The Undrowned stumbles back from the creature, drawing a bastard sword from the sheath on it's side that is stained red with rust, and has almost corroded all the way through in several parts. He holds a defensive stance, still holding the wall for balance.
"Av ak ur'a et vistul!" it shouts "Vus ob av vistu stenoptii avu!
"R'idaz. Vus apr'ob av!?" There's a strained desperation in it's voice now.
Esmarelda put herself between Aviz and their new comer. "Calm down Aviz! He just seems scared. Brandishing your weapon is not going to help with that." She said calmly before she looked back to the one in armor. "Calm yourself, can you understand me?" She asked in a soft low voice as she did her best to look non-threatening.
The undrowned is looking past Esmarelda and Aviz, at the gaggle of pirates now staring at it. It raises it's sword and scrambles along the deck for it's shield.
It seems to address Esmarelda, albeit it's hard to track the glint of the creature's eyes. "Yav vud r'oob Thanele? R'idaz? Zav?"
Aviz growls but lowers his weapon, but when the creature raises his sword he gets on the offense again, lunging forward.
Aviz spins the creature's weapon away from him, then quickly throws his own weapon to the deck, raising his arms up. "Come on now, take a breath."
"I don't think he can understand us..." Esmarelda told her strix friend, then reached out and grabbed their new comer's hand before they could react to Aviz. "That wasn't a good idea Aviz." She told him, before turning her attention fully back to the person's hand that she now held. "It's alright." She said calmly. "We're not here to hurt you..." She tried to get across to them. She then looked back to her friends as she asked "Any one understand him? I'd love some help here."
G'nosha grabbed her flail instinctively when the creature got out of the coffin, but hesitated to attack. Even as it seemed more scared than actually aggressive, and was easily disarmed by Aviz, she kept her distance from the giant. Pale and confused, she stared at him, her attention especially drawn by the symbol of her goddess on the undrowned's shield.
It was the first time that the half-orc looked actually scared.
"No man could have survived such a fate," she eventually stuttered.
She suddenly realized the fear in her own voice. She modified her position to a defensive one rather than a aggressive one, and when she spoke again, it was in a more resolute tone:
"Are you sent by Besmara? Are you her herald?" she asked, pointing at the the undrowned's shield.
"Well he-er well, they certainly appear to be undrowned whatever they(?) are."
Harrigan strolls across the deck towards the commotion, pushing G'Noshas weapon down by her side as he did. He stood there staring at the creature for a moment, frowning darkly, before whistling. Caulky Tarron, the Captains Girl, ran over and inclined her head slightly.
"Cap'n?" She inquired, waiting for his order.
"Run and get Longfarthing, tell'er we need her magic!" His eyes never left the suit of armor before him, but kept sliding away from the Tower shield, his scowl deepening. "Yer a big bastard, I'll give ya that. Here... let's have a look under that helmet!" He nodded to one of the Pirates who stepped forward, pushing Es away from the beast before reaching out and starting to pull off the helmet.
The crewman recoiled with a scream, blood streaming out of a bite on his arm, as a large green eel lunged from the neck of the armor and latched on. The crewman fought his way clear and the Moray hung there for a moment, mouth opening and closing threateningly as he stared around at the gathered people, before slithering back in to where he came from.
"Well... that is something new!" Plugg commented, stepping up beside Harrigan, arms crossed over his chest. "And the shield seems relatively new and all..."
"Aye, the b%+$+ Queen is playing games again, bless her salty old bones!" Harrigan grinned, stroking his chin in thought. "Ah, Longfarthing you are here. What the hells is this thing...?"
The Sorceress inclined her head to the Captain before turning to examine the creature. She took a long time, cast a few spells and eventually turned to the Captain with a shrug. "I can not rightly tell Captain. He seems to have been a man once but now... I do not rightly know. The stench of the afterlife clings to him but he is definitely alive, if you can call this" she gestured to the hulking creature dismissively "living. If I had to guess what he was Captain, I would say another person to crew the ship. Keep an eye on him, maybe see if Grok can do something about the smell but he could be of some use, maybe. Professional opinion."
Harrigan frowned at the creature before walking up and standing before it, eyeing it up and down. "Fine. Yer part of the crew now. Listen to what you are told... and for god sakes learn the Common tongue. You sound like an idiot!" He nodded at Scourge and Plugg before turning to look at the rest of the crew.
"BACK TO WORK!"
The Undrowned is easily disarmed, barely able to stand let alone keep a grip on his blade. "AK! YAV PAVUK!" it spits venom at the Strix and raises it's fist.
When Esmerelda lays her hand on the armor, the undrowned looks down and cocks it's head in confusion. "Buh? Vus fobzya yav uscap av?"
it falls to the ground in exhaustion, losing it's defensive nature and forming a cross-legged sitting position. Pointing at the Strix, it is still looking at and adressing Esmarelda. "Yav et vus anue ob PAVUK juo laet clept lec av!!"
it holds a hand to it's face, and sighs deeply, until it's snapped back to attention by the Half Orc's mention of Besmara.
"Besmar'a!?" the 'r' rolls slightly, but the word is recognizable. The Undrowned scratched at the barnacles around it's neck plate thoughtfully; he seems to be muttering to himself at this point. "Besmar'a... Besmar'a... Av vud ob et zav?"
The train of thought was interrupted by a pirate pushing his way forward, and making a grab for the Undrowned's helmet. When the eel shot forward from the opening in it's armor, the undrowned shouted out in shock as loudly as the eel's victim.
It watched in confusion as more pirates came. They garbled things at each other in a weird mash of nonsense. One of them spent some time investigating the creature. She turned, mumbled some things to another, surlier looking pirates. The surly pirate barked some orders at It, then some more at the strangers gathered around, and then left. That was it.
The Undrowned stood again, pulling at it's face in frustration. "Vus thvob et av!?"
As the crowd disperses, Peppery stops and frowns, staring at the creature before getting a bright idea. With a wave of her hand and a muttered phrase, she draws forth a few runes, casting them before her in a shower of crimson and gold.
She listens as the man speaks, before nodding and turning to the group. "He doesn't like you!" She pointed at Aviz.
"He wants to know why you are touching him!" She pointed to Es.
"He might know Besmara but he isn't too sure. As that is the only modern word he seems to know, I would say it is a safe bet he has heard of her." She nods to G'Nosha.
"What are you...? My dear boy, I have no idea!" She sighs, patting him on the shoulder before walking away.
Two of the guards on duty frown as they catch sight of the large beast, but as the Anchor is on deck, and in the open, he is not out of bounds, so they leave him be. When he lifts the chain to test its weight, one of the guards calls over a brief "Hoy! Leave it alone. Dumbass hodgepodge looking weirdo..." before shaking his head and wandering off, cursing the newbie.
The anchor is heavy, a couple hundred pounds of solid metal and is attached to several hundred feet of solid thick chain, enough to hit bottom in anything but the deepest of seas.
The Undrowned is handed a bottle of unknown contents. Realizing it's immediate thirst and hunger, it downs the drink with enthusiasm.
"Trying to make sure he doesn't attack Aviz." She answered wtih a shrug. "Though it seems like I was lucky, no eel tried to bite me." She smirked before she moved after Peppery, lowering her voice. "If you'd humor me for a moment, I have a question for you." She told her. "If not, I understand."
Esmarelda dumped her rum for the night once again before she looked around the deck they where on to see who was all out and about after that terrible storm.
Apparently, the creature was worshipping Besmara, and that thought made G'nosha relax a little. That didn't prevent the half-orc from keeping her distance from it with a sort of fearful respect. The undrowned was probably a sign from the goddess herself -yet gods could be whimsical.
That night, she drank her rum with more enthusiasm than before.
Unfortunately, it didn't help her forget. Her mind was still as clear as crystal, and she was completely lucid. She was feeling like she needed to talk to someone.
G'nosha sat next to Esmarelda.
"'Night, Es. How ya doing? Feeling better?"
She noticed that the rogue was looking around:
"Need something?" she asked. She ran her eyes over the deck.
Hale as always, Zale nonetheless found himself discomfited that evening. He watched the creature brought aboard warily, as he had done all day, wondering about the fate his Goddesses had in mind for him and how this unearthly being could play into it. At least for the moment, though the whatever-it-was seemed to be no particular danger to the crew, and that was what was important.
After a while alone with his thoughts, he found himself mingling with the crew once more, seeing if he could find out someone else's perspective on recent events.
"It is an acquired--or rather deadening of--taste."
1. Giffer Tibbs - Gnome Male
2. Jack Scrimshaw - Human Male
3. Rosie Cusswell - Halfling Female
4. Crimson Cogward - Human Male
5. Tilly Bracket - Human Female
6. Badger Medlar - Half-Elf Female
7. Shivikah - Human Female
8. Aretta Bansion - Human Female
9. Fipps Chumlett - Human Male
10. Jaundiced Jape - Half-Orc Male
Crimson
"Some excitement there earlier today eh, Crimson?"
Apparently this washed up monstrosity is one of my crew mates now. And pirates wonder why they're killed off in such numbers. Aviz shakes his head at the stupidity and gets back to his station. As he's told the creature doesn't like him, Aviz gives a sneer that says Tell me something that I care about. He kicks the creature's weapon back over to him and growls. "Don't b&@!* at me, I was keeping an unknown entity from causing any damage to the ship or my crew mates. If I'm in the wrong for disarming this monstrosity than you can go drink your own piss." He snarls and stalks off.
That night Aviz is too distracted by their new companion to do much of anything else. He quietly watches the creature, following him out and frowning as he tries to figure out what it's up to.
Peppery stops, looking at the young woman, smiling slightly. "Good evening Esmarelda, what can I do for you today? Good job with that creature by the way, very brave."
Aviz follows Hodge to the Anchor and watches with interest as the man-thing investigates the ship. He can't really make out what is going on, but he is very interested in the anchor that is for sure.
Es and G'Nosha sit together, chatting back and forth, watching as a group begins to gather on the middle deck and the nights activities begin.
Eskilline begins to tell a tale and those gathering turn to him and begin to listen intently. They laugh at all the right parts and grin but their attention is soon dragged away. Crimson grins at Eskilline before elbowing him in the side. "Pay attention new meat, gonna be interesting tonight I'd wager!"
When Zale makes to interact with the man beside him, he shakes him off, glaring at him and pointing towards Scourge, who stepped towards the main mast.
"Oi! Listen up lads, gonna have some sport tonight..." he whistles sharply and a large, tarred and feathered man, some of you know as Owlbear, is brought up on deck. "Lads we have a few new crew tonight, some newer than others... And some really new and really f$~$ing weird!" He grinned around, gesturing towards Hodge. "And one of em is gonna fight the Owlbear so... which one of yeah is it gonna be?"
The crowd parts and the new recruits are left with a clear line to the deckboss.
"I'll make it worth yer while if ya win..." he says, bouncing a heavy bag of coins up and down on his palm.
Aviz is sitting, surly in his corner when Scourge and the Owlbear come into the middle deck. He looks the man up and down. Is that a club? Primitive. He absentmindedly runs a nail on the blade of his fauchard, leaning over to a nearby pirate. "What are the rules of this fight?"
The Pirate looks over at Aviz and grins "Both of yeh are unarmed, yeh go in and take it a couple rounds. Knock em out and ya get the purse. Get knocked out and he'll get a different purse, one to carry yer teeth home in."
Esmarelda smiled with a shrug. "Brave? Mmm, most would say bold but I'll take brave." She told her as she let a small chuckle leave her lips. "Is there some where quiet we could talk? It is nothing bad, I assure you." She asked softly.
"I am feeling better Lovely, thank you for asking." She said with a charming smile before being questioned about what she was looking for. "Not really looking for something, just watching to see how people... move." She informed her half-orc friend.
When owlbear was brought up to the deck and Scourge was making a scene Esmarelda just rolled her eyes. "I never cared about this type of entertainment, but Avimar loved it." She told G'nosha with a sigh.
"I'll do it! Someone hold my blouse. *hic!* Pardon."
Zale stood up, placing a hand on Eskilline's shoulder. His eyes were serious, even though his speech was subtly slurred and his tone more familiar than usual. "Don't think that's the best idea, Esk. Y'know your stuff, but a fistfight doesn't seem like putting your best foot forward."
He looked about at the crew, reading the situation as best he could through the slight fog of the rum and realizing it was almost certainly to be one of their band of new recruits that was meant to take the beating. He glanced to G'Nosha and Aviz, his head bobbing questioningly towards the 'Owlbear'. "Looks like it's t'be one of us. Unless someone's partic'larly interested in it, I'll see about collecting the evening's bruises."
Hodge is looking at the clearing, which has opened before him to display a large, feathered man. He is trying to discern through tone and body language what this meeting is about.
Aviz looks on disdainfully. "Why? To win a little coin by embarrassing this savage?" He says loudly with a thumb jab at the 'Owlbear'.
Zale stood up, placing a hand on Eskilline's shoulder. His eyes were serious, even though his speech was subtly slurred and his tone more familiar than usual. "Don't think that's the best idea, Esk. Y'know your stuff, but a fistfight doesn't seem like putting your best foot forward."
"Wouldn't that make it a foot-fight?"
Zale leaned in towards Aviz.
"One way or another, I don't think we're going to get much of a choice," he said in a low tone, his eyes flicking to Scourge, then blinking and turning to give Eskilline an odd look. "I...s'pose?"
Aviz sneers, but he sees the insight that Zale has. He stands up and cracks his knuckles. "I've never been much for hand to hand. Used to steel." He shouts across the room. "Hey you ugly piece of rotgut! Let's see what you got!" He steps up, whispering to Scourge. "What're the rules?"
Zale, surprised Aviz decided to step forward, caught the strix's arm before he moved over to Scourge, offering one last thought. "Don't beat 'im too badly, 'f you can. Doubt he's got any more choice than we do."
Aviz nods to Zale. Doubt I could if I wanted to. Has more scars than a damned ogre.
Scourge looks at Aviz with a dark glint in his eyes, "The birdy wants to try his hand? I thought you'd be too chicken!" he laughed a loud guffawing sound. Clearly he thought he was being smart with that comment. "Rules are simple, go in there and fight em hand to hand." With that he moved forward and took Owlbears club, leaving it resting on his own shoulder.
"Which ever one of yeh gets knocked out is the loser. Ready?"
"FIGHT!"
Aviz
Owlbear
"You're f#!#ing hilarious. I bet all the women love you for your brains." Aviz spits back. He knows he doesn't hold the power here, but clearly they didn't intend to just kill him off, so he was going to start barking back a little. He steps closer to the Owlbear and eyes his opponent.
Aviz rolls his shoulders and cracks his neck. As the fight is called, Aviz quickly lashes out with a haymaker, keeping his hands up.
Peppery arches an eyebrow, staring at Es before nodding and gesturing for her to follow. She leads her down below deck and towards her laboratory, opening the door and gesturing her inside.
The room is filled with mysterious smells and sounds, the tables littered with beakers, cages and old dusty tomes. Peppery takes a seat behind a desk which is covered with weather maps, and gestures for Es to join her.
"So dear, what can I do for you?"
The gathering is confusing at first, but you manage to figure out that there is a fight about to happen. Two men stand in the ring, one of them the guy who angered you before.
Aviz lashes out with a huge punch, knocking Owlbear back. The huge man stumbles before letting out a howl and lunging forward, punching out at Aviz viciously.
Owlbear matched Aviz punch with one of his own, slamming his fist as hard as he can in to the mans face, driving him back, causing his head to ring.
Eskilline seethes at the insult. To be ignored by two walking feather dusters. His mouth and hands work the magic inherent in his frame. "नींद."
OH, YOU DID NOT JUST DO THAT!
Possibly someone in the audience. ;)
Esmarelda slowly took a seat in the chair to the left, crossing her legs. She looked over the desk at the charts and smiled slightly to herself. She notices a few but not very many. "I was wanting to speak with you upon two matters actually. When we first spoke you seemed, glad, to hear who I am. I couldn't help but wonder if you had suspicions?" She asked, the smile never left her lips.
Zale, looking about to see the others' reaction at the beginning of the fight, noticed Eskilline muttering words of magic. His eyes went wide and he practically flung himself toward the younger man, his hand slapping over the sorcerer's mouth with a feigned laugh. "Hah! Don't need you sicking up just now, Esk!"
He leaned in closer to whisper urgently at Eskilline. "Knock it off! If you interfere with the whole ship's entertainment for the evening, you're likely to get the lash!"
Hodge shrugs at the fight, and is about to go back to his very important anchor work, when he hears the Strix throwing insults and stepping into the ring with the other fighter.
Hodge's attention perks up "Ah! Av canu et vus ob pavukvu vakithma! KYAhohoho!!" he chuckles at his own joke, making his way to the ring.
Hodge uses his bulk to try and move his way through the crowd, and hold a spot at the front.
If he is able to make his way to the front of the crowd, he will be holding his standard action until there is a fighter adjacent to him.
The half-orc frowned.
"Avimar?" she repeated, when her attention was caught by Aviz stepping in front of Owlbear, while the crewmen gathered around the two fighters.
Here comes trouble again.
"Hold on. Let's see what they are up too."
As usual, Aviz was fighting with all his might, but Owlbear was no beginner. For once, maybe that the strix warrior showed too much ambition.
I need to get closer.
Eskilline begins to cast his spell, drawing forth the rune as he began to draw out his power, coaxing the two fighters to slumber.
Zale managed to grapple Eskilline, but the damage had been done. The spell was in the world now and was just waiting to take effect.
Es and G'Nosha notice the fight and push forward, through the crowd, towards the front, right as Hodge steps in ring side and stands there staring.
"Suspicions? Gods no girl, I was just happy you were someone, yes? It gets boring here, dealing with murderers, rapists and kidnappers all day..." the way she says this seems like a threat, but could be innocent. "It is just nice to meet someone of some... standing!"
"Yes, I'm sure." Esmarelda said as she offered a half smile. "I wouldn't really call it standing, but out side of the pirate lords I guess wealthy merchants are the closet thing we have to nobility in the Shackles hmm?" She leaned back in the chair slightly as she looked Peppery over. "If you find my company so... refreshing, maybe you'd be willing to take me on as an apprentice? I'd love to learn what you have to teach, after all if it ever gets out who I am... well I won't be on this ship very long and I want to get all I can out of it." She explained as she looked over one of the weather charts. "I had been looking for a ship to join up with before Ja- Mr. Plugg, found me drinking. I've always had a weak spot for sailors." She winked at the woman before returning her eyes to the charts. "Hell if he would have just asked I would have said yes, he would not have wasted so many resources. Poisoning me, Scourge beating me, oh when Avimar hears about that..." A worried look washed over her face for a few seconds as she thought about what Avimar would do then shook her head. "Nope... not a pretty picture..." She muttered. "But back to the question I asked! I'd love to learn from you, and getting out from under Scourge would just be a bonus I won't lie."
"Oh this is just going to go bad..." Esmarelda muttered as she covered her eyes with her left hand. "I can't watch." She added.
Aviz reels from the hit, seeing stars. But he's not down yet, and turns around with a vicious uppercut!
As Aviz's fist connects with the huge crewmans face there is a sickening crunch and blood splatters everywhere. Owlbear stumbles back, holding his nose and whimpering, swaying drunkenly on his feet.
"GET BACK IN THERE YA WRETCH!" Scourge shouts, tossing a club at the huge mans feet. "DON'T YA DARE LOSE ME MY MONEY!"
Owlbear looks around in a panic, backing away from the club and beginning to wail loudly, tears running down his face and mixing with blood.
As Eskillines spell kicks in to being, the two fighters sway for a moment, before their heads clear and both stand up straighter.
Peppery listens to Es intently before smiling sadly and shaking her head. "Oh if it were only that easy. I would love an apprentice young lady, but sadly the deck needs to be swabbed, the bilges need to be cleaned and the ship kept free of pests. Sadly no, the Cap'n will never go for that. But maybe we can talk sometimes!" She nodded, reaching out to pat Es on the hand gently.
"I would like that very much." Esmarelda smiled before she put her other hand a top of Peppery's. "That was the first thing I wished to speak to you about, the second on is, Mr. Plugg." She told her as she removed her hand. "I do understand if you cannot answer all of my questions and please let me know if I... overstep my bounds. Does he often go about sleeping with people to kidnap them? It just seems, odd." She commented.
Esmarelda looked between her finger at the poor bloodied man. Her heart ached for him, and she could tell he was no longer wanting to fight. "Aviz, he's done!" Esmarelda called out to her Strix friend as she pushed her way through to the opening where the two fighters where. "Leave him be Handsome and just collect your winnings, this fight is over." She said with a shrug, then she called out. "Sand! could you come here please beautiful? I need a favor."
She then turned to Owlbear and slowly offered her hand. "Come here, let my friend have a look at you. You won't hurt as much after she's done." She said kindly as she offered a friendly smile.
Aviz scowls, lowering his fists. "What the hell is this Scourge? You press him into fighting, can't do it yourself?" Aviz spits out a wad of blood. "Bloody f@++ing coward. This is over."
Peppery frowns for a moment in thought before shaking her head. "No, not that I am aware of. The Lieutenant is an interesting man though, cruel and uncaring but handsome as the day is long. If he took an interest in you, I'd say it is just you were interesting to him. And why not? You're an attractive young woman, many people will be interested in you!"
Owlbear sniffled as he stared down at Es. "Owlbear didn't mean to fail Mister Plugg. Owlbear is good la-la-lapdog!" He tried to rub the tears from his eyes, but rubbed his broken nose and howled loudly in pain.
At that moment, Sand slipped through the crowd and moved towards Es and Owlbear slowly, staring up at the tall man warily. "Need some healing there big guy?"
He nodded sadly, his head drooping as Sand set about healing him up.
Aviz growled, hefting the bag of gold before pausing in anger. "Can't do it myself? Oh I can do it myself boy, damn sure I can. And I will if ya want... Double or nothing?" A slow cruel smile split his lips.
"Oi, Priestess. Heal up the boy so he can come kick my ass!" He shouts at Sand.
Aviz narrows his eyes and wipes the blood from his teeth, then looks at the blubbering simpleton. "I don't think anybody here needs to see you throw a punch to know what kind of man you are." He spits and folds his arms, not rising to the bait.