Xane wasn’t entirely outmatched. But was on the back foot most of the time. They had a very high level in their class comparable to Calrin and Huntress. Xane shouldn't have been able to do much against her. The difference was that Xane didn’t try to kill them. He completely focused on dodging and distracting. Xane knew he wasn’t a match for a skilled high level fighter such as the captain. As well as he didn’t know what objects of power or skills the captain had.

Xane didn’t think he had a chance of fighting him. He thought about activating his once a week feat stats for all. But held off. Instead he tried talking, “Well this was fun-” He activated dodge roll taking way more damage than he thought he would. 3% in one hit with a 50% damage resistance. That was scary. “-but you do happen to know you are out of men-” he jumped over the bleeding mage. “-and your ship is sinking.” The ship was leaning precariously to one side making it difficult to move around. Something that the captain didn’t have a problem with.

“Shut up and fight you maggot. And I’ll just take yours. Isn’t as nice though.”

“Sierra’s Song is an amazing ship.” He risked a pot shot and was rewarded with a grunt of pain and a slash to the side. Not worth it. He went back to dodging. “Also you can’t have it. Sentimental value.”

She shot a bolt that went straight for Xane’s head. And he did the thing he said he wouldn’t do. He reached to catch it. “Holy shit! I caught it. Did you see that.” Xane wasn’t really distracted…just a bit…not enough to see the next attack. Xane also saw that the bolt reloaded itself somehow.

“Your power is high for your level. Just level 2 in your class.” He said all of this while still attacking Xane. If Xane didn’t have both high stats and his worm dance increasing his speed he would have been cut down the moment the fight started. “But it won’t save you.” As the captain said this a flood of water slammed into Xane out of nowhere.

He didn’t have time to dodge and was thrown around. “You never killed the mage.” Echoed Lyenn’s voice.

I got that. Xane growled back. The pain way more than he thought it was going to be. It was similar to jumping into water except the water had hundreds of tiny needles in it. The force of the water slammed him into the side. He would have gone overboard if not for Calrin saving him. Xane wasn’t very damaged by the attack. His pride though was hampered.

“Had to get support I see. Why not all three of you at once. I’ll still win.” The man grinned at the group.

Calrin was too smart for that. “Why would we do that? You have no men left. It’s only you and your heavily injured mage. However, if we were to fight it would be you two against me.” Calrin’s glare bore through the Captain’s bluff. Calrin didn’t know what but had smelled something fishy. The Captain didn’t want to fight at all.

Xane was slower to the uptake but already knew he couldn’t defeat the stronger and more skilled opponent. Calrin took out two pairs of manacles. He threw them over to the other vessel right in front of the two pirates. “You can either die and sink with the ship or cuff yourselves and we will turn you in.

The Captain started laughing. “You know the rules of the sea. There are no prisoners where Tortoga is concerned.”

Calrin pointed at the manacles unconcerned. “We are heading to Crescent City. They have a bounty but ultimately are kinder than Tortoga. But-” He said with fire in his eyes “-if you’d rather die then that’s fine by me.” Xane could tell that Calrin would much rather them attack so he could slaughter them. Xane also knew that Calrin was too kind in the end to not offer.

“Fine. You win. Stur sta-” The Captain tried to say.

Before he could move or finish the sentence a blast of water that spiraled with fire and steam flew towards the group. “NEVER,” The voice of the mage said, rage evident. Xane was fast and another wall he made before coming out here appeared. It absorbed the damage but steam filled the area making it hard to see.

The group grouped up to protect from a sneak attack. Xane though activated his x-ray to attempt to see through the mist. With his intelligence so high only the thickest stuff could block it. What he saw confused him. It was a blade sticking out of the mage and the Captain standing already shackled. “I think the Captain just killed the mage.” Xane whispered as nothing happened.

As the smoke screen filtered away they saw what happened. The mage known as Stur had a blade sticking out of his head. The Captain stood there nonchalantly and cuffed. Before Xane or Calrin could speak the Captain spoke. “Well we have a deal? Don’t worry about Stur he was foolhardy. Never truly understood how to survive in this world. And nice to meet you,” He bowed though it was awkward as the manacles slithered around his legs,” The name is Cap- Is Pyn Vynire. The current 4th in charge of the Island of Iron.” His smile was shiny gold.

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“Why did you kill that guy?” Xane asked in a bit of horror. It was gruesome. A simple punch could have knocked the poor guy out cold. He was so weak from the damage taken.

Pyn answered without hesitation. “He would have never allowed himself to be taken prisoner. Stur is a faithful one. The current Lord of Iron has a more- how do I put this- she has a huge fucking ego. Thinks herself as a god now. Has everyone worshipping her. Wasn’t even a female at first. His name was Sebastion Boin.”

“Ewwwwwww. Really it had to be a dude. I feared it but was praying that it wouldn’t be true.” Lyenn started gagging in Xane’s mind.

Shhhh we can talk about that later. “Why tell us this?” Xane was really confused as to why now he was blabbing away, about things he didn’t even ask, instead of when he was in custody.

“You plan on going after the Lord of Iron don’t you?” Xane’s mind whirled. How could he know that? They weren’t obvious. Just a simple ship going to another land. Before Xane could do something the once captain spoke again. “I can see by your poor poker face you are. Truly it was just a humble hunch.” He said this trying to stand up. Though the manacles leashed him down. He grimaced slightly. “I could tell by a few factors. One you are only 3. In such a dangerous place. Did you know these waters are fraught with pirates? Rumors have it they haven’t had a good mark in months. A lone ship as such yourself would be mighty suspicious.”

“We are just simply heading our way to Crescent City and know we can defend ourselves. As we have proven in destroying your ship and killing your entire crew.” Xane replied with a smug glare.

It disappeared as the man laughed. “You think you did that? I allowed it to happen.” Xane looked at him not knowing how serious the pirate was being. “I’m fucking with you. Ahh nah you got me. If I would have fought from the beginning the story would have been a bit different.”

This was going nowhere useful so Xane tried to steer it to a better conversation. “I know information on the Lord of Iron is a profitable business right now. Anything you tell us would be nice.”

Xane tried to hide his questions behind greed. Even with high charisma it couldn’t save his bad acting he never inherited from his mother. “If that was the only reason you wanted that information I think i’ll just wait to tell the guards. Why give more money to you my captures? Makes no logical sense. Wouldn’t you agree?”

Xane decided that he personally wasn’t going to get anywhere with Pyn and started leaving. “Fine. I’d rather talk to you than that one you call Calrin. He is so- tense. No fun.” They were on their 2nd day after capturing him and this was Xane’s first time actually talking to him. Calrin had talked quite a bit over that time. Apparently Pyn didn’t like him very much.

“Then tell me more then.” He took a gamble with what he said next. “I know Calrin despises pirates and would love to come in here again to make more money. I was the one who asked him to be calm. A bit naive when it comes to pirates but that's the type of person I am.”

This seemed to have at least partially worked. “I can tell you everything. I’m bound by an oath. However the new lord is an idiot and left a pretty huge hole. Wanna know what it was?”

Xane hummored the pirate hoping that it would move the conversation along. “Go on.”

“My ship.” He said excitedly.”And I quote from the Lord of Iron, ‘As long as your ship sails strong and the bounty is ever great you will follow me to the heights of royalty.’ He must have thought it a great speech. Rally his people. He put those words in the oath we all agreed to.” Xane was starting to understand but didn’t interrupt. Pyn was going somewhere with this.

“Since my ship is now destroyed, and I might add not currently sailing strong, the entire oath is null and void. But I had taken another oath as captain to not directly attack the Lord of Iron. So no help on that part.” Xane didn’t want his help in attacking the body snatcher anyway. As well as again Pyn was pining for information on if this vessel was indeed going after the Island of Iron.

The conversation always seemed to be hovering over what he wanted without actually landing on it. “If you are allowed to tell me trade secrets then do so. If not then we have no need of talking.” Xane turned.

“Ohh give up on that tactic it only ever truly works once you know. Tell me something, how is someone so young as yourself getting involved in these matters. You should be training. Learning the ropes. Though I can tell by the way you carry yourself that your level came from true battles instead of force feeding.” Force feeding was a slang term for pampered rich folk who were given easy prey to level fast.

Xane relented slightly. “I have gained my power through force of will and happenstance. Same as many. And I’m not involved in anything but heading to Crescent City to pick up important supplies for a dungeon run.” That was the full story they made up on their way here. Since Crescent City was popular for such supplies and many great dungeons were in the area it was a plausible story.

Also Calrin had proof that he was a seasoned delver bolstering the story. After you reach delver 4 a mark starts forming on your neck that only revealed itself when you wanted it too. Something to prove your might in dungeons. Xane was close to getting that but wasn’t quite there yet.

“I see, continue with that lie. I’ll tell you what you want. First a mind bomb. The Lord of Iron hasn’t been seen for 4 months.” He grinned at Xane’s dismay and shock.