Well, the plan was a roc but I couldn't find one out here in the ocean. I proposed an iceberg of my creation instead. Alyson said she would consider it. She didn't want Beckett running away. This wouldn't be the first assassination attempt he could survive. So for now we returned to the ship and rested. Onko was finding his location but It's hard to do when your target is in the middle of the ocean. Scrying lets you spy on a target but not their surroundings. He said it could be a few weeks before we found him. That was a lot of time to spend on doing nothing but I guess I can take it slow.

I spent the next two weeks enjoying life at sea. It was an eventful time. I fished and got a lot of animal forms. None too powerful but I did find a dolphin. He went on to be a nice guy if a little scatterbrained. The Soul Dream grew with each new resident and now I had a small underwater town being built. The planning committee was requesting I head inland soon if only to diversify the land. I wouldn’t mind spending a month traveling just to hunt. I could donate any meat I didn’t need to those less fortunate.

Now other than more stuff I would eventually do, I actually got to be a pirate. Alyson managed to find a Cerberus Assembly vessel heading for the shattered teeth. She and I came up with a plan. I attacked them disguised as a sea serpent and disabled their ship. Then Alyson attacked them under the cover of night. We stole their gold and lots of valuable research materials and left them with supplies to fix their ship and return home.

But this was all just a distraction. Yesterday Onko found Beckett and he also found out where he will be going. Beckett was meeting with the cultists of Tiamat. The order of the Caustic Heart has a base in Port Damalie. They are meeting with Beckett at sea for a slave trade. Beckett has acquired individuals with dragon bloodlines that the Caustic Heart is going to brainwash into worship. Fucking pigs.

The meeting is going to be on the coast of the Twinward Isles. They will meet on a beach with both ships being off in the distance. Beckett will hand over the prisoners and the Caustic Heart is supposed to give Beckett some magic items. Onko's scrying didn't let him figure that out. He only managed to overhear the location of the meeting.

We were already near the Twinward Isles lying in wait for them to show tonight. Alyson has split us into three groups. She, Trux, Onko, and about two dozen more pirates will attack the meeting itself. The Ill Hand will assault the Cultist's ship and prevent them from reinforcing the fight. I will deal with Beckett’s vessel. With a combination of tentacles, a huge ass sea serpent, and my new Roc I will capsize the ship.

I didn’t worry about this when I attacked the Cerberus ship, but I am running the risk of discovery by attacking Beckett. I know at least two Marquis who might vouch for me but the rest are unknowns. I have information I could use to make a plea deal in my favor but that requires them to catch me. I had no issue running from the law. It would make me a criminal but I can worry about that later. Plus I was leaving the coast for a while once this is done.

I decided it was best that I didn't just drop a large mass on the ship. I might have trouble hitting the ship and missing. I would lose the element of surprise. Instead, I am going to turn into a serpent with some tentacles on the side of my head. I was going to capsize the ship. Use my powerful body to destroy the hull and grab the masts to tip it over. Easier said than done though. I looked to the captain.

"We have only a few hours so I am going to get in position," I said.

"Good. Once you disable Beckett's ship head over and support the Ill Hand," Alyson said.

"Are you going to be alright here?" I asked.

"I will be fine. I have been planning on killing Beckett for a long long time. You showing up motivated me to put the nails in his coffin," she said.

"Well good. Don't die, please. You are the only decent pirate I know," I said.

"Aye, lad! What about me," Trux asked.

"I guess you are not so bad either Trux," I said. Small chuckles were shared amongst the crew. I flew off to the ocean and circled for a while.

Stolen story; please report.

An hour later I saw a ship approaching matching Beckett's description. I needed to wait for Beckett to leave. He was supposed to be a round man with salt-and-pepper shoulder-length hair. Eventually, two-row boats were lowered and people were shoved onto them. I saw a bunch of humans, elves, and other races. Each of them had something in common. They had scales of either metallic or chromatic colors. I swooped down and landed on the ship. Both vessels left but I didn't see Beckett on either of them. Shit he was supposed to be at the meeting. This is going to screw with Alyson's vengeance. Fuck.

Okay, so what do I do? Beckett is the number one target so maybe I need to grab him. I could do that. I fly around the ship to a balcony on the back. It is nice with clear glass doors leading inside. More than likely the captain's room. I turn into an octopus and squeeze into a small hole under the door. This place was nice. Everything looked expensive. Be a real shame if I broke it. I needed Beckett separated from his crew.

I shifted into a horse and went to work. I smashed a table, his desk, and broke his bed. I made a mess of the room as loudly as I could. Then I changed into a rat and hid myself. A group of men rushed into the room weapons drawn. They looked surprised at the destroyed room and began to search. I maintained my cool and waited for them to stop. Soon the man of the hour arrived.

"What the fuck do you mean you don't know. They couldn't have fucking vanished. Find them. Search the ship. Search the damn ocean!" Beckett said.

The wardens left the room leaving Beckett alone. Well, that was a mistake. He began to search the room and put shit back. He was lamenting a pot I had shattered. I moved to the balcony and knocked over a plant. Beckett cursed and moved to the back of the room. He rounded his deck and cursed at the plant. Not taking any more time I shifted into a bundle of tentacles and smashed Beckett out the balcony.

“What the AAAA!” He screamed.

I followed him out into the ocean. I had him wrapped in a tentacle that became a claw as the massive form of a Roc was revealed from sliver light. I flew the coop and headed for the Isles.

“Let me go you damn bird! You will regret this! Whoever you are I will make you pay! YOU DON'T FUCK WITH ME!” He screamed louder and louder.

I am considering killing him myself but I was going to deliver him to Alyson. I didn’t need to fly far as I saw the exchange had turned into a bloodbath. Both sides had turned on each other in the chaos of Alyson's attack. The captain was in the thick of it slashing at cultists and shore wardens alike. I flew over the tree line where other pirates were with crossbows. I dropped Beckett about 80 feet onto the ground. If he dies oh well but with a fall like that he will definitely break some bones.

I turn and land near the battlefield and screech, "RUN PUNY MORTALS!" The crew knew what I wanted to do and they ran back to the tree line. The shore wardens stood their ground while the cultists grabbed their prisoners and fled to their boats.

A perfect situation. I exhaled a frost breath upon the shore wardens. They had taken a beating already so I was simply the reaper that finished the job. I just killed 8 people. That will have to be unpacked later.

I looked to the crew and said," That's Beckett. I am going to deal with his ship."

Alyson looked ready to say something but turned to Beckett and smiled. "Thank you!" She said, then turned to Beckett and raised her blade to his neck.

"Hello, Admiral. It's been a long time," said.

I didn't stick around for this. So the plan has changed. We had Beckett but his most loyal crew and followers were aboard his ship. I flew high overhead and prepared a breathe. The enemy was mobilizing boats so they could chase me but now that I am coming back they seem to be panicking. I wasn’t anywhere near the water line so I was out of range for their cannons. A few manned swivel guns, and muskets trying to fire on me. My regeneration would deal with any damage they might inflict on me. I swooped down the starboard side and blasted the deck with frost.

I was belted with cannon balls and musket balls but I was fine. I banked right and turned to face their side. I rushed them and landed on their mast. The ship tilted. Cannons, crates, barrels, sailors, and more flew off the port side. I leaned into the tilt and flapped pulling the ship over. Sailors screamed to abandon ship and the sounds of ropes snapping filled my ears. The ship and I fell into the ocean as my weight brought the whole thing over. I transformed into an eel and escaped the debris.

The crew would escape to the Isle and live to fight another day but this ship was fucked. Someone could come by later to salvage what remains. I took the opportunity to swim away and change back into the Roc form. The Ill Hand was attacking the cultist vessel so I went to see if they needed help. They were in sight of the Shore Warden ship so it didn’t take long to reach. The Cultists had a sloop that seemed built for speed, not combat. The Ill Hand would handle this easily so I looked at the beach. The cultists had abandoned fleeing by ship and were escorting the prisoners towards the forest. I flew down and landed in their path.

“I don’t think so. I will spare the Caustic Heart if you abandon your captives. Resist and you will die,” I said.

One cultist who was either their leader or just the idiot that spoke first said,” We can not trust a best that makes a mockery of our lady’s gifts,” he said.

I guess they could tell I was partially draconic. “I don’t care if you trust me. I am telling you to run!” I said and let cold mist escape my beak. They didn’t seem to like their chances and abandoned the prisoners. I spoke to them,” He there to the pirates. They have agreed to get you to safety. I know this has been confusing and you are unsure of who to trust but just go to them. They will get you to safety.”

I flew away and joined the Ill Hand in destroying the cultist ship. I will probably have to speak with a lot of people tonight and decide the fate of these new residents. Some of them are probably bad people others might just have been following the wrong person. Others could have been spies I am not sure. Getting evidence will take some time. If the Soul Dream is a new afterlife, one tied directly to me, I will need the power to see the lives of people and learn how they should be treated for their eternal rest. This might actually require the help of a god. I spoke to any of those. Might need to visit a temple.