Episode 1: Pradesh

Baracus dumps another tin plate of food down his gullet and lets out a Baracus-sized belch. He is utterly satisfied in life at the moment: good friends, good fights, good food. After licking his fingers, he reaches out and places his hand on Ybus's shoulder.

What's this job we got?

Aishwariya shakes her head and the two of you rejoin the others. "I'm not afraid of Captain Copperhorn despite his notoriety for being monstrously short-tempered," she says, speaking to everyone. "He is a smuggler, some say pirate. We've had dealings with him before - legitimate dealings, mind you - transporting goods between here and Qinglai, Kortella, Kaspeatho, you name it. We need him and his ship, the Kestrel. We have other vessels and captains that keep our interests alive of course, but the Kestrel is the fastest ship there is and if we have it we nearly double our market share. The thing is, that shithead knows we need him more than he needs us and is playing hard to get. I will need to be very persuasive tomorrow.

She turns to smile sweetly at Urban. "I won't begrudge your company tomorrow though I hardly think it's necessary. Auntie Sunitha worries too much."

"Well, pirates love power," says Ybus, squished under Baracus' mighty weight. "And gold. Mostly gold. Actually I think they'd prefer the gold over the power, at least until the rum's gone."

Ybus reaches out futilely for any drink that happens to be nearby, but cannot move because of the half-orc. His expression suddenly changes from sadness to glee, and with a snap of his fingers he creates a spectral Mage Hand to retrieve the first cup of liquid he can see.

Ybus' words are drowned as he fills himself with the beer. His Mage Hand flies off to fetch another round.

"If you ask me, it sounds like you just need his ship. Sounds to me the weight he holds above your heads, is quite fragile."

"That's what I thought too, but word is only he has tamed the Kestrel. That anyone else who tries to pilot her will soon go to a watery grave. Maybe it's just tales. Maybe he even spread them himself." Ash shrugs. "I don't know anything about sailing. Do you?"

"Unfortunately, I do not," Erden says, "Though it's always fascinated me. Perhaps now is a good time to learn?"

"We'll follow your lead, Aishwariya," Urban says. "If this fellow is that good, maybe he's worth making a new deal with. Business is business, but we won't let him overrun and threaten you."

Ybus burps and chortles, and probably would have answered Aishwarya, but he is immersed in his third serving of beer, and his Mage Hand goes back for more.

Rydler nods in agreement with Urban "You know this man better than us and what is the best for your business. We will follow your lead but know with us, you'll be well protected."

Between handfuls of tandoori meats, Baracus declares like rolling thunder:

Pirates also love not being dead. I have a way of reminding fools of their mortality.

"Eh, maybe," hiccups Ybus, between swigs. "Thish Copperhorn sheems like a bullish sort. Pro'ly take more than Urban's good looks to win him over." A fifth cup is brought in mid-air.

Aditya comes sidling up. "Hey it's getting close to midnight. Who wants to come with Ash and me, sneak out to the docks to watch the fireworks over the bay?"

"Adi, the Aunties will be furious. Maybe we should just watch it from here this time."

Adi scoffs, "They're furious every year but when did that ever stop you and I? Come on, it's waaay better viewed over the water! Don't you want to impress our new friends?" he looks slyly at Urban "It'll be romantic." Craftily he adds, "Who knows, we might even run into old Copperhorn. And in a far better mood than tomorrow morning when he'll be hung over!

Ash sighs, clearly conflicted. She turns to you, "What do you think?"

Erden thinks for a moment and nods, "Sure, can't hurt anything," he says, then looks at Ybus, "Can you walk?" he asks his friend.

I will join you for these 'works of fire' .

Having eaten, Baracus feels lethargy seeping into his veins, but the pain from his injuries has subsided.

"Shure," slurs Ybus. "I ken walk fyne, si?" He walks in place, courtesy of Baracus' hand keeping him upright and steady.

Erden sighs, wishing he could still pull rank to curb Ybus' enthusiasm for the drink. With a shrug, he turns to Baracus, "You want to carry him around?" he asks, hating that he may be giving up his ride, but doing it anyway, "That way you can shut him up if he starts mouthing off to the wrong people."

Ybus shakes his head and his hand, sloshing beer. "I don' need halp," he says. "'Sides, you wan- you wanna stay high t' watch de sky. Jus' don' look 'im in de eye; he 'ates dat."