the dissent

[groundrules]

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THE DISSENT

The winds of the Crossing dull down to a whisper, effectively lulling the two pirate vessels in place and stranding them, subject to supernatural occurrences. The hauntings of these strange, untrustworthy seas entail frequent nightmares, while mermaids coax you to walk the plank and voices in the wind accuse you of all your wicked faults or sins, true or imagines.

Quicksilver Sam’s newer crew aboard the Pariah weather this well, saying they were told the risks of traversing the Crossing when they accepted their assignment. But Caladan Kreil’s sailors of the Queen Zanyra grow increasingly restless, impatient and vocally accusing, questioning both Quicksilver’s wits and those of their own captain, who committed them to play escort to the Pariah in these dangerous seas. A brewing storm sequesters pirates with their dark thoughts.

Caladan Kreil attempts to pacify his people, first with reason, then by pinning hanging ropes to ships masts, and threatening to put them to fine use. More furtively, he asks characters to tame the spirits on his crew, promising handsome pay, better accommodations and a cut of the mysterious reward Quicksilver Sam has pledged him for completing the mission in the Crossing.

✘ OBJECTIVE: calm down the Queen Zanyra’s crew for the handful of days of poor weather.

■ Caladan Kreil offers characters a pouch of thinly ground opiates to share with the pirate crew — these powders are best licked off fingers alongside gulps of rum, or smoked in thin provisions by pipe. Careful not to consume them by accident or expose yourself too long to their scent: these strong narcotics trigger sluggishness in some, intense paranoia in others, and deep fondness in a handful. They often lead to hallucinations across the board.

■ Distract sailors with entertainment, performances, stories, song or spirited speeches. The crew is tragically fond of gambling and games of truth and dare, frequently challenging those who indulge them to perform some inane but publicly humiliating or slightly dangerous act. Indulge them.

■ Fish out pearls from the mermaid-infested waters, minding your limbs: pirates are financially sensitive souls, easily moved by bribes.

■ As pirates now congregate to chat and conspire among themselves, they leave behind their wares and personal belongings unsupervised more often than not — go on, do some looting, if you’re so inclined.

■ Weaponise existing superstitions or invent new ones to keep credulous pirates from pursuing bloodshed ( “I read your future in this scattering of fish scales, and you’ll die if you pick up a knife today. This complete stranger who is definitely not my associate can confirm.” )

■ In that vein, share scary stories or fake hauntings aboard the Queen Zanyra to keep pirates tucked in below deck and far away from mutinous thoughts.

■ Snoop overhear which little cliques are forming within the crew, and spread rumours or sic them against each other, before they can ally together against Caladan Kreil.

■ Disarm, trick or talk down any pirate group that starts to speak of mutiny, particularly during the harder storm nights. If need be, lure them down into the brig, where Caladan Kreil can order them jailed.

■ Start figuring out ways to restart the sails, via magic, mechanics or, well, prayer.

■ While at it, try finding out why Caladan Kreil’s crew is so distrustful of their captain — and, particularly, of Quicksilver Sam.

QUESTIONS

PLOTTING

Comments

story time

[downswing]

A boy and his dog, displaced by a wretched accounts of fiction. A poor, wretched, lost sight in the sea of dappled, diffuse candle light and below-deck clamour. Lan Wangji, so seldom drawn to the Queen Zanyra but for the recent revelation of prospective mutiny, does not dally with the sailors long. He walks among them, watches them — learns their weapons, their habits, the easy, loose thread of their interaction that can so gently unfold into chaos.

Then, he stumbles into the spectacle below, and he assumes Kaneki is first an unwilling captive, then a grudging participant, only for the reality of who is the master and who the mastered to finally, irrevocably dawn. To Lan Wangji's left, a veteran sailor who has lost a limb whimpers. Another seems petrified, lip forever northbound in a deep, unpleasant, curdled curl.

The first met steps forward, both hands palm outwards as if to beg Kaneki's peace — only, Lan Wangji intercedes first, a ruin of whites amid the cluster of gritty darks, and approaches the boy first.

"You have stolen their sleep," by way of greeting, whispered slow, once Lan Wangji's step stills at Kaneki's side.

[enucleation]

kaneki is very much ready to let the sailors be completely stunned on their own, and has no interest in providing any soothing words that will calm their terror. Story telling is an art and literature should be enjoyed by each person who will have to digest it on their own - so he would argue. In reality, Kaneki simply doesn't see it needed because the stories he has been telling have a very specific purpose.

When he spots a familiar face, Ken nods gently as a greeting. "If it will help them rethink their actions, I believe it's a good thing." he whispers back, watching the crew dissipate.

"Strangely enough, they will return after supper to hear another." perhaps because they may be bored or too frightened to be on their own. Who knows.

[downswing]

The real, pedestrian horror of death at sea draws men to more sinister alternatives — as if to hear the scares of ghosts and ghouls brings glory to the final passage and distance from its hurts.

There is a place for stories, in the discipline of men as well as in their appeasement. They will return after supper to hear another, no doubt flasks of hard drink in hand and the look of silvered wonder ghosting their eyes. They will want to pretend there is worse that could curse them than the howls of a stormy sea, or the boom of their captain's voice, condemning them to hard, ugly toil.

Kaneki's cruelty is his mercy. There must be something in this game, just for him. A private, cautious gain.

"Lend them kindness. Many have suffered." A hand, raised bony and pale, so his palm might weather the near-physical advance of Kaneki's likely upcoming opposition. For, yes, Kaneki too has suffered. "Behold them: uneducated, orphans, weak-minded. Often stumbled into their ruin."

Few men wake each day choosing to wear their worst forms. More often, they simply grow into them.

[enucleation]

Or perhaps they wish to be warned of their fates, or maybe they simply enjoy literature that will freeze them in their places. Whatever it is that brings them back to kaneki's stories, the ghoul will indulge them because he does know many books, many stories, many words.

"I am being kind." he explains softly. He doesn't expect most to understand. "Calladan will kill them if they dare to rise against him in any form. These stories, as petrifying as they are, work to keep them from doing anything stupid, for they fear they might happen to them."

by instilling fear, they do not fight their captain. It is a kindness. "They would never be able to actually take over this ship. They would die pointless deaths."

[downswing]

There is complicity, learned fear in this apprehension of Caladan Kreil. He has seen it before, in men of the Sunshot legions, in career soldiers inured to risk and yet still petrified of the man who leads them above all, short only of the heavens.

"You think one man stands above dozens?" he asks it conversationally, empty. Not to contradict, but to inspect the root of fear's sickness. What can the captain do, past coax the allegiance of those handful still loyal? And even they appear few, far between, scattered.

It strikes Lan Wangji, as it should have from the start, "He commands powers past rank? A weapon?"

Surely, even if he did, a captain would not turn the sharp end of his blade against his followers — at times of peace. If this reddens into war, then... ah, but they are wretched things, poor strategists, prone only to speculation.

[enucleation]

"Or perhaps it's not Calladan they should fear." Kaneki is certain Quicksilver would not allow for whatever his plans are to be messed up by some unruly pirates. In fact, he might be willing to use those unruly pirates to his end - whatever it is.

In the end, he doesn't think Calladan is the main issue, he seems to simply be following to get his hands in what he can. he will receive a boat too, but there is a chance he might receive more.

But he shakes his head and Kaneki adds a smile "I simply don't think bloodshed while travelling in the middle of a possibly cursed ocean is wise."