Molgo digs around for some grubs and maybe some herbs to mash together for his and Mr. Rat's proper breakfast. Then it's time to ease on down the road.
Tsi' laughs. "Ah, Captain, the fates are a capricious sort, but we have luck and those two massive half-orcs on our side. The crew has the Bonaventura ship-shape; as soon as our extra ballast arrives, we can push off and be closer to relieving ourselves of this cargo."
This close to the water you have absolutely no problem doing so. Fortified, you continue your trek to the port of Okeno. Mr. Rat moves back and forth over your shoulders as you walk.
The closer you get, the more the foot traffic increases to some outlying settlements. Now, normally you are used to even the most hearty of travelers recoiling on sight (and on smell) as you approach, but now...people seem either not to take offense to you and in some cases actually acknowledge you politely. What fresh hell is this?!
Tzi, you hear the creek of some boards topside as the Captain nods. A cabin boy rushes into the cargo hold, flustered.
"Cap'n! There are two monsters on deck who are demanding passage on the Bonaventura!"
Captain Eron chuckles. "You reckon their ears were burning, Tzi?" He pats you on the shoulder and you both walk upstairs to the deck.
Hako, Tzi, as Awrl and the Captain discuss some particulars about the journey and cargo in whispered tones, the rest of the crew set about preparations to leave the dock. Do you do anything before you leave?
"Hmm. This is interesting to say the least. Perhaps an experiment is in order, My Worm-tailed Friend."
Molgo stops the next traveler who looks at him or speaks to him in a highly-unfamiliar friendly manner. I think I should speak to them in the way they'd expect a city dweller to speak.
"I say, good citizen. A most glorious time of the day to your kin and family and your ancestors and descendants. How are you this lovilicious day? It is a splendickerous day, is it not? The sun is shining overhead like a pustule on the arse of a demon, wouldn't you say? That is to say, a celestial. Would you happen to know the location of a tanner who doesn't use an extraordinary amount of shit in his tanning? I prefer the use of digestive juices from a rhemoraz myself, if possible, mayhap, per se, señor."
Molgo squints and mimes using a pipe as he talks.
There is nothing else Hako wants to do before departure. He does want to inspect the cargo and to carefully examine the hold to make sure there are no hidden ways in. Assuming there is just the one way into the hold, Hako will, if possible, make himself a place to sit on deck near the entrance to the hold where he can look down on the cargo. (Unless, that is, Awrl suggests otherwise.) Hako will also tell the cabin boy to regularly deliver water and food to him, and also to bring him a piss pot.
Molgo, a young woman on her way to wash stops and curtseys in front of you. She has deep brown skin, wears a sarong and has long silver hair tied in a bun. "Good day, sir. I am sorry, I know no tanners the likes of which you seek around these parts. Your dog, is he friendly?" She motions towards Mr. Rat. She seems genuinely interested in your presence.
Hako, Capt. Eron beckons to you. "Know that I respect your employer and value my life, so I will make sure to choose my words carefully. However, I AM the captatin of this ship. All I ask is you lend a hand if asked and don't undermine me in front of my men. Hako, is it? Awrl hear has volunteered you for the first shift of guard duty as we head out. I'll make sure you have everything you require, and at the very least you get to stay below decks. Awrl, you'll be by my side up here. Are we in agreement...'gentlemen?'"
"Fine. I'm just here to do my job, to see that this cargo gets where it is supposed to go. If you don't get in the way of that, I won't get in the way of you doing your job."
Eron nods and shows you below deck.
Tsi' grins at the half-orcs as they are unceremoniously taken below decks. He breathes in fresh salt air and looks longingly out to the open water, away from the stink of the docks, and goes about his business as ship's cleric: checking water and stores, mending broken items, and so forth.
"All's well to cast off here, Cap'n."
"Heave ho, Ts'i!"
And as you head out to sea, you see a single blue butterfly about a dozen feet from the bow of the ship.
"Why, my hound is quite friendly. Mr., uh, Dog, now, don't nip at the fair thee midden, uh, maiden. Whatst news have you seen with your lovelery eyes these fine days on this here areas around heres?"
Molgo feels like he's getting a headache. He telepathically orders Mr. Rat to act like a dog and not like the wild dogs we cook for supper. Like the dandy ones we see on the streets when we go to town.
Mr. Rat rubs up against your leg and pants. It is horrifying, but the young woman doesn't seem to notice and rubs him on the head.
"Surely you saw the heavens alight last night with heavenly fire, didn't you? All of the townsfolk in Okeno are speaking of it. I don't know from such things, but there were a few travellers who stood only staring at the sky until it passed."
Hako, the area below decks is cramped as you'd expect it to be, and as Eron leads you into the hold (allowing you a little bit of head room at least), you see the only two points of exit are the door you came in and a trapdoor leading to deck.
"The boy has been instructed to knock three times, then one more after a moment. He should be down shortly with your...chamber pot. I must attend to my duties topside, but should you require anything within reason, pester the boy. I'll send your comrade down to relieve you when the time comes. Gods willing, we'll have no more need of you past this." He nods and places his hand on your shoulder, thinking better of it an removing it almost immediately.
Ts'i, if you ever needed an omen for a blessed voyage, you couldn't do much better than the blue butterfly!
Hako nods and even manages a bit of a smile. He harbors no malice towards the captain. When the boy comes he asks him to bring food and water as well. Otherwise, Hako finds a position with his back to the wall and a good view of the cargo and both doors. He amuses himself by sharpening his weapons and checking his equipment.
The boy refuses to look you in the eye, but he quickly brings you all you require. There is a gentle sway as the ship leaves port. You muse on how poor Awrl may be faring upstairs. Looking around the hold, Ruriel's parcel is the most noteworthy piece of cargo, but there are some barrels that slosh as the boat moves and so forth. For the moment, all is well.
"Helmsman! Bring 'er out of port! Mind the traffic! You, able seaman, check cargo again and make sure our guests are well stowed! I'll be below in a turn of the gla--" Tsi' stops, his watchstanding commands belayed by the sight of the butterfly.
He kneels on the deck and lifts his three holy symbols of Shimye-Magalla to the butterfly, kissing the back of his hand and presenting them to it. "Ocean of Stars," he murmurs.
He then recites a prayer in Mwangi.
Goddess of Luck, God of the Sea,
Ocean of Stars above us and below,
Guide us well in our journey as we return to your bosom.
Always returning, always grateful,
We delight in your gifts and bend to your whims.
Shimye-Magalla, O Two-in-One,
We hear your mighty wrath in the teeth of the storm,
We hear your laughter in the trickle of all waters that return to you.
Shimye-Magalla, we give of ourselves that we may receive you once again.
Wave-crest to untold depths, Wind, water, light and dark,
Shimye-Magalla, Ocean of Stars,
We bow to you.
Tsi' takes out his dagger and cuts off one of his locks, braided with white linen as clean and fresh as ocean-caps, and lets it fall off the deck and into the waters.
He then turns to the crew. "Be of good cheer, and not afraid. We are blessed this day. Shimye-Magalla! His face is radiant.
Tentatively, Tsi'kazochi turns to the butterfly again.
And as if by magick, the butterfly is gone! The early morning traffic in the dock is light and the crew is adept, so leaving port is a breeze. And speaking of breezes...as you turn back to where the butterfly was, a strong gust fills your sails and pushes you forward. Awrl grips the side of the ship with all his might and looks like he is trying to compose himself.
From the crows-nest, a deck hand shouts down "Clear as the eye can see, Cap'n! Not a cloud in the sky nor a boat on the horizon!"
Molgo, the young lady wishes you a good day and continues to the shoreline to do her washing. As she walks away...
"Has someone set a fire? I swear I smell offal burning..."
The bit of paper containing the glamor you retrieved from the boat has grown warm and is cooking your flesh!
Tsi' smiles beatifically and checks the ship's glass.
A good omen. That should put the Cap'n back in sorts. A bit more time until Second Mate or Bos'n goes on watch, then I'll check on our friends in the hold. Once we're clear on deck and out of port perhaps we can let those poor devils stretch their legs, one at a time, he thinks.
Molgo throws the paper to the ground and stomps on it with his calloused, clompy foot.
"OUT, OUT, DAMN HOT! Burn me no more!"
The paper cascades to the ground, relieving the burning. The girl turns back to you to say something else and is immediately horrified. She starts screaming, which attracts the notice of a few travellers on the road.
"Back, Man-Witch! What have you done to this young woman?!" they cry. No pitchforks or torches, but your pustule-covered self has been revealed for all to see. And Mr. Rat is not helping the equation.
Back on The Bonaventura, the morning's sailing is about as smooth as you can get. Awrl seems to have managed to stave off any major bouts of sea-sickness, and below decks things are calm.
But come noon-time, the wind begins to die down and the ship comes to a stop. An hour passes, and still no breeze. Captain Eron paces the deck nervously and shouts commands.
Perception:
Yowza!
The ship is so still at this point, you make out what you take to be voices coming from the underside of the boat...
Hako jumps up with his axe in hand and climbs halfway up the ladder to spread the word to those on deck (especially Awrl and Tsi), without leaving the hold. He keeps alert to see if he can make out the voices and to tell whether they seem to be coming up the sides or making some attempt to access the hold without going on deck.
"What enchantment did you hex me with woman!??!?! And my poor, plucky Poopsie!!! MY HOUND! You all saw me! I was completely copacetic until my document of entry caught on fire. WHAT DID YOU DO!!?!?"
Hako, the voices from underneath the ship fade and grow in intensity, though it's no tongue you've ever heard. Hako, you poke your head above deck just in time for a severe jolt which throws some of the crew off balance. You steady yourelf on the ladder and inform Capt. Eron of what you've heard.
"READY YOUR ARMS, MEN!"
Tsi', you are shaken from your reverie by this jolt. The men below decks rush about to see what is going on, and many head upstairs.
"How dare you besmirch the honor of this young woman! Back from where you came, you foul creature!" There are about 5 men surrounding you, and one woman attending to the girl who has been flummoxed by your witchery. The are armed with large daggers, and are ever so slightly inching forward.
Hako stands ready for combat, halfway up the ladder. He has a throwing axe in one hand and his double axe in his other, using his arm to keep him on the ladder. He is watching for signs of the assailants both on the deck and in the hold -- especially in the hold, since there are plenty of friendly eyes ready to give the alert up on deck.
"Mother of Storms!" Tsi' springs up.
"Well, now gentlemans, I'm sure this is all a misunderstanding. Let me give the lovely lady back her paper, then. I thought she had bewitched me and my hound, but I guess I'm wrong."
Molgo bends and picks up the paper.
Stonespine: Two of the men draw their daggers on you, Molgo, and one of them rushes toward you. However, as you are bending down to pick up the paper he slips in the mud and plunges his dagger deep into the muck. Now it is your turn. [/b]
Bonaventura: Tsi', you've heard rumors of some sort of assailants that strike from underneath in this stretch of the ocean, but you've always treated them as such. However, with another lurch of the ship, you're inclined to give the story a BIT more credence.
Hako, you can only stand your ground for the moment, which is no mean feat as the boat shakes again...
And from over the edge comes a group of 8 Gill-men armed with swords forged of whale-bone. They survey the situation and one steps forward, gurgling the words: "You will die this day!"
"Zoundsooks! I am overdone! You men! You know not what you do! My touch brings pustules of pestilence! Run or you, too, will be overcome like me and my putrid pet! *HACK* *COUGH* FLEE! This man is already succumbing to my contagion!!!"
You can practically hear Baba Yaga cackling as your attacker reels back in the mud as your staff finds purchase on his skull. His eyes cross for a second and he staggers to his feet. However, his compatriot is quicker on the draw and swipes at you. Perhaps it's your smell that causes him to pull back as he nears you, but regardless his blade misses you.
Tsi', the sight of the single butterfly sending you out to see gave you particular insight during your morning's meditation, giving you pause before you leave your cabin. Knowing you are in open waters and the ship has come to an unexpected stop, you put on your armor and pray for a safe remainder of your journey before you go topside.
Hako, your position makes it difficult for you to immediately jump into the fray, which may serve you as there is almost instant chaos on the deck of The Bonaventura. One of the Gill-men eviscerates a deckhand while another throws the corpse over the side. Captain Eron is doing his best to rally the crew and defend himself.
Awrl, on the other hand, laughs a deep belly laugh and starts cracking skulls. He singles one out to try and intimidate, slowly pushing him back towards you.
Hako will jump on deck but will not stray from the entrance to the hold. He will prepare to attack any gill-man that comes within the range of his double axe, but he will use a move or free action every round to peek into the hold to make sure the cargo is undisturbed.
"All hands to arms! For the Bonaventura!" shouts Tsi'kazochi.
He moves towards the melee, trident out, then braces himself--literally--for combat.
A trident! Nice touch. Hako is pleased. He hasn't seen anyone fight with a trident since he left the arenas.
"So, ho ho ho! You braggadocious bullies! You think to gang up on a poor inflicted hermit??!?! The Gods frown up those who prey on the weak! Except, tigers. They like tigers for some reason."
Molgo decides to give them what for by casting Chill Touch on Stumbly Bum in front of me.
Your palm makes contact with the wacky attacker and immediately he falls prone. His goes to his shivering comrade and the young girl faints straight away.
Since it is a double weapon, Hako gets two attacks, using his two-weapon fighting feat to lessen the negatives.
First attack:
First attack damage (should it hit):
Second attack:
Second attack damage (should it hit):