As the great red sun settled into the western sea and the stars began their swift courses, a cry went up from the tower on the breakwater. Out of the gloaming shadows across the eastern sea, a squadron of lean galleys appeared, oars cutting into the water in long strokes as they made their way to the harbor opening. The colors of the Hanse flew from their masts, but in their midst were a pair of sryganta-type galleys much-used by the Luwians, Sidaya, Crana, and other sea-going peoples of the east--especially for raiding.
Word of the Hanse-ships' coming spread swiftly through the taverns that night, and by morning a crowd had assembled outside the gates of the Kantor Kabljauhof, eager to hear news of the campaign to the east--was it over already? Or had the galleys slipped in at night to hide their defeat? Was Telman of Tsipa with them? Had they returned with glorious riches, ready to pay out to the backers of their war?
A herald ascended the gate to address the crowd: "Hear ye! Telman of Tsipa and acting-captain Koway have returned to Cothon to resupply their combined squadron, and to here dispense summary justice to the leaders of the pirates, while recouping some cost of the expedition by the sale of prisoners. The trials and executions will begin at noon; and the auction will commence thereafter!"
Curiosity only whetted, the crowd nevertheless dispersed, to return at noon for the spectacle of the public executions and slave-auction.
At noon, the gates stood open, allowing access to the broad inner court of the Kantor. The trials were to take place therein, for all ground within the walls of the Kantor is foreign-land, and the laws of Cothon-Gadeed do not apply therein. On a dais were seated Captain-General Zaytar, Mormaera Ymrys, and a handful of other officers of the Kantor; the condemned--several captains, their lieutenants, and a number of heavily-chained Kzinti (making poor slaves, they too were to be executed)--stood below, all bedecked in chains, while the captured crews of their ships were crowded along the Kantor's quays, forced to sit naked under the great sun.
The trial consisted simply in the recitation by Koway, Telman, and their own lieutenants of the events of the battles against the pirates, especially the action off the coast of Strobilas (as recounted by Koway), and another battle on the open sea defending a flotilla of merchants against the predations of the pirates:
The recounting of lieutenant Koway, currently acting-captain of the Weatherlight
We lay in wait for the pirates, we knew they would have to make an escape to the north.
In the center of our vanguard were three triremes and a pentakonter, flanking on either side were smaller sub-formations made of two triremes and a pentakonter each.
The enemy pirates formed a single line from east to west.
Both sides advance towards each other. Our vanguard struck first engaging on the pirates eastern flank. Rams on both sides hit ships. The Wave Crest made a daring head on ram which crippled an enemy ship which sank into the sea.
Our western formations had held back and now moved to support the rear of the vanguard.
Many of the small pirate ships were hugging the southern shore line riding over the reefs to their freedom, so our western formation advanced to cut them off, ramming into the smaller ships.
Combat raged on all fronts, ship grappled with ship, and boardings began; due to unforeseeable events some of our ships became captured. One vessel was captured on the eastern flank and another two in the vanguard, including our own ship the Weatherlight. But our ship was retaken with the help of the crew of the Sunbreaker!
Another round of engagement happened and we were able to retake some of our ships. We had also sunk a few more pirate ships as well. Victory was in reach …
But the crafty pirates were able break free and began to flee to the north. Our ships were too beaten and crews were too tired to get enough speed to capture them.
(written by Joel, with minor edits by the scribes; Joel has taken the place of the Hanse in both of the two games of Trireme played so far)
The word of the Hansemenner was, naturally, all that was needed for the conviction of the condemned. Thereafter, the pirate captains--Tlocai, Xenophon, and the club-footed Felonius Short-Step--and their lieutenants and Kzinti were chained to posts and scourged, and then hung up in gibbets over the Kantor's quays to die of exposure as a warning to any who might consider the piratical life. Following that, the rest of the crew were auctioned off at an average price of 200 gold pieces each, fetching such a meager price as they were expected to be of little use in any position of trust, but rather expected to be used for hard labor. Undoubtedly, whoever of the Hanse's own men who had been captured during the same battles were being delivered to an identical fate in the strongholds of the pirates ...
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