Dot the gameplay thread.
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You wake up in darkness.
You remember the night before - the ringing laughter of a wild night, the heady joy of excess, the scents of cheap perfume and rich stewed meant lingering in your nostrils.
Now all that's left is a pounding headache, the sickly taste of cheap wine in you mouth, a hardy wood floor and a rhythmic creaking noise. The room sways back and forth like you're still drunk.
Before you can do much more than sit up and realize you're not alone before you hear heavy footsteps and the harsh light of a lantern piercing into your eyes.
A rough looking man cracks a whip at the floor of your feet as he stands over you with six other pirates, all slapping saps into their open hands with cruel grins on their faces.
[roll]Roll Perception DC 10 and Intelligence DC 10[/ooc]
You taste a faint amount of oily nutmeg on your tongue. Roll Craft (Alchemy) DC 15 or Knowledge (nature) DC 10 to determine the source of the taste.
You realize the taste is the remains of oil of taggit - someone poisoned either your food or drink last night
The man with the whip was in the office last night - you've been shanghai'd!
Arrh! Where the hell am I, and why the hell is my head pounding?
By Gorum's balls, how'd I let myself get caught up on one of these ships!
The pirate with the whip lashes out at you.
I'd have volunteered for any ship but this one... No better than slavers... I hope at least it's a decent vessel...
The boy stands up and slowly begins to move upstairs, paying close attention to the ship's outlook.
Wulf slowly gets up and takes stock of his surroundings, focusing on anything that might be useable as a weapon.
He stands up to his full height looking down upon the pirate standing in front of him.
He turns and begins moving toward the deck of the ship.
"Might as well see how this is going to play out."
Clearly I'm on the wrong boat. Garćon? Please have the runabout brought around, and make sure theres a rustic cabernet on board and a more rustic blonde to go with it.
Grumbling and smacking her tongue and lips Nymph groggily came to, greatly annoyed at the fact that she had A. woken up, B. been woken up by some jackass shouting at her, C. was not curently in a bed with the cutie she was flirting with last night, and D. said jackass was cracking a whip in an obviously non Calistrian fashion.
"Ugh,.. damnit! Thas the last time I play 'Down the tankard or lose your shirt'. No matter how fine the wenches are." she mumbled as she stood and took stock of her own situation, which wasn't very good. Granted they had left her with her leather breeches and the fishnet shirt she wore so her captors were nicer than most she thought, that and she hadn't woken to getting a tattoo carved into her face so she counted that as a plus.
Not really wanting to give Whippy an excuse to target her she gets up and moves out with the others.
int
perc
alch
Not again! A prisoner again..
Ayre looks for Rocky and when he cannot find him he begins to panic. Throigh a great effort he calms himself.
Ayre keeps quiet after seeing the whip lash out and he rises
The man with the whip slashes at Carthus for his impudence, then prods the rest of the crew onto the deck.
As you emerge on deck you find yourself surrounded by the rest of the crew and a few additional new sailors. You are all kept with three additional crew members and stand apart from the rest of the crew as a result of their relative cleanliness.
They prod you into a relative line in front of two men. One is a young, balding man with a long black ponytai, wearing a long coat and carrying a well-used cat-o'-nine-tails.
The other is a huge, muscular Garundi man with a shaven head, long beard bound with gold rings and an eye patch and this man moves to address you.
Glad you could join us at last! Welcome to the Wormwood! My thanks for ‘volunteering’ to join my crew.
The existing crew chuckes and jeers at you.
I’m Barnabas Harrigan. That’s Captain Barnabas Harrigan to you, not that you’ll ever need to address me. I have only one rule—don’t speak to me. I like talk, but I don’t like your talk. Follow that rule and we’ll all get along fine.
Oh, and one more thing. Even with you new recruits, we’re still short-handed, and I aim to keep what crew I have. There’ll be a keelhaulin’ for anyone caught killin’ anyone. Mr. Plugg! If you’d be so kind as to make pirates out of these landlubbers, it’ll save me having to put them in the sweatbox for a year and a day before I make pies out of ’em.
At this point he simply walks away, leaving behind the man with the cat-o'-nine-tails.
The man with cat looks at you and has an evil grin.
Well now, nice to see such fine specimen of sailors here. Well good news for you is you get to start working right away! Some previous crew were too stupid not to fall off the mast in a storm and we need some new riggers. So you all get to see who the best is!
He laughs easily at your discomfort and someone with a boarding pike begins prodding you to the rigging.
go up 20 feet fall but catch myself climb another 10 to 30 then fall
slams into the deck or he would if he didnt cast feather fall on himself
He starts again Finally he makes it all the way up.
Galean stirs a bit, looking a bit woozy from the oil, and slows down for a bit.
He quickly recovers his graces, and continues onward with practiced ease.
15ft.
22.5ft.
-
30ft.
-
-
37.5ft.
45ft.
- Reflex Save
52.5ft.
-
-
60ft.
Galean takes it slow, except for a slip just below the topgallant sail. That's not how you tie a Calistrian Clutch knot, you goblinspawns... He manages to grab a hold of the rope and proceeds slowly.
Yes, for the purpose of these tests you cannot take 10, and you must continue until insensate from falling or at the top.
No progress
Success 7.5ft
Success 15ft
Failure
Caught rigging
Failure
Caught rigging
Caught rigging
Success 22.5ft
Success 30ft
Failure
Caught rigging
Success 37.5ft
Success 45ft
Success 52.5ft
SUCCESS 60ft
Scrabbling and getting caught in the netting upon starting it was painfully obvious that the woman had probably never climbed a mast, of any sort, before. Once she got started though she raced upward, not being cautious though she kept missing a step or a grab and had to waste time catching and steadying herself, almost as much time spent actually climbing up.
"If I was meant to climb I woulda been born a damn monkey!" she spat in-between panting as she finally hurled herself over into the crow's nest.
Not being much of a climber Wulf knows that this will take a while, however he is familiar with the rigging and not much afraid of falling.
Wulf walks over to the rigging and immediately falls on his ass. The ship lurched sideways and the ground was no longer underneath him.
I must still be drunk. Lets get this over with.
Well that wasn't so bad. Maybe I can still see my ship from here? Nope, nothing.
I'm going behind that guy? Points to Wulf. Sure, why not?
Carthus grabs the rope gingerly and begins his way up.
Carthus looks at his hands, looks at Wulf.
Is there any particular reason the ropes you touched were so, ah, sticky?
7.5
15
-
22.5
30
37.5
45
52.5
Fall
Save!
52.5
-
60
The man with the cat looks at all of you in disgust.
You lot have to be the worst lubbers I've ever seen. How any of you ever got to Port Peril outside of a livestock crate is beyond me.
He lashes with the cat in annoyance.
You, the fairy and the oaf get to be the new topmen. Besmara preserve us.
Now the rest of you lot, who here has experience cooking?
Sir, I have experience as a doctor, if that is useful. I am also experienced as a carpenter.
Clearly I need to wash my hands before touch food.
Looks suspiciously at Wulf again. Looks at his hands, looks back to Wulf and sighs.
I'm not the worst around a fire, mate.
"I just eat the food, I don't know how to fix it." Nymph mumbles to the others.
The man with the ponytail laughs at Ayre.
You got your job, Fairy. But if anyone on the mainmasts needs to have a bone sawed I guess they can come to you instead of the real ship's doctor.
He laughs.
Well then you get the job, Tubby . The captain ain't happy with the food so you better get it in shape. Failure will be...unpleasant.
The rest of you get to be swabs, so get your arses in gear and start working, your section leaders will assign your tasks!
Each day, the PCs are assigned tasks to complete, based on the their jobs (cook’s mate, rigger, or swab). Each PC will roll 1d6 on the following tables to randomly determine the daily tasks for each PC who’s a rigger or swab. See The Cook’s Mate below for details on tasks assigned to the cook’s mate. Each task represents a day’s hard work and requires at least one successful skill check to complete. Failing a task’s required skill check results in punishment. The punishment for failing a check by 4 or less is merely a severe verbal reprimand, or at worse, a rope bash.
Failing by 5 or more results in three lashes. The number of lashes increases to six if this is the second such failure in a row, to nine lashes for three failures in a row, and so on. Work takes place under the watchful eyes of Mr. Plugg and Master Scourge, and getting away from them is not easy. If a PC refuses to work or is unable to work, he or she receives a dozen lashes for the first such offense and a dozen lashes with the cat for the second. A third offense results in the character being put in the sweatbox for 12 hours.
Rigger Tasks
1 Rigging Repair: The ship’s rigging frequently gets damaged and must be repaired, requiring DC 10 Climb checks to reach the rigging 30 feet up, followed by a DC 10 Profession (sailor) or Dexterity check.
2 Line Work: Hard work hoisting and lowering sails, requiring a DC 10 Profession (sailor) or Dexterity check. The PC must also make a DC 10 Constitution check to avoid being fatigued at the end of the shift.
3 Upper Rigging Work: Work in the upper rigging, 50 feet up, requiring DC 10 Climb checks, followed by a DC 10 Profession (sailor) or Dexterity check.
4 Rope Work: Handling the ship’s ropes, including coiling them, stowing them, and securing them to cleats and single and double bollards, requiring a DC 10 Profession (sailor) or Dexterity check.
5 Lookout: A climb to the crow’s nest 60 feet up, requiring DC 10 Climb checks followed by a DC 10 Perception check.
6 Mainsail Duties: Tough work raising and lowering the mainsail, requiring a DC 10 Profession (sailor) or Strength check. The PC must also make a DC 10 Constitution check to avoid being fatigued at the end of the shift.
Swab Tasks
1 Man the Bilges: Vile and sweaty work cleaning out the bilges, requiring a DC 12 Strength check. The PC must also make a DC 10 Constitution check to avoid being fatigued at the end of the shift.
2 Rat Catcher: Catching rats and other vermin belowdecks, requiring either a DC 10 Stealth check, Survival check, or Dexterity check to catch and kill enough rats, cockroaches, and beetles for a good day’s work.
3 Swab the Decks: Backbreaking work mopping the decks and scrubbing them with sandstone blocks called holystones, requiring a DC 10 Strength or Constitution check. Failing either check results in the PC being fatigued at the end of the shift.
4 Hauling Rope and Knot Work: Tying and untying knots in the ship’s ropes and moving heavy coils of rope from one part of the ship to another, requiring a DC 10 Profession (sailor) or Strength check. The PC must also make a DC 10 Constitution check to avoid being fatigued at the end of the shift.
5 Runner: Passing messages to the crew and officers of the Wormwood in all parts of the ship except officers’ cabins, requiring a DC 10 Acrobatics check and DC 10 Constitution check. Failing the Constitution check results in the PC being fatigued at the end of the shift. A PC with the Run feat automatically succeeds at this task.
6 Repairs: Things constantly tear or break aboard the ship and need repairs, whether sewing sails or splicing rope all day, requiring a DC 10 Profession (sailor) or Dexterity check.
Cook's Mate Tasks:
The Cook's Mate must roll a 1d100 at the start of each day; if the roll is 50 or above Kroop is drunk.
1 or 2 Cooking: Assisting Ambrose Kroop in preparing the day's meal. If Kroop is sober, no check is needed. If Kroop is drunk this requires a DC 10 Profession (Cook) or Intelligence Check.
3 Fishing: Catching tonight's supper using the ship's nets. A DC 10 Profession (Fisherman) or Survival check provides enough fish. A failed check results in a day in the Bilges (See Swab's Tasks)
4 Turtle Hunting: Hunting leatherback sea turtles with harpoons, treble hooks, and nets. A DC 10 Profession (Fisherman) or Survival check provides enough fish. A failed check results in a day in the Bilges (See Swab's Tasks)
5 Bull Session: Drinking with Ambrose Kroop and listening to his stories. The cook's mate must drink an additional rum ration, but is able to ake an additional ship action during the day.
6 Special Occasion: Captain Harrigan is celebrating something today, and wants one the ship's pigs butchered and cooked for dinner. The PC must make a DC 10 Profession (Cook) or Survival check to slaughter the animal then help Kroop to clean, cut and prepare the carcass. If Kroop is sober, no additional check is required. If Kroop is drunk, this requires a DC 15 Profession (Cook) or Intelligence Check.
You each get one daytime action (outside of working) and one nighttime action. You can make up to two additional nighttime actions but you must make a successful Constituion check (DC 10, +4 per extra ship action taken) or be fatigued the next day. If you are already fatigued you cannot take additional actions.
Daytime Ship Actions:
Work Diligently - gain a +4 bonus on any one check for a job's daily task.
Influence - Make normal checks for a job's daily taks and attempt to influence a single NPC.
Sneak - Make normal checks for a job's daily task and briefly explore one area of the ship (the PC can make a single Perception check or other skill check with no chance of detection).
Shop - Take a -2 penalty on all checks for a job's daily task and visit the quartermaster's store.
Shirk - Take a -2 penalty on all checks for a job's daily task and take time exploring one area of the ship. The PC can take 10 on a single Perception check or other skill check, but must make a check to avoid being discovered.
Nighttime Ship Actions:
Sleep - Go to bed early and sleep through the night (automatically recover from fatigue)
Gamble - Play or gamble on a game of chance or pirate entertainment.
Entertain - Make one Perform check to entertain the crew.
Influence - Attempt to influence a single NPC.
Sneak - Take time exploring one area of the ship. The PC can take 20 on a single Perception check or other skill check but must make a check to avoid being discovered.
Steal - Attempt to open a locked door or locker. The PC must make a check to avoid being discovered.
Are immediately gets to work, terrified of what might happen if he does not, and terrified that something might happen to Rocky
climb
Dex
Ayre is a veritable monkey in the rigging, after his slip earlier, knowing he has no chance to save himself again.
Keeping up her grumbling through clenched teeth she tries to get her work as done as soon as possible, speeding through it but burning herself out in the progress.
I may correct this once I get my hands on the book again, but I believe until you get a good night's rest (see nighttime activities.)
Seriously, runner? A trained monkey could do that...
Galean puts his back into the running, spending every free moment taking a breather.
The boy runs around the ship like there is no tomorrow, spending his few free moments sitting down with back to the mast, staring at the other sailors and trying to give them an occasional bit of advice under the table.
At night time, he's probably going to go gambling, despite his better judgement. Socializing is key.
Extremely amused that he qualifed as a rigger, Wulf sets to his task of working the ship's ropes. One ship's work is much the same as another...
They could at least have left me a bit of coin for some ale.
Wulf skillfully manages the ships running and fixed rigging, easing the sheets where necessary helping to keep the sails trim and running efficiently.
What shall we do with a drunken sailor, what shall we do with a drunken sailor... thinks Galean in his head, whistling, while fiddling idly with a knot on the deck of the ship in the middle of one of his short breaks.
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Carthus enters into the Galley whereupon he finds Kroop drunk. Not just a normal drunk. He's a singing drunk.
This can't end well. Carthus says under his breath.
Mr. Kroop! I'm to be your new... Kroop vomits profusely in the stew that looked like the nights meal. And passes out.
Cook's Mate. And it looks like...
Cooking
I'm cooking.
Carthus looks at the inedible sludge in front of him.
Kroop was cooking.
Looking more closely at the commonly labeled ingredients stored catastrophically around the hold he discovers that literally all of the ingredients are mislabeled. Not only that they have weevils.
Carthus vows now and forever to swear that this was all Kroops fault.
A man should always pick the smaller of two weevils.
Taking the inedible terrible remains of both disastrous attempts at cooking, and drinking, he spreads them around the floor and on Kroop.
I can't be here when this is discovered. This goes way beyond lashes. This calls for being towed behind the ship.
Carthus sneaks away into the ships stores. He grabs a bag of flour on his way in before looking around the deserted hold. This, this could be a plausible cover for the unspeakable atrocities committed in the Galley.
Diplo
Ayre approaches some of the others and tries to play nice.
My name is Ayre. I don't know what to say other than hello. I hope we can work together.
After the days work Wulf attempts to get to know the other crew.
Upon learning that Barefoot Samms was also a former fisherman...err woman. Wulf begins to speak with her.....
.......How long you been on the Wormwood?........ I've gotten "drafted" into one of these before and things can get ugly. It's always a good idea to know who you can trust, especially when you are up in the tops.
Wulf continues speaking with Barefoot Samms getting to know her.
You're alright. Us riggers need to stick together. If you watch my back, I'll cover yours. I'll admit though, that your back will be a lot nicer to watch....
Ayre - who are you attempting to influence?
Cordelia sets to her tasks:
Cordelia staves off fatigue at the end of the day after mopping vigorously.
Wulf's crude attempts at flattery actually seem to succeed.
Ha, aren't ye the smooth one? You're right, we do need to stick together up here - the rigging is dangerous fer lubbers and that's fer true! She bumps Wulf's hip with her own.
Although if ye ask me yer own back's plenty good to watch - better than yer face! She laughs at her own joke.
Ayre approaches Sandara, as she seems the friendliest.
As Ayre approaches Sandara he detects a glare from Scourge burning through the back of his head.
Sandara gives a bright smile to Ayre.
Hi there, sailor? Come here often?
Um, no. I mean I guess I will be now. I don't know. I don't like this place.