The First Land Herald/437-05-38

Article Number: Unknown article number

Dateline: 437-05-38

PIRATE SRINOJA MEETS FOR DIPLOMATIC TALKS Several adventurers have been moved to action in the wake of the recent meeting with Commodore Khoheke Moglin and the Scholar Zauldin, which revealed their desire to strike against the Lich Jeihrem, may his heart fester until it is consumed by its own morbid gravity. Notably, a small group formed in the hopes of reaching out diplomatically to the Rathan Houses. Their idea was that, with House Moglin already committed, the other Houses might have an interest in engaging either the pirates who are harrying Moglin or the Lich himself. This group, consisting of Ayrell, Ezerak, Qiyan, and Saragos, penned a letter to the good commodore in the hopes that he would pass it on to the Houses. Unfortunately, though the letter was sent via Saragos's trusted and majestic lynx, Arias, it was intercepted by the pirate Srinoja, a wily captain who claims to be entirely independent. She wrote, in remarkably good penmanship I might add, that "no pirates are in league with the Lich," further elaborating that they do not "in any way tolerate or accept the desecration of the dead," believing that "the Lich is contained to his sad little island of bones and garish decor... he respects the might of our ships enough to steer clear and sight his scheming elsewhere. After we showed him our mastery of the seas, he has respected our borders and lanes, and we thus respect his." However, with this letter came an unusual opportunity. Captain Srinoja made it clear that she was willing to parley in order to discuss terms that might be agreeable to both sides. Despite her subsequent raid on Riverhaven, after some debate, the diplomatic party accepted her offer and agreed to meet her on Hara'jaal, taking with them a large force of adventurers for protection. Sir Kenamer and Sir Madigan took charge of defensive groups, and Dantia led triage preparation. The diplomatic group, with two bodyguards, Sir Brisknite and Mazrian, ascended the gangplank to the Hangman's Pursuit while the defending force remained on the beachhead. Within the tiny captain's cabin, Captain Srinoja first casually dropped some information about her own source of power: She claims to have a "box full" of "Gorbesh exploders," presumably referring to the nasty Gorbesh Battle Sphere, with which we are so familiar now (see the First Land Herald article from 434-06-25). [A sketch is included, accompanied by the signature, "Aislynn." The quality work depicts a Gnomish pirate. A scar cuts across the left side of the woman's face from beneath a simple leather eyepatch, while her other eye is steely grey. Her snow-white-streaked grey hair is shoulder length, and is worn in ringlets beneath a white-plumed peaked cap. Weathered skin is covered in an interlacing pattern of faded sleeve tattoos of coiling sea serpents. A windsteel naval cutlass hangs at her hip.] She then laid out her desires: Full pardon for all current, past, and future charges of piracy, extortion, stealing, or other hustling within Qi. No taxes levied on independent merchants, and no port fees for ships that don't fly the flags of Rathan houses. All ships hereby confiscated to be returned. And the Rathan Houses agree to stay out of the business of Hara'jaal, Tref Bain, and any other independent islands. All this in exchange for her fleet refraining from interfering with House Moglin's, and a promise to go straight, act solely as proper privateers and mercenaries, with the possibility of joining the fight against the Lich as such. She further made some claims to desire Commodore Khoheke's head in exchange for other boons, but I won't dignify such murderous terms with ink. Saragos made an impassioned plea for her to understand the state of the world, threatened as it is by those working with demons. "We are involved in a struggle to save the world from [the Perverse] threat. Their actions are a danger to everyone... those on the Isle consort with Demons, and those demons would eat our world. Me, you, your crew. My children. Moglin, Ratha, the mainland. Everyone. We don't want you as enemies. We don't want to be friends with the Houses. We just want to get in there and do what needs to be done. Moglin is with us because Moglin is willing to help in going after the Lich." "Those demons are here. Now. On your doorstep. You might not want involvement with them, but they don't care about that. And if they succeed, the demons won't care if you have a deal with them. They'll devour everything." Ayrell softly followed with a reasonable suggestion: a pause in hostilities, while the adventurers and Moglin move on the Lich. A temporary truce between House Moglin and Captain Srinoja's fleet. The captain was skeptical, pointing out that this was her chance to move against her enemy, while he was occupied with another. At the moment, the three enemies are caught in a Reshalian standoff, each with a knife to the other's throat. Mazrian spoke mostly to himself, wondering aloud that certainly a move by Moglin to establish a secure beachhead on Basalt Isle would drain the House's resources for some time, both in ships and men. A House so occupied might, of course, be less vigilant in pursuing pirates. Saragos summed up the options at that point. Option 1 included at minimum a truce, a promise that Basalt Isle would not go under Rathan jurisdiction if captured, and possibly some sort of safe passage for Srinoja's pirates, similar to what Aedem has. Option 2 would be to bring the captain's full demands to House Moglin, with the pirates joining up as privateers if the demands are met. Both options would require a complete cessation of the recent raiding against the mainland provinces. Captain Srinoja agreed to discuss with her crew. Meanwhile, the diplomats will be speaking with Commodore Khoheke to learn his response. On the beach outside, nearing the end of negotiations, we were suddenly assaulted by those most nefarious and foul among the Perverse: the Evil Witch Agalea, the Nightmare Zehira, and the Fell Arcanist Nefis, their features distorted with the aberrant, twisted ugliness of their Unholy craft. Three others joined them that I saw, though I know not their names for certain — let they be warned that if they continue along this path, we will surely learn of them and shout their names among those of our foes. Fortunately, this group was easily dispatched by the large assembly of those on the righteous side of Good. But let this be a lesson to us: the Perverse are watching, and they will defend their island. The black-sailed Hangman's Pursuit deposited the diplomats at that point and swiftly pulled anchor, slipping off and out of Tyvager Bay. Our work is not yet done, fellow adventurers. We have much yet to do, both diplomatically and otherwise. If you would seek to be involved, speak to myself, Saragos, Sir Kenamer, or Dantia. In the meantime, be wary of black sails and black hearts. Fair winds and following seas, Navesi Daerthon True Bard, Zoluren's Herald Editor in Chief of the First Land Herald

Real Date: Unknown Date

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Author(s): Navesi