Da'Karro Misantri's Story

Da'Karro sat aboard the bow of the merchant ship he was bartering passage on, watching the horizon stretch endlessly on. The view was the same one he had been staring at for hours, but he was only slightly bored. He had never been on the ocean before, and for all its lack of sensation, it was a new experience none the less. That and he was waiting eagerly for the appearance of black flags on the horizon.
The Captain walked up behind him, resting his weathered hands upon the railing and sighing deeply. "A dangerous time to be traveling friend. Wars wracked our destination, and I hear pirates now freely roam the waters."
"I'm counting on it." Da'Karro thought, "The person I am looking for deserves such risks."
"I'd hope they would, and if the sum you paid me to take you is any indications, they are probably important to more people than just you."
Da'Karro gave the Captain a sideways look, eying him up and down, judging whether the man was threatening him, if need be, he could always just kill him, but it would make finding the Crimson Lady much harder. He looked back out to sea. "Perhaps, but those arent questions you should be asking, 'Friend'. Keep your business to yourself and I'll keep to mine."
The Captain raised his hands in apologetic defence, "No offence meant, curious is all, just a strange and dangerous time to be travelling."
Da'Karro remained silent, keeping his eyes out to sea, waiting for the pinpoint dot on the horizon that would signal an oncoming ship, and bring him one step closer to completing his mission. He reached up and held the Talisman around his neck, rubbing it as he whispered under his breath.
"Ishka be Praised."

"PIRATES!!" shouted the lookout from the crows nest, his words echoing over the water and initiating a series of cries across the deck as crewmen jumped to activity and to the edges of the ship, peering off into the distance to try and see pirates ship in the fading light.
"Pirates off the starboard bow!" they called again, as deck hands began scrambling to find the meagre muskets and cutlasses held in the hold below. Down in the bowels of the ship, a crewman ran along the living quarters, rallying those few travellers that could fight, and instructing to hide those that could not. He eventually came to the room at the very end, moving with such pace and purpose, that when the door opened a second before he could burst through it, he fell flat on his face and skidded along the floor. Scrambling to his feet he quickly started stammering words about preparing for battle before mumbling into silence at the sight of the man. He was decked from head to foot in dark leather armour, black wrappings covering his head and shoulders, as well as waist. His left arm was sheathed in an ornate gauntlet its fingers ending in claws, and sheathed across his lower back was a strange broad bladed, forward curving sword. but it wasn't his attire that silenced the deckhand, or his strange armaments, it was the fiery passionate look in the strangers eyes, like a hungry predator with the scent of prey.
"Good," Da'Karro said striding past the stunned deckhand, "I have been waiting."

On the deck a state of organised chaos reigned, its coherent madness setting off Da'Karro's pulse and quickening his step. This useless merchant ship had ony been bait for the trap, hopefully these cut-throats would make for a more fruitful search of his quarry.
"Captain!" He called from his place at the on the deck to the captain up on the keel, "How far out are they?" he asked as he climbed the stairs and approached.
"Twenty minutes," the Captain said, eye to his telescope "Sure hope you know how to use that sword Friend."
"Don't worry I do," Da'Karro said as he drove it into the Captains spine, muffling his cry with his gauntleted hand before throwing him overboard, "Friend."
Da'Karro turned and walked back down to the deck where chaos still reigned and none had noticed the Captains absence.
"Twenty minutes? I've never worked on a time limit before."
"Ishka watch over me, Guide my blade as I send these souls to you, may you revel in their pain, and absolve them of their faithlessness in death. Ishka give me the strength to overcome those who would avert your ascension, give me the swiftness to strike true, and the steel to show no mercy. Come Pleasure come pain, may I serve your will, ISHKA BE PRAISED!!

The Pirate ship Devils Mercy approached the merchant ship as it would any other, swiftly and at arms, it loosed no shot as the ship was unarmed with cannon, and they didn't want to harm any potential loot to be had from the ship. Suspicions started to be raised however, as they approached the ship, and heard silence. no ringing bells, no shouting men, no firing of muskets. only silence. Even the pirates themselves lowered their voices to a mumble then a silence as they neared the ghost ship. They came too and boarding bridges were laid and men stormed across them iwith a muffled attempt at a roar, the silence deafening their attempts at ferocity. All momentum was lost as they boarded the dead vessel, the men stopping dead in their tracks to looking around in abject horror. Dead littered the deck, their bodies laying in still pooling blood, some still twitching as recently severed neurons fired to dead bodies. none said a word as more pirates boarded the corpse ship.
"What happened here?" one said, looking around at the dead bodies all around.
"Mutiny?" asked another, eliciting a few nods from his fellow.
"No," said a voice from a boarding bridge, and as all turned, the captain of the Devils Mercy stepped onto the bloody deck, "If there was a mutiny there would be survivors of the winning group."
"There is one survivor." said a voice from the shadows, and as one a dozen pistols were pointed to a dark corner under a staircase. slowly a man dressed in black exited the shadows, his sword drenched in blood, along with a gauntlet on his left arm, and blood splatter darkened his already dark attire.
"What happened here?" the Captain of the Devils Mercy said, striding towards the figure.
"I happened." The stranger said. removing the wrappings from around his head.
"And why would you do... this?" the Captain said, gesturing to the slaughtered crew.
"A gift," the man replied with a wolfish smile and giving a mock bow, "And in return I have but one request."
The Captain was silent for a moment, before replying tentatively, "And what be that?"
The strangers grin disappeared, and all that was left was the steel grey of his eyes, so cold it could burn the flesh, "The Crimson Lady, the Pirate Captain Robyn, you will take me to her."

Robyn sat back as her men sat in Labrador City, dancing about, making merry with slaves they'd acquired, the low hum of the men singing shanties, clapping and stomping in rythym. Robyn per usual, was sat with a bottle of rum in her hand, while Scarlet sat on the floor at her side.

"Why aren't you making merry?" Scarlet asked after a while. "Merry is a relative term." Robyn said as she rose her bottle to her lips.

Scarlet looked at her for a moment. "My mother drank to feel numb, when my father was in his harem. Do you wish to feel numb."

"I drink to feel..."


Just then a red faced Casey, came stumbling over. Robyn arched an eyebrow.

"What is it, Casey?" Robyn asked impatiently.

"We just received word from the Devil's Mercy, A man inquires about you?" He said and now she understood why he was red-faced, he wasn't drunk, he was nervous. He knew she particularly hated when other pirate's knew where she was, and that it was the Devil's Mercy that knew. They'd tried taking her ship from her before, and barely survived to tell the tale, what could possible posses them to hail her now?

"Did they say who this man was?"

"Just that he'd slaughtered an entire merchant ship, single-handedly. He said it was a gift in return for information on you."


Robyn stood up, causing Scarlet to scurry to her feet.

"Single-handedly?"

"Aye, Captian."


"Alright, I want to see this man, Send word to the Devil's Mercy. Bring him to me."

Casey nodded and disappeared off behind the crowd of pirates.

Scarlet looked at Robyn. "What now. Ma'am?"

"We wait, This man obviously wants something from me, and he knew the perfect way to show it." She said.

"How's that?"

"By killing alot of people."

Labarador city was a mess. the fields outside its walls littered with camps and men, wagons and beasts, the walls themselves scarred and burnt, and the smell of fear and desperation hanging in the air like a looming cloud. It was cold. Colder than what Da'Karro was used to, but it didn't bother him much, he had endured much worse as a slave. sleeping in the open air chained to a post with nought to warm him but the caked blood of his opponents. His cold Grey eyes matched the stormy sky and he stood aboard the prow as the Devils Mercy made surged toward the shore on a steady wind. There were a number of ships moored in the harbour, and he wondered which one was the Harbinger, with sails drawn and flags stowed, it was difficult to tell one ship from another.
The Captain of the Devils Mercy, Julius Mauk, came and stood beside him on the prow, under his wrappings, Da'Karro smiled at the similarity.
"We'll make anchor soon, and head to the shore by longboat, there you will meet with Captain Robyn, and I will take my leave." Mauk said, not turning to face Da'Karro. "What ever business you have with that she-devil I suggest you complete it quickly, and then make leave. she is a dangerous person to be around."
"So am I." Da'Karro said, his eyes never leaving the nearing harbour.
"I've no doubt of that Friend, only a suggestion is all."
Under his wrappings Da'Karro smiled again, "Its almost as if he's begging for me to send him to Ishka"
"Captain are you a godly man?" Da'Karro said, turning to face Mauk for the first time.
The Captain sighed and turned to Da'Karro with a voice like a lecturing father, "Friend, I have said all the seas in the West, and seen more gods and people believing in them than I care to remember, and not one of them managed to convince me otherwise."
"Well Captain, indulge me, as a last passing gift of mine, lets go to your cabin, and I will show you there is but one Goddess. And she is very real."

The Longboat came neared the pier where Captain Robyn and her stood waiting. Within it sat a lone figure working the oars, and a large travelling chest in the back. the boat came to pier and the figure stepped out, dragging the clearly heavy chest behind him. "Captain Robyn!" the man proclaimed loudly, opening his arms to the sky and grinning form ear to ear, "My Name Is Da'Karro Misantri, Gladiator, Courtesan, Torturer and Devoted of the one true Goddess, Ishka, blessed be Her name. I bring you a gift, and ask humbly that I accompany you and your crew, for at least the time being." And with that, he opened up the chest before the crowd, revealing the brutalised, broken and carved body of Captain Julius Mauk. His bones were splintered and snapped, lacerations covered his body and large patches of skin had been meticulously peeled form his flesh. His eyes were removed, and his face mutilated, but by far the most horrifying thing of all, moire than any atrocity inflicted on the man, that shocked and made sick the crew of the Harbinger more than anything. Was the Fact that Julius Mauk, Captain of the Devils Mercy and feared Pirate Captain, was still breathing.

Robyn stood with Scarlet at her left and Casey at her right, The rest of the Crimson Crew standing behind her, waiting at the shore for this mystery man.

All were curious as to who was the brave soul that would openly seek out the Crimson Lady, knowing her reputation.

Robyn herself was just as curious.

Soon a longboat rode up toward the docks where the Harbinger in all it's bloody glory towered.


A man neared them, dragging a heavy chest in his wake. Robyn sighed out of boredom.

"Captian Robyn." He bellowed grandly, Robyn rubbed her hand down her face.

"It's the Merchant of Maldune all over again..." She mumbled to Casey, who snickered in response.

"My name is Da'Karro Misantri, Gladiator, Courtesan, Torturer and Devoted of the one true Goddess, Ishka, blessed be Her name. I bring you a gift, and ask humbly that I accompany you and youe crew, for at least the time being." He said and opened the large chest.

The unmistakable scent of blood bloomed from the chest and Robyn arched an eyebrow, Scarlet relieved the contents of her stomach, Casey cleared his throat and the rest of the crew all oo'ed and winced in response.

There inside was the Captain of the Devil's Mercy, battered, bloodied, it had seemed his skin was peeled like an apple, bones broken, leaving the pirate shivering in pain, shock and fear.

Robyn looked at the man.

"Well, You've certainly gotten my attention." She said and approached this Da'Karro, person, looking him in the eyes as she spoke "I'm impressed but..." She said, her tone lower, her crew grew tense, knowing the tone. "One does not go through all the trouble of finding the Crimson Lady just for temporary board...These men earned their place on my ship for that reason, for a place, a home even. So You clearly are after something more then to accompany me and my crew." She said, her brown cold eyes boreing into his steel grey one. She looked at the Captain once more.

"I warned you, Didn't I, If I ever saw your face again, it would be not be in your favor...." She said and kneeled down, using two fingers to lift the man's blood covered arm. "Seems I was right." She said with a snicker.

"So Da'Karro, What is it that you want from me, Personally" She said, looking up, still kneeling at the chest. "You've tortured one of my personal enemies, so this is about me, directly." She said and stood, meeting the man face to face. "I should tell you, that at this point, You've acquired my full attention."

Da'Karro smiled as he watched the Captain inspect his gift, he had not known that this man was an enemy of the Crimson Lady, Ishka surely guided him well.
"So Da'Karro, What is it that you want from me, Personally" She said, looking up, from the still trembling form of Captain Mauk. "You've tortured one of my personal enemies, so this is about me, directly." She said and stood, meeting Da'Karro eye to eye, "I should tell you, that at this point, You've acquired my full attention."
Da'Karro's grin broadened, this was going better than he had expected. He had assumed, by the Crimson Ladies reputation that he would of had at least one pistol directed at him by now, but so far, Robyn seemed keen to discover his intentions.
"No point in delaying, she will accept it better no other time than now" He thought, bending to one knee.
"Captain Robyn Sheva of the Harbinger, I am a humble servant of the Goddess Ishka, whom has delivered unto me a mission of utmost importance." He said, head bowed, but inside he was positively writhing with anticipation, if she was the one, he was on the right path, if she was not, he would have such delight eliciting cries of pleasure and agony from those lips. "I have been sent to seek out the one who would bring Ishka's light to this world, to embody her on our mortal plain, to be her champion and deliverer, and to crush those who would deny her magnificence. My search has led me to you, Lady Sheva, whose fearsome renown and vicious reputation, lead me to suspect that you are indeed this chosen one. If you permit it, I would travel with you, serve you, and judge whether you are the woman I seek."

Robyn arched an eyebrow as Da'Karro bowed his head to her.

Her eyes narrowed, she was now keenly aware of the flintlock at her thigh, and the long sword at her hip.
"Captain Robyn Sheva of the Harbinger, I am a humble servant of the Goddess Ishka, whom has delivered unto me a misson of utmost importance." He said and Robyn rolled her eyes. Religious types always had a way to get just under her skin, going on about worship and such, her fingers itched for her flintlock at the thought. She sighed impatiently.

"I have been sent to seek out the one who would bring Ishka's light to this world, to embody her on our mortal plane, to be her champion and deliverer, and to crush those who would deny her magnificence. My search has lead me to you, Lady Sheva, whose fearsome renown and vicious reputation, lead me to suspect that you are indeed this Chosen One. If you permit it, I would travel with you, serve you, and judge whether you are the woman I seek."


The air was still then, the crew stunned silently, after the man's proclamation, he spoke with such conviction, such vigor, the crew all but believed him.

All except one.


Laughter burst out from Robyn's chest.

"Oh that's rich." She said, curbing her laughter.

The crew all seemed to have taken a step back, as Robyn's laughter was more like the sound of thunder off in the distance...as if a storm were brewing, not to far away.

"I've been called and compared to a great many things, but this....This is a new for me." She said, her hands on her hips, shaking her head. It seemed like a meaningless gesture but in fact, she already removed her gun from it's holster and cocked the hammer.


In an unsettling blink, she had her gun at his temple.

"It is only that your 'gift' was so lavish that you haven't already met with your goddess..." She said, her voice low and dark.
"You think you can say all this to get a free ride on my ship, Holy Man?" She whispered darkly. "How do I know that you aren't in fact a Spy, and that I shouldn't kill you where you fucking stand?" She hissed, her lips nearest his ear, with her gun still firmly pressed against the side of his head.

"Mathis, Front." She barked, never taking her eyes off of him. A man stepped forward, he held a few scars, no hair, not particularly big

"You entered my cabin last night...Didn't you?"She said finally taking her eyes off of Da'Karro.

"No Ma'am." Mathis said quickly, unsure at what was happening but Robyn saw the look in his eyes.


"Da'Karro, You see, He is-no excuse me, was a Cook, but he got fresh, decided that though I was sleeping or so he thought, He could attempt to get a little peek,and when he had time to confess, he lied to my face." She said and Mathis' eyes went wide. "obviously I need not this sort of distrust in my crew, but I need a Cook, We all need to eat. You can take his place, if you can't cook, Scarlet, the lithely little thing that can teach you, but you must prove yourself one more time, Kill him, But be creative. I hate liars. If you entertain me enough, you are welcome to become the ships new Cook, since you are so willing to serve." She said, and removed her gun from his temple but it was still trained on him and she had her next six moves planned in case he were to try anything.

Mathis looked at the man and pulled his own swords. All the crew carried weapons, especially the Cook.

"Have at it then."

"A cook?" Da'karro thought, watching the Crimson lady back away from him, gun still trained on him. "Well, I suppose it would be a start." He turned and trained his eyes on the soon to be dead cook. "No hard feelings." He said with a mock smile.
The cook snarled and raised his two sabres, one slightly shorter than the other, "Idiot," Da'Karro thought as he rested his hand on the pommel of his sword, "If you have a second weapon, dont show it off." The yelled some sort of weak attempt at a battle cry and charged, swinging his long saber in a sweeping downward arc. Da'Karro deftly spun to the left and under the wild swing. Snapping out with his gauntleted left hand as he came out of his spin, he jabbed at the cooks lower right back with his clawed fingertips. The Cook let out a cry and staggered forward as four small lacerations bloomed on his side. He recovered quickly and spun back around with broad sweep of his long sabre followed by a lunge with the short. Da'Karro deflected the sweep with his gauntlet and moved in when the cook expected him to back out. The cooks lunging hand was overextended, and Da'Karro swept his sword up from its hilt behind his back, lacerating the cooks wrist, but didnt have the force to sever it. The cook dropped his short sabre and clutched his hand his chest backing off, nursing his injured hand, a look of abject fear marring his face.
Da'Karro smiled, raising his bloody gauntlet to his mouth, and licking the still dripping blood. "Lets even the playing field, shall we?" He said, as he cut off his leather armour, his torso bare to the open wind, and revealing the swirling mix of tattoos and scars overlapping his body. He raised his sword and made two long cuts on his chest in an X shape. The blood dripping down his chest and over the silver talisman around his neck. His eyes flared and his smile grew into a maniacal grin. At this point the Cook started looking around, desperately trying to find a way out, but the only exit was along the pier, blocked by his old crewmates. He turned back to Da'Karro, only to see the man already standing in front of him, eyes blazing as he made a vicious chop at the cook, which connected with the wounded left arm he instinctively raised in defence, this time severing it at the mid forearm. the cook screamed and fell to the deck, blood pouring from his stump, all thought of his sword forgotten as he tried to stem the bleeding. It didn't last long as another unseen chop sent his other arm from his body. He screamed louder till Da'Karro buried his sword in the deck and placed his hand over the cooks mouth, his eyes barely an inch from the cooks own.
"This is your punishment, this is your repentance to Ishka, this is your reward for daring to take advantage of the chosen one. And this is your end."
And with that, he buried his gauntleted fingers up to the knuckles in the Cooks eyes.

The Crimson Crew all watched in awe as the new man decisively ended the old Cook.


Robyn watched with an almost aroused look on her face, especially when he licked the blood from this blade.


Now long after Da'Karro had the man in a bloody heap.

"This is your punishment, this is your repentance to Ishka, this is your reward for daring to take advantage of the Chosen one, and this is your end." With that, he sunk his fingers through Cook's eyes and that was that.


The crew was silent, save for young Scarlet, who sobbed quietly, and looked green.

Casey hushed her as best he could but it was all he could do.

Everyone was in shock, some mouth agape, save for the Crimson Lady.

With a wicked grin, she clapped.

"Well done," She said approaching him, shivering with after excitment. "My my, You are skilled." She said, with a gleam in her eye that she only ever had before sinking her blade into the heart of an enemy.

"Welcome aboard." She said, and with that the crew erupted in applause for their new member.

"His share is now yours, and luckliy for you, we are about to come into alot of money, however if you betray me...." She said but didn't finish...she allowed the men to all crowde
around the new member, shaking him, in congratulations, shouting and cheering.

"Now, go!" Robyn bellowed. "Drink to the newest member of the Crimson Crew!" And not long after rum was all passed around and it was back to the revelry.

Casey approached Robyn as the men all congratulated Da'Karro, kneeling down to her ear. "I don't trust him,Captian." He whispered.

"That's your problem, Mr. Casey." She said, knocking back a bottle. "...thinking I trust anyone." she said and walked toward Da' Karro, leaving Casey to look after the shell shocked Scarlet, she'd deal with her later but for now...

"Come with me, I want to know more about this Goddess of yours." She said, taking him by the wrist.

She then lead him toward her cabin where she closed the door behind them. "Chosen one, right?" She asked, lighting a latern, before taking a seat atop her desk. "Please, Enlighten me."

"My order is an old and secretive one." Da'Karro said, as he stood before the seated Robyn, cleaning the blood from his sword. The blood on his Gauntlet would take forever to clean, but he judged the display was worth it. "Long have we waited in the shadows, and people of all stripes follow our goddess. From soldiers to merchants, slaves and outlaws, as long as you are faithful, nothing else matters."
He sheathed his sword and looked at the still listening Robyn, His steel grey eyes taking in her lithe form. Yes, she was a beautiful specimen, strong and womanly, her curves extenuated by her dark skin and powerful eyes.
"We serve the Goddess of Life, Ishka, who blesses us with all things, every sense, every heartbeat, every thrill, is a gift from Ishka, and every gift she bestows is a gift she revels in, every agony, every pleasure, every touch of the senses is a blessing of hers." Da'Karro moved towards the window, looking out over the harbour, his senses alive after so much blood in such a small amount of time, he felt he could see the very spectrum of light across the water. He turned and walked towards Robyn, continuing in reverent tone.
"Long have we awaited one who would herald the coming of Ishka onto our mortal plain, and in a vision delivered to me, I was instructed that I am to seek out this chosen one, and guide her in Ishkas will. Leading the chosen one to their destiny."
He stopped a scant few inches from Robyn, not touching her, but so close he could feel her breath on his cheeks, his voice dropping to a whisper. "Allow me to show you the truth of Ishka, and show you the true extent of her gifts."

"My order is an old and secretive one." Da'Karro said, Robyn watched him as he spoke, watching his eyes for sincerity. "Long have we waited in the shadows, and people of all stripes follow our goddess. From soldiers to merchants, slaves and outlaws, as long as you are faithful, nothing else matters." He sheathed his sword before taking in her looks. This was something Robyn was used to, the men of her crew did the very thing, only they tried to hid their stares. Da'Karro was bold, and did not fear her as many did. It was both exciting and aggravating all at once.

"We serve the Goddess of Life, Ishka, who blesses us with all things, every sense, every heartbeat, every thrill, is a gift from Ishka, and every gift she bestows is a gift she revels in, every agony, every pleasure, every touch of the senses is a blessing of hers." Da'Karro moved towards the window, looking out over the harbor. Robyn saw what looked like euphoria in his eyes, like he was given a high from the blood shed....A kindred spirit, if she believed in such a thing.

"Long have we awaited one who would herald the coming of Ishka onto our mortal plain, and in a vision delivered to me, I was instructed that I am to seek out this chosen one, and guide her in Ishka's will. Leading the chosen one to their destiny." He said and walked up to her, mere inches from her now but enough that they weren't touching. "Allow me to show you the truth of Ishka, and show you the true extent of her gifts."His voice a low whisper.

Robyn grinned, moving so that her lips were merely a breath away from his, "You wish to Save me, Mr. Da'Karro? Many have tried..." She said, her voice too now a low whisper, her hand crawling up his chest as if whispering to a lover. " "All have failed..." She said slowly. " What will you do differently...? How will guide me?" She purred, her eyes like a cat, never really knowing whether or not she will strike.

"You wish to Save me, Mr. Da'Karro? Many have tried..." She said, her voice dropping to a whisper to match his own. Soft fingers moved up his bare, still bleeding chest, making small lines through the fresh blood. "All have failed..." She said slowly. " What will you do differently...? How will guide me?" She purred, eying him like a predatory cat, at once vengeful and lustful, beautiful and deadly, a true embodiment of Ishka.
"They came to curb your true nature, the nature of Ishka," He said, raising his bloody gauntlet, and tracing two lines of blood along her soft cheek, his eyes never leaving hers, "I do not wish to change your nature Lady Sheva," He leaned into her, his lips a hairs breadth from her ear, his gauntlet, encircling around her head and sliding through her hair, leaving bloody trails through the silken mane, he slid his other hand up her side, along the curves of her hips and waist till it circled round to her lower back.
"I want to watch you revel in it."

"They came to curb your true nature, the nature of Ishka," He said, trailing blood down her cheek, his eyes watching hers. "I do not wish to change your nature, Lady Sheva," He said, leaning in, she could feel his lips at her ear, his hand slipping through her hair, his other at the small of her back, leaving trails of blood in it's wake. She felt a growl, rumble from her throat at the touch. " I want to watch you revel in it." He said and Robyn grinned, her hand found a handful of his hand and yanked his head back with a dangerous amount of force, while her legs wrapped around his waist. " Careful..."
She said and pressed a violent kiss to his lips, enough to draw blood, "My revelry usually ends in blood." She warned and with that she continued to revel in her true nature.


~Outside~

Scarlet sat staring at where the dead body of the man used to lay. Her face Ashen, her eyes wide. Casey walked over. "Steady yourself, girl." He said, Scarlet looked at him. " She enjoyed it." She said after a moment of looking at Casey with pure terror. "I saw it in her eyes. It was as if she found pleasure in his demise." She said, tears falling now. "That's because she does, Lass," Casey said, understanding, the girl was merely a princess before this, she's never seen death first hand and she certainly never see someone enjoy dealing it. "I've never...."
"The Captian....Some doesn't even think she's human, she was born in death." He said, a frown creasing his brow. " She said I reminded her of herself....Do you see that in me? That darkness?" She asked, and Casey looked at the girl. " Her darkness came from....pain and suffering..she says she doesn't feel it but..." He paused and looked at the cabin where the Captain disappeared off too with the 'New Cook'. "She feels something when she kills, she feels something when she watches the life leave a man's eyes...." He said, speaking more to himself then to the girl.

"Feels what?" Scarelt asked, fearing what the answer might be.

"Happiness...." Casey said. " I believe she feels her most happiness in that moment right before death....where a man knows his fate and can do nothing to change it, all he can do is accept it. It's that realization....she enjoys.

Scarlet felt sick and gagged. Casey snapped out of his daydream and looked at the girl. " Up then, You need to start cooking, before the crew get hungry." He said and pulled her to her feet by her arm. Scarlet shivered but stood. "Mr. Casey... I don't want to teach to new Cook....He scares me." She said. Casey looked at her, then the cabin, the back at her. " Aye...."He said and pulled a knife from his jerkin. "If anything should happen, use this...Is that doesn't work, just scream." He said and handed it to her. Scarlet looked at him then the knife.

"He'll kill me." She whimpered.

"Not if he wants to stay in the Captain's good graces."

"She likes him, she's-" She stopped and swallowed, her manners not yet lost on her" With him ....right now."

"No...." He said with a smirk. "She's testing him...she's curious, she doesn't 'like' anyone." He said and looked at her with a curious frown.

"Except maybe you."

Da'Karro rose from the sheets of Lady Sheva's bed, his body unclad and unclothed, fresh claw marks, bruises and bites adorning his body. Lady Sheva lay asleep on her bed, or at least he supposed she was asleep, it was hard to tell clearly if the ex-cook was anything to go by. He slowly pulled on his undergarments, followed by the pieces of armour that had made it to the captains quarters. He pulled on his gauntlet and flexed the steel fingers, resulting in dry crusted blood cracking and falling to the ground in rough clumps, "That will be hell to clean later." He attached his sword to his belt and turned to the motionless Sheva
"My Lady, I take my leave of you, I shall be exploring the ship should you require me." He said, taking a deep bow before turning and leaving the Cabin.
The deck was mostly clear, only a few men stood around keeping watch or performing various menial duties. On the surface there was nothing of note different to the Devils Mercy save few structural differences, and the men aboard tried desperately not to catch his eye. "I wonder if its my earlier display that has them scared, or that they're confused I'm still alive after the Captain was through with me?" He chuckled quietly to himself as he walked down the stairs into the ships bowels, "Im surprised I'm alive." The ship was dark below decks, the only light coming from the cracks in the cannon-ports on either side of the ship. A few hammocks were strung up around, a few bottles and other ship board objects sat around. The ship was mostly deserted here too, most of the men must be out in the city enjoying the time on land. Those few souls he did pass either avoided his eyes or stared at him with a mix of abject horror and surprise. His still bare and bleeding chest probably didn't help, but he guessed it was mostly his survival of Lady Sheva's lust. He went down another flight of stairs that lead to a level much similar to the one he had just been on, but now a new sensation met him, the subtle smell of cooked food and rum tickling his nostrils.
"Mmmmm food," He thought, following the smell down the cabin, "I haven't eaten since... when?... The Mercy? By the Goddess im starved."
He went down another flight of stairs and the smell grew stronger, this deck wasn't lined with cannons and hammocks but more various bits of cargo and supplies, crates and barrels filled with various goods and items. He paid no heed to them and continued on his mission, curiosity could be sated once his hunger was. He finally came to a door sat slightly ajar, the smell of cooked food and salt water wafting out, teasing his ravenous stomach. He pushed open the door silently and stepped into the room. A young girl stood with her back to him, her hair black as night, her skin olive and soft, untouched by a hard life. She was no pirate, she was no commoner, this girl was highborn. He walked up to her, his feet silent on the floor, till he was within armsreach. She only came up to his shoulder, she was only a child.
"Girl."

Robyn lay on her back, her body still aching some from the exchange, finger shaped bruises slowly making their appearance in various places, yet a small, barely noticable satisfied grin, on her face, as she peered out at the room, looking nowhere in particular.

She lay there, as Da'Karro rose, she barely moved.

He was....entertaining, to say the least. She hadn't an exchange like that since her prisoner escape some years back, and the man didn't have the luxury of walking away from it.

"My Lady, I take leave of you, I shall be exploring the ship, should you require me."

Robyn's brow merely twitched upward in response. She never slept, not heavily anyway, too many men, too many untrustworthy slobs aboard her ship.

Da'Karro for all his proclamations and skills, was no different in her eyes. He was male, that was enough for her, not to trust him.


She lay there for a moment longer before gathering her tossed about clothing and redressing.

She smirked, as she could taste blood in her mouth, she wasn't sure whose it belonged to.

She looked out at window and stretched.

She wanted to know more about this Goddess that sent him to her...Robyn was never one for Gods and Goddesses but this one...That was her kind of Goddess.


~In the Kitchen~

Scarlet scrambled about the kitchen, trying to prepare more food for the seemingly endless hunger of the Pirates.

Her brow slick with sweat, her eyes lined with tears.

"Hurry on, Lass, We're starved!" called a crew men through the walls. Scarlet whimpered, overwhelmingly. She already had a chicken roasting on a spit, but rotating it was becoming difficult to do on her own, what with water boiling for vegetable stew.

"I'm trying!" She begged as she collected carrots to cut.

She lay them straight and began slicing. She was a fair cook, her mother had began teaching her when she was small and found she had a love for it.

Now, it filled her with fear knowing 'He'd' be coming at any moment.

She began slicing a bit faster, now, going through the bundle quite quickly, she rose the knife and lined the last carrot and was about to slice when-

"Girl!"

Scarelt jumped hard at the sound of his voice, causimg her to slam down the knife and slice of a bit of skin.

She hissed a pained cry but that was the least of her worries. She turned to find Da'Karro behind her, close enough to grab her. She held her bleeding hand.

"I'm sorry, please don't hurt me, I'm hurrying as fast as I can." She pleaded, blood dripping on to her already dirty apron, tears falling from her eyes now.

She knew where the dagger Casey had given her was in clear view of Da'Karro when he was standing beside her, but she was frozen in fear, save for her shivering.


"I-I'll make sure you'll get the first plate after the Captian, a-and the biggest piece just please don't hurt me. I don't want to die." She cried through trembling lips.

"I'm sorry, please don't hurt me, I'm hurrying as fast as I can." The girl pleaded, blood dripping from a small but deep cut on her finger, tears swelling in her eyes."I-I'll make sure you'll get the first plate after the Captian, a-and the biggest piece just please don't hurt me. I don't want to die." The girl cried, trembling in front of him, tears and blood dripping down onto her apron in equal measure.
"Shhhh..." Da'Karro said, gently but quickly taking her injured hand, at which point she retracted it sharply before he grabbed her wrist firmly but not painfully, pulling it into the light where he could examine it. "Your bleeding." He said softly, before he reached down and tore off a piece of his wrappings, winding it slowly and softly around the cut finger. The whole time the girl stood frozen, trembling slightly, other hand held up to her chest. she seemed to be in shock. He finished tying the makeshift bandage and released her hand, at which point she retracted it sharply back to her chest, eyeing him warily. Da'Karro raised his hands and stepped back a pace, giving the girl some space. "That will hold the bleeding for now but the cut was deep, we should see to it properly once dinner is finished."

"Shhh..." Da'Karro said taking her hand, Scarlet snatched away, holding her hand whimpering, only for him to grabbing her wrist anyway.

"Your bleeding." He told her, softly as if she didn't understand. Scarlet let him bind her finger, trembling still, her amber eyes watching his, waiting for him to try anything so she could scream. As he finished, she snatched her hand away, keeping it close to her chest,as he stepped back with his hands raised. Scarlet looked at him and frowned. "That will hold the bleeding for now but the cut was deep, we should see to it properly once dinner is finished."

He said and still she watched him for a moment. He wasn't trying to hurt her....yet....in fact, he helped her.

"Thank you." She said merely out of habit and she turned and began cutting the carrots again.

Holding up her fingers, and dropped them in the boiling pot. She rushed over to the chicken, and began rotating it, slowly.

Not saying a word to him. She knew the Captian said she was to teach him but she didn't want to be around him, amd she didn't think she had the strength tell him to do anything. She was once a princess but she was the second princess with no real authority yet.

So she stayed quiet, and continued to cook, her eyes flicking to him from time to time.

"Thank you." the Girl said a warily, still watching him with those deep brown eyes, she was very beautiful, and would grow more so as she matured, she just didn't know it yet.
"Maybe one day you will be even more beautiful than the captain." He thought, watching her as she moved around the Kitchen, glancing at him from time to time, silently trying to prepare her meal. He slowly walked over and inspected the stew, breathing in a large whiff before looking around. He located a large bag of potatoes and procured a knife from a standing rack. He began peeling the potatoes with a steady hand, the knife gliding through the soft flesh of the vegetable, his eyes continuing to follow the Girl around the kitchen as she turned the chicken and collected various other items. she continued to glance at him every now and again, quickly turning away when she saw he was looking.
"Why are you afraid of me child?" He said softly, but still eliciting a flinch of shock from her, making her drop the knife she had been holding, embedding itself in the floor with a thud.

Scarlet continued her cooking trying to keep her eye on him and the food. She watched him peel the potatoes.

Her eyes found his watching her, so hers darted away.

"Why are you afraid of me, Child?"He said, causing her to drop her knife but this time, she dropped it on the floor. She huffed in frustration and picked it up.

"I'm not a child. I'm 17" She said frustratedly, but it was merely out of habit, obviously an old argument of hers.

Her eyes went wide for a moment. "I'm sorry." She said quickly. She steadied herself and after a long quiet moment she placed down her knife.

"My mother always said,,First impressions are everything, the second are even more important." She said and looked him in the eyes, her trembling all but ceased but tears still glossed her eyes. "In the span of mere moments, I saw you presence a man that was barely breathing, his skin all but removed, and I watched you dismemeber another, and gouge out his eyes." She said with a frown. "He was a bad man, I understand that, there were men like that in Court, I was even to be married to one. But you...you enjoyed it. It was not as if you were merely enjoying exacting revenge for the captian or protect her honor, no, you enjoy What you were doing. Not why you were doing it." She said.

"That's why I'm afraid, whose to say you won't -while we're alone down here- decide to dismember me...or worse..." She said, and oddly talking to him, directly about her fears seemed to ease them, a little. She was always confident in her words, a great speaker, as the Second born, it was something she was taught since she could speak, how to quell her nervousness when speaking, and to speak confidently. Maybe that's what Robyn saw.

"I'm not a child. I'm 17" She said In a huff, making him smile faintly. True, she was nearly a woman in body, but she had much to learn about being a woman. "I'm sorry." She said quickly, her eyes widening as she spoke, as if she expected him to suddenly become enraged. She was silent for a moment before she gently placed the knife on the bench and breathe din deeply.

"My mother always said, First impressions are everything, the second are even more important." She said, clearly still on the verge of tears and barely holding back her quivering, "In the span of mere moments, I saw you present a man that was barely breathing, his skin all but removed, and I watched you dismember another, and gouge out his eyes." She said, her pretty face creasing into a frown that seemed a combination of confusion and condemnation, "He was a bad man, I understand that, there were men like that in Court, I was even to be married to one. But you...you enjoyed it. It was not as if you were merely enjoying exacting revenge for the captain or protect her honor, no, you enjoy What you were doing. Not why you were doing it."

"That's why I'm afraid, who's to say you won't -while we're alone down here- decide to dismember me...or worse..." The Girl said, her voice stronger now as she gained confidence in what she was saying. The girl was a good speaker, she could one day be a great leader.

Da'Karro was silent for a moment as he thought on what to say. She was right of course, he had enjoyed it, but she didn't understand why. "I was once a slave, girl," He said finally, putting down the knife and potato he had been peeling, "I was sold and bought, to fight, kill and die for the amusement of those with more power than me."
She watched him warily as he went on, as if trying to judge whether he was telling the truth.
"My life was kill or be killed, fight or die. The only way I would live to see another day, take another breath, feel another ray of sunlight, was if I killed without mercy, and displayed my accomplishments proudly."
He reached up and ran his fingers along his multiple scars, "You experience anything enough, and you will start to enjoy it."
He looked back up at her, his slate grey eyes warming at the memory, "But I was saved, saved by Ishka, for she sent one of her disciples to me, and had me lifted out of my chains and into Her light. It was then I learned Ishka's way."
He looked down at his hand and the blood stains marking it, "All sensations are a blessing of Ishka, and all sensations are blessings of hers, experiences for us to enjoy. But we are but mortals, and cannot comprehend many of the gifts Ishka sends us, pain is one of these, death is another. We must learn to appreciate these gifts, and some are more enlightened than others. Your Captain and I, are far along the path of Enlightenment, able to appreciate a much wider spectrum of Ishkas gifts, than say, yourself, who is entombed in your fear and doubt. I will not hurt you little dove, because it would serve no purpose. The gifts I delivered to the old cook, and the good Captain Mauk, were gifts they were not ready to receive, and so could not comprehend their beauty. I revel in delivering Ishkas gifts, for what more holy a task is there?"
He smiled at her and moved closer slowly, he footsteps steady and light, like a dancer about to enter into a rhythm. "You, I would teach the ways of Ishka much more slowly, for you are young, and can learn much, and you are a friend of our dear Captain, I do not wish to hurt you, little dove. I wish to teach you. Guide you, and bring you closer to the Goddess."
He reached her and bent down, to whisper into the ear of the girl before him, "While you are with me, you are safe, none shall hurt you, none shall touch you, for now you are a disciple of Ishka, and you are the one who shall take what you please, from those who are less than you."