Realistic Pirate CYOA

You sigh. First he slanders you, now he asks your help?

The lord gives us all trials.

"C'mon then, shepherd."

"And stop calling me that! My name is Giovanni Alfonso Borelli. I am an exile."

In a few minutes, you both have walked back to the governor's mansion.

One window is cleanly broken. Likely Gildas's entry point.

If you walk in with Giovanni, you may reveal Gildas.

How do you make sure he's escaped?

"There's a smashed window! Someone's broken in while we were off running! I'll check inside to make sure Angelina is okay. You go get the marines!" [+1 Persuasion/Intimidation]

Your speech is more than enough to get the skiddish Giovanni back to the palace.

"Villain, come out! By the bloody beard of St. Ambrosius, come out!"

"Daniel? Have you double crossed me?"

Gildas emerges from the bushes. He's limping.

"No friend, merely secured your escape."

You grab his wrist, and he yours, bringing him to his feet.

"The heist.. it was uh... foiled. But let's see to your sails anyway!"

You can't help but hear the jingling of coin as you help your friend to his hideout.

Behind you, you can hear the yell of Giovanni with the arriving Marines. You have escaped. [+4 Thieving]

You've made it to Gildas's hideout, where supplies lay all over, more than enough for your ship - and then some.

Gildas, wounded, calls over some Druids from the shadows to treat his scrapes.

What do you do now?

""I've got some loose ends to tie up, Gildas. I'll meet up with you here in a couple hours. Can you hit me in the face real quick? Give me a black-"

A hard right hook comes across your jaw, sending two teeth flying.

You take a second to recover, before finishing. "... Eye."

Another jab takes out your left. Some blood trickles down..

"Feel free to return the favor sometime." Gildas smiles. "Your ship will be set and overloaded with sail. I'll send you the bill when all's through; just find your way back to the Thieves Den. The password is 'Hail the glorious war dead.' "

You head back to the mansion to explain to Giovanni that you've pursued the robber and scuffled with him, but he got away.

Along the way, you encounter him. You're not ten feet from the hideout.

"My lord! What has happened to you Daniel?"

Giovanni has arrived, with Marines in tow, tracking Gildas by a blood trail. A blood trail that led straight to you.

Your gun is still loaded.

They are waiting for an answer.

A marine breezes past you, takes a look in the window and hails.

"Sir! We've found them!"

There are four marines - one by the hide out, one behind you, and two by Giovanni.

You have a loaded pistol and a knife, are shirtless and exhausted.

Blood trickles down your neck from your jaw. It may be dislocated.

"Thank goodness you've come! I couldn't find Angelina, but I found the villain. We scuffled, but he's a slippery one, and started bolting. I followed him here, but there are too many inside for me to take by myself."

"Have no fear! We'll take him together, men! Marines! HO!" Giovanni yells.

Before you can say 'double cross' the Royal Marines are pouring in the hideout.

Shots are fired, men scream, and at some point, a smoke is lit.

Giovanni first enters, followed by you. It is a massacre.

Royal Marines lie at your feet - throats cut, shot in the head, one particular one has been cleaved in half. The smoke is rising - the place must be on fire. No druids are anywhere to be seen.

"Adoratori del diavolo... Angelina! We must get home at once!"

Giovanni turns to run back to the mansion, when suddenly he falls to the ground.

A dagger in his neck.

You're still among the smoke.

"You sure are a hard man to cover for, Gildas!"

"And you a harbinger of misfortune, my friend."

Giovanni lets out a guttural scream, blood pouring from his mouth.

"Non temerei alcun male.."

With a bloodied yell, Giovanni dies.

A similar yell is heard in response. Reinforcements are coming from the direction of the palace.

They are approaching from the north. Your ship is to the south. The mansion is to the west, by the coast. To the east, residences.

"Well, Gildas. I've got an unstocked ship with some rowers to the south, or we can head to another one of your hideouts. Or we can part ways here. Your choice."

"You aren't going for your pet, the governess' daughter?"

The marines are approaching closer. They sound to be just around the corner.

The only ways clear to you are the east and the south now.