Mikael doesn't wince until he gets back to Ausk and Sabine. "Clearly you've done this before," he mutters to the half-orc. "Any pointers on how to make it not hurt so damn much?" Glancing across at Sabine, he adds, "Looks like he got you pretty bad. Never liked seeing a man brutalize a woman like that, even one who can handle herself."
As Luke attempts to hide, he shakes his head in bewilderment. "Maybe he's a bit sun-addled? Don't know about you, Ausk, but I've never known a sane man who'd attempt such a thing." At least the sight appears to provide him some amusement.
Ausk shakes his head slowly.
"The more fight you put up, the more he'll hit ya. I don't have a clue anymore who to trust on this blasted boat. Ya just try to get up there and let what needs to be done, be done. I'm not sure there's any sanity in that one's head. There are a lot of strange things on the open water, though."
Xav eventually relents as he is pushed into his lashes. He grits it out but is screaming inside the entire time. After it's over he approaches Ausk and asks, "How do you keep so calm when they abuse and torture us for no reason?"
Xav is clearly uncomfortable with either the situation or the lashes, or both.
Ausk just shakes his head, keeping his voice low and nursing his grog.
"Because that is the way this ship runs. It's not the best of ways, but I have learned the whip well. We were punished because we got caught, plain and simple. Fighting that now won't do us any good. Save all your rage and anger and sorrow for later. That's how I learned. You know that the water is where the strong survive and the weak and prey. Right now, we are prey. You follow so far?"
The half breed just grins and stretches, as the pain from his lashing seems to have left, and the talk has left him in better spirits.
Ausk prepares his voice with a bit of magic and then begins to sing a haunting tune of times long past, love lost, and being far from home. The tempo is a bit gruff in comparison to many southern songs, but it is a subject well known to sailing folk. The half orc's baritone carries well and makes up for the mess from the day before and makes the Bloody Hour have just a bit less impact.
While Ausk sings his haunting song, Mkael does his best to act casual and approaches Sabine, arms crossed, a curious expression on his face. "So, I went to see the Quartermaster today," he says in a light tone, "about potentially buying the Girls back. Turns out, they aren't there - not even little ol' Yolanda, who was never as pretty as the others but who had her own charms. Cutthroat said to talk to you about it. So, if you'd be so kind?" he finishes, a grin slowly spreading.
"Oh, and," he adds in a hushed tone, "I was thinking of doing a bit of sneaking around - check out if our new crewmates are hiding anything we could use against them. What's say you join me? Watch each other's backs and all."
Ausk-The crew seems to enjoy your tune, some more than others. Namely, Plugg's cronies make a point of ignoring you to the best of their ability.
Sabine stands passively, listening to Ausk sing and trying to ignore the rage in her belly and pain across her back, when Mikael approaches. She returns the man's grin with a coy smile.
"Aye, I have your 'girls.' And your armor. Shall we fetch them?"
...
Below decks, , Sabine produces an old piece of sailcloth containing Mikael's arms and armor. She hands them over to the warrior and retrieves her driftwood staff. "I could use an ally, especially after today's events. Make no mistake. We have enemies." She fixes Mikael with an intense gaze. "Please tell me you're more than a pretty face."
When Ausk explains Xav nods. "I follow. Unfortunately this is also not my first time being held captive, but my last experience was quite different than this I'm afraid. I was much younger and unable to do anything about the situation, unlike now. I do not know how much longer I am going to be able to tolerate this before I completely lose it."
Xavdeyr takes a long deep breath and shakes his head. "I'll do my best to try and play along. For now. But there will be a point where that repressed rage, sorrow and anger are not able to be contained any longer.
Xav follows Ausk and listens to his singing, quite enjoying it. He leaves before he is quite done and decides he needs to do something to protect himself after the incident today.
To that I'll need some currency...
He decides he'll try to partake in some form of gambling.
Mikael is overjoyed by the return of his weapons and armour - unable to even attempt to hide his grin, he pulls Sabine into a brief, but firm, hug before dressing and arming himself with haste. "So, how did you swing this so soon?" he asks as he arranges his layered shirts and vests in an attempt to hide the knives at his back. "I was expecting to have to work for them, if I'd ever see them again at all. You must be something really special to manage this." He glances across admiringly at Sabine, before dropping into the practiced motions of drawing the daggers from his hips at the same time, testing how quickly he can release and strike.
He nods at her talk of allies. "A wise observation. This morning's scuffle makes me realize, now more than ever, that the world loves to push down those in unfortunate circumstances. As surely as Desna's stars shine above us, I'll stand by you." Setting a hand in her shoulder with a wink, he adds, "And I'm far more than just a pretty face.
"Now. Let's see what we can rustle up, shall we?"
Luke took the lashes. though he winced in pain, and appeared to be pretty bad off, to the trained eye...
Luke is no where near as bad off as he seems to be. in fact it is evident that he knew how to roll with the lash to minimize the sting.
later that night Luke takes his rum ration and secretly dumps it.
after he goes to look for clues as to what happened to his brother.
Sabine stiffens as Mikael embraces her. It was not something that happened often in her life, and the suddenness of the act left her stunned... and a little happy. She didn't have very many friends. She steps out of the hug and tries to push the conversation along. It wouldn't do to let Mikael see her soften up.
"I found some things lying around and took them in to trade earlier today. I have the others' weapons as well." She stops and thinks for a moment. "Do you know anything about opening something that's locked?"
Luke - you are practically invisible on the ship, but so is your goal. High up on the mast, above the crow's nest, you find another symbol in your native Tien. Together, the two symbols could mean many things, but the most common meanings are "Building" or "Home" and "Thicket" or "Barrier". You'll have to find more information to make something of them.
Xav-
The deck has several games for lucky happening. There is a drinking game, arm wrestling, and a kind of tossing competition involving a greased iron ball.
Ausk sips his booze, enjoying the night and his success with the song. He smirks at those who didn't seem to appreciate and nod at those who do. He was going to be the winner, and nothing the fools allied with the sadists could do would stop him.
Luke - When you find your way up to the Crow's Nest, you notice the Archapex sitting not in the nest, but perched up at the very top of the main mast. His feet are more like a bird's than it appears at first, and grip the thin wood without problem.
"Welllll..." Mikael chews his lip, pausing halfway through one of his moves. He drops it, pacing and thinking. "Sometimes, if I-" he begins. "Well, if you count-" He shakes his head. "Unless we could-? no, that wouldn't work." He sighs, before chuckling sheepishly. "Not really, no."
Sabine clicks her tongue. "That's disappointing. Grok has a habit of leaving her door unlocked. If we had a way of getting into those chests somehow..." She leaves the rest unsaid.
"So where did you want to look?"
"Maybe that Xav fellow would be able to help us there. Or maybe Archie. Or even Ausk - if we were happy for him to smash it open with an axe." Mikael taps his chin as he paces. "Well. Maybe we can look around here and see what we can dig up. Maybe someone's left a few coins laying around or something."
Luke - When you find your way up to the Crow's Nest, you notice the Archapex sitting not in the nest, but perched up at the very top of the main mast. His feet are more like a bird's than it appears at first, and grip the thin wood without problem.
Luke was examining the markings when he discovers the clawed feet.
glancing up at the owner, hello there bird...guy? you, ahhh, enjoying the view?
Luke glances down at the deck to see if there is any new excitement going on.
Xav - You find yourself across from another new face to the ship. Crimson “Cog” Cogward is a human in a red bandanna that had already earned a reputation as a fighter, though he had yet to get into one worthy of lashes. He grins at you from across a barrel covered in broken glass, shards of metal, and sharp caltrops. He drops five good on the barrel and slams his elbow down.
Archapex looks down. It is the only perch worthy of me on this foul bucket.
After a moment's pause, he says, You fought well yesterday. Better than I have seen from a human in many years.
Archapex looks down. It is the only perch worthy of me on this foul bucket.
After a moment's pause, he says, You fought well yesterday. Better than I have seen from a human in many years.
You sound rather....regal, anyway, thanks, but I really rather avoid fighting if I can help it. I learned most of what I know from my father. until the bastard, Harrigan had him killed. he took my brother as a slave, like he did to me.
He shows him the marking, see this? it is a symbol in my native Tien but it is difficult to really read after all this time.
The evening stretches into a placid night. The shop rocks gently across the minimal surf and nothing really happens. Unless, of course, you're being naughty.
Mikael and Sabine slink off toward the quartermaster's. All goes well until they round a corner and nearly plow directly into Scourge! The boswain scowls and doesn't even ask what they're doing. He just grabs a length of rope and drives then back to their bunks. The good news? He probably thought you two were of for a romp. The bad news? You'll definitely be bruised tomorrow.
Archapex smoothly dismounts. His wings spread to catch the air, but reflexively jerk back in. He lands harder than he seems to have planned. He grins, unwilling to show weakness, and peers at the symbol.
Yes, I have seen these. He says.
Xav looks around and sees there are a few others watching. To play the party he cracks his neck side to side. He decides that it's best not to get into a verbal argument before showtime and instead plops himself across from Cog. He makes two slight nodding gestures cracks his knuckles. "Alright. Let's do this."
Xav eyes the sharp objects on the barrel and starts to question which part of this was a good idea.
Not going to survive long without taking a few risks, right? Just don't lose and it won't be a big deal.
Xav puts on his game face and decides even if he loses he won't let it show. No pain in front of these guys, that's what it's all about. He settles his grip into the clutches of Cog and takes position with his other hand. Once the signal is given and the show begins not much happens. Cog and Xav appear to be evenly matched and neither seems to get the upper hand.
At first.
Ten seconds, Twenty seconds, thirty seconds go by without much change. After that though, Xav's lack of nutrition and sleep catch up with him as his arms begins to weaken too soon. At the first sign of his arm weakening Cog's face turns up in a wry smile. Xav's loses a half inch and then another and then another.
Xav begins to visibily sweat as he strains, worry beginning to show in his face. As his hand is slowly pushed towards the sharp objects he closes his eyes and his breathing quickens.
Nononono-
His hand doesn't get slammed into the glass insomuch as it is sloowwlly pushed down, bit by bit into the hazard. Despite his best attempts, Xav lets a cry of pain sound as blood begins to pool around his wrist.
Mikael - Scourge orders you to pick up Shark Bait can carry her back to her hammock.
The crew laughs as the man named Crimson turns the wrestling barrel red and congratulates him on his victory. Your reputation as a weakling elf takes one more step toward becoming a label.
Archapex smoothly dismounts. His wings spread to catch the air, but reflexively jerk back in. He lands harder than he seems to have planned. He grins, unwilling to show weakness, and peers at the symbol.
Yes, I have seen these. He says.
Luke looks a bit surprise, and happy. you have? where? on this ship?
Luke barely can let him answer before asking another question. finally he realizes his rambling and shuts up.
Arxhipex motions for luke to follow and leads him down into the least likable party of the ship, the bilges. Near the ladder, the symbol for "safety" or "solitude" is carved.
The next morning dawns bright and cool with a snapping breeze from the port stern. The waves are heavier, but not abnormal. You are not molested on your way up this time, and easily arrive on time to get your assignments.
As soon as you enter the galley, you can see that Fishguts his starting in on his favorite kind of day: the kind he can't remember. He greets you with a bottle of Rotgut for each hand and an extra for yours. C'mon me laddie! Lesh get dis day shtarted!
That rigging needs work! Get up there! Plugg commands.
We'll never run out of rope that needs sortin' Get to it!
I want you where I can see you, Fishguts. Spit shine this deck!
You! Elf! Time to toughen you up! Get down to the Bilges!
Birdie! Join the Sharkgirl!
This kind of work was not Archapex's forte, and it shows. He struggles in every aspect of the task and his steadily growing frustration doesn't help things.
Sabine gets to work, trying to keep out of sight of Scourge. Between yesterday's fight and her failed sneaking, she'd drawn enough attention to herself.
In the mean time, she will try and chat with Archepex. "Where are you from?"
Once again seeking to get his job underway, the tattooed man gets a running start to get up the rope. The first few seconds, he doesn't get much leverage, his boots slick from the water being used to clean and work on the deck, but after just a moment, the rope absorbs some of the water and allows him to easily make his way up to the top of the rigging. His skill seems to make him move almost as agile as a monkey, and that's just the way he likes it. His natural talent also shines through with his repair work of the rigging.
Up in the rigging, the half-orc looks up at those around him who are working well above the deck, looking to strike up a conversation.
Seeing a battle scarred halfling, he works his way over and nods.
"So how'd you like the music last night? Name's Ausk by the by. What's your story?"
Grumbling and limping, Mikael flicks Scourge the tines as soon as his back is turned, before carefully carryting the unconscious Sabine back to the bunks. After a moment of looking around in confusion, he realizes something - he doesn't actually know which bunk is hers.
He clicks his tongue in annoyance. Well. This complicates things.
He glances around for any indications of which could be the right bunk. Nothing. He growls in frustration.
With a resigned sigh, he puts Sabine in his own bunk - on her side to avoid the angry lash-welts on her back - before taking a seat on a nearby barrel and waiting for any of the other unfortunates to finish up whatever they were doing.
---------------------------------------------
The warrior groans inwardly as he sees Fishguts drunk as a skunk again. This is gonna be a long day. He reluctantly accepts the bottle, swigging at it as he works.
It tastes like something filtered through a Shoanti's loincloth, and leaves an oily residue on his tongue, but he drinks it anyway. After all, it was polite. At some point during the day, he steps out to the deck for some air, taking advantage of Kroop's distracted state, and checks on Sabine. "Sorry for getting you into that mess last night. You holding up alright?"
At least he has the decency to look sheepish.
The half-orc nods after the folks seem to enjoy his song, trying to figure out something better to sing about for later in the week. Enjoying the night air, he only heads below as they're all forced below. Making his way to his own bunk, he smirks and nods to his fellow sailor.
"Busy night?" he asks, laying down and folding his arms behind his head.
"Yeah, but not in the way you think," Mikael sighs, drawing two of his daggers and flipping them around in his hands idly. "We decided to do a bit of poking around, see what we could uncover in the seedy underbelly of this bucket, and managed to run straight into Scourge. Got a nasty hiding for it, too. She got it worse than me." He nods to the unconscious druid. "What about you? Heard you singing again. Not as nuanced as I'm used to, but it has a nice power to it."
The half Orc nods sympathically.
"Best be careful sneaking around. We don't have enough friends on board to really afford to make enemies. Got enough of the worst sort as it is. Too bad we don't have all of our gear and gold, or we'd have an easier time, I imagine."
When his singing is mentioned, he stretches and grins wide, his teeth really showing off his heritage.
"Oh, believe you me...once I learn the best stories for down in this place, I'll be keeping them all interested."
Xav leaves the humiliation of the arm wrestling behind him, cradling his bloody hand. He heads down to his quarters and eventually falls asleep, frustration and in pain.
The next morning he favors his left hand as much as he can, but still needs to use his right to do his work. He just barely has enough stamina to complete the job due to compensating so much with his other hand. All he can think about is healing up and going back to smash that bastards hand. Once he completes his work he seeks out his new friends to see if any of them can do anything about his busted hand.