Climb:
Profession (Sailor)
After the beating Cieran received from the day prior, the others seem to be determined to work hard and avoid any negative attention. Holgur, however, is frustrated by the little gnome laughing away his threat, and it shows in his work. It's not so bad that he gets lashes, but the verbal berating and the rope bash when he makes it to deck is enough. All the while Conchobar mocks him.
Sandara approaches Kelly during dinner, and as they eat, she slips him a familiar notebook. "I was able to convince her to hand it over, but I think I've worn out my favors from or tricks on the woman. If there's anything else you're going to want from her, you just might have to talk to her yourselves."
Holgur grumbles to himself as he sips his rum and paces the deck. If I had my flail I would welcome my chances against any two of these rodents. But I don't have a weapon and on my own I have no chance. I need to see if I can gather the other newbies and make an alliance with them.
When he sees an opportunity Holgur takes a chance to sneak about to the galley.
Sneak/Stealth
Off to sleep after peeping
Still feeling the ill effects of the previous night's rum ration, Balsooma moves to the starboard rail, to stare off into the night, and gradually tip his mug's contents over the side.
Not wanting to put too much pressure on Ambrose, he seeks out Cut-Throat Grok to talk to: "I hear you're the quartermaster, it seems. There are strange winds a-blowing these days, as if the gods' bellows is full of holes. A fine time to make friends, especially those with strange favours." He plays with his holy symbol of Besmara, which hangs on a cord about his neck.
The galley is mostly a disaster, with two wooden tables, several wooden cupboards, and two small stoves against the port wall. There is also virtually every cooking utensil imaginable, and a frightening array of meat cleavers. A score of chickens and three goats wander freely about the room. It is a madness of dirt, food, and knives. A huge array of spices mingle with barrels of rainwater, two tuns of rum, cupboards full of ship's biscuit and salted beef, barrels of saurkraut, and a small supply of fresh vegetables. Amidst the chaos, Holgur manages to find a vial marked with the leaf of Gozreh, and six bottles of a good Chelish brandy.
As the shift comes to an end Ciera streaches his back gratefully, feeling the pull of the wound on his back. Beginning with simple exercises designed to loosen his muscles. As the forms become more complex a crowd of sailors crowd around and soon he is in the midst of a minor performance.
Entertain the Crew: Perform
When finished he takes his rum ration and gratefully takes a deep gulp (dink normally, no dead of night action.)
The galley is mostly a disaster, with two wooden tables, several wooden cupboards, and two small stoves against the port wall. There is also virtually every cooking utensil imaginable, and a frightening array of meat cleavers. A score of chickens and three goats wander freely about the room. It is a madness of dirt, food, and knives. A huge array of spices mingle with barrels of rainwater, two tuns of rum, cupboards full of ship's biscuit and salted beef, barrels of saurkraut, and a small supply of fresh vegetables. Amidst the chaos, Holgur manages to find a vial marked with the leaf of Gozreh, and six bottles of a good Chelish brandy.
Holgur is tempted to swipe a cleaver but he realizes it would be hard to conceal. Instead he takes a knife that can be entirely concealed in a boot and the vial. Then he heads back to his hammock.
Feeling not at all well, immediatley at the end of duty, Kelly begins question his state. He knows the muck in the bilge is nausiating, but the fresh air should have cleared his head and returned his strength. He sets about attempting to diagnose himself.
While feeling rotten, Kelly decides to go for a walk to clear his head, before he knows it, he's made his way to the officers quarters, looking about he doesn't see anyone in the immeidate vacinity, so he decides to take a peak.
He slips in, quiet as a mouse, and takes a look about to see how the officers of this rotted ship live.
This rotten feeling spoils his appetite, so he skips his evening meal, and decides he is in no mood for drink either.
Kelly moves into the crowd, he moves around the group gathered around the young man providing enterainment for the crew, as he moves around the group, he slowly dispense a bit of rum into the other crew memebers cups as they start to empty, eventually dispensing the last of his rum.
Holgur pockets a few little things picked out from the disarray and chaos of the galley as Balsooma addresses Grok. She seems a little confused by what he says, and just looks at him as if there is more for him to say. When he finishes she responds in a possibly unrelated way, "Ye look as if ye can 'andle yerself in a brawl. Do ye 'appen ta like ta play a little rough?" she asks with a wink.
Onlookers gather at first to see what the young man is doing with the twisting and bending, but they soon move on to other more involved entertainments. By the time Cieran actually finishes his stretches, the crowd that had come, is gone.
Trying to resolve what is going on with him, Kelly can tell the the sting he got on his shoulder is turning out to look like a nasty bug bite. Given the coloration and festering around the injury, and his recent malaise, it was probably something poisonous. As his musings come to a conclusion, the empty officer's quarters are too inviting to not investigate. The room is primarily dominated by the foremast, and the stairs going down. There are also strung up four hammocks, with just as many pallets rolled out on the floor. For as many sleeping places there are, there are just as many footlockers, each one locked. There are also two other doors that lead not down below, or onto deck, but into the spaces beneath the outside stairs that lead up to the fore deck. Each of these are locked, and signs of a trap are visible in the one on the left, with what looks like it could be a harpoon launched at the opener. After his rudimentary investigation, he is compelled to move on as Habbly Quarne, the ships's Carpenter and surgeon, enters the room with talk of calling it a night.
-------------------------
Day 4:
As the morning dawns, the crew rises, eats, and gets to work. Holgur is sent up to the highest point to act as lookout. He works alone up top, but periodically one of the upper riggers will happen by to check on the lookout. Holgur has the distinct pleasure of getting to see Syl poke her over-wide eyes, and the big purple bruise her nose has become, over the edge of the nest. She scowls at the sight of him, but doesn't bother saying anything until about mid-morning she delivers a message that Mr. Plugg wants to speak to him down on deck.
Both Kelly and Ciera get assigned to catching vermin with Sandara, considering the job isn't as bad as some of the others, maybe she's pulling some strings to get it for the two of them. About halfway through the day the young man Jack, that Cieran had worked with a day or two ago, rushes through the area toward topside.
Balsooma finds that Ambrose is still working at maintaining his more sober state, and as such is still in a surly mood. He is better though, at not taking it out on Balsooma. All the same, he decides to set him to handling the more foul of the work needed. "We've gots sumpin the Cap'n wants done special t'night. So Ah'm gonna need ya ta go git one nem pigs and slaughter it, so's we can have a reet good meal t'night."
stealth:
perception:
Ciera smiles at the thought of spending the day catching mice. He'd been given the kob aboard his last vessel and had enjoyed it more than most other tasks, not to mention the fact the he'd been good at it! Good enough, in fact that he shouldn't be noticed if he were to slip away for a moment. Cieran makes his way to the big man chained to the mast. Sitting back on his haunches he makes eye contact and smiles. "Hi!" he says "Mi'names Cieran. And you'd be trouble i'm thinkin' I've been aboard fer 3 days now an' i aint seen you about, 'ceptin that yer tied t' the mast an' all. Ow'd ye like some food eh? I get ye some next time I come down this way.
Cieran returns just in time to see Jack rush past but just shrugs as the lad passes, *his* gaze distracted by Jack's tight breeches.
Befriend the giant: Bluff:
"Gents, it seems that there maybe some items and areas of interest up in the officers quarters, in addition to just normal berths there were a pair of locked doors, one of which was obviously trapped. It makes me wonder, why would you need a locked, and trapped door, and who is the trap protecting the door from?"
"Also, it appears some of our new, "friends" are holding grudges, it seems that Fipps has decided that a bit of poison would be fun to share, I seem to be over the worst of it, but I feel it will take me several days to recover."
The next morning, Kelly is more than happy to find out about his assignment, glad its not the bilge again, relieved to work with Cieran and asks if his wounds need any additional treatment, and finally excited and please to be working with Sandara again.
"Sandara, it is a relief to see you again, I wish to thank ye for your aid in returning my notes to me, I cannot begin to express what it means to me. If there is anything I can do to help repay your kindness. Perhaps we could meet up during the evening meal this night?"
"Was that the lad Jack? What was he so afraid of?"
Kelly will look around a bit, letting a bit more of the work depend on Cerian and Sandara while he is distracted looking the sorce of Jack's hysteria.
Kelly does an okay job at catching vermin today, with so many distractions around, between Jack running round and working alonside Sandara he barely manages to keep enough focus on work to make a decent dent in the bucket.
working alone for the day is an enjoyable change of pace. The wind is soothing and it drowns out the din of work on the deck below. The height of the mast affords Holgur a magnificent view of the ocean and anything about and he takes it all in as if he were here at his leisure.
Perception
Holgur flashes a sarcastically friendly smile in response to Syl's scowl. When she tells him that Plug wants to see him he finishes his work and makes his way down to the deck for his meeting with the officer.
Climb
Balsooma works diligently through the day, carving up one of the ship's goats. Although his skills are rusty, his knives are sharp, and he is soon covered in hot blood and stinking like a slaughterhouse.
The big lug stares at Ciera blankly, and it's tough to tell if her words are getting through the thick skull. As she mentions the mast he perks up, states and hits his face on it a few times. He stops soon after with a slight cross-eyed look before shaking his head. The suggestion of food results in him opening his eyes wide, reaching into his pouch and removing some small live crabs. He cracks a few of the shells with his hands and sucks out the insides, offering a few to Ciera saying with a large ridiculous grin on his face. He seems to enjoy the company, but it's tough to tell what's going on inside that brain.
Sandara seems amused by Kelly's line of discussion, waving off his thanks for his formula book. Matter-of-factly she explains, "The others look to have more physical capability, you looked like whatever was in your book and pouches is all the options you had. We can eat together, but if your looking for quiet, meaningful conversation, it may be hard for us to find here on ship." She says this last with a sly cockiness, adding a smirk and a wink. Her look turns to confusion as Jack runs past. "Let's see what this is about." She turns and follows him.
Balsooma is on deck, bleeding and gutting the goat over the side, as sharks swarm about snapping up what little morsels get dropped into the waters. As the young man Jack rushes up on deck, he moves over to Mr. Plugg and explains frantically his situation. Balsooma can just make out a few of the young man's words, bilges, hidden, biting. Mr. Plugg looks around thinking before settling his gaze on Balsooma, with the blade and dead animal in hand. "You! Cook's boy! I got a job for you and the other worthless scrubs." Turning to Syl at the half-mast, "Get that cur from the nest down here, you stay up top. Dr. Hangman, glad you came. Sandara can finish the work for the day, you and whipping boy got a job to do."
As he gets the bunch of you together on deck, he explains, "It seems some big thing was hiding in the bilge water, snuck up and bit Jack Scrimshaw here. You four get the pleasure of going down and hunting the thing down. Cook's boy, you keep that knife you got with you, grab one more for the others, maybe you can put it to use. Now, get to it!"
"Maybe Fipps wasn't responsible for this poisoning after all. Be careful down there, I spent a whole day down there, and didn't take note of what ever it is, and its bite can drain the strength right out of you, I still feel week from it," says Kelly as he finishes preparations with the other, not normally one for using a knife in combat he's glad to have a blade handy none the less. As the others finish preparations he will head down to the bilges.
Ciera follows Kelly down below.
When they are out of sight of the others Holgur pulls out the vial that he took from the kitchen and hands it to Kelly. "Could you tell me what this is? I figured you might have some knowledge of things like this."
"By the way, how deep is the water in the bilge?"
EDIT: Kelly, I forgot to ask. Which mutagen did you prepare for Day 4?
As the preparations conclude Kelly takes the vial offered to him from Holgur and studies it for a handful of seconds.
"Interesting, this be (insert name of potion, or alcemical item here), where did ye aquire this?" Kelly asks as he hands the vial back to Holgur.
"Someone on board was careless about his possessions."
"Hope it wasn't someone I like, then again, there aren't many on this ship I do like."
"Truthfully, I don't know who it belonged to."
Balsooma heads straight to the galley, collecting knives to arm each of them.
"I've gutted the goat well enough. Now Mr. Plugg has me investigating the bilges, it seems," he explains to Ambrose. "I'll give these blades a thorough scrub when we're done, don't worry."
He then heads for the bilges.
Kelly finds the 'potion' to be little more than a vial of holy water.
The bilges are found on the lowest deck of the ship, a trap door in the crew's quarters opens to a ladder that leads down into the darkness. The place is foul, damp, and thick with cobwebs. The bottom is covered in one to two feet of dark, brackish water that stinks abominably. A single bilge pump rests near the stern and six sets of manacles hang from the bulkhead at the forward portion of the ship.
The temperature only makes the entire situation more unpleasant, and it feels as if it could range anywhere from 90 to 100 degrees down in this smelly hole. Making your way into the bilge, you encircle the single ladder, Kelly is the last one down standing at the base of it. There is the sound of little splashes and ripples, but between the fecund 'water' around your own knees, and the sea just on the other side of the hull, the source is not telling.
As your eyes adjust to the minimal light, the ripples attach to small forms moving amongst the still water. Being in the far side of the movement, Ciera doesn't see them at first, but the noise of one squeeking loudly gets her attention. Six large rats, with large sharp teeth and wicked claws rush out of the waters to attack the newcomers.
Holgur -
Group 2 -
Ciera -
Kelly -
Group 1 -
Balsooma steps back, slopping through the sludgy water. He presses a hand to his chest to utter a quick prayer for himself. His hand then goes to the symbol at his neck: "Besmara's blessing be upon us, as we clean these bilge-vermin from our ship."
Ciera winces as he descends into the filth, covering his nose against the reek. As his eyes adjust, and he sees the large rats he gasps, but then moves around to replace Balsooma and stabs at the rat
Attack: +1 from Balsooma = 16
Damage:
Balsooma's magic surprises Holgur and fills him with confidence against the huge rat.
Attack
Damage
After the big man backs up, and another kills one of their own, the rats start forward. They bite and nip at the group, one of them getting a chomp on Kelly's leg just before Ciera cuts it down and steps into its spot.
Group 1 -
Balsooma - Cast bless
Holgur - Killed a rat
Group 2 - Bit Kelly
Ciera - Killed a rat
"Rats, why did it have to be rats, these are going into the buck when we're finished!" Kelly exclaims as he back pedals a step, he then pulls a vial from his pouch, gives it a quick shake and hurls it at the rat against the far wall.
Kelly's aim is strained as he trys to adjust to hit the rat while still missing Holgur, as he releases he holds his breath, hoping the vial doesn't fall short and injur his friends.
The vial thrown by Kelly just misses the back of the rat to burst off the back wall. It still manages to splatter the vermin, and it squeels loudly before dropping dead into the water.
The last rat to go tries to bite Holgur standing right next to him, but hesitates on hearing the cries of the other.
Holgur - Killed a rat
Group 2 - Bit Kelly
Ciera - Killed a rat
Kelly - Killed a rat
Group 1 - Missed Holgur
Balsooma reverses his grip on his knife, and stabs downwards, trying to sink it into the nearby rat's back.
Holgur bellows an inarticulate curse as he looks about for other overgrown rats.
Holgur thrusts his knife down at the besial rodent to his left.
Attack
Balsooma comes close to grazing the rat, but the stupid thing moved just into the swing and dies with a shudder and a blade through its back.
Holgur on the other hand seems to be plagued by the small size of thecreatures, as he swings and misses.
The rat nearest Ciera tries to bite at him, but as their numbers dwindle, so does their courage.
Kelly - Killed a rat
Group 1 - Missed Holgur
Balsooma - Killed a rat
Holgur - Missed
Group 2 - Missed Ciera
Ciera swings at the rat in E4
Attack:
Damage:
Ciera's swipe cuts through the nearast rat easily. As Kelly mixes, shakes and tosses another vial. At first it looks to have gone over its head again, but it lands and breaks just right to scorch the small vermin rather effectively.
That appeared to be the last of them.
With the last rat having been dispatched by Kelly's blast, the threat seems to have been quelled. You now all just stand in a hot bilge.
Balsooma, since this has been his first time in the bilges and all, will use the opportunity to have a look around.
"Looks like I didn't need to hunt turtles for dinner after all, it seems," he jovially remarks after searching, reaching down to prod one of the dead rats with his blade. "Keep the knives, if you can: the cook has plenty. I'll tell him they were weak metal, and handled rat bones poorly."
The task complete, he will try to clean his knife the best he can, and hide it about his person: in a pocket, or a boot, wherever it might fit and not injure him. He then heads up on deck to report the success to Mr. Plugg: a man whose bad side he'd rather not be on.
Ciera grimaces at the smell of the bilges and the sight of the huge dead rats. "Well I don't know about you," he says, "but I'm gettin' outa' this stink before it soaks inta me bones."
With that he swiftly clambers up the ladder and heads above deck with Balsooma, replacing his knife in its wrist-sheath as he does so.
"Well since I'm on pest duty today, no sense in letting these go to waste, to the bucket they go!"
Holgur laughs at Balsooma's joke about the turtles.
"No, stay here a moment. We are not likely to be observed here. If any of you need to catch up on sleep you can probably find a dry spot for an hour or so. If anyone asks we can just say we were searching for other beasties."
"I have not endeared myself to any of the crew so far and have not found out anything about the ship. What about the rest of you?"
Balsooma pauses as he goes to leave, turning to address Holgur. "The cook - Ambrose - is a good man, though prone to drink. I have not explored much else: the sea is new to me and I to it, it seems. If the work is simple, I may have a look around on the 'morrow." He considers the other man for a moment, before continuing: "You were a sailor before, true? How does this boat compare? Anything we should be wary of?"
"I have heard of this captain, Harrigan, before. He is of a different class than most; he is a right evil bastard as are Plugg and Scourge. They run this ship like a floating prison island. On most ships the crew members have some say in what goes on, except for in combats."
Balsooma's cursory examination turns up very little in the one to two feet of standing water in the bilges. And his glance over the old discarded boxes and crates convinces him that if there were anything of value amongst them, they wouldn't be down here.
The air is heavy, and weighs on the group, despite Holgur's assessement of the conditions may be off as you can tell that spending too much time in here might just overheat you.
Balsooma's cursory examination turns up very little in the one to two feet of standing water in the bilges. And his glance over the old discarded boxes and crates convinces him that if there were anything of value amongst them, they wouldn't be down here.
The air is heavy, and weighs on the group, despite Holgur's assessement of the conditions may be off as you can tell that spending too much time in here might just overheat you.
Holgur pauses, wipes the sweat from his brow and says "It's been a long time since I've been in the bilges. I forgot how hot and rank it is down here. It probably is a good idea to get back on deck before the heat and smell drain our strength. Those bastards, Plug and Scourge would not care a whit about any of this and would put us to work until we drop."
"Unless something changes on this ship we are not much better than slaves."
Balsooma scowls deeply at the mention of 'slaves', and reaches a hand up to touch his chest. "Pirates should be free men and women, not slaves, else you might as well serve the aboard Chelish Navy." He spits the last two words out, muddling them with a mumble about "damn devil-worshipers."
"Aye to that, my friend. This captain would use any of us for fish-bait. We either escape or mutiny and we are too few for the second."
Kelly fits as many of the big rats as he can into his vermin bucket, and Ciera would be wise to do the same considering also being on vermin duty. The brief grumbling over the wickedness of those in charge ends almost as soon as it starts, and the small group instead makes their way topside to report their results.
Jack, the initial victim of the rats, looks on in awe at the size and number they managed to remove from below and only one of them having any sign of injury. Mr. Plugg, however, seems irritated, yet tries to maintain his look of disdain for your rather swift return. "So, look here, you seem to have managed to catch a few big rats. You four must be all impressed with yourselves for so righteous a haul. Now, stop standing around and get back to work."
At his last, Master Scourge looks ready to snap anyone that balks, but Captain Harrigan speaks up, his deep voice easily carrying across the deck "If the bilge is clear of the threat, they've done their share for the day."
Ciera adds rats to his bucket and makes his way to the deck with the others. At the captains words he smiles and spends the rest of the day relaxing. When the rum is produced he drinks his ration gatefully, then begins stretchnig. Dissapointed with last-night's performance he again begins a simple routine.
Rum action: Drink normally
Evening action: Entertain crew