The Black Scepter has been docked in Tortagor for nearly a week, many of the crew are running low on money and the Captain has called all the crew back to the ship. Often Captain Irons asks for the crew's opinions on different potential choices, knowing that an unpopular captain rarely stays captain for long.
as the crew gathers he stands atop the aftercastle, by the ship's wheel. He is a tall man, dressed in dark clothes that were probably fashionable about a decade ago.
"Gentlemen, welcome back, I trust none of you got too rowdy while ashore." He pauses while most of the crew laughs. "As many of you know, Dwarven prospectors from Dol Golmar found adamantium in the jungles on the mainland before winter. Now that the winter storms have passed, the kingdoms of the old world are coming in great ships, fat with gold, valuable tools, and weapons, maybe even a nobleblood or two to ransom. But such work is dangerous, and we also have offers of safer work. In particular, a gnome wishes to transport some goods to Dol Golmar without drawing attention from that Kingdom or the Order of the Sun. The mates will ask you your opinion after noon and we depart on the evening tide."
Ulark leans against the mast. He is large, even for a half-orc. Corded muscles bulge out from his leather armor. A scimitar hangs from his waist, though it is large enough that even he needed two hands to wield it. With his lumbering gait and sloping brow, it would be easy to write him off as a menial worker. His position on the ship was anything but that, though. For he had the ability to summon fresh water, to create alcohol, and to keep food fresh. Three things that were essential to the health and morale of any crew. His ability to magically read the weather was often welcome as well.
"I say we take the gnome's contract. We can learn the smuggling routes, which will be useful for when we start taking by force. Should we need to flee retribution in the future, I'd like some experience in evading the sight of the law."
In a shadowy corner by some stairs lurks Churchmouse (aka Mouse, aka Rat, aka Ashes' Shadow, aka "Hey you!"), crouched down to make herself even smaller than she already is. She's looking about frantically to see if her abductor/savior/mentor/overlord--Second Mate "Ashes" Gorh--has returned from shore leave yet. Mouse doesn't leave the ship unless ordered to by Ashes (usually when he needs her to spy on someone or steal something for him). Spotting the mighty half-orc lounging near the far rail, Churchmouse scurries in his direction, never fully coming out of her crouch. When she reaches the Second Mate she cowers behind the barbarian's thick legs.
"Whatcha wants me ta vote fer, Ashes?" she asks in a whisper, using the Orc tongue.
The half-elf sorcerer returned to the ship with all the other members of the crew. It was obvious that a certain amount of uneasiness drained away as his feet touched the wood of the ship. This was where he was comfortable.
He was generally well liked by the others on the ship making a habit of talking down angry shipmates and generally trying to keep the peace. He had shown he was an able enough sailor to be of use, making up in skill what he lacked in pure physicality. Beyond this he had been seen to display a magical trick from time to time as well.
During the captain's declaration Salt had stood mixed in with the other men. Hearing Ulark's declaration Salt decided to follow his lead and try to stir some of the thoughts of those around him as well.
Ulark speaks some wise words, taking on the gnome's business would give us a chance to make some allies. Having a friend in a new port never hurts. We may make more money raiding the Galleons of the continent, but we will also make more enemies.
maybe I should not have mentioned the money...
The druid leans against the railing staring into the clear blue waters of the bay. The captain's speech disturbs him and he stares into the depths contemplating the possibilities.
Ulark's words break him from this reverie and he makes his decision.
"Gnome best choice, Ulark makes a good point.", says Hug while stretching out his arm and letting Flappy light upon it.
Marius waited til the others have mostly spoken up, before voicing his opinion. He'd noticed the captain used this tactic, testing the waters on what the crew wanted before stating his own preferences, and if it was good enough for the captain, it was good enough for him. He reached above his head an tested one edge of the twin-bladed sword strapped to his back, as was his habit.
"Seems like the Gnome job's the way to go then, eh? I wouldn't mind getting me some of that adamantine, but hey, why not let them all dig it up out of the ground, and then just take it for ourselves?"
"Because that'd be the end of any contracts we have with them, and probably the end of anyone wanting to hire us as smugglers. You know the saying. Don't shyt where you sleep."
"Whatcha wants me ta vote fer, Ashes?" she asks in a whisper, using the Orc tongue.
Da lutenz and goldz and fightin," the second mate says back.
----
After many have spoken the Captain raises his hands for silence. "It seems that the winds blow from the east this day, taking us and our gnomish friend's goods west to the dwarves of Dol Golmar. Hopefully it will not be an exciting voyage."
After the captain has finished speaking the First mate begins to talk. "Alright you unwashed scoundrels, we sail on the evening tide. That means all the food is secured below, all your debts are paid in town and our client's cargo is stowed where no customs inspector will ever find them. Any useful or intelligent questions?"
"Because that'd be the end of any contracts we have with them, and probably the end of anyone wanting to hire us as smugglers. You know the saying. Don't shyt where you sleep."
"Aye, I've heard it," Marius laughs, "and it's a good one. Right up there with 'Don't get caught'."
Having neither a useful nor an intelligent question for the Captain, Marius pulls his hat down over his eyes a bit to block the sun, and watches as some of the other crewmen start scrambling around. His own re-stocked supplies have already been 'safely' stored in his bunk.
Ulark gives Marius a toothy grin. "Also a classic." before going to work. Which amounts to filling barrels with fresh water, and 'blessing' three of them to hold alcohol. When finished with that he will go to where the food is stored and make his rounds ensuring that they are all fresh for the voyage.
"As I said, I'm playing it safe. We do this job and we learn the waters. A good smuggler knows where larger ships can't follow and how to avoid pursuit. When we start killing that'll be good knowledge."
Seems reasonable enough. What made you want to join up and follow Besmara's calling?
Churchmouse nods when the Second Mate gives her her marching orders. "Ain't got me no adamantium dagger yet," Mouse whispers back in Orc. When the slip of a lass votes for ship-raiding and gold-plundering, no one who's been on the ship for any amount of time is surprised: it's common knowledge that the little runt's vote belongs to Ashes.
******************************************
The Second Mate sends Churchmouse to clean the cannons, still hopeful that one day the weakling girl will get over her fear of the loud bombards and learn how to fire one. En route to this task, she utters a brief phrase in passable Orc to Ulark and Hug as she passes them, not waiting long enough for them to trap her in a conversation before scooting on her way.
"Good day, Masters Ulark and Hug."
While Ulark and Hug are down with the food they run into Chef.
"Ulark, you always do this. The food is my problem and unless you want to be cook on top of all your other work I suggest you leave my food alone."
Flappy stares at the cook and says,"Flappy want crackers."
Ulark nods at Churchmouse as she approaches, before turning back to Hug. "If Besmara has blessed me, then I already do. And if she does not, then that is her choice. I walk my path, which from where I stand, seems to be hers."
-----
Interrupted by the chef, he hears him say
"Ulark, you always do this. The food is my problem and unless you want to be cook on top of all your other work I suggest you leave my food alone."
A scowl comes over his face. Standing up to his full height, he glares at the man. With his bulging muscles and tusked mouth, he certainly looked like someone who could do some damage. Especially against someone as small as a halfling.
"And I suggest you keep your fool mouth shut. I've SEEN what happens when food goes bad. If you're lucky wasted gold as you buy more provisions. If you're unlucky you've got starving crew. Ineffective crew. Desperate, violent crew. So either you make me, or we go to Eltras right now and we explain to him why you want to cook with rotten food."
Flappy wants crackers where are they?
says Hug carefully avoiding eye contact with Ulark.
If you don't have crackers I need you to tell me where you get yours . Flappy likes them.
Flappy likes crackers. Flappy want crackers!
Chef storms off "As if a halfling is going to let food go bad. But since you guys are the food experts I guess you can find the crackers."
Fuming, Ulark yells out "I'll find YOUR crackers!" He immediately realized how ridiculous that sounded, but figured he might as well stick with it. Grumbling to himself, he went looking for said bird treats.
Having recently went through the food, ensuring that all was fresh, he figured that it shouldn't be too hard to find...
As the crew disperses Salt starts walking the main deck checking the rigging and making sure things are properly tied down. Fully aware that there would be a handful of new crew members on board, a copious quantity of alcohol, and that sometimes discipline was lax. This meant that mistakes were made, and while infrequent, they could be deadly.
More importantly this double checking would let the Half-elf stay upon deck so that he could get a good look at both the Gnome passenger and his cargo.
While Churchmouse dutifully cleans the cannons and checks their fuses and firing mechanisms she sings a song to pass the time. The ditty's half stolen from a bard in a dockside tavern and half Mouse's own words.
Hear the mighty cannons boom
Heralding our target’s doom.
As the other ship sinks into a watery tomb
Her crew wish they’d never left their mothers’ wombs.
Ulark finds the crackers quickly but realizes that they are likely short on them if the parrot is constantly getting them and they are also for feeding the crew.
Salt finds that the ropes are competently done.
When the cargo and it's gnome owner does arrive there is little time to stow it before the tide. Whatever his cargo is, it is contained in a single box, approximately 2 ft by 2 ft by 4 ft. The first mate personally goes to stash the box somewhere hidden.
Eltras has returned for mere moments before the call is made. "Raise anchors, stow all mooring lines and ready the mainsail."
In the midst of the following flurry of activity, Captain Irons and your passenger are standing at the bow speaking in low voices. Eventually the captain heads away, leaving the gnome standing by himself.
After giving the parrot a cracker, Ulark goes above deck in time to see the gnome and the captain speaking in low voices. When the gnome is alone he approaches with his friendliest of smiles, perfected at his father's 'court'.
"Welcome aboard the safest ship to ever sail these waters. The name's Ulark. I take it you're our ore merchant, no?" As he says this he extends his hand in greeting.
Churchmouse finds some job to occupy her time and attention close to the gnome so she can scope him out and do a little of her usual eavesdropping.
Marius watches from afar as the gnome boards the ship with his special cargo, choosing not to get too involved lest he upset the rules of decorum. Interrupting the captain as he greets the client would be a quick way to go for a swim.
As the gnome is left alone, however, he makes his way over and introduces himself.
"Greetings, Mister Gnome. I'm Marius. Welcome, as I'm sure you've been told, to the Black Scepter! Far be it from me to pry into your business, but if ya do need anything, feel free to shout. We take ourselves seriously around here, that's why we're still alive, ya see, but we know how to enjoy ourselves."
Hug has Flappy land on his shoulder petting him as he eats his cracker.
Noticing Ulark has walked off Hug follows him and sees him greet the gnome.
Hug says to the the two of them,
"Would you like like a good stiff drink? I have a few bottles below deck if you would like to partake."
"Welcome aboard my ship again Cade, I see you are hiding the true size and nature of your goods as always."
"Always a pleasure sailing with you Captain, everything gets done properly with no concerns."
"Are the rumours about this trip true? Is it really a dragon egg that you have in there?"
"Eggs, my friend. This will make us all wealthy men."
The Gnome smiles as you approach. "Mine is Cade and who said anything about ore?" his smile grows as he finishes talking.
As the druid approaches the Gnome somehow smiles even more. "I love birds, can I pet him? Oh, no I don't drink on the job."
Hug stares at the small man and then glances at Flappy.
"Can he pet you Flappy?"
He waits for the bird to respond before turning back towards the man and asking him,
"Would you like to be shown around the ship or taken to your qaurters?"
"FLAPPY LIKE PETTING"
Seeing everything going well and the gnome getting swarmed by curious sailors, Salt moves over by the captain. The new recruits haven't screwed up anything yet sir... but the sea is a harsh mistress... and we all know mistakes will be made.
Salt looks over towards the Gnome and his gaggle of followers.
Anything we should keep an eye out for Captain?
"A tour would be good, I will pet your bird while we walk. Flappy is his name?" He says as he scratches Flappy's chin.
"" You hear Eltras call.
=====
"Salt you know that other pirates might bother us on any trip. I see no reason why this would be any different. At least we aren't overladen with cargo this time, so we can maneuver to respond to any trouble."
Marius chuckles as Hug gets called out by Eltras.
"No problem here captain, just givin' our guest a proper welcomin' is all. I'll be keepin' an eye on 'im. Ha HA!" he calls back.
"Let's be gettin' to that tour now, eh? "
Churchmouse eventually scurries her way back to Ashes, as always.
"Ya think the gnome's cargo could be eggs, Ashes?" she asks quietly in Orc. "That's what I thought I heard the gnome say. There much gold in eggs? Could it be some sort of monster eggs, mebbe?"
Hug not bothering. Hug good orc. SQUAWK!
Marius chuckles as Hug gets called out by Eltras.
"No problem here captain, just givin' our guest a proper welcomin' is all. I'll be keepin' an eye on 'im. Ha HA!" he calls back.
"Let's be gettin' to that tour now, eh? "
"Who are you calling Captain, you unwashed landlubber? Get out of my face before I decide you need something to do."
"That seems like an excellent idea, Mr Monet."
---------------------
Churchmouse eventually scurries her way back to Ashes, as always.
"Ya think the gnome's cargo could be eggs, Ashes?" she asks quietly in Orc. "That's what I thought I heard the gnome say. There much gold in eggs? Could it be some sort of monster eggs, mebbe?"
"Could be. Depends on the egg, my little friend, and it's condition. How much would you give for a live griffon egg?"
"Could be. Depends on the egg, my little friend, and it's condition. How much would you give for a live griffon egg?"
[In Orc] "Me? Nuthin'! I'd rather scramble it up an eat it before it could grow up an' eat me!"
After a bit of a pause, Churchmouse says, "I'm gonna go hunt some rats down in the bilges. Just send someone if ya need me to do somethin' fer ya, Ashes."
"Well then," Marius replies, "let's go, shall we?"
Marius will start off on a walk around the boat, pointing out details as they go, and leaving plenty of time for the conversation to continue, as well as for their 'guest' to ask any questions.
"Salt you know that other pirates might bother us on any trip. I see no reason why this would be any different. At least we aren't overladen with cargo this time, so we can maneuver to respond to any trouble."
Salt let the words of the captain sit in the air between them like the smell of rotted meat. Salt made no secret of the fact that he had survived attacks by pirates on many occasions. This was true of any seasoned sailor and wasn't what made him feel uneasy. It was the things he chose not to share about his own past that made him uneasy.
The youngish Half-elf watched as the excited crew began to drag the gnome around the ship.
Looks, like that gnome is going to be a bit of a distraction for at least a few days....
Unless you have any orders captain I was going to walk the cargo deck and make sure the supplies are all safely Stowed.
The gnome seems to settle in with few questions and the first day passes quietly. At dawn the watch yells, "Blood red sail on the horizon, looks like it came out of Tortagor as well."
You can see that there are still a scattering of islands around you, but by the end of the day you will be in open seas.
The Captain is soon on deck, "Just what we need, The Order of the Sun poking their nose into our business. We need every inch of sails, bring us 10 degrees to port, let the wind carry us as fast as possible."
"Stow all weapons, secure the cannons, if their slaves manage to row fast enough to catch us we don't want to fight. We run, but don't fight, I don't want to lose half a crew. Any of you mages have a wind spell? It would be really helpful right now."
"No wind but the plants will answer my call. If they close I can cover their deck in vines. They will grasp them and hold them down or at the very least slow them. If they pull within boarding range I shall do this. It will only last a minute. But we can pepper their boarding parties with bullets in the meantime."
Marius runs to a station to do his part in securing the cannons, unable to contribute to the Captain's request for magical assistance.
Churchmouse scurries off to fetch her crossbow and bolts. Then she helps Marius secure the cannons.
"Ya really think the cap'n'll forbid us to fight iff'n the Order's ship can catch us?"
"Let them catch us. Tidy profit from looting their ship. Or abyss take them, if we can take it whole, we could start our own little fleet."
Churchmouse scurries off to fetch her crossbow and bolts. Then she helps Marius secure the cannons.
"Ya really think the cap'n'll forbid us to fight iff'n the Order's ship can catch us?"
Marius thinks on it a moment before answering.
"At first, I guess. Maybe he thinks he can talk his way out of it? Shorta that gnome an' whatever he's got with him, I don't think we've got much that'll earn their ire. That's what I know, though. And can't say I know it all."
"No wind but the plants will answer my call. If they close I can cover their deck in vines. They will grasp them and hold them down or at the very least slow them. If they pull within boarding range I shall do this. It will only last a minute. But we can pepper their boarding parties with bullets in the meantime."
Sallentine looks thoughtfully at Hug...
Any chance of you casting that spell on some sea weed? Be pretty funny if all their oars got stuck in the plants.
"None of that nonsense, if they catch us we let them board without a fight. We have nothing to hide and the order aren't pirates, just the opposite in fact. If we were raiding I would be far more concerned. If we fight they will assume we are pirates and try to kill us all, I don't want a score of knights storming our deck."
Churchmouse dutifully unloads her crossbow and returns it to her locker. It's not as if she doesn't have several daggers hidden on her person if things go south.
She shirks her duties just long enough to take a quick peek to see if the Order of the Sun's ship is gaining or if the Black Scepter seems to be pulling away.