The Cutthroat Countess reveals herself

Since the fierce and unexpected attack by the sea monster, none of the other ships have dared leave port. The bravery of Captain Godfrey is well known by this point, but has largely been seen as a fluke in the past week. More ships have come in, all unscathed, but pirates are a superstitious lot, and the fear of being lost at sea, even so close to port, is particularly strong. You begin another seemingly boring morning aboard the ship, when Captain Godfrey garners your attention.

"Come on, a meeting's been called by the Countess. Bring your diplomatic face, this doesn't sound good. Joseline is in a mood." You grab your hat and follow after the captain on a moment's notice. The walk up to the Governor's Mansion is more crowded than it was before, giving you time to talk more

"Marriana, I'm sorry if this is getting personal, but how is it that you and her are cousins?"

"It's quite alright, she would tell you much the same as I. Her mother is my father's younger sister."

"And...her father?"

"Don't know, actually. Certainly wasn't my aunt's husband." He let out an unusual chuckle at the obvious. "My uncle was an older man when he married my aunt, and there's a thought she found him...unsatisfying."

"And so, you think?..."

"That my aunt summoned a demon into her bedroom in infidelity, and fathered it's child. She claimed an entirely different story, that it was a curse put upon her. My father was the only one who believed her, but that wasn't enough to keep her from being disowned by both her husband and her parents' family. Ever the protector, my father kept the two of them out of utter despondency through some back channels."

"What do you think?" You ask "Do you think Joseline's mother was actually cursed?"

Marriana gave an indifferent shrug "I don't know that it makes much difference to me. I do think the story is a little weird though, on both sides. I don't know that I would be as caring and loving on a child of mine that was cursed with demonic blood, and on the other hand, where did her mother learn the magic to summon and control a demon? That's pretty unusual stuff. All I know is Joseline is my cousin and like my father, I'd do anything for her."

"Is that why you followed her into a life of piracy?"

The Captain smiled "That's enough questions for now." Conveniently, the two of you had reached the meeting place, the self made home of Joseline herself, The Governors Mansion. The place is significantly more crowded than it was before, seemingly all of the Captains were called in, along with their respective first officers. It was a motley mess of different ages, races, and fashions. Many appearing as the stereotypical pirate, a seeming grab bag of discordant colors and styles, while others sought a more traditional naval and militaristic garb, such as Marriana's powder blue coat. It was hard to make out what any person was saying amongst all of the hobknobbing. The mood seemed jovial, oddly so given the mood Marianna seemed to have. Was she told something the others weren't, or was it just that she knew the Joseline, the self-made Countess, better than the rest? The answer would present itself in time, you're certain.

In less time than you suspected, it turns out. The door to Joseline's room flies open thunderously, as she moves down the stairs in a hurry. "Alright everyone, let's go, let's go, let's go! There's a room down the corridor, large enough for everyone. Captains, please keep with your First Officers, you may yet need them." The jovial uproar turned into a quiet murmur as the group slowly flooded into the room. Likely intended as a dance hall, it was now affixed with chairs in a loose circle, with Joseline's fancy desk at the head of it. She was the last one to enter, and was certainly dressed to impress. She wore a thick military style coat, in a deep red color that made her demonic skin look lighter in comparison, cuffed with black and gold trim and buttons alongside. Epaulets along the shoulders were sown on to indicate some semblance of admiralty; with all these pirate captains at her command, she certainly could make that claim. As a final, decorative touch, small gold chains were looped between her demonic horns. It cast a regal, if imposing visage, as she stood behind her desk, as the rest of the crowd sat.

"Ladies and gentlemen, we are by our nature scallywag pirates and privateers, not political dandies and soft-spoken nobles, so I will make this very plain. The lot of you, have become utter cowards, and it sickens me to see so many capable ships moored to the piers." There was some shock and loud murmurs in reaction to her blunt statements. One captain, a portly fellow, dared to speak up "Countess, be reasonable, with that monster out there, any of us could be next. It's too dangerous!"

"Dangerous?" Joseline protested "Going out to sea, is dangerous, seizing Royal and Imperial Naval Ships, is dangerous, establishing this very city, a haven for us, is dangerous! Have you all lost your balls while I wasn't looking? It isn't even out there anymore, and if it is, kill it!"

"That's easier said than done, Countess" A more elderly Captain spoke up "This beast can come out of nowhere and attack without warning. We have no defense and no counter attack."

"Figure out it Gentlemen! Either come up with a plan to beat it back, or come up with a plan of surrender. We cannot keep this venture going without plunder coming in, and that can't happen with the lot of you sitting here on your asses."

"You've been too long ashore yourself, Joseline" A third spoke up, this one a thin, middle aged captain sporting an impressive military uniform and appearance, standing in protest "Perhaps we are being reticent, but you seem to care not at all for the well being of your Captains, or your crews. I will not sit here and listen to some spoiled demon brat lecture me about bravery, especially not from a demonic brat who earned her ship by laying on her back, and driving a dagger through the back of her Captain. I'm leaving, and I will not be returning."

Joseline took the response with surprising dignity and good grace "Very well Captain Rodgers, your ship and her crew await you..." Captain Rodgers walked out, alone, but he would not make it to the door. In a mad charge, Joseline showed her true colors. Brandishing her cutlass, she swung a great arc at the Captain's head, cutting it cleanly off from it's shoulders. The crowd all stood and gasped in shock, all the more intimidated by what happened next. Joseline, the Cutthroat Countess, lifted the head into the air and drank the blood still dripping down before disrespectfully throwing it to the ground.

"Captain Rodgers may have a point!" The Countess spoke with great volume and intensity "I think I've been too soft with the lot of you, and have been sitting on my own ass for too long. Put every ship to sea! The world will know that I am the Cutthroat Countess, and I am not to be fucked with! We sail north for the Intransican Empire!"

There is a cheer in response, albeit a half-hearted one, as the Captains moved hurriedly to follow their new orders. There was one sole noise beyond the shuffling of boots, and that was the Countess again "Captain Godfrey, I have need of you and your first officer". Holding back you two gravitated towards her, speaking quietly.

"How well do you trust your new second in command Marriana?"

"With my life."

"Would you trust her with your ship?"

Marianna looks at you, finding the question odd, before returning to the Countess "Not yet. She'll make a great Captain one day, but there's more she needs to learn."

"Fuck" Joseline stated flatly "I was afraid you'd say that. I need my own second in command when we put out to sea, and there's none I would rather have than you by my side. Would you at least let me take Fiana here in your place?"

"Of course cousin" Marianna replied with a soft smile "That is, so long as it's good with her..."

The table turned to you, you nod courteously "I will serve as best I can, Countess..." You pause for a second, before adding an odd request "I would ask that my friend Trandal accompany me. You will need to keep order on your ship, and he has grown quite skilled at that."

Marrianna spoke up in turn "I was hoping to keep him for myself, but Fiana is right, he is damned good at what he does and you'll need him more than I do."

"Good" Joseline said plainly "Make it happen. I will await you on my ship Fiana." She finally sheathed her weapon, and in doing so, you spot an unusual item that you hadn't seen before. Tucked under the white shirt of her uniform is a necklace with a very unusual design. You can't be entirely sure, but there's enough reason to be worried. It appears to be the design of the Sukarr, eternal lord of evil and God of Demons.

The private meeting over, you make a run for it once out of the Governors Mansion, looking for your friend. Trandal is, thankfully, right where you suspected him to be, on the weather deck of the ship.

"Fiana, I don't think I've ever seen you move quite that fast."

"I think I've figured it out, what your friends were worried about. It's the Countess."

Trandal looks confused "I don't follow. What about her?"

You take him into as much of a private space as you can while you catch your breath "The Countess belongs to a demon cult! I'm nearly positive! And now she's putting us all out to sea, attacking anything that moves!"

"Shit!" Trandal groaned, trying to process this "What do we do now?"

"I don't know, but the Countess asked for us to join her crew. Whatever happens next, we're in this together."

"Together" Trandal nodded in agreement as you two slowly make your way off the ship.