Dibbets shores up Kaul who looks a little wobbly. Dingus takes a chance and sends a glittering cloud at the slowly receding ship. the Grackle has flown though and nothing is revealed. Watch whistles are heard from the town and one of the halfling snipers shouts, "The Boss is dead!" In a moment, the small dark forms retreat among the dark ships of the wharf.
"Check on the wounded," Belinna orders. Fortunately, it is found that no one's wounds are life threatening. Even the fallen Jenkie turns out to be only slightly wounded, the high-strung sailor having fainted from a relatively minor wound.
Dibbets keeps laying down a moment, rolling through the bloody deck to check Cut-in-half-hitch's pockets for anything worth nabbing. To Kaul he offers a wink as the biggun's dander starts to fade "Care fer a souvenier?"
Once that's done he pops up to his feet, grimacing and keeping weight of his fractured leg. Gazing back towards the docks, he takes a span to focus his eyes and ears on what's being done and said...
Kaul flashes a red flecked grin as he stands punctured, cut but happy.
"Hur. Souvenir... A lucky foot? An ear per'haps? He did so like 'earin' me voice hur... A wee purse made o' his fruits... Or maybe's 'is tongue?!"
The thug frowns as he mulls how to divvy up his tiny nemesis...
the Groom will help with the healing, sending a cold splash of reinvigorating sea water into Jenkie's face before closing his wound with a wet swipe of his hand. Any others he will tend to before sending them to their tasks of getting to ship underway.
Dibbets notes that Hacked-Hitch had a very well-made short sword. The wind oracle's tiny hands find a pair of potions, 60 gold Sails, thieves' tools, and tinder twigs among the dead guild leader's gear. Gazing back, he spots a couple constables inspecting the ship that moments before held the halfling attackers, but none of the halfling raiders or the Grackle remain in sight.
Sliding the gold and potions into his sporran, Dibbets uses the short sword to lever back to his feet and offers Kaul the tools and twigs. Loud enough and in Belinna's direction he adds "Nei sign of 'em onna docks nei more... but tha flatfeet are out an lookin. Might be best we keeps on rollin?"
Belinna sighs, ordering the crew back to work with a nod of thanks to the Groom for tending the wounded. She mutters to herself as she glances down at the stone head, "I've always been curious about Keeba's Eyes, but seems to me now that this is an ill-omened port."
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Kaul accepts the tools and twigs with a grin, before relieving Half-Hitch's corpse of one of its ears.
The brute displays his trophy smugly;
"Hur... So 'e can 'ear me in the afterlife! No peace from Kauly's taunts like... Hur-Hur!"
He breaks into a hacking laugh, waggling the tiny ear;
"'Ear me! Hur-hur-hur-hur!"
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The crew at the stern avoid eye contact with the blood-crazed thug. Young Rafe, who was already looking pale and queasy as he approached his diminutive mentor, rushes to the railing to throw-up over the side.
Dibbs rolls his eyes but doesn't forestall his larger and more scarred companion's post fracas display. Huffing over to Rafe he checks in with the wee lad "Dinnae worry much on Kauly me boy, morbid an bloody but he's on our side eh?"
Kaul ignores the poor reception, pressing on with his gallows humour.
Brandishing the severed ear he continues as he marches back and forth;
"Ear Ye! Ear Ye! The little Hitch is dead! Hur-Hur"
"Ear Ye! Ear Ye! I'll paint Finn's Kingdom red! Hur-Hur"
Rafe's eyes turn from Kaul's spectacle to the body of the halfling he stabbed. "I've just never killed anyone before. I know we can't bury her, but I'd still rather not see the body desecrated." His eyes turn back to Kaul's bloody antics.
"Alright Bosun, that's enough now," the Captain orders. "Stow your token and get to work." She turns to the cabin boy. "You were merely defending your home, Rafe. It ought to be a hard thing to take a life, but you had little choice. Here, take Hinsin's head. It's a strange bit of work, but you can use it to weigh that halfling down as you toss her over. Grund and the Groom can help clear the bodies."
"Everyone else at the sails! Let's be on our way!"
Dingus stays up on the mast till he feels his spell go away, then releases his anchoring rod and floats gently to the deck... planting the landing.
He watches Kaul's dismembering with a blank stare, as he really doesn't care what his big friend does.
"You aren't going to eat that are you"? He asks more out of curiosity than any real revulsion.
He tries to stay out of the way until ordered to the sails where he heads to his duty with haste.
Kaul scowls as he's ordered to stand down, then shoots a confused look toward his crazier shipmate;
"Eat it? How's 'e goin' tae 'ear me in the Boneyard iffen I eat it ye mad snake ye?"
The thug stows his trophy, then gets to work with as much gusto as his pained body allows.
Dibbs gives Rafe a solidifying pat on the shoulder "Aye lad... jus remembers it were either them or us eh? Only way tae think onnit." he then heeds Belinna's words and looks to take the weight off his leg by getting loftwards and into the sails.
the Groom will set Besmara's Brand upon each body heading over the rail, hoping it will confuse those in the Afterlife as to where the sons/daughters of b%!&!es should be sent.
With the ship getting underway, the Groom will perform some sea water Surges to wash the majority of the blood off the deck in into the scuppers.
The sails are set to take advantage of the land breeze blowing down the Smoker's flanks and out to sea. The sails luff and then billow pulling the ship forward with increased speed. Belinna clears the shoals and then takes an easterly bearing until the harbor is behind and only dark sea ahead. All lights are extinguished topside and the watch set. The rest of the crew is relieved as the ship turns north and begins the journey to Freeport.
Besmara spares the mashed and mended ship over the next few days and the weather remains accommodating. It's not much after sunrise when the slumbering seamount of A'val comes into view followed by the rest of the mottled green island slowly rising above the horizon. Well before noon, the imposing form of the Freeport Lighthouse is seen and Belinna calls Jim to pilot the ship through the reefs and around T'wik into the harbor. The crew have returned to Freeport.
Having patched up the crew and taken a few refreshing dips in the spray over the course of the voyage, Dibbs is looking and feeling a little more savory and normal... than normal... The journey was spent mostly up in the ropes, though he made sure to share conversations with Zoss, Rafe and Estabo - both to proffer support as well as to check on their view of the last few days chaotic occurrences.
One night as well, Dibbs manages to find a bottle of something strong hidden abouts and calls the core crew to a candle-lit powwow with the Groom... nothing more than the motley mongrels sharing time and drink alone and without other encumberances.
The sight of Freeport stirs a few thoughts and feelings... as well as a hankering for buttered crabs legs. Chuckling he reaches down and pinches himself on the arm... as though it's beyond comprehension that he might've actually made it back.
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"You know I never thought I'd say this, but it feels good to sail into a familiar port. I almost missed this place. Where do we go first"?
Dingus shows up on deck in an impeccably ironed lime green ruffled shirt open to the waist, a plaid skirt (That he insists is something called a kilt), and a floppy black hat.
Chuckling Dibbs responds "Aye, tis nei smell o' sh1te like tha sh1te ye're familiar wi'" before expanding his voice to take in the rest of the crew "Right... now how d'ye wants tae handle business like? Should we ha' a chat wi' tha new Cap'n an gets approval fer shore leave? - I'm fer votin we dinnae read 'er in on all o' it jus yet eh?"
Kaul casts a wide-eyed look at Dingus' latest ensemble, before getting back to the conversation at hand;
"Hur. Ain't that the truth Dibbs. Reckon approval will blow some smoke up her backside an' make 'er feel all important like. O'course she says no and me and Lopps will 'ave a chat with 'er... Hur."
The thug taps his axe lovingly and looks to the others, before being mesmerized once again by the snake-mage's attire...
With a tired sigh Dibbs gives a half smile "Nei Kauly... let's try an keep this'n a while eh? Bit sick o' changin tha leadership iffin ye ken?"
"Her being Captain and all is probably for the best here in town. Jimmers flying his flag would likely have drawn more of the Aspis attention. Your exploits down south have not gone unnoticed. Although, drawing them out more, might be a good thing, now that I have some backup again."
Measuring the Groom's words Dibbs nods, then spits a gobbet of bloody phlegm into the sea, before responding "Aye, though I were more thinkin practical like, we've business ashore she ain't got nei business bein in... an I ain't fer letting 'er away wi' tha ship wi'out thinkin o' us bein on it; nei matter how pretty Jimmer reckons 'er arse is."
"Mebbe get a span o' shore leave? - that'd let us gets on an see tae council business wi'out worryin whether tha tub'll be onna docks when we gets back like?"
Jim stretches and shakes himself. "Freeport at last! Feck me, we've been too long away. It's more home than fecking Oppara ever was to me." He corners the Groom for a quick word before going ashore. "Say, mate--you think we'll have trouble with the likes of Finn over what happened to Half-Hitch? I'd prefer to know the depth of the channel 'fore I try to run it, hey?"
Kaul grins expectantly at The Groom's prophetic suggestion of potential violence;
"Hur... We'll back you up an' me and Lopps'll hack 'em down!"
The brute nods sagely at the more sane members of the crew's thoughts;
"Settle some more scores too... Finn, As-pi$$ers... Reckon we need tae start takin' the fight to folk. Let 'em know who we are like... Make 'em shiver at our steps..."
Kaul catches himself for a second, aware some froth had welled up at his lantern jaw...
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"Kaul, mate, you might want to take it down a tad for the moment. We're right terrors, we are, but I don't feel quite up to taking on Finn and that gnome of his." The Taldan's gaze hardens at the memory of Slick's fate. "Yet."
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"Aye... we ain't even an 'alf cocked trouser snake compared tae Finn's menaggerie. I've a date wi' the wave-kissers at some point, worth spottin in even iffin it's a waste... an I needs tae sweet talk that Gnome intae given me a pair o' wee shooters tae go wi' tha biggun."
Jim's question hangs in the air for the Groom though Kaul eagerly chips in with his usual sanguine sentiments.
Dingus head twists back and forth as he listens to the exchange of ideas.
"Well all I know is I can't begin my path to world dom... I mean fame and success if we don't make a bigger name for ourselves. And I don't mean as Martyrs".
"Well, despite the leaks, we made good time, so I doubt anyone got here before us. So Finn won't be working on the full knowledge of current events. Its possible he has been feeling the squeeze if the Aspis is expanding in Freeport, and may have more on his plate than worrying where ever Half-Wits got himself off to and shanked. But then again, if that was Finn's operation in Plumetown and not Halfhitch and Grackle off on their own, then I figure a few days before we are called in to explain...if we are lucky."
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Sailing into Freeport Harbor, it becomes obvious why so few ships were seen on the journey here. The docks are full to capacity with moored ships and many have had to anchor offshore and ferry in their crew. So is the fate of your own ship. Kaul rekauls that Raidfest is coming up at the end of the month and town is filling with sailors eager to participate in the festivities that mark the dry season when the Eye of Abendego seems to take a break from hurling its spawn across the Shackles with abandon.
Belinna calls a ship's meeting with the officers in the center and crew gathered around to hear. "Well mates, I suppose the first order of business is seeing when we can get into the Shipyards for a proper repair job. Might be a couple weeks as it seems the whole fleet is in at the moment. We'll have to maintain a proper security watch while we are anchored here: I'm thinking an officer and one crew at all times, but I'll let you work out the shifts. Dingus will make sure everyone gets their share of the loot. No need to recruit more crew until after we're repaired, I suppose. Make sure you're here for your watch. Otherwise, enjoy Freeport!"
"Well alrighty then. I'm all for some hot real meat, and cold ale".
Kaul shoots nervous look at his serpentine shipmate, the nods;
"Aye... I'll keep this on the low-down iffen that's what's savvy."
The brute taps his hook-hand;
"Need tae get the Red Claw grafted on... then give it a maiden voyage on some swabs comin' in fer the Raidfest hur-hur-hur..."
"I am going to get some rum and pay my respects to Pegleg at the Shrine. Hopefully catch up on the scuttlebutt in port. But we should plan to make best use of our 'together' time when the Captain is on board for her shift iff'n we need something big taken care of."
Jim nods to the Groom. "I'll tag along with you, if you don't mind. I'd also like to give over some of Redclaw's gold, and tell him a bit of what happened to us of late."
Belinna steps in to assure the other officers that they are fine to take the day off. She'll leave Cobb in charge while she sets things up with the Shipyard. Estabo leans in at this point and says he doesn't mind staying aboard once he gets some fresh food aboard. "Eef eet eez OK, I take zee officer position even zough I am only zee cook. I was zee captain before, no?" Belinna agrees and assures the other officers that her and Estabo can cover for them if they have important business in town.
The mates divvy up their shifts and with ship's business completed, shares are passed out and the jolly boat is loaded and begins shuttling the crew ashore. the Groom and Jim depart for the Temple District while Dibbets finds Rafe looking uncertain as to whether he is invited along or expected to return to the ship.
Kaul rubs a hand over his scarred noggin;
"Need to breath in the underbelly o' Freeport for a while... Get my head straight... I'll be around an' about. Iffen ye need me... send word tae the Gull."
The brute packs claw and some coin, before looking to Dibbs, Dingus and the wee lad;
"What you three plannin'? More'n welcome to come with Ol'Kauly..."
"Well now I can't let you go off drinking alone now can I. You'll get yourself in a mess of trouble". The effeminately dressed Tian moves to join his rough comrade.
the Groom and Jim make their way through the familiar streets once again. The docks are certainly more crowded than ever with near all the usual fleet and tourists from abroad preparing for the upcoming festivities. The pair circle west around the Old City's walls into the more exclusive streets of the Merchant District to enter the Temple District. The grounded galleon that serves as Besmara's Church is spotted past Gozreh's Grotto. The doors through the hull are open and the pair receive a loud "Narp! and warm welcome from Dunny, but Brother Peg-Leg is not to be found. They eventually come to understand that he's out somewhere serving the multitudes of sailors on the Docks.
Kaul flashes a mako grin at his madder shipmate, then broaches potential options with his shorter one;
"Hur... Dibbs... reckon yer musket makers would have a notion on attaching the red claw on me paw?"
"Dunny! Good to see you, mate. There a place about we could leave a note for Brother Peg-Leg?" If so, the Taldan will jot a short message: Back to shore after many adventures. Will be by later to talk about it over rum (we're buying!). Signed, The Groom and Madman Jim.
"So, I think I'd like to get a bit better protection than what I've been using so far. Let's find us an armorer of quality, hey?"
Sunny give an affirmative 'Narp' and takes the note with a smile.
-Posted with Wayfinder
Jim considers his options: Otto always has an interesting selection of arms and armor, he could just peruse the stalls at the Seaside Market or even attempt to call in some favors from the Wizards' Guild.
Dingus fusses with the collar of his lime blouse and sighs. "Oh bother." Richard pokes out at the to test the air with a forked tongue and then burrow back under the flimsy shirt. "I've got to sell off the loot and get some coin. Maybe just one drink or we can meet after you go to the gun place."
Kaul eyes Dibbs for a sign o' the best course to navigate.
"Hur. Drinks probably best after... We can get badclaws an' boomsticks fixed first up, then sink a few ales and get rowdy!"
Somewhat distant and distracted Dibbs shrugs "Dinnae see why we cannae drop through fer a tipple on tha way like... where's a likely spot" smoothing down his chaotic tangle of facial fuzz as he thinks.
"S'long as we dinnae get too pickled it shouldnae hurt like... worth gettin a wend o' tha chaff flowin on tha wind s'well..."
As an afterthought on the way, Dibbs will flag down an urchin for a copy of the Shipping News - for purpose of browsing the headlines.