[SR - FB] Mysterious Cargo

[Pdaitabird]

Part 1

Captain Obadiah Shaw stepped out of his favorite tavern in Rassilon clutching a mysterious letter. It was at his regular table when he got there, with his name written on the envelope.  He still didn't know what to make of its contents.

Captain Shaw:

Sail forty miles east by southeast of the Nest of Thieves to collect your cargo. Come at midnight - alone. You will receive six hundred doubloons upon completion of the job.

Shaw was perplexed. Something didn't seem right about this business - it must be a trick. Still, six hundred doubloons would be enough to pay off his gambling debts. Of course, someone was probably anchored out at the rendezvous point waiting to kill him and take his ship. But Shaw was intrigued. He decided to set sail to see what all this business was about.

It was nearly midnight when Shaw, cutting through the waves before a brisk wind, spotted a light swaying in the distance ahead. They must have hung a lamp from their mast, he thought. But as he drew nearer, he could make out a small island beneath the swaying light, which he now realized was a lantern hanging from a palm tree. He was only half a mile out now. Strange that he had never come across this island before; although far too small to appear on any charts, he thought he would have noticed it in his many years of sailing these waters.

Soon a second light appeared and began moving down toward the water.  Shaw peered into the darkness and saw that an old man with a torch was climbing down to the rocky shore.

Shaw tacked his sloop, the Gnat, to starboard and circled the small island before casting out his anchor. There were no other boats to be seen, save for a small dinghy pulled up on the shore. Thankful for his vessel's shallow draft, he leaped out onto an outcrop and doffed his hat in greeting.

"You are Obadiah Shaw," said the old man. It was more a statement than a question.

"That's right. And who might you be?"

"You will take my daughter to Isla del Diablo," the old man replied, ignoring Shaw's question. "You will escort her to a certain house in the settlement of Haven."

"Sounds simple enough...where is she?"

"She is already in your vessel." Shaw looked back toward the Gnat. Sure enough, a young woman in a long white gown was sitting amidships. How'd she slip past me? I must be losing my touch, the captain thought.

"About the payment," said Shaw, "Your letter mentioned-"

"You will receive your reward when my daughter arrives safely in Haven. And one more thing: it is absolutely vital that she arrive there before sunrise."

Shaw performed some rough calculations in his head. It would be almost impossible to reach Haven in a mere seven hours. Still, he had no qualms about roughing up a woman for his money. If they were naive enough to expect such a feat, they deserved to lose six hundred doubloons.

"Alright. If I don't get her there by sunrise, I don't get paid." Not willingly, anyway, Shaw thought.

The old man lowered his voice. "If you do not get her there by sunrise, you will pay." Without explanation, he handed Shaw an ornate iron key, turned, and effortlessly clambored up the steep slope.

As Captain Shaw steered the Gnat away from the small island, he tried to avoid eye contact with the young woman in his vessel.  She had ignored his attempts at small talk when they left the island. In fact, she had simply stared at him silently the entire time.  Ordinarily, he would relish the chance to sail alone with a beautiful young woman, but something about her expressionless face unnerved him.  He was both amazed and relieved to see the familiar silhouette of Isla del Diablo on the horizon.  He couldn't comprehend how they had sailed so far so quickly.  Already the darkness of night was beginning to diminish.

Shaw moored the Gnat in the harbor of Haven and offered the girl his hand to help her onto the pier. He reflexively drew back at her icy touch. Without a word, she headed off through the streets of the settlement.

"I suppose you know where you're going?" Shaw asked. No answer. He decided to follow her; a young woman wouldn't be safe here without an escort. Finally, just as the first rays of sunlight crested the horizon, she abruptly turned aside and entered a house, shutting the door in the captain's face. His task complete, he began to set off down the street when he ran into his old friend Ugly Todd.

"Obadiah Shaw! I didn't know ye were carousin' about these parts! Are ye feelin' poorly or somethin'?"

"Ahoy, Todd! I feel fine; why do you ask?"

"I just seen ye walkin' up to a house alone, actin' like somebody was with ye!"

"I reckon I've just had one too many. I'd best be going." The captain shivered as he spoke.

Still perturbed, Shaw made his way back to the docks before he realized that the girl hadn't paid him.  Well, he thought, at least I don't owe anyone money in this town. Just as he reached the pier where the Gnat was moored, he noticed a large chest on the vessel's deck that wasn't there before. Shaw smiled and patted the key in his pocket.  He could never have guessed what he had just gotten into for six hundred doubloons.

Part 2

Captain Shaw woke up with his head throbbing.  He was lying out in the open, on the bustling docks of the settlement of Haven. It took him a few moments to remember what had happened the night before.  Of course, he thought, the island...that woman...and the money!  The last thing he remembered was opening up the chest of gold aboard his boat, the payment for ferrying the girl to this town.  He thought he must have fallen and hit his head.  His friend Ugly Todd was still loitering about the busy wharf, smoking his pipe and leering at a nearby woman of ill repute.  I must have only been out for a few minutes, thought the captain.  I wonder how...the gold!  He suddenly remembered his six hundred doubloons in the boat.  What if someone had knocked him out and taken the money?

Shaw leapt to his feet, which only worsened his headache, and climbed into his sloop.  The chest was still there, still open with the gold coins glimmering in the morning sun.  Glancing around for any potential thieves, Shaw reached inside and tried to pick up a coin.  It wouldn't budge.  He tried picking up another one with all his strength, but to no avail.  What the devil, he mused.  He then realized that his boat, the Gnat, wasn't rocking as he moved about the deck.  Utterly dumbfounded, he climbed back up to the stone wharf and spied an empty bottle lying at his feet.  He immediately regretted trying to kick it into the water; he howled in pain as if he had kicked a stone wall.  The bottle remained where it was.  At his cry, Ugly Todd started and began looking around.  No one else seemed to hear.
"By gum, that sounded like Obe Shaw!  I wonder what kinda trouble he's getting into now!"
"Todd, you numskull, I'm over here! Right in front of you!"
Puzzled, Todd ran over to the edge of the wharf where the Gnat was moored and looked down into the boat.
Shaw was beginning to get annoyed, but also frightened.  Why couldn't anyone seem to see him?  He approached Ugly Todd from behind and whistled.  Todd jumped and spun around, looking all about.
"Who...what were that?!"  The color had drained from his cheeks.
"It's me, Todd.  Obadiah Shaw.  Can't you see me?"
"Na - na - nary at all.  Wha - what kinda devilry have ye got yerself mixed up in, Obe?  Ye must be some kinda ghost!"
It was beginning to dawn on Shaw that his friend might be right.  "Well, Todd, I reckon that's it.  Let me tell you what happened last night.  But first lock up that chest in the boat for me!"
As Shaw explained his mysterious job the previous night, Ugly Todd listened intently, taking long draws from his pipe.  Finally, he spoke.  "I tell ye what, Obe.  Why don't we watch the house where the lass went in?  Could be she can tell us what all this business is about.  There's something going on what ain't quite natural like."
The friends spent the next three days watching the house, which fortunately only had one entrance.  While Todd had to sleep, and went out intermittently to buy food and rum, Shaw found that he needed neither rest nor nourishment and could therefore keep a constant watch.  Finally, just after dawn on the third day, Todd spotted an old man furtively approaching the house.
"That's him," whispered Shaw.  He kept forgetting that only Todd could hear him.  "That's the old man from the island.  Wait, Todd, we need to-" But it was too late.  Impulsive as ever, Ugly Todd sprinted over to the old man and clobbered him across the face with the stock of his blunderbuss.

"Hang it all, Todd!"  Shaw shouted.  "He won't be able to tell us anything if you break his jaw!"
As the old man lay dazed and bloodied in the street, a shrill scream came from inside the house.  Moments later, a lovely young woman in a long white gown ran outside and embraced the old man, sobbing and wiping the blood from his face.  Todd grabbed her arm and roughly pulled her up to her feet.
"What have ye done to me ol' mate?!" he demanded.  The girl pulled herself free from Todd's grip and buried her face in the old man's chest.
"Oh, Papa," she sobbed.  "Why did you do it?  Why did you have to bring me back here?"
Shaw knelt beside the girl.  "Please," he said softly, "We'd like some answers."  The girl looked around for a moment; evidently she too could hear but not see him.  She seemed strangely unsurprised to hear a disembodied voice addressing her.  As she wiped away her tears, he noticed that her face had lost the uncanny pallor and lifeless expression of their nocturnal voyage.  In fact, she was positively radiant now.  After taking a deep breath, she finally began to speak.
"My name is Marianne DuCoup.  This is my father, Count Henri DuCoup of Oleon."  As she introduced him, the old man began to come to his senses and spat out fragments of his shattered teeth.  "Please," said Marianne, turning to Ugly Todd,  "Would you help me carry Papa inside?"
Marianne and Todd carried the count upstairs and put him to bed.  She gave him some brandy and a hot towel to ease his pain before returning downstairs to the sitting room.  Meanwhile, Shaw was still outside, shouting for Todd to let him in.  He had always imagined that ghosts could pass through walls, but he now found that he couldn't even open a door.  Once Todd had admitted him, they gathered around the hearth to hear Marianne's story.

"I'm afraid I don't know all the details," she began.  "Papa explained it in a letter he left here for me."
"He seems awfully fond of leaving letters for people," muttered Shaw.
"I grew up in Oleon," continued Marianne, "and came here with Papa when he fell out of favor with the king.  He was ashamed to go to one of our own colonies and sought refuge among the - the Sea Rats." She glanced at Todd, thankful that the term didn't seem to offend him.  "Four years ago, he finally regained the king's favor and decided to send me to a boarding school in Breshaun.  Along the way my ship was attacked by pirates in a small yellow sloop."
"The Gnat!" interjected Shaw.  "But I only stole - er, acquired her three years ago!"
"Yes," replied Marianne.  "I remember the face of the pirate who killed me.  If only Papa had known that it wasn't you!  Anyway, after that I only remember being incredibly happy; happier than I'd ever been before.  Until a few days ago, when I found myself on that island - it's a portal, you know."
Ugly Todd shuddered. "To Hades?"
Marianne nodded.  "And to Elysium.  According to Papa's letter, a survivor of the attack described the pirate's vessel to him.  Papa returned to Oleon to seek out a friend of his, a certain Canon of the Temple of Hades.  Somehow, he struck a bargain to trade your life for mine.  Oh, poor Papa!  He thought he was doing justice.  Oh, Captain Shaw, I'm so sorry for you! I'd gladly go back, if I thought I could help you!"  She wiped away more tears as she spoke.  Just then, they heard the front door slam shut.  "Papa!" Marianne cried.  She bounded upstairs.  "He's not in his bed!"  She and Todd ran out to the street, losing time when they realized that Shaw was still stuck in the house.  After they let him out, they raced to the wharf only to see that the old man was already quite some distance out in the Gnat.  Shaw spied the chest of doubloons sitting by the edge of the wharf.
"Quick, Todd! Grab a handful of gold and buy me the fastest tub you can find!" the captain yelled.
It was almost an hour before Todd pulled a small topsail sloop up to the wharf.  Shaw recognized her as the Charlotte's Folly.  Her owner had surely struck a hard bargain, but what good would gold do Shaw in his condition?  Todd shoved off as soon as Marianne was aboard, once more forgetting his invisible friend.  Shaw shouted at him and dove off the wharf, intending to swim for the boat, but landed painfully hard atop the water.  It was more solid than he was.  Shaw struggled to keep his footing on the rolling waves as he inched his way toward the vessel.  He finally clambered aboard and they set off, following Shaw's directions toward the mysterious island.

It was noon the next day when they finally sighted what they now called the Isle of the Dead.  Shaw's heart sank to see his beloved Gnat wrecked against the rocky shore.  They were a hundred yards out when the wind died, the sails fell slack, and all was utterly still.
"What do we do now?" asked Ugly Todd.
"I've got to get to the island," Marianne replied.  "It's only fitting.  I should never have been brought back in the first place."  She began to climb over the gunwale to swim for the shore.
"Hold her, Todd!" Shaw shouted.  "If I let you go now, I'll be no different than the pirate who killed you the first time."  He leapt down, glad that the water here was smooth enough to walk on.  Marianne was still struggling in Todd's powerful grip.  She stopped when she saw her father atop the island's highest point.
"Marianne!" yelled the old man.  "I love you, my child.  I'll see you again - in many years, I'm sure.  Captain Shaw, if you're there,  I'm sorry for all I've put you through.  This is the only way I can make it right.  Farewell!"

"Papa," Marianne sobbed.  She and Todd watched, awestruck, as the island began to fade away.  Soon all that they could see was a cloudless blue sky.  Then, to their surprise, they noticed a man standing on the water a few dozen paces from the boat.  Suddenly, he began to sink.
Shaw cried in shock as the water gave way beneath his feet.  He was treading water now, his initial surprise gradually giving way to delight as he realized that he was solid again.  He waved to Todd and Marianne, who waved back and threw him a line.  He climbed aboard the Charlotte's Folly, weeping with joy to feel the vessel dip under his weight.  The wind was beginning to pick up again, once more filling the sails.  As Todd brought her about to return to Haven, Shaw threw his arms around Marianne in gratitude.  They had both been granted a second chance.

Thanks for reading - C&C welcome!

Soli Deo Gloria

Edited April 6, 2020 by Pdaitabird
Added Part 2

[LM71Blackbird]

I must say, your story telling skills are superb! I was intently reading each paragraph with increased curiosity!

Also, great accompanying builds to go with the story!

[blackdeathgr]

Excellent storytelling indeed and nice accompanying MOCs!!!

[Professor Thaum]

As already said, nice story, well accompanied by the MOC.

 

[Professor Thaum]

And my congratulations, from Nest of Thieves to Isla del Diablo within a night, it is a pretty quick travel even it is the record so worth the 600 DBs. Mr Shaw is a skilled sailor for sure.

There is almost 250 miles from Nest of Thieves to Isla del Diablo.

[Pdaitabird]

9 hours ago, Professor Thaum said:

There is almost 250 miles from Nest of Thieves to Isla del Diablo.

Oops! That shows my ignorance of sailing. But it also gave me an idea; I've edited the story so that Shaw is surprised too.

Thanks for the feedback!

[Fraunces]

Well I think we got ourselves a storytelling talent on board!! Really good story (although it raises more questions than explanations  ) I really like the mystery touch of it. The builds are really well done too and the lighting is great as well!! Good job and keep up the good work, posts like this make the BotBS a living world 

[dr_spock]

Good story and build.  Kinda spooky. 

 

[Pdaitabird]

Thanks all! I've now added Part 2 to the first post - as Paul Harvey would say, the rest of the story.

[Ross Fisher]

On 3/30/2020 at 3:51 AM, Pdaitabird said:

a certain Canon of the Temple of Hades

Got someone in mind?

Happy for you to use Canon François in your story, just let me know first.

[Pdaitabird]

3 hours ago, Ross Fisher said:

Got someone in mind?

Happy for you to use Canon François in your story, just let me know first.

Thanks - I wasn't sure how many there were!

[Ross Fisher]

@Pdaitabird how many Canons? Quite a few in general, but François is the only Canon of Hades in the Brick Seas.

[Pdaitabird]

Oh, ok. In that case, I'll either check with you or use a more vague title in the future. Thanks for the clarification!

[Ross Fisher]

@Pdaitabird thanks! Sorry for being a bit over-zealous. That's what you get when you're a priest of Hades...

But seriously, I'm loving this story so far. Keep up the good work.

[Pdaitabird]

@Ross Fisher Thank you!