How far will the gnome take this charade? Variziel wonders, marveling at just how open that "flourish" was. "I prefer a more economic style of swordplay," he offers, feinting quickly and thrusting forward to bring his phantom blade just under Conchobar's chin. "But if fancy footwork is what you prefer..." The half-elf begins a rapid quickstep around the gnome, stepping lithely and swaying as he moves, as though dodging and countering various attacks. Valenkar's Gambit, an old favorite...
Conchobar sneers at you, Peasant techniques, dear boy. I tire of this diversion. Off with you now!
Mr.Plugg walks on deck followed by Jesal and Kroop. He raises his arms in the air and speaks loudly, Everyone drop what you're doing, I have a spot of entertainment for you! As I'm sure you are aware, we have a new cook's assistant. As I'm sure you have discovered, his talents are a bit lacking, wouldn't you agree? I say we give him an incentive to cook better, wouldn't you agree? The crew cheers loudly, with various invectives thrown at the new cook's mate. Mr.Plugg smiles, It's decided then! Scourge, if you would be so kind as to lash Kroop once and give the meat three lashes? I will put in a 'special incentive' with my cat-o'-nine-tails afterwards. Scourge cracks his whip in the air, With pleasure, Plugg.
Janus will step up beside Plugg and state in a soft clear voice."Mr. Plugg if you please, a moment of your time. If it would be allowed, I wish to serve the sentence beside the cooks." Janus allows his words to sink in before continuing on, just long enough to give mister Plugg something to think about, but still quickly enough to keep him from being able to interject his own words before he can finish. "I wish to understand the punishments given and see where they may be improved, and the best way for me to do that will be for me to undergo them too. If it pleases you I will go first so the others can see what is in store for them. The added visual will heighten the fear it will instill in them, knowing the pain they will receive before they even taste the wips lash."
Variziel can't help himself, and laughs at the gnome's commentary. "Valenkar's Gambit is no peasant technique, Master Shortstone. It was created by the honorary Swordlord Eliastar Valenkar, a man of great agility and skill, and is usually attempted only by those of elven blood--such as myself."
The half-elf sobers, however, when he sees Plugg walk up with the cooks and hears the announcement. Seeing the lust in the pirates' eyes, Variziel clenches his jaw slightly. And here's something else not to include in my letters.
Salt grimly takes his place, head held high, but silent although the thought of three lashes AND the cat definitely scares him.
Wonder if Ill stay conscious through this? Hope so, not sure about the "surgeon" working on me
Iggy sighs, seeing the strangeness about to unfold. The Markborn watches what unfolds, keeping an impassive view. "Nothing more we can do for the poor sods," he says quietly to no one in particular.
Those who fail on ship receive punishment of some sort; that was the way of all vessels on the water captained by such folks. But just like all tyranny, it would end at some point.
His eyes remain open, so he does not lose out on the gravity of the situation.
Temerith studied the unfolding scene and studied those around the deck looking for any faces that were not happy with what was occuring...
perception check
The young man also takes a look to see who might be both happy and disgruntled about the whole matter of the "punishment".
Charlotte can't help but cringe at the promised punishment. "Eesh. This isn't going to be pretty," she observes aloud, as Salt steps up to receive his punishment.
She ponders for a moment, making a mental inventory of all the magic she's learned, only to conclude that, sadly, there's nothing in her repertoire that can help Salt without being exceedingly obvious.
Hopefully I can sneak some healing on him afterwards before the surgeon decides to play. Speaking of which, what the heck is that one up to.
You notice that most of the crew is all-too eager to witness the coming punishments. You notice that the fellow conscripts you met aboard the ship do not share the rest of the crew's enthusiasm, their faces plastered with looks of unease or disgust.
Plugg looks you over for a moment and speaks in a voice that betrays a hint of interest, That sounds like an excellent idea, Mr.Ult! It is truly exceptional to have a crew member with your dedication. Just step to the main mast and lay your back bare for the strikes and we shall begin
Ignatius watches Plugg as he prepares, his eyes memorizing the man as he knows that the only thing preventing him from a similar position as the cooks.
But truly, the look in his eyes is showing the power that marks his face, showing that Plugg will not always have this power. And when things shift, he will be the point of the spear that will turn the sadists on this ship into chum.
Temerith examined the faces of the unhappy conscripts trying to judge whether or not they were just sick at the resulting spectacle or if they were genuinely afraid...
sense motive
With a smile on his face, Janus stalks his way up to the mast. His back already base to the world shows an irregular striping of scar tissue."Ready whenever you are Master Scourge.Janus smirks at the man as he readies himself for the lash.
rolls for fort save for half due to feat. Assuming it will be nonlethal.
As the whippings take place, Plugg grins broadly. Suddenly as he turns his head, his eyes lock with yours and his grin turns into a frown.
You cannot ascertain from their faces whether they look on in disgust of fear.
Scourge smiles his grimacing smile and lashes your back 3 times...
striking with great fervor, causing waves of pain to radiate from your back, and leaving 3 large welts on your back, two of which feel as if they trickle blood. Scourge places his free hand under his chin and feigns taking a thoughtful moment, An excellent job, wouldn't ye say so Plugg? Plugg feigns a similar stance as Scourge, I believe so, Scourge. See how the blood already pools under the swelled, reddened flesh? Living art, I tell you. Well, it's my turn to add to this fine art! Plugg then takes the cat-o-nine tails from his belt and takes an enthusiastic swing at your back...
his strike hitting the tender flesh between your shoulders, causing an absolutely agonizing surge of pain that makes Scourge's strikes feel weak by comparison. Plugg takes a finger, runs it alongs the weeping lash wounds, and tastes the blood. He then leans close, Pleasant enough for you, Mr.Ult? I would hate to be a poor host and leave you disappointed!
"Oh very much sir. That final strike was well placed. The rest where... passable. I can see where there is room for improvement. Ahh, but that is where my tender ministrations come in."
Drink cure light
Well that puts me back to full.
The Markborn smirks. He knows what is in the heart of Plugg, and it is a challenge issued. Ignatius just smiles, not speaking a word as he crosses his arms across his chest. Plugg, for certain, will not see the end of this voyage.
Time to take a gamble thought Temerith, the memory of an old sailors sign erupted into his mind and he made a motion with his hands as the pirates hooted and bellowed as the whipping took place.
bluff check to pass secret message to the recruits
Wincing at the whip being raised, Variziel watches on as Janus takes three strikes. Why would he volunteer for that? Is he mad? As Plugg steps up with the cat o' nine tails, though, the half-elf sees the glinting of barbs in the sun and looks elsewhere.
Glancing around, he notices Temerith giving some gesture of obvious meaning. But what? He nudges the others--Iggy, Charlotte, and Sandra--and nods his head toward the man. "What's that mean?" he whispers.
Plugg cackles madly, You hear that Scourge? He thinks you need improvement on those lashes of yours! Scourge scowls at you and speaks in a harsh tone, There's nothing wrong with me strikes Plugg, this one's just too thick to register them! Plugg casually waves his hand and speaks in a calm tone, Now, now Scourge, my old friend, this dear boy simply wants to see this crew whipped into proper shape, quite literally in this case. Can't fault him for that, now can you? Scourge reigns in his angry tone and crosses his arms across his chest, No, I guess not.
Sandara leans in closer to you and whispers, It's an ol' pirate signal, lad. He's sending us a message to meet him after the sun sets. I wonder what he wants?
Rosie taps your back, What the hell are ya doin' Temerith?! If those f&ckin' spankbuckets see you, you could be next gettin' the lash!
As Plugg and Scourge finish speaking to one another about Janus, Plugg turns towards you and Kroop, calling out in a loud voice so the entire crew can hear him, And now for the main event! Step forward, you incompetent lumps of flesh, to receive the pain that shall serve as a lesson to you for the rest of your days on this ship!
Charlotte goes wide-eyed when Temerith starts making gestures.
He's trying to use code with so many enemies around? That fool! They'll have us keelhauled if they see us conspiring!
Ignatius mentally grimaces, showing no outward signs. [i]The fool is going to be the death of us all! And I will not die because of a fool's gamble![/ooc]
The Markborn takes a step over to Temerith and keeps his voice low. "I'd suggest a cease and desist is in order. We're not among friends, and they're not idiots. So, kill it before we end up next in line for a keelhauling."
Temerith turned to Rosie and said, Eh some rum for the main event or are we only allowed to drink after the sun sets?
As Temerith spoke the last four words he made the same old sailors sign at Rosie and Ignatius.
Janus smiles at at Scourge with a wicked smile. "Oh scourge, I mean nothing against you. There is always room for improvement my boy." He would not tell him that he had nearly passed out from the combined assault."I only wish we had someone deserving of steeper punishment to work with. On our last ship Papa Mort allowed me to slowly feed a man to himself over the course of a month, carefully preserving the bones mind you. When he finally died and I could not revive him again the good Captain raised him as a new member of the crew to walk and work beside those comrades who may have tried to help hide his transgressions. Let the poor boy keep his own face as a mask. Left him with enough of a mind to remember his torment and scream." Janus smiles as he watches the oncoming tortures.
Nothing to add. Jesal is impassively waiting his turn refusing to become more of a spectacle than this has turned out to be.
"Ah. Looks like any other plans we'd have had will have to be moved, then." Variziel grins mischievously and winks to Sandara, happy to have his mind taken away from the whipping.
The lumbering half-orc oaf from earlier swaggers beside you, Oi, what's the mattuh, doe eyes, ye've nevuh seen a man get lasht? Poor lil' thing. Ol' Ogruk here'll take care of ye, make sure ye gots somewhere warm ta sleep and make sure that preety skin o' yours don't get no stripes. Wut ye say ta that, luv?
As you finish warning Temerith, the muscular Halfling female next to him walks up to you and glares at you with piercing brown eyes, And coming over 'ere after he made the sign doesn't arouse their suspicions, Markborn? As far as I can tell, he's the only one with his sh!t together figurin' out how to get the f&ck off this ship, so I suggest ya be a little more d@mn appreciative! Rosie half-whispers, half-snarls out to you.
Rosie looks puzzled at you, Err... the cook's new help just handed out drinks before we assembled. Do ya not remember? Hope you're not that p!$$ drunk off of a cup, boyo!
Sandara whispers to you, I just hope nobody saw that sign he made and send some lackey to investigate. I, for one, want to hear whatever he's got to say, especially if it involves getting away from this lot of snakes. What do ye think?
Scourge grunts in acknowledgement as you finish speaking, while Plugg has a hearty laugh, Fed the fellow his own chunks for a month, then made him rise as an undead? How absolutely priceless! I've only heard stories of Papa Muerte from the Captain and others, but he certainly seems to know how to entertain, does he not? He must make for delightful company!
Kroop steps forward and removes his apron and sleeveless white shirt, revealing his sallow, blubbery back covered in coarse black hair. Plugg looks at Scourge, Well go ahead and hit him, his back isn't going anywhere! Scourge steps forward and cracks his whip, Gladly! He then strikes Kroop's back...
striking so hard that the whips cuts fairly deep into his back, revealing fatty tissues and causing a steady flow of blood, like numerous thin rivers of crimson, to flow down his back. Scourge looks at Janus and practically spits words at him, Is that more to your liking, Mr.Ult? Plugg rolls his eyes at Scourge's comment and motions for you to come forward, Come now, meat, and learn your lesson well!
Ignatius just looks down at the short woman, keeping his voice low. "There's a real valid reason, little miss halfling, that I was put in the bilges despite having been practically born on the water. Yes, it's probably suspicious but I'd rather make them think I'm nipping anything in the bud."
He chuckles low. "After all, Plugg isn't exactly the biggest fan of me. And if you're going to call me something, with as much spitfire as you youre brimming with, then call me by my name. I'm Ignatius Hank." The Markborn smirks, obviously impressed by the woman.
"I've seen men get lashed before, and took a few myself, in my time, but that doesn't mean it stops looking painful. As for your offer..."
"I'll think about it." she says with a wink, resisting an overwhelming urge to vomit.
"Might be a bad idea, in the end, but if I play my cards well, I might just be able to play that one for a fool and get some use out of him as a pawn."
The Halfling's angered look softens a bit, though she still looks a bit miffed, First of all, the name's Rosie Cusswell, and don't ya forget it. Second, your name is too long, so I'm just going to call ya Iggy. And third, ya may have a point, but ya still p!$$ed me off with your attitude. Now that all that happy sh!t is out of the way, ya in?
Ogruk smiles a wide, toothy smile, Jus' think about it, ladybird. Ol Ogruk 'ere's the strawngest mate on board 'sides the Cap'n. Luk at 'dese here muscles! Ogruk flexes his green arm, forming a massive bulge the size of a man's head, adding validity to his claim.
Iggy chuckles. "Iggy, Black Spot, Markborn, whatever you prefer. Seems like you pissed me off to start with the attitude, so I consider that making us even. If this is a chance to get those three crones where we want them, you've got me in."
He pauses a moment. "Might as well try and make it convincing that I've insulted your honor or something. Don't want them getting the wrong idea."
Jesal gulps and steps forward, trying hard not to flinch, avoiding eye contact with Scourge or Plugg.
That thing is going to put me unconscious, and for what ... some bad tasting food? Probably cleaner than the stuff they had before... let's get this over with.
"Oh, I'm interested myself, yes. Though more in the way of getting this lot of snakes away from us..."
"Oh yes Master Scourge. A descent strike I must say. We will have to discuss punishments later you and I. I am sure the two of us can come up with more inventive ways to teach lessons together." Janus smiles at the thought.
"Quite impressive, you must be very strong!" Charlotte continues, laying the flattery on thick. "I bet with muscles like that, you could be a captain yourself, one day!"
Ogruk looks at you with a look of astoundment, Me? Cap'n? That'll nevuh happen, luv, cuz Harrigan'd cleave me 'ead off quicker'n... well, the quickest thang ya ever seen. Not only that, but tha lot o' this crew 'ere think tha world of that b@$tard and would be queek in puttin' me in a weighted barrel an' throwin' me o'erboard. Cap'n steel sounds good ta me, dough!
[/ooc]Janus,[/ooc] Scourge breaks a cold half-smile, Believe me, boy, when I say that there will be many lessons taught in the coming days. We can discuss this later, but first I have a landlubber cook who needs some discipline!
Sandara nods in agreement, I agree with ye. If only we could do so before poor Salt over there gets lashed.
Plugg looks at you, Scourge, you may begin. Make these strikes count! Scourge lets out a raspy chuckle, Aye, aye, Mr. Plugg! Scourge strikes a few times next you your body seemingly on purpose, letting the wind from each crack build the tension. Gettin' jumpy, boy? Scourge states in a rather sadistic tone, ending with another raspy chuckle. He draws his whip back this time and strikes three times...
stripping skin off with each hit, sending waves of molten pain throughout your body, each wave making it harder and harder to keep conscious. Plugg steps forward chuckling softly as he walks around you, So, Mr.Salt, has the lesson been helpful to you thus far? You certainly don't seem nearly as ready to receive the lash now as you were earlier. So you spared Kroop a few strikes, but look at yourself now: a shuddering wreck with a nice new collection of scars on your back as a reward. Oh, speaking of which, here's my little gift to you as well, meat. I hope you like it! Plugg raises his cat-o'-nine-tails and strikes...
opening several layers of tissue and knocking you to the ground. Your vision darkens, then goes black. Before you fall completely unconscious, you hear Plugg saying, How pathetic. Mr.Ult, see to it that the meat recovers enough to work tomorrow, but let him keep his pain and shame for the next few days. Everyone else, dismissed. Get back to your duties or you're next!
The Markborn keeps his face as neutral as possible, watching the punishment and realizing the consequences of such an action: a visit with Ult. Not something anyone should deal with.
Knowing that the duties are quite different, he heads back to the bilges to relieve some stress.
Temerith got back to the ropes and began pulling them up and down as he worked them. Blasted pirates were as lazy as maggots, the wormwood would never survive an attack by another ship...
Variziel nods, and shuts his eyes or looks elsewhere as the punishment is meted out. His muscles tense with each snap of the whip, and he opens his eyes at the thud of Salt's body falling to the ground. "I hope it isn't long before we can rid ourselves of the bilge aboard." He grunts and resumes swabbing, making sure to keep near Sandara. To pick up any conversation she offers, of course--no other reasons.
"Ooooh. I had no idea Captain Harrigan was that mighty," Charlotte says. "I'd better get back to the fiddling, since the other entertainment's over. See you around, big boy," Charlotte winks, doing everything she can not to retch.
She watches as Salt goes, hoping to catch him alone some time before he's sent to Janus, and follows along from afar, under the guise of moving around the ship so her music will be heard better at various points alternately.
Salt groans.
Janus stoops down next to Jesal. Whispering in his ear,"Oh poor boy, you learned nothing today did you. Nothing but that those men are cruel without reason. Throw a man to the galley and don't even make sure he is a cook, they should have flogged themselves. Oh but that never would do, admitting their own flawed nature. Oh my boy, I will teach you though, I will teach you more than you ever imagined, and when I am done... you will be a weapon... and I will plunge you and every other man jack on this tub straight through their black rotted hearts." Hate seethed in the chirurgeon's chest.
In plain view of the rest of the crew, Janus begins his duties. First placing a row of small needles in to the wound so they will not be pushed out as the wounds close. After this is accomplished Janus moves to the task of treating and mending that which can be mended, cleaning what can not. The pure burn of alcohol and the tender sting of needle to flesh.
Charlotte watches carefully as Janus beings his procedure, and cringes as she sees what she assumes to be suture needles, until Janus begins his acts of decoration. Determined to interrupt that gesture, she stomps over to him.
"Heille! Le ramancheux!" she snarls, for a moment lapsing in her native varisian.
"As far as I know, the captain told you to mend the injured, not to make them into pincushions for your amusement!" she continues, making sure to be heard by the surrounding crew.
Then, noting that a few fellow pirates are looking at her strangely, she quickly improvises a ruse to make her intentions appear less noble, and thus more trustable on their ship. "You've seen the crap he served us while in good shape. I have no intentions of finding out how worse he can get after you get your freaky game on with him."
Under the pretense of moving Jesal away from Janus's game, Charlotte places a hand on the druid's shoulder and lets the seas' blessings flow through, whispering an incantation under her breath. Jesal feels as though cool, pure water had splashed onto his injuries, and at once, they feel that much less harsh.
"Freaky game, FREAKY GAME. I was instructed to put him in working order, but also to make sure he will keep the pain you harlot. I do not come over in the middle of that beautiful music you fiddle out and tell you you are to entertain the crew so why are you not naked now do I? I am sorely aware that you do not understand my place among this crew but know yours, if my job was to heal this man good as new I would have like the last time, just ask the boy over their about my tender ministrations." Janus points to Varizeal. "I do not have the luxury to be quick in this, and now you have put not only your life in danger but his and mine as well." Janus stares at the crowd forming and points to the stirring form of Salt, raising his voice so all can hear."This man was punished for his transgressions," Janus's finger slowly hovers to point at Charlotte," and this girl thinks she knows better than Mr. Plugg." His finger now points out to the crowd, moving to encompass them all."Would any of you like to share in their punishments?"
As Salt gasps back awake with the sudden rush of healing energy, seeing the two healers standing over him, he flinched from Janis and spider crawls backwards to get away, hopping up.
A bit belated, he looks around and remembers to wince in pain, gimping away like his back truly hurts.
"You accuse ME of disputing the first mate's orders?" Charlotte pokes Janus forcefully in the chest with her index finger, making sure her tough and sharp fingernail makes itself felt. "'sfar as I know, Mr. Plugg told you to let him keep his pain, not to add more on top of what he got. Are you trying to imply the first mate was too soft? I don't think he'd take well to those insinuations."