DM - Voice of the Voiceless |
Mapski Red is the Rock, Yellow is where you are, Black is Rickety Squibs.
You're in as near to badlands as you can reckon, there's no clear flags or signs of ownership and what you know of the area implies the village and fishing boats whose sails you can see are likely just trying to scratch out a living.
Depending on your luck they could be feckless fishermen, or flush with saltwater pearls or mined riches. Certainly can't tell from this far out, you'd need to get in nearer by sail or swim to know more. The idea does also strike that you're lacking a full complement of able bodied men and women folk.
Also, what (if any) flag are you flying?
MIDN. Cedrick Dragonne |
"A quick victory might be good for morale, but if the first bountiful haul we manage are six cod and an octopus it might blow back on us and make us look very very petty. Wouldn't do the reputation much good at all. Now on the other hand, if we sailed over all pleasant like, just for a bit of a check on the geography or somesuch, and then it was found that there was actually a bounty to be be had then who are we to question it?" Cedrick looks to his fellows. "The village or onward to the rock?"
MIDN. Cedrick Dragonne |
It's ok I connected the dots on the vessels and their relationship with the town, I just don't want us attacking a village and walking away with bilges heavy with pilchards ;p
MIDN. Cedrick Dragonne |
Suppose we might find a few skilled mariners keen on putting down a net and picking up a spear for fame and fortune. Guess it comes down to how we go about arriving then doesn't it? To raid or not to raid, that becomes the question
MIDN. Cedrick Dragonne |
"Well then, a polite stop at this scharming out of the way prt of call, let the lads stretch their legs, and lets see if there's some likely fellows looking for a new career"
Obisyth |
Obi looks to the Captain: We can drop anchor and then Fish and I can swim in to search and give the village a look. Shadow can tell us general numbers, but she and I cannot speak clearly enough to get great detail yet.
Obisyth |
Obi nods in agreement:
As you command Captain. I shall make course for the harbor.
She then calls to the rest of the crew.
All hand on deck, we are heading into this port. We sail under a friendly flag, but must be prepared for a less than friendly welcoming in these waters.
I do not know much about flags, but assume that we have a black Skull-octopus flag. We will also have whatever flag is common to show parley/a lack of hostile intent.
John Rhasp |
Let's take care of that issue now.
Deader had a number of projects he'd been working on, and one of them was finished. He handed the captain a small bundle with two folded cloths in it.
"Two flags, Cap'n. The black one's our raiding flag. The white one is our trade flag. If you dont like them, I can redo them. We have plenty of sail patches."
The black one has the white skull octopus on it. The white one has a black octopus with a jaunty crown
MIDN. Cedrick Dragonne |
"They look rather splendid, lets run up the white eh? The black will get a showing soon enough" Cedrick admires the handiwork and the flair of it all. Just the right level of panache.
John Rhasp |
Deader nods crisply and jogs down the stairs to the main deck, passing the white flag off to a crewman, blowing a general muster on his whistle and barking at the crew, passing on the orders from the command deck. "All hands! We're moving into port! Run up the colors and look sharp!"
Keeping the Silent Crew below.
DM - Voice of the Voiceless |
As Cedrick orders the white flag run up the mast, you see the fishing vessels take note of your ship finally and they begin to withdraw to the safety of the shallows at your approach. As you bring the Revenge as near to shore as you dare risk without chancing grounding her, you can spy that your presence has brought a guarded interest from some - though there are few villagers in the open... and those that are glint with the metal of armor.
You're roughly a quarter mile off the shore, as the draught of the harbor doesn't look deep enough for a fine merchant ship, only the smaller fishing boats.
Cedrick - if you're just after some recruiting, a quick speech and a Diplomacy roll is good enough.
Obisyth |
Knowledge(nature): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 25
Obi squints into the sunshine before turning to Cedrick.
Pearl farmers. We will have to be careful not to spook them or we will assuredly meet some armed resistance.
MIDN. Cedrick Dragonne |
Cedrick keeps things as orderly as he'd have expected any landing party of the Taldane Navy to perform, the men neat and disciplined, and the bearing and demeanour of the party authoritive and assertive but not aggressive.
Stepping from his jolly-boat, the good Captain Dragonne inspects the curious villagers.
"We thank you for your welcome and hospitality, I am Captain Dragonne and these are my fine crew from the ship Revenge, we have come to stretch our legs and perhaps top up fresh provisions and water, perhaps spend a little coin on local wares, and likewise look for any skilled men who might be interested in joining on, volunteers signing for a wage that is, our ship is free of pressers - every man signs the articles with free will and no duress, if you'd like to know more perhaps we can discuss the matter shortly and show you the terms, with the village officials blessing only, of course..."
Cedrick seeks out the 'elders' to ensure that he clears it with them before accepting new sign-ons. He takes care not to offend local customs, while at the same time trying to impress the tale of him and his ship upon them.
Diplomacy 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (20) + 7 = 27
Bootlick is back!
DM - Voice of the Voiceless |
Though the seaside villagers are wary at first, the genial approach pays dividends and you are received into the village. The cultural mix is reasonably varied, and you can see a few old salts that betray a life upon the waves in their past. Cedrick's spirited speech gives him favor to address the workers and sailors of the pearl boats as well as the few orchards and farms. Only a mild scattering of two hands worth of men attend, but Cedrick proves a motivated motivator, and earns the scratched mark of four of them to his ledger.
A pair of Mwangi brothers who show signs upon wrist of an earlier life as slaves, a local boy just of age who longs for the romantic life aboardship and a half-Garundi lass are those that join the crew. Taking your leave of the village you clamber back aboard, and though the seamanship of the new recruits is sorely lacking... you see enough promise to be worthy of your endurance. Remains to be seen how they'll adapt to the silent crew though...
Crew levels are now above 'skeleton' and are at the 'wouldn't be shorthanded if a couple of people died'.
Still awaiting confirmation of which PC crewmembers are on each of the three watches?
John Rhasp |
Deader and Nachi are on night shift. Nachi at the helm, Deader on the deck.
All of the new crewmembers are on day shift to learn the ropes under the captain's watchful eye.
Deader introduces himself to the new crew and points out the rest of the officers the haven't met, saying "I am your Bosun. Problems come to me first. I decide what to do with them from there. If I'm busy and it can't wait, it goes to whoever is crew chief at the time. Your problems do not go onto the command deck, and neither do you unless you are called by an officer. You can pick up your uniforms from the quartermaster. Get to know the Ms. Sandra and Mr. Kroop. Besides me, they're the only ones aboard who's job it is to give a damn about you. For the rest, you're gonna have to earn it. You have 15 minutes to stow your gear, change clothes and report for duty."
Obisyth |
Obi will take the other shift from Cedrick so that she has the helm when the captain is not on duty. She will likely have a varied schedule as she expects to be called to the helm whenever anything is sighted. Probably the shifts will be:
Cedrick/Joneth(or whoever his replacement is) - Morning/early afternoon
Obi/Fish - afternoon/evening
Deader/Nachni - midnight shift
Although these are the general shifts, I would expect Obi to be at/near the wheel at all times she is not sleeping. Also, I would expect Cedrick to be on the deck except when he is asleep.
DM - Voice of the Voiceless |
After Deader's speech the two Mwangi shrug and take them at his word and move to comply. The half-Garundi lass fixes him with a stare for a few moments, before shaking her head and moving away. The local lad is a little more direct though... and bounds up to Deader barraging him with questions benign, banal and curious. "Where's the command deck, who's Mister Croup and why does he give a damn? Whats the uniform? When's dinner? Why do you look strange?"
So the intent is three by 8 hour shifts and continuing to sail throughout the night? Roughly broken up as:
05:00 - 13:00 - Cedrick + NPCs
13:00 - 21:00 - Obi + Fish
21:00 - 05:00 - Nachni + Deader?
Obisyth |
Obi simply looks at the green recruits and shakes her head. She quietly says to Fish:
I am guessing that the fish will be having some of Mr. Croup's food second hand for a few days.
With that, Obi turns the wheel and directs the Revenge back out of the harbor and into the westerly winds.
If it is moderate weather and we are away from land, we can sail through the night, I am sure that Nachni can handle the wheel with reasonable competence. If there are storms about, or we are in water that is more difficult, then either I will stay up the night, or we will drop anchor. I will also work on training at least one other NPC to be able to handle the wheel as needed.
DM - Voice of the Voiceless |
Just like to mix it up... I actually had a post written up earlier today, but the net at work conked out for a while.
The new recruits settle in over the course of the day, but you do note that Kroop's new recruit needs to be helped from the galley to his bunk as he's fully cut on rum. Kroop just shrugs and grins, before hauling out the fish stew for the night. You've cut a little further from the shore to put the risk of banks and reefs unseen more distant and are sailing over open water with a middling wind that night.
Deader and Nachni hold court over the post-witching hour on board... when a cry rings out from a man on watch aforeships "Sea Devils!"
Stealth: 1d20 ⇒ 2
Perception (Crew): 1d20 ⇒ 17
Perception check is 24 for everyone except Nachni and Deader.
At the time of the call, Deader is amidships, and Nachni is back on the tiller at the back of the boat. The ship is dimly lit with just a single lantern amidships for light, casting shadows about.
Nachni Charan |
Perception 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (17) + 3 = 20
"We have hostile boarders! There, by the rail! Follow the sound of the alarm!" Staying at her post, Nachni conjures the sound of an alarm bell ringing over the location of the green-skinned creatures. Casts ghost sound. If they are more than 35 feet away, she'll place it as close as she can.
John Rhasp |
Perception: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 2 = 16
"Mr. Haight, lead the charge!"
Bosun's whistles are designed to overpower the roar of the ocean in full storm. Deader dashes to the stairs leading down into the belly of the ship and lets loose with a Call to Muster that shatters the serenity of the night.
DM - Voice of the Voiceless |
Deader - a couple of points. Both Control Undead and Animate Dead do not provide telepathy. Each mentions verbal commands only.
Also, something that I missed: Intelligent undead receive a new saving throw each day to resist your command. So technically the lacedon will be attempting to break out of your command each day, though you can always attempt to re-establish control.
So for this combat, the grindylows are out of service - but the lacedon is available.
The scaled and devilish visitors take a few moments to ready tridents that were slung across their back as they made their climb and make ready for blood and death. The two crewmen that are unlucky to be sharing the deck recoil crying "Sea devils!"
Mapski
For Fish / Nachni - 30ft of movement will get you to K7 / K8
Note - the foredeck area is elevated and up stairs, so it's not a clear charge lane.