Balmir clambers down to the ranks of rowing seats and settles in on a seat near the window. The oar shaft in front of him has well worn handholds, signifying the countless hours of labor that have been spent to move the boat up and down the river.
Once things start moving Balmir gets into a rhythm with the rowing. His five hour shift goes by so quickly that the sturdy dwarf barely notices it. Until he stands up, that is. As he makes his way up to the deck, fatigue from the rowing sets in. He plops down in an out of the way place and watches the riverbank float slowly by.
Balmir eyes Somer walking by, apparently not affected by the rowing. "Aren't you tired? After all of that work?" Being around so many orcs has put Balmir in a perpetually bad mood. "Or are you going to tell me that elves don't get tired," he grumbles at his companion.
"I think you have seen me plenty tired during the invasion. Still getting the muscles moving isn't so bad, lets me think."
Pausing and looking at Balmir with a smile.
"Having trouble trusting the crew after the invasion. It's not right but the green skin dosn't sit well today."
Balmir grunts back at Somer and closes his eyes to try to recover some strength back. The gentle rocking of the boat lulls him, leading him to doze off for a few minutes at a time. After a time he gets up and walks the perimeter of the boat, looking at the water and the banks of the shore. Always wary, he keeps a keen eye out for enemies.
It doesn't take long fore Somer to get into the job of rolling. Pull. Pull. Pull. He sees Balmir fade a bit and encourages him until he sees the toll it is taking.
"Being a sailor is as rough as fighting the orcs I guess."
Once the shift is over, if possible, he will find a spot at the front enjoying the feeling of travel.
Rowing is hard work, but it seems to earn some respect from
About mid-morning, you hear a shout and then a splash. Mouser sees that Oorug, one of the boat’s crew members, has fallen into the river. It looks like one of the railing broke away as he was trying to haul in the catch.
Two crocodiles suddenly swim up from the back of the boat, intent on eating him.
Hearing the shout Somer grabs his bow and quiver and rushes to the upper deck.
"Better see what is going on."
Derrik looks at those rowing with him, "Should we go help?" Derrik asks around
Upon hearing "man overboard", the rowers have been instructed to reverse their rowing so that the boat doesn't leave the crew member behind.
"Blast."
Somer sits back at the row in an attempt to not leave the poor fellow behind.
"If you drop anchor we may be of help up top."
He shouts to any that can hear.
Balmir reverses oars with the rest of the oaring team. He has half a mind to just leave the orc but he goes with the group to try to rescue him.
Tam turns to see the advancing threat and moves down to the side of the boat to launch a spell at the crocs, in hopes of buying time to bring the crewman back aboard. He reasons that with the boat going in reverse they don't need a lookout to watch for sandbars up front any more!
Derrik does the same as Balmir helping to reverse the boat
While the presence if a sling is not likely to scare away a few crocs in a feeding frenzy, the glitterdust is particularly effective in blinding them.
Unfortunately, poor Oorug is already in the water, and about to bee eaten. Being suddenly blinded, however, the croc fails to make the grab! Oorug scrambles to get back to the boat.
Balmir races to the top deck as soon as it's clear that the ship has moved next to Oorug. Reluctantly he helps pull the half-orc over the railing and back onto the ship. Then he leans over the rail himself and shouts at the crocodiles. "Get out of here! Your easy dinner is gone!"
"Drag him back on the ship!" shouts Tam as he loads his crossbow and takes a shot at one of the crocodiles to discourage them from pursuing.
Hearing the sailor is close Somer abandons his post racing to the top while nocking an arrow.
"Get him up I will see if I can deter the lizards."
He moves to the side looking for a good angle.
[ooc] Figuring that was a double move.
Derrik puts his Oar down and follow Balmir up to the deck, "Let me see the wounds, how bad is he?"
With the crocs still blinded, it is relatively easy to pull the half-orc up on the deck. Derrik looks him over, and other than a couple of cuts on his leg, he is in pretty good shape.
With the danger passed, the anchor is lifted and progress downstream resumes.
"He is ok, should we get moving along again?" Derrik looks around for direction.
Somer look to find the 1st mate or the captain on deck and inquire as to what exactly happened as well as look at the railing.
"How did he fall overboard? Did the railing just break? I would assume the boat is in better repair."
"Well regardless I think I am going to stay up top. Tomorrow I think a job where I can see what is going on."
The rest of the day passes uneventfully. It is hard work, but not so bad.
Tam returns to the front of the boat to watch for sandbars. He sits atop a bag, smoking his pipe and scanning for currents in the water that indicate something below.
Derrik will try his hand at fishing, never having done it before.
"This is an interesting profession, do you catch much every day?" Derrik asks whoever he is working with.
At the appointed time Balmir heads back to the rows of rowers and settles in. He seems to be natural talent at rowing, as if they required any skill, but the effort leaves him drained.
Again this morning Somer stashes his armor and heavier items taking only his bow, quiver and the hope knife with him.
I could cook or row. I guess rowing again is my best choice.
Once he starts rowing he immediately regrets the decision and struggles greatly against the oar. Try as he might his biggest success is in exhausting himself.
It is an exhausting day, but you make decent progress. Someone calls out... apparently no one is taking care of the horse mucking, and one of the horses is ill. When you go upstream, this is really going to slow you down.
Dinner is fair, but nothing to write home about. At least Somer brought in a decent amount of fish.
With the horse-trouble, Tam says, "I have an idea. Anyone good with animals? We can change up a few shifts. I'll use a spell to do some of the rowing. Then either Balmir or Somer can switch jobs and someone who's good with animals can care for the horses."
With Mouser helping the horse Somer climbs up in the rigging to keep watch. For the climb he takes his time and moves slowly.
Keeping his bow handy Somer finds he is repeatedly distracted by thoughts of how to integrate his magic and bow.
After his rowing shift Balmir collapses on the deck. "No Mouser, I'm not good with animals. I think I'll stick to rowing. But it seems to be wearing me out. I'm just going to sit here."
As you are all setting into your jobs, Balmir hears an awful clang and rattling of metal against metal. Suddenly, the wall bursts open as a large white gorilla looking creature storms in!
It is a girallon. If you exceed by more than 5, you can ask more specific questions.
Hearing the commotion Somer attempts to quickly jump form the rigging to the deck.
It does not go well.
Balmir jumps to his feet as the wall explodes. "What nonsense is this!" He pulls agrimmosh from his belt and prepares to swing at the white monster.
Misjudging the landing Somer's attempt to roll though the fall rails and he just kind of flops on his back.