The Darkness first greets you as you awaken the following morning in the dark hold of the Wormwood (area A10).
The night before—the ringing laughter of a wild night, the heady joy of excess, the scents of rich stewed meat and perfume lingering in their nostrils lingers in your bleary confused memory.
Then they make themselves known to you. They come in waves like a band marching in a parade.
A pounding headache, the sickly taste of cheap wine in your mouths, the hard floor that just seemed, impossible as it sounds, to get harder then it already is, a rhythmic creaking noise, and the feeling of the room swaying, as if they were still drunk.
A Chained figure looks up in wry amusement as he watches each and everyone of you struggle back to wakefulness.
"S'Alright there? Welcome to the Wormwood....... I suppose."
The scanty clad tattooed undine rubbed her head as she rose.
"Oh my head! Last thing I remember was some thugs getting the jump of me. They had to hit me again after I woke up and broke one of their noses and another I kicked so hard in the balls he's probably still walking funny. Not looking forward to seeing them again. But then again, Desna and Calistria both favor the bold!"
The undine went over to the island elf and held out her hand, smiling.
"The name's Jerieth...Hopefully one day Captain Jerieth. And I served under many Andoran Privateers."
I'm adding some stuff from the Pirates of the Inner Sea sourcebook for Jerieth. Not sure how most people in the Shackles will react to someone who is an Andoran Privateer.
Sunny looks woozily up at the figure offering a hand, even as they brace themselves against the motion of the... ship...?
"Aye..... I... be 'Suny', in'a speakin' of tha' peoples..." She replies, her voice a little rough from what ever treatment Sunny had given it the night befire.
"Tha' place be spinnin'... an' swayin'... I dun't think t'is me head...." She laments.
"Aye, love. Must have been something in the drinks. I think someone spiked our drinks. Anyhow," Jerieth turned to the man in the cage and asks, "why are you in a cage?"
Hey Sunny what is your character wearing? Is she wearing a loincloth like in that pic from deviantart in her profile? Just curious.
We wus in'a city, like. Peoples wear tha' strangest things... (>_>)
I would'a has most of me stuffs in me trunk...um... box? Um... Ah! CHEST! (^_^)
Sunny blinks and peers around in the gloom at those others she's some how found herself with.
Perception:1d20 + 9 ⇒ (14) + 9 = 23
"Here... why's that feller all a clankin'? We in't fallen ta' slavers, has we?"
Oh! An' I can be doin' tha' Rogue-y type stuffs. There be a trait I can be takin' whut gives me tha' skillz at traps an' stuffs. Along with me sneaky-ness, I should be a gooder Rogue, like. (^_^)
Male swashbuckler (inspired blade)/1, HP 11 [11], AC 17, FF 13, T 14, Fort +1, Ref, +6 Will +0, Init+4, Perc +3
"Oh all the gods above and below. Why does my head hurt so bad?" Drak says slowly coming around. As he starts to take in his surroundings he is suprised to see the bubbly elf from the night before. As he tries to stand he has to catch himself before he hits the floor. This is just lovely. What have i gotten myself into this time... He thinks to himself, steading himself on the wall.
Just as she was to reply to the elf's statement of them being captured by slavers, an assumption Jerieth wasn't too pleased to think about given the fact that she had served aboard The Mermaid's Honor and Her People's Will, both well known Andoran Privateer ships that had sunk numerous slaver ships and freed countless slaves, another man rose up asking what was going on.
Smiling, Jerieth answered, "Not sure, but we may have been captured by slavers. The name's Jerieth, hopefully Captain Jerieth one day."
Male swashbuckler (inspired blade)/1, HP 11 [11], AC 17, FF 13, T 14, Fort +1, Ref, +6 Will +0, Init+4, Perc +3
"It's not slaving. Its recruitment. They get you drunk so you sign the charter, then carry you to the ship after you pass out. My uncle told me a story of how he ended up on a ship after a crazy night." Drak shares with a chuckle. The green color slowly fading from his face. "I just hope they feed us this morning..."
Male Human Impressed Sailor 1 | hp:8/8 | AC 11/11 | F+2/R+1/W+2 | Init+1 Per+0 | Swim +2
"Well. Now that is the least impressive way to end up on a ship...and I didn't even get the map that I was looking for." says an unsteady voice from a shadowed corner. A lanky young man, dark of hair and sporting an impressive bruise across the left side of his face moves forward, half crawling, into a puddle of light that spears down from a crack in the deck above.
"I almost wish I had drunk whatever they had slipped into the rotgut that you were all drinking. I was enjoying the cavorting immensely." Redo plunks down on the planks next to the group. "I got my head bashed in by some sailor-or-other. I don't remember signing anything though. But I was a bit dazed." Redo smiles ruefully.
"Redo Mettazo at your service, my subjugated comrades."
"Ah so we have been press ganged," Jerieth said now realizing what had happened to them all.
"I've only got press ganged once and that was back in my home of Absalom. After that I jumped ship and worked as a privateer for Andoran for several years. Nice to meet you, Redo. And the name's Jerieth, hopefully Captain Jerieth one day mate."
Aasimar Monk 1 | HP 11/11 | Init +2 | AC 14 T 14 FF 12 | F +4 R +4 W +4
Sawib nods to the bruised man in mutual respect as he notices the bruise. "Clearly, violence and coercion are not out of the question with these."
After a moment or two of rocking with the sway of the boat, the dark skinned Garundi man stands to his full height of nearly six and one half feet. His voice is deep and booms like the rumbling of volcanos.
"My name is Sawib, and I am from the Sodden Lands. I hold my judgment on the kind of people we serve under, but I am not impressed so far."
"Sodden Lands, eh. Well mate I've never been there myself but I've heard from sailors that've been there, and tis not a good place to be. So where are the rest of you from?"
Jerieth, who had served on numerous ships, was quite used to the swaying so she was perfectly alright.
Sunny uses the side of the hold to slowly help herself up into a standing position, though she sags more than sways.
"I din't sign nuffin'..." She murmers,
"Can't hardly un'erstand peoples most half tha' time. Not much more for me signin'...[/smaller]" She continues to glance at the chained person, evn as others come to their senses and conversation.
Stoma seems to be swaying in tune with the ship as well..
"I am Stoma Argento, I am an Ulfen. A long way from home I know but I attended the Carnival of Kurgess and I was going to have a nice relaxing night before heading home... now?"
Male Human Impressed Sailor 1 | hp:8/8 | AC 11/11 | F+2/R+1/W+2 | Init+1 Per+0 | Swim +2
Redo turns to the figure in chains. "I am assuming that you are known to our captors, and have been here a while, based on the fact that you are in chains. What may we call you by?" Redo asks. "Additionally, can you tell us anything about the boat, or our captors beyond the name?"
"Not to be rude Redo but ship...the correct term is ship. A boat is much smaller," Jerieth said, smiling as she corrected Redo. The undine studied each person, although she studied Suny a bit longer.
Then suddenly she began to quickly panic. She immediately breathed a sigh of relief.
"Thought they might have taken this here scarf," the undine privateer pointed out, holding up a blue scarf with gold edgings that was wrapped around her waist. The scarf also had an emblem of an eagle clawing a gull.
"It was a gift from Captain Hollagar Helmworthy of Her People's Will himself, the most honorable privateer who ever sunk a slaver ship."
Jake Magpie gives you all a rueful smile, "Welcome to the Wormwood. You're all about to see an object lesson in shipboard discipline, featuring yours truly. I'm in for the unforgivable crime of attempting to pilfer the ship's quartermaster - punishable by keelhauling. For those of you not familiar with this particular shipboard festivity, it's a pretty definitive discouragement to future misbehavior. There's plenty of ways, on this ship, to draw a keelhauling - three biggest, striking an officer, stealing from ship's stores (that's me), and killing a fellow crew member. You'd do well to remember those," looking somewhat cross-wise at Jerieth , "because Master Scourge - your 'gold teeth', surely enjoys the role of master-at-arms. He's a real blighter, and would as soon peel you like a grape as look at you."
"As for what's in store? well.. your water friend has the right of it. You've been signed up for the Sweet Life, shanghai'd aboard a proper pirate ship. Captain Harrigan's out to make a name for himself, and has used up most of a crew to do it so far. He needs hands to man stations, and as long as ye all are useful, and don't force Harrigan's hand by blatantly breaking one of the major rules, you'll work hard, fight hard, and earn a share of booty."
Looking harder at Jerieth , "I don't know how far yer blue skin will get you lassy, but you might want to make a show that you can't swim that well. If they suspect you'll bolt, they're likely to chain you, possibly unpleasantly, like another of us except he doesn't seem to realise it."
Magpie chuckles to himself after passing a rather experienced eye on all of you, "Ye're a right moral group of rogues, you are. I think ye've missed the point that your shiny new shipmates have stolen your effects - now in the quartermaster's store right alongside mine - as well as enslaved you to work their ship and fight their battles, on pain of death. Be careful where you pin your loyalty and honor."
And then a full blown laugh as he realises he's forgetting something.
"Oh I'm Jake. Jake Magpie. Not that it'll be of much help."
A quick check among yourselves confirms that you all have being stripped naked of your valuables and weapons leaving only basic clothing or in this case a scarf.
Jerieth upon closer look finds a hole where the eagle's head is supposed to be though.
Aasimar Monk 1 | HP 11/11 | Init +2 | AC 14 T 14 FF 12 | F +4 R +4 W +4
Sawib chuckles at the mention of his gear being taken.
"Not a lot of difference to me. Equipment doesn't make the sailor." the darkly muscled and scarred man just crosses his arms as he readjusts to the sway of the vessel.
Pausing a moment, he looks to the caged Magpie and just speaks bluntly.
Upon seeing the damage done to her scarf, Jerieth cursed in Aquan under her breath. I guess Captain Harrigan'd some trouble with Andoren privateers in the past, she thought.
Looking back at Magpie she said, "I'm sorry to hear that you're going to be keelhauled. Back in my days as a privateer, keelhauling was rarely if ever used. I don't know if I can stop your punishment but I can at say a prayer to Desna and Calistria to watch over your soul. That much I can do. And thank you for the warning. I'll be careful."
Jake laughs at the towering Sawib.
"You'll be a bigger fool not to do so but you'll see my point come the tide turns."
And then at Jerieth
"Well blessed be my soles and my soul. Do drop Besmara one fer me too, if you'd be so kind. Also hide your pretty little scarf. Master Scourge doesn't like dem Priva-teers."
Smiling and nodding her head, Jerieth replies to Jake, "I will and thank you for the additional warning."
The undine quickly hid her scarf underneath her belt, hiding the end with the now damaged eagle quite well. Jerieth sometimes did say a prayer to Besmara from time to time but she mainly prayed to Calistria and Desna. She also made a mental note to be extremely careful around Master Scourge. She had a feeling that life aboard the Wormwood wasn't going to be like what she was used to when she served with the Andoren privateers. Although she had served once on a Riddleport pirate ship with an elven pirate. A shame the two of them parted ways, as she was quite enjoyable in bed.
Sunny rubs at her temples, "So.. we's all bin taken aboard yan ship an' now we's crew?" She peers around at those she's fund herself with, then down at Jake,
"An' when were it ye was lookin' ta' be borrowin' people's stuff... wiiith possible intent on not returnin stuffs?" She continues to wince at the pain in her head.
"So... our Captain, he be tha' one declare yer punishment? Since it be us all ye might has bin borrowin' from?" Sunny frowns,
"That be, o'course, that ye did attempt ta' be borrowin'?" Sunny sighs.
"Ack-ch! Peoples does all'a comp-lee-kated ways a doin' things!"
Male Human Impressed Sailor 1 | hp:8/8 | AC 11/11 | F+2/R+1/W+2 | Init+1 Per+0 | Swim +2
"Crew eh? That seems pretty unfortunate for us. I am guessing that the Wormwood isn't a highly profitable and lucky ship...otherwise they would have enough crew to round out their watches...something must have happened recently, either a fight went poorly or there was some other calamity." Redo muses patting about himself absently.
"Looks like they took my pipe too. Ah, how unfortunate." he says ruefully. He mulls over Jack's words for a few moments before turning back to him.
"Thanks for the insight, Jack. I will be praying to Nethys that everything turns up alright for you. Is there anything else we should be wary of...or anyone?" he asks.
"Usually that's the case Redo. After a fierce battle or a disaster like a hurricane usually a captain needs to enlist new crew members. Although press ganging is typically illegal in some places, here in the Shackles it's common. Or so I'm told."
Several pairs of heavy footsteps enter the dark room, and the harsh light of a lantern painfully spears through the murk. A familiar thin figure leads down the ladder, gold teeth gleaming in the painful light of a bright torch. He is followed by six burly pirates, each brandishing a sap in a manner indicating some familiarity with their use.
An expression that might be mistaken for pain but which is clearly an attempt at a smile bruises Scourge’s face as he cracks the whip in his hand and screams at the all of you.
“Still abed with the sun over the yardarm? On your feet, ye filthy swabs! Get up on deck and report for duty before Cap’n Harrigan flays your flesh into sausage skins and has Fishguts fry ye up for breakfast!” Aside to the pirates, "Get this lot up on deck first, then haul up the thieving trash."
Magpie seems uncharacteristically subdued.
Perception DC 10 for Redo, 15 for the others:
A very familar pipe hangs from the thin man's belt.
Redo knows it for what it was. After all its former owner was him.
Aasimar Monk 1 | HP 11/11 | Init +2 | AC 14 T 14 FF 12 | F +4 R +4 W +4
Perception:1d20 + 7 ⇒ (20) + 7 = 27
The large man stretches his limbs, taking a good account of their...aggressor? The whip seems not to phase the man, as Sawib only momentarily shields his eyes from the glare of the lanterns.
Just as the undine was about to say something, six pirates, one of whom carried a whip, entered the room. The light was a bit painful but Jerieth quickly adjusted. She gave one last look of sympathy to Jake. She then made several prayers to Besmara, Calistria, and Desna to take pity on the man and to watch over his soul...and when the time was right aid her in avenging his death!
As she quickly made her way to the upper deck knowing that this lot were probably not if patient kind, she remembered that she had a few spells prepared but decided against using them unless absolutely necessary. And that was probably going to happen sooner than later.
Perception:1d20 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4Forgot about the perception check. XP
Profession (sailor):1d20 + 5 ⇒ (9) + 5 = 14Trying to see if she knows any rules or just anything that could save Jake's life. Mostly it will be something like a rule from the Pirate's Code.
Male Human Impressed Sailor 1 | hp:8/8 | AC 11/11 | F+2/R+1/W+2 | Init+1 Per+0 | Swim +2
perception:1d20 + 0 ⇒ (19) + 0 = 19
The lug is probably wearing the pipe just to try and get a rise out of me. Redo thinks, eyeing each of the sailors against the glare of the lantern light. Now which one of these wastes of protoplasm was the one who slugged me?
The sailor's words finally sink into Redo's mind. You would think, with as much sailing as I have done these last two years, that I would be able to understand the debased language of the mariner. I guess not. He thinks, with a wry mental grin at himself. Seeing no other option, Redo levers himself fully to his feet, his head still swimming a bit, and lurches toward the door (or is it a hatch?) heading up and out into the sunlight, following the pale woman.
Suny 'Acks!' (>_<) at the sudden bright light, followed by the shouting and the tromping.
With one arm over her eyes, she waves her other hand about untill she snags a fellow crews shirt and stumbles out, following after them by literally riding their coat tails.
The lot of you are ushered hurriedly up the ladder, to the main deck, as you emerge upon the deck you see that the ship you're on is a sizeable vessel, probably a hundred feet from stem to stern. You're also in the middle of the ocean, any visible land being just an ochre haze astern, fading farther in the distance. Figures cluster around the ship's mainmast, looking up at the higher deck on the stern, where two figures stand watching you all with interest.
One is an intimidating, broad shouldered, heavily muscled Garundi man with a shaven head, a large beard bound with gold rings, and an eye patch---clearly the captain by his demeanor.
The other is younger man who is bald except for a braided black ponytail, wearing a long coat and carrying a cat-o'-nine-tails that looks like it sees regular use.
Looking around, you all notice that four other people stand apart from the crew by their apparent unease and relative cleanliness.
One is a red-haired woman wearing a tricorn hat with tattoos covering both her arms and skin tanned by years out at sea, a short, muscular halfling woman with a fierce scowl on her face, a large, angry looking young man with a blue Varisian scarf tied around his head, and a foppish looking older gnome gentleman, dressed in a wide purple hat, matching pants, an eye patch and an expensive looking white silk shirt.
A dozen or so other pirates, clearly existing members of the crew, stand about on the deck and in the ship's rigging, watching the show.
The crew assembled is a motley bunch indeed. Some sporting scars over their faces, some with scraggy beards and unkempt hair. All look unfriendly.
A Man steps forth with his face set in a perpertual scowl.
The big Garundi looks over the new arrivals, cruel amusement on his face.
"Glad you can join us at last! Welcome to the Wormwood! My thanks for 'volunteering' to join my crew.", some of the collected pirates begin laughing at this statement, "I'm Barnabas Harrigan. That's Captain Harrigan to you, not that you'll ever need to address me." His tone changes to ice "I have only one rule---don't speak to me. I like talk, but I don't like your talk. Follow that rule and we'll get along fine."
With that, he turns to leave but stops suddenly.
"Oh, and one more thing. Even with you new recruits, you fine ladies and gentlemen, we're still short-handed and I aim to keep what crew I have. There'll be a keelhaulin' for anyone caught killing anyone!"
He nods towards the bald man with the ponytail at his side. "Mr. Plugg! If you'd be so kind as to make pirates out of these landlubbers, it'll save me having to put them in the sweatbox for a year and a day before I make pies out of 'em!"
With that, the Captain bursts into laughter and walks away, dismissing your existence from his thoughts.
The ponytailedman, Mr. Plugg, looks down on you all and smiles unpleasantly.
"The Captain has tasked me with making you into pirates and that is what will happen. I do not have time for idle chit-chat. I do not care about any of your opinions in this matter. They are irrelevant. I have places to fill and I WILL fill them."
He takes a few steps towards the group. "Behind me is the mainmast, on top is the crow's nest. You lot will climb to the crow's nest," he points to your group "Now! Move it, on the double!"
The crow's nest is 60 feet up and requires a DC 10 Climb check to make any progress. You can only move at quarter speed while climbing, unless you make an accelerated Climb check (at a -5 penalty on your roll), in which case you move at half speed.
You may make two move actions per round. Failure by four or less means you make no progress that move, while failure by five or more means you fall from your current position (taking the appropriate damage).
Assuming a 30' base speed it would take someone moving at 1/4 speed 8 move actions (4 rounds) to reach the crow's nest 60' overhead, while someone moving at 1/2 speed would take 4 move actions (2 rounds) barring mishap.
A character with a 20' base move would take 12 move actions (6 rounds) at 1/4 speed and 6 move actions (3 rounds) at 1/2 speed.
Apologies, I'm using a previous game text to speed this abit.
I'll be adding in more maps and Ship rules later in campaign Tab.
Discussion Tabs are up as well if you need to ask other stuff.
Jerieth:
Despite your experience in sailing abroad other ships of dubious repute, one thing is clear. All ships have a simple common rule.
The captain makes the rules. Most of the rules are common rules though there are some that practices most exotic rules.
Sunny wobbles over to the leeward side of the ship and slowly gets used to the light of the sun on her face and skin as the after effects of the previous evening continue to wear off.
Leaning against the railing she listens to the Captain's, if not passion-ed, then at least loud introduction. Followed by Mr Plugg's words.
It is hard to tells the Elf's reaction... if any.
At the command to climb Suny sizes up the challenge before looking about at the ship's terrain.
Perception:1d20 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13
Thence, with a nod to herself, bounces up onto the railing and proceeds to the nearest 'Rat-line'.
Acrobatics:1d20 + 7 ⇒ (11) + 7 = 18
Profession Sailor:1d20 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 = 19
Climb:1d20 + 5 - 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 - 5 = 2
Where she stands for a moment looking at the ropes she's holding in her hand, then looking to see how crowded the jostle is or people trying to get up the lines along with herself. Even stepping out of the way to politely allow others to start ahead of herself.
Yah... going to take that low roll as more a 'Wait a minute' thing or "After you, Sir/Madam' type of politeness. (^_^)
For DM:
Is there something Suny might use as a 'counter-weight'? She makes it fall while holding onto the rope and her ascending? NOTE! Main sail NOT included! :P
Jerieth mentally sighed, knowing that there nothing she could do to save Jake.
As she got on the top deck, she paid extra attention to everyone onboard, that is until her eyes fell upon the tattooed woman with red hair and wearing a tricorne hat. The undine's eyes went wide at amazement at the woman's beauty. She had a hard time paying attention to the captain but she made sure to remember everything he said, and while most it is the same she experienced aboard more 'tightly run' ships, she could tell that this captain would be quite unfriendly meaning she needed to be careful. She hoped the others would do the same as well.
As she moved towards the mast, she passed by the red haired woman. Turning her head towards her, the flirtatious undine said smiling, "Wish me good luck beautiful!
Diplomacy:1d20 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 1 + 1 = 13
Perception:1d20 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7
After taking a quick study of the mainmast, she quickly began climbing, although she slowed down a bit up the mast.
Climb:1d20 + 7 - 5 ⇒ (17) + 7 - 5 = 19
Climb:1d20 + 7 ⇒ (11) + 7 = 18
Acrobatics:1d20 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 2 = 19Judging from the rules, I'm guessing Sunny falls, so Jerieth will probably use acrobatics to swing a rope towards Sunny to catch as she falls. I'm not sure if that's the right skill to use or if I can even do that since I already did two move actions already.
One thing I forgot to mention, her facial scar is a moderate scar which according to the sidebar in the player's guide gives her a +1 bonus to all Charisma checks.
Ah okay. Well then guess we will ignore the acrobatics check I made unless the gm wants to use it for something else that is. Anyhow going back to bed now...accidentally set my alarm too early! And you're welcome!
Male Human Impressed Sailor 1 | hp:8/8 | AC 11/11 | F+2/R+1/W+2 | Init+1 Per+0 | Swim +2
You are in the future Sunny!
Wonderful. I wonder what other great ideas they have in store for us. "Swim a bit around the ship, we are going to use you as bait" Redo grumps to himself. He then moves over to the ratline and grabs it, using it to steady himself against the slight rolling motion of the ship. A quick glance up, proves as dizzying as he expected and he groans inwardly.
This looks like its going to be a day of firsts.
don't want to fall off the rope, please! (climb):1d20 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 2 = 13 don't want to fall off the rope, please! (climb):1d20 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 2 = 14 don't want to fall off the rope, please! (climb):1d20 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3
"Frack!!!" he cries as his foot slips on a particularly ill-tied rope, and he loses his grip on the ratline and begins to plummet.
I figured that Redo was going to fall anyways...might as well get it over with. He is made for intellectual pursuits, not any of this...physical nonsense :)
