Exhausted as he is, Xanxan faces the day with a little less enthusiasm, but when he finds his task is not the bilges, he brightens. When he gets to hang around Rosie, it cheers up even more.
"Poor name for a ship, the Wormwood...if you be asking me, which I'm sure no one is." He tells her merrily as he wearily places hammer to nail. He ponders where to sneak, but realizes there isn't any particular place to sneak to that won't involve locks and the like.
Such work, he thinks, is better done by dark. Sides, the ship does need some love. Poor beat up lady, tis a cruel set of officers you have on you. He continues to chatter to Rosie, "So, Rosie, what's the crew thinking of me and my mates now? If you don''t mind me asking? Plugg tried to put a bad spin on us more than once if I recall."
During a break you make your way down to Grok to inquire about a feather. She gives a laugh at your reason for it but manages to find a rather resplendant blue parrot feather. Keep in mind that it might not last long without some care and protection.
At your question of "quality" goods, Grok smiles a little more broadly and waves a hand behind her. Cap'n wouldn't notice a thing or two being traded off, if the price is right of course. What exactly are you looking for?
Scourge looks down at you with a sneer. We're all tired squirt but that's no excuse for sleeping at your post! That'll be lashes tonight! As he moves off, you put your head down and hope to avoid any more attention for yourself.
At your question Rosie shrugs. There's those that hate you, usually are on any filthy bucket like this one. But you got me in your corner so never you mind, sweetness! With a bawdy laugh she continues working.
Xanxan looks worried at the sleeping Jirobo I hope he don't get caught. I'd go to his aid but that might just draw more attention to him.
Rosie however amuses him, "Ah, you're worth ten of most and that's no lie. A shame not all love me. I consider myself rather adorable. MIGHT be biased," he admits
Ko'ulu moves in a daze, his head fogged by the exertions of the previous night first among the rigging, then his fateful swim. He yawns toothily and repeatedly as he settles into his task of scrubbing the decks.
"At least scrubbing be easier than holystoning. Badger, you want me to scrub first and you rinse? I think that I need to work a bit until I wake up if you don't mind."
The day settles into a long dreary drudge of work. On his first break from scrubbing, as he gets water to rinse down the deck, Ko'ulu takes the time to drop a few lines into the water, baiting them with bits of his breakfast. His hands deftly knotting the line with the ease of long practice.
"Badger, look! The fish are biting today. I think that we be eating good tonight!" he says as he holds up a tuna as long as his forearm. Distracted by the fishing, Ko'ulu doesn't do as good a job as he should have, but he pulls fish after fish up onto the deck of the ship, guts them with his dagger, and uses the offal to re-bait the hook.
As the sun begins sinking, Ko'ulu is wavering on his feet. Every so often he dozes off as he stands, nearly toppling over.
At your question of "quality" goods, Grok smiles a little more broadly and waves a hand behind her. Cap'n wouldn't notice a thing or two being traded off, if the price is right of course. What exactly are you looking for?
Well, as to that, you see... I seem to be in mortal peril a bit more frequently than I'm comfortable with. What would be of most use, would be items that might offer greater protection to my physical person. Though, items with properties of healing and physical renewal would be welcome as well.
Nevertheless, we should come to an agreement regarding this fine accoutrement. Shall we say... three silver?
As she watches you eye the supplies and think she gives you a laugh and a shrug. Don't worry, eventually the cap'n will find us a nice plump ship and you'll get some coin to spend.
The day is long and the work brutal after the previous night's insanity. By the end of the day, Ko'ulu also found himself dozing and was called out by Scourge for it. Bloody hour arrived and as Kroop and Tully brought up the food, Ko'ulu and Jirobo were each tied to the post with a few others and given their lashes. You did notice that except for one crew member who passed out from exhaustion during the storm, no one else received any beratings for their performance the other day. Keeping the ship afloat was enough. It's a small comfort for those receiving lashings today.
Afterwards Kroop and Tully dish out the food while Grok passes out the rum rations. Most of the sailors are subdued while they eat and more than a few head straight for their hammocks after the meal is done.
Staff
+The day is long and the work brutal after the previous night's insanity. By the end of the day, Ko'ulu also found himself dozing and was called out by Scourge for it. Bloody hour arrived and as Kroop and Tully brought up the food, Ko'ulu and Jirobo were each tied to the post with a few others and given their lashes. You did notice that except for one crew member who passed out from exhaustion during the storm, no one else received any beratings for their performance the other day. Keeping the ship afloat was enough. It's a small comfort for those receiving lashings today.
Xanxan watches the lashes of his friend and the remarkably brave fellow both with a scowl he tries to hide.
When it is over, he moves to help Jirobo , "easy... you need some rest. Sleep as much as you can tonight"
When the drink comes his way, he tries to lose it again.
That night is no night for sneaking and picking logs, not with weariness nipping at his finger tips. Instead, he watches some of the crew he hasn't met yet. Rosie's advice aside, they'll need more than her to have a chance to turn things around.
5 unmet crew (female gnome, female human, female human, female human, female human)
Should he see any of those ladies, he'll approach her and try to get a feel for her...
And introduce himself, "Pardon, Name's Xanxan Gimblewabe. Figuring as we nearly lost folks from the storm, I thought I might want to get to know more o the crew. Most o us may not have wanted this cruise, but we're all on it together eh?"
Callum sat at the table, bone sore and tired from the triple shift. He tried to quielty dump his rum but felt eyes on him as he did so, although he didn't know who saw when he looked around.
During the meal he had some subdued but friendly conversations with those they had befriended. He noticed Xanxan going up to one of the crew they hadn't met yet. Aye, he's got the right idea, he does. We need te keep at it. Gettin them whats unknown on our side.
With that he stood and went to one of the crew he had yet to meet. Ah, 'tis harrowing work, gettin' a ship through a storm. But, in the end, there's no place I'd rather be but on the open water. We may need te take the waves an' the wind an' the rain... an' maybe a few bumps and bruises, he said with a self depreciating smirk, but we makes the best o' it, aye?
Tully examined one of the finer bucklers that Grok showed him. He mimicked, empty handed, his way through a few attack routines and barely felt the weight of the buckler in his off-hand. This is a fine device. Perhaps later.
He bowed over Grok's hand, holding the feather lightly. You are a lady of tremendous generosity, dearest Grok. Though, I fear these other items shall have to wait until our 'ship comes in', as it were. For now, I can only offer my gratitude, and hope you fare well.
Serving dinner to the crew was quickly draining Tully's last reserves of strength. Forced conversation with Fishguts had killed the last vestiges of loquacity he could summon. He practically had to drag himself across the deck, discarding his rum as went. He leaned heavily against the ship's rail, relaxing in the relative calm of the choppy, but no longer deadly, seas.
At the rail, Tully found himself standing beside a large, and somewhat surly, half-orc. The sneer the half-breed gave him, left Tully in no doubt that he was in no mood for polite conversation. With no store of energy or conversation remaining, Tully was, for once, pleased with that situation. He gave the half-orc a nod, then stood silently at the rail, staring out at the sea.
As he descended the gangway into the hold, Tully made his way over to Callum. No gift or gratitude I could offer would balance the scales against saving my life, Mister Carnvegas. This meager decoration, Tully displayed the feather, shall have to hold the debt until fortune, or misfortune, grants me the opportunity to repay you fully.
Jirobo is so tired by the end of the day, he just slumps against the mast when lashes are doled out. He lets out little squawks with each hit, but they are so low and breathless that it's hard to hear them. The tengu drags himself over to the meal with Xanxan's assistance, "Thanks, Xanxan. I don't know if I could do another day like today. So tired." After gnawing on his meal without really tasting it, Jirobo drains his rum off the side of the rail. With eyes drooping low, Jirobo is barely able to make it back to the crew hammocks as he slides into one of them just before everything goes dark.
Ko'ulu is barely holding himself up by the end of the day. Everytime he looks up, the sun is swimming in the sky. Out of the corner of his eye he starts to see ropes moving and uncoiling, or planks of the deck begin to shift and slide towards him, only to be perfectly normal whenever he looks directly at them. As the sun begins to set, and the shadows begin to lengthen, it only gets worse.
He is almost grateful for the sharp crack of the whip across his back. He doesn't even remember being hauled up to the mast, but the sting of pain is enough to bring the world back into focus. He takes his lashes in silence, glaring out at the crew, his eyes darting back and forth between the ropes, tackle and deck, daring them to move while he has his wits.
I saw you moving...I know it...
The shock of pain doesn't last for long though, and soon he is drooping once again. In a daze, he hands his rum to Badger, and simply heads below decks, for his bunk.
When it comes time for the rum, Calvin again tries to stealthily dump it using Tobias as a decoy.
He spills his rum flawlessly, managing to to convince any who were looking that he consumed the drink in one mighty gulp.
After that, he will head down below deck with the rest of the crew for a long night's sleep. He didn't feel as tired as the others looked, but he was in need of rest. He climbed into his hammock, pulled out a stick and continued to carve some ornate designs and creatures into it. One of the unmet crew walked up and appeared to take an interest in the work, so he showed him what he was working on.
Turns out he was just coming to tell Calvin to knock it off - that his whittling was keeping everyone awake and that if Calvin didn't stop, that he would shove the stick up his f#@!ing dodo.
Calvin put away his tools and lay still. "I'm not sure which dodo he was referring to, but I must confess, I hope it was you, Tobias," he says quietly. Tobias, for his part, was already snoring loudly and didn't hear what Calvin said.
Some of you drop off to sleep immediately while others attempt to meet more of the crew. The day was long and most folks simply long for sleep.
Xanxan piles on the charm with Giffer the gnomish woman and it isn't long before she's laughing along with him, talking about the various exploits of the sea she's seen. Callum has a steeper road to travel with Aretta, who gives him a snarl as he approaches. He counts it a positive sign that she doesn't try to stick her knife into him as he leaves to head to bed. Jape gives Tully an evil look as the half-elf tries to bond silently with the man. Apparently silence wasn't enough of a common bond to bring the half-orc out of his shell.
The following morning arives and you all head out to the top deck. The light is almost blinding after the last few days as the storm clouds have disappeared over the evening and the sun shines brightly down on the deck. Everyone's spirits seem a little higher at the good weather's return.
Plugg assigns the duties for the day and everyone sets about them.
Day 10:
Jirobo heads towards the main hold at Plugg's direction. It appears that the return of the nice weather has been a welcome call to the various pests around the ship and there are plenty of rats and bugs to be dealt with.
Scourge directs Xanxan to the ropes. There are still plenty of knots to unkink and rope to coil.
Calvin moves over to a damaged section of railing at Plugg's direction and begins helping with the repairds to the ship.
Xanxan is happy to talk with Sandara.
"So, lass, have you decided to grace me with your charms , or must I compete with taller, and therefore uglier fellows?" Xanxan winks.
The priestess laughs at him, "You'll be needing these ropes for climbing is that what you think? A girl should be flattered I suppose, but how can I cause dissension among such mates by favoring just one of you?"
"You're a peace loving woman, you are, Miss Quinn," The gnome smiles in response, "And the loss is mine for it."
Between talking about ships, sails, the weather and flirtations, he chats in a softer voice about other debts due,"Well, I've been praying to the Pirate Queen like I promised, and mark me, I'm glad to be alive, but I'm hoping for a bit of shall we say payback upon certain parties who shall remain nameless. Always happy to seek spiritual advice on such matters if you have any."
The pace is more relaxed today despite his treasonous whispers to the cleric while she helps take a few lines away as he unknots them, or applies oils to ease the same.
Between working on the ropes and chatter, Xanxan continues to try to make friends among the crew. Even the ones he hasn't met yet. Seeing one of the human women he doesn't know handling her own batch of ropes, he gives a smile, "Ahoy there tall legs, allow a fellow to offer a hand?"
The rising of the sun brings with it a revival of Jirobo's spirits. With a mighty stretch, the tengu clambers out of his hammock, tapping the others to rise and join the rest of the crew up deck for daily duties. His energy returned and clarity of mind back, Jirobo takes a moment to examine Callum's still healing bruises from the storm. A few quick words to the winds, Jirobo gives the rigger a friendly pat on the back as he hops up in line with the other sailors.
The tengu rubs his hands together in excitement as he gets another job he's good at, hunting down pests below deck. He joins Rosie below as he goes about his task with relish, "We'll catch so many critters today, Ms. Rosie. So many. Maybe I can talk Mr. Fishguts into making us fried rat legs for supper. A delicious treat if I do say so myself." The hours fly by as Jirobo runs down several rodents and another infestation of mealworms.
During one of his breaks, Jirobo offers Rosie a mealworm for a snack while he munches on a handful himself. He grins between beakfuls, "Yummy. You should try."
Tully woke to a glorious, sunny day. The wind was a gentle breeze, just maintaining steerage way for the Wormwood. The sea was a glassy calm, markedly differing from the violent waves of the last two stormy days. In the galley, Fishguts was bright-eyed, cheerful, and already hard at work. Even Scourge and Mister Plugg were less unpleasant than usual.
It might have been a conspiracy by all the elements aboard the ship to draw Tully into state of blissful optimism. He was positively lighthearted as he walked from the hold to the galley. His mind was wandering along delightful paths when someone turned the corner, tripped over his feet, and went sprawling across the deck.
Oh, my goodness! What dreadful bad fortune! I most humbly beg your pardon, sir!
The scowling, sneering, crimson face of Crimson Cogward spun back to face him. "Shut the hell up! I told you before, your high and mightiness, you'll not have my pardon! Cross my lee again, and you'll be sorrier for it!"
Tully gaped. Then the dam of his resolve finally broke. He grabbed Cog by the shirt-front, dragging him to his feet. I have endured more than I care to of poor manners aboard this ship! If you can't speak politely, then kindly keep your mouth closed! Tully backed the man against the bulkhead, leaning in close. When I greet you this evening, I'll expect you to have found a civil tongue. Otherwise, I'll see if you dance any better than the Owlbear...
No gift or gratitude I could offer would balance the scales against saving my life, Mister Carnvegas. This meager decoration shall have to hold the debt until fortune, or misfortune, grants me the opportunity to repay you fully.
Ah, lad, ye didn't have te go an' do anythin'. Ye're a crewmate an' a friend an' 'tis somethin' I'd do fer any o' ye, Callum said looking around at his allies, with a pointed glance towards those who were still on the fence regarding their attitde with his friends. Well... Mayhap not fer the Scourge or Plugg, if ye savvy, he said with a chuckle. That being said, he continued, smiling and admiring the feather, 'Tis a fine bit o' plumage ye found fer me. It'll festoon me hat wonderfully. I'll keep it safe with me hat fer when I have the occasion te wear it again. Thank ye, lad. Callum then gently wrapped the feather and placed it in his locker before heading to the hammock for a much needed rest.
In the morning, Callum woke refreshed and content, even though still somewhat bruised, and made his way to the deck. He felt a tingle as Jirobo touched him and much of his remaining pain dissipated. He glanced over at Jirobo as they separated to their separate tasks and nodded his thanks.
Callum then headed over to the lines with Maheem, feeling much better than he had the previous day. 'Tis amazin' how much can change after a night's sleep, aye? Yesterday, I had the feelin' o' death warmed over, yet today, with a little assistance from me friends, I'm practically right as rain.
Maheem chuckled as they began hauling the lines.
During a break he went to the water barrel to refresh himself. One of the other crew approached, looking parched. Mayhap ye be needin' this more than I, Callum said, offering the water cup to her. The day is bright, the weather fine an' nary a stormcloud in sight, but while the storms can beat ye down one way, the sun gots another way te do it.
Calvin heads to untangle the knots with Tobias. When he arrives, he sees Gaffer there already. She turns to smile at him and he frowns when he sees her missing eye. "I could replace that for you," Calvin says, pointing to her eye. "Assuming, of course, that we can find a spare somewhere. Tobias thinks Socurge's eyes are pretty. I disagree - I think Sandara's are the fairest. But I don't see them very often as she doesn't look at me too much. It's ok, though, because I'm used to that. You probably are, too, what with the one eye thing and all. How'd you lose it?"
Calvin then turns to the work, awaiting her reply.
Untying the knots isn't difficult, particularly with Gaffer's help.
During the work, Calvin sees Jaundiced Jape walk by. "Hey - you. You don't say much, do you? Did someone cut out your voice? I was telling Gaffer I could replace her eye - perhaps I could replace your voice, too. Tobias and I will keep our eyes - or ears, I suppose - open for you."
Again, Calvin realizes that he's said something offensive, so he wipes the orc's memory and tries again. "Would you like a new voice if we could find you one?"
The effort doesn't go much better, and the half-orc bares his teeth at Calvin in anger.
"You know," Ko'ulu begins, scratching at his braids, "I don't even remember much of yesterday...I don't know if I am getting punished for something by being sent to the bilge...or not."
"Well Jak, just you and me, off to the bottom...one more day of trying to keep Wormy floating."
The low space is as cold and confining as ever. The dank air is heavy with moisture, and every so often there is a surruss of noise from a rat surrying in the darkness...or a larger predator chasing it.
The work went smoother than Ko'ulu expected, the sludge and slurry in the bowls of the ship pumped overboard into the deep ocean.
"Jak, it looks like we be done here. What do you say to a little fishing? We can go and see if we can improve dinner some for the crew?"
Ko'ulu led the way up to the deck and found an out of the way nook where he could cast a few lines out.
"Well that was disappointing...", Ko'ulu smiles and shrugs, "The good thing is that there is always tomorrow...there are more fish somewhere else, and the Wormy will be taking us there."
Taking a moment, you approach the Mwangi woman you've seen around the ship. She seems a bit mean-tempered and you think that only makes her more perfect for your companion Ko'ulu. Tall legs was right, too. Easily the tallest woman on the ship, she towers over some of the men as well. At your prompting she pauses for a moment before a smile creeps on her face. Yes, he does seem a glutton for punishment but a real man should be able to take a beating if he's to be with a real woman.
As you move back to work, you can only hope that Ko'ulu appreciates all the hard work you've done for his love life.
The day passes and the work gets done. Already it seems like many of you are finally adjusting to life aboard a pirate ship. Many of the crew give you companionable nods during the day and even the work seems to go by easier, none of messing up your tasks that gave you such trouble earlier. As the bloody hour arrives, Callum is brought up for his rum discarding and takes his whippings. Moving back towards the group, he watches as Ko'ulu takes his now familiar place at the whipping post for dumping his rum.
Scourge looks at him with a grin. Two nights in a row, again? You're going to make my arm tired savage. Laughing he begins to swing. The strikes come quickly and painfully. Ko'ulu grits his teeth and doesn't utter a sound. Right before he passes out, he notices the Mwangi woman looking at him hungrily with a hard-to-place look on her face.
Tully and Kroop come around with the food and Grok with the rum. The warm clear night is refreshing and most of the crew and some of the officers stay on deck. It's the first "peaceful" night you've seen in the last few days.
Oh man, you made that too easy to have fun with lol. You've met Shivikah and turned her from Unfriendly to Indifferent. And also created interesting future roleplaying. When thinking of her, picture Grace Jones in pretty much any movie she's ever been in.
Watching the lash is never fun, and Xanxan frowns at it. Ko'Ulu seems out, either to be healed or not. He checks on Callum, "Ye alright there, mate? We're making progress with the folks I think, but I'm wondering if ye have any suggestions on what else we might be needing? Good will alone won't be enough."
Later, he tries once more to forgo the rum.
"Ye alright there, mate? We're making progress with the folks I think, but I'm wondering if ye have any suggestions on what else we might be needing? Good will alone won't be enough."
Aye. A little worse fer wear I suppose, but nothin a little sleep can't cure. I be much better n' yesterday, an' that be no lie, Callum replied with a smile. Havin' the crew on our side's of high import fer sure, but, as ye say, there may be other things what needs doin. Mayhap we could get more know how on the ship an' her stores. But we don' want te risk somethin like what Jirobo got. A javelin in the gut's not very fashionable. An' bein' caught could mean a keelhaulin'. Not an experince I'd recommend. Hmmm, an' mayhap we bring Ko'ulu down te his hammock te let 'im rest, afore we give some o them healin' magics. Mayhap avoid him a lashin fer tomorrow.
Callum then goes to Ko'ulu to lift him and help bring him down to the crew quarters before returning to the meal and rum rations. He looks down at the rum and checks to see where the officers are before dumping it behind him.
There is a growl and Callum was shoved against the table. He stood up and spun around. There was Narwhal glaring at him. Looking down, Callum notices the stain on the dwarf's breeches. What? Ye couldn't make it te the closet an' ye get angry with me fer wettin' yerself? Don' be startin' somethin fer nothin'. We been told once, there be no fightin on the ship. Now be off with ye an' check fer that bit o' brown down yer backside.
Tate's clenched his fists and ground his teeth, his body shaking in barely restrained fury. It looked like he might lash out but he noticed a couple of officers looking in their direction and held himself back. The dwarf then stalked off, muttering oaths under his breath.
Callum breathed a soft sigh of relief as he sat back down to finish his meal before heading down to the crew quarters to turn in.
Xaxan takes the advice and contemplates it. He'll even help put Ko'Ulu out of sight if Callum does so.
Later that night, he finds himself slipping away while others are occupied to make his move. He looks for the rum stores, and where they keep any fresh water. His plan, to water the rum down. It's too late now, but Maybe tomorrow folks will be a bit more sober.
Apart from the altercation with the half-orc, Calvin's day passes without further incident.
At the "whipping time," Calvin watches the spectacle, growing increasingly bored of the proceedings. After Ko'ulu receives his lashes, he steps forward and lays his hands on the man's back. He mutters a few words and helps him up.
After dinner, he once again causes a scene with Tobias designed to distract those around him from noticing his dumping of the rum.
Once the rum is dumped, Calvin will head over to the fellows gambling again, place a single gold coin on the table and roll up his sleeves. "I'm bored. Tobias thinks my making your hand bleed was a fluke. He bet me his share of the loot we're going to get - eventually - that I couldn't do it again."
He slams his elbow on the table and stares into his opponent's eyes, causing the man to feel far less confident in his abilities.
After the contest, no matter how it goes, Calvin will head back down to the bunks with Tobias. He'll pull out his carpentry kit and continue whittling on the piece of wood. He'll chat with Tobias, discussing what he thinks will happen to them tomorrow. At one point in their "conversation," Calvin will lower his voice conspiratorially. "Ah, brilliant idea, Tobias! But...well...perhaps I should run that by my...friends? Would you call them friends? I wonder how they would feel about my putrefying the rum? I don't think they drink it much. And I know Ko'ulu wouldn't mind." After a few more minutes of whittling and chatting, Calvin will put away his gear and settle in to sleep.
It was almost going to be an enjoyable evening. Unfortunately, Tully could not harden his heart enough to ignore the "Bloody Hour" and the beatings his friends were taking. Once it was over, serving the food and drink was enough distraction that Tully was able to recapture some of his good spirits.
Tully was careful to make certain that he was the one serving Crimson Cogward. As he approached, he spoke in a rather louder voice than was necessary. Good evening, Mister Cogward. What a pleasure to see you again.
Cog muttered something that sounded conspicuously like "Good evening", before burying his face in his plate to avoid further conversation. Tully sighed, decided that was probably as good as it was going to get, and went on with the business at hand.
The crew were getting fairly lively in their high spirits, and it wasn't long before Rosie seized her fiddle and began scraping out an energetic tune. Grok was just arriving with Tully's rum ration, so he seized her hand and spun her into a careful waltz, contriving to spill his rum at the same time.
Tully spun Grok through one turn after another, and discovered quite to his surprise, that Barefoot Samms was standing in the way. Releasing his hold on the surprised half-orc, Tully continued his turn with Samms, being extra attentive to avoid treading on her exposed toes. Badger Medlar followed quickly on Samms' heels. Rosie was picking up the pace dramatically, and Tully was obliged to abandon his waltz, for a more ungainly two-step. Still, Badger was game, and remarkably agile on her feet.
Tilly Brackett practically shouldered Badger out of the way to take her place. The smell of the rum was heavy on her, and her movements were much less coordinated than Badger's had been. Tully smiled through the pain of a half-dozen mistimed steps that landed on his own feet, before he spun her away to grab hold of Sandara.
An electric thrill ran straight up his spine as Sandara's hand grasped his, while his other held her by her waist. Tully led her through a number of spins and dips, contriving to pull her close against him whenever the rhythm of the music gave him an opening. A number of the other ladies of the ship were waiting in the wings, but Tully kept the dance from moving towards them for quite a bit longer than was strictly polite. In all fairness to the young man, he did feel a little twinge of guilt about doing so. But, it was washed away as another turn pressed Sandara's lithe body up against him.
After an extended time that seemed to pass in a heartbeat, Tully released his hold on Sandara. He offered her a nervous smile and a slight bow, before he was captured by the titanic strength of Shivikah. Giffer Tibbs followed and more surprising than all, Aretta Bansion.
Then coming out of his last turn Tully nearly collided with a woman whose name he had not yet learned. Please forgive this unwarrantable liberty upon your person, my lady. May I have the pleasure? He moved her smoothly into the flow of the dance. My name is Tully. And you are?
Tully finally collapsed, breathing heavily, to the deck. Rosie gave him a smile. I am sorry, dearest Rosie, that I could not offer you a turn or two around the deck. Thank you, most kindly for the accompaniment. Though, next time, could you kindly keep the pace a little slower? There are quite a few lovely ladies aboard, and but one of me. Tully gave her lurid wink.
Ko'ulu wakes in a rush, the stinging splash of healing magic rushing through his body makes him gasp as if dunked in a stream of snowmelt water. He eyes Calvin and nods to him, "Thank you.", as Calvin turns and walks away.
As soon as the food is doled out, Grok begins to ration out rum to eagerly held mugs. As he walks around doling out the grog, an inspiration strikes Ko'ulu and he grins for a brief moment. Ko'ulu stands, his bowl of food in his hand and walks off, quickly shoveling the rest of the food in his mouth. As he reaches the side of the boat, he sets the bowl down, moves to the rigging and climbs.
Jirobo winces with each lash handed out that night at Bloody Hour even if it wasn't being placed against his feathered back. When Calvin moves up to heal Ko'ulu, Jirobo instead goes over to Callum and whispers to the wind before touching the bloody marks on his back gently.
Jirobo listens quietly to Xanxan and Callum's conversation as he tends to Callum's back, chipping in once, "Nobody wants to have a javelin in their gut, especially not me again. It burned like eatting a hot bun fresh out of the oven." After they all head down below, Jirobo takes his portion of his meal and sits close to Sandara again, nibbling at his meal makes his rum disappear and not into his gut.
He starts to clap and stop his foot upon the ground as Rosie and Tully start up an impromtu dance party. The tengu laughs as Tully ends up dancing with every lady on the ship. Later that night, Jirobo slips out of his hammock and tiptoes to the stores, to see if he can get to the rum. If he is able, he starts softly casting purify food and drink on it to see if he can leech some of the toxins from the foul stuff. Maybe if everyone is clearheaded, there will be less lashs and pain meted out.
Xanxan has to settle for merely letting the lid be slightly open so it might evaporate. I just hope I don't set the bloody ship on fire. He flees so no one can see him and put two and two together
At one point you find yourself moving towards the last woman you'd yet to meet amongst the crew. As you sweep her up into the dance you suddenly feel a sharp point sticking into your thigh right next to your "treasure box". Her voice is low and menacing as she presses the point in. You get your hands off my, dandy, or I'll cut'em off and feed em to you.
You quickly oblige her and move on to the next woman, glancing back over your shoulder, grateful that she hadn't sneezed.
Waking the next morning you can all tell from the warmth in the hold that today is going to be another sunny day. Climbing on deck there isn't a cloud in the sky and the temperature climbs steadily. As Plugg calls out assignments, the crew moves off to work and you realize that none of you were given anything to do. Plugg looks at the group of you. You lot get a special assignment. Till then stay out of the way.
While not enough time to do anything meaningful, the break is a welcome one and you enjoy it while you can. You get an hour or so to yourselves before the ship drops anchor. A couple of the crew haul up four large crab pots from the main hold. Plugg calls out from the sterncastle. Cap'n wants fresh crab tonight for supper. It's a beautiful day, looks like you are going swimming. Mister Scrimshaw, why don't you keep em company. The water is fairly shallow and Plugg points to a spot about 200 feet from the ship. You can make out the dark shape of a large submerged reef. You'd have to be blind not to be able to find some good crabbing around that reef over there, even you lot what never fished a day before now. Gather what you'll need and get the lead out, don't want to waste a whole day for this either.
Taking a few minutes to prepare yourselves, you come back to the ship's rail. At Plugg's direction you dump the crab pots over the side of the ship where they hang submerged but suspended in the water, small bladders helping maintain their bouyancy. Jak tucks a dagger and a cutlass into his belt before stripping his shirt off and diving into the water. He looks up at you expectantly as he treads water around the crab pots.
Aye, 'tis a beautiful day for a splash in the pond. Thank the Cap'n fer the opportunity fer me, Callum says as he checks his weapons are secure before diving into the water. Swimming up to the crab pots, he looks up. Ahh, the water be lovely down here. Ye should take a dip yerself Mr. Plugg, if ye get the chance.
With a wink at Jak, Callum grabs a crab pot and swims leisurely towards the reef, keeping his eye open for sharks and other potential dangers.
Jirobo shades his eyes in the sun as he looks out across the horizon. A swim and some leasurely crabbing didn't sound too bad, but with Plugg there was always a catch. Watch this water be home to some fearsome killer shark-beast. Regardless, an order is an order if you don't like keelhauling, so the tengu strips down to his skivies, grabs his blade firmly in hand and takes a dive off the side of the ship. The cool water is a nice change from baking up on deck as Jirobo's head comes berthing up with a salty spray.
The tengu swims up to a crab pot and grabs it, paddling after Callum with it in tow. "Hope nothing large wants to make dinner of us today like we do those crabs," Jirobo adds as he sweeps his vision across and below the waterline.
Crossbows being a waste of time under water, the only weapon Xanxan goes with is his trusty rapier. Truth of it, he'd rather a good sharp knife for swimming, but he doesn't have one of his own handy so he cinches it tight if he can. He has bare feet, and will go shirtless.
"Ah, sweet mother sea!" the gnome dives in when directed to, a crab pot in hand. "Don't worry, Jirobo. Water this shallow ain't always good hunting grounds for the sharks last I heard."
Nevertheless, he does keep an eye out
Calvin leaps into the water, saying a brief goodbye to Tobias before doing so. He grabs his spear, but decides to leave his crossbow and bolts, as well as his scrolls, behind.
The water is cool and refreshing and Calvin simply floats for a few moments. He had spent hours on the ocean - mostly because he was tossed overboard so regularly as a joke - but he had become quite accustomed to swimming and floating.
Seeing that his peers were moving on ahead of him, he began to swim to catch up. He kept his eyes peeled, eager to avoid running into a carnivorous sea creature or painful jellyfish.
Ko'ulu grins and salutes Plugg. "This be an assignment that I like Mister Plugg! I have done plenty of fishing before coming on the Wormy...so we will see what the reef is like. Have you crabbed here before sir? Any big beasties on the reef that we should keep a weather eye for?"
Ko'ulu nodds at Plugg's response and heads off for the cabin. Line, hooks, flint, steel and whetstone go into the small pouch on his belt. He checks the dagger in his sheath, and takes the trident from the corner, and heads back out into the open air.
With a jaunty wave to the crew remaining behind, Ko'ulu dives in a smooth arc into the warm ocean water, makes two broad strokes beneath the waves and surfaces next to Jak.
"Jak, mate, let me help you with those.", he says taking the lines for half the pots before swimming out with the group.
Oh, good. More fishing, Tully thought sarcastically. And now we get to go down and join them...
Tully stowed his armor along with the rest of his gear in the locker near his berth.
A knife might be worth carrying, in case the lines tangle.
He dove into the water. Grasping the last of the crab pots, he used an improvised breast-stroke to make a leisurely swim over to the reef.
Callum, Calvin? Do either of you know where we are? he shouted between strokes.
Calvin takes a moment to examine his surroundings and see if he recognizes anything that will help him identify where they are.
Unfortunately, he is immediately distracted by a school of small, silvery fish swimming away from him and forgets what Tully asked.