So, you managed not to fail... mostly.
Xav grits his teeth in frustration.
Mikael and I almost died catching these crabs and this is the thanks we get?
Xav catches the vial and it takes all of his willpower to not squeeze it and shatter it in his hand out of pure frustration. Looking down at the vial he thinks, probably poison to finish us off and opens the top to smell it.
Looking at Sabine he asks, "Would you prefer to heal him like you did me yesterday or would you like to take a gamble on this... stuff?"
Noro... I mean luke. Ya, him... - Owlbear doesn't shrink back from you more. He seems to be trying to decide if you're oing to trick him. He reaches into a nearby barrel and draws out a live crab. He looks at it, then cautiously hands it to you.
Luke goes to take the crab but as he does it bites his finger and he yelps out in pain as he flings it to the ground.
ouch.he says, then starts to laugh, guess I'm not a crab person.
Owlbear chuckles and snatches another from the barrel. He takes it in both hands and literally tears the sea creature apart. He cracks the shell with ease and sucks down the fresh meat with abandon. It's all over in minutes. He looks up at you with anticipation, like it's your turn.
Sabine shakes her head. "I have no more healing magic available." She picks up the bottle and sniffs the liquid.
Luke looks at owlbear with a little bit of trepidation he eventually grabs a crab and quickly bites it trying to make the best of an awkward situation.
doing his best to hide his fear.
Owlbear grins at luke and contentedly eats, his fear forgotten.
With some help from Sandara, you identify the potion as Cure Moderate Wounds.
Xav nods to Sandara. "Oh, this is the big boy stuff. I'm not sure we should waste it on Mikael. I mean, I like the guy, but he'll wake up after a few hours of rest. Right?"
Turning to Sabine he says, "I mean, if not, you could heal him in the morning like."
Xav tosses the vial in the air and catches it a few times, "This is a valueable commodity that we should hold on for emergency purposes."
Xav nods.
Sabine glares at Xavdeyr and holds out her hand.
"Give me the potion," she states.
Luke spent time with Owlbear, joking with him, basically just being friendly.
he tries to get him to tell him if there is anything he can do for him considering he is chained up.
before too long, Luke has wasted several hours with him. he makes his way back to the crew area, the others having already returned.
he makes his way to a seat to hear what has been going on while he was "busy"
Xav sighs and hands the potion to Sabine. "Maybe you can use half of it now and save half for later?"
Xav holds his hands up, palms out toward Sabine. "No? Alright, alright."
The half orc puts out his hand, silently motioning for her to stop. Drawing deep within himself, Ausk begins to hum a deep thrumming note. As he hums, a white light begins to appear at the tips of his fingers, the light glowing in time with the note. He reaches out to their unconscious fellow and places each finger on the center of his chest.
Xav reaches to take the potion back from Sabine after watching Ausk heal Mik. "I'll hold it for safe keeping since he doesn't need it any more. It looks like he'll be just fine."
Luke watched the interaction with some amusement, but then glancing toward the fallen one.
Just give the healing to Mikael, you really think you'll be able to keep that once dumb and dumber find out? he is of course referring to Plugg and scourge.
The magic takes immediate effect; coming to with a great gasp for air, Mikael rolls onto his side and begins coughing violently, trying to expel seawater from his lungs. Wiping his mouth with the back of his hand, he grips Ausk's outstretched hand and pulls himself shakily to his feet, glancing down at the new holes in his armour and skin. "F%++ing crabs," he mutters, wringing water out of his hair. "Here's an idea: let's not do that again!"
Eventually, he manages to normalize his breathing, nodding thankfully at Ausk. "Guess I owe you my thanks," he says sincerely, forcing a shaky grin. "Well, nearly dying has been fun, but I believe I'd best get back to work. Gonna really enjoy cracking those bastards open," he adds, eyes flashing darkly as he begins strapping his knives back into place.
Before Mikael walks off Xav slaps him on the back and says, "Hey thanks for all your help with the crabs out there. Great diversionary tactic, good thinking."
Sabine offers the potion to Mikael. "Drink this. It should bring you back up to speed."
Xav raises his hand and points to the potion, "Oh hey, so look, we got this potion and he's extremely valuable. We were going to use it on you to wake you up, but big guy over here was able to work his hocus pocus and get you on your feet."
Xav adds a slight pause, "So we could save it. If you want to though, you know, just hang low for the rest of the day and save the potion for later. It might come in use, you know? Say if you wanted to partake in another game of knivesies or whatever."
"Xav, I didn't have a chance to 'hang low' or rest up before we went swimming, did I?" Mikael asks with a sigh, smiling weakly, but thankfully, at Sabine as he takes the potion. "I nearly died out there - fetching dinner for a dog of a captain, no less - and that tends to shake a man up. Pretty sure I have broken ribs and only half a spleen. Don't think anyone wants me bleeding all over their food, eh? I hear it's unsanitary." He uncorks the potion vial, giving the contents a cursory sniff. "Bottoms up," he chuckles, offering Xav an apologetic grin, before downing the potion.
Realizing that his suggestion was done, despite the fact that I wasn't sure if anyone even heard him. Luke finishes what little he has to eat and goes to retire for the evening.
The crowd for the games tonight is small, and just about everyone (save the die-hards) turns in early.
The next couple days are more of the same. You make friends, do your jobs, and everything starts to settle into a daily rhythm. It's a depressing, exhausting, abusive rhythm, but still.
Day one the weather is nice, if cloudy. Day two is rainy. Water soaks everyone through and not a single sailor can get dry because the space near the galley fire is taken by the officer's clothing.
On the third day, you are woken in the middle of the night by Scourge. He trumps down the stairs to the hold cussing and shouting. The deck pitches dangerously under you, and the ship creaks against gale or better winds.
ALL HANDS TO THE DECK. Get up ye rats! We have a fight on our hands!
You are dumped out of your hammocks and herded onto deck to find Harrigan himself at the wheel. He stands immovable and confident. Plugg is on the fore-deck relating orders to the few riggers who were already up. He starts assigning duties immediately.
Plugg assigns according to competence for the first time and send you where you will be the most useful.
The half orc clears his throat as the man finishes his food. "Good job speaking. You can't make use of a valuable resource if you're dead. That's what my old captain once said. Always thought it was a fair thing."
Climbing the rigging, the orc works to fix the rigging.
Archepex seems absolutely giddy, though it's only seen in cracks in his hard demeanor. He is assigned upper rigging work, which draws a rare grin. He unfolds his wings and the wind scoops him up into the air. He sails past Ausk on the rigging and catches the upper mast with his foot seconds later.
He works hard. In spite of the weather, he seems content. Possibly because he's the only one up there so far.
He lashes, knots, and coils well enough to keep up with the fury of the storm.
Mikael is none too happy to be dragged out in the middle of a storm, in the middle of the night, with nothing more than his trousers and Angelina (who he'd refused to let out of his sight following his unfortunate incident with the reefclaws). Knowing better than to argue, he immediately sets to work with the ropes, but his freezing fingers betray him. Panic grips his chest, the imminent fear only worsening his predicament.
Luke remembers something like this back home, when that storm struck Sqibbs and half the ships in port were nearly torn apart.
luckily he was out at the time, but had to face the storm nonetheless.
Luke make his way about the deck securing lines, and positioning sails from the main deck to best accommodate the winds.
managing to keep as much of the decking clear and saving all he can.
Sabine takes the storm on directly, laughing and reveling in its fury. This was the ultimate manifestation of her faith and despite the driving rain and wind, she exulted in it. Racing around the deck to make repairs, she stops next to Luke to catch her breath.
"Isn't it marvelous? Have you ever felt this close to the gods?"
Luke was engrossed in his work when the young lady somewhat startled him. so few here took the time to talk to him.
lets just hope the gods don't decide to takes home
at that moment the ship crashes into a wave sending a spray of seawater mixed with the rain over the deck.
the sudden crash sends the lady Sabine nearly toppling over. she grabs the railing to keep from going overboard. Luke is quick and a small metal dart attached to a strong thin rope flies out wrapping around her arm.
with a tug he pulls her back to safety. or maybe a little to close and the two find themselves in a rather awkward embrace.
slippery deck he says to her
Sabine pulls away from Luke. "Thank you, but I do not fear death from the storm. If it is Gozreh's will that I return to them, then I accept it."
She whips her head back and forth to clear her drenched hair from her face. "I don't believe today is that day."
Hours pass and still the storm rages. The captain process his title with impressive skill at the wheel and a voice that cuts through the rain. His voice is as present as the thunder as he aggressively climbs waves to prevent a full capsizing. Those in the rigging feel it most. The wild rocking is amplified many times up there such that rigging becomes half knot work and half acrobatics display.
In spite of the hours, the sun fails to make an appearance. The sky does get a lighter shade of grey once, but black clouds, howling winds, and rains that drive so hard it hurts are your companions.
More hours pass. Fatigue starts to loom over you. Eventually you are ordered to eat in shifts. You stumble and slip down the sodden stairs where hard biscuit, a mug of rum, and a handful of cheese serve as your meal. Then it's right back to work.
Mikael staggers belowdecks for his brief respite, trying to get some feeling back into his numb extremities, pinching each fingertip in turn to check that he still has them all. He shivers as he eats his 'meal', elbows on his knees, forehead braced in one shaking palm. At one point, he glances across at Ausk. "Guess this is nothing you aren't used to, then?" he asks, trying to force a grin. Turning to Sabine, he adds, "And I must be going mad, because you looked positively thrilled to be out there!"
Once above deck, he goes back to his task. He's glad to find his fingers far more cooperative, refreshed from the rest and warmed by the rum. For a brief moment, he thinks he might get through this after all.
As Mikael is coming up, Xav is heading down. Unable to believe how much the storm has taken a toll on him, bumps into the Varisian on his way down. Instantly defensive he puts his hands up to protect himself from an incoming blow, only to see who it is and lower his hands back down. He half-smiles and says, "Sorry. I hope you left me something edible down there."
Gnawing on the rock-biscuit and throwing down the rum he slowly makes his way up for work.
I guess I'll see if I can work on repairing some of the damage from the storm.
He sets about to attempt to repair a torn sail but is unable to determine the correct placement of the sail. After a little bit of work he throws his hands up in frustration, "Who designed these sails anyway? This is non-standard equipment!"
Shut up and get it done, Elf! Shouts Plugg from the forecastle as a huge wave breaks across the deck. The brief flood wages away anything not tired down and stands water onto those eating below. Thankfully most everything is tied down by now.
Luke makes his way topside once more, he avoids Plugg and scourge's view as best he can yet still working the ropes for the sails from the deck.
despite the hours and lack of food, Luke presses on, He even attempted to get an extra slice of bread, but a stern look from the cook and he put it back.
Sabine gives Mikael a wide, if weary, grin. "Don't you?" she asks, her voice incredulous.
In spite of how it looks, riding subs like this is incredibly tiring. Archepex stumbles down to chow and doesn't look at anyone while eating.
He really struggles with the second shift. Routes snap on him, tangle, and generally misbehsve. It's a bad day to be a bird-man.
Mikael can't help returning Sabine's grin, pushing rain-soaked hair out of his eyes. "Well, it certainly nkeeps me on my toes, and there's something undeniably invigorating about it. The savagery, the thrill... I like to take risks, and being out in a storm like this is a big one." His grin fades to a small smile as he takes a another gulp of his run, rubbing the fresh, exposed scar on his shoulder. "Of course, it gets me into trouble sometimes, as you've seen," he chuckles. "And even if you are a bit mad, I'd rather be with you than against you." he pauses, thinking over what he's just said. "I mean. I'd rather have you on my side than... ah hells. You know what I mean." Grinning again, he stands, downing the last of his mug.
"Best get topside, then. Good luck up there." He squeezes the girl's shoulder, readjusts Angelina's position on his hip, and takes the stairs two at a time.
Pointlessly shielding his eyes against the rain, he doesn't see Xav until he collides with him, nearly sending the both of them sprawling. Righting himself, he forces a shaky lauigh at the half-elf's nervous comment. "Don't know if the cheese counts, but this is one time I'm grateful for the shitty rum. Enjoy it." Clapping Xav heavily on the shoulder, he gets back to work, singing a folk tune over the storm.
The day (maybe? Could be night with how dark it is) drags on as the wind howls without the slightest sign of letting up. Suddenly the ship's noise plummets into an abyss of a trough. The Wormwood surges forward down the wave and a monster of a swell rises above the main mast. It's grade is dangerously steep. So much so that the mountain of sea water looks like it's about to topple over upon you.
ALL HANDS BRACE! GIVE ME EVERY INCH OF SAIL! WERE CLIMBING THIS B@#####, BOYS! roars Harrigan with a defiant laugh.
The crew springs to action as quickly as they can. Exhaustion is evident in some of their movements as the sails drop to full. The masts and cross beams creak in protest as the ship reaches the bottom of the trough at breakneck speed. The bow rises. And rises. And nearly goes under, but keeps rising. The beams creak and groan like bones about to break, but up she goes. Twenty, thirty, forty feet and more. The Wormwood sheds speed faster than a Port Peril prostitute sheds clothes. The bow turns to port slowly in spite of the furious cussing from Harigan. She starts to list as she turns and the wave's crest gives way to gravity. Water washes across the deck in a deadly flood, sweeping Xev of the port rail! It's over all at once. The swells are still huge, but nothing you haven't been fighting all day.
What do you do?
Sabine casts around wildly, searching for a rope to secure herself. "Man overboard!" she shouts. "Man overboard! Somebody get me a rope!"
Luke makes his way to the rail where he last saw him, and scans the waves for him.
"F+!&!" Mikael hisses, seeing Xav go flying over the side. "F@!#!" From his position at the ropes, he's quick to bring a length over to Sabine, helping to secure her even as he asks, "You're not seriously going in after him, are you? You could both get lost out there!"
Xav had been fighting to keep whatever counts for lunch down during this storm and taking a face full of sea water wasn't helping much. The yelling and screaming on deck to perform the various actions were taking his mind of his pitiful meal though. A quick glance at the maelstrom they were and he finds a moment to thank Besmara for the sure footing under his feet in the these tough times.
It could be worse, I could be out --
Before the thought can finish however, Xav is completely taken off guard and loses his balance and footing as he is swept off the deck and into the raging sea. He tries to scream for help but only manages to swallow salty sea water. Struggling to maintain his composure he does his best to fight the waters until someone notices him.
Hopefully.
Luke- You spot him 20 feet out. He looks ok, but ghee ship is still moving. He'll need help to not get left behind.
Xav- your natural skill in the water saves you from being pulled under, but the ship is pulling away...
Looking around and seeing no other options, he realizes that the boat is pulling away and treading water isn't going to help him, he begins to swim furiously towards the vessel.
I never thought I'd want to get back on that damn ship so much.
Luke looks for something to use as a float and secures a rope to it. then making sure he still can see Xav.
bundling together several belaying pins Luke secures the rope to them, and attaches a piece of colored cloth to make it more visible.
then getting in the best position he can Luke tosses the bundle toward Xav.
Grab hold, I'll haul you in he yells toward Xav.
Luke corrects for the crazy winds as best he can and let's fly. The improvised tool rolls and flips through the air and splashes near to Xav!