Astrianna assembles a group of marines into a fire team, organizing their efforts and teaching them how to respond to various fires. She creates illusions of licking flames and burning embers on various points of the ship and has them drill their techniques carrying around buckets of water. "Throw it on the base of the flames! That's right!"
She watches Captain Donovan move down to the lower decks, and wonders what he's up to, but she figures the man can go where he pleases.
When the lookout calls a thunderstorm fast approaching, she frowns. Looks like we won't be outrunning it.
She calls out to Embrianna at the helm. "Orders, navigator?"
For those that speak up about previous experience or those that just seem good with there hands, Chell teaches them the basics of first aid. She gets them familiar with the tools in her healer's kit in case she needs something and is busy. She teaches them how to work together when carrying a stretcher and how to support the patient. But the most important thing she can teach is how to stay out of the line of fire. A wounded healer had to split their concentration between the patient and them self and that meant a greater chance of making mistakes. When peoples lives were on the line, you couldn't afford to make mistakes.
Chell you find 5 or 6 crewman who have working knowledge of wounds care. There is some grumbling to be on the medic team as opposed to a borading party but the grumbles subside. Less risk, I suppose. No dagger in me side.
"Well, I can tell you that we won't be trying to sail on through it. Not with a lot of green crew on board. Give me sec to get the wind figured out and I will tell you what direction we are taking."
The worse part is it's right before dusk, so your visibility is going to diminish fast.
Sorrin moves to check on the Captain, if he did make it before deck.
Astrianna begins to sing a sea-shanty, providing a rhythm for everyone's work.
Oh, the ships will come and the ships will go,
As long as the waves do roll:
The sailor lad, likewise his dad,
He loves the flowing bowl:
A lass ashore we do adore,
One that is plump and round, round, round.
When the money is gone, it's the same old song,
Get up, Jack! John, sit down!
Singing, Hey! laddie, ho! laddie,
Swing the capstan 'round, 'round, 'round
When the money is gone it's the same old song,
Get up, Jack! John, sit down!
I go and take a trip in a man-o'-war
To China or Japan,
In Asia, there are ladies fair
Who love the sailorman.
When Jack and Joe palavers, O,
And buy the girls a gown, gown, gown.
When the money is gone it's the same old song,
Get up, Jack! John, sit down!
Singing, Hey! laddie, ho! laddie,
Swing the capstan 'round, 'round, 'round
When the money is gone it's the same old song,
Get up, Jack! John, sit down
Sorrin when you find the captain he is in his room, but his door is ajar. He is sitting in a small cabin on the table is a shot glass and bottle of goslings dark rum. The waxy seal is still intact. His attention is on the fine detail of the dark, nearly black bottle. His hazel eyes dance between the bottle, the shot glass and then to the waxy seal. There is a perfect bone handles knife sitting on that table,
He hears a soft knock on the cabin door, "Is the ship sinking or burning? If not, have we spotted sails? If not, why are you bothering me when I'm taking a nap. He lets the question linger but does not invite the unwanted guest in the room
No, Sir. But all those things are more likely to come to pass, perhaps not the sails-spotting... without your leadership. Perhaps just your presence Sir.
Would appreciate some company is all. And, maybe it was the storm, but... thought I heard ruckus, below. Thought it might be... Demons. I don't much like demons. You're needed, Sir.
Sorrin pauses.
Consider yourself on duty, Captain. Maybe that will work, per articles. No drinking on duty. There is a good sailor in there somewhere.
First Mate turns to leave.
Sorrin would have gone immediately, but alas...
"Typically when a Captain indicates he's gonna taking a nap he doesn't need to check up on. If you need someone to check on something below deck send a a sailor or marine...the Captain doesn't check on strange sounds. I passed command of the wheel to the navigator, I don't expect being 'on' duty all the time." He reaches his boot out and shuts the door.
Towards the end of the two hours Sorrin comes back and raps on the door waking the Captain. Who responds, "What is it this time?"
The Captain moves out of his bed, Winds picking up, seems like she's got a good harness on it. He moves forward to the door.
The winds howl and Bri works the wheel catching them just right for now. The ship picks up a bit more speed just ahead of the torrential rainfall. Those non-essential hands - marines and veterans scurry below deck buckets are grabbed for the upturning stomachs. While all the sailors and able seaman are busy in the ship's rigging, and on deck.
As the captain emerges from the wardroom he scans the faces of the crew. He looks to some of the officers, "I need at least one officer..." He looks for Ptahh, 'down below deck with those down below. Keep them calm." He grabs one sailor and directs him towards line that needs securing. He then scans the horizon.
He looks up into the cloud line keeping quiet. It may pass by soon enough. Though I think Bri over corrected a bit for the wind.
"Crowsnest what do you see?"
Previously...
Sorrin decides to respond to the previous comments. I'm not the captain, but as a teaching point... Thank you, Sir. Noted.
And as to caring, which is why I do most of what I do... I'd like to get you, Captain Donovan Montgomery, back to Port Shaw, in the same... state you left. If not for you, then for Jenkie.
The Present...
Ptahh, get all the men that aren't sailing, down below. It's going to get dangerous and if they're not working, they could get hurt. I know it's not easy leaving the action. Sorrin offers a warrior's arm embrace.
Ptahh there plenty to do below deck securing the ship. Securing supplies, the ballista, the galley and so forth.
He secures himself to his position.
Crowsnest, Approaching?!
Astrianna is on deck, assisting Bri with navigating the storm and keeping everyone working at top efficiency. She has taken off her hat and kept her hair in a tight bun. The wind whips as her face and the sea sprays on her hair, but there's a smile on her face. The excitement of the storm was geting her worked up for some action. "Feel that lads?! Gozreh is giving us one mighty send-off!"
When sails are spotted she squints into the distance, wind whipping into her face. The half-elf attempts to determine if the vessel is on an intercept course, grabbing hold of the railing and moving with the tossing ship.
Astri as you move to the rail your ship is tilted heavy to port catching the wind in your full sails.
Astrianna lifts herself up on the railing to get a better view right as the ship begins to tilt port. Her hands slip on the wet railing and she scrambles to grab hold, but it was no use. The bard falls flat on her stomach and she gasps as the air is knocked out her lungs. Her hand shoots out to grab on to a trailing rope and she hangs on her dear life, barely stopping herself from sliding towards port.
Bri begins to slide a bit with the tilt of the ship.
The captain moves across the deck easy enough and begins to climb the poop deck steps.
Bri the wheel slips from your grasps and does a complete rotation, you loose some of the wind in your sails. You have a difficult time holding course as you grasp the wheel in your hands. the bow of the ship crashes hard, jotting into the waves as the water sloshes over the decks.
The riggers release enough sail just as it's about to rip in the wind, but they save the situation. Drenched as the rainfall whacks the ship.
If this is what's happening to us... that merchant vessel is in trouble! What are we obligated to do, and what do we want to do?!
I'd rather not risk lives on a fool's errand! But, makes me sick to leave them in this!
Astrianna picks herself off of the poop deck and moves to help Embrianna regain control of the ship.
She grabs one side of the wheel and holds it steady for Bri to make her adjustments, feet planted firmly on the deck. "Careful Bri! We just bought him! He's no half-orc, you've got to be delicate!"
If only she could hear Sorrin across the deck in the howling winds, she'd probably have something to say. Instead she spots the Captain walking up the poop deck as if there wasn't a storm at all. "Captain on deck! Orders, Sir?" Even though her hair was a sticky mess on the sides of her head and face, the excited smile remained. Astrianna was having the time of her life.
"Catch the damn wheel." He bellows as he begins to climb up the stairs.
The helmswoman steadies herself and grasp the wheel firmly, like a good half-orc commands, and she rips it back in the opposite direction just as Astri reaches for spinning wheel. The Sails are full, but the leading edge of the storm is lost. The ship is tilted hard to port and a quarter of the crew scrambles to regain footing.
Astrianna backs her hands away just in time as the wheel spins maddly to starboard and the ship sways on the rough seas. "Ah! She's got it!"
The half-elf wipes the stinging sea water from her eyes and focuses her attention back on the ship towards the horizon. I hope they have someone good on THEIR helm. She looks up at the angry clouds and feels the buffeting rain on her cheeks. Damn, we're in the thick of it now. Where's Chell? Surely she will ask Quell a favor or two.
Sheets of rain fall obscuring most vision beyond a few feet. The Captain tries to climb to the poop deck.
The storm seems to invigorate the old salty sea captain as he climbs to the top of the stairs. 'Aye...officers you've got that wheel!" He basically commands the two officers to regain control of the wheel.