"Get 'em on their feet. Dump 'em below with Sandara. Then empty the hold from theirs to ours. Pass the cargo through Grok and Kroop."
Sevien does as he is ordered and helps put the prisoners in the hold.
Badly wounded but still trying to stand tall and proud, Xantrius figured he had acquitted himself well in the fight. He tried to subtly ensure that tales of his captures spread around the crew, especially leaping into the water to ensure the capture of the officer.
While moving cargo, he nodded in thanks to Nakon and his closest allies and approached them when a chance presented itself.
A ship taken and not destroyed... that means a prize crew. The crew will be divided between the ships and will make our proposed mutiny feasible.
Aboard the Wormwood, a party begins as the pirates celebrate their victory with fine food and drink from the captured ship’s hold. Captain Harrigan holds a meeting with his top officers and divvies up the plunder among the crew in the early evening. Bolstered by gold and good drink, the party goes through the entire night.
It's mid-evening when Cut-Throat Grok rounds you all up, followed by a bored looking Riaris Krine. Grok takes you all aside while Riaris watches on. Riaris scowls when you meet her gaze, but Grok seems genuinely happy as she dumps a small sack between you and opens it to reveal the glint of gold inside.
"Right. That'll be 600 fer yer group plus another 400 fer takin' th' sterncastle an' 3 potions o' curing an' 1 o' disappearin'. Ye accounted fer a dozen crew so's ye get 'nuther 300 and a 100 fer th' officer."
Grok's eyes flick to Xantrius. "And another 100 fer her bein' alive. Fer a total o' 1500 an' 4 potions."
She pushes the sack between you all, then turns to Sevien.
"An 'Arrigan says yer t'ave this amulet o' armor fer yer loyal action." She presents Sevien with an amulet of a carved green stone on a chain of silvery bluish metal. The stone is a creamy green piece of jade that looks exactly like a small turtle shell. The chain twists like coral through the front two leg holes to allow the device to hang from the neck.
Grok pauses, then turns back to you all. "I was sorry to hear 'bout yer friends. I don't believe..."
"Hurry up," orders Riaris. "They ain't the last ye know."
Grok rolls her eyes. "Well, well done. If ye need anything, come t' me store, an' I'll be glad t' take yer coin back."
She wanders off after Riaris to another group of pirates, shooing some away and calling in others.
Sevien's eyes tighten at the mention of "our friends" and starts to look around for their allies to see if anyone is missing...
He puts the amulet over his head.
Scourge probably used this opportunity to rid himself of some of our allies...we may need to take things into our own hands if that is the case.
Regarding the treasure, You three should take the potions, I have healing from my magic. As far as the other potion I am not sure who it would serve best. Someone should probably hold onto it and then use it as needed. The amulet may serve a better purpose for our goals but for now I will wear it.
"Shame Scourge didn't take the opportunity to rid us of himself. If one of you don't mind carrying my share don't want waste it on the bottom of the sea." Mata takes qdvantage of the party to eat and drink plenty.
While the battle against the Rahadoumi ship was an overwhelming success, the Wormwood was not without casualties, as Sevien soon learns.
Lysandra and Giffer Tibbs were down in the hold when Riaris' mate, Kipper, set off a barrel of alchemist's fire. Although badly burned, Kipper survived the explosion, but Lysandra and Giffer were not so lucky.
Shivikah was found on deck in a pool of her own blood. Her throat had been slit from behind.
And Aemilia was found not far away where she'd been surrounded and cut down by short swords.
At dawn, a few hours after the celebration finally winds down, the ship’s bell sounds, calling all hands on deck. When the crew is assembled, a long line of captured officers and sailors from the Man’s Promise is brought on deck and paraded before the crew. Captain Harrigan addresses the captives first, offering a place on the Wormwood’s crew for any who want to throw their lot in with pirates. Several of the Rahadoumi sailors step forward; Master Scourge cuts their bonds, and the sailors take their places among the Wormwood’s crew.
Harrigan then turns to address the Wormwood’s crew.
“All right, you scurvy tars! You’ve done a right good job by me — we’ve got a second ship now, and she’s quite a prize from the looks of her. But I still have only one crew. So here’s the plan — the Wormwood will sail on to our planned destination with our new shipmates here, while Mr. Plugg will take the old crew to sail the Man’s Promise to Port Peril, where she’ll be worth a pretty penny as salvage."
“As for these fine fellows here” — Harrigan gestures at the remainder of the captured ship’s crew — “some of them will no doubt be worth a hefty ransom from their families back in Azir. And for the rest, if the life of a pirate’s not for them, they can spend the rest of their lives at sea!”
To make his point, Harrigan grabs one of the Rahadoumi sailors and throws her overboard to the accompaniment of cheers and laughter from many of the Wormwood’s crew. As the unfortunate woman sinks beneath the waves, many of the remaining sailors scramble to swear their loyalty to Harrigan. The officers are led belowdecks and the crew begins to disperse to their daily tasks.
Mr. Plugg and Master Scourge pick out the Wormwood’s original crew, telling them to be aboard the Man’s Promise within 10 minutes to set sail for Port Peril. You are all chosen to join the skeleton crew as well, though Scourge scowls at you as he informs you.
The skeleton crew of the Man’s Promise includes Mister Plugg, Master Scourge, Owlbear Hartshorn, and all of the surviving members of the Wormwood’s original crew of sailors, as well as your small group, Ambrose Kroop, Crimson Cogward, Conchobhar Shortstone, Rosie Cusswell and Sandara Quinn. Once everyone is aboard with their gear, the Man’s Promise will set sail.
Mata will hurry grab his stuff wrapping the spell book discretely in clothes so that it isn't obvious. Then goes to see Grok to thank her for her kindness and wish her good luck.
So our time soon nears...just a little longer...he smiles to their group.
With the fog cleared and the officers organising the sacking of the captured ship, Sevien is unable to liberate a suit of armour.
Grok's face falls when you visit her and water wells in the rims of her large brown eyes.
"But stuff were so dull before ye."
She wipes her eyes and sniffs. "Here. Take yer stuff. Ye'll be needin' it. And ye can take that suit o' leather ye're eyein'. I's ain't had a chance t' count 'em all yet. And if'n ye're after summin' else, thar mebbe a few other things gone missing in th' confusion, if'n ye take me meaning."
"Ye be careful like. I dunno why ye're still alive, but Besmara's mebbe watchin' ye. That ain't necessarily a good thing. Behave." She punches Mata in the arm, then leans forward somewhat clumsily and gives Xantrius a kiss on the cheek.
"Good fortune and sure sail."
Does grok have any divine scrolls or a wand of cure light wounds?
Grok leans over a metal trunk, twists the lock a quarter turn, inserts a key and opens the lid to reveal weapons, parchments and a stick. She rummages through the parchments, pulls one out and presents it to Sevien.
"Not as good as a wand, but better'n yer standard cure," she smiles toothily.
Sevien find himself looking at a scroll of cure moderate wounds.
"Away with ye."
Sevien smiles back at her, Grok, good luck to you. May the wind always be at your back and the gold always flowing into your purse!
"Thank you." Mata says as Grok offers his equipment back. "The only thing I can think that I'd like to buy is some simple tools to repair our new ship if we get in trouble."
"Thank you." Mata says as Grok offers his equipment back. "The only thing I can think that I'd like to buy is some simple tools to repair our new ship if we get in trouble."
"Hmm. Don' think I's can help ye there. Ye may want ter try the stitchman. I mean Habbly Quarne. He's like to have acquired any extra from t'other ship."
"Thats alright, thank you and take care of yourself." Mata heads over the the new ship and stows his equipment and then takes a wander around the ship to get a feel for it's layout.
Xantrius' jovial face darkened as he heard of the various deaths.
A skeleton crew- it won't be long until we have vengeance now, by Besmara...
Xantrius pulled Grok into an embrace and told her he would miss their rum-drinking sessions. He also promised to look after Ambrose. He was particularly keen to see if a chain shirt or a fine sword could go "missing"...
"That pretty officer ye caught, she had two fine short swords. I don' s'pose any would question if she only had one. And a shirt o' chain. Ye may's well have that too."
Grok rummages about a wooden trunk and pulls three chain shirts from the bottom then returns two of them. From the wooden chest beside it she pulls out a masterwork short sword, slightly curved back and inlaid with fine filigree as is the Rahadoumi custom.
Nakon quietly reverts his shapeshifting as he climbs back on board the ship.
His bloodlust largely sated, he moves almost languidly, blinking in the sun and investigating each of the dead crewmembers personally.
He stares at their too still faces, not saddened precisely but not without anger either.
Already with all that he needs, Nakon packs his few possessions efficiently.
As he passes Xantrius in the hold he moves in to whisper.
When?
One day out from the Wormwood. Best to ensure we're far away enough from them. We'll look for an opportunity... and if we don't find one, we'll create it. Soon, gorilla arms, soon... he soothed, using the nickname he had first referred to Nakon as.
For a moment Xantrius thinks that Nakon has taken offence from his surprised look but then the man smiles widely.
I feel it. In my gut. I feel that you are man of des... destiny. That is the word, destiny. For now at least I will be your right hand. Your deathbringer. .
Saying so many words at once seems to pain the shaman although now he looks deadly serious.
Just give me Plugg to do with as I will.
Once everyone is aboard the new ship Mister Plugg gathers you all on deck.
"Right, ye useless pack o' bludgers. This may be a new ship, but we'll be running by the old rules. We won't be botherin' with the whip fer punishments any more, we'll just be usin' the cat," he grins.
"Ye'll be keeping yer old jobs, but I'll be expectin' ye t' actually work now. We're short o' crew an' I won't have no slackin'. Xantrius, ye'll join Rosie and Tilly in th' bilges, unless ye be scared o' them. Make yerself useful fer once. After dark there'll be no rum and no running about atop decks less yer after a half dozen lashes."
"First mate, Master Scourge, 'll 'ave the quarters at the front o' the ship with Tam an' Fipps. Kroop in th' cabin next t' galley which 'e can share with his boy if'n that's what takes 'is fancy." Plugg's suggestive leer at Xantrius is greeted by scattered laughter from his usual lackeys.
"Rest of ye'll be stayin' in th' crew berths. Now, get yer lazy arses to work and don't let me hear no chatter."
The rest of the day passes in a blur. Rosie, Tilly and Xantrius man the bilges. Cog is the ship's rat catcher. Quinn and Jack work as swabs. Badger, Jape and Aretta are set to the many repairs. Mata is the only runner. Sevien and Fipps are hauling ropes. Maheem takes the upper rigging. Ratline does much of the rigging repair. Samms is the lookout. Conchobhar and Syl are assigned the mainsail. Tam is on line work and Nakon is stuck with the ropes.
With no chatter, the only sounds apart from the crashing waves are the CRACK of the cat o' nine tails and the constant barrage of abuse and commands from Captain Plugg and Master Scourge. Not having worked the ship before the correct equipment is often hard to find and mistakes are many, each rewarded with the cat. With the ship short crewed, the work is harder and constant. There is little cheer among the pirates and more than a few are obviously still nursing hangovers.
Sevien- Hauling Rope and Knot Work
Mata- Runner
Nakon- Rope Work
Xantrius- Man the Bilges
Nakon raises no fuss at ropework, this time apparently happy enough to be able to constantly track what is going on at deck level.
The work throughout the day is grueling. As the only runner, Mata is back and forth all over the deck doing the work of two people. He paces himself to keep from exhaustion, but several messages are delivered late, or out of order, and it is with great delight that Master Scourge applies the cat o' nine tails at Bloody Hour.
While the rope work is easy for Nakon, it is neverending. With disorganised and damaged ropes scattered around the vessel, he finds himself untying and retying the stays and the running rigging. Furthermore, Captain Plugg demands repurposing of the sails and rigging away from their previous roles as part of a merchant ship and more towards the lighter and faster role of a pirate ship. Nakon avoids bloody hour, but is from the constant exertion.
The rank and stink of the bilges turns Xantrius stomach, and more than a little blood and ash has been washed away belowdecks after the battle. Unattended for a few days, the occasional leak has half filled the bilges and Rosie finds herself almost up to her shoulders in the foul soup. The progress made by Xantrius, Rosie and Tilly is considerable but still insufficient to avoid bloody hour, and all three taste the lash.
There's some sniggering from the crew as the handle of the cat strikes Xantrius back, preventing the painful tendrils from flaying the skin. Master Scourge grunts and is more careful with his next blows.
Sevien's work encounters similar issues to Nakon. The supplies have been rifled and mixed and are in unfamiliar places. Thick stays and thinner vangs are thrown in with sheet lines and halyards, and when something needs tying or replacing Sevien has to have the correct rope in the correct place at the correct time. His failure to achieve this on several occasions earns him the cat at bloody hour.
As Sandara steps forward after your lashings, Captain Plugg pushes her away again.
"There'll be none o' that without my say. There be no point teachin' 'em a lesson if'n they forget it a minute later. And so's ye don't get 'ny ideas, ye can kip in the officers' quarters too."
Though tempted to just start the mutiny at that moment, Sevien swallows his pride for one more day...
I can bind a couple of the wounds but you know Plugg will be trying to keep us like this until he can get rid of one or more of us. Maybe we should have Scourge disappear tonight? I can turn into Plugg and summon him to one of the more remote areas on the ship and we can finish him?
Or even the reverse, pretend I am scourge and lure him to us? If we can get him alone we should be able to finish him!
Despite his evident fatigue Nakon is clearly impatient as he waits for Xantrius to reveal his intentions.
They will both be in the cabin perhaps. The men on deck though...
Mata finds it harder now that they are so close to victory, He grits his teeth but gives a little scream each time he is struck.
"We need a firm plan or I might just take things in to my hands. Luring one out would be good but wouldn't it be wiser to take out the few that sleep with use quietly at night then wait outside their cabin and cut their heads off when they show themselves?"
Once Plugg and Scourge are gone, the rest would fall into line quickly or end up as corpses...to be used as crew members at a later time. Remember we need enough of a crew to sail this...barge.
No one goes to waste going forward, I can take care of it so there is no smell...their bones shall make up part of our crew in the future...
Xantrius gathered his closest allies after the lashings and they began to make a plan.
I agree, the longer we wait the more they will try to weaken our power base. I say we wait until well past midnight and then we strike the officer's cabin. If the rest of the crew stirs, we present Plugg's head to them. I think Nakon would enjoy that particular task.
I would. Nakon smiles.
In spite of Captain Plugg's prohibition on bodies abovedecks, there is some movement throughout the evening. While you plot among yourselves you note several of Plugg's loyalists taking advantage of your discussion to slip away and return later. Nakon realises, while watching them watching you, that Owlbear Hartshorn is not among those belowdecks. The last anyone can remember of seeing the large man was him being sent to Captain Plugg's cabin.
Most of the weary crew fall immediately into a deep sleep once they clamber into their hammocks and as the night wears on you find it difficult not to join them. After far too long a wait the temperature dips to it's coldest point and the stillness of the night seems almost palpable. No one has moved for hours.
Nakon eases out of his bunk and heads for the door.
The rest of the crew appear to be sleeping soundly, some loud snores rising above the general sussurus of slow, deep breathing that fills the cabin.
Nakon makes his way carefully through the sea of hammocks to the right hand door, beyond which lies the base of the steps that lead up to the center of the deck .
Mata waits for Nakon to door then quietly gathers his spell component pouch, sword and after a pause the tangle foot bag and follows. Using his dark vision he'll keep a good eye on those that are still hostile towards them.
The four of you reach the main deck without incident. The cool wind whistling and the ocean heaving on choppy waves is a different world to the quiet, warm stuffiness of the crew quarters. Large clouds skitter across a bright moon plunging the deck intermittently into dim blue light and then deep black darkness.
Mata will move quietly away from the captains quarters before what appears to be writing in the air with his sword and saying "Emdli Ehs... E Ofhsa uqs."
Nakon holds up his hand for a halt while he extends his senses searching for the guards he knows must be there.
(assuming a natural environment bonus take 2 off if not)
From the officer's cabin at the front of the ship there comes no noise from Scourge, or his lackeys Fipps and Narwhal. The cabin is only small, so maybe they have Sandara sleeping on the floor. From the Captain's cabin at the rear of the ship Nakon makes out the gentle clinking of chains as something large moves within.
I assume that Owlbear is probably guarding the "Captains" cabin. He is mine, we shouldn't have a problem keeping him out of the fight. Kill the Captain first then deal with the lackey's?
Still sure they're must be lurkers about Nakon takes a few careful steps back down the steps and watches the way they came for several long moments.