With no real idea how pirates operate, aside from comparing them to bandits. Marius simply listened to Zentha. "I, uh, think that maybe tailing them to their hideout might be a bit too much." He replied, "We're not really looking to bring them down just yet. We're just looking to loot a few of their ships for equipment. And hope they don't come to retaliate immediately." The young man munbled, "Also, I agree that feigning surrender might help us. At least for a little while. I'm not sure how fast pirates share their information, so might we'd get a few of them, if we make sure none escape." Marius scratches the back of his head, trying to come up with a way to profit from this, posible suicide mission. But as he realized that Zentha wanted him to participate in the operation itself. The young man gulped, clenching his fist. "I, uh, well, I suppose I should join... I have some experience in fighting, so I can help. But we still need to come up with an actual plan.... and hope everything works out for the best."
He looked ready to glower at being defied for a brief moment, but with Artemisa’s body pressed so close to his, it distracted from most of his rage into just an incoherent grumbling. Almost as if reading his mind, one of the maids had rushed to start to pour him a glass that he took dismissively. He didn’t waste time downing it at a pace faster than Artemisa’s. As he set the empty glass down and servants already moved to refill it, his perverted grin began to return as the sorceress felt a chubby hand squeeze her ass. “You’re not too bright, but at least I can appreciate the sights.”
Indeed, Yolanda mentally agreed, Not surprising, if he has been keeping this project a secret from his other lords. Even if it is non malicious in nature, his desire for privacy would make him disinclined from having guests. Still... "I am in no need of... entertainment, Lord Erik," she said aloud, giving a smooth, graceful, courteous bow in the process "My name is Yolanda and I apologize if I gave the impression I intend to draw you away from your... project. I am simply here to take stock of the situation and report back to my superiors on your current status. From what I understand you have been isolating yourself from the other Lords and, given the nature of the threat this island is under, there are concerns you could be leaving yourself vulnerable to being more maliciously cut off by external foes." Yolanda paused for a moment to pointedly look up at the tower. "But I can see why such complex looking work might demand so much of your attention. What a unique design. Is it for some kind of new defensive tactic?"
“Trying to capture a ship without damaging it….I might think of something….” Zentha gave a slight humming sound of thought as her eyes closed, as if trying to visualize it for about it for half a minute, before opening her eyes to speak again. “If we could have some of our members look like slaves being transported it could goad the pirates into believing there’s a smaller defending force while believing there’s a huge payout. A fishing boat also still be practical, though might be just a bit harder to obscure numbers. But if needed, using a smaller vessel would mean being able to slip between coastal shores that they wouldn’t be able to follow. Contrary to how books romance it, it’s unlikely simply disposing of the Captain would be enough to get them to disperse. Only a large enough loss of numbers and important ships would likely be enough to hurt their operations badly enough to the point they separate. Fortunately, we’re at least much better equipped than they should be. I think with a few mages positioned to burn the sails we should be able to neuter it’s maneuverability.” (Strategy: Challenging: Pass) While naval warfare was something outside of his usual range of skills, something began to stimulate his brain into thinking. If they used smaller ships between the rocks, it wouldn’t be impossible for their mages like Elizia to make a few wards to obscure their visibility. It wouldn’t work that well normally, but at a ship distance, by the time they could notice them..of course, that might also risk potentially destroying the ship irreparably.
“Hm.” He remained silent. Processing her words. After a moment of silence, he let out a slight smile. “Heh. So that’s what this is about.” Shaking his head in disbelief, his eyes locked onto Yolanda looking somehow annoyed and amused at the same time. “Let me ask you this. Do you seriously think he gave you the whole story?”
Yolanda laughs a little, meeting Erik's gaze with a small smirk. "Of course not. Even if his intentions were not malicious, someone as clearly young and inexperienced as he is cannot possibly be aware of all variables. Though, I suspect you would not be asking if you did not feel there was information that might be important to know."
Why are men like this? He could get laid so easily, so easily, if he just shut his mouth... Artemisia chuckles as though he thinks he's joking, before slipping her hands around the fat man's neck. As her breasts are pushed into the man's face, she begins casting a spell to unravel his will and influence his simple mind - using her charisma and physical charms to distract him as she casts. "Hmmm... Now, now... Play nice... Boys who play nice get rewarded." The busty sorceress giggles, as her hands glow with magical energy behind his back, pressed against his clothes to hide the magic from the servants. "Now, I came to you for a specific reason - to talk about you supporting the king."
“I can tell you. Prince Issac is…..” He braced himself. “Exactly what he appears to be.” A slight smirk came across his face, knowing Yolanda was likely expecting more. But it soon dissolved into a more neutral and reserved look. “I don’t doubt he’d empty the entire treasury to help someone he never met on the street.” “And that in lies the problem. He’s too soft. Prince Issac has repeatedly ignored my requests and advisement in the past. There’s no real point to trying to work as one since we will never agree. To that other question…” Taking a look at the tower, he gave a slight proud smile. “I guess, you can call it a defensive measure. Basically by using mirrors to reflect light, we can focus it into a single point and burn ships.” (Intelligence check: Challenging: Pass) The size of a focusing mirror to burn a wooden ship would require an impossibly huge mirror. Even this tower couldn’t hold something like that. He has to be leaving something out.
"A small ship could work, yeah. And if we position some mages, maybe they could conjure some fog, while we lure them to our kill zone." Marius nods, having been struck by a jolt of insight. He smiles, thinking they could actually do this as he shares the idea that just popped into his head.
