Enatic Clans

It is then that this Remer-lad and I are finished scuffling after Captain Leonis's advent. But goddammit. Ya Allah, my failed interrogation is one thing of the story then herein Lord Guan comes - problems after problem, he adds up. But something emerges, once the ruckus settles…

"Sir Æ… report." Captain Leonis summons my name, as he guides us the way.

"Yes. Ten volklurche have been spotted. All eliminated." concisely I answer, following his lead from behind.

He muses, replying: "Oh? Seems the prior rapport has some inconsistent proofs? Erroneous." as he elegantly whispers near my ear and gently waving his hands, whereas he is explaining.

"What was the number - five? In Inglovian adventurers' standards, that number is equivalent to a grappe." I fire back, despite my frustrations earlier.

"Haha… really, though? Arrr~..." Captain Leonis oozes his piratic accent, "However, Fort Quogsagihaxee'e doesn't have Adventurers' Society or as such organizations present like in the mainland." as he looks forward, "But we do have on-the-second men and some freelance privateers." glancing behind, as his stare points towards me.

Prompting the wind starts to veer. The bazaar becomes so jaunty and as the dusk light begins to wane, the street lights surface. Pretentious bystanders staring at us while the contempt on their faces are being written. Lone wolves, rag tag hooligans, whores, and others with their stingy eyes glue at Lord Guan, Sir Remer, and me. Yet none seems to dismiss the tolerance of the existence of the naga beside the captain. Word-of-mouth truly propagates very fast. Planning to normalize the 'überleben-anthromorph skinship relationship' under the nose of the Crown.

"Militia is one thing, Captain. But having a regular army is still vital to one's sovereignty." I shoot back, rebutting his flawed conclusion.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk…" replying with a smirk while clicking his tongue, "Sir Æ, nation-building is futile in the eyes filled with criminals. On-the-second men is an exception since this organization came before the establishment of this settlement." as Captain Leonis reckons it out.

"Sir Æ, welcome to the pirate republic of Fort Quogsagihaxee'e. Please keep that in mind." he adds with a presumptuous tone.

"So, Captain. Who founded this place before becoming a hidden lair for pirates?" Lord Guan inserts into conversation, as he plants his arm around me.

"The admiral-turned-general, Hizer Słońcesław. He made a revolutionary heritage that tied to the existence of the island in and of itself. According to his memoirs, and I quote: 'Away from the power, days of woe are over'. As I still plan to uphold this notion." Captain Leonis declares.

"Take a gander. Look over yonder," the captain jabs his finger towards the west, "Yes, that's where the Crown is - Inglovia. Rigidity and conformity are all you can see. And right here, albeit, as a vassal to the Crown, we represent as locals our cultural distinction." whereas he expresses deep passion.

Indeed, what the captain said is entirely rebellious. Marking themselves as vagabond while swearing fealty to the Crown. What can the Grand Empire do, if the exclave is further away from the distance? First of all, the Crown is at war with the Kehinans. Especially placing the Grand Imperials to multiple fronts is bound to fail - cleaning the insurgency here while bashing their heads with another sovereign concurrently. And to reinforce the idea, it is a dual benefit for this fort island to be in this status-position. A strategic finesse. In lieu of proclaiming Fort Quogsagihaxee'e as an independent entity. 'Maintaining autonomy while under the protection from their overlord.' Smart move, I reckon. It is a next level intrigue maneuver.

"Brothel? Anyone, gentlemen?" where the captain points to the establishment with his cane, "How about you, Clef, raring for some Fort Quogsagihaxee'e pleasure? Fort Quogsagihaxee'e's exclusive." he then chuckles.

"I'm aware, Captain…" Lord Guan interjects, answering: "Actually, I'm not much interested in flings or whatever causing brief moments of pleasure." with the galls of courage, he continues.

"Oh, boohoo… welcome to the pirate republic of Fort Quogsagihaxee'e, Clef. Where the place of love crumbles and the list of lust overwhelms it all." Captain Leonis sasses back, as he transfers his crutch to this naga paramore.

Habaraef receives the cane while she clings back into the arms of the captain. The sight twists something deep in me. A grimace claws up my spine. In an abrupt moment, A bunch of free women of different races - elves, orcs, and humans; and possibly some sluts flock over Captain Leonis. His serpentine lover is undeterred, as she smiles witnessing the moment. The crew is getting bigger in size, as the on-the-second men continue to usher us beforehand. Straight ahead, we tread. As I notice, there is a huge ship around.

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

"The docks?" Sir Remer blurts, as Lord Guan and I instinctively stare at him.

"Aye," the captain answers while managing to entertain us with some thoughts, "Both families - Celamus and Dormitar made a partnership deal. Lord Remer seems to be unaware of this development. Poor you." as he shares kisses with other women and groping their feminine blessings in the process.

"Boarded or built?" I ask, which is which. It is because I doubt that this place could hire shipbuilders.

"Classified. It is a trade secret." Captain Leonis flashes a wink, whereas Habaraef shakes her head while smiling as well.

The captain adds, "Let me tell you something, boyos and gal." the female mob as soon as we have reached the wharf, "Hizer Słońcesław mentors my teacher… his wisdom is a far contrast with the admiral himself - yet I'm the one who bears Słońcesław's tradition." he clears his throat, resuming: "Aye, Aye… I've been away from the sails for about five years now but a 'captain' still at least. Time caught me - stating that: 'I'm better at managing this fort', 'let other captains handle the booties and other exploits', 'I've done enough…', 'Old school is still work but how far?', and many more to tell from either backlashes and lauds. What can they say? Of course, there is democracy on this island. I agreed. However, immortalizing me instead-..."

"The 'Terror of the Virgin Seas and Oceans'… and the 'Scourge of the Unknown'." the naga injects the captain's monikers. Which is familiar at firsthand.

"Arrrr~" the captain responds, confirming the backlore behind his achievements.

"That's the de-facto leader of Fort Quogsagihaxee'e for life for you! So, Captain, have you chosen your successor?" Lord Remer pricks up.

"We have Captain Gondalosa, the first female pirate soon-to-be. Captain Robert McAllen O'Valentine de Alcanzantre, a fallen nobility who studied at the University of Inglovian Occidental - Military Academy. Captain Tye Hantor McGesvout de Acrania, a half-orcish-born while bearing his enatic orcish lineage. Captain Minidoria is a woman of many talents - both a female bosun and a cox maiden of 'Ciliminia', and a sloop captain of yours truly 'Ciliminia the Younger'. These are my candidate picks - it is all up to the folks, and you all, of this fort island to choose."

"Strange… what about your son, Leonis Celamus II? Don'cha endorse him also?"

"Him?" as the captain laughs, "Not a chance. Never. He might be cunning - equally or greater than my capacity. But he better grow some cojones first." dismissing the idea.

This is the first time I have heard this news. Captain Leonis has a son?!? What an interesting detail, indeed. It makes me look naive considering prostitution is prevalent in this area. Therefore, I do see in a personal note just politics and intrigue. With this at hand, I will be startled not if the captain has sired several children with distinct women.

"Truth to be told, I despise nepotism. Him, basking under my name is a shape of smearing my legacy - Fort Quogsagihaxee'e's history as well." Captain Leonis bursts out of frustration, his face turns red as he drops his bicorn.

Habaraef picks up the hat then fixes the pennants and wrinkles on the captain's upper gala, as Captain Leonis himself formally imposes in an elegant fashion. Realigning his neckband. Redressing the bicorn atop of his head. Undoing his cuffs. He then clears his throat.

"Forget about what happened…" he apologizes, "... that was anarchic of me." as he trails after his lover's path.

As we are moving forward, inspecting the façade details of the hybrid galley: plethora of staysails, a mast with six mawwes (30 meter) tall, one huge mangorel in the middle of the upper deck, at least seven portholes meant for cannons, hexareme-style, and two ballistæ placed on both bow and stern. This is only not a warship, but a heavy warship. And there is imprinted on the starboard side: 'Pristinia'.

Lord Remer barrages once more, asking: "Averting to, uh, familial-dynasty affairs or feudalistic or serfdom business… Hehe~ I've been meaning to ask, Captain." he provokes while in a sheepish tone.

"Aye? Out with it." Captain Leonis dares Lord Remer to spit his idea.

"As a statesman, why do you posit Fort Quogsagihaxee'e in rather an impassive status? Like, uh, you have every resource and opportunity to sever ties with the Grand Empire. Inglovia seems preoccupied with the war against the kingdom of Kehina. Concurrently, the internal struggles within. Namely because of the empire of Lamentine and several principalities and immediate vassals. Especially their crown jewel scutage - West Burgraviate, whose minting license and little to no internal tariffs are revoked. Why not in your case, declare full independence?" with unfiltered askance, Lord Remer then regards. He has a point.

"Hahaha… petty politics and intrigue seem to be of your interest, are they not Lord Remer?" one of the captain's eyes contorts, asserting: "Fleeing assassinations, balancing act between one's sovereign and the church, court corruption, who to backstab, underhanded compensations, funding local insurgencies, and others. Ah~ classic mainland diplomatic movements, indeed."

"What do you mean?" Lord Remer insists on wanting to know more. And so do I.

"You'd be naive assuming outlaws having no politics. Take, for example, orcish policy where the strongest rules the community - gerócracy, it's a form of plutocracy. Anyways, as long as there is money or interest, politics is always present." the captain answers with panache, while his tone might be arrogant, deep in his eyes that parts with experience and raw wisdom.

"Apart from those, yes, I resign from active sailing because I admit my old methods may not be feasible in this age and uncertainty. So let the new generation of pirate captains innovate sets of ideas during coastal plunderings, boarding ships, evading well-armed armada, and new art of piracy. If old school still works, regular navies didn't study 'Leonis Celamus'. They are at fault. My old methods are just a basis for the new generation of daredevils to flourish." as he concludes why he retires from the thrills of active piracy.