The captured convoy lies moored beneath Ballantyne colors at Tortuga quay. Casks, chests, and bundled cargo come ashore under watch, while the treasure waits for weighing beside the busy scales.
Mateo Vargas directs the surrendered sailors between vessels and warehouse, keeping every crate marked and every weapon secured. The privateer watches the guarded officers, with Esteban Rojas among them.
Dockside Scrivener
The seals are intact, Captain, but the factoring house will demand inspection before any division of the prize.
Merchant 1
Demand is too mild a word. No silver leaves these scales, and no shipwright receives a share, until our authority is recognized.
The waxed route ledger rests in Redmane’s keeping, its hidden anchorages promising provisions and allies for Puerto de las Sombras. Her healed ribs give no protest as the quay gathers around the disputed cargo.
Mateo Vargas
The convoy is secured, and the crews are accounted for. If the merchants wish to examine the prize, they may do so under Ballantyne supervision.
The merchant produces a folded commission bearing the factoring house seal, while the scrivener reaches for his ledger. Around them, the quay waits for Redmane’s authority before the first chest is opened.
“I order the scrivener to recognize our prize and summon the cooper to join me for a supervised inspection of our spoils.”
SUCCESS (Legendary Intrigue, rolled +1)
Captain Redmane
Scrivener, recognize this prize under Ballantyne authority. Summon the cooper, and conduct the inspection under my supervision.
Redmane sets the command ledger beside the scales and lays the waxed route ledger atop it, making authority and future leverage visible to every watching merchant. The wanted poster slips from her coat, briefly exposing her likeness, but her Silver Tongue turns the disruption into a crisp legal summons.
Dockside Scrivener
By the matching seals, the command ledger, and the certified account, I recognize this cargo as prize under Ballantyne authority. Cooper, attend the scales at once.
The scrivener raises his voice across the quay. Mateo shifts the surrendered sailors behind a guarded line, while the merchants fall silent beneath Redmane’s Inspiring Presence and the unmistakable force of her command.
The Cooper
I am here. Open the first chest under witness, and I will match every ingot, seal, and merchant mark to my certified ledger.
The cooper joins Redmane at the scales. Under her eye, the first chests are opened and their contents compared line by line, with the scrivener recording each confirmation as lawful prize.
Merchant 1
The factoring house accepts the inspection and the prize certification. Proceed under Ballantyne supervision, and we will honor the recorded division.
✓ Quest Accepted
Complete the lawful division of the captured prize
“I order the scrivener to record each lawful share before any silver leaves.”
SUCCESS (Legendary Intrigue, rolled +3)
Captain Redmane
Scrivener, record every lawful share before a single ingot leaves these scales.
Redmane places the command ledger beside the scales and opens the factoring papers to their matching seals. The order gives the scrivener a precise legal foundation.
Her wanted poster slips loose again, exposing her likeness to the quay, but Silver Tongue turns the interruption into polished certainty rather than distraction.
Dockside Scrivener
It shall be done. Each ingot, lawful share, crew allotment, and Ballantyne allocation will be entered before release.
Inspiring Presence stills the watching quay. The cooper brings his certified ledger forward, while the scrivener copies its marks into a fresh division register.
The Cooper
Every recorded mark agrees. No share can be challenged once this register bears the scrivener’s seal.
The scrivener seals the completed register before any silver moves. He also certifies a duplicate for Redmane’s command chest, giving her unquestioned proof of every allotment at future sales.
Quest Complete
Complete the lawful division of the captured prize
“I honor the cooper for his dedication and skill managing my books and accounts and promote him to quartermaster aboard my flagship.”
SUCCESS (Good Oratory, rolled +2)
Captain Redmane
Cooper, your dedication and skill have kept these accounts beyond dispute. I promote you to quartermaster aboard my flagship, with charge of its books, stores, and lawful shares.
Redmane turns from the sealed register to the cooper and makes the appointment before the scales, giving the promotion the full weight of public command.
The Cooper
I accept, Captain. Every cask, coin, and account aboard your flagship will answer to a clear entry and an honest tally.
Her Oratory gives the honor a crisp, formal shape, while Silver Tongue presents exacting account work as the trusted foundation of a growing fleet. The quay listens.
Inspiring Presence carries the appointment across the gathered merchants and sailors. The cooper steps forward, receives the flagship’s accounting seal, and leaves his certified ledger open beside the division register.
Dockside Scrivener
I will enter the appointment beside the sealed register. His authority over the flagship’s books is recognized from this hour.
The cooper gathers the registers and the new seal, already sorting duties in his mind as quartermaster. The flagship’s stores now have a keeper whose figures have survived every challenge.
✓ Quest Accepted
Commit the captured treasure to fleet expansion
“I direct the quartermaster to fund repairs and stores for every Ballantyne vessel and order the merchants to price timber, rigging, powder, and provisions against the prize.”
SUCCESS (Legendary Intrigue, rolled +1)
Captain Redmane
Quartermaster, fund repairs and stores for every Ballantyne vessel. Merchants, price timber, rigging, powder, and provisions against this prize.
The cooper opens the sealed division register beside the command ledger. Redmane lays out the factoring papers, turning certified ownership into immediate credit while the merchants gather close.
The Cooper
I will assign funds vessel by vessel, Captain, and reserve enough for stores before any share is released.
Her Treasure Accounting makes each allotment plain: repairs first, stores next, lawful shares after. The command ledger fixes the figures, and the factoring papers give merchants security.
Merchant 1
We will price the timber, rigging, powder, and provisions against the certified prize. The terms are sound, and our houses will supply them.
The wanted poster slips from Redmane’s coat, exposing her likeness, but Silver Tongue turns the merchants’ startled pause into brisk acceptance. Inspiring Presence restores the quay’s confidence.
The Cooper
The repairs and stores are funded for every Ballantyne vessel, and the supply prices are entered against the prize before release.
Quest Complete
Commit the captured treasure to fleet expansion
“I commission another warship after the completion of the current keel under construction.”
SUCCESS (Legendary Intrigue, rolled +2)
Captain Redmane
Shipwright, I commission another warship upon completion of the current keel. Merchants, finance the work against this prize.
Redmane places the command ledger and factoring papers before the merchants, tying the new commission to recorded authority and certified funds. The wanted poster slips loose, exposing her likeness, but her Silver Tongue turns their startled pause into eager calculation.
Tortuga shipwright 1
The current keel will be completed first. Then my yard will lay another warship’s keel under Ballantyne colors.
Merchant 1
The prize secures the commission. We will advance timber, iron, rigging, powder, and provisions, with repayment recorded against future shares.
Inspiring Presence steadies the quay as the merchants crowd around the ledgers. The factoring papers establish security, while the command ledger fixes the order of construction and every promised expense.
The Cooper
I will enter the new warship as a separate Ballantyne allocation, keeping its stores and costs distinct from the present keel.
The shipwright signs beneath the current contract, then adds the second commission to the yard register. Another warship now belongs to Redmane’s growing command, fully funded and formally begun.
✓ Quest Accepted
Complete construction of the second warship
“I have the quartermaster audit timber, iron, and rigging for the new warship.”
SUCCESS (Good Reasoning, rolled -1)
Redmane brings the quartermaster to the yard register and the newly promised materials. The command ledger fixes the warship’s allocation while timber, iron, and rigging are laid out for inspection.
The Cooper
I will measure each load against the new keel’s requirements, then compare every charge with the allocation before it is accepted.
He sorts the timber by length and grain, checks the iron bars for weight and soundness, and tests each coil of rigging for honest fiber and proper serving.
Treasure Accounting turns the inspection into figures: usable timber, serviceable iron, and rigging sufficient for the planned hull, spars, and running work are entered separately.
The Cooper
The quantities match the commission. These materials are sound, sufficient for the new warship, and correctly priced against its separate Ballantyne allocation.
The quartermaster enters the verified quantities beside the command ledger’s construction order and marks each supplier’s charge for payment. The audit is complete, with no shortage or false measure hidden in the account.
Tortuga shipwright 1
Then the keel will begin on honest figures, Captain. My yard can draw these materials without delay.