Lavinia, sagging in Tolins arms, roused herself to follow the rest of the party. But she could only flail her limbs as Tolin would not let go.
"Tolin! RELEASE ME!" She cried out as she elbowed him sharply.
He fell back with a grunt and gasped "Yes of course Lavinia" as she ran down to one of the canoes and forced her way aboard.
Halfway to the site of the splash, a canoe will stop to pick up Sunny and Marius.
At the site itself, Ghirrak arrives first.
You see Bryson's blackened figure floating in the lightly choppy waves. A white vapor drifts lazily off his body.
Swimming toward Bryson's unconscious form, Ghirrak, wraps an arm around his friend's chest, keeping his head out of the water as he swims back toward one of the boats.
A tired Sunny at first refuses to be helped into a canoe, assuring those offering that she's up to the task... though as her flagging constitution has the canoes at first keep up with herself and then begin to go past her... she relents and resignedly clambers aboard.
Whence they come to the form drifting upon the ocean's light swell she too offers to slid back into the waves and help bring the hero Bryson aboard the largest of the canoes.
Ghirrak has known Bryson for quite some time. They have gone through a lot together (the last original characters I think). It takes him only a moment to realize that Bryson has been changed. The first thing is that he has wings. Large, leathery bat-like wings. And a tail. And he can't be sure if that white vapor is the last remnant of the explosion or if Bryson is generating it himself. Finally, as Ghirrak keeps Bryson afloat, Bryson's head rolls back and his mouth opens wider than it should and its filled with sharp teeth. The last time that Ghirrak saw such a site was on the bestial, ravenous creatures effected by the black pearls.
"Bryson?"
Though not shaken by Bryson's appearance, Burian is taken aback...
"What has happened to him? Is this.. normal?"
He thinks upon his own understanding of the world's ways to assess Bryson's changes himself.
At first more concerned with getting Bryson's unconscious body back to the canoe, it takes Ghirrak a moment to register the changes to his friend. The large, leathery bat-like wings and tail, that make the swim towing him back a bit more difficult, the blackened for and mouth filled with a predator's teeth, all speak of the effects of the black pearl.
"Quickly, help me get him on board. Be careful though, the pearl has changed him, done something dark to him." the monk says as the canoes pull up alongside them.
Sunny peers from where she's flopped on board another canoe, having helped Ghirrak haul Bryson onto the largest of the vessels. She tiredly looks on, drained for the moment from the exertions of getting out to rescue the parties hero.
After helping get Bryson safely aboard, Burian wordlessly asks for aid, and allows divine energy to flow though him into Sunny.
He then turns his attention back to Bryson.. scanning for what injuries he can find without prodding him.
"Badly wounded or just unconscious?..."
"Better to get him to shore before tending to him, aye?" He wiggles the fingers of his casting hand to indicate by "tending to him" he means healing magic.
"..just in case this new Bryson is... unruly when he wakes."
Sunny smiles and relaxes as the soothing magics wash over herself.
Burian verifies that Bryson is only battered and unconscious.
With Bryson secured aboard one of the canoes, they all oar back to the beach.
Carried out onto the warm dry sand, Bryson warms up as healing energies are poured into him.
As Bryson slowly opens his eyes, he sees his crewmates crowded around him, with the Olmen standing around further away, whispering uneasily to each other and pointing at him.
Annie knelt by Bryson, her eyes frightened.
"Bryson? Bryson! What happened to you?" She asked in a whisper.
At first, simply happy that their friend has been found and rescued, Sunny flops down in the bottom of the canoe and rests. After a short while of getting her breath and strength back she happily join in with the rowing, though her strokes aren't quite up to keeping in power with every one else in the craft her intentions are true in trying to help.
Once back on shore she kneels in the sand and at first simply watches on as Bryson receives attentions and ministrations from every one.
Bryson comes to with a start. He tries to fight off everyone and fly away, but is too weak. It's only Annie's voice that calms him. "Annie!" He goes to hug her, but she shy's away. "What's wrong? Did it effect you? My fire and rain, ah will find a way to save you."
As he reaches out to her, he finally takes note of his hands. They have claws. The weight of his wings settle on him. He takes note of the movement of his tail.
"Noooo!" Again, he tries to flee, but is still too weak. "Ghirrak, end me. Ah don't want to become one of them."
"You aren't one of them Bryson, the fact that you are even concerned about it proves that you are still yourself on the inside. Whatever dark energies you saved is all from may have......affected your body, but you are the same good man I've known all along." Ghirrak says resting his hand on Bryson's shoulder.
For the moment Sunny watches on giving people space as Bryson begins to recover. Though she shows her understanding of Hero Bryson's signs of distress.
Annie threw herself across Brysons body protectively.
"No! No no nonono! It's just another transformation Bryson! You've gone through dozens before now, you'll transform again!"
"Ah'ight" Bryson acquiesces to Annie. [b]"Ah'll wait'n see. Too tired to change now, but in the morning ah'll change back. Just like all the other times." He puts his arm around Annie, who doesn't shy back this time. He gives a smile which shows his fanged overlarge mouth, but at least he's stopped smoking. "Anybody else hurt? And where's Avner? You think he has an outfit that would go with mah wings?"
Sunny smiles and steps closer to give Bryson and Annie a friendly, welcoming hug. She looks to Bryson,
"Ye is a hero, mate. Is in yer blood. Ye've nuffin' ta be scared of, we's all yer friends here." She nods, before skipping off with a jaunty wave.
(^_^)
Marius was a tad sceptical that Bryson's transformation would be so easily done away with. Still, this was probably not the best time to bring his mood even further down by pointing that out. For now, Marius kept a quiet eye on the locals. They weren't looking overly enamoured of the change, and while he doubted any violence would come of it, it looked like their idyll here was at an end.
Between the trouble they'd brought down on the tribe and this transformation, he wasn't sure he'd blame them.
Now that they were back and Bryson had calmed down, Ghirrak goes over to Lavinia, taking her in his arms, happy to have her safe again.
Annie and several crewmen take Bryson aboard the Kraken to rest.
Around about that time, you see a dozen burly tribesmen carrying a trussed up Avner Meravanchi to the Kraken as well. He is livid and shouting the most vile imprecations at his captors, to the point that you are grateful most of them don't understand his common speech.
Spinnaker Jon came up to you, a worried frown on his face.
"Sorry to break this to you lads and lassies, but it seems that young Avner has been at the chief's daughters.
"Now normally, the fix would be a marriage or three, but Avner... well he rejected the idea. In fact, he rejected it in such a manner that I am going to have to stay behind and pour oil on the waters so the chief doesn't declare war." He said sadly.
Lavinia's face filled with rage. Looking around, she grabbed a piece of driftwood and strangled it.
"That fool will see us all dead!" She hissed. "If the Chief closes his port here, we'll be stranded! And there will be no friendly port, AT ALL between Farshore and Port Sasserine!"
"Idiot" Ghirrak mutters shaking his head. "The chief will probably require a show of faith that we're taking this seriously."
"Calm yerself lassie. I'll stick around here and make nice with the chief. It'll be nice, sunning meself here fer a while. They've got stories I haven't heard before, and you really need a factor here if'n yer gonna send more ships through here anyway.
"O'course, yer gonna need yerselves a new Captain." He said, looking the lot of you over skeptically.
"Let me go talk to the chief." He growls out. "Ah'll give him a right good show of faith. Declare war if he want to. That be the last thing he do. Serves him right, really. His girls ought not be so pretty. This is not Avner's fault and we ought stand by him." Bryson is as loyal as ever to his friends.
"Ghirrak. Ghirrak should take over. He really the only choice here, except for Annie. Annie knows alot about ships. Annie should take over.
Ghirrak gives Bryson an unreadable look. He could be deeply contemplating his suggestions or questioning his sanity.
Suny does her best to work out what it is that's going on with the people.
So.. while Suny's expectations when it come to being 'interactive' with others might seem trivial, the fact that you're dealing with a creature/person who will probably be able to remember said interaction for over a century or so makes said encounter a little bit different.
"I don't think....given your current state that meeting with the chief would go over well." Ghirrak says after a while.
Burian exhales in relief that the tense situation regarding Bryson's transformation is somewhat diffused for now. He murmurs to the isopod familiar slung over his shoulder - responding the creature's click and slurping didactic quotes.. "Aye.. panic never helps negotiating your way through obstacles. Composure invites solutions."
He chimes in on the comments regarding the captain's announcement.
"I'd say the captain's set on this. A decision should be made soon.. I'd think it best the crew and the captain be present when the new captain is appointed. Respect loyalty stewardship... are ever intertwined."
"But what about being the captain?" Bryson asks Ghirrak.
Suny continues to listen and watch as people decide their people-y issues.
"I...I agree that the crew should have a say in it, but the most important opinions are Lavinia's and Jon's" Ghirrak says after a moment of thought.
Jon glanced about.
"Let's take this to the Captains Cabin." He asked, gesturing at all the onlookers.
He made sure to hang onto Bryson as they took a boat out to where the Savage Kraken swayed at anchor, freshly careened and barnacle scraped.
In the Captain's Cabin, Spinnaker Jon had the table set up for the conference. He sent Tavey Nask to haul up several of the bottles of wine he had cooling in the deeper water several fathoms below the waterline.
After pouring a glass for anyone who wanted one, Jon leaned back in his chair.
"Now I've given this some thought and I want to run this by you.
"For the Captain, I would really prefer one of the partners; namely one of you here now.
"Of the partners, only Burian and Sunny have any training in the profession of seamanship, but, no offense meant to yourselves, I feel they are simply too new to the crew. This would go for Marius as well.
"I don't mention Devon because scuttlebut has it he's going to take the Chief's offer as advisor here in dealing with ship traffic here.
"Of the rest, Annie, Bryson and Ghirrak are well known to the crew.
"Bryson, you are well respected among the crew, but I don't think your current transformation would be helpful in command situations.
"Annie is highly respected as a priestess of Caiden Caylean, but when I floated the possibility by her she laughed it off.
"Ghirrak is also highly respected, and is also famed as a gladiator, war leader and combat instructor. I would vote for Ghirrak as Captain."
He packed a pipe and lit it. Blowing a smoke ring, he gesture for you all to weigh in.
"Ah agree."
Sunny presents herself in the grand cabin along with every one else of note. She's even managed to find a nice silk shirt to wear for the occasion.
At the offering of the wine she perches happily upon a chair and, other than taking small sips from the glass, doesn't do much but otherwise listen to what people have to say. Once Spinnaker John has put his point across and Hero Bryson has made his agreement Sunny continues to sit for a while looking around at every one gathered together with her large, blue eyes.
She sets the barely sipped glass of wine aside and stands up. Turning to Spinnaker John she offers a polite bow,
'I be thanking ye fer the offer of bein' Captain." She starts, even as she straightens and looks about at her friends,
"But ye has tha' right of it. I be still learnin' about peoples as well as boats." She points to the entry way,
"DOOR!" She says brightly/proudly to Bryson, (^_^)
"An' m'self bein' all new ta' every thing...?" She shrugs. "Oh 'course I be happy fer Burian or Marius ta' be givin' it a go, should they want to, but I be knowin' them fer longer an' they's been about with every one else jus' as long as m'self, so's I understand that bit about not bein' known ta' folks." She nods. Again she looks to Bryson and Annie,
"Hero Bryson would seem t'be goin' through a lot right now... " For a moment it might seem like the plucky Elf is going to hug Bryson again, though the moment passes and she does not, "So, I sort'a understand him not bein' in'a mood fer tryin' on tha' Captain's hat." She looks to Ghirrak.
"SO, is ye self be of a mind ta' try on tha' Captain's hat? Burian an' m'self an' them's what're knowin' of tha' crew be more'n happy ta' help ye along with things. Ye's right good at knowin' tha' flow of a fight. Talkin' ta' peoples about doin' things is like gettin' kin t'gether ta' be nettin' fish. Tha' one keepin' a eye on tha' big picture dun't need ta' know tha' lil' points about handlin' tha' net..." Sunny begins to blush as she looks about at every one.
"Um... I... in't sure if'n I be makin' understandin'.... " She blinks and hops back up on her chair, grabbing her glass and taking a gulp.
"I think there is one person whose opinion is rather important," Marius said, "And that's your own, Ghirrak. Is this a responsibility you want to take on? You'd have plenty of support in the role, but I'm sure nobody wants you to feel you're being shoehorned into it whether you like it or not."
Ghirrak did indeed seem the sensible choice, and was collecting endorsements to boot. Marius certainly didn't want the job, but he did feel somebody ought to make sure Ghirrak did before electing him by general acclaim. He hadn't really had the chance to say much one way or another.
Burian nods in agreement.
"Fair and accurate assessment, Captain. A fine choice - Ghirrak willing...." he nods to Marius acknowledging his point.
"DOOR!" She says brightly/proudly to Bryson, (^_^)
"Hatch!" Spinnaker Jon stage whispered, smiling.
Lavinia reached out and put her hand over Ghirraks.
"The most important part is leadership. You are the face and voice of the ship to the outer world; and if your crew is confident in you, you will have success. If you have a good first officer, someone who knows the technical things you don't, you'll be a legendary Captain indeed!" She said smiling.
His expression it's usual stoic one as he listens to his friends express their opinions and concerns for his own desires, Ghirrak finally smiles as Lavinia adds her opinion. While hers may have been the most important, both personally and as far as the venture was concerned, the regard and support of his friends and the crew meant a great deal.
"The confidence of this group, and the crew at large means a lot. We've been through much so far and I'm sure the adventure will only have more wonders and perils ahead. If you all believe in me, I proudly accept, and will do my best to ensure that your faith isn't misplaced." he says with a grin.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
A rosy cheeked, tanned Elf gives a loud and boisterous 'Yippee!' at Ghirrak's accepting speech, bouncing over and throwing her arms around the solidly build Half-Orc.
"Ye's is gon'a be's a bestestes Cap'ans eversh..." Her voice trailing off into a slur as the effects of the wine she's just recently downed take effect and she begins to slide down her Captain in the early stages of a alcohol induced stupor.
"Now that been decided, Ah'm gonna git me some rest."
There are ten doses of each of these available.
Potion of Cure light wounds {1st/1st} : 50gp [+]
Potion of Enlarge person {1st/1st} : 50gp [+]
Potion of Pass without trace {1st/1st} : 50gp [+]
Potion of Reduce person {1st/1st} : 50gp [+]
Potion of Sanctuary {1st/1st} : 50gp [+]
Potion of Spider climbing {1st/1st} : 50gp [+]
There are three doses of each of these available.
Elixir of love : 150gp [+]
Potion of Cure moderate wounds {1st/1st} : 300gp [+]
Potion of Make whole {2nd/3rd} : 300gp [+]
Potion of Bear's endurance {2nd/3rd} : 300gp [+]
Potion of Wood shape {2nd/3rd} : 300gp [+]
Potion of Invisibility {2nd/3rd} : 300gp [+]
Potion of Cat's grace {2nd/3rd} : 300gp [+]
Potion of Invisibility {2nd/3rd} : 300gp [+]
Potion of Undetectable alignment {2nd/3rd} : 300gp [+]
There is a single dose of each of these available.
Potion of Cure serious wounds {3rd/5th} : 750gp [+]
Potion of Gaseous form {3rd/5th} : 750gp [+]
Potion of Shrink item {3rd/5th} : 750gp [+]
With the repairs complete and Avner confined to quarters, you let the officers know first, then make a general announcement of the new Captaincy to the crew and passengers.
The farewell celebration is neccessarily brief, as Spinnaker Jon had to go attend to mollifying the Chief and the two ships of Lavinia's fleet had to shove off quickly for the same reason.
So after Spinnaker Jon, Devon Hernan, Phillip Pharlan and Rynight Trendit packed their sea chests and departed the ship for the last time, Amella took Ghirrak in hand to show him the basics of raising anchor, making sail and piloting the ship out of the lagoon and out to the sea again. This time, there was no coast to follow; the course was directly south into the open ocean.
And at the end of day, Ghirrak opened his door and stepped into his Captains Cabin, the orange-red light of the setting sun reflecting off the water and through the glass of his windows.