Hunter takes 10 to get the job done successfully.
Like a dark cloud in the rigging the nimble catfolk brooded staring evilly at the officers below, He darted through the rigging like he belonged there,
Can you believe they set up that poor simpleton to fight like that, I wonder about those officers, how have you stayed out of their bad side?"
He asked conchabar Shortstone again, trying to befriend the dapper little gnome.
When it was time to head down from work the lithe catfolk removed his shirt glaring with teeth at any who eyed him with a smirk.
Reinald works diligently.
Aria gives a grunt at being put to runner work again. At least she was getting a consistent job.
Sapphire successfully catches enough turtles for today, Hunter swabs, Rrruh repairs the rigging but is unsuccessful in swaying anyone to his side about the fight. Reinald performs adequately with the ropes. Aria is able to run her messages between the officers without delay today but the effort tires her. She feels Plugg's eye on her a little more than usual, everyone else also feels they are watched for even the slightest mistake to give them a chance to be punished. Today you all seem to escape such though and the bloody hour is naught but Scourge and Plugg dressing down a few of the crew for not working hard enough, Sandara and Conchobar among them. Everyone is told if the work is not picked up harsher measures will have to be taken.
Hunter will sneak into the captains office when he is away and steal something important
Aria takes a sigh of relief at bloody hour. She was at least spared being whipped again for today. None the less she was exhausted from her day's work. After eating her meal the young woman goes off to find her night's rest.
Reinald joins Sapphire and others at dinner"Fine turtle to Sapphire you are getting good at this. Any news things are settling somewhat, even Aria escaped whipping."
Sapphire eyes Reinald
To be truthful I only caught the thing, Fishguts cooked it with me handing him ladle and spice, but I'll take yer compliment nevertheless!
She muses over the day's events, looking quizzical
Things do appear to have settled down it's true, and all that does is serve to make me nervous, calm before the storm and all. But anyways, I haven't spoken to anyone new, nor done owt but fish and cook today. Something's givin me the heebie-jeebies that's for sure...
She looks around awkwardly.
He was enthralled by the pretty fish, and as such he wanted to do something nice for her. On land he would find a pretty flower, or perhaps go so far as to write her poetry... but there were no living flowers on board, and he didnt know if she would appreciate the style of poetry from his faraway homelands.
But their were other ways.
Friend Jack Jack... I am glad I have found you, yes yes! I was wondering if you had time to make some sort of pretty scrimshaw for me? I want to give it to someone as a gift. He began a little wiggle in his excitement.
A pretty flower, yes yes, I would like a carved pretty flower and I would be in your debt... Just tell me what you need!
Reinald enjoys the company of those singing and telling stories on the deck. He makes a go at sharing a tale.
I'm going to say from below, best option and least likely to be locked out.
Hunter creeps up the stairs to the door, sure that nothing has heard or noticed him so far. As he lays his hand on the doornob it doesn't budge. Definitely locked. Then he hears a click and a *shunk* and before he can think to react a sharp pain is felt in his back and a poison moving fast through his system.
Moments later sounds in the room can be heard. The Captain must have heard and been woken up. "What slime tries to enter my rooms! I'll get you for this!" Whether Hunter runs or stays there is nowhere to hide. The ship is searched and by the time the poison has worn off Hunter is too weak to try fighting. He is brought before the Captain who curses him for waking him. "Was your previous punishment not enough to keep you in line? Chain him in the bilges Mr. Plugg." Mr. Plugg, also not happy at being woken up shoves Hunter roughly towards the bilges and chains him there. Finally everyone is able to return to their sleep.
Everyone wakes to the sound of rain. It seems the storm had changed direction and the Captain orders all hands on deck early. Jobs are given as normal with the exception of hunter who is in the bilges still.
Swab the Decks
Man the Bilges
Line Work (-2 to your checks because of the weather)
Bull Session (Kroop not drunk)
And what happens in the Bilges?
He didnt like the rain, not one bit, and working up in the rigging working the lines in the rain certainly didnt make him any happier. He was glad to see however his pretty fish not being forced to try and run back and forth on deck the whole time. Perhaps they had gotten smarter about assigning duties.
He did think of the strange hobgoblin in the bilges. He didnt strike Rrruh as the particularly sneaky type. He wasnt real sure what he had hoped to accomplish in the officers quarters. Still He would try to swing by after dinner perhaps.
In the morning Reinald makes his way to the bilges.
Reinald drops down the ladder annoyed to work the stinky Bilges. He looks about and notices Hunter. "Whoa how did you end up here? Are you hurt? I know there was a commotion but the officers seemed to be dealing with it. Is this the extent of the punishment? Did they say how long you will be down here?"
Please get me out of here. We need to escape this place, they are going to execute us I fear when they are done using us. We need to find a way to off him. I don't know how long I will be here, but if we all work together and get other pirates in on this we can kill him. Oh and the room is trapped, so if sneaking into that room for spy work, be careful
Reinald looks at Hunter sadly. "Well they won't be executing us while they need us. Takes 20 or so souls to keep this tub moving proper. More if they expect to fire siege weapons if we are going to be fighting while we close on a ship. . . ." He spends some time working the pumps after a few minutes he wipes his brow. "You are right though they may not keep us long if they make port. Though many ships operate this way kidnap or force service some sailors find the rhythm and stay on a boat for years. If Plugg and Scourge had leave to off us they already would have. They need cause to strike. Harrigan's a bastard for sure. His officers worse as I can tell, but they are fools. Keep your wits though. On a ship there is no place to run. Kill the captain at best its every man for themselves at worst we have a crew out to take down the one that doed the deed. Play it smart, take it slow." He returns to the pump. After another while he pipes up again, "Allies that is a wise thing we have made some. Owlbear who you discovered I think he appreciates that the cat did not cave his face in. Rosie has seemed to warm up to us. There are others more if we keep at it. But its a slow game of influence and making people understand that we are allies that can help not allies that will drag them down. Talk to them, befriend them, work beside them and we will find those who can be trusted."
He puts himself to the pump again, "Oh you didn't say why you were here. What happened?"
I was shot by a crossbow with poison, not by a person, but by a trap. And he chained me here for waking him up. I just wanted to see what he was up to, I was trying to be quiet. I wasn't going to hurt anyone, but I wanted to know what was going on. I couldn't sleep. He said harsher punishment, I wanted to know what he meant.
Sapphire will visit Grok to sell her kitchen plunder, somehow she had imagined treasure chests full of gold rather than second hand meat cleavers, but all pirate queens start somewhere!
He worked hard most of the day, he was wore out and tired.. and worse it was raining. He didnt like the rain. He bet the pretty fish was enjoying the rain. When he got the moment he slid down to the bilges to see if the hobgoblin was still breathing.
Glancing about nonchelauntly, The feline attempted to make it look like he was interested in some smattering of the old crates they had found the rats in before.
"Hey, Hobgoblin.." He began lowly, trying to keep his words quiet.
Stop acting a fool, stop sneaking about. You have no talent for it and it will get you and perhaps others killed. He said lowly and simply enough. Now was not the time to get into a long winded argument over ones actions.
Darn... no rat snacks today." he said loudly and glumly doing his best to look disapointed as he head back topside.
Aria takes a sigh of relief as she's given a new job today. Maybe Plugg had finally had a change of heart. Getting to work she makes sure to focus on her duties. Maybe she'd take the time to visit Hunter later on in the day.
It seemed the merfolk was a bit more suited for swabbing decks then she was at running about the ship. Staying focused she makes a point to do her best at looking good while working hard.
OK selling to Grok:
2 handaxes (3gp each = 6gp)
short sword (5gp)
prosthetic leg (45gp)
6 bottles of brandy (20gp each = 120gp)
3 bottles of rum (12gp each = 36gp)
Total 212gp
Buying back the rest of her stuff:
leather armor (10gp)
magus' kit (22gp)
chakram *2 (2gp)
This leaves her with 178gp
After strapping on her leather armor, she smiles at the feeling of the familiar worn and creased protective gear against her skin once more. On her way back to the galley she stashes the rest of her kit in her locker. She gleefully joins in carousing with Ambrose and helping re-heat yesterday's turtle soup, making sure to add some spices to try and avoid too many complaints from the crew.
Sapphire seems in the best mood you've yet seen her in.
How goes it?
The storm keeps up the rain all day. The wormwood is trying to skirt the edge of the storm and not lose time. Many course corrections are given by the Sailing Master Peppery Longfarthing. The ship sails later than normal and by the time they stop there is barely time to eat before most turn in. The bloody hour is skipped for that reason, much to Plugg's annoyance. It continues to rain throughout the night. In the distance before the sun goes down the storm looks rather terrible. Many of the crew have been whispering prayers to Besmara or gripping one lucky trinket or another, including the Captain.
"Rrruh, good to see you. . . oh he has not offered how he got here sneaking about you think." He listens to Rrrhu admonish Hunter and silently agrees.
"You seem in a find mood. Hmmm more clothes . . . I think most lads here have been trying to part you from them." Reinald adds a wink to Sapphire.
She turns her smile on Reinald and it's like being caught in the glare of a bullseye lantern
let's just say I had a run of luck finding some things lost in the cracks of the ship, I've managed to trade my gear back so yes, rather happy!
She tips her head to the side and considers
Good mood not withstanding, let me also add that the chances of removing my new old clothes lower dramatically as time spent at sea, away from a bath, increases!
She tips Reinald a wink and wrinkles her nose.
I don't get much chance to talk to our group during the day, how is everyone?
she looks around
So no hobgoblin? I'm surprised given his run of seemingly insane stunts that he hasn't been keelhauled by now...
Sapphire wanders over to Samm Toppins and introduces herself
So I've seen you up in the rigging swinging around, how long you been on board? What do you think of the cat and his love of the merfolk!?
"Interesting. Well, wherever you got this from won't hear a word from me. Unless it's the captain of course. Then you are on your own. Did Ambrose tell you about the brandy? I do so hate the lack of anything but Rum around here." Strange for a half orc to care what type of alcohol she drinks perhaps. There are few things to enjoy for some people. You think you have found a way to bring Grok over to your side with less effort than before.
"Perhaps I have something one of you are after. It looks like it is worth a good deal and a rare thing. But too small to be of any worth to the Captain. For some reason he tossed it in here among your things as if it was worth as much as your clothes." She retrieves a coat pistol from one of the chests holding the press ganged crews stolen items. "A fair trade?"
"Aye, get's me as far away from the water as I can." she replies to Sapphire, her clothes plain, feet bare and a cheap looking necklace of string holding a equally cheap brass ring. "Been here only a couple of weeks. Not many friendly folk like back home in the Sodden Lands. But I owe a debt to Scourge, so he took everything I own and I'll probably never be able to pay it back. No good dead husband of mine," as she says that she reaches up and plays with the ring betraying her true thoughts about the man, "You don't seem to have any liking for Scourge either so please don't tell him I told you this."
"Tis a strange thing. I don't think it natural or right. Though they are a mystical race. Be careful or they'll lure you out to sea and you'll never see the light of the sun again. But you're a strange one too. I heard of merfolk but never any blue elves." she stops suddenly realizing what she has said. "My apologies. Here I go again running my mouth to you about anything and everything. It's what got me into this mess in the first place. I always have to say exactly what's on my mind..."
Reinald chuckles at Sapphire.
He spends some time carousing with the other crew striking up a conversation with Ratline kicking off with small talk about what he is normally enjoying in the evening.
Ok I'm interested, can't use the thing myself but it's a conversation piece no doubt about it, ok I'll take it off you for 150gp, that leaves me with just enough to gamble away or buy more drink with next time we're in port!
No fear on Scourge, I wouldn't throw sea water on him if he were on fire...
she winks
As fer 'blue elves', I ain't surprised you've not seen my folk afore now, they keep themselves tidied away and quiet most o' the time, lots of nasties under the water ye see.
She's lost in deeply buried memories for a moment.
But I can breathe air and gabble as well as any treehugging elf cousin, don't you fear!
She changes topic, uncomfortable with mention of her family.
Well I'm glad I spoke to ye Samm. It's a hard thing workin' off someone else's debt
she indicates the brass ring
but I understand why.
She smiles slightly, reassuring.
I'm not saying I can do ought, but if'n I get the opportunity I'll try and see you right.
she smiles at Samm, thinking to herself that all things considered, Sapphire really is doing ok right now.
The feline paced back and forth tail lashing slightly whiskers twitching.
He was too afraid to talk to the pretty fish, she would probably laugh at him. It put him in a dour mood. It wasnt until he almost bumped into a human that he shook it off.
Hello hello crewmate and friend yes yes! I am called Rrruh, I havent met you just yet I believe.
He began giving an a cursory short little bow from the waist.
"I am called Rrruh, Have you been on this ship long? What did you think of that fight with the one called Owlbear?
Ratline seems not to mind conversing with Reinald in small talk. He talks about what he will do once they find their first big haul of treasure, a battle with the merchant ship or tracking down some lost fortune.
"Hah. What's with the bowing? Strange one you are. Pharasma's booty! But you did well against Owlbear. Maybe even coulda beaten him. Course, I could take the brute anytime as well. But I'm not stupid enough to get in Plugg's way. Keep that up and your life will be hell."
Aria takes personal joy in seeing the lack of a bloody hour. Maybe it was because she had been the one at risk every time it happen or maybe she just didn't like seeing others hurt. Either way the rain seemed to bother her much less though in some way that would be expected of a Merfolk. Making her way down to the mess hall she takes time to "enjoy" her meal before heading back up to the deck.
Not completely exhausted tonight she decided to take some time to perform for the rest of the crew who were still forced to man the ship. Finding a spot where she was sure as she could be that her vocals would reach out the young bard begins her song.
While most certainly not her best performance Aria finishes her ballad before making her way down to find some sleep.
Sandara comes to visit Hunter in the evening and asks him if he would like her to help remove the sickness of the poison affecting him. He feels strength return to him quickly as her magic touches him, though still not recovered fully. "I don't know what you were doing trying to get into the Captain's rooms. Were you trying to kill him? You would have tripped over his cabin girl first even if you somehow got past the traps. All the officer's rooms are trapped, some poison, some normal, some even magical. I fear they intend to keelhaul you but the weather isn't giving anyone time to do anything but work and sleep. If you seek a way out of here we must bide our time. The right moment will come when the advantage is given to us. But first you must help gain it."
Everyone wakes up to yelling as the ship's motions throw some out of their hammocks. "Get up on deck quick! The storm's upon us!" one of the crew shouts.
Up on deck things are chaotic. Mr Plugg shouts new orders for you all over the pounding rain. He wants all of you in the rigging today.
Rope Work
Rope Work
Rigging Repair
Mainsail Duties
After a quick meal of Ship's Biscuits only it is back to work for an all night shift up in the rigging again.
Line Work
Rope Work
Rope Work
Upper Rigging Work
Hunter speaks to Sandra Please get me out of here, I was just trying to spy on him. He said punishments would be harsher, I was worried about what that meant. I thought if I could just take away his whip, he would not be able to punish us. I did what I did, because I fear for my group. I'm tied up, if you can't get me out of here, can you at least get rid of those spiders please.
"I cannot get you out of here, I am no fool. Where do you think to go? They will throw you right back in here. You are only being punished because of your actions. If you only had of gone along and acted like one of the crew you wouldn't be here. Follow the rules. It's harsh, but it's your only chance." She leaves him to think about what she said.
Rrruh gulped at the thought of his new friends in the rigging... though he was glad to see the majority of them were actually doing deckwork.
As the day wore on even as tired as he was he watched the other pretty one get put on upper rigging work and that just wouldnt do no no.
I'm on rope work friend Sapphire...You do that I'll take care of the upper rigging work. he said simply pushing her torwards the easier safer job. If plugg or them get angry tell them the "beater of the owlbear" told you to switch or else. He offered willing to take punishment to keep his new friends safe yes yes.
Reinald wakes and makes his way to deck and goes about his work dilligently.
10 feet up the rigging and staring at the remaining 40 feet of rain lashed, slippery rope ahead of her, Sapphire is stunned when Rrruh swoops past her. She's never had anyone else looking out for her, and for him to take the risk of both the more dangerous activity and the threat of the lash was an amazing show of camaraderie.
She slid down the rigging and moved quickly to the nearest bollard, as she coiled and stowed, secured to cleats and looped, she thought only of how she might pay the catfolk back. As the ship rose up a particularly large wave then crashed down upon the sea once more, sending a massive explosion of sea water over everyone at the prow, she was inspired...
Well, can you at least take care of the spiders? Nothing else Hunter wants to do.
Aria grumpily gets to work at Plugg's orders.
While the rain doesn't seem to slow down aria much at all it does make the ropes quite slippery especially for her easily moisture filled hands. Not given much time to rest though the young girl moves back to her line work.
While still managing to endure the rain and working conditions just fine it seems that she still wasn't quite able to manage as satisfactory work as she would under normal circumstances.
As the storm rages you hear screams or see the wave that catches Tilly Bracket unawares and throws her overboard. She screams for help as the stormy waters pull her away from the ship.