Jim rolls his eyes, frustration seeming to clear his head a little. "That's what it feels like--a gap in my mind, and something inside it whispering to me. The dream poison did it to me. Duty and habit help to paper it over, but I'm thinking I can't be trusted for much more until it's fixed again."
As Corliss moves closer to inspect his head, Jim starts and slams the hatch shut. He begins shouting from behind the bulkhead. "NO! Dingus can change forms, too! How do I know he's not you or you aren't him or... They are waiting BELOW the city! SLITHERING through the HOLES."
Corliss finds that it is obvious that Jim is having some sort of mental breakdown from their recent time in the Dreamlands. He could pray to Besmara for some way to heal Jim, but likely he doesn't have that type of power yet. Best let him rest and try to snap out of it. Maybe the priest can try and talk him down tomorrow.
Hearing Jimmer shout, Kaul looks toward Lopps who jerks its axe head in the direction of the commotion.
"Hur. Right..."
The brute lopes to below decks where he finds Corliss brow furrowed outside the swordsman's quarters;
"Hur. Blackouts. What ails Jimmer? Anything me an' Lopps can do?"
"Not sure what ails him, so I'm not sure how to treat him," Corliss tells Kaul, choosing (probably wisely) to leave Lopper out of the conversation.
Any further efforts to rouse Jim are met with silence from behind the door leaving his mates to reluctantly return to the weather deck to report to the captain. Belinna looks concerned, but just encourages Corliss to keep trying to help Jim. With Jim locked in his quarters, Corliss takes on first mate duties and Fairweather serves as interim second mate and quartermaster. Though new to the ship, he is actually an experienced sailor and serves well.
The first couple days at sea are fair and cool as the Bloody Fortune swings west and north to avoid the Eye of Abendego which is thankfully smaller and less active during the winter. Nothing of note happens aside from Rafe spotting a lone sail in the distance.
Corliss knocks at Jim's cabin each day and leaves food, but finds that it remains undisturbed for the first three days. Finally on the fourth day, Estabo's especially tempting fresh bread and stew have disappeared and an empty tray remains at the door. Corliss reckons that Jim might be receptive to a visit.
Corliss knocks on the door to Jim's cabin. "Hey-ho, Jimmer! Feelin' any better? Can I come in an' chat a bit?" If allowed in, Corliss walks on eggshells, only bringing up snakes to point out that they don't generally nest in sailing ships.
For all that he looks like he hasn't been eating well, Jim is still clean-shaven, his hair isn't messy, and his clothes are neat. There is, however, some dust piled up around the edges of the floor. "Come on in, mate. I'm still here. Hole's still here, too, but the whispers are a mite quieter today. Being at sea helps, hey? Not like the fecking jungle, or ancient ruins. Just the ship, the wind, and the water.
"So, got anything for me?"
Corliss examines Jim and his surroundings. Better--he's at least takin' care o' himself an' lookin' after his appearance.
Corliss chats a bit just to make Jim socialize after having hidden away alone in his cabin for days. He also picks up on Jim's observation about being on a ship.
"Aye, bein' on a ship can make a world o' difference. Ye oughtta mosey up on deck for a bit: See the waves, feel the the wind in our sails, see some familiar faces--some ugly, at least one pretty .... Wouldn't hurt to not be cooped up in the dark. Miles o' ocean on all sides; ye'll see ain't no way fer snakes or snakefolk to sneak up on ya."
At mention of his name, a familar burly silhouette darkens Jim's canon door...
"Hur-hur. Mornin' Jimmer. You feelin' a mite better mate?"
The scarred bosun invites himself in regardless of Jim's response, then tips the nod to Corliss;
"No need tae whisper on my account lads. Yer either chin-waggin' bout Jimmer's leaky 'ead or Belinna's squeaky bed. Now the latter I ain't got nuthin' to add on, but iffen' ye need advice on screws being loose, then I is quite the authority. Hur."
Kaul's axe head bobs in agreement.
The Taldan shrugs, grimacing. "Mostly feeling foolish, hey? Like I'm failing the ship and the crew 'cause of what that thing's poison did to me. Let's get topside, though. Wind in my face is what I need."
Corliss' regular check-ins and no sign of Dingus or his slithering pet go a long way toward reassuring Jim and he recovers from the episode quite quickly. Up top, he breathes the salt air and feels a bit relieved for once that only fathoms of water lie beneath his feet rather than serpent-filled sewers.
Belinna looks relieved to see her favorite mate looking more hale. She seems to barely refrain from giving him a hug and instead awkwardly pats his arm and orders him to get something to eat from Estabo and enjoy the fair weather while it lasts as Jim still looks a bit tired and worn from the sleepless nights locked in his cabin.
Jim grins a little weakly and nods, heading for the galley and some more of Estabo's excellent cooking.
At Dingus' disappearance Kaul is perplexed, and coupled with Dibbs' decision to stay ashore, it does little to lighten his black mood...
Much to the detriment of the crew, whom the brute bosun works hard and meets any malingering or discontent with leering threats of Lopper and keelhauling.
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Jim recovers quickly and returns to his first mate duties allowing Corliss to focus a bit more on serving as chaplain when several of the crew including the faintly obnoxious Ed and the new recruit Moses come to him complaining that Kaul is taking his threats a bit too far. Ed is particularly upset that the Bosun went so far as to lift him high and threaten to toss him overboard if he didn't work more quickly. "I found the whole situation mortifying as well as frightening," Ed adds. "I know the Bosun was close with Dibbets, but feels to me that he has an axe to grind so to speak with halflings in general. Makes me particular anxious when he's waving that creepy ax around. No need for that among crew. It's straight up harassment."
Corliss listens to the halflings' complaints and tells them he'll speak with Kaul. When he finds the burly bosun, he asks how Kaul (and Lopper) are doing...and eventually gets around to the halflings' complaint.
"Ye sure the little fellas deserved such treatment? I mean...pickin' one up an' threatenin' to throw the lad overboard's a bit much, no? What's buggin' ye about them halfling lads?"
As Corliss expresses his concerns, Lopper's wytch-eye swivels to meet the beady gaze of Kaul.
The brute chuckles, an unnerving hacksaw like sound, before answering;
"Hur. Don't trust 'em. Most o' em are Finn's eyes an' ears. Dibbs was diff'rent like. Honest as salt. Rest o' em... chum fir the sharkers."
Lopper bobs in agreement.
Kaul flashes a mako grin;
"'Course. Iffin' I 'ave o-ffended any sensibilities like Ol' Kauly will make amends. Jus' needin' the names o' those little sh-... shipmates who I done wrong by."
Corliss nods when Kaul mentions Finn. Memories of what he's heard of the Halfling Benevolent Association have returned, and he shares some of the half-orc's concerns. "Still, we don't need dissention amongst the crew as we hunt down Red Aesha. Yell at 'em all ye wants when they mess up or are lazy, but no pickin' 'em up an' threatenin' to give 'em the old heave-an'-splash, eh? Like ye says, iff'n they ain't trustworthy, we don't wanna be givin' 'em any reason to switch sides once we finds Red Aesha, right?"
After giving Kaul a reassuring clap on the shoulder, Corliss belatedly moves about the crew to quietly ask if anyone's actually seen Kaul put his hands on any of the halflings...or if indeed the little folk are perhaps fomenting the beginnings of a mutiny.
As Corliss moves away he feels the thug's heavy iron claw rest upon his shoulder;
"Hur... Ye forgots tae mention who exactly has felt aggrieved by Ol' Kauly... Need to make amends like."
The thug smiles, flashing his jagged grill all benign like (for a scarred psychopath)...
Corliss tries to gulp quietly when the mechaniKaul claw lands upon his shoulder. Trying one of his crooked smiles, Corliss lightly comments that no amends are required if things don't escalate farther.
"No matter what you or I might think o' them wee folk, the Cap'n's seen fit to bring 'em onto the crew," the priest points out. "An' a crew gotta work together to function proper, don't it? Iff'n ye think some o' the little folk are up to no good, bring it up with the Cap'n."
Pausing a moment, Corliss presses his luck a bit. "Everythin' alrighty with ye, Kaulie? That jaunt into the dream realm was rough on Jimmer an' Dingus...hell, woulda been rough on me, 'cept that crackin' me head actually loosened some o' me lost memories. Ye never mentioned what ye faced in yer dream. Maybe we can chat about it some next feedin' time, eh?"
Kaul claps the priest's shoulder with a chuckle;
"Hur. You know Kauly, jus' tryin' to find out who I might 'ave wronged or upset. I'll do some investigatin' see iffin' I can't make amends to them that has an... axe... tae grind. Hur-hur..."
At the mention of 'axe" Lopper bobs into view and nods. The brute bosun pauses mulling Corliss' question;
"Hur... Aye. O'er chum I'll tell ye o' Tum... Til then. I's little crooked bridges tae build."
Corliss seems set to remind Kaul that though Besmara is a vengeful goddess, she also dictates that crew quarrels be left ashore. So the Brutal Bosun is left to his own recollections. He does recall that Ed's constant yipping goaded him to more demonstrative threats a few days ago.
The fair days end soon enough and about a week in, the ship is beset by a thick fog. Jim reckons that their latitude places them between the Eye and Mediogalti. Likely closer to Mediogalti due to the lighter winds and prevalent fogs.
Taking Corliss' homily literally Kaul seeks out the halflings onboard.
One by one he quietly assures them all that onboard the Bloody Vengence he will do them no wrong, nor punishment less the Captain thinks it deserving.
Before finishing with a smile and a pat on their mopped topped heads and a final piece of whispered advice;
"Jus' be rememberin' onshore Ol' Bessie's scriptures don't apply... Hur."
Kaul's promise of violence belayed for the moment, the fog clears in a day or two and the ship proceeds north into the Arcadian Ocean well west of the coast of Rahadoum and the Arch of Aroden. Belinna and Jim agree that it's best to avoid the chelish coast and any questions about the Fortunes home port as much as possible.
The weeks pass uneventfully as the year ebbs and it is a cool clear afternoon when the rocky cliffs of the Wolf's Tooth at the end of the archipelago appears. Belinna smiles as she announces that the ship will be at Warlock Island for New Year's Eve.
Jim has been in much better spirits after Corliss' counseling, and carries out his duties with enthusiasm.
The ship moors near the jagged coast of the Wolf's Tooth as the waning days of this higher latitude brings night down earlier and earlier. The long night passes uneventfully and the morning air is noticeably chill causing a heavy fog that stifles the sunlight and is only punctuated by the distorted calls of birds nesting on the nearby cliffs.
Not seeming to be a particularly auspicious day or location, Belinna directs the crew to do what they can to take advantage of the currents and tides given the slack winds. The sun is barely brighter, but directly overhead when the jagged point of the Wolf's Tooth recedes into the gray and the sun is already dropping below its tip when surf can be heard again from nearby Warlock Island. A low jutting nose of rock describes a nearby bay and the shadows of three ships lashed together show through the mists as a hailing cry is heard from the shapes asking who approaches.
"Hoy! Bloody Vengeance, out of Freeport. Who's asking?"
The reply comes from the shadowy ships, "I haven't heard of the Bloody Vengeance, but I haven't been down to the Shackles in years. Well, seeing it's the last night of the year and the veil is thin, so long as you're not ghosts, you're welcome to join us. We're the Black Goat, Imp's Fart, and Stormwind.
'Imp's Fart??!!'
Corliss, one eyebrow raised slightly, awaits the captain's orders on how to proceed.
"As I've heard ghosts don't drink, I can say with some authority that we're not, hey?"
Corliss racks his restored brain, but doesn't think that any of the named ships rank as infamous. Likely "C list" local pirates although he does recall hearing of the memorably named Imp's Fart with a colorful captain named Cassus Clapp. He recalls Captain Clapp being described as a short man with a raucous sense of humor and better than average success at raiding.
The voice responds to Jim's quip, "You're welcome aboard, but no spirits unless they are the drinking sort!"
Belinna smiles at the welcome and confers with the officers. "You want to check it out, Jim? Take Corliss and Kaul." She turns to the rest of the crew ordering Lola and Moses to ready a dingy and go over with the three officers.
Kaul flashes a jagged grin;
Hur. Ye want us to play nice Cap'n? Or lay down a marker that we're the Bloody Fortune..?"
Belinna shakes her head at Kaul's query, "Let's try and keep it friendly for now, Kaul. Remember the mission: we're just looking for information about Red Aesha."
The brutish bosun nods his no-neck;
"Hur. Red Aesha. Roight. Keep it friendly."
Lopper nods in unison...
Log: 31. Kuthona. foggy. Coast of Warlock Island. Parlay with Black Goat, Imp's Fart, Stormwind.
Lola and Moses get help lowering the dingy and loading a small keg of grog. Then the pair row Jim, Corliss, and Kaul over to the other ships. As they approach, they can make out a stout, grinning figure that waves his tricorn at them as a ladder is lowered off the stern on the starboard side of the Imp's Fart. Lola and Moses wait while the officers climb the ladder. Once aboard, the crew sees a handful of sailors and the portly captain who stands only a head taller that the average dwarf with mussed red hair ringing the sides of his balding head. He extends a hand, "Welcome aboard. I see that you bear gifts so doubly welcome. I am Captain Clapp and you be?"
Kaul meets his hand with a claw and a jagged smirk;
"Hur. Kaul. Bloodier Bosun o' the Bloody Fortune..."
He taps the hatchet at his belt;
"This be Lopper."
The axe's baleful eye swivels to take in the crew before them.
"Name's Corliss Blackboots. I be chaplain an' ship's healer," Corliss says, shaking Clapp's hand.
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Clapp shakes the offered appendages, "Kaul, Corliss." He gives the rolling eye attached to the axe a nod. "No offense Lopper, but i need this hand. And you are the Captain of the Bloody Fortune then?" he asks Jim. "Appropriate name I'd say, considering that's how much it takes to keep a ship running. AM I RIGHT?!" He laughs loudly.
After it is explained that Jim is first mate and that Captain Belinna has remained on the ship, Clapp nods, "Ah, I drew the short straw as well. Left here to keep an eye on things while the others celebrate on shore at the Cove Cave. There's quite a cache of rum stashed there and my fellow captains, Alfhild and Catarro are there with most of our crews. But that doesn't mean we can't crack that keg here. What brings you this side of the Eye?"
Kaul chuckles at Clapp's jape, then flashes a mako grin at the proposal.
"Hur. Most o' the crews ashore? Jus' as well we ain't unscrupulous types Cap'n Clapp... Hur-hur."
He shoots a dead-eyed look toward his shipmates...
Jim gives the bos'n a glance, then grins back at Clapp. "Things got a mite tight for us south of here, so we decided to come north for a spell. You know how it is, hey? How's the trade hereabouts?"
"Oh, good enough. This spots close enough to the Arch of Aroden that there are plenty of targets heading in and out of the Inner Sea. We mainly skim a bit off the Varisian trade and the Chelish Navy doesn't seem to mind."
A rough woman's voice comes from the fog nearby, "You a'right, Clapp?"
"Yes, Alfhild. We have some guests, but they don't seem to be looking for any trouble. Even brought some drink to share." The short, round pirate captain gives Kaul a friendly smile.
Kaul returns the friendly smile, with his own jagged version;
"Hur. Trouble? Us? Hur... Don't believe the rumours... Let's get to drinkin' then.
The brute waits expectantly for Clapp to broadside them with another jape...
Corliss tries to catch a peek at Alfhild, to see if perhaps see if she has red hair.
A statuesque woman, a head taller than Kaul, with long blonde hair tied into a single braid appears over the rail. Her breastplate, enameled white with silver trim, gleams even in the meager light, and she holds a battle axe that shimmers like the northern lights. She is accompanied by a pair of large men, one blonde and one ginger.
Klapp nods as he cracks the keg. "You're back from ashore?" he asks the woman.
"Ja, I got tired of Catarro's crying about the Red B#~$%. Stellan mentioned another ship approaching so I thought I'd come ofer and see vat vas happening."
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Jim takes a long pull from his cup, then looks up at the tall captain. Down, boy...I'll be shipping with Cap'n Belinna for a while, and this would be unwise. Still, though.... "Who's this that Catarro's crying about? Sounds like the sort of trouble it'd be wise to know more about, hey?"