Ryzern is dropped and left to fall to the deck coughing and gasping for breath while Master Scourge laughs heartily and walks away almost stepping on Mugwort as he does so.
That night no one is punished but it seems you've had some small effect on the crew nonetheless. None are particularly impressed. Afterall though dire rats are dangerous you were six men and did not exactly come out unscathed. Still you earned further ire from the ones you know hate you already so perhaps that counts for something.
That night Mugwort takes him to the "word" door. To Ryzerns relif it is not an explosive sign. Though he notes some misspellings. The sign reads as thus.
"Armerry: Those cot openin this door are keeelhawled. Those caught stealing are keelhawled. Those caught breathin on this door are keelhawled. AND IF I BE THE ONE CATCHING YOU I BE THE ONE GUTTING YE FER THE SHARKS FIRST!! ~Master Gunner Riaris Krine"
The lock is rather solid and though Ryzern detects no magic he doesn't doubt something much more mundane and probably much more nasty awaits the person who opens this door.
The rest of you work diligently. For now you avoid the ire of Master Scourge and the sadistic disdain of Mr. Plugg. The bruises on Ryzern's neck are a clear indicator. As all of you gather for a rest before going on with your nightly activities Sandara Quinn bustles up to you giving a bright smile. "Bastards sent ya down to the bilges ta get ate up by rats. Nay problem though Besmara smiles on ye this day! Though to be fair she be smiling even if ye hurt long as ye got a coin purse to take from ye..."
Channel Energy healing
"Many thanks, may Besmara bless you as well. I truly appreciate your kindness.
Alistair's night action will be to sneak and explore an area not yet explored, any chart or map room or alternatively storage, taking 20 on the perception.
Riven welcomed the healing touch and added on to Alistair's thanks.
Ay, you have my gratitude Sandara. What's an angel like you doing in this pit of demons?
Riven flashed her his ready smile and waited til she left to go sneak around the quarter master's digs. He wanted his old equipment...and me blasted loot dem damn scurvy sons of fleabitten dogs!... and guessed this was the best place to look.
Mugwort scowls, as he always does, at the priestess. "Thank you." he mumbles, almost reluctantly.
Any chance Ryzern could pocket the following: 1) several strips of leather suitable to be the material component for Mage Armor? 2) Spices, powders, and fine sawdust suitable to allow casting Color Spray?
At door with Mugwort: Ryzern makes a point of breathing on the door. "No curse here. Just a good deal of anger and poor spelling. Mind you I would not recommend opening this door. Apart from the anger I expect there is a surprise waiting on the other side. If nothing else this 'Master Krine' likely knows what is here so if anything goes missing he will notice quickly.
Pity, I should like to get my books back."
"Tell me Mugwort do you still have that knife I saw you holding earlier? I never got the hang of weapons like that mace you found in the bilges but I am rather handy with a blade."
"I thank you for the kindness though I wonder why you are not afraid to be seen helping such as we."
Action Sneak (stealth Woah, Wizards dice are on fire!) to fully search galley or nearby area as I seem to remember searching this room before bur the info page lists it as only partially searched.. Perception take 20 for 25.
Mugwort looks at the not-wizard closely. He's not a goblin, but maybe it would be useful to have a crazy word reader on his side. He pulls out the blade from some hidden place and weighs it against his new handaxe. Finally he hands the knife to the not-wizard. "Knife stolen. Not-wizard better keep out of sight, not let other sailors see it. You no need 'nother lesson from Scourge."
Riven welcomed the healing touch and added on to Alistair's thanks.
Ay, you have my gratitude Sandara. What's an angel like you doing in this pit of demons?
Riven flashed her his ready smile and waited til she left to go sneak around the quarter master's digs. He wanted his old equipment...and me blasted loot dem damn scurvy sons of fleabitten dogs!... and guessed this was the best place to look.
She laughs and crosses her arms. "I be no angel, Riven Roger, anymore than ye got yer eyes on me face. As fer why I be helpin ya.." She scowls in the direction of Master Scourge. "Well, some men be more impatient then others and I figure since I got volunteered the same way ye did it be no harm ta throw me lot in with ye fer the time bein. Less I end up with MAster Scourge tryin ta make me walk his plank."
@Ryzern:
Questions: Yes to both.
Search: Much to your pleasure you find a shining silver ring fallen under one of the cupboards. Judging by the mess however it would take several nights of searching to find all that this mess holds.
Sadly Riven manages to get to the quartermaster's store to be thwarted by his nemesis. A locked door.
Mugwort looks at the not-wizard closely. He's not a goblin, but maybe it would be useful to have a crazy word reader on his side. He pulls out the blade from some hidden place and weighs it against his new handaxe. Finally he hands the knife to the not-wizard. "Knife stolen. Not-wizard better keep out of sight, not let other sailors see it. You no need 'nother lesson from Scourge."
"Thank you Mugwort. If we stick together we will survive Mr. Scourge."
Ryzern straps the knife to his good leg under his robe.
Blast it! Damn locks be in day way of me pursuit of happiness forever and a day now.
Riven returned to his bunk to catch some much needed rest and fell promptly asleep with thoughts of...tools, tools, tools...I be needing me damn tools, it is...
Kess remains wary of Sandara Quinn, and makes no attempt to mask it. She says nothing of the exchange between the Besmaran and her bunk mates. Seeing Mugwort give up his makeshift Dogslicer does get her attention however. Now that is interesting.
During the evening Kess searches for a hidey hole for her mace before chatting with Riven Roger out of Quinn's earshot.
"Have you considered that the Besmaran could be looking in on us at the behest of Master Scourge? It would be best to be wary around her. A good keel hauling would damage my fair skin." She cracks a half smile. "We do need to figure out a way into the Quartermaster's door for when we make our next landfall. I mean to end this voyage soon."
@Tark - anything on Alistair's night action? If not, then he will eventually nod off to sleep.
Alistair takes a good look at the poop deck where up until now has been more or less off limits due to the constant presence of the Captain who forbids non-officers from coming onto the poop deck without permission while he is there. On the poop deck you find little of any real interest.
This raised deck stands 15 feet above the main deck. The mizzenmast rises 30 feet above this deck. The ship’s bridge protrudes forward of
the mizzenmast, and holds the ship’s wheel. The wheel is 3 feet across and has 10 spokes decorated with silver inlays, its bolts carved to resemble kraken heads. An iron cage hangs from the side of the mizzenmast, containing the body of Harmak Gruft, a pirate whom you were told had the misfortune of beating the captain at dice. Gruft is dead, but his ugly parrot Pluck perches atop the cage. Pluck possesses a considerable vocabulary of appalling curse words which he squawks at you as you near the cage.
The next day comes and all of you are given your assignments once more. As you work, shirk, or do otherwise Mr. Plugg emerges from the hold carrying a long chain and a sadistic smile showing off perfect teeth.
Trailing behind him blinking against the blinding morning tropical sun is a very large and muscular man with a relatively vacant expression. His tanned muscles are covered in a black sticky substance and what appears to be the remnants of a number of chicken feathers.
The other pirates faces start to crack into variations of grin, sneer, and smile. The man sees this and his face breaks into its own version of stupid smile before yelling "CHICKEN'S ON DECK SPARE THE FRYERRSSS!!!"
Then the whole boat erupts in laughter as Mr. Plugg jingles the chain and carrying on with his own buffoonish laughter he starts to dance. Soon the whole crew is clapping in time with the strange spectacle.
Riven answered Kess with as much honesty as a pirate could.
Oh aye, Ive considered that witch be just doing her duty for yon Mr Scourge but I'll take da healing none the less. We cant be getting into da quarter masters til I be putting me grubby paws on some tools...you know; of da trade. Picks or some such. Be keeping your pretty eyes open for dem, you heard.
----------------------------
At the sight of the tar and feathered man the next day Riven barely suppressed a shiver before laughing with the rest of the crew.
...dat dere just be a nasty warning to da lot of us to walk da straight and narro', it is...dat damn man has lost his marbles...
Mugwort stares at the spectacle of the chicken man, and is shocked by his reaction: disgust. He scratches his head, wondering if the rat bites and lashing have caused something in there to break. Suddenly he has a desire to bite the head off a seagull and sighs. Somethings never change.
Shrugging, he goes back to work.
Pausing to take in the latest outrage.
Muttering. "Nature hath framed strange fellows in her time."
To the Pirate in Green (aka random nearby wandering killer): "So who is the big guy and why is Pugg dancing with him? At least I assume they're dancing. I have led a sheltered life and am unfamiliar with these new steps."
Kess feigns disinterest while grabbing a rope close to Ryzern as she attempts to eavesdrop.
Plugg's manic grin and shaking of the chain both seem to increase as the man dances more frantically his stupid breathy laughter only seeming to excite the other sailors more finally as the man leaps clapping his hands Mr. Plugg yanks hard on the chain and the man slams face first into the deck to a hearty laugh from the crew. The man takes a second to get back up clearly in pain. But as he looks up to see the smiling faces he grins widely and lets out another strange outburst.
"Owlbears a fallin! Must be time for napsies!"
He sits up and shakes his head as if to try and remove the cobwebs from them while Mr. Plugg's face goes from amusement to dead seriousness. He turns suddenly causing some of the crew to flinch as he points wildly.
"Right which one of ye scurvy foul smelling dog wants ta go one on one with ma pet Owlbear today?!?"
@Ryzern: Tilly Brackett a woman one of your group befriended responds. "That be the Owlbear. Some circuss fool Mr. Plugg caught a year er so back. Poor bastard just exists fer his sick amusement. But don't be fooled. What the gods forgot ta give him in brains he makes up fer in pure muscle."
Mugwort looks at the large man and puts his head back down, going back to scrubbing the deck. He had no desire to tangle with the stupid man-mountain.
High up in the rigging; Riven laughed right along with everyone else but deep down the whole spectacle sickened him. This was saying alot from a guy that typically found almost everything funny. He silently vowed to free the oaf and put the chains on Ole Mr. Plugg as soon opportunity presented itself.
"What is the wager Mr. Pugg? And the rules. I doubt the Captain would approve of you killing too many of his crew and I would hate to deprive you of your toy unless it was needful."
Pause to let the idea of a frail one legged man going up against that mountain to sink in.
"Now I propose that if I can tap this fine gentleman, say three times with..." Rizern looks about before pulling an unused belaying pin (aka club) from the rack. "..this. Before Mr. Owlbear beats me into a jelly. Then the return of all confiscated possessions and a bit of celebration for the whole crew would seem to be in order. What do you say Mr. Pugg I am game enough to loose, are you?
Kess looks at Ryzern as if he just arrived on this planet. This one has lost his mind! She stops working and waits to see what unfolds
Mr. Plugg looks as if he's simply going to "tap" Ryzern with his scourge a few times before a deep and rumbling laughter from the poop deck cuts off the moment of dangerous silence.
"HA! HA! HA HAR!! So the peg leg coward wants to go toe to teak versus my first mates pet retard eh!?!?! We already know that yer a man ta watch for any tricks! And I ain't be willing to part with my hard earned booty just for some smart ass trick you'll pull! You can have yer stuff IF you can do it with one hand tied behind yer back! What say ye to that?"
The crew looks back at Ryzern awaiting for a response.
Kess walks past Ryzern to her next rope, whispering as she walks by. "Any next of kin? Of course I wouldn't be able to inform them of your demise unless I manage to survive this ship myself, but the offer remains."
Kess looks to the others to gauge their reactions to Ryzern's gambit, before dropping the rope and looking at Mr. Plugg. "The tar and feathered one is easily large enough to smash our skinny crewman to oblivion, why not make it more entertaining and give Ryzern a different arm? I could stand in place of the arm you tie to his back! The gnome and one armed man against the chicken oaf! The Wormwood could use a good laugh. If you lose, you get better armed men to deal with your Bilge pests, the Wormwood wins either way."
Egads! What did they mix into our gruel to impair our judgement so?
Mr. Plugg growls an d throws a half hearted kick in Kess's direction. "Ye get yer turn soon enuff! Capn's made his offer and he either take it or wobble back like the cowardly jelly he be!"
"Oh not just my stuff Mr. Plugg. All confiscated possessions to be returned and say...double rations for the crew tonight. I would hate to keep the Captains largess from my deserving crew mates."
Ryzern bows to the assembled.
"Agree to that Mr. Pugg and I will gladly adhere to your restriction."
Riven could hardly believe what Ole peg leg was up to down on the deck...dat dere wizard has balls of da shiniest brass, it is...and either has some nasty magicky trick up his sleeve or isnt near as smart as I dought, you heard...
He made his was down the rigging to get closer to the action and to back up the man if it came to it.
Assuming the Capt agrees to my terms.
Once his hand is tied Ryzern tucks the club into the armpit of the bound arm and raises his unbound arm in a great flourish. "And yes there is a trick or two here." As he brings that arm down he speaks a phrase in a twisted mix of Terran and Aquan, at the same time quietly squeezing the plain copper ring on the second finger of his bound hand. Before the amused and bloodshot eyes of the crew the leather strip that Ryzern has bound around his good ankle animates and begins to wrap further and further up his leg. Within moments the growing band has wrapped itself round his leg to his waist and down his other leg. From the waist is continues to grow at an ever faster pace until the scrawny man resembles a leather wrapped mummy or something from one of Calistria's more libertine sects.
Now fully wrapped the leather suddenly fades, translucent, transparent, invisible. Ryzern stands just as he was as he once again draws the simple club.
Alistair's mouth is still gaping open. Ryzern was the last one he expected would pick a fight, especially one of this nature. But it appeared that he had a trick or two in him left so maybe there was hope. He figured for a mage he would have a good head on his shoulders so he must know what he is doing or at least have calculated the odds.
He leans agains the rails and prepares to watch the spectacle, ready if need be to jump in a pull teh wizard out.
The captain's hearty laughter cuts over the wind as he waves for the fight to proceed acceding to the terms and letting the wizard have his way.
With his left hand tied firmly behind his back Ryzern does his spiel while the crew spreads to watch this spectacle.
The owlbear is given a club who grips it both hands menacingly the crew starts to call out and egg on the owlbear as Mr. Plugg tightly grips the chain muttering encouragements and threats to owlbear as the simple mans eyes go feral and he starts to heave and grunt and pull against the chain looking like he wants to tear apart the cripple wizard with just his teeth.
Suddenly Mr. Plugg's grip on the chain slips and the Owlbear charges forward roaring.
Owlbear
Ryzern
Ryzern has just enough time to react before he ends up like a hippy slapping the best friend of a vietnam vet in the middle of a black panther party.
"Sorry big guy."
Ryzern circles to Owlbear's left increasing the distance between them.
Suddenly the peg-legged man throws his club at the giant.
In his panic Ryzern threw the club well over the large man's head. It is doubtful that Owlbear even noticed the attack.
The groan from the wizards few supporters among the crew turned to a confused cheer as the club blithely ignored the laws of ballistics and reversed it's arc returning to Ryzern's hand.
Well I'll be a blighted gnome....now dat dere is a handy trick, it is
Riven smiled in spite of himself as hope for the wizard's outcome surged.
"RRAAAAGGHHH!!! SMASH YOU TO CRAB BITS!" The owlbear comes down charging straight at Ryzern who jukes right beore dodging to the left the Owlbear's club going wide. The simple man looks bewildered for a second before turning once more and roaring.
Still tending back and to the left Ryzern calmly sets up another throw.
The club manages to connect clocking the owl bear clear on the back of the head. He rubs the back of it in confusion before turning and roaring again trying to take Ryzern's head right off his shoulders with a vicious blow only to have the wizard once more juke to the right and then around easily outsmarting the slow lumbering giant.
Kess watches the match impressed with Ryzern's creativity and dexterity. That man is more clever by far. Well played indeed, .... if he survives.
Mugwort stops his work and smiles as the crazy not-wizard uses magic to beat on the bigger man. 'Hmmm. Tricky like a goblin.'
While this is all going on Alistair takes a moment to scan the crowd to see if he can pick up anything from the reactions of the crew that might be telling or see anything of interest.
Ryzern tries to keep the pressure on the larger man by sending the club straight into his gut.....
Only to see it batted away..
Alistair finds nothing really out of place here as the crew seems to eb genuinely entertained by the sight of a one armed one legged man in a nasty fight with the simple but powerful owlbear.
Owlbear charges but Ryzern stumbles just a bit as he tries to dance around the man.
Unfortunately the owlbear swings with more power than finesse and Ryzern manages a timely deck from a head removing swing.
Rather more focused by the cloose look at owlbear's great-club Ryzern tries sending his own stick at the large man's foot.
Getting clocked in the back of the head does little more than make the big man angry as he swings recklessly clocking another distracted member of the crew out cold before standing there dumbfounded as if wondering whether or not this means he wins the fight. He quickly reconnoiters however as he turns with a feral growl towards Ryzern once again.
Kess watches the duel and begins to smile. He may yet survive this. Under her breath, Kess mutters a prayer to Gozreh to keep Ryzern out of this Owlbear's reach.
Seeing the watching pirate get layed out by the oaf's wild swing; Riven took a smart step back into the third row of spectators lest he catch a similar hit.
Ryzern looks on is shock as the giant charges directly into this throw. The club thuds wetly into Owlbears chest before rebounding back to Rysern's hand.
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The owlbear takes the blow straight to the head stunning him for a moment. Ryzern relaxes just a moment as it looks like as if the bet is won. Yet the captain says nothing to stop the fight and Mr. Plugg continues to call out encouragement to owlbear to take your head off. That's when you turn to see the massive man bellowing his rage and racing toward you.
"Well this was certainly unexpected" Needless to say sarcasm may have been present in his voice.
Just to move things along Ryzern intends to do this bluff/full defense dance until he is either hit, in which case he will drop no matter how little damage is done, or until the captain gets bored. Ryzern has made it clear that he is capable and that the Captain is dishonorable.
Kess considers coming to Ryzern's aid hoping that the others will follow when the ruckus begins, she decides to wait a little longer to see how things play out first.