The 3 take me to see the Black Rose. It is indeed black and in need of repairs. More than the ones they want to make her sea worthy. I look the ship over and we talk business.

Smithers is the Bosun, while Wayne is the first officer.

I think over what I know of pirate crews, "So who is the Quarter Master ?"

Logan grins, "Me actually. Last Captain we had decided he was King of the sea's and well we put him over the side when he tried to order us to attack a heavily armed military ship. I have been in charge ever sense."

Wayne nods, "Best captain we ever had really. Good at finding the wrong sort of men to sleep with though." I look at her and she shrugs, "Why do you think I started asking Gods for help. I sure can't do it on my own."

The other two nod at that, I just shake my head, "I can't say much, my first serious lover left me at the altar. My second one went nuts and tried to kill another man's wife in a fit of jealousy. He wanted to marry the man himself, despite the man in question being both straight and not interested. It went downhill from there."

Both men snicker and nod, "That one she fed to you ?" I nod, "He was trying to organize a mutiny to take over the ship. He was failing at it to. Every person he approached came to us and told us. When she decided to let you have him, well it's the best decision she has made concerning men in a while."

I look at her, she looks embarrassed, "I knew about his ambitions really. He had the wrong idea how we work. Wanted to whip the men in to a military kind of shape."

I nod and sigh, "Ok so who owns this ship then ? The crew or what ?"

The 3 hold up their hands, "We speak for the crew. Though your offer will have to be put to a vote."

I nod, "Democracy in action, I understand that."

Smithers sighs, "Be during the day, so you can't be there."

I look at him," Why do people keep saying that to me. Why can't I be there during the day ?"

Wayne, putting a friendly arm on my shoulders, "What happens when you walk in sunlight ?"

I shrug, "Need a hat ? Nothing really. I am not under the Darkness Curse like most of them. My Line came from a different founder than the ones your used to dealing with. We are stronger, faster and have gifts they don't. We don't fear the sun nor Holy Symbols or such things. Heck many gods actually Like us."

That leaves the men stunned while Logan just nods, it makes sense to her. Otherwise why would a Love Goddess set them up together.

I shrug, "Granted it's either the neutral powers or beings like War as we are not nice people. And there are similarities between the two groups. Food for one as well as some clan like over laps. But their founder was Caine son of Able, while ours was a minor goddess called Lilra. She was a fertility goddess that kind of went a bit mad when she fell in love with a mortal and needed a way to keep him around. She found it alright and our line was born. Her problem was she Loved many, but not wisely. Sort of like someone else I could mention." I glance at Captain Logan, who has walked off in order to hide her blushing. The men both nod, grinning.

Smithers nods, "So then you need blood and what ?"

I shrug, "Can't make babies anymore. Well in the human fashion we are undead after all. So fire is bad, but that's pretty nearly universal. We are closer to spiders than bats. Bats are more Caine's kind of thing. We also all tend to get attached to one thing where as the others have all these different blood lines, clans and such. We don't, we have a set selection of powers and it's really hard to learn ones from Caine's groups. On the other hand we can still work mortal type magics. Not as well as Mortals do but the gift is still there. Caine's childer mostly use necromancy or blood magics almost exclusively. They also have problems with sunlight and holy things. Different strengths and weaknesses pretty much covers it."

They nod, "So they tend to become evil and your group ?" Wayne ask.

"I don't know. I can only tell you what the gods have told us but I don't know really. They say we are forever Neutral. But that I have noticed changes in meaning as time goes on. Humans evolve and as they do the meanings change. What was normal when I was mortal is often seen as barbaric or monstrous now. So" I shrug and both men look surprised at that bit of philosophical knowledge.

We change the subject after that, back to business.

I actually talk to one of the head shipwrights and find out that to completely refit the ship will cost around 1000 gold. Just the Minimal repairs are between 150 to 200 gold.

Then he tries to turn my attention to the Black Blade ships, telling me they are a better investment.

I shut him down, "No. They have already assaulted me once and I don't take kindly to that. I don't care for their tactics or underhanded maneuverings either."

He grunts, "Price for repairs is now 300 gold minimum."

I nod, "Right, so who is 2cd in charge around here ?"

He grins, "He can't over ride my orders."

I look at him, "Well as you're going to die now, I need to know who to talk to." I shoot out my fist and punch him in the stomach, knocking the wind out of him. Then I tie him in a neat cocoon.

The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

Wayne and Smithers run over to me, "What are you doing ?" They yell. I shrug, "He works for the Black Blades, So I figured he was worthless as a human being and only good for fish bait."

The other shipwrights grab up weapons and tools and make their way toward us.

One of them growls, "You over stepped yourself now girly." I shrug point and say a word. He and the closest 3 are hit by my lightning bolt, killing them instantly. I grin at the smell of roast men, "Ah nothing like fresh barbeque in the morning." The two sailors quite quickly turned and headed for cover.

By the time the smoke clears I have uncovered about a dozen black blade men in the shop and killed them all, ate a few to. Actually am eating on one when Captain Logan finds me. She looks around and sighs, "You know how hard it is to find competent shipwrights ?"

I shrug, "Not very I would think."

She yells, grabs me by the hair and then tries to beat my head against a wall. I let her play with my hair but otherwise ignore her tantrum. She runs out of steam as I just sit there. "You are infuriating." she states. I nod, "Yep. And it's not all that hard to find them, they are all hiding in the building over there." I nod across the way.

She looks at it, "That is a Slave House. That is just the slaves they use to … " it comes to her and the light comes on, "fix the ships. You think they have skilled shipwrights in there ?"

I nod, "Of course. The ones in this place are amateurs at best. I may not know how to sail but I do know carpentry and ship building. Worked for one as a teenager before finding magic. Granted I mostly worked on small sail boats for rivers and such but the basics are the same."

I get proved right to. Most of the slaves in that house are carpenters and skilled shipwrights actually Wayne identifies a couple of them as having been the old leaders of the Shipwrights guild. We learn the Black Blades came in and took over, killing or enslaving everyone who would not work for them.

With those dead the old guild leaders happily take on the job. Still going to run a few hundred, but to repair the whole ship is only 500. Not the thousand the other group wanted.

I disappear for a day. I return with the gold, 1500 and put it down to have all the Roses repaired or upgraded. Misery actually hugged me for it, especially as I did not ask for anything in return. Which makes them suspicious of me. I just smile at them all and then get a permanent suite in their private hall. (I am crazy not stupid)

(I just went back to my rebirthing tunnel really - used the bracelet to summon forth allot of gold and gems and some other items I used for trade.)

Pierce ask, "So where did you get all that gold ?"

I shrug, "I stole it of course. Though not from town, just from some people who irked me some hundreds or so years ago. I went in to hibernation to hide from them. They were mortal and so all should be dead by now."

The 3 Captains nod, as that makes sense to them, "So how did you end up in our town ?" Misery ask.

I shrug, "Someone built this place on top of my resting place is all. I was here long before any of you or this town."

They all slowly grin and then laugh at the irony of it. The town itself is barely 100 years old having come in to being after a huge storm shifted the position of the river and created a natural port. 5 miles down the new river is the open ocean. The exit hidden by miles of tree's, naturally camouflaged. Making it a near perfect hide-out for the criminally minded. Most pirate hunters are looking for some fabled Island while in reality they are hidden much closer to their prey. I love it myself and the gods tend to give me little hints and pushes to help keep the place hidden. Like making sure certain people disappear (usually in to my larder). I also work at making the Black Blades disappear to. A few here a few there, never any witnesses either.

That is how I spend my first year. With some romancing the Captain of the Black Rose when she is in town. And learning what it really means to be the New me. Other than the blood crazed monster I first rose as.

As a cover though I have set up a small shop that sells trinkets, minor magic items and spell scrolls. 1st and 2cd level only (while I know more I am careful with it and leaving most people thinking I am some kind of Hedge mage as that is good for my prolonged health.)

The fact that I sell some 'lost' spells and magical knowledge brings around some interesting people to. Even though the stuff is minor in power, it's more than was known for a long time.

The other thing that turns out interesting. That Wind Tunnel turns out to lead in to the Underdark, I explored it some to. Being better equipped for it naturally and all. Also I tend to use it as a dump for bodies. Well I did till some paladins came out of it one day. They killed a good number of the town before being taken down themselves. The survivors were questioned then sold as slaves. Turns out they thought the town was all devil worshippers for some bizarre reason. They belonged to that sect that wanted all magic destroyed and anyone who allowed magic must there for be Evil and worship Evil.

The town was now aware of the tunnel and my dumping ground lost to me. Darn the luck.

I happily bought a couple of them and used them as food for a while. They were long gone by the time My Captain returned to me. with the gift of some very nummy slaves. She is interesting. Completely amoral and dangerously charming. Kinky to. I like Kinky.