| Logs |
2000-02-27
| Starfall |
| Realms |
Retired
| Reality Fault |
General Info
 |
Practice, Practice, Practice
Puraj Sanvala, late captain of the merchant ship Breadbasket, sits sullenly in the Captain's cabin, with Dimitri standing guard at the door and Alex standing beside Carroll. His gaze flickers from the small window to the door before being drawn back to the two armed foxes.
Horatio watches Captain Sanvala quietly from the corner, his tail twitching slightly. Glancing over to Alex though, he unconsciously straightens his stance. Carroll turns to face the prisoner, from the desk where he has been looking at some papers. He looks him up and down and murrs, "Welcome aboard the Saucy Mare, Mr. Sanvala." He continues, "I wanted to make a point to tell you what you could expect in the next few days, so that you wouldn't worry or be overly concerned." Alex stands calmly at parade rest next to Carroll. She's stacked the paintings so they can't be seen behind Carroll's desk. She's curious as to how disgracefully the mongoose will act... especially after he's had his paintings returned.
The mongoose looks torn between apoplexy and panic, but finally decides that you aren't planning to torture him after all and goes with the apoplectic side. "You're not going to get away with this. Why in the world did you even want to destroy an empty grain ship??"
"Our current plan is to take you some ways away, and drop you off, probably some distance outside of town," explains the fox Captain, unperturbed, "-and give you directions and supplies for a brief walk into town, where you will be able, I am certain, to make it home."
Carroll smiles, charmingly, and adds, "Presuming, of course, that you don't try to do anything foolish and attack the crew or escape." His teeth show through the smile, and he adds, "Politeness, I am sure, will make your trip with us more tolerable." Alex smiles faintly at that.
Sanvala looks relieved, though he's trying not to show it. "When?"
Dimitri stands quiet, leaning on his long scabbarded sword. his own visage is dark, as he watches the ex-captain's reactions to his brother's words. Carroll shrugs, and murrs, "I don't know yet. We'll know the right spot when we get there." Pausing, He murrs, "Explaining in detail would be somewhat tricky. I think the word 'vigilante' or, perhaps even 'revenge' covers it nicely. We are trying to cost House Pravinchandra enough that it must narrow its markets somewhat."
Horatio tilts his head to the side, pondering. It's not likely Sanvala will do anything, but of course Pravinchandra will know as soon as Sanvala reports in as to what the Children of St. Genevieve are up to. At that, he suppresses a grin, instead fussing slightly with his collar (and, with a glance to Alex, only briefly fussing). He wouldn't mind seeing Pravinchandra's reaction to the news... Alex grins quietly at Horatio. While Sanvala's staring and sputtering at Carroll, she gives her brother a wink when he glances at her and stops fussing with his collar!
Sanvala stops looking as afraid - he's undoubtedly managed to interpret this as 'they don't dare kill me' in his head - and remarks, "And you're going to accomplish this by cutting off Starfall's food supply? You'll have the entire Navy on your necks in a week."
Carroll explains, "We have no truck with the crews of the vessels, and will do what we can not to harm them. Even the officers will be freed, presuming they co-operate. Surrender is the cleanest option for everyone involved." He smiles, again, and adds, "Please, pass that on, would you?" His eyes twinkle in the dim cabin light. Sanvala mutters something under his breath, but gives a curt nod.
Alex leans over to whisper to Carroll. Just for him she murmurs, "Has he behaved well enough, in your opinion, to give him his stuff back?"
Carroll looks at his sister and grins. He looks back at the captured mongoose and murrs, "Since you've been so helpful, we would like to make sure you get something that you seemed to place importance in." He turns and picks up some of the artwork leaning against the wall and hands it to his prisoner, murring, "This was salvaged from your ship."
The mongoose looks totally flabbergasted when he realizes that you intend to give him back the paintings. "You mean... but that's a..." He clams up suddenly when he realizes he's about to brag about how valuable they are.
Alex covers a grin at the mongoose, then says sweetly, "So it is. Nevertheless... our quarrel is with the Pravinchandra... not you. Unless you make it so." Her teeth only show a little bit at that last sentence, of course.
Carroll sits back down at his desk, still facing the mongoose, and concludes, "Dimitri, I think that our... guest... has had a long day. Please escort him back to his cabin with his belongings and make sure he gets a hot meal." He looks at the mongoose and murrs at his expression, "Yes, they are lovely DeCarter pieces. I was certain you would want them returned." Carroll dismisses, "Goodnight, sir," and looks back to the papers at his desk.
Sanvala just stares as he's escorted out... Alex continues to beam sweetly at him. Dimitri towers behind the little mongoose as he shows him where the rest of his trip shall be spent. He makes sure the food is hot, and the door closed tight behind him.
Once the prisoner is well taken care of by Dimitri, Carroll turns to Horatio and murrs, "Horatio, please plot us a course just around the tip of Lancer, to drop our guest off just past the tip of the peninsula. He can carry his artwork to Alburtis."
Horatio nods crisply to Carroll. "Aye, aye!"
Captain Sanvala's bemused good humor lasts until the point two days later when he realizes the St. Genevieve siblings plan to drop him off on the rocky coast of Lancer, two or three days walk from the city of Falkirk. You leave him on the beach sputtering and swearing at the boat's crew as they pull back to the ship. Time passes uneventfully enough the rest of the day, but late that night, Cleo bursts onto the deck yelling triumphantly and jogs back to where Alex is standing watch.
Alex grins at Cleo uncertainly, her tail-fur starting to settle back down from that first startling yell, "Er... good news?"
Horatio *snorts* awake at the sound of Cleo's shout and lifts his head up off the book he fell asleep on, its pages open and illuminated by a small lantern in the ship's workshop. He looks around, blinking. Hmm, he must have been so thoroughly engrossed in the book that he missed the passage of time. Ah well, it happens often enough. He turns back to the book and starts reading again, in a few minutes snoring lightly -- again perfectly oblivious to the fact that he habitually falls asleep like this.
The cat is literally dancing with glee. "I've DONE it!! I thought I could, and I DID!" She grabs Alex's paws and starts dancing her around the quarterdeck. "I made contact!!"
Alex blinks, looking thoroughly bemused as she's whirled around, but still pleased, "Congratulations, Cleo! Um... who with?" Dimitri looks up from his perch at the edge of the quarterdeck, his ears swiveling.
Cleo looks startled, then realizes what she's doing and lets go, grinning a bit sheepishly. "Oh... with Mistress Hildy, of course." She seems to suddenly notice that she's tired, and sinks to the deck, her mottled black-and-orange fur acting as natural camouflage in the darkness. "Never tried it over this kind of distance before... but I talked to her."
Alex blinks, looking impressed, "Cleo! That's... fantastic!" She stoops, sliding an arm around Cleo, half-lifting her, "What did she say? Is everyone all right there? Let me guess... you should rest, right?" She looks up, "Dimitri, watch is yours for a bit while I take care of Cleo, yes?"
The dark fox stands, nodding quietly, "Aye, aye, sir." He then begins his pace of the deck, slowly strolling aft to bow and back again.
Alex will slowly and carefully walk Cleo back to her cabin,
if Cleo doesn't object... she's guessing Cleo's going to realize
she's pooped! real soon now... the cat is rapidly collapsing
from exhaustion... the adrenaline-surge of her success is wearing
off. "Ever'thin's fine... Cap'n Wavedancer's due back tomorr'... las'
trip, House P wuz Alex grins, "Excellent. Good job, Cleo... now, let's get you to bed,
so you can recover. Do you want any hot soup or anything, or just sleep
right now?"
Cleo's eyes are nearly closed already. A soft murmur of
"...sleep..." is her only response.
Alex nods and gets Cleo tucked into bed. She'll make sure Cleo's
cabin mate will keep an eye on Cleo, in case the cat needs anything,
then heads back out on deck to relieve Dimitri... to whom she'll quietly
and happily murmur Cleo's discoveries.
Cleo sleeps until noon the next day, and is not completely recovered
from the effort until the day after. The contact at this distance is
tenuous and difficult, and will be about the only spell the cat can
perform for an entire day if news is desired.
The Saucy Mare returns to its patrol of the straits, and the next
encounter with a House P. ship comes the day after Captain Sanvala is
dropped off. The lookout had just reported sails on the horizon when
a chickadee approaches from that direction. She calls to your lookout
when she gets close. "Ahoy the ship!"
Carroll is standing on the quarterdeck, near the help, watching the
other ship approach. Horatio pokes his head out of the focs'l'e as the
chickadee approaches. The ballistae are prepared, and he just awaits word
from Carroll to open fire. Well... once the other ship gets into range and
arc, and adjusting for the wave height and the ambient precipitation and
-- he gives his head a shake to clear it, and looks up at the chickadee.
Alex looks up curiously at the chickadee... then inquiringly at the
captain. Carroll looks over, and smiles, his ears up, tail relaxed. He
waves, and calls back, "Ahoy to you. Please, join us." Horatio comes up
on deck, but not a lot; he still remains in the doorway to the focs'l'e,
ready to dash in to the ballistae again.
The bird settles onto the quarterdeck rail, taking her final approach
from the stern to read the ship's name. "Captain Carroll? They thought
you were lost at sea. Where have you been?"
Carroll smiles and murrs to the bird, "We've been delayed, I fear, by
rather unusual circumstances." He gestures and asks casually, "Are you
from that ship? Whose ship is it?" Alex paces up to stand at Carroll's
left, and smiles a greeting at the chickadee, listening curiously. She
quietly glances around, checking where Skeee is. The bat is nowhere to
be seen... this time of day, she's probably asleep belowdecks. Carroll
is more wondering about Jessie, but doesn't dare look.
Hearing the chickadee land atop the quarterdeck Dimitri remains quiet,
deciding for the moment to crouch down in the shadow of the quarterdeck
stairs, next to the scuttlebutt, sipping a ladle full of water. Out of
sight, not to be thought about. Horatio purses his lips as he glances
into the focs'l'e. The poor scout is going to be severely disappointed.
The bird salutes. "Scout Teewith, of the merchant ship Windrunner. The
House was putting up posters for information before we left port a
week ago. You were seriously overdue at Alburtis and they'd no idea
what happened."
Carroll smiles to the bird and murrs, "Well, we're found now and
heading back, everything being well in hand now." He looks at the distant
ship, and then back to the bird, asking, "May I offer you something
to drink?"
Teewith chirps. "Thank you, sir, yes."
Alex looks up at Carroll, "Shall I escort Scout Teewith to the water
barrel, sir?"
Carroll smiles, and murrs, "Please, Alex." He murrs, "I need to take
care of something, Teewith, and I will join you."
Alex grins at Teewith, "It's right over there." She points, then
patters down towards the barrel, chattering cheerfully, "You would not
believe the troubles we've had! We got chased by pirates, and we
got lost, and we had some of the rigging break, and..." Her chattering
is light and air-headed... she has no problem with Teewith leaving,
convinced of the poor skills of the St. Genevieve kids -- let them
underestimate! Dimitri slowly stands, putting the ladle back into the
water barrel... Horatio watches his sister's distinctly uncharacteristic
(though the scout wouldn't know it, of course) chattering with amusement,
slipping back into the focs'l'e. Still, they're not out of the woods
just yet...
Carroll smiles, and walks to the railing, calling, "Dimitri, may I
see you for a moment, please?" He returns to stand next to the helmsman,
apparently unconcerned. Dimitri quietly walks up the stairs, to walk
next to Carroll.
Alex says, "Hiya, Mitya! -an' then the ship's cat managed to hide in
the launch, and jumped out onto land too! It was so annoying! -but
I wouldn't let Carroll leave without her -- we searched all afternoon, I
tell you! -but we finally found her, thank goodness... but then the darned
ship foundered 'cause the navigation charts got wet and..." Teewith
makes sympathetic noises... Alex is actually managing to distract her
from the fact that the crewfurrs are giving her a bit of a berth.
Carroll waits till the bird and Alex are off the quarterdeck, then
gestures silently to his dark brother and asks, "Shall we? Or shall we
pass?" very quietly.
Dimitri whispers just as quiet to Carroll. "Find out her cargo."
Teewith chirps, "Pirates?" as Alex rambles. "That's odd. Pirates
don't usually mess with House ships."
Carroll nods and murrs clearly, "Thank you, Dimitri." He climbs down
to join the others near the water, smiling pleasantly.
Alex says, "Really? Well, they were flying the skull and crossbones,
so Dimitri said we should run, not talk to the- uh, hiya, Carroll!" She
stands back so Teewith can face Carroll... she just happens to be standing
mostly behind the chickadee as she does so. Dimitri stands on the edge
of the quarterdeck, leaning on the railing, so he can listen to the
discussion over everyone's heads.
Carroll smiles, and murrs, "Yes, we've had any number of odd little
things. Hopefully, we'll have clear sailing now." He picks up the ladle
himself, and sips gently at the water. He casually murrs, "I'm sure Alex
has let you hear some of our problems. How is your trip going? What
cargo have you? Any problems, or, have we had all of the bad luck for
the House this last trip?"
The chickadee shrugs. "Steel tools and some steel stock metal, this
trip. Now last time we had a shipment of precision instruments and
jewelry, and we had a half-company of mercenaries the whole trip. Made a
rather crowded voyage, I'll tell you." Alex quietly watches Carroll and
Teewith. Teewith continues. "I'm just glad we dropped 'em off at Alburtis
and didn't have to take them back with us. Surly bunch, they were."
Carroll nods and has another sip of water before putting the ladle
back in the barrel, murring, "Always nice to get your ship back from
them, yes." He murrs, "Myself, I'll be glad to get home." He glances
up at Dimitri. Dimitri shakes his head back and forth, once, a single
silent no. Alex's ears tilt back in quiet relief. Carroll looks away
from his brother and out across the horizon before he looks back at
the scout. He continues, "Now that our problems seem to be resolved,
we should be able to make good time, too."
Alex beams and adds in cheerful non sequitur, "Carroll's a great
captain!"
Teewith nods. "Well, it's good to hear that you're all right after
all." She shakes her head. "Pirates... not good. Where'd you see them?"
Alex glances at Carroll, "Um... where was that, Carroll? Between
Andalin and Lancer, I think?"
Carroll nods, "Early on, right after we'd made it out through the
straits coming out of Starfall Bay." He shrugs, and murrs, "They weren't
as fast as we are, thankfully."
Alex nods cheerfully, "Yup! Fortunately that was before the rigging
broke too... that would've been disastrous if they'd hit us then!" She
grins just as cheerfully at Carroll, "I must say, we've had enough
bad luck with this voyage... it's almost like we had a gremlin on
board!" She adds happily to the bird, "It was a small three-master,
frigate class..." she continues describing the ship as best she can
to the bird as Teewith finishes her drink. Carroll listens to Alex's
description, nodding quietly.
The bird looks worried. "That close to the city? That is not good, not
good at all if they're getting that bold. The Navy usually keeps things
clear until most of the way to Lancer... and the Falkirk Navy takes over
at that point. It's the final run into Alburtis that's dangerous."
Alex says, "Is it? Oh dear... well, could you spread the word about the
pirate ship, so folks are on the watch out for a 3-masted frigate?" She
gives Carroll a worried look, "You're sure we're okay, big brother?"
"They weren't terribly threatening until the navy was nowhere
nearby. Hiding," explains Carroll, "-in plain sight. Rather cunning of
them, really." He sighs, and adds, "I suppose it's the smart ones that
are the most dangerous." He reassures his sister, "We'll be fine, Alex."
Alex looks worried, and stands next to Carroll, holding his
hand. Despite her obvious worry she smiles bravely at the bird, "Don't
forget to get the word out about the pirate ship, please?"
Teewith nods. "I'll pass that on. Good luck with the rest of your
voyage!"
Carroll smiles, and murrs, "To you as well! Clear sailing!"
Alex waves at the departing bird, "To you too! Clear sailing!" She
beams cheerily and keeps waving 'til the bird's well out of sight... then
shudders, all her fur going up wildly! and yaps, "YUUUUCK!!" -then her
fur slowly settles as she grins at Carroll, "You owe me one for
that one, oh big brother!"
Dimitri looks down from the railing once the bird is out of
earshot. "It wasn't worth the risk. They'd still have better guards than
the grain ship, but loosing a cargo of steel wouldn't hurt as much."
Alex nods up at Dimitri, "I agree."
Carroll smiles sweetly at his sister and murrs, "You did it all
to yourself." He laughs and murrs, "Are they going to be confused when
they try and reconcile Teewith's story with Mr. Sanvala's, and the rumors
from his crew."
Alex sticks her tongue out at Carroll, then grins and adds, "Fine,
next time you get to distract the scout!"
Horatio emerges from the foc's'le, keeping the gun crews alert but
ensuring the bow slats are still closed. "Well, I take it that went
well..."
Natasha chuckles. "Masterful, I think. They're going to be terribly
confused for a while."
Carroll nods to Horatio, "So far, so good. All we have to do is find
a grain ship now."
Alex grins cheerfully at Natasha, "I figured let them underestimate
us! The longer, the better, the easier for us!"
Horatio nods, glancing back at the other ship. "At least we have some
idea of Pravinchandra's trade routes in this area..."
Carroll murrs, "And where to expect or not expect navy protection. That
was a very useful tidbit." Alex nods, looking pleased.
Jared nods. "There's not much choice. On the other hand, the naval
ships can search effectively here too, once they realize that they should
be looking for us. And that will happen very, very soon."
Dimitri smiles quietly, "We should sail off in one direction and then
double back come nightfall, yes?"
Carroll murrs, "Let them think we're leaving, yes."
Alex says, "Sounds good to me. Let them not know exactly where we
are either."
Horatio nods, "I like that idea, as well, yes."
Alex says, "And we can look for a nice, full, slow grain barge in
peace that way!"
Carroll chuckles, "I think the House offices in Falkirk will be
interesting for the next day or two." He agrees with Alex, "Let's find
a barge, soon." Alex grins at Carroll's comment about the Pravin House
offices!
The Mare continues westbound until the Windrunner is far behind before doubling back to continue patrolling the northern passage of the Sehala Straits. At dawn the next day the desired target shows sails over the horizon, the four masts of one of the giant grain haulers obvious even from that distance.
Alex beams cheerfully at Dimitri, "Look at that! Is that more like what we're looking for, Mitya? Shall I have Horatio and Carroll awakened?"
Dimitri looks out across the water. "That's a start. Let's see if she has the proper flag, yes?" He nods again, "Of course... I'll go downstairs and wake the troops..."
Alex nods, "Good point." She calls up to the lookout, asking if they can see the flag, and sends someone to wake Skeee, Horatio, and Carroll.
Skeee stumbles up on deck and squints in the light. "What?"
Alex says, "I'm sorry, Skeee, but I need to know what flag that grain barge is flying, please. We don't want to attack the wrong family."
The bat yawns grumpily. "Oh, all right. Who are we, when they ask?"
Alex says, "The Saucy Mare, out of Starfall."
Horatio hears the rapping on the workshop door, and lifts his head up from his book. My, how the time flies! With the news of a new prize on the horizon, he scrambles out of the workshop to the quarterdeck.
Carroll emerges, a short time later, looking his usual dapper self. He comes up on Alex and Skeee, and nods, quietly, adding, "Thank you, Skeee."
Alex nods politely to Carroll, "Morning, captain. Horatio's been roused, Dimitri is rousing the troops. Do you wish the helm?"
Carroll murrs, "You'll be needed with the troops if it comes to that," and relieves her.
Moving quietly, Dimitri wakes each one of the ship's fighting crew. First of course is Mackenzie... second is Natasha... then the rest, one by one by one. "Mister Mackenzie, select our boarding party. Keep them below deck 'til the last moment so they don't know just what we have. Partner up, two by two... it's a grain ship, hopefully Pravinchandra. They are checking her out now. Weapons ready, Mister Mackenzie."
Alex nods, and trots down to her room to armor up... it's only leather, but it's far better than nothing! She comes trotting out a few moments later, pulling on her gloves. Skeee flutters back, coming in to hang upside down from the spar above the quarterdeck. "She's our target. Grain freighter Cornucopia."
Carroll looks up at the bat, and smiles, "Thank you, Skeee, excellent work, as usual." He looks to the other ship, and then back at the bat, asking, "Are you going to join us for the party?"
Horatio heads to the focs'l'e, getting the gunnery crews together to prepare the ballistae. Alex glances over at Carroll, "She's been up and flying all night, cap'n... although she'll probably have trouble sleeping through this."
Carroll directs the helm to move them in to firing range and position, and tells Horatio, "Fire when ready, Horatio! Stop them, don't sink them. If you can do what you did last time, perfect."
A remarkably ugly grin spreads across the bat's face. "Wouldn't miss it, Captain. If we're quick, it's perfect. There's an indie merchanter coming up behind her, about 5 miles back."
Alex looks suddenly worried, "Tell Dimitri that, please, Skeee."
Carroll nods to Alex, and smiles. He looks at Skeee, and murrs, "It's up to you." He looks somewhat shocked, and asks, "That's perfect? How so?"
Skeee looks surprised. "I thought you wanted to pull the crew off and let someone pick it up as salvage?"
Alex says, "Ah, an indie merchanter, I get it! Yes, that would be perfect!"
Carroll ohs! and murrs, "I wasn't thinking of that end of the plan yet -- it is good for that."
Alex says, "We'll have to hurry though, yes, Carroll?"
Carroll nods, "Yes. Let's tell everyone, and get moving."
Horatio calls out, "Aye, aye, Captain! All right, boys, aim for her sails and masts, make it steady... aaaaand, FIRE as you bear!"
Alex nods to Carroll, "I'm off to find Mitya then, Carroll, if you're covering here?" Carroll nods to Alex, and smiles at the first salvo. He orders the special colors raised. Alex trots down to find Dimitri and McKenzie, and passes on the news about the following indie merchanter as well.
The Cornucopia, taken by surprise by the rapidly closing sloop, starts to try to turn away, but since she's wallowing with a full load she makes very little progress -- in fact, all she succeeds in doing is to turn her full side to the Mare, offering a larger target.
Dimitri has his own light armor on, and his long and heavy sword out. He waits, leaning against a wooden post, quiet and calm. Too calm. Alex waits quietly next to Dimitri, watching the ship... although occasionally her tail fluffs up with excitement as the ballistae go off!
Carroll stands and watches the ballista fire, as well, near the helm. He seems calm, and the only real visible difference is that his sword is unfastened and ready, should the fighting reach his ship. Carroll cautiously watches the big boat's launches, too. He won't be caught by that again.
Dimitri is quiet and still, his ears flat. "Now this is the real thing. And we will have to hit fast, hit them fast and hard. They will be defending, which means we have to go after them. Remember... two by two, just like we've trained. And look... look and see. Know where everyone is... so no one sneaks up on you..."
Alex smiles up at Dimitri and nods, "I won't leave you, Mitya. I'll cover your back, just like we practiced."
Then one by one Dimitri walks past the troops, adjusting a bit of armor here, checking the edge on a blade there. Quiet words, each a positive statement, a reminding of each on something they're good at. Alex follows quietly, one step behind her favorite brother.
The first shot passes harmlessly through a sail, but the second cuts through rigging and the freighter slows even more as one of her main sails flutters loose. Carroll smiles, and murrs, "One more like that, and maybe they'll surrender again."
Horatio grins widely. "Good! All right, a few more shots like that last one! Reload! Run them out... steady, steady... and, FIRE as you bear!" The next pair of bolts both hit amidships, splintering the Cornucopia's starboard rail and playing havoc with the crew lined up with bows, waiting for the Mare to come into range. Blood drips into the ocean...
Alex blinks, her fur rising despite herself... she takes a deep breath and doggedly continues following Dimitri. Dimitri pauses at the ladder to the deck, "Mister Mackenzie, do you have a crew ready with the grappling hooks for once we get close?"
Horatio stares at the stricken ship, at the crimson rivulets, and has to be nudged by one of the gunners out of the staring. Even then, his orders have become wooden: "Er... Aim for the masts, again... steady on your aim, and... and fire as you bear." Please... let them surrender...
After the ballistae strikes, there are about 20 crew on the merchant's deck, perhaps a half dozen with bows. The rest are trying to fix the sails and the massive ship is trying to turn back toward the Mare to close to bow range. McKenzie nods. "Standing by. Get us to 50 meters and we'll have 'em."
Carroll calls for their own archers to be ready when they enter bow range, themselves. Dimitri takes two steps up the gangway so he can look out and gauge. "Thank you Mister Mackenzie. And keep five back in case they try to counter board... I'll let you know. Be ready to grapple and pull them broadsides.
Carroll moves to the railing and orders the signals for "we will accept your surrender" to be raised, hoping they'll accept. The ballistae fire a third time, one crunching through the side planking of the ship and the other smashing into a spar, bringing another sail down. The freighter loses control, yawing into the wind and jolting the bowmen just as they were getting into range. They do not appear to be interested in surrendering at this point. Carroll directs the helm to try and close with the barge, murring, "Let's get the troops aboard it before their bowmen hurt us too badly."
Horatio orders the ballistae loaded again, but takes in a deep breath as the loaders crank back on the drawstrings. He pokes his head out of the focs'l'e. "Captain! Will you be wishing another volley?"
Carroll calls, "If you can, Horatio, until we've closed with them."
Horatio gulps to himself, but visibly only nods and ducks back into the foc's'le. I was afraid that he'd say that, he thinks, but... they knew that it would come to this at some point. He supervises the reloading of the ballistae, taking so agonizingly long... The other ship must surely be in bow range by now; he can almost hear the twanging of bowstrings. He blinks. Wait... that WAS the twanging of bowstrings!
The Cornucopia finally gets a chance to return fire, which seems to hearten them a bit. With the Mare's personnel mostly under cover, the arrows do little. As the arrows fly, most hit decks or bulkheads. There is a bellow from the quarterdeck as Ferdinand is hit while manning the wheel. He retires belowdecks with an arrow through his left forearm, and Misty takes over the wheel. Another squall and Owen slumps, punctured through his right leg. Maria and Ivan take him below, as well. Two more ballista bolts flash out, together taking down the third mast and incidentally burying most of the enemy archers under falling canvas and cordage. The remaining archer, beginning to panic, shoots wildly as the Mare comes in to grappling range.