The silver tender rides in tow beside the sloop, her lines creaking softly between the vessels. Mateo Vargas keeps the surrendered crew gathered beneath the quarterdeck watch, while open water widens behind them.
The middle-aged sailor in the russet headscarf studies the wanted likeness pinned beneath Redmane's ledger. Her guarded gaze shifts from the paper to Captain Redmane, and recognition quietly settles across her face.
Spanish Tender Crew Sailor 1
That likeness is you, isn't it? Will the harbor pay for you alive?
The question travels no farther than the quarterdeck, but Vargas hears it. His hand settles near his pistol without drawing, while the other sailors watch him and Redmane in rigid silence.
Mateo Vargas
Mind your tongue. You are surrendered and under my protection, but accusations concerning Captain Ballantyne will be recorded with your testimony.
The crew exchange wary looks. Their custody may shield them from the sea's dangers, yet every word now weighs against the woman who captured their tender and commands both ships.
✓ Quest Accepted
Return the silver tender to Tortuga
“I order Vargas to set our course and return the tender to Tortuga with the sloop providing escort using the captured flags.”
FAILURE (Good Agility, rolled -4)
Captain Redmane
Vargas, set our course for Tortuga. Bring the tender home under the captured flags, with our sloop guarding her passage.
Vargas turns the helm toward the west and orders the sails trimmed. The captured colors draw both vessels into the open channel, but the wind soon dies against them.
Mateo Vargas
The tide has turned against us, Captain Ballantyne. We are being set toward the island shoals, and the tender cannot beat clear while under tow.
The towlines groan as the tender sheers sideways. Vargas orders both crews to shorten sail, but the current presses the heavier prize toward pale water breaking over hidden rock.
Spanish Tender Crew Sailor 1
There is no safe return by this channel today. The shoals will tear her bottom before Tortuga comes within sight.
A towline parts with a sharp crack, and the silver tender swings broadside before the sloop can recover her. Vargas gets a second line across, halting the drift, but the passage home is lost.
Mateo Vargas
We must anchor before dusk, Captain Ballantyne. Tortuga waits beyond the shoals, but this tide will not carry us there safely.
The two vessels settle into a strained halt short of the shoals. The tender remains captured and seaworthy, yet Tortuga is still beyond the broken water, with the sloop forced to guard her until the tide changes.
“I order Vargas to set our course and return the tender to Tortuga with the sloop providing escort using the captured flags.”
SUCCESS (Good Agility, rolled -1)
Captain Redmane
Vargas, set our course and return the tender to Tortuga under the captured flags. Our sloop escorts her passage.
Mateo Vargas
Aye, Captain Ballantyne. We will use the shoal water to turn with the tide, then take the western channel home.
Vargas orders the tender's anchor hauled and shifts the towline to the sloop's lee quarter. Sail fills cleanly as both vessels swing together, clear of the hidden rocks.
The surrendered sailors shorten sail and haul under watch, their coordinated effort steadying the silver tender. The captured colors stream above both masts, making the convoy appear a lawful pair bound west.
Spanish Tender Crew Sailor 1
That channel is sound. Keep her bow west until the tide bears us around the shoals, and Tortuga will lie open before nightfall.
The advice proves exact. The tender clears the broken water without a scrape, and the sloop takes station astern, guns ready while the captured prize and its escort make for Tortuga.
✓ Quest Accepted
Turn the sailor's knowledge of Redmane's identity into leverage
− Scene Quest Removed
Return the silver tender to Tortuga
“I will question her privately about who else knows my identity.”
SUCCESS (Legendary Intrigue, rolled +1)
Captain Redmane draws the middle-aged sailor in the russet headscarf beneath the lee quarter, where wind and canvas keep their exchange from the watch. The wanted poster remains pinned between them, her likeness an unavoidable witness.
Captain Redmane
Who else knows my identity? Tell me precisely, and keep your voice low.
Redmane's Silver Tongue makes the question sound like a routine account of witnesses, not a threat. The sailor's gaze flicks to the likeness, then returns to Redmane with guarded calculation.
Spanish Tender Crew Sailor 1
Aboard this tender, the master saw the poster when it blew across the quarterdeck. I saw it clearly. No one else has spoken your name, and I heard no report carried beyond these ships.
Spanish Tender Crew Sailor 1
The master is Esteban Rojas, though he has not told the others what he recognized. If you keep the paper covered, your secret remains with us and the wind.
She lowers her voice further and resumes watching the western channel. The poster still exposes the danger, but Redmane now knows exactly how far the knowledge has traveled: no farther than this prize's quarterdeck.
“We continue on to Tortuga”
SUCCESS (Good Agility, rolled -1)