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Oh NCAG stands for the Northern Colorado Adventures Guild
We start our S&S game this weekend and my BF and I are excited. Normally we have a large group but 3 will be missing so there will be 4 starting out.
A Slyph Bard
A Strix Magus
A Human Ulfen Barbarian Sea Reaver that fights with anything he can use or throw
A Human Chelaxian Swashbuckler with a bad temper
Latter a Human Chelaxian fighter Corsair will join us and not sure of the other 2. One is taking a gaming vacation as we used to break for June and July and this year we played a couple times which he did not like. As for the 3rd person? Hard to say spell caster of some sort I think.
So looking forward to this adventure
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The first few weeks I thought I was alone on this chuck of driftwood. While there where others, I felt that I was what the crew would call chum or the bottom of the barrel scrapings. I thought I was to be sold as a slave, but instead I am a slave on a boat the fetters of water restricting where I go. But I am not the only one, everyone is thus, but some of use are treated less, almost as sub-human, worse than the slaves my papa had back home..
Slavery in Cheliax is a common accepted thing. Most family's if nobility, or wealthy have some. We had many, while El Tio had none. His belief was it was wrong to own another person, be they Halfling, elf, gnome, or what ever. He felt it better to always treat them with respect and give them every opportunity to rise to a higher level. While papa and madre treated them as lesser beings they felt the where. When at home I felt it best to adhere to what and how I was told to act when around others. When alone with our slaves I treated them as El Tio would want me. In doing such I gained their respect and love beyond anyone else of the family. They knew that when around others I had to treat them as such and accept it. Had I treated them ill when alone, they would have hated me as much as anyone else they served.
Master Scourge in particular seems to have a hatred of me. I do not understand why, I do everything I am told, and I do it well even though most of the tasks given me I had no understanding oh how to do them. I watch, I listen and I do. This I think angers Master Scourge that I should be pretty, soft and no backbone, I rise to what I am to do and I do it as well as others. Maybe he see's in me that which is better than him and feels threatened, or maybe he has noticed how some of the crew have now been drawn to me. I do not know fully.
The one time I had to face his whip I argued to him the reasoning behind his foolishness to do so and then took a single lashing from his whip across my back. I felt like crying out, but El Tio has taught me well to not show pain when you feel it most. I am not sure I can keep that false hood up, but I will do the best I can. I was to face three swings and lashings of his whip, but I smile inwardly as I angered him so much he missed me 2 of those three. I think El Tio would be proud of me but I face a new peril.
Upon being released from the sweatbox, I stood defiant to Master Scourge. When I told him that if he and this floating chunk of wood where ever found by the Chelaxian navy, they would all be put to death. I fear I am now part of that lot as he put it that I would be killed right along with them for being on the pirate ship. He is right, all would be killed in a horrid manor if caught and even though I am from Cheliax. Being on this ship of pirates who I at first thought where slavers, makes me as guilty as the rest. My life as I knew it is over and must begin anew
Days fly by in labor and sleep. Life on a boat is hard work from morning to the time you sit and eat the evening meal. You awake just before dawn, rolling out of a hammock and making your way as fast as you can up on deck. You eat a hard biscuit and other foul food and take drinks of water though out the day.
My day is spent in the riggings doing various tasks. The one I prefer the most is the crows nest and I have gotten this duty once. I had to earn the riggings job and it is physical to say the least. Most days you climb up 30 to 60 feet up in the mast of the ship and dangle over the deck or the water. Tying ropes, repairing sails and ropes, all of it is hard work and my soft hands have sores on the sores and are rough. If madre felt them now, she would punish me for having hands like a field slave.
As I said I had to earn this job. On the first day out of the sweatbox which I did not suffer as bad as I think Master Scourge hoped he ordered us to climb to the top as fast as we could. I asked him as I folded my arms across my chest in defiance and if I refused to be your monkey? His reply was the whip and sweat box or over the rails, none of the three I want anything to do about. So I raced others to the top and I feel almost ashamed that I tried to pull one of the other's I raced off the rope to fall to her death. That creature is what I would have thought some call a harpy but she is a strix.. A female of extreme ugliness that flies. This one has chains binding her wings so she cannot fly. She told me her family was in slaved by Chelaxians so she has no love of me or where I am from. In the end, I barely beat her climbing up as she slipped and dangled over the deck. Had she fallen she would have died. She and another have been given the job of scrubbing the deck, that job would be worse in my mind.
I have mentioned Master Scourge and his whip. The whip if done to much will scar the back. I have no desire to scar my body as such. For in Cheliax the scared back is the sign of a slave, and a slave I am not nor ever will be, thought on this ship I am one just as much as anyone else. I have seen a blue skinned male who deems himself handsome and I see him often watching me. I find him quite revolting with his blue skin that looks like he has held his breath to long being whipped many times by Master Scourge. He does a poor job and I think it is because he looks at me often. I almost feel sorry for him.
The ships cook who rambles on in his talking has also taken Master Scourges whip. His food I think is the reason that he has tasted Master Scourges whip. It is the most foul tasting food I have ever tasted with the exception that Captain Harrigan wanted to celebrate the taking of his first ship, so a pig was butchered. This was the best food I have had in the 26 or so days I have been on this piece of driftwood.
I would normally not be friends, or associated with either the ulfen cook, the blue troubadour, or the bird woman. Bbigg is a funny man that does not know how to spell his own name. He will tell you two b's, two g's and 2 l's so when I spelled it for him as Bbigg Lovely, he was confused and did not understand. I told him this is how he spelled his name. Bbigg is just that, a large ulfen man. I have seen him fight twice now. Once as we had four of Plugg and Scourges men try to prevent us from getting above deck to do our daily work. It was meant to cause four of us ill and bring Master Scourges wrath upon us. Bbigg was the only one they stopped and almost killed while the blue man, the bird woman and I made our escape up on deck. Bbigg was whipped for this that evening.
Calah is the blue troubadour. I call him thus as he has performed a few times on deck, I usually did not stay around long to listen but the crew seemed to like him. He thinks himself a ladies man. I have news for him, only in his wildest dreams. He has as much chance with me as troll whispering sweet nothings in my ear.
Reina is the bird woman. I try to avoid her as much as I can as I do not feel comfortable around her. She is a strange race and since I am of Cheliax and she was a slave to my land, I think she feels wronged by me or my country. I am at odds as to why a pirate ship would take her or the blue man on their ship. But then again why take me as well. A woman who by most would appear soft and worthless. But then again with me they thought they where getting a strapping young nobleman. What a surprise I am to them, finding I was not a dashing young nobleman of Cheliax, but a woman, a woman that has teeth and claws.
Calah made the first attempt at friendship. I as mentioned thought I was alone on this rotting piece of firewood. Bbigg, Calah, Reina and I where sent to the lowest decks to the bilges to find out what scared one of Plugg and Master Scourge's men half to death. They sent us with out weapons, but I had a dagger I had taken and hidden, while Bbigg, Caleh and Reina had harpoons and a spear. They where all hesitant to go down, So I showed that I had no fear and went. What we encountered where 6 of the largest rats I had ever seen hiding down in the bilge.
I got myself corned by 3 and had to try and get away, each one had huge teeth that gnashed at me and bit through my simple breeches and blouse. I have heard that rats carry disease and I managed to not catch any from bites. I had to try and escape and Bbigg was good at skewering them on his spear while Caleh and Reina tried to harpoon them.
Caleh had some healing and assisted me but I did not say how grateful I was to him for doing that to me until latter. I did not stick around long after killing the rats, but Bbigg, Caleh and Reina all lingered sloughing off as far as I know in the bilges. The place is filthy and I do not like rats, especially rats as large as most dogs.
While I was going back on deck, I stumble upon a large man chained to the foremast. He was simple and had feathers tarred all over his body. He told me Scourge and Plugg chain him to the mast to guard. I am not sure why as their door is always locked. I stood talking to him for a while and feel sorry for him. He told me they call him Owlbear, what that is I have no clue. He is large like a bear but he does not look like an owl beyond the feathers tarred to him. His other name is Heartshorn, this is what I prefer to call him and he prefers it too. He is the first I had tried to talk to. I offered to clean off the tar and feathers for him and he asked why I did such. I told him that I respected him and thought it cruel that his shipmates would do this to him all because he was simple. I then went to see if I could find him rum and food and when I did, Bbigg, Caleh and Reina came up from below deck.
I at this point had pretty much decided that the four of us where all in the same bad spot. We four where always yelled at, and pushed harder. They, like me did not ask to be here and as I found each had been in Port Peril in the Shackles and had been enjoying an evening drinking when they awoke on the boat.
I was not familiar with the shackles but what little I know it is a place of pirates. I am a very long way from home and no way to get there. Adrift on a boat where the crews desire is to a knife in my heart. I thought it best to come to agreement of working with Bbigg, Caleh and Reina, as four standing together are better than one. And while normally as said I would have never associate with either of them or any others, If I can sway others to me and build up those that stand with me, I will be better off in the long run. Four or more against twenty some, is better than one against the world.
Once Bbigg, Caleh, Reina and I made a pact, Bbigg helped me get some food for Heartshorn. I have visited him a few other times when I could and brought him extra food and rum. I have gained a valuable friend in him I think, but he cannot understand why I treat him differently. As I told him it is because I did not think it right that others teased him and chained him like a dog to a mast. The lessons from El Tio on treating others with respect have won out.
Master Scourge and Plugg brought Heartshorn up on deck a few days latter and offered a challenge and a purse of 100 gold to who ever could beat Heartshorn. As other stood I took the challenge and could see the wicked grin on both Plugg and Master Scourge's face. I managed to talk to Heartshorn and convince him to throw the fight to me. I would split the gold with him and give him extra food and rum. He was at first reluctant thinking that if he did such a thing Plugg and Master Scourge would punish him. I told him that he would not if we made it look good.
What I found is that Heartshorn is slow and clumsy with his attacks even when pulling blows. After I hit him a few times someone threw a club to Heartshorn to use against me. The fight was not to be with weapons only bare fists. As I am much faster than Heartshorn I kicked the club out of his way and kept it out of his way while I continued to hit him. He wanted to disengage but Plugg and Master Scourge's bunch would not let him. As I continued to hit him which I will admit I did not like doing, it was a way to show Plugg, Scourge and their ilk that I have teeth and claws and I will use them. Neither was happy when Heartshorn withdrew and afterwards I saw to him and made sure he had the best rum on the ship to drink.
Part of my other tactic has been to take what ever I can find. In doing so I have made friends. I found a key that Grok the quartermaster seemed to have lost, funny as she lost it to me. I then got her a bottle of bad Chelaxian Brandy. Others seem to think it grand, but who would know better than a Chelaxian noble that the brandy is bad. For this Grog has gotten me what little I had like my jacket, dagger, sharpening stone and coin I had. Sandra Quinn who seems to know how to heal ahs also gotten my rapier back. I dare not wear it openly as if Plugg or Master Scourge or their ilk see me wearing it, I will be in worse for wear. Sandra seems to be on the side of Bbigg, Caleh, Reina and myself. This is good as we need all the allies we can gain, especially if we ever mean to free ourselves of these ship and the crew.
Grok also got me violin of Rosie Cusswell. This I believe has made me a strong friend not to mention doing a heavy storm she was blown overboard and we did all we could to save her. Bbigg tied a rope to himself and I threw a rope to her. It was not easy getting her back in, but with Caleh, Reina and myself working hard we managed to save her. Bbigg tried to help but the waves and water were even to much for him. I am glad we saved her though she has a mouth that says bad words all the time and I am not used to that. But then most of the crew speaks as thus. My ears I fear will be tainted.
As time passes it seems like it is Them, meaning Harrigan, Plugg, Master Scourge, Kipper and their crones against us. There will come a time when this ship mutinies, and when it does, I mean to put an end to those that brought me her and treated me as a lesser being. I think others think the same.
I hide this now in hopes Master Scourge and his men do not find it. If they do, it will be my death. I will go down fighting and I will reap havoc in doing so.
Valencia Isabella Santiago de la Varga
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I awoke on the twelfth day out from when I tried to escape and striking Scourge in his as I will refer to manhood, but I assure you, he is no man. Scourge, and Plugg are cowards to the bone and alone I think they are weak.
As I climbed up to do my daily job of fixing sails and ropes I spied a small craft in the swells of the waves. I could just barely see in it, but it looked like to bodies in the bottom. We drew up along side and the four of us where ordered to draw it in closer. As I held ropes that I had tossed with hooks on the end Calah was ordered to secure the captives.
One of those once awoken was a man who I thought looked Chelaxian but I could not be sure. His companion was a man whose worn and torn clothing would have made him look like a wealthy merchant or minor noble of some land. Neither at first did not want to come aboard this ship and I cannot blame them, but it was either stay to drift and die in their small boat, or at least live. Both chose the latter. The darker haired man who I believe is of Chelaxian decent is a defiant man. I can see that he, like me will have problems with Plugg, Scourge and their ilk. The other man tends to be quite and takes things in.
The dark haired man I could see could not keep his eyes off me. Why I do not know, out here on this chunk of driftwood I am sure I look most haggard, horrid and an old woman with the improper food I am given, the rum I must drink, the hard labor I am endured to, and the constant sun beating down on my flesh.
Once we anchored for the night I found his name to be Ezekiel Ravenblack or Zeke. He is a sailor of Cheliax who was like me pressed into serves on another ship a day or to after Bbigg, Calah, Reina and other crew. Their ship was lost in the storm that we endured a few days ago and has been adrift for 2 days. They have stepped from the death into damnation. His friend Arioch is from an island I have heard little of called Hermea. He claimed it is ruled over by a dragon of the golden hue and that the people of the isle as engineered to perfection and he was not perfect and thus removed.
Zeke knew that I was Chelaxian as he said from my hair and skin. I am surprised and must look like something that Queen Thunes inquisitors have tortured for information and pleasure, He is a handsome man by all accounts, a man that I think my family would be drawn for me to wed, but that is what they want, not what I want, thought I do find him attractive and as close to anything I can call a friend on this piece of wormwood.
Ezekiel Ravenblack, I have heard that name some place, or maybe it is the family name but I cannot place it. I think had I not been stolen from my home in Westcrown and allowed to be, I am sure I would know this family name, for if it is a noble family, then I am sure my family has it's ties with them in some manor if Ezekiel's family is not on the outside of the Thune family
Most days are filled with tedium and hard work. I have caught on so easily with the labor I am pushed to do, that I can do it blind folded. Scourge knows I favor the nest but he denies me this duty because he knows I prefer it over all others. I often find myself looking out of the blue waters as dark spots of land can be seen far away. Most times you do not see them when on deck but every night we anchor near one and rest. By the time we gather the sails or let them down at night you cannot make out much detail. Some crew tell of horrible things that live on many islands, most that bring death to those that trespass on them.
As I will say again, the food is barely fit for a slave. If Fishguts is not drunk the meal is normally almost edible, I say almost edible. It is a far cry from what I am used to and I can start to feel my ribs and I am dropping weight. I have yet to start to lose the tone of my muscle and this I am glad for though I feel I am losing my skills taught by El Tio for I have no time to practice and hone my skills that he has taught me. Bbigg's food is veil to say the least. Sometimes the turtle he cooks is half cooked and raw and would make the hardest of person sick and possibly diseased. Asmodeous or someone must be watching over me to keep me safe, for now but I know this has come to a head and it will soon end for me or as I pray to Plugg and Scourge and all of their pets.
Capt Harrigan I cannot say much about. I see him on deck but he seldom talks to anyone accept his "officers". He will not talk to anyone and will not hear their pleading or side. His laws are tight but Plugg and Scourge and theirs do things behind his back to those they do not like. I am at the top of that list. I seem to grow most of a dissident each day and with each new friend I gain on this rotten tub of pungent worm infested wood. I wonder, does he know how Plugg and Scourge run his ship? I almost think the two of them look for a time to kill him and take over. For now they are cowards they can only pick on the weaker less fortunate.
In all I can count Ezekiel I am sure for the way he communicates with me as a friend. Bbigg puts up with me as does Calah, Reina I know would rather see a sword in me and Ezekiel if he could because of where we are from, she holds a grudge to Cheliax and Ezekiel and I represent that. Hartshorn is fully on my side as is Rosie, Grok, Conchobhar, Tilly and Tibbs. While others stand firm with Bbigg, Calah, Reina, Ezekiel and Arioch. Sandra seems to be in with anyone against Plugg and Scourge
On one occasion they sent the 6 of us over the rails swimming out to a reef expecting to catch crabs. Not knowing how this was done we made the swim over. I just barely making it as I was not raised to swim, I was raised more proper and it was El Tio that though me learning to swim would help build up the endurance and muscle I would need to fight. But my lessons in swimming where not many.
The crab’s home was inhabited by what Ezekiel referred to as Reefclaws. The creatures are hard to describe maybe a lobster crossed with an eel with spins all over. Three of them came out of the deeper pools of the reef as we crabbed. The creatures would grab you in their claws and then bite, and their bite and spines seemed to have a poison in them. Once you kill one it went into a death spasm thrashing about and striking anyone near. We managed to all survive and in the process capture 12 crabs for Captain Harrigan and the officers. Now I begin to fully understand slavery and the lower caste of people and how they are treated and walked upon. I try to dream at night of my home and family. Even the pretty dresses I had, but they all fade into ropes lashing my wrists and hurling me to the top of a ships mast where I see the skeletal face of Plugg and Scourge haunting me.
The work never stops; my hands are always sore as are my arms. At times I almost want to fall to my death to the rolling deck below, but then I think of how taking ones own life will send you to the demons that await and there you suffer as a worm like creature for all eternity. To through myself to them would be to allow Plugg and Scourge to win and I will never let them win.
It was to a point that Scourge now dictated what we did. No matter how well it was done it was never good enough. My best to him is as if I did nothing. But I give him little reason to whip me for that. I did however taste Plugg’s Cat tails. None so far had angered him to this, usually it is the whip. I was trying to sneak off and he saw me. My excuse was poor and he did not like it. While I lied to him and normally I do not like this, he is my enemy and he does not deserve the truth, ever.
To feel the lick of the tongue of the cat is not a pleasant feel. The whip was bad, but the cat scars and now I feel my back will be marked forever, Back home I will appear as a slave for this or someone who angered Queen Thunes Inquisitors. The pain was horrible and I could not stand as I hope to his lashings, I don’t think many on this rotten piece of worm infested driftwood could. I awoke in my hammock Sandra looking over me. I ended up crying myself to sleep that night but no one knew as I always take the hammock to the far back alone so know one hears or see’s my tears at night.
We draw closer to a ship that Harrigan and his precious Wormwood pursue. For now this is my reprieve of what ever says will be certain death for me, but I have not given up hope. Yesterday as we got up on deck Plugg and Scourge called for me and as I always try to follow orders I went to them. They took me below deck and I could see the looks of the other crew that something was not right. The plan of the two was to rid me out of their lives.
As we got to the bilge they told me to turn over all weapons to them. This I am sure was to make me helpless. As I lifted my arms and said I had none. I am not good at lying as I have always been taught to be truthful. The dagger I had hidden in the back of my corset was easily found by them.
They pushed my down to the bilges to work with Tarron and Bansion, both of which never work the bilges as far as I have ever seen. As I worked manning the bilges which is far more physical back breaking labor than I have ever endured, I spied that Bansion had a blade hidden on her but I did not see one on Tarron but I suspected that he did.
As we worked Tarron soon accused me of slacking. I could see that this was the now the ploy of Plugg and Scourge to take me out away from those who I have befriended and thus hide how I was killed. For killing anyone on this ship draws the punishment of Keelhauling which is a death sentence to those that suffer. Jakes Magpie suffered his for an accused theft
Keelhauling from the one time I saw it issued, a rope is dropped over one side of the ship and then brought up over the other side. It is then tied to the person to be keelhauled and they are pushed in the water and dragged along the bottom of the boat where barnacles attach themselves. The barnacles are razor sharp and flay the skin off any part that touches them even just briefly. If one survives this they will most likely drowned from being under the water for so long unable to breath. I can see this is a horrible death and if I survive I will be scared for life.
Any way I digress. Bansion pulled her knife and came at me as Tarron watched at first. Why he did not attack at first I am not sure unless it was to let Bansion be the goat to blame if I was killed. However Tarron soon found that I can handle myself.
Bansion managed to cut me slightly across my upper torso above my breasts. Once she did cut me I was able to easily knock the knife out of her hand and then a struggle insured to regain it first between the two of us. El Tio has taught me well and once I had the blade in my hand I cut her across her mid section.
Bansion having enough stepped away and Tarron stepped in with his blade ready. I made easy work of him making a quick slice across his throat and killing him instantly. As I am guilty of killing him it was not murder, it was self defense. Had Plugg and Scourge let me be I would have continued to abide by the laws of this ship but both have set into motion their own deaths. Thought maybe not in my hands, it will happen.
Bansion decided to flee up the ladder and she must have been scared for her life seeing the venom of hatred in mine. I lost my temper and chased after her stabbing into her side deeply. The blood flowing down the ladder made it slippery for both as we tried to scramble up her screaming like a stuck Varisian farm pig all the way that she was being murdered and calling for help.
She managed to get up to the crew quarters still screaming. As I said I lost my temper and through the blade at her as it missed the back of her head by less than a hair. I was foolish to lose my weapon as such and as I finally made if off the slippery rungs of the bilge to the crew quarters I was forcibly taken above deck by Plugg and Scourges crones and shoved in the sweatbox.
I cursed both the whole time for my defense and setup. I was judged on the spot as guilty. Be killed by Plugg and Scourge or defend myself and die a horrible death. But as I cursed both I swore that both would die a horrible death, that my spirit would haunt this swine and worm infested piece of flotsam and make each and every soul on board it suffer. And to Plugg and Scourge I would see that both suffered a lingering death to the fate I am to suffer for merely defending myself from their crones.
My stay of execution is only given for the purpose of them hoping I die in the taking of the prize that Harrigan seeks as well as the need of every hand to take the ship we pursue. My only chance of freedom is that both die in the boarding, or they suffer at the hands of one of those they abuse and treat with so much vile. It is be possible to prove to Harrigan some how that I am innocent and worth more than his two officers combined.
The list of those that stand with Plugg and Scourge is as follows. Longfarthing, Krine, Quarne, Kipper, Patchsalt, Bansion, Lonegan, Narwhal, Maheem, Chumlett, and Jape. Each one would join Plugg and Scourge is removing us out of his way if possible. I leave off Tarron as he is now feeding the creatures that live in the water we sail upon. May his spirit rot in the abyss of hell as a suffering worm.
For now the race is on to capture the ship we pursue. I see it as one of few options of salvation and possible redemption in Harrigan’s eyes. If by chance I do suffer the keelhauling, I pray that my hours of leaning how to escape ropes as simple magic trick that I entertained my sisters with, will come in handy. This and I have heard Ezekiel trying to figure out a way to save me. I may end up owing him everything I have including my body and soul. But I do not see that as a bane but a boon and I am sure my family would to. He is my only chance to return home though I doubt what good going home might do. Thunes Holy inquisitors know all and now having been on a pirate ship, I am guilty as all the rest of them of piracy and thus would be put to death even though I did not chose this life. In the back of my mind I hope I can find a way out of this, but I fear my lot and fate are wrote now.
Valencia Isabella Santiago de la Varga
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Oh NCAG stands for the Northern Colorado Adventures Guild
We start our S&S game this weekend and my BF and I are excited. Normally we have a large group but 3 will be missing so there will be 4 starting out.
A Slyph Bard
A Strix Magus
A Human Ulfen Barbarian Sea Reaver that fights with anything he can use or throw
A Human Chelaxian Swashbuckler with a bad temperLatter a Human Chelaxian fighter Corsair will join us and not sure of the other 2. One is taking a gaming vacation as we used to break for June and July and this year we played a couple times which he did not like. As for the 3rd person? Hard to say spell caster of some sort I think.
So looking forward to this adventure
We have since had a Human Corsair and a Human Alchemist join our crew
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Yeah we are. Though 2 of our DM's who run PFS games heard from groups in Denver that hated it.
Me? I love it, the RP is some of the best the group as ever had. not all combat, kill everything in sight.
The only thing is the guy running it may be moving and this is the one AP I have wanted to play since I heard of it. I love pirates and this AP allows me to play a character that is a throw back to a 3.5 game we played a long time ago.
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My lot is now with pirates and I have no way out. If I where to go back to Cheliax I would now be guilty of high seas piracy. If there where a way I could go back home I would, and I am torn. I think that if I can get home I could explain things away when found out. Other times I think I would not be found out and then I come back to the same conclusion that I would be found out by Queen Thunes holy inquisitors. It would just be a matter of time. If I could at least get a message to my family and to El Tio letting them know I was alive maybe they could help me, but this is wishful thinking. They may disown me for everything I have brought on myself and them. What hope do I have accept to carry on and live.
When last I wrote in my journal we had come upon another ship. By the flag and markings it was a Rahadoumi Merchant ship. As we drew close Krine put Zeke in command of our boarding party with orders to take the ships wheel, guard it and prevent anyone from escaping in the jolly boats.
A heavy fog was summoned and many bolts flew from the enemy ship. I made good on hiding as I figured I would only do what I must to not gain even more disfavor from Plugg and Scourge. Zeke ordered me to toss the grapple I guess he figures I am the best at throwing things. Funny how that is, I guess my time with El Tio had honed my hand eye coordination and made me better than even a sailing man such as Zeke or a giant of a man like Bbigg.
My throw was good and once the grapple was lodged, Zeke took it over. I think my fellow pressed crew accept this life easier than I, but then all of them where raised around the sea and ships, and I am not. I think I am referred to as a land lubber? Which I would agree with. I prefer land and riding my... a horse. Though the wind while in the mast is fresh. Though it tends to get n the eye's while working, and while riding it does not. What would papa and madre and even El Tio think if I shorn my hair off short like a boy? But I digress from what transpired.
The ships made a loud boom as they crashed together, Zeke went first, then Bbigg, then Arioch who struggled. I think like I, he is not used to the sea, but I have grown used to it with my legs. Calah went next and I last. I really wanted no part in this fight as I had no quarrel with any. One must fight to defend one's self or family and honor. I have been taught to kill only if I must and fight only when provoked and I am not provoked, I am the provoker. Arioch keeps saying it matters only back home, not here with pirates or on these seas. I disagree, honor is everything as is the code I was raised with. Others do not have to live by it, but I do and I will.
Once across I had no choice but to advance weapon ready. I tried to show my skill in swords without harming anyone and the first Rahadoumi sailor it worked on, but her friend stepped up seeing me as one of the attacking pirates and struck me with his sword. I had no choice but to strike back and try and make him surrender.
I will give them credit, many fought to the death, the ones I faced did surrender as did a few others, and the first one to strike me was struck down not by my hands though. The fight seemed to be going in the Wormwoods favor and I am sad for that. I would have rather ended up a captive to them than to have to continue to be under Plugg and Scourges eye. Part way though the fight, a Rahadoumi was ready to strike Harrigan down. I am not sure why most of the crew shouted to draw his attention, but most of us did. I think maybe it has to do with even those who speak of no honor have it. Many of us did manage to warn Captain Harrigan and he killed the man easily that meant to strike him from behind.
As the fight drew to a close more Rahadoumi rushed to get to the boats and make an escape. Most failed but one managed to lower one boat. Bbigg tried to stop them but fell into shark infested waters. I am not sure why but I grabbed a rope and dove in to try and save him and I too was attacked by sharks. The pain of the bite and the depth of it, I am sure will scar me for life. No man would want me back home now with scars on my back, and on my abdomen. While the healing of Calah and Sandra help, there is still feint marks.
I fear Calah made a poor choice in the fight as we tried to save Bbigg. Seems she took a prisoner, cut his throat and tossed them over the edge to try and draw away sharks that where attacking Bbigg. I see this as cowardly and a better option that would not have offended the Rahadoumi captives and turn them against us would have been to toss a dead body over the edge instead. This may go against us in the future.
While I was not much use to saving Bbigg, he was saved by Zeke, Calah and Arioch. He is lucky to survive as am I. Once the Rahadoumi ship was secured there was a party that carried on for over a day. I avoided all participation and slept off my injuries though it was not easy on a ship full of drunk pirates.
Upon the celebrating ending Harrigan announced that Plugg and Scourge would be taking enough crew back to Port Peril to sell the Rahadoumi merchant that he captured and then meeting back up with him. I felt I was doomed being selected to be a part of that crew with Plugg and Scourge and something inside me told me that I would not be seeing Port Peril, that Plugg and Scourge would end my life before we got there.
Grok was sad to see me go and gave me items from the store. Zeke, Calah, Reina, Bbigg and Arioch sold the items we had found and took in trade many items we thought we might need to stay alive. I hope we chose well
Once we pulled away from the Wormwood Plugg announced that there would be no rum rations, work would be harder and longer with no celebrations at night and jobs would be assigned as they saw fit. No crew was to be above deck at dusk as a curfew was set. They do this out of fear I am sure.
They have also split up the few friends that we had made on the Wormwood. With me is Zeke, Bbigg, Arioch, Calah, Reina, Sandra, Rosie, Conchobhar, Fishguts and Hartshorn. Of the crew that sides with Plugg and Scourge are Aretta, Maheem, Tilly, Lonegin, Jap and Tam, Shivikah, and Tibbs a Rahadoumi sailor that was captured on this ship and took Harrigan's offer to turn pirate and live. That person has since sided with Plugg and we had one more enemy when the time came to over throw our shackles and take this ship as our own.
The first day out was hard work. I was to repair sails and rigging. I managed to keep up with my work and though it was far more physical than before on the Wormwood I endured though others where worn out. Arioch was whipped and instead of the whip he tasted the cats tongue. While others slept I and Calah snuck out and informed the few friends we could inform them to be prepared as we where going to mutiny soon.
Day 2 on The Man's Promise the ship we are now on was harder work. When told what to do I do not acknowledge or answer like others do. Why should I bow to my slavers and let them win, I will stand defiant to the end and do everything I can to win.
I was assigned rat catcher. There are not many on this ship and the few that are here are fast. I wore myself ragged and tired chasing after them and managed to get what surely must be the last ones on this boat. I was worn out as was Calah from our work of the day but it was decided that tonight was the night. We would fight and be free and live on, or we would be sent to the bottom of the deep Fervor sea to feed what lives there
Calah using magic crept up with me after I took a potion that made me hard to see. My plan was to go to Plugg's room and cut his throat. It is not an honorable thing, but it is either I kill him as quickly as I could or die. Sadly we found his door locked and the windows to his cabin to small to crawl through.
We dallied to long and Scourge and Shivikah sent thr alarm that Calah was seen on deck and had been seen breaking curfew. The dark made it hard but we fought with our lives. I remained hidden and Calah was soon dying at my feet. Panic set in and I did not know what to do. Zeke and Bbigg along with Arioch and Conchobhar came up to fight but Sandra and Rosie they kept an eye on and under heavy guard to prevent from helping us.
Zeke, Bbigg and Arioch took Scourge down quickly as well as Shivikah. By then Plugg exited his room and I took my one chance to try and kill him though I failed. He was tougher than I hoped and soon I had no choice but to withdraw. Even trying to give Calah a healing drink did little as he was soon down again from Plugg's attacks.
With all of us ganging up on him he went down fighting. We where lucky to have lost none of our own and of those that stood with Plugg and Scourge only 4 remain alive and have surrendered and agreed to sail with us.
We needed to decide quickly who would be captain of the ship. As I guess is the way with pirate ships we voted and it was decided that Zeke would be the captain and I the quartermaster. What this means is while pursuing, attacking or fleeing, Zeke is in charge. At all other times I am in charge.
I have set the laws of the boat down. Fishguts will no longer be allowed to be drunk. He will be given his equal share of rum like everyone but if he shows up drunk on duty he will be punished accordingly meaning he will lose his share of rum rations for 1 week. No whippings will happen on the ship and anyone harming another crew member will be dealt with in the harshest punishment.. If two crew fight, we will make land and the two will fight it out to first blood in most cases. Everyone must learn every aspect of the ship and do it to the best of their ability. Swabbing the deck will only occur as needed as will rat catching, though I believe I captured the last of the rats on this boat. The ship will be run proper with laws and respect will be given to all now.
For now we must work hard as a storm is coming towards us fast and we will surely be caught in it with a skeleton crew to man and do everything that must be done. Once we make our way out of the storm we will make sail to a port that will refit this ship and rename it. For now we prepare for heavy winds, waves and lashings.
I can taste my freedom and want to go home, but as I struggle with this, I cannot, this is now my life and I will make the best of it and live it in a way El Tio would be proud of me.
My group is in NE Colorado. *fist bump*
Hope you're enjoying the adventure path.
LOL what part of Colorado is Nuetral Evil?