Sandra groans as she is helped up. Aye. But lets try to hurry this process without pulling a stunt like that again. She wipes the sweat from her head with the back of her hand. I had t' use all my skill to keep each o'ye from Pharasma. The good news is I did it fast. If ye hurry ye could maybe talk some people over to our way of seein' things.
Sarenth hisses as his wounds close, then rolls himself out of the hammock to a sitting position. "Okay. Deserved that one. No more whips for me." he breaks off as he spies Sandara. Pain forgotten he moves to help her keep her feet. "Sorry. Seems I ... we made a right mess of ourselves this time. Can we get you anything?"
Sandra manages to smile at Sarenth's generosity. Some water, if you don't mind.
Sarenth moves over to the water barrel and grabs her a cup of said, along with one for each of his fellows.
As Reck gets up, he stretches out the kinks and winces a little.
"Turns out Scourge does 'ave an arm on 'im, you just 'ave t' get 'im mad enough."
he turns to Quinn. "Damned fine work, 'ealer. I've no fear o' meeting Pharasma, but your 'elp is welcome. You're a friend through and through and I won't forget it."
"Noro - lets you an' me 'ave a little chat tonight around th' midnight bell."
With that, Reck takes his leave and goes to scare the s!#@ out of a crewmember. He seeks out Tilly Brackett and leans against a bulkhead, rum ration in hand. Still shirtless and with the red welts livid upon his back, Reck snarls at her:
"I'm lookin' t'be th' first one 'ere whipped twice in one day. I think yer 'ard enough to last a few swings - put down yer rum an' take a swing if'n you think yer bad enough!"
Noro still trying to hide her pain, always wanting to look tough.
ish thish a date? she says jokingly to Reck.
after Noro is heald a bit she heads topside for some fresh air for the night. listening to the waves crash into the side of the ship as it plows through the water.
Noro stays away from some of the other crew activities for now merely watching from a distance guageing thier demeanor toward her.
The crew seems slightly more friendly to you than hostile, though there are several who don't even look your way. In general you seem accepted, even respected by some of the heavier drinkers. Most of those who glare at you openly are associates of Plugg and Scourge. If crap were to hit the fan, the outcome is far from certain.
"'ah! Clever an' tough too. There's a foul wind blowing, 'ave care t' see yourself taking th' right side."
With that, Reck claps Brackett on the shoulder and pushes his rum in front of her, and heads topside to find Noro.
Finding Noro standing by the side of the ship, Reck leans on the railing by her side, and addresses her bluntly.
"You made it plain t'see you didn't care for my actions today. Explain."
"'ah! Clever an' tough too. There's a foul wind blowing, 'ave care t' see yourself taking th' right side."
With that, Reck claps Brackett on the shoulder and pushes his rum in front of her, and heads topside to find Noro.
Finding Noro standing by the side of the ship, Reck leans on the railing by her side, and addresses her bluntly.
"You made it plain t'see you didn't care for my actions today. Explain."
Noro just stares at the water, trying not to look Reck in the eye sheen you hurt enough, I know your tough, you don't need to prove anything. Guessh I wash worried about ya, thatsh all.
Noro's lisp seems more pronounced than usual as she speaks.
She then turns to look at him after a short pause with a stern glare but don't go lookin into what I shaid any deeper, Got it?
Reck grins. "Worried for me takin' stripes th' same as that skinny wizard?" Reck jostles Noro playfully and then gets serious.
"You're right though. Th' time for takin' 'urt is done - time's right t' start laying th' 'urt on Scourge's crew. We keep ending up in th' same work - figure if you and me can find one o' 'is boys alone we can crack 'is 'ead quick an' quiet-like with none th' wiser. Make it clear t'see that bein' one o' Scourge's boys gets 'azardous. What d' you say?"
Durvin looks at the group, his cheery smile begins to fade and soon he starts scowling. He finally stands up with a huff and reprimands most of them. "What in Gozreh's name was all that you thought you guys were doing up there? I can see taking some of Isabella's punishment so she doesn't have to feel all of it, but why invite more on yourself for no reason? Are you trying to prove you can make Scourge's arm tired from whipping almost all of you unconscious? There's no point to it, and all I can do is stand there and watch you all being hurt so badly."
"You don't like Scourge, I understand, he's just a big bully. What I don't get is what you think you're proving. He may be mean, but he has both the Captain and First Mate's leave to punish as he sees fit at a minimum. At worst he looks to be the First Mate's right hand man. What do you think you're going to do? Get rid of him in some untoward fashion? Um, hello, does no one remember what happened the first day on board? One of the crew got keelhauled just for stealing. The Captain gave us two rules when he first introduced himself, don't talk to him, and killing will get you keelhauled. He has since then let the First Mate and Bosun run things, and yet you want to oppose THEM?"
Having finally gotten it off his chest he eases a little bit, "Look I don't like what they are doing any more than you do, but on the sea we need support if we want to start changing things. A Captain needs to see that if he doesn't act accordingly the whole crew would turn and mutiny. Before we can present a solid argument, we need to know how much of the crew supports us. We can't just strike back because we don't like the whippings, no one does, that's why they're used to make people work when they don't want to. We have to put pride and anger aside and fight back with reason, not let violence beget violence. Until we can convince the Captain that he needs a new Bosun, we need voices to our cause. I just don't want to see any of my new friends get hurt anymore."
Reck listens patiently to Durvin's speech, clearly incredulous.
"Boy, you mean t' tell me yer opposed t' violence? I 'ate t'be th' one t' break it t' you, but we're not 'ere t' pull up peaceful-like alongside a fat merchant and reason some treasure out. In this world th' strong rule th' weak. You may not find that t' yer liking but that's 'ow it is. This 'Arrigan fellow needed bodies. Did 'e come up an' ask us real nice t' pretty please come work for 'im?"
Reck whirls and crashes a clenched fist down on the sickbay table with a tremendous crash.
"NO! 'E sent 'is meanest sons-o-b&!#%es ashore t' beat us senseless and ship out before we woke! Now we 'ave th' same choice as any slave - work as th' master says or take th' lash. I'm sure you'll 'ave great results sittin' down an' smoking th' peace pipe with Scourge, Plugg, and 'Arrigan. Strength is th' universal law, and violence is th' currency its dealt in."
Reck calms down and continues: "See, I get that we 'aven't got enough o' th' crew on our side t' make a move. We 'ave three ways t' fix that. Getting crew t' like and respect us, showing th' rest that we don't fear th' lash, and killing off 'is boys or scaring 'em straight. Yer good at th' first - leave th' others t' me."
"Before we get hasty, though, and I admit I was a bit hasty up there, too, the Halffling does raise a point. Defeating Scourge, and Plugg, by extension, with reason doesn't mean sitting down and having a quiet chat. I met a Calistrian priest in my last ship, some years ago. He mentioned a saying the Calistrians have. I stab thee with my heart. It speaks of the satisfaction derived from revenge, whether that be stabbing somebody in the back, or seeing their downfall come to fruition by carefully orchestrated means. I say that we do bring down those two, but carefully. Violence properly timed is more effective than lashing out wildly."
He sighs. "This is a pirate's life. Nobody said it was easy. The strong rule the weak, by blood and by steel. They have the men, and the means. We don't have the power to bring them down yet. Scourge has shown us that we need to bring more force to the table if we are going to cow him. I say we build up our forces, and wait. The nights are usually quiet out here, and it may be than an opportune moment - another storm, a battle - may turn up and give us the ability to end out enemies."
Sarenth moves over to Reck and looks up at him. "You are big and strong. I am not. But I swear I will turn you into a pig and feed you to the sharks if you muck up our chances here. We must all agree on our course of action, or we work at cross-purposes."
"Recking Ball's right, lad. Storm's coming, and won't be lightning or thunder what tosses someone overboard. Those two aren't running a proper ship, even for pirates; Something's not right. Never seen a captain what avoids 'is crew for weeks at a time. Even a pirate's got to make a show of leadership sometime; leavin' it all to the first mate and the bosun's bound to make people wonder at 'im."
Her brow furrows as she seems to think aloud more than speak.
"Scourge has himself far too much fun lashing the slightest error; Plugg keeps t'himself till things get dicey; we hear not even a taste of real piracy in the near future, and Harrigan's naught to be found through any of it? I've my doubts we even have a captain. Anyone even seen the man since we left port?"
"The captain is a conundrum, aye. But after today, it won't be hard for them to figure out who killed Scourge or Plugg. Then we all go the way Magpie did, under the hull. I won't go that way, even for friends. Not when there's an alternative that only requires some patience. I'm not saying wait for a storm to throw these overboard. I'm saying wait for a storm to hide the fact that we threw him overboard. I'm saying wait until the winds favor us, not them. As it is, if we go the way you recommend, we all end up dead. I'll take alive and bleeding with a chance at a revenge I can enjoy as opposed to dying knowing the man went to hell an hour before I did. Mark me, the man will die. If I thought I could kill him tonight and get away with it, I'd have a dagger in my hand before you could whistle. But I can't, and so the blade waits until the throat is ready for the cutting."
After meeting with Reck, as he heads back below decks.
shome date you turned out to be she ribs him as he goes to leave.
when reck heads off to do what ever, Noro mingles among the crew on deck.
after some time with this Noro heads below to catch up with the others down there to see what trouble reck has managed to stir up.
Reck listens impassively as Sarenth threatens him, and speaks in a low tone of voice. "When my father, th' clan chieftain, understood th' threat I posed t' 'is leadership, 'e beat me within an inch of my life and threw me in th' river. You've got quite th' talent at swimming - 'ave you ever tried it with one leg an' both arms broken? I 'ave. If'n I thought you 'ad either th' intention or th' ability t' carry out that threat, you'd be finding out right now th' depths of pain you'll withstand t' keep breathing. Fortunately for both of us, I'm no superstitious jungle savage and I know quite well what you're capable of.
As I said - you keep makin' friends, I'll keep scaring Scourge's boys straight, and when th' time comes Scourge won't know what 'it 'im."
With that oath and a toothy snarl, Reck heads topside to find Noro.
Sarenth chuckles as Reck leaves. "Didn't say I could do it right this minute, did I? Just said I'd do it. There's a difference, and a promise is a promise. Superstitious jungle savage indeed."
Reck grins. "Worried for me takin' stripes th' same as that skinny wizard?" Reck jostles Noro playfully and then gets serious.
"You're right though. Th' time for takin' 'urt is done - time's right t' start laying th' 'urt on Scourge's crew. We keep ending up in th' same work - figure if you and me can find one o' 'is boys alone we can crack 'is 'ead quick an' quiet-like with none th' wiser. Make it clear t'see that bein' one o' Scourge's boys gets 'azardous. What d' you say?"
Noro smles a bit at the playfulness in Reck.
Anyway, I doubt Shcourgesh boys will be to anxshious to allow shtuff like that ta happen. I be willin ta bet, he will make the firsht move againsht us.
and another thing, she says as she turns to look at Reck, wheresh my flowersh, aint ya shupposed to bring me flowersh or shomethin. after all you did ashk me up here in the middle of the night
she gives him shot on the arm Ha, jusht F'in with ya, anyway, I think we will get our chanshe shoon enough. we are bound to find shomething if the captain thinksh thish be a pirate ship. I shay we sheperate shcourage and hish boys and he will cower like a shcared puppy a lot can happen in battle
Durvin's somewhat pleased to see they are at least talking, even if they do it rather caustically, now if they can actually formulate more of a plan on how to go about it. "That's good thinking Reck, convince his cronies that you are more to fear than he is. I will try to befriend some of the surlier lot. Anyone not as good with making friends easily or scaring cooperation out of them, just focus on ensuring that those that are on our side are truly with us if we needed them. This way we could have a strong case to present in removing Scourge from his station."
I'm gin to shpend shome time among the crew, shee if I can gauge their loyaltiesh. you go below get shome resht.
after some time among the crew Noro heads below for some much needed rest.
The next day dawns just as beautifully as the last, but a bit calmer. With not a cloud to be seen, the Wormwood sails just south of a coral reef at a steady pace, if not a fast one. Your assignments are handed out as normal.
Scourge calls all three of you at once, You three get down t'the Bilges and make sure we're ridin' high. Capt'n says we're close to some shippin ad 'e wants us in fightin' shape!
Lets see of yesterday taught us somethin'!
You notice that Plugg is being very visible today. He is walking the decks discussing something with Master Gunner Riaris Krine
Reck throws himself to work on the bilge pumps, straining against the capstan like he's mad at it.
Despite her misgivings about recent events, Morning brings re-invigoration for Isabella. The slear skies, the unconditional warmth of the sun, and the gentlest of waves against the hull are all she needs to feel right at home again. Even hearing Scourge bark out her orders only elicits a devious smile; she salutes him with the most disingenuous enthusiasm and springs to work.
Nice to wake up without the whole body groaning again. Easy to forget we're plannin' a mutiny here. Almost seems a shame ol' Scourge is bound for bad weather soon...
Her body almost seems to do the job itself, bounding over rails and between working sailors with only the slightest focus as her thoughts and feelings wander throughout the day.
Have to wonder what makes a man such a sadist though. Whipped sailors don't work as well, and stoppin' everyone's duties just to watch doesn't make for much speed. I enjoy a good whip crack as much as the next, but tearin' the bloody daylights out of sailors for not bein' up to par...hmph.
Amidst her acrobatics, she spies Mr. Plugg out and about, and spares barely a glance as her wandering mind detours to him for a moment.
Somethin' nags me bout that one. Barely see him more than the cap'n. Hmmm...bah! Let him cuddle with the cap'n. Actual piratin' time comes 'round, we'll see if he's worth his salt.
Noro awakens rested and healed. She is pleased to discover that Grok has seen fit to give noro her old armor back, or was it someone else that got if for her? No matter she has it back.
slipping into her armor (despite it looking nothing like traditional leather armor, she already feels a bit better, even somewhat safer.
she loosens up some to get the old flexibility back and remembering the feel of moving in the light armor.
assignments are given, and so interesting it is. she gives a nod and a wink to Reck. seems he was right after all on the assignments.
After yesterday Noro decides it best to put herself into her work. not wanting to arrouse suspicion but still the thought of knocking out a few of Scourge's teeth or at least bloodying up her fists on the faces of some his henchmen was enough to keep her spirits up.
Durvin is worried about what everybody is going to be doing, his attention not fully focused on the turtle catching he has become rather adept at doing. He looks around, and tries to chat up whoever he can. He has worked hard on befriending the toughs, but the whole of it is starting to wear on him.
He is thinking about letting Reck scare their cooperation out of them, but he doesn't really like the idea. He decides that he will try to see how the other side lives. He finds an opportunity to catch Tam's attention. "Hello, Narwhal is it? I'm sorry to disturb you, but I know you are close to the Bosun. I was just wondering if you could tell me a little about him. We seem to be falling on the wrong side of his temper. I just want to see if I could do anything to help my friends and I make him less angry and less likely to use the lash."
Sarenth reports to the bilges with the two lovebirds, doing his best to keep his end of the work up to the pace set by their stronger frames. After a while, though, he gives it up for a bad job and goes to find another crew-member to seduce to their cause. He ends up homing in on the older Half-Elf woman with the striped hair. "Afternoon. Not to interrupt, but I was wondering if you could tell me a bit more about how things work here. I've been wondering about the lack of piracy that seems to be happening in our immediate environs, and at the captain's relative invisibility. Think he's under the weather?"
with Sarenth having trouble with the physical labor of the bilges Noro tries to pull his weight as well and giving him the credit. hoping to spare him the lash.
Just as your shift ends, you all are called up on deck. Upon arriving, you see four large crab pots sitting at the feet of Mr. Plugg himself. He seems to be in a contrary attitude.
200 ft north lies a reef known fer good crab catchin. Cap'n wants some for 'is supper t'night, and he's ordered you lot to go an catch'em. So Get a Move On. I'll be watchin'.
Aquatic terrain modifiers are in effect.
Isabella cocks an eyebrow with a knowing smirk.
"Crab hunting, eh? good t'hear cap'n has his appetite back, then. By the by, Mister Plugg, how much crustacean are we looking to haul up?"
Abovedecks, Reck stretches to work the kinks out and clear his lungs of the foul bilge smell as Plugg details their assignment. Without comment, Reck clambers down into the jollyboat and takes an oar, leaving an obvious spot for Noro to sit beside him and take the other. As the group rows away from the boat, Reck opens up to his companions.
"Crabs are good eating! I've 'ad many a feast on 'em myself when I lived by th' shore. You can weave a net out o' vines and peeled bark an' make a trap baited with old bones. Crabbies crawl in, an' 'ave a 'ard time crawling out with all their legs. Special favorite o' mine. I figure we can grab a few more than 'Arrigan needs for supper an' 'ave a feast ourselves."
Plugg shoots you a withering glare. 'Til these pots'r full! Now get overboard an' swim!
Reck obligingly dives over the side, welcoming the cold salt water as it washes the muck of the bilges off of his skin. Reck swims over to the reef, easily spots a crab, and a few monents later resurfaces with the crustacean in hand.
"Easy pickings! "
As they all gather to collect crabs, Durvin quietly reminds them. "Don't forget to grab the knives we used in the bilge monster fight. Never know if we'll need it for any oysters we may find, and want to pry loose, or any territorial eels." After he gathers his things, he hops eagerly into the water.
He casually swims out, always enjoying time in the water, and manages to find a good sized crab. At first he has trouble getting under the water, his frame not having enough weight to pull him down, but he refocuses and makes a grand dive.
Noro watches them leap over the side and decides she might as well join.
not much choice in the matter anyway.
it would seem that as Noro leaped over the side her clothing got coaught on the reef preventing her from getting anywhere leaveing her floundering where she started.
"Well then," She muses, removing her hat and boots, "Time to grab some crabs."
With this she dives in, happy to be amidst the waves. Unfortunately, as she loses her focus enjoying her swim, she manages to locate no crabs...
Just a few seconds after everyone arrives, two ugly, spiny creatures with pincers emerge from further out on the reef and move toward youall. The redish spines covering their backs wiggle menacingly.
These are Reefclaws: intelligent lobster/eel hybrids who are rumored to be extremely tasty.
They like to grab you in their poisonous claws. If killed, they thrash around madly for a few seconds before dying.
Durvin sees the creatures start swimming up, just as he begins a good crabbing song. "Heads up guys, they may want these crabs back."
Les poisons
Les poissons
How I love les poissons
Love to chop
And to serve little fish
First I cut off their heads
Then I pull out the bones
Ah mais oui
Ca c'est toujours delish
Noro stays in the area she is at swimming down to catch a crab
she remains wary of the critter in the water ready to defend if need be.
but of course all Noro can do is make splashes like some flailing toddler at the beach.
"'Aven't a clue what those things are, but I'll find out what they taste like!" yells Reck, before taking a deep breath and swimming towards the strange critter nearest him.
Isabella stops to tread water for a moment and look around in response to Reck's comment, having not really heard Durvin's warning over his song.
"Things? What things? You find our crabs already, bruiser?"
As the half-orc dives after his target, Isabella spots the other one approaching from their flank, and takes position between Durvin and the sea creature, popping her knuckles in anticipation.
"Come on then, beastie. Let's see if we're having treats with dinner."
Isabella stops to tread water for a moment and look around in response to Reck's comment, having not really heard Durvin's warning over his song.
"Things? What things? You find our crabs already, bruiser?"
As the half-orc dives after his target, Isabella spots the other one approaching from their flank, and takes position between Durvin and the sea creature, popping her knuckles in anticipation.
[dice=swim, 10 feet]1d20+7
"Come on then, beastie. Let's see if we're having treats with dinner."
[dice=readied attack, unarmed]1d20+4+1
[dice=a crit, really?]1d20+4+1
[dice=damage]1d3+3+1
[dice=crit damage??]1d3+3+1
looks like Noro will feel the Lash today!