Ravens listens to the whispery gillman repeatedly call Scourge 'sir' and his face scrunches up in confusion.
Scourge is a 'Sir'? A real sir? Like Sir Bregan?
Ravens makes a note to ask who knighted Scourge and whether it was a real knightship or one of them that you can buy from those people, you know...
Dorin merely returns to his ropes.
Hmph.
That was odd enough...
Jape steps away slowly, his face a picture of distrust. With a grunt and a last glance at Patch, he sets back to his actual work, though he dies so tentatively, as if expecting to be attacked ant any time.
On the main deck, Scourge seems to take note of the oozing sarcasm in Kehlysch's voice, and he scowls in obvious dislike. His voice is loud enough to address the whole crew as he responds. Yer gear is find; we're keepin' it safe. We're all pirates here, sure, and we coulda' stolen from ya' anytime, but ain't a strong pirate band that steals from within. Jes' get back ta' work, and let us do our own jobs!
His words, or perhaps simply his tone, seem to set the others back into motion and most set back to their work. Fipps steps back into place, blocking the stairs down, a smug smile on his face.
Once Jape is back at work, Moon himself sets back to the task of pumping the bilges, working diligently to get the task done despite the distractions.
Once the bilges are cleared, Moon will see if he can rouse Patch back to consciousness.
"Look here, Patch, I'll tell you same as I told Jape, if it's ever my decision I'll grant you freedom and a hand full of gold coins to tide you over at port 'til another ship hires you. There's no need for us to be killing each other over someone else's agenda. We could have left you to bleed out here in the bilges and we didn't do that, so let's call it a truce and go have some dinner and our evening rum."
Ravens gets back to work, working like a worker who wants to work to please his worker boss, because that's what works for workers who work.
Louly will wait as Jape does her work in cleaning the bilges, keeping an eye on him even as she mixes up her second set of reagents into a second healing extract, though she holds off on drinking it for the moment. Much as it would be nice to stop the pain from her remaining wounds, they might need that proof that they were also attacked.
"Well, Jape, how do you want to handle this?" she asks as they finish the work and prepare to return to the deck.
Kehlysch takes his time climbing back up to the crow's nest .
He stops near Ben and mutters. "They're up to something, and no good is going to come of it. Whatever is going on below is going to get one or all of us beaten or killed. I'm certain of it."
Patch is no less surly when she awakens, though her anger is tempered by a bit of humility. She snorts at the thought of a truce. Ye' fools don' know what ya' got comin'. I ain't the one what wants ya outta' tha' way...just a good hand with a knife. I don' care whatcha do; but ya' better let us go topside, er I'll scream as loud as I can, then it'll be a week in the box for ya' at best.
Jape grunts noncommittally, seeming to wait and see what happens. He glances aside at Patch, obviously allowing her the leadership role.
Topside, Ben nods. Well, what're we going to do about it? We can't help if they're keepin' us up here. I got a mind to see if the sharks'd even eat a rotten old cur like Fipps. He cracks his knuckles ominously.
On the main deck, the quite fetching flame-haired woman named Sandara steps near to Ravens and Dorin, her eyes darting back to Fipps every now and again. You two are aweful quiet so far...may be a good idea on this tub. The cap'n grill ya?
Louly snorts and rolls her eyes at Patch. "You're as deaf as you are dumb. You were the ones that attacked us. We could've easily finished you off if we wanted, but we've already said we're not going to if you don't make us. Now why don't you tell us who pulls your strings so we know for sure who our real enemy is?"
"It's not just Fipps; it's his whole gang, and Scourge is backing them. He may have even put them up to it. If you get into it with Fipps, it will end badly. We need to take them apart, but on our terms."
Dorin nods at the redhead.
Sure enuff he did...
On the main deck, the quite fetching flame-haired woman named Sandara steps near to Ravens and Dorin, her eyes darting back to Fipps every now and again. You two are aweful quiet so far...may be a good idea on this tub. The cap'n grill ya?
Ravens looks Sandara up and down trying to gain a measure of the woman.
Sense Motive - Seem nice/honest?
"Oh yeah. He wanted to know about our other boat and if we were good sailors," Ravens answers, trying to make nice. "I didn't get your name...? I'm Ravens. I like birds. And horses. Do you like horses?"
Ravens stammers out his questions as the woman's beauty begins to tie his tongue.
I be Dorin Stonehammer, at yer service. Any notion on how I'd be gettin' me hammer back? Don't seem t'me that this 'ere boat be staffed with equipped sailors. Not many pirates I be knowin' with no weapons, and they took mine too.
She is quite human, but if she is a cleric, then her holy symbol is hidden. You do see a fine chain running down in a V from her neck to her chest, but whatever's at the end is buried under the considerable, lacy ruffles covering her bosom.
Sandara nods at Ravens, though she pauses slightly at the mention of horses. I...I suppose I do, though I'd never given it much thought. There's very little room for them on most ships. How did you come about such a name?
Her gaze turns to Dorin, and she smiles. If they took your weapons, then they see you as a threat - that's good. If they hadn't, you might not make it through the night. Cut-throat Grok keeps the weapons - she's the quartermaster, and her store is down those stairs...right next to the galley. She's quite the surly type usually, though she's taken a fancy to the peg-legged fellow, Moon, recently. She loves her rum, that's for certain...almost as much as she loves a tall tale.
Patch smiles with blood-stained teeth, then spits. Ain't so many on this boat, and yer a big girl. I'm sure ye' can figure it out without me helping' ye'.
She snorts and looks away, quite obviously unwilling to talk.
Louly rolls her eyes. "Fine, I suppose I already knew anyway. I'm sure he'll reward you well for your dismal failure down here, but I suppose a cur doesn't care if its master kicks it a few times.
"Now I think I've had about enough of these bilges, and certainly the rats down here. If we're down, I'm ready to go back topside. I'm sure Owlbear will be interested to hear about the day's events."
When she returns topside, Louly will keep a close eye on Plugg and Scourge's reaction to her and Moon's return.
Dorin bows to Sandara,
Much thanks, mi'laday
When he sees Moon emerge with the cooking lady, he approaches him before he can get entangled with Scourge, if possible. If not, soon thereafter.
Moon, be it? I was wonderin' if'n ya knew how I can be gettin' me hammer back. I'm hearin' that ya may know the quartermaster?
Kehlysch returns to his lookout duties, half watching the horizon and half watching Sandara talking to the newcomers.
When she walks away, he draws upon his power and speaks to her .
"What do you think? Do they seem to be likely allies?"
As Moon emerges from the bilge area he sees one of the new crew members approaching him. With a friendly grin he steps toward the man...
Sandara nods at Ravens, though she pauses slightly at the mention of horses. I...I suppose I do, though I'd never given it much thought. There's very little room for them on most ships. How did you come about such a name?
Ravens smiles at Sandara.
"Horses are just great. And birds are almost as good. I was trained to handle them by the great Druid Alabaster up in Brevoy. I was also trained to read and write...*and* read and write magic," Ravens says with more than a little pride. "But they gave me the nickname "Ravens" a long time ago because that's what I looked after."
Ravens listens to Sandara talk to Dorin.
"Is there a way I can get my inks and quill back? I can do more writing...it might be helpful to the ship, you know."
Patch has little else to say, and seems to sulk in a rather un-pirately manner as Louly and Moon head topside. The tension on the main deck is palpable, as Scourge turns and sneers at Louly and Moon. He does little to hide his disdain, but finishes with a snort. Back ta' work then, everyone! There's still some ta' do bafore ya' get ta' yer rum rations, and many hands make light work. Set to it!
Scourge, appearing no more angry than usual...which means he's nearly in a rage...drums his ringed fingers on the handle of his whip as he looks Louly up and down. He sneers again and, with a quick glance at Moon, turns from the pair and sets to his charges.
Sandara smiles at Ravens. Makes sense, then...there's a good chance you can get them back, though you'll have to speak to the quartermaster as well. Grok no doubt has all of your goods in her stores.
Louly looks around at the scene on the deck.
"Is there a problem?" she asks.
Was there a fight up here too?
As Scourge walks away, Moon grins and nudges Louly. Turning back to the new shipmates, Moon strides in their direction.
"Aye, Dorin, we'll see about getting back yer hammer," then with a nod to Ravens, "and those inks and quills as well. This evening after we've had our rum we'll take a bit of time to speak with gorgeous Grok."
Kehlysch sees Moon and Louly come topside with Patch and Jape. He calls on his power again and sends to his two comrades:
"Fipps was blocking the stairwell, and when I tried to pass him, Scourge intervened. They claimed that there was a search for stolen items going on belowdecks. Am I correct in assuming that it was something else? Use that information to your advantage with the crew, if you can. I am glad to see the two of you are still walking and breathing."
Moon turns a nod towards Kehlysch, his usual chipped-tooth grin a bit wider than usual.
Ravens smiles at the male human.
"Yeah, it'd be nice to be able to write stuff again," Ravens opines. "We get rum? This is a great ship, huh? If we get free rum!"
"You may not want to go down there anytime soon," Louly announces to anyone watching. "It seems there was something in the bilges that tried to sink its teeth into us. I think it's learned its lesson, but who knows if there are more, or if they could come on deck.
She glances briefly at Patch and Jape as she talks, then glances over toward Scourge, before looking around the deck to see how the rest of the crew are reacting, especially those who don't seem to be connected to either side of the rapidly widening schism on the boat.
Ravens considers jumping overboard and swimming until he didn't feel like swimming no more (a la Forrest Gump), but instead returns to work trying to scrub the decks clean.
Maybe I should stay on a bit longer. Something is going to change, I just know it.
Moon spies Ravens putting a leg over the railing. "Aye, Ravens, this ain't the first dead water we've encountered, and it's likely not to be the last. But never fear, the wind is always a gust away and our sails will be filled 'fore long."
Moon lazes through the days, splitting his free time between Grok, Rum, and working on his suntan, not necessarily in that order.
The tension lessens slightly on the main deck as the crew falls back into its standard routines. Many, like Jack Scrimshaw, Rosie, Sandara, and the ever dashing gnomish bard Conchobhar draw over to give quiet greetings to Louly and Moon, seeming to have figured out that there was much more to the happenings below than what Scourge claimed. Others - those who have to this point spurned the efforts of Kehlysch, Moon, Louly, and the others, seem to form their own groups and give the others a wide berth. In time, Jape joins the crew on the main deck, and he immediately finds his way to the side of the floppy-jowled Fipps.
Patch and the officers of the ship gather near the poop deck with Scourge, seeming to go through their daily plans. The day comes to a close as the bloody hour draws near. Though there had been no punishments for some time, a thick tension falls over the main deck as the sun falls low in the sky. Sure enough, Mister Plugg stalks down from the poop deck and walks towards the main mast, his officers, including Scourge, in tow.
He calls out in his nasally voice, each word dripping with contempt. As many of you know, we've had a case of thievery on board our ship today, and such an action cannot be allowed. We will have to punish those found below, unless the one who committed the act come's forward! He scans the gathering for a moment, his gaze unwavering.
"We seem to be in a rush," Louly mutters, to her friends around her. "I wonder where we're going."
Louly waits to see what happens -- though she palms her mutagen, knowing she's not going to let herself be punished for defending herself -- and keeps her mouth shut. She knows she's as likely to get herself in trouble again as to help. Moon's the talker, after all. Hopefully he can handle this.
Kehlysch watches the proceedings with crossed arms and a disdainful scowl.
"Perhaps, the aggrieved party could step forward and divulge what was stolen? Sir?"
Profession Sailor
Ravens stands and listens to Mr. Plugg speak.
OOH! I do love a good mystery! I wonder whodunit! Ravens rubs his hands together.
Maybe I should mention that I could write this up into a story for them after they figure out who did it. They'd probably appreciate that...and knowing that I can read and write.
"Aye, Scourge, we don't even know what was stolen? It wasn't Jape's ugliness, he's as repulsive as ever, and it wasn't Fipp's stink, he still smells foul from upwind. Wait, I bet I know, Scourge's hair! That's where it disappeared! Look, I don't have much myself, and it's greasy, but I'll share it with ya, it makes for a nice combover."
Profession Sailor:
Funny...I did not see any thievin' on the decks. By the by Cap'n, where we be headin' in such a hurry?
Dorin takes a long pull from his Rum.
Ravens looks over at Dorin, pausing from his work.
Where did he get rum? I forgot he had that.
Moon's words gain quite a few stifled chuckles among the gathered pirates, but Mister Plugg's expression remains unchanged. Fipps, for his part, sputters and growls but those wiser than he near him keep him from doing anything brash. Master Scourge smiles wickedly at Moon, an expression that carries with it the promise of revenge.
Mister Plugg speaks up again. We're on a course, an' that course is the capn's own. Just do yer jobs and he'll keep us doin' what we do best - bein' pirates. His mood seems unchanged by Moon's words.
A voice calls out from the gathered pirates - it's the deep baritone of "Narhwal", the hatchet-nosed dwarf who has seemed to be on quite good terms with Scourge, of late. It's ma' stuff's gone missin'! Old figure past down in ma' family...carved outta' strong wood an' plated with pure silver. The ugly dwarf looks around at the assembled, as if accusing each person for the missing figurine.
Loudly, for everyone to hear,"I swear to you, Narhwal, on blessed Besmara herself, I didn't take yer family heirloom. But we both know the divide here on this ship, likely someones taken the thing and put it in our gear to cause more problems. Yer free to look in my locker and you can check me pockets yerself, I've never stolen a thing from any of ya on this floating tub!" The Moon proudly proclaims his innocence and stands arms wide open, as if offering up a search on the spot.
Ravens looks around to see how others are reacting.
"Is it inspection time? I love inspections. What are we supposed to do?"
Kehlysch moves behind Ravens and mutters quietly.
"You are about to witness what passes for discipline and order on this ship. We are about to find out which one of us has been set-up, falsely, as a thief so as to be the recipient of the evening's flogging."
Ravens nods at the voice from behind him, something clicking in his mind.
"Oh. That sounds interesting."
Ravens' mind works furiously.
"You were the whisperer when I was on the boat? Thank you for your help." Ravens tries to smile backward. "I trust you."
Does he always whisper? That'd be pretty weird. Maybe there is something wrong with his normal voice.
Dorin also picks up on the sound of the voice as he moves closer to Keylysch and Moon.
He nods curtly at Kehlysch.
Master Scourge and Mister Plugg both look to the ugly dwarf and then nod severely, as if the crime was simply too terrible to bear. Those gathered on the deck all begin to talk at once, some looking about accusingly while others shake their heads at Narhwal, obviously doubting the claim.
The half-orc female quartermaster - Grok makes her way to Moon's side, leaning close.
Fipps moves forward to point at Louly, his fat jowls flapping with his words. It's that b!$+*! I seen her go down there...her an' that 'ol cur Moon! Mister Plugg follows the accusing finger to look at Louly. Is there truth to this, woman? Were you down below today?
It's that b!#~#! I seen her go down there...her an' that 'ol cur Moon! Mister Plugg follows the accusing finger to look at Louly. Is there truth to this, woman? Were you down below today?
Ravens gets really excited.
Finally a chance to show how smart I am!
Ravens raises his hand excitedly, waving it about, waiting to be picked upon to answer.
Pick me! I'm ever so smart!
Finally, and unable to control his 'brilliance', Ravens blurts out the answer.
"I know the answer! I know the answer! She took us down for food on Scourge's orders! Dorin was there! And the food was there! I remember! I do!"
Ravens crosses his arms and nods proudly.
Nailed it. I bet they are really impressed.
"I went below twice today, both at Scourge's orders," Louly replies, casting a quick glance at Ravens.
Is he siding with Scourge and trying to get me in trouble, or he just sun addled? Can't tell, but can't worry about it now...
Her eyes narrow to slits as her gaze turns to Fipps.
"The first was indeed to get food for Ravens and Dorin, and plenty of people saw me the whole time.
"Then I went down with Moon and Patch and Fipps' friend, Jape, to clean the bilges. I wasn't going to say anything, because some of us don't squeal like a pig whenever there's a problem" -- her steady glare at her two accusers makes it obvious who she's talking about -- "but Jape wasn't down there working for a bit. That's how Patch got hurt, and we had a long talk when he returned to work about what would happen if he tried to shirk his duty again. I can't rightly say exactly what he was doing while he wasn't cleaning the bilges, but maybe that's where Narwhal's silver got to?
"We all know how much he and Fipps like each other -- barely see the two apart -- so maybe he's just trying to cover for his ... friend, eh?" The pause intimates the relationship between the two is a bit more than friendship.
Aye, Louly, fed us plenty one time below at Scourge's orders. No thievin' took place on that visit. Too busy servin' n' eatin'. That I be verifyin'.