[CptCarrot]

On the north gate the sentries watch the darkening skies and see a small troop of riders rapidly approaching along the Queensway. As they close upon the gate a mute standard is raised allowing them to pass without challenge. The group slows as they approach Castle Bastion, the rider in the centre turns to one of the others: “Go rouse a company and find a captain with sea legs, we will need good heads and strong arms before long, make haste to the docks when they have prepared for travel. I’m going to find us a ship”
Without further word the riders part ways.

A short while later a figure stepped into the dockmaster’s offices and shrugged off the hood of his riding cloak. Carrot stepped forth to the dock master holding up a ribbon sealed with the royal cypher
“I require passage across the sea, and I understand that there are certain...“ he smiled wryly “allied folk with the means of doing so”

[The Bloody Bay Fleet]

A young man seemingly peeled himself from the shadows of the dockmaster's office, his eyes staring intently at the royal seal. "Ye must be the regent then, my lord," he says, bowing slightly. "I have been waiting for a servant of the Queen to look for us." He stuck out a hand, calloused from ropes and labor on ships, but twisted his wrist slightly, revealing a peculiar tattoo on his wrist, one of three diamonds in an arrowhead pattern. "I'm First Mate Smith, of the Men of Fortune's Arrow." The name came easily off the young man's lips, but there was a glimmer in his eye that showed it may not be a true name at all.

"Am I to take it that you are looking for the Fleet, my lord? How may we serve the Crown on this day?"

[CptCarrot]

Carrot turned to the First Mate and bowed his head slightly: "I am indeed looking for the fleet" he stowed the seal in a travel pouch while assessing the look of the young man: "it is good to know our allies are always alert and at the ready". A grim look crossed his face, and he continued in a low voice: "I have grave tidings that must be borne far and with haste. I need to speak with the leaders of the fleet, to inform them of new developments and request passage to outlying holds."

[The Bloody Bay Fleet]

"I see." Smith's face matched the regent's own. My captain should be aboard our Songbird presently. If you wish to leave within the hour I recommend you follow me quicky." The young man strode out of the office without any further words, and through the docks. he pulled a whistle that was hanging from his neck and began blowing into it, the shrill call coming out in a bizarre rhythm. Fleet calls came from the mate, to be answered by someone blowing a similar whistle, most likely a captain, from the Ship the young man was nearing.

Soon enough, the man and those who followed him were at a gangplank of a ship already in the process of making ready. men and women were loading crates into the merchant craft, riggings were tested, and the captain stood at the helm calling orders, in his fist a similar whistle to the mate's. Seeing mister Smith the captain made his way down to the young man and his followers. "Captain," said young Smith, "this is the Lord Regent himself, come to make contact with the Admiral and his Lord-Captains."

"I see," the captain said, looking the Regent up and down. "Well, my lord regent, I am captain Doe of the Men of Fortune's Arrow. If you have such tidings, if you do indeed bear such tidings, we shall be underway before the hour is out. I welcome you and your company aboard, though I fear we lack the beds for you. I am certain we can reach The Sunderer within the day, our Lord Admiral Royce will be happy to see you as swiftly as the winds will take us."

[CptCarrot]

Carrot followed Smith, admiring the orderly chaos of the docks and listened attentively to the whistle calls, before straightening his cloak and stood sternly before the captain "I wish the circumstances of our meeting were better" his eyebrow rose slightly in amusement "but it is good to meet you captain Doe. Your young mister Smith does you and your fine vessel credit. My men may grumble about not having beds but they'll make do with space to sit, 'tis far better than slogging through mud, I do have more on their way if you can accommodate them, but they are only a couple dozen. For now I shall cease hindering your preparations and await my company"

Carrot bowed and stepped aside to watch Bastion and the tradeway rolling down to the docklands, wondering when he would see that great castle again.
After a short time musing, he saw the pennant of the household company glittering in the distance, he sighed and stood up again and prepared himself for the embarkation

[The Bloody Bay Fleet]

"Aye, merry times are all well, yet times of woe make friends swifter and truer, I find," the captain said, "it is a pleasure to make the acquaintance of a man such as yourself, my lord. The regent on my deck, imagine!" The captain had a wry grin as he said that, and nodded. "Our mister Smith is a fine lad, and a finer mate."

His eyebrows rose at the number mentioned, "a couple dozen men? It will have to be a tight fit, but my men shall rest above. You may have my cabin once I've tidied it." There was a dry chuckle, "you are quite lucky we have been ashore so long, we have exhausted our trades. All we have in the hold are our rations and a chest or two of coin for the Seat. The room below should be quite spacious enough to at least hold your couple dozen. I am sure our Admiral will furnish you something more suitable for your further journey. A couple dozen in a Songbird! By the Lady!" He bowed as Carrot departed "Within the hour, my lord, and no later. You have my vow."

As the captain and mate returned aboard, Carrot seemed to be beside a storm of activity, orders were called, the crew busied themselves on deck. Out of the corner of his eye, Carrot could see a young boy run into the cabin just below the helm, and come out moments later, his arms burdened with papers that made their way below, perhaps to be stored in the same chest as the gold. The captain had a hushed conversation with a man in a dark brown robe, almost a cassock, their faces were serious, and the man in the cassock gave the captain a solemn nod before entering the same cabin and coming out with a small black rod. The robed men then took to the helm.

Within the hour, The captain called to Carrot from the helm. "Alright my lord! All aboard who's comin' aboard! We're off!" There was amoment as those who were to board the Smiling Maiden climb the gangplank before it was pulled up from the dock, and the sails turned away and unfurled. The wind picked up suddenly, and the sails seemingly burst forward with the gust. The robed figure gripped the black rod tight in his left hand as in his right he held something that he wore about his neck, his brow furrowed in concentration.

With the speed of the winds it was only a matter of moments until the ship was free from the docks, and Carrot was shown to a rather modest cabin with a fine writing desk, though only a stack of blank papers could be seen on it. "With the winds guiding us, we should be by the Admiral before it is too dark, hopefully," the captain said to the lord, "I do hope that is suitable for your purposes, my lord."

[CptCarrot]

Carrot admired the frantic yet orderly activity as sailors went about readying the ship, when the captain called for boarding Carrot turned to his company motioned for the soldiers to board, watching them all troop up the plank and be ushered to their places. Once all had boarded carrot walked up to the gangplank, paused for a moment thinking of all that might be happening in the coming days, with a deep sigh he squared his shoulders and strode resolutely up the plank.

As the ship pulled away from the dock Carrot followed the captain to a cabin, looking around the small room he nodded to the captain. "This suits me well, thank you" He walked over to the desk and laid his travel pack on it, pulling out a small writing kit. "It has been an eventful few days and it will be many yet before we can rest" he leaned wearily on the desk, before long there'd be more gears in motion and trouble to find, he hoped he could make it to the outlying holds in time.

[The Bloody Bay Fleet]

It was six hours of hard sailing until Carrot could here cries from those outside of the cabin, and the shrill calls of Fleet whistles. They sound remarkably similar to the calls that mister Smith had been making, but there were some calls that had slightly different rhythms. It was a further two hours of sailing, the stars being to ascend, but still low in the sky, when there came a knock on the cabin door.

Captain 'Doe' opened it cautiously, "I'm sorry to disturb you my lord, but we have weighed Anchor beside the Sunderer. The other Lord-Captains are making their way to us as we speak. The Admiral requests that you meet him on his Chaser as soon as you are able to." There came a solid thud from the ceiling of the cabin, and Doe winced. "Also, could you order some of your men to clear a space in the hold for a cot? Our navigator has given his all to see us here so quickly, and we require a bed for him." The captain left the door open halfway, and through that gap, gilded railings and the side of a much larger ship stood close to the Songbird. Lanterns hung from both ships, casting a bluish orange light in the coming twilight over the painted name of the large Chaser, in beautiful golden lettering, unworn by sea or wind, along the side of the hull that could be seen was the name of the flagship of the Bloody Bay Fleet. 

 

THE SUNDERER

The Lord Regent had reached his first destination.

[CptCarrot]

Carrot stood up as the captain opened the door, he stepped around the desk as the captain recounted the news "Thank you Captain, I shall go to the admiral at once" he turned to his valet, "go below and help the crew get their navigator seen to, give any assistance they require, and check in on the men, make sure they have what they need"
He picked up his travel pack from the desk and put it over his shoulder, pulling his cloak on as he stepped out of the door and followed the Captain.
he slowed slightly as he looked at the The Sunderer, taking in her size and the light around the ships, the Admiral knew how to make an impression. Carrot drew a deep breath and strode onward. "Lead on Captain Doe, let's go see the Admiral"

[The Bloody Bay Fleet]

"Aye aye, sir!" The Captain said with a grin. As they exited the cabin, they could see the robed figure being carried below by two crewmen, his left hand dripping red slightly. The rod that the navigator held had seemingly disappeared. The crew was happy to receive aid for their comrade, and it was soon that the spent navigator was bundled below.

A gangplank had been lowered from the Chaser, and secured to the trading ships' deck. While it was not gilded, the wide walkway had rope railings on it to prevent anyone from falling.

The impression that the Admiral was intent to give did not stop at simply the appearance of his flagship, but the crew as well. rather, it was the two columns of Blackblade Guards that stood before the doors to the Admiral's cabin. The company known simply as The Admiral's Own stood tall, ten to either side. Massive iron shields bearing a sigil of the fleet, a curled serpent being stabbed through with a sword emblazoned on them, were held in the left hands of the soldiers. In the right they held long spears, tall poles tipped with a wicked blade that had a hook just below the speartip. These were Chasing Poles, weapons designed to pierce and cling to the hide of a serpent. The guards thumped their poles against the sturdy deck in a slow, monotonous way. Creating a rhythm for the entire crew.

The Bosun, bedecked in his scarlet coat and bicorn, stood at the held of The Sunderer, above the wide doors of the cabin with his arms in a wide, welcoming gesture. He needed no whistle aside from his own lips as he blew a shrill note into the air, silencing the percussion of the guard. "Welcome aboard, my lord Regent," The bosun calls, his voice a clarion in the silence that followed his whistle. "I am happy to welcome you to my Admiral's ship." The Bosun seemingly glided down one of the staircases to the side of the helm, and reached the side of the regent in a matter of moments.

"If you'll follow me," he said warmly, "my lord Royce has been expecting you with news." through the tunnel of stern-faced armoured marines, the Bosun strode as confidently as though he were the Admiral. The Cabin doors were thrown wide open to reveal a grand study of a cabin, a large table at its center that seemed to have an ensorcelled mapof the whole warren, as it had the names of Fleet ships dotted about it, and some were moving-albeit slowly-to The Sunderer itself.

The Admiral looked up from the map to regard the regent before him, the eldritch eyes staying stoically calm as the eye in his breastplate swivelled madly to look at Carrot. "My lord regent," Royce said, bowing his head. "As ever, the Fleet is at your service. I have been told that you have grave news to bring me. How may the Fleet ease your worries?"

[CptCarrot]

Carrot followed Captain Doe up the gangway, consciously keeping his face neutral and unchanged at the sight of the guard, merely nodding to each side in acknowledgment of their presence. Looking up sharply as the Bosun called out his greeting and watched him carefully approached down the stairs. The Regent gave a small bow in greeting to the Bosun. "I thank you for your welcome, and wish only that I could visit this ship under circumstances better suited to such a grand vision"

The regent followed the Bosun, paying attention to the details of the room and particular interest to the map, he was taken off guard by the Eye in the breastplate but held his composure by stepping smartly before the admiral and bowing with a great flourish "My Lord Admiral, I appreciate you seeing me at such short notice. The circumstances are most concerning I fear" he reached into his pouch and pulled out the Royal Seal held it out for the Admiral "First the formality of my authority, as I came directly and swiftly as possible from the Queen". he took a deep breath "Those familiar with the arcane arts and magic have detected that additional Chaosium portals are opening. and I am here to inform you of this new threat and to request your aid in warning the holds at risk, that we might prevent further catastrophe from striking those poor souls in the path"

[The Bloody Bay Fleet]

"There are many circumstances in the world, my lord regent," the Bosun said breezily as he led the regent in, "but we sail with the tides, not against them my lord. I feel that is good wisdom for anyone."


The Admiral, for his part, refrained from laughing at the bow the regent gave, though the beginnings of a smile started to play on his lips and his eyebrow rose. "I am always happy to welcome the Crown to my ships." He inspected the seal presented to him meticulously, as did the Bosun who had come around the table to stand by the side of his admiral. "Your seal is recognized, and your authority as well, my lord regent I am happy that we were able to bring you here as swiftly as possible."

At the news of further portals, everyone in the cabin, the attendants, and even the Lord-Captains who had been filing in, their ships just arriving, broke out into distressed murmurs. There was a hubbub until the Admiral made a single gesture, raising a gauntleted fist to gain the silence of his crew. "That is indeed dire news, my lord regent. Where are these portals, and how may we best be used to fend against them?"

[CptCarrot]

Carrot reached into his pouch once more and withdrew a rolled parchment "I'd ideally like to warn those most at risk but finding out what may be coming through those portals should be high on the list of priorities" he lay the parchment on the table to reveal a roughly drawn map and started looking for the locations. "We have one in the South and one in the North" he pointed out the locations on the table's map. "Needless to say, the opening of new portal or even just awakening those that are dormant is a potent threat and can only mean horrors stalk the land around them"
He stepped back from the table looked at the Admiral "Do you have anyone who can approach the portals to see what's there? If not, I will write orders for scouting parties to be transported on your vessels to the locations. I, however, intend to go to those most likely to be in the path of any incursions. The Queensland will stand in defence"

[The Bloody Bay Fleet]

Examining the new markings on the map, the Admiral stroked his chin in deep contemplation. "I have ten ships reserved at the Seat, my lord, but they are at least a day's travel from either portal, if not more. And If they are where you say they are, as threatening as you claim them to be, I should not like to lose any of my own ships or men when I can investigate them more fully with a force such as the one we have right here." 

The Admiral thought some more, and one of the Lord-Captains, a Triton dressed in the armor of an ancient legionnaire stepped forward to examine the map for himself. "I suppose I could call a company of nightscales to examine the southern portal, my lord. With the Bosun's permission, I could borrow a galley with an aery and have my soldiers report what they see. It would take several days to complete and learn of what they know, but it can be done as we are on our way. The Northern portal is too far inland for our liking, however."

Hearing that the Admiral nodded to himself. "Well planned Senator Audax. I am sure MacDonnaugh can spare a ship for that goal. As to warning other holds, why, my lord Regent, I shall bestow upon you passage in one of our Seafangs, not quite as swift as the craft that you have arrived in, but much more comfortable for a prolonged sail such as the one we are about to undertake. I shall escort you until we reach the Seat, then I shall part ways with you and yours, though you may keep the Fang for as long as you need."

[CptCarrot]

Looking around while the Admiral spoke, Carrot took in the faces of the Queensland's new allies, noting the grim and knowledgeable bearing generally present. After hearing the Lord-Captain's plan and the proposed voyage he responded to the admiral,
"That sounds like a good course of action, I will leave the monitoring of southern portal to you, until we have a clearer idea of what's coming, while I travel toward the northern portal from the seat to determine the state of forces coming from there, I shall write to the queen to let her know of the plans as they stand, if you have a ship headed in the general direction of Bastion or Chail I would be grateful if they could carry the messages"