Draflo! Snap out of it! First Tell me everything you bleeding know about these things. Second Do you sense any magic from the door area!
The wizard stands up, holding her head. "I, the..." after a pause she says, "I have some spells that might hurt it. Do you have a weapon that can crush, bludgeon? That will work. Fire would work but we don't want to catch the sip aflame..."
She turns up the stairs and stares hard, casting her spell. 'I..I don't think so. I don't feel so good, what happened?"
Polos eyes the slithering ooze. 'Plans, Captain?"
Full Defence Polos. Draflo you got any mending spells?
Queshem retrieves her crossbow and uses it to fire a distracting shot to help Polos avoid the ooze.
The ooze misses by a mile and Polos easily avoids it.
Queshem nod and mutters a spell of mending. She nod but only curses rain down. 'The wood is all jammed and twisted." A sailor says. 'We are hooking up a block and tackle to tear it free, but it'll take time!"
Get it done and get it done FAST ye layabouts! Queshem shouts up then she instructs Draflo. Not planning on killing the thing quite yet. Polos did you listen to my order and bring food with ye? I'm guessing you can't create food Draflo... ye gods but we need some sort o cleric on board... And for your mending spell, go look at the crate this thing smashed out of, can ye mend that?. Polos you and I are going to keep covering Draflo.
Polos shakes his head sadly, "There was no time! I wasn't going to let you be stuck down here alone..." He sounds hurt that she is angry, but there is little time for that.
Draflo is silent but runs over the crate, mending it with magic instantly. The wooden top and twisted lead seal up as neat as if it had never been damaged.
The ooze comes at Polos, flailing.
Instead of hitting him though, it pauses and sends a burst of spores into the air. They smell sickeningly sweet in the wet and moldy hold. Queshem, Polos and Draflo can't help but breathe the tiny spores in...
As if struck by a hammer, both Draflo and Polos fall over, dead asleep. They do seem unharmed. Apparently the oozes have some abilities Draflo didn't know about...
From above she can hear grinding and tearing as the crew slowly tear the door free. It shouldn't be long now....
The oozes moves on Polos though, creeping forward...
Oh for the love of.... Queshem mutters as she's the only one left standing. Praise be Abadar that we didn't all go to sleep she prays only a little sarcastically. She bends over and drags Polos diagonally a few feet as far as she can the she moves to interpose herself between the sleeping forms and the ooze. She then calls for Abadar to protect her.
Queshem drags the heavy fighter away, wishing for once he was a lightweight. Still, she is faster then the ooze, dragging him and then getting between him and the ooze.
The ooze reaches out and slams Queshem hard intot he deck. She feels like she sprained a few joints, and it leaves a nasty acid burn across her back. Blood dribbles from her nose as she stares downt he ooze.
From above, finally, the door is heaved free with a great tearing and grinding. A cheer goes up and sailors start to descend.
Queshem stumbles back and casts a healing spell on herself still keeping herself between Ooze and her crew members.
The favour of her god washes over her and stiches up nearly all of her injuries.
She calls out orders. Stay AWAY from the Ooze. I want those of you with the best aim to throw food at the blasted thing to keep it busy from the top of the stairs while the heartiest drag Polos and Draflo upstairs and get 'em some smelling salts! HURRY!
The men throw down a whole cask of pickles, which the ooze stays and happily eats. Queshem can see her profits literally being eaten but it does seem to work.
A few bigger sailors clamber down, grab Draflo and Plos and heave them up the stairs, out the smashed and busted hatch.
The oozes, busy eating, doesn't attack Queshem.
Alright lead the damn thing to the box with a trail of food and get it in there. Queshem orders moving closer to the crate herself while still giving the ooze a wide berth.
It is a tricky process, leading the ooze with meat, fruit and bread. It isn't very smart and gets distracted by loud sounds pretty easily. Lucily Parcell has a cool head and the ex-pirate helps lead the ooze back into the crate. After a very painstaking few seconds he clicks the lock, sealing it.
On deck Draflo and Polos are coming around, both feeling very groggy but other well enough. The night is growing old, and Queshem can spot a graying light in the east.
Queshem finally allows herself to relax when she sees Polos and Draflo coming around. It's only then that she rounds on the survivors of the would be thieves her voice escalating as she recounts their sins. Blood and Bloody ashes ye bastards, ye scallop for brain mutineers. Ye disobeyed my direct orders. Ye broke the terms of the contract. And Ye PUT THE ENTIRE SHIP AND EVERYONE ON IT IN DANGER! GETTING ONE OF US KILLED.
She transfers her gaze from the would be thieves to the rest of the crew. We are not here to turn into bloody pirates. she says loudly and slowly. We are here to hunt the most murderous of the bastards and make the seaways safe for honest tradin', which is the reason we have those blasted crates in the hold in the first place. One more day of bleedin patience and it would have been a fine and easy payday for us all. Instead we have an injured ship and a dead mate. I get the sense that some of ye think I'm soft as cotton, well I'll show ye my steel.
She gives her orders. Clap 'em in iron and lash 'em a dozen times each. Let this be a lesson to ye all. I am not a woman to be trifled with.
Queshem's voice is hard, unyielding. The crew takes the words in silence but she gets generally agreement. Putting the ship at risk is unpopular with everyone and thieves are a particularly hated group on a close-knit group like a ship's crew.
Tound brings up the other ship, so both crews can watch the punishment. All the sailors watch in silence as the two would be thieves are chained to the mainmast.
Magner, as first mate, has the duty of using the lash. He pulls out the long knotted rope from the bag with a certain amount of formality. With skill and a will, he uses the whip on the two sailors.
The lash slices through flesh like butter, leaving huge wounds in the bare backs of both sailors. They accept the punishment in grim silence, clenching teeth as muscle and tendons are flayed. Blood runs down in rivulets, staining the deck beneath their bare feet. It doesn't take long though and soon each is marked with ten stripes, quivering against the mast.
'Sea water on the wounds?" Magner asks in a flat voice.
No. But keep 'em shackled. They not be a part of my crew and I'll not have 'em wandring about. Queshem says. Then she raises her voice again to involve the crew of The Deadly Bolt The Second Wind... jinked something fierce, I've not felt any ship shift like that in all my years asea. Did anyone else make note of it? See anything get caught in the sails or the like? Don't want something like that to happen again. Could be dangerous. She sweeps the crew of both ships with her gaze lingering just a touch longer on Magner.
Most of the sailors shake their heads or murmur saying they saw nothing. Apparently a sudden breeze blew up and filled the sail. It seemed very out of place though and out of a strange quarter. No one admits seeing anything.
As Queshem scans the crowd she gets a feeling Magner may know something more, but it is just the barest hunch.
Aye well I want an able shipwright to climb up and check the sail. Make sure naught's amiss. She sighs deep. Alright then, enough excitement fer one day sure enough, back to what ye were doing, come along now. We'll be at dock soon enough with business to be done. she walks away spitting at the feet of the shackled and whipped sailors.
**
After everyone disperses Quehem goes to Polos and Draflo to make sure they're okay. She gives Polos a quick hug I know I was a little quick with ye Polos, but ye saved my life right enough, Both of ye did, down there.
Two female sailors volunteer to go aloft and inspect the sail. They soon shout down that all is well although the ship will need new sails soon, due to normal wear and tear. Tound reports all is well aboard his ship as well, and the two ships head for Cho-Tzu as planned, sailing away from the dawn.
Polos and Draflo are fine but a bit shook up. They both nod at Queshem's quasi-apology but wave her away. 'Just doin' what needs doin'" Polos says. Dralfo is more upset that she didn't know the oozes could put people to sleep. She says she needs to have a long talk with some Absalomi zoologists.
The ships make good time and soon they spot Cho-Tzi. The city is a mere line on the horizon, but it is there.
Then, coming out of the east (from the city) a grand Tian style ship comes sailing. This is a big junk, bigger then Queshem's. She comes on fast, sailing well. She is named the Serpent's Tongue.
Parcell wrinkles his nose. 'Slaver." he says, sniffing the air. 'You can tell from miles."
She lifts message flags aloft and it reads, Here for cargo. Come along side
Queshem grimaces. Lo Shei Wen was a slaver, and the ship was more than fine enough for a powerful member of a ruling class. She motions to the signaler Signal 'em that we understand and acknowledge. Signal Tound to hang back a bit To the helmsman she says Bring us alongside nice and steady. Everybody look alert now. We might be treatin with royalty so Draflo and Magner I want ye up here also. Polos, Parcell, keep a hawk eye on 'em.
Tound signals back to hold position and he does, no easy feat. he really is a good sailor.
The Deadly Bolt slides up close, and Draflo and Magner come up besides Queshem. Magner shakes his head, 'Must we deal with a slaver?"
Draflo looks unconcerned saying, 'Slavery is a critical part of the Shackles economy. Slaves provide many key services."
"It is a crime against Abadar." Magner says shortly.
The argument is cut short as they are hailed from the other ship.
'Greetings!" A big, tough looking sailor says. 'We hear you have cargo aboard for us?"
Queshem notes many of the sailors on the Serpent's Tongue are slaves, with iron collars and bearing the marks of the lash. They scuttle about silently. Queshem notes they aren't nearly as good as sailors as her own crews.
Parcell and Polos watch from a gunnel, eyes keen. Queshem hears them quietly argue if they could take her a prize.
Under a silk awning on the other ship she sees a Tian man lounging, fanned and fed by slaves. He is a middle-aged man losing his hair but more details are hard to make at this distance.
Do I be speaking to a vessel of Lo Shi Wen? Queshem calls back. Would not wish to offload the cargo to the wrong person.
Queshem carries out her own assessment of the other vessel.
Queshem judges the ship. It is big, and well used, an experienced vessel. It is not as heavily gunned as a normal Shackles ship though, and is built more for cargo then fighting. Her crew is slaved as well, which Queshem judges to mean they are less effective then her own crack crews. Still being banned mostly by Sea Dragon men and women, Queshem still has an excellent crew. How long that edge will last....
The sailor who spoke shouts across, 'Do you not recognize the ship? This is the Serpent's Tongue. Who else would be commanding her?" The slave sailor honestly seems surprised they don't know her. Queshem notes a few of the slaves are tengu, feathers glossy in the hot tropical sun.
If Queshem detects no falsehood she essays a bow Apologies but we are new in these waters. I shall note it in the future. But yes, we do be having your cargo on board. It be a dangerous load. Would it not be safer to transfer it ashore?
The slave-sailor shakes his head. 'We can handle it. Permission to come aboard?'
As she asks a crew of burly sailors, and a small crane is moved to carry the loads over. A thin, older slaved with a ledger comes forward, obviously the one who is going to pay and inspect the cargo.
Aye, permission granted. Queshem steps aside and tries to get a general read on the crew of the other ship. Are they happy, resigned, or resentful at their lot in life?
Polos, escort 'em to the hold. Draflo go with 'em and unstick the crates so they can be moved out. Queshem moves to the top of the hold so she can keep an eye on what is going on in the hold and on the decks of the ships.
They are slaves, life is brutal and short. Many, more then usual, show signs of violence and punishment. Red weals, scars, missing fingers or ears.
They surge over well enough and are orderly in moving the crates up and over.
As they do so the older slave with the ledger comes aboard. 'Well met, Captain. Is the cargo in order? Here is the agreed price." The price is fair and quite extensive. Queshem will have some liquid assets for awhile!
'Did you have any trouble with them? Previous ships have had...difficulties. For obvious reasons, we choose deadly oozes."
Queshem manages to hold her grimace back. Nothing that could not be handled. I have a fine crew that I be right proud of. She nods to the old man and curses her inquisitive mind for wondering what exactly the obvious reasons are that a slaver would choose deadly oozes. To be honest she didn't want to know. My well wishes to your... master. It do be a privilege to honour the terms of our contract.
The slave nods, 'Indeed, Wise Councilor Lo Shien Wen is appreciative of your speedy and safe delivery.". He bows then, in Tian fashion. "Is there anything else?"
The last of the heavy crates are moved to the other ship, heaved and hauled by grunting, sweating slaves. As far as Queshem can tell Wen hasn't moved or even glanced in her direction.
Queshem shakes her head and allows the transaction to complete. After it's done and the other ship starts moving away she stands back with a sour expression on her face I do be feeling sick she mutters to herself.
Parcell's face looks like Queshem feels. 'I don't like it." he mutters before hurrying off to some task.
Polos and Draflo are arguing over slavery, the man against the woman for.
Magner walks over, 'Shall we take her into harbor?"
Aye, take her in she sighs. She's done the right thing by her crew by getting payment. Whether she's done the right thing overall is another matter entirely.
When she judges them to be a two minute swim away from dock she nods to the still shackled thieves. Toss 'em overboard she orders. They can make their own way to shore.
As the two thieves are manhandled to the rail, Queshem notes the city around here. It is larger then Haigui Wan, but still not a truly large city. Perhaps a little over 1,000 souls. The houses are done in the same Tian style, with poor shacks leading up into the green hills.
Rice paddies are cut into those slopes, with heavy water buffalo working them. The jettys and wharves are busy with ships loading and unloading, a mix of local junks and Shackles ships. Queshem notes more slavers then expected.
A splash brings her back as the two, now unshackled, thieves are dumped in the water. They land well and swim, slowly, to land. The crew mostly nods in agreement.
Magner shakes his head though, 'They'll spread rumors about us in port." he comments darkly.
They tie up and, like in Haigui Wan, are met with a Port official This one desires to inspect the vessel however and apparently there is a fee to tie up. The inspector is a small stubby Tian man with a brown robe and bald head. His Common is good.
Queshem essays a bow We be coming here directly from Haigui Wan looking for trading or other opportunities. Also I do want to report that we discovered some thieves on the ship just recently. As is custom we tossed them overboard. I do apologize for troubling you but I am certain that a place of laws such as this would know how to deal with those such as them. she gives him a description. She also inquires about the particulars of the city where the trading posts would be, the temple of Abadar, the places where foreign sailors usually gather etc.
At her question the man nods, bows and says, "I will get my superior. His Shackles tongue is much better then mine." Carefully he leaves, vanishing among the men and women at the docks.
He does not come back.
Queshem claps the man on his back friendly but firmly. I'll save yer boss the trip, why don't ye take us right to him 'eh? Quehsem nods at Polos to accompany them there.
Polo shakes his head, "Not as lawful as some, but better then most in the Shackles. he didn't call in a gang to try and bust our heads. Where to, Captain?"
The ships be in good repair so there's more time for shore leave. I'll let ye and Tound figure a good rotation for it. We need to get the damage from the ooze and the winch fixed up though proper. Pass the word though. Stay close to the docks and if any military Tien come in then for Abadar's sake keep out of their way. Afore that though let's get everyone paid.
First order of business Queshem wants to go with Draflo and Polos to the closest money changing place to turn the letters of credit and such like from the ooze job and turn it into currency that sailors can use. Then they'll come back and distribute the bonus with the regular split that everyone is accustomed to. The sailor that fell asleep on his watch will only get half. Draflo and Polos will get time and half for jumping in and saving the Captain.
It doesn't take long for Queshem to get her money changed from letters of credit to hard cash (mostly a mix of Cheliax and Aspis minted coins). On her trip back, her route takes her near a very large slave market. This touches off another round of arguments between Polos and Draflo about slavery, as they pass the stinking, dusty selling-blocks.
She eyes the quick repairs tot he ship as she hands out the money. The men are pleased with the bounty and Parcell asks, 'Shore leave, Captain?"
Draflo adds, "And our own plans?"
Queshem nods at Parcell. Same as last time, though there not be that much work required on the ships it worked well enough, mind what I said about these Tien military types. Afore that though I want you, Polos, and Tound to meet with me in my quarters.
*In her quarters*
Queshem looks at the three experienced seamen appraisingly. What did ye think of the slaver ship that we treated with. Do ye think we could have taken it?
Parcell nods, 'I'll keep in line, captain."
All three look at each other, then nod. Tound speaks, his voice the deepest. 'Aye, we could. We have longer guns, and more of 'em. We might lose a man or two, but that is always a risk."
Parcell adds, in scathing tones, 'She is a slaver. You think hey'd fight hard?"
Stranger things have happened Parcell. Queshem responds But 'Tis the man or two that I'm concerned with. It would not be much of a boast to say that we be one of the finest crews in the Shackles. Sea Dragon training and discipline makes for the finest sailors. But 'tis a hard life and if we are to be successful we'll need to start recruiting even more locals to man the ships. Even a slave ship might have a wizard or a caged monster that could do us much damage Queshem nods at Parcell Beggin' yer pardon Parcell but I think ye'd agree that most of the sailors we'd find around here would be far less trained and disciplined and our edge would be dulled.
Queshem crosses her arms So, you three are well regarded by the crews and ye know your business. Tound and Polos you know what it take to be a Sea Dragon, and Parcell you know what it means to be a sailor on the Shackles. Now I don't expect to turn everyone into a Sea Dragon. But do ye have ideas on how to bring up the level of training so we can keep the edge as much as possible?
The three sailors look at each other. Nodding, they fall into a conversation, Tound and Parcell doing most of the talking. After a heated debate they turn back and offer a few ideas.
1. More drills and training. Expensive, but even live firing the guns to get training would be a huge edge. Few pirates can ever afford that.
2. Recruit good sailors, not just whoever they capture. Hold 'interviews' in the bigger Shackles port and seek out talented sailors. Parcell knows several, at least by reputation.
3. Keep morale high by taking easy prizes or at least doing 'famous things'. The disaster with the ooze and the debacle on the beach isn't great for morale.