seething hatred. Oh, if looks could kill, Vailea could feel the icy gaze boring into her.

Not that she cared, Lynn figured. She had what she wanted. Though, Lynn likely had no idea what she was really after. The elf folded her arms over her chest and once her blade was surrendered, her anger surfaced in a low growl from the tall bardess. It was likely she didn't even know that she was growling; it was likely the elf's second voice resonating in her throat, out of her slowly bubbling and icy anger.

A white brow slowly raised as Lynn carefully continued to study the golden-skinned woman. Well, she had taste, at least, Lynn thought wryly to herself. The elf didn't miss the finery on the other woman, the gold rings and bracelets. Typical pirate, she thought silently to herself and her lips drew in a thin line. Though, she was no fool; nothing about this woman was typical.

A deep sense of woman filled the tall Starstrider elf, soaking in Vailea's words and a small smirk tugged at her lips then. Lynn out of nervous habit, barred her fangs in response, the Starstrider's silvery tone then answering her in response. "So, you collect people, do you? Interesting hobby for a pirate, I will admit." She answered in a terse tone, her icy eyes turning briefly to the undead behind her. "Mmm, you're a bit of a cliché. I'm almost disappointed. But, you have my surrender because I do value my own skin." She gritted her teeth after her own words. If there was anything Lynn hated, it was being forced into a situation and Vailea certainly had earned her ire. Her second voice vibrated softly in her throat, still strained out of nervousness and raw anger; probably even growing hatred. But she silently vowed she would find a way out of being a prisoner, nonetheless and in her head, Lynn wryly thought to herself that trying to keep an elf in a box never ended well for anyone.

To her taunting, a white brow was raised again and she gestured to the blade being laid down before Vailea. "You have my surrender, captain, for what it's worth." Her voice became equally icy and full of implied, wry venom. Her aquamarine eyes fixed on Vailea with the same icy consideration, her second Voice echoing softly with the silvery tone; though the anger that emanated within it could be felt, even by the lich. Annoyance, even, more so could be felt from the elven woman.

Stars be damned, she would get revenge for being forced into such a situation of embarrassment and surrender. The Starstider elf eyed those kneeling around her and she sighed softly to herself. The tall elf gracefully bent down on a knee in a gesture of submission, gritting her teeth all the while.

@SanctifiedSavage

[SanctifiedSavage]

 Vailea didn't care about petty threats tossed back at her from people in positions of absolutely nothing. It was like a guppy nibbling at a shark. Unnoticed and unconcerned, she did smile when the sword was lowered and, after a bit of grandstanding likely to try and preserve some manner of her own pride, the pretty elf eventually dropped to a knee. Like a good pet. Vailea turned back to the mess her ghouls had made of the captain and snapped a finger, drawing one of their attention. Blood splattered and smeared across gray skin and a hollow face, the ghoul was wickedly intelligent but thoroughly under her command. Like a hungry wolf, it stalked toward her.

Vailea gestured toward the sword and the undead wordlessly moved to collect it. Some of the people tried to shy out of the way, not wanting to come into contact with the cold, rotting flesh or get brushed by the curved claws it walked with, on all fours. The ghoul cared not for anyone or anything besides what it had been tasked with, though, and retrieved the sword without fuss. Holding it in one hand while hobbling back to Vailea on its three other appendages.

The rest of the crew started rounding up the various people that had surrendered themselves to the Red Jewel. If they were at all seriously injured, from the initial fight, they were cut down and risen up before crossing over. Their ship was not one of a healing nature and injured mortals were of no use to anyone. Far easier to kill them now, and likely more merciful, than to have them suffering and groaning on deck. Vailea waited until she was flanked by larger, flesh constructs before she tried to move the elf. She was testy and defiant, which meant that Vailea wanted her for her own.

The flesh constructs were thick, muscled creatures of patched body parts and a myriad of other grafted things put together. Mindless but strong, twice as tall as Vailea and easily taller than the elf they moved to flank. "Be a good girl," Vailea cooed, "Otherwise my toys here will have to break something precious to get you to behave." Then, figuring the message was received, the captain turned on her heel and made her way off the merchant ship. It would take a little longer to loot the cargo entirely, so they'd linger in place for a time, but all of that could be done without Vailea's express supervision for the moment. Assuming the pretty elf did as she was told, Vailea intended to cage her up in her own room. They could have some fun, and a chat, once the ship was underway.

@Maiden of Loss

[Maiden of Loss]

Aislynn could feel the sound of her own instinctive growling rising in the back of her pale throat and the tall bardess barred her small, pointed fangs from her lips as her aquamarine eyes watched the wolf-like ghouls carry her blade away. Lynn always hated being torn away from her blade; not only because it left her vulnerable in a case such as this but also because she was certain part of her magics were tied to that blade that had been forged specifically for her. It was like a small piece of her identity was being carried away without thought and the elf fell eerily still and silent. The bardess even stopped gritting her teeth; that was, until she was ordered to follow the golden-skinned woman and follow her, she did.

Lynn eyed the fleshy constructs flanking the powerful she-lich and her head tilted a bit, mostly curious if they were golems of a magical sort or simply more mindless undead. Her brow furrowed and she couldn't help but be a bit curious as the tall elf began to follow the smaller woman. Still, she wisely kept her mouth shut and she followed Vailea, flanked by the creepy, staring golems. Or were they something else? It took a few seconds to process that Lynn was also being hauled off by another woman that she admittedly found attractive; even infuriatingly so. That thought caused the large elf's other brow to furrow and a look of utter sardonic humor filled her aquamarine eyes. She huffed softly beneath her breath and inhaled, choosing to ignore Vailea's quip. The bardess valued her skin and her face, so she definitely wasn't going to test the lich further than she already had. At least, for now.

The Starstrider elf followed Vailea off the merchant ship and towards the pirate vessel, flying colors of blood red. Lynn paled a bit out of fear, if that were even possible and turned her gaze toward the flesh golems following the captain and now her captive. She really did wonder what Vailea found so interesting about her. Maybe she had never seen a Starstrider before? In either case, a bit of dread filled Lynn's stomach and she clenched her eyes shut, wordlessly following Vailea towards her personal chambers and towards the interior of the ship.

Her eyelids fluttered open once more and she glanced towards the strange woman leading her. She had a feeling, this night wasn't over and it made her stomach turn; not from the waves tossing the ship back and forth but out of an impending sense of fear and dread. But to her credit, the normally rebellious elf did what she was told and followed the captain, despite the pit in her stomach.

@SanctifiedSavage

[SanctifiedSavage]

The flesh golems were hardly the only thing undead on the Red Jewel, but Vailea was also not the only one... alive?... or appeared to be alive. The ship's crew was about half and half, or looked that way as the Captain led her prisoner across the large, dark wooden deck toward the door that would lead to her cabin. Zombies, skeletons, and other ghouls were tasked with rudimentary things that wouldn't require much thought. Manual labor, hauling the merchant ship's goods into the cargo hold and watching the new prisoners, while the more talented and intelligent of the crew were frequently alive. Or appeared to be. Casters, fighters, and all manner of pirates who had as much a desire to collect interesting things as Vailea.

This trip, she'd decided to take the odd looking elf. While she was not generally one for slaves, that didn't mean she didn't take them when the mood struck. The lich didn't have what others might call a moral compass. Life was what she made of it and she took what she wanted, when she wanted it. That was the life of a pirate, after all. Little by way of laws to follow and owing very little to the world around them. Vailea only had to answer to her crew and, in turn, they only had to mind her very few rules.

The Red Jewel was a well constructed and tended ship, rocking lazily in the calm waters while the sun began to slowly sink toward the horizon. They wouldn't really begin to  drift away from the husk of the merchant ship until the sun touched the ocean water, leading into true evening, but that didn't bother Vailea. She had no where in particular to be and no schedule but her own to keep.

She pulled the door to her cabin open and wandered in, expecting the elf to follow. The alternative, of course, was being forced in by one of the flesh golems. Once inside, though, the larger constructs peeled away since they would both be needed else where and they hardly fit in her room. The Captain's Quarters were decorated in the trappings of her conquests. Plus tapestries hung on the wooden walls, carpets of all orients and origins were tossed along the floor, and what shelving could be seen poking out behind the hanging tapestries were loaded with parchments, trinkets, jars full of things hard to see in the dim glow of mage-light, and other innumerable and twisted sculptures. Some glittered metallic, others were matte smooth. Vailea had been alive for some two thousand years. That was a long time to both decorate and accumulate.

What dominated the room, though, was both her large, four poster bed and the layers of blankets on it, and the thick barred metal cage on the right side of the room - opposite the bed. it was a massive thing of metal and black iron, with bars thicker than her wrist. Chains were attached to the bars in various places and some even dangled from the ceiling of her room.

A clicking sound greeted them as a small, quick shape darted out from Vailea's bed. A mess of a lizard, flesh ragged on its body making it obvious it was reanimated, crawled up Vailea's leg and perched on her shoulder. The thing wasn't exactly small, though. Balanced on her shoulder, the rest of the lizard's body draped down Vailea's back so that the tail of the lizard almost touched the floor as she continued to walk into the room. "This is my little guard, Kertenkele. Quite strong for his size and," she paused, shooting the elf a playful smile, "Wickedly poisonous. His bite causes the skin to fester and become necrotic quite quickly. I believe it's a terrible way to die."

Vailea moved to her desk, leaning against the front of it while she chewed on the end of her cigar. She took that moment, her free hand idly stroking the pale, pebbled skin of the lizard's wedge shaped head while she surveyed the elf she'd brought back. "Now, I have to go tend to some things with the crew, and the cargo. Work things, I'm sure you'll understand. So. Be a good girl and get yourself in the cage. Can't have you climbing around in my room while I'm not here." Vailea popped the cigar back in her mouth, shifting it to the corner. Her playful smile returned. "Don't make it so Kertenkele here has to encourage you to do so."

@Maiden of Loss

[Maiden of Loss]

Aislynn followed at Vailea's heels, her aquamarine eyes wandering a bit curiously. She definitely made a mental note about the crew being half alive and half dead, a brow furrowing momentarily. The bardess figured the ship had to be manned somehow and the undead golems didn't really seem capable of it; even if they did follow the captain's every order. She supposed some human touch was needed to make things function and that made her relax only slightly. The she-elf still looked rather pale or paler even, following at the captain's heels as the two made their way into the cabin of the large vessel.

Lynn felt her stomach continue to turn and only her will and pride prevented her from shaking out of outright fear and anxiety. Prideful and stubborn, Lynn wasn't about to let Vailea get the better of her or at least, wasn't keen on the idea of appearing weaker in front of the captain. Still, she felt her stomach clench and she felt the morning meal she had that day turn to knots.

The elf, mutely, followed Vailea into the well-appointed cabin. Aislynn fell silent and she seemed genuinely taken aback from the tapestries and artwork decorating the walls of the personal quarters of the she-lich. She tilted her head and studied the tapestries, taking note of them and also the exotic rugs decorating the floor. Lynn proposed that the captain had a few hobbies, such as being a collector of fine things and she also proposed the two of them had that in common. At home, Lynn collected art and old artifacts of forgotten cultures. Though, her collection didn't even touch Vailea's and she wondered just how old the woman was.

Of course, she figured turning around and asking was an unwise move. Still, her curiosity got the better of her and she surveyed the rest of the cabin, until her eyes froze on the large cell of black wrought iron. She grimaced silently and chose to say nothing for the moment. That is, until Lynn saw the large lizard scurry out from under Vailea's bed. The blue elf reeled back; partially in disgust and then utter puzzlement.

"The hells is that thing?!" Her eyes narrowed and focused in further on the large reptile, fashioned of reanimated bone and undead flesh. Poor Lynn had seen her fill of undead for the day and the lizard seemed to be her tipping point. Live lizards made her skin crawl and the undead one? Well, that was just an abomination the pale elf didn't fathom. So, she seemed to make few arguments and she crawled toward the cage, the tall elf needing to lean down a bit to move around the ship's cabin.

Once she was settled inside the cell, the tired bardess leaned against the wooden paneled wall and slid down, resting herself down on the floor. She pulled her knees under her chin and settled herself against the wall, a small and quiet sigh escaping her parted lips. "I might as well not argue." Lynn replied softly, the high soprano of her voice still ringing out in reply. "Besides, your pet gives me the creeps." She didn't return the smile and she didn't make eye-contact with the other woman. It was hardly likely she was going to move from the cell, it seemed, to Vailea. It seemed the large elf deemed the cell fit protection from the undead thing crawling around on the captain's shoulder and that was enough for her. Vailea's newfound captive fell still and silent, her aquamarine eyes focused on the wooden ceiling of the cabin.

@SanctifiedSavage

[SanctifiedSavage]

Thus far, Vailea hadn't thought the odd colored elf would kick up a fuss. Once someone decided to become a prisoner, they usually went along with it until something drastic happened. A cage was hardly something to lose one's life over. Especially when Vailea had only said she was going to cage the elf while she was away. Give her some time to ponder on her situation while the lich was off, tending to Captain duties. 

She hummed her approval when the elf fit herself in the cage and strode forward to lock it. The wrought iron key was produced from inside Kertenkele. She peeled back some of his skin and pulled it from his empty ribcage, thus locking the cage and replacing the key. After she flashed the elf a smile, the lizard scurried down the lich's body and found a dark place under the bed to relax. "Now, I won't be gone long..." At least, she didn't intend to be.

Since the take over of the merchant ship had gone so well, there wasn't all that much to over see. It was more being informed of the number of prisoners, who was taking what - to include the prisoners collected, and what would be done with them - and then oversee the scuttling of the merchant vessel. No reason to leave it if it was now an empty carcass of a ship. Now that the Red Jewel had just feasted, it meant some lazy sailing until they either found another ship to prey upon or made their way toward a port to pilfer some of the goods no one wanted. 

All in all, Vailea was done with her business as the sun dipped below the horizon and coated the Red Jewel in darkness. Lights flickered alive along the deck and watches were established, but she was more or less done for the day. With a now lit cigar, she returned to her room and her new prize. An oddly colored and built elf that she'd not seen before - nevermind the way she sounded. Such things couldn't be left unexplored. Not when Vailea had been alive for so long and she adored new languages and cultures. It was something of a hobby of hers to collect such things. A point of pride that if it existed, she could speak it.

Finding something out and about that was new was rare. Vailea liked new things.
Once in her cabin, the Captin untied the sash around her waist and tossed both it and her sword near her bed. It was a weapon of convenience, but not her main source of power. The lich didn't look at her new guest until she had likewise kicked off her boots and started to untie her top. "So. Now that we're alone together and we've time to talk, why don't you tell me about yourself? I haven't seen such an elf?... like you before. I'm assuming you're an elf, but you can correct me if I'm wrong." 

Vailea pulled off her top and tossed it on the bed before wiggling out of her pants. The lich retained the body she'd had when she'd become the undead she was - young, tanned skin, and toned from her time as a pirate. While it took sacrifice and the consumption of souls to retain her undead life now, it wasn't something she had to do all the time. A necessary evil, she believed. 
Once undressed, she pulled a red robe from a corner bed poster and loosely draped it on her shoulders, lazily tying it around her waist.

@Maiden of Loss

[Maiden of Loss]

Aislynn nearly gagged out of sheer disgust and the large blue elven bardess recoiled into herself, resting her chin down on her knees and pulling them towards her chest. If anything, she felt protected from that undead reptile crawling around unnaturally on Vailea's shoulder and she stayed inside the cell without much argument. A white brow furrowed and she murmured back softly. "As long as that thing stays away from me, I have no issue with it. I imagine you have a ship to run since your mindless undead minions likely can't do it all." Now that was tempting fate, wasn't it? Tempting a two-thousand-year-old lich from inside a cell and not to mention, Aislynn's poor tiny stomach reeling in protest as she watched the key be ingested by Kertenkele. Still, it was pretty creepy, the wry smile she was given but the elven woman gave a relieved sigh as the undead reptile crawled back into its hole where it came from.

Once Vailea was off to attend to personal matters, Lynn hugged her knees even tighter into her chest and closed her eyes. She was honestly too fearful to even ponder sleep and though she was more or less alone, she couldn't help but wonder what had happened to the rest of the prisoners. Were they to help manage the ship? Or were they inevitably condemned to death like the merchant ship's captain? She tried not to think about it too much and the pale elf fell in an uneasy trance, somewhere between resting and just trying to keep it together.

Her peace, however, was shattered once Vailea returned to her quarters and stared at the still pile of elf curled up within the cell. Her aquamarine eyes opened and focused on the golden-skinned captain, a white brow furrowing curiously. Aislynn had figured Vailea had never seen the likes of her kind before and that answered her question about being taken. Vailea had to be curious and if Lynn guessed she was older than even herself, she needed a few questions answered. Her lips curled in slight amusement. She wouldn't readily admit it but Lynn was just as intrigued and curious as Vailea was. Feeling daring, the pale elven woman replied to her with a slight curl of her lips, watching the other woman make herself comfortable for the evening.

"Tell you what. I'll answer your questions and once I answer, I get to ask you one in exchange. 'Tis only fair after all, don't you think? And you seem like a woman that doesn't like to be bored." The bardess spoke softly in reply, a bit of mischievous intent filling her blue gaze. "Can't have you changing your mind and killing me now, if I tell you everything so might as well make it a bit of a game. But to answer your question, I'm an elf, yes. Though, perhaps not the ones you typically see. I'm from the far north, Hyoite, to be exact and I'm a Starstrider elf. As far as myself goes, I'm a travelling bardess and minstrel." The bardess lifted her shoulders in a slight shrug. "I was on my way back from Thanatos, after selling my paintings." Lynn tilted her head then and decided to pose her own question in exchange.

"What are you exactly? You're a pirate and a captain, sure, but let's not be coy about it." She spoke wryly in return, raising a brow. "I can tell, you're not exactly human yourself, are you?" Lynn's own ability to sense a song of a soul was strong and yet around Vailea, she sensed nothing; it was a stark emptiness, sullen and harrowing. It left the pale elf uneasy and haunted, but she would rather know who was captor was; well, if she was inclined to play the elf's game, anyway.


@SanctifiedSavage