Nakyan rested his elbow on the pommel of his arming blade, tucked neatly away in its sheathe. He pulled the tip of his tricorner down and held it there, defending against the growing wind of the open ocean. The vast, crashing waves of the sea were accented by a sky of stars of nearly every color. Their world beyond this one.

"Captain." A whisper. Nakyan dropped to a knee alongside Eado. The man was massive and easily distinguishable, but he was quiet enough and when the whole thing inevitably went tits up, as it had many times before, you wanted him on your side.

The surrounding eight crewmen were each garbed in the same black leather, dark belt of Gems and padded boots that Eado and Nakyan wore. Everyone had shorter weapons, even the arming sword he wore was on the shorter side and still pushed the limit of his comfort.

"I think we're in the clear." Even the man's whispers were loud

"Right, right..." Yans mind was muddled and distracted, the size of the galleon was... massive. Easily four times the size of the Pasongunan, and with the cannon count to match. "Everyone, be ready. We're boarding soon."

"Aye" The crew gave the response in a whispered shout as they stood.

Their small craft had pulled alongside the Treasure Galleon as it slid lazily towards its destination, having used oars to row closer until two of the men were able to latch a pair of hooks into an unlocked gun hole cover. Secured and tied, Nakyan readied for the climb to the upper deck with a hooked rope looped into his belt. The weight was more than annoying but did little to limit his climbing. Another crewman, Freua, joined in his climb a few moments later. She would cover his rear in case anything were to happen.

Nakyan slowed a halt just below the upper deck railing and waited for his companion to join him. Freua made it to his side a few moments later.

"What took so long?" He asked

"Thought I heard a noise. Worried, one of the covers was opening."

"Right. Ready?"

"Ready."

The pair pulled themselves up and flew over the railing, the amber gems on their belts giving off a muted glow. Strength spells were wonderful for fighting, and it was why he'd pushed so hard for them to be available for boarding. The rest of the belt held gems containing shield spells, smoke screens, and a Clerics crystal.

Nakyan landed on the deck with a silent thud and scanned the surroundings, he lowered to a kneel and retrieved a pair of daggers from his boots. The blades were gray, but their edges began to ooze shadow as he touched them. Nokintongon, the Fangs, the last gift from his father. They felt warm to his touch, and his skin seemed to stick to the leather.

The top deck was massive and filled, as he'd assumed, with more than two dozen of the ship's crew. They seemed to be disinterested in the affairs of the night, even the stationed helmsman had seemed to of stepped away from the wheel. Nakyan made a wave over the railing to signal the rest of his team below, then silently closed the distance to a nearby Imperial guard. The man was leaning half asleep against the rail, separated from the rest.

It took only a quick pull to slice the man's throat and sever his chance to scream, he pushed the man aside before he could turn and sent him falling down into the waves with a splash. Two more appeared at the top of the quarterdecks stairs, seemingly drawn by the noise. Nakyan rushed across the deck and slid in behind a group of barrels near the rear mast. Few of the others had made it up yet, but Nakyan noted that Freua had managed to remove two more of the guards.

"I swear," One with a heavy Gehenian accent said, "It was over there. Must be some sort of creature of the sea." Nakyan heard the guard step up to the railing

"Creature o' the sea?" another came to join him, sounding deeply bonsuian with his thick speech. "Wha' you mean? W're ain near the expanse yet."

"Tell that to the seas, my good fellow."

Nakyan slid around the edge of the barrel to examine the pair. Both wore the same uniform as the man he'd slain, and seemed to be fairly similar in height and build. Neither was armed, but the rightmost one seemed to be holding a lantern

"I don' see anyting" The bonsuian man said, he shifted the lantern to the side and directed its light back onto the deck.

"Keep looking," The gehenian man slumped lower over the railing. "I honestly just needed to get away, and this is as good an excuse as any."

Yan adopted a crouched walk and edged closer to the pair. He gave his surroundings another quick look and saw that a number of his crew had crested the rail and were beginning to spread out. He thanked the heavens that neither of the guards before him seemed to be paying any amount of attention.

He slid the right blade back into its sheath and pulled out a long throwing knife, aiming for the lantern. He tossed the blade and struck the lantern with enough force to send it flying from the man's hand and into the ocean. The guard watched in confusion as the hunk of metal he'd just been using for light fell helpless into the waves. He was likely even more confused as a blade slid across his throat and he was pressed over the rail.

The faint glow of amber faded again as Yan watched the Gehenian fall into the waters. Muffled steps drew his attention to Eado, who had just crested the rope and looked around. Most of the guards on the deck were gone, either lying on the floor or having vanished. Only the helm and quarter deck cabins remained.

"We've got the helm, send the signal." Freua said. She and four others rushed up the stairs to top of the quarter deck.

"Guess that leaves us the cabins." Yan said wearily. Eado nodded and carefully made his way to the door.

It opened silently and Nakyan and Eado were let out into a room of surprising opulence. It seemed that they had just stepped into a manor back in the countryside. The walls and floors were well treated, and the furniture reminded Nakyan of the Konudepas own greeting room. There were even rooms within the room, separated with walls and their own doors.

One of these doors spilled light out into the otherwise darkness of the surroundings, and Yan made his way towards it with a growing feeling of dread. He could hear voices as he approached, a man and a woman. His heart quickened, they were arguing about something. Nakyan waved for Eado to follow and braced himself to break down the door.

It flung open with a single bash and revealed a man in nighttime finery and a woman dressed in rags and chained to the wall. Her face was bloodied, which had fallen similarly onto the rags she wore.

"What is this?" The man asked, he held a long metal pole in his had. A pool of blood had formed beneath where he'd held it. "Answer me crewman!"

Yan flung his blade into the man's heart and sent him crashing into a nearby trunk, a tray whirled away as glass fell and shattered. It took Nakyan a moment to realize what he'd done, but once the thought connected he rushed forward, pulled the blade from the dying man's ticker, and slit his throat. He pushed the body aside and tried to clear the way for Eado.

"Can you walk?" Eado asked, he went to snap the woman's chains but found them resistant. He gave her a careful glare before muttering, "What are you?"

"Help...me..." She wheezed "Please..."

"What is-"

"Key," The large man said "Check the captains body for a key."

Nakyan obliged, relying on the feeling of urgency that had suddenly sprung up. He found it on a necklace around the late captains neck, he slit the cord and tossed Eado the metal. The chains fell to the wood with a weight he wouldn't have expected, and the woman rose.

"I...can help..."

"I don't know you." Yan said firmly, "Who are you?"

"Acria..eaba.."

"Acriaeaba?"

"Cria..." she nodded, "If I can't...fight. Then we need to find...the.."

"Journal?" She fixed her eyes on him with a surprising intensity. "I'm here for it as well."

"Sancria..." She muttered

"We should leave." Eado said,

"Right, Cria you should stay here and arm yourself with something. We'll get you when we've captured the ship."

"Its below... He keeps it on the lower deck..."

"Eado, once those barrels blow, we'll need to head down."

"Aye." Eados massive frame disappeared into the dark, and Yan could just barely make out the strained whispers of instruction. The taking of the top deck had gone fairly well, he was hopeful that was going to remain the case.

"Stay here," He turned and left the poor slave to rest and recover, she'd likely been through more than enough.

He exited the massive Captain's manor and came to see a number of small dark barrels strapped to the masts of the ship. Yan moved through, inspecting the knots and making sure everything was secured properly. He arrived alongside Eado and noticed the that the entirety of the assaulting team had survived without injury. That was a good sign, if nothing else.

"Ready captain?" Eado asked

"Ready."

Eado placed a hand against a piece of rope, igniting his hand before he made contact. The rope took with some difficulty, but eventually the flame was holding without any aid. He swung the rope once, twice, thrice, and then let it fly into the waiting open barrel of powder.

Nakyan smiled as the fire of the explosion grew. He loved the feeling of the heat, and standing next to an explosion was certainly a way of experiencing that. The blue of the shielding gem glowed brilliantly as its energy was sapped away in an incredible burst.

"Waiting on you now brother," The shouting of soldiers below the deck sent a spike of adrenaline through his body. "But take your time." He dashed forward with enhanced strength and give a wild cry of bloodlust.

Sekos frown deepened as the line of explosions ripped across the darkness and toppled the Galleons masts. Nakyan had done his work, in a faster time than he'd anticipated, too. That meant the man was likely enjoying himself, and that was never good for anyone. His brother was many things, but a follower of moderation was not one.

"Ready the broadsides." Seko shouted. The crew shouted a chant of agreement, springing to life in a flurry of motions.

"Shall we circle, sir?" Aithur asked

"Aye, but make sure the crew knows to aim low. We've our own aboard that devil."

Aithur nodded and repeated the command, then gave it again through the pipes. He heard the tinny reply of the lower decks come one by one, and let each provide him a better sense of the situation.

Nothing had gone wrong, yet. The ship's masts were down, the crew was assaulting the soldiers, and Seko was moving in to assist. Everything was as it should be. That was what concerned him.

"Aithur, check with the Arc room. I want to know we can lift this thing if the need be."

"Aye captain." The man nodded and repeated the question.

"As far as I know." Vel shouted, "We haven't tested it yet, why?"

"The captain has a feeling, it seems." Aithur said

"Well, tell him he can shove his feelings up-"

"Thank you Vel." Aithur tried to interrupt the woman with the dismissal, but her rant only grew more distant, likely pacing the room and shouting insults. "Answer yer question, Captain?"

"Aye. It doesn-"

"Captain!" A crewman on the top deck gave a shout and waved to the approaching target.

Seko had only a moment to register the number of white spouts of smoke coming from the ship's side before a barrage of cannonballs zipped by or crashed around them. He rushed to grab the railing for support, just as a ball ripped through a sail and another slammed into the ship's metal hull below.

"Return fire!" He shouted. A burst of smoke lines shot from the Pasongunans side came in response, achieving a faster reaction. That was one downside of a massive ship like that, it was a wonder the Empire even used those types anymore.

As they approached the flaming vessel, several times higher than their own, Seko could see the war raging on the upper deck of the ship. Nakyan was barreling down a pair of cornered soldiers with Eado near his back. Three of the crew, Freua included he thought, were cutting through a flow of roughly dressed soldiers shaken from slumber.

"It's a bloodbath." Seko muttered.

"Aye, he has that habit." Aithur nodded, "It's good we're a bit from the Expanse. Monsters of the deep would love this."

"I don't know how far we actually are." Seko said, Aithur looked around and shook his head.

"Few could get in here, fewer'd even want to. Nothing but a..." Aithur stopped and stepped away from the wheel to inspect the water over the side. He took off his hat and gave a silent prayer before returning to his post. "Aye captain."

"Let's hope that helps."

"It's for yer soul, not yer fate."

A pair of glints caught Sekos eye, contrasted by the occasional low cloud. He squinted but couldn't make out the figures. He pulled up the spy glass and felt his heart drop. Two Buko, large dark birds used as messengers by the Empire, were climbing higher and higher into the sky, presumably carrying letters of the attack. Seko cursed and rushed down the stairs from the helm to the main deck, pulling his pistol from its holster.

He threw himself against the mast and steadied his arm. He tracked the first bird against the haze of the clouds and pulled the trigger. Its form fell silently into the night, lifeless. He tried to find the second bird but only caught its glint again as it passed out of his range. Seko took a few extra shots in case a stray bolt would strike it, but the bird flew on uninterrupted and carrying a missive of their doom.

Seko raced back to the helm, tracking the range of the Galleon all the while. The ships were closing in, and the cannons were growing less effective. The crew that wasn't manning cannons were preparing for the boarding. Aithur gave him a confused look and scanned the skies.

"What was that?" He asked

"Boku. Two" Seko said. Aithurs face sunk, but he gave a slow nod of understanding.

"Aye Captain."

The Pasongunan slid up beside the Galleon and Seko could see the gold accenting of the ships title, the Seas Bast Catch. He chuckled and rolled his eyes, the Admiralty had gained a sense of humor if nothing else. The crew seemed to move like ants, slowly ascending in an amalgamation of bodies and each with a single goal in mind.

Seko grabbed a Gewel Belt, inlaid with four gems, and slipped it over his chest then tightened the straps to fit. As he ran to join the climb, he pushed a tendril of magic into his hand and pressed it to the shielding gem. A tinted bubble of emerald, the gem enchanted with the spell, appeared around his body inches from the skin then disappeared without a sound.

The top deck of the treasure galleon was alight with pillars of crackling fire and filled with the sounds of battle. The crew fought harshly against the groups of soldiers spilling from the ships innards, seemingly undeterred by the myriad of corpses falling around them. Seko caught the glimpse of silver and turned in time to see a blade rushing towards his head at a violent speed. He flung himself back and stumbled into a crewman, knocking the man off balance, pulled his arc pistol from its holster and leveled the weapon at the attacker. The soldier had stumbled from the dodge and was recovering, leaving Seko the chance to pull the trigger and send the bolt of Arcane energy through the attackers torso. He fell back with a soft thud.

Seko pressed the pistol into his left hand and pulled out his blade, deciding to arm himself with something a tad more defensive. He spotted Eado across the deck, the man was surrounded by a group of frightened fighters too scared to press the attack. Seko laced more magic into his hand and pressed it to the Amber gem, a sudden spark of energy coursed through him with the feeling of boundless stamina. He lunged forward and cleared ten feet, knocking aside a few crew and soldiers alike. He landed and dashed to the man's side while cutting through the surrounding soldiers. The sudden attack sent some of the soldiers into a relentless panic that caused them to flee, throwing their weapons to the ground.

"Good of you to join, Captain." Eado said "Took your time though."

"I got distracted by a pair of Boku."

A glob of liquid fire came crashing against the emerald barrier around Seko, spreading out and sliding off slowly. A number of the soldiers were trained as lesser casters it seemed, and they were happily using that knowledge against them.

Seko parried a sword aimed for his chest but felt another glob of fire crash against his back. He cut through the parried soldiers chest with a thrust and fired the pistol at the caster, both men fell to the floor with a thud as another two soldiers charged. Eado brought his blade down onto one, stopping the man in his tracks and then some, while Seko knocked the second blade aside and pressed the barrel to the attackers chin and fired.

"Clear the deck!" Shouted Seko over the crashing of blades and screaming of death "Then move down!"

A cheer of acknowledgement rang through the Crew, now becoming heartened by the dwindling number of defending soldiers. They pushed their way down the stairs and began to sweep through the chambers, clearing out the remaining crew of the ship. Within half an hour the ship was fully under their control and Seko strode across the blood and viscera of the battle. Nakyan knelt beside a corpse and felt through its pouch and pockets.

"Nothing!" Yan lifted the man and tossed him over the side.

"Yan, stop throwing bodies over the side."

"Ah, good of you to join us, brother. Fine work with the cannons and what have you." Yan wiped his bloodied hands on a shirt he'd removed from another body.

"We're close enough to the Expanse that I don't want to risk the possibility of beast." Seko gave the surrounding bodies a once over and asked "So no luck?"

"Not a bit." Yan said. "No journal, some treasure in the lower decks."

"What? How much?"

Nakyan shrugged, "Not sure, far less than what was reported. What are we going to do about the journal and Cria?"

"Cria?"

"Right, the woman we found and rescued. She seemed very serious when I mentioned that I was also searching for the Journal."

Seko pinched his brow and tried to subdue the growing stress. "Fine, we'll deal with that in a minute. The ship had less than reported though... that doesn't bode well for us in the way of information."

"It's fine, we took care of everything before they could send off-"

"They did," Seko cut him off with a cold tone "Two Boku, I got one."

"Shit."

"Aye."

The pair stood in silence in the garden of death they'd created, watered and treated as only true caretakers to such a strange life could. Seko grappled with the information and tried to press out the creases and wrinkles of what was happening, but each time he tried to place something it would slip away.

"What now?" Seko asked. He didn't know if it was for him or for the crew as a whole, but at the moment he felt lost and concerned.

"Lets talk with Cria and see if we can come up with anything," Yan said "But we survived taking a treasure Galleon! Thats something! The most we've ever taken was a Regalia, shouldn't you be celebrating?"

"I'll celebrate when we can pay our crew."

"We will, and if Cria can help us find the journal, or better yet the actual treasure of Dotan, then it'll be smooth sailing."

Seko sighed and followed as his brother made for the quarterdecks cabin.