A interesting duel

There was hooting and hollering on the weather deck as you came up from the brig; naked and carrying your affects, with cum on your face. Trandal leading in front, it was not difficult to imagine what had just transpired. Money quickly changed hands as winners and losers of bets against you are revealed. Coupled with finding a very valuable hold of treasure and goods in the Imperial ship, there was a lot to celebrate onboard the ship. A great start to a campaign, all things considered. The real work was still to ahead of you, but thankfully you don't have to engage in the heavy lifting. You confidently saunter to your cabin to dress yourself. Shortly after you assemble your outfit and finally clear the thick layers of cum from your face, you find the Countess in your doorway, arms crossed and holding a piece of paper.

"How may I help you, Countess?"

"What do you think of the campaign so far? Speak plainly"

Your answer is surprisingly concise "We won't have a successful campaign for long if this is the only ship that acts while the others are clumped together behind us. Even if you plan to invade the Empire, we have to spread out"

"I felt much the same" she nods in agreement, slowly stepping into your quarters "I was planning on sending that message out via flags and our side boys going to the nearby ships. Before we do that, I thought I would show you a message I received, regarding you..."

"Me, how is that possible?" You stand to meet her, grasping the letter. As you read it, the Countess paraphrases. "In your stay at the Rum, Sodomy, and the Lash, you attracted the attention of an egotistical and jealous musician and his egotistical captain with your little song."

"Why is this of any concern to me?" You ask

"You have a challenge" She responds directly "to see who is the better musician. I wouldn't fault you if you ignore it. You have nothing really to gain from entertaining this putz, but it would be a welcome sight to the crews."

You get a familiar smirk on your face that piques her curiosity "Okay Fiana, what's on your mind?"

"Let's raise the stakes. If he wants to put me to the test, let's see how well he works under pressure."

Countess Joseline responded well, with a mischievous smile and her arms crossing each other. "Oooh, good idea. We'll keep it a secret until they come alongside. What's the wager?"

"Everything" you respond with a deviant smile of your own.
"I knew there was a reason I liked you!" The Countess claps gleefully, following you out of the cabin.

As with everything in sea life, there was a fair amount of waiting. The other ship, a strong frigate named the Manteo had to pull alongside, and both ships dropping anchor. The crews of both ships were huddled on the main decks, watching intently as the challenger and his captain came aboard. The fellow bard was a scrawny, child faced human with wild dark hair and soft brown eyes. Roughly equal to your age as an elf, barely an adult by most people's understanding. His Captain was much a different story, an aging man with grayed hair pulled back into a careful ponytail, his legs struggling to maintain his rotund frame. Both of them were dressed in particularly flashy garb, the captain aspiring for a decorated Naval officer, the challenger was quite the dandy.

"Captain Joseline," the portly visitor extends a warm greeting, before turning to his accompaniment "thank you for having us aboard. This is the dashing rogue that brought us all together. May I introduce Tomays Grennich, our accomplished songsmith and man-at-arms"

"You are welcome, Captain Lordsmith, glad to see that you are in still in good enough health to be at sea. May I introduce Fiana Windblossom of the BronzeBark Forests, the most charming bard I have ever met, and the greatest first officer I could hope to have." You and Tomays stand to each other, and make a grand gesture of your genuflections to each other.

"So, what is the manner of the friendly competition?" Captain Lordsmouth inquired loudly. You and Joseline turned to each other and agreed with a simple head nod "I'm afraid captain that the friendliness of the competition will be a little lacking, on account of Mr. Greenich's scandalous allegations" The gangplanks are pulled from behind, keeping the two men aboard, as you hoist yourself into the rigging, broadcasting your voice for both ships to hear

"Captain Joseline Louinette, or to whom it may concern. I have a most urgent matter regarding a member of your crew. You will know the person immediately in the description. An elf, comparatively young for her kind but still older by far the most humans will ever have the opportunity of obtaining. Lithe in frame, fair in the face with long blonde hair. Few of her kind have ever taken up our profession, and it is in this regard that I must speak to you now. While visiting Rum, Sodomy, and the Lash, I came upon this fair creature, singing to the rancorous crowd in exchange for a drink. Had the lot not already been deeply ****, they would not have been as kind to her as they had that evening." You take a small pause as you stare at the author.

"She had neither the grace one would expect of the dignified elves, nor possess the vocal range and dexterity. Indeed, her voice more closely resembles the screech of a barn owl than a nightingale, robin, or other songbird." You let your arm drop for dramatic emphasis. The men of your crow boo loudly, while the men from the Manteo laugh at the remark. You continue on, nearly shouting for all to hear "In fact, so wretched and harrowing is her voice that I fear that she may be a banshee or a Sea Elf from the kingdom of Mer, sneaking among the men on a ship, only to lure it upon the rocks and shoals to crash, where her kin may feast." Your ships grew became increasingly agitated at the hearing. From the corner of your eye, you see Trandal ready to pounce on this poor human.

"Her skills lie in only three places, in knowing precisely what her audience wishes to hear, in how to exploit her beauty and what may be called of her talents to procure items for free, and how to beg for the passionate and tender embrace of the masculine sex." You jump down from the rigging among the shouting and step closely to the rival, reading the final sentence "I would impress upon you, most noble captains and governor of these isles, that you dispatch this elf to wherever she came, so that you may employ a more seasoned man at sea, and a much more accomplished bard."

You stare straight through Tomays. "You would not only insult my skills as a bard, but my honor, and seek to rise above your station in the process. This is unacceptable."

Captain Lordsmith, nervous and hot under the collar tries to play the diplomat "Oh come now. This was surely all a lark, playful sportsmanship among friendly rivals. We can let this all pass by..." His confidence waned fast, seeing that noone was paying him any mind.

"We're not friends" You snidely retort "And this was no lark, was it Tomays?"

"Alas, I admit it" He replies with a foul smile "You have no business being aboard a ship, let alone being second in command. And your singing is atrocious, it was only because the rabble you play for have no taste that you won them over."

"I didn't see you plying your trade for a drink that night" Trandal chimed in, barely controlling himself

"Some of us have manners and principles, enjoy performance for the sake of performance, not a quid pro quo."

"Calling me a banshee is your idea of manners?"

"It's my idea of decorative license, something you don't understand."

"We'll see about that. I challenge you a duel of song, and a duel of wits"

"Very well, elf. Under what penalty?"

"The losers captain must walk the plank of the winners ship."

The color in Tomays face ran in an instant, as did his captains. The crowds on both ships cheer in response, leaving little way of backing out now "Risk your captain's life, or walk away, forever known as a coward, and a fool."

"A chikenhawk codfish" The Cutthroat Codfish added in, with great laughter from her men. The anger boiling in him, Tomays refused to back away "Very well. I will not be intimidated or bullied by either of you two."

"Than by your lead Tomays, you may begin the singing whenever you choose...." A space was cleared in the center to provide him an opportunity. The young gave a good outing, despite the pressure

Out across the foothills they rode
Banners as black as their souls
As a winter sky loomed above
Pale as the wind-driven snow

I have seen this day in my dreams
The hour of my doom drawing nigh
Black blades of treachery draw forth my aging blood
And I fall, dying on the cold stones of my throne

Retake the usurper's throne
The blades of our fallen burst forth with the revenant's breath
Destined to fight, even in ****
These are the bones that they thought they had shattered
But we'll never rest

Immortal blood courses through my veins
I won't be denied; your battle's lost in vain
I have returned to reclaim my rightful throne
From realms beyond the waking world
We'll rend your flesh from bone

There the young man sits on my throne
Surrounded by ill-gotten gains
Ebon hair and eyes black like coal
**** and thievery his way
I see the horror gripping his mind
As we descend on his ranks

A thousand men they thought they had killed ride out from the woods
And our steel thirsts for betrayers' flesh and blood
Retake the usurper's throne
The blades of our fallen burst forth with the revenant's breath
Destined to fight, even in ****
These are the bones that they thought they had shattered
But we'll never rest

Immortal blood courses through my veins
I won't be denied; your battle's lost in vain
I have returned to reclaim my rightful throne
From realms beyond the waking world
We'll rend your flesh from bone
We traveled realms beyond the crystal moon

And shadowed keeps
Where mighty serpents stalked ensorcelled seas
And ice-crowned peaks
So here we are to bring your end my friend
And none shall week
Betrayal's debt paid in your foul blood

The price is steep
We are revenant
We have returned
So bow your heads
We are your doom

The hoarfrost breaks as steel-shod hooves
Make known their presence to the night
And fires rise against the starwheel, casting smoke into the sky
My bloodline was and always will be rightful heirs to this old throne
Your blood will slake the soil's thirst for sacrifice and blooded stone

Immortal blood courses through my veins
I_ won't be denied; your battle's lost in vain
I have returned to reclaim my rightful throne
From realms beyond the waking world
We'll rend your flesh from bone

The song received applause from both sides. He was a gifted singer to be sure, and the song was certainly worth remembering, you think to yourself. He gave a bow to the crowds, ending a with a flourish of his arm, giving you the floor. Your face is practiced neutrality, until Tomays can no longer see, and it suddenly brakes into a great smile. Your stride widens and you sing from deep down

I know a place at the edge of the land
Where the grass runs out and turns into sand
I know a place where a man can't stand
Cos a man can't walk in the sea
I know a place where a man can't go
Where a man would drown and sink below
But if you have a ship then you should know
That you can come with me

Come with me on a quest!

I'm on a quest, a quest for ships
Sailing's how I get my kicks
I'm on a quest, a quest for boats
I'm mad for anything that floats
I'm on a quest, to find a craft
A barge or bark or dinghy or raft
I'm on a quest, a quest for ships
And now I need my fix!

I know a place where we can sail
A place I heard of once in a tale
No gems, no gold, no holy grail
A place at the end of the sea
But there's one problem I can see
I have no ship that could take me
But if you have one, or two, or three
Then you can come with me
Come with me on a quest!

Moving about the deck of the ship, raising your arms up, the crowd is easily worked up in a fervor and sings along

I'm on a quest, a quest for ships
Sailing's how I get my kicks
I'm on a quest, a quest for boats
I'm mad for anything that floats
I'm on a quest, to find a craft
A barge or bark or dinghy or raft
I'm on a quest, a quest for ships

Won't return 'til I've had my fix!

You stop your own singing, but the crowd continues to repeat the chorus after you've stopped. You dance around with them, with a gloatful smile. Tomays is unimpressed, his arms folded over his chest in contempt. You break your victory dance to address him.

"Well Tomays? Do you admit defeat?"

"Hardly. You failed in all manners except to prove my point. You know only how to provide the audience what they want."

You respond smugly "Which means you have failed completely in understanding your job as a bard. If you fail to provide what they want, you soon find yourself out of the job. Consequently, I think you might have just done so." You turn your back on him and walk away slowly. You hear the distinct sound of a sword being drawn, mixed with a concerned crowd.

"Even still, you aren't truly a pirate, Elf. In the heat of battle, I am far superior..."

In a grand, dramatic flourish, you turn about on the balls of your feet as a practiced dancer as you take your own rapier in hand, drawn at the ready "If that is your challenge, I accept. To the pain"

The duel is over abruptly. In his blind anger and arrogance, his precision and fluidity is gone. Telegraphing every move, your defense is solid, and provides you moments of toying with him. You dodge a thrust so his weapon pierces a barrel. You simply leap over a sweeping blow to your legs. When it looks like he is exhausted, you start to ply your own offensive, cornering him near the plank, so he has nowhere to go but off the ship. You stop yourself, sword at the ready, as you make your final challenge.

"The game is over Tomays. Will you spare your captain the indecency of going over the side of ship by doing so yourself? This is your fault after all"

"Fuck you, and your scullery maid of a captain." He spits on you and makes a **** lunge to break from being cornered. With no success, you strike across his chest, cutting his shirt open and lacerating his skin, before pushing him into the open water. The crowd cheers at the display, while his few remaining friends aboard the Manteo hoist down a small boat to help collect the disgraced bard. You watch the display, as Tomays tries to keep afloat in the heavy clothes and the pain.

"Well, First Mate, you defended your honor. What shall we do now?"

"Now, I feel a song coming on" You reply cheekily to the Captain before addressing the crew "That's enough malarking for one day boys, we've got work to do. We shouldn't keep the Empire waiting"

Turning back to the bard, you start to sing again, in a final disgraceful chant, that would be echoed until the Countess' ship finally pulled away

Fuck! You! You're a fucking wanker
We're gonna punch you right in the balls!

Fuck! You! With a fucking anchor!
You're all cunts so fuck you all!

Fuck! You! You're a fucking wanker!
We're gonna punch you right in the balls!

Fuck! You! With a fucking anchor!
You're all cunts so fuck you all!