"We ain't stole a thing!" Moon blusters, "You heard Louly, she's only gone down twice today, and both times at Scourge's orders."
Mister Plugg nods his thanks to Ravens for the confirmation, then gets a quick nod of affirmation from Scourge. He glances at Jape, then Fipps, and he shows a scowl of distaste, or perhaps disappointment. The irritable first mate then shakes his head at Louly's claims. He nearly spits out his words as if they were poison.
We'll not find an answer like this! No matter; fact remains that we lost work and lost time with the bilges. We'll sort out this mess, but for now, there's got ta' be some accountin' for the downtime. His voice rises, as if he were now addressing the entirety of the crowd...though his words were loud enough for the small main deck before. Pirate justice ain't pretty, but it's gotta' be done...Moon, Louly, Jape, and Patch...yer up for a lesson in it today!
Jape's eyes widen, and he turns to level an accusing glare at Fipps. Patch eyes Plugg with surprise, and then her gaze shifts to Scourge, and shows pure hatred. Murmurs of surprise ripple through the crowd on the main deck; many have never seen an officer at the receiving end of Plugg's punishments. Scourge and Plugg both pull out there tools of punishment, their stances anxious as they wait for their victims to come forth.
The main mast beckons; it had been empty during the bloody hour for too many days...
At hearing the Plugg's pronouncement, Ravens has the good sense to keep his mouth shut.
Four punishments? Seems like a lot. Good thing I was here to help. Might have been more otherwise.
Ravens looks at Kehlysch. Can you read my mind? What is the punishment? Should we watch? Do we need to clap or cheer or anything?
Dorin spits and crosses his arms, intent on watching the punishment.
That Scourge has it comin'.
Kehlysch smiles at the pronouncement, then shifts his position to use Ravens for cover. Drawing on his power , he whispers to Jaundiced Jape:
"They did it again, Jape. They made you the patsy. Fipps isn't getting whipped, Scourge isn't being led to the mast. What are your current loyalties gaining you, except more stripes across your back?"
Diplomacy:
Louly smirks as her adversaries at least are forced to get the same punishment she does.
"Let's hope you're not too weak because of your last orders to survive this," she mutters to Patch as she moves into position. "Be a shame if your friends got you killed because you're too stupid to know who's trying to help."
Louder, as she walks to the mast, she calls out, "You all know I didn't do this. Heck, I don't even know if they bothered to actually put this silver in my gear or not, since no one apparently checked, but I guess we're not going to bother with those little details. Just mete out the whippings for Scourge's sick pleasure. Remember, Fipps and Narwhal could do this to you next!"
Ravens seems sad that Louly, aka Foodgiver, is getting flogged.
But I know she didn't do it. There is something odd about all this. Oddity odd.
Ravens looks at Dorin for his reaction.
Dorin simply shakes his head in disdain, while looking at Ravens.
"Right, get it over with then!" Moon strides straight forward to accept his punishment, unafraid of the sadistic men.
Mister Plugg sets to with his cat-o-nine tails, and Master Scourge uses his whip, each delighting in the bloody hour. Plugg takes Louly and Patch, and within moments red, bleeding welts cover the backs of each. Scourge slashes away at the men with his whip, making a show of it with each loud crack.
After the bloody hour, the officers disperse, and the rum is brought onto the main deck for rations. The evening's meal is a bit lazy...hard tack and some salted fish that had seen better days...no doubt due to Louly's having been posted elsewhere. Grok doles out the rum rations for the evening, then sets to fawning over Moon as if he'd been tortured for hours.
The officers stick together as usual, save Patch, who skulks over to stand near the mainmast, by herself. Only a few moments after the rum is passed out, Jape stalks over to the group, a glare leveled at Kehlysch.
Seeing as this is Ravens' first night aboard this ship and he's still unsure of things (and having witnessed the bloody whipping), Ravens will sleep this night.
Good thing Ser Bregan can't get me here. I'm safe here.
Kehlysch squares off with Jape, hands at his waist, but tensed for action.
"Can we help you, Mister Jape? You are welcome to drink with us, unless of course, you prefer the company of your loyal comrades, Scourge and Fipps. Either way, we will be spending the evening tending to our friends' injuries."
Dorin will drink and socialize with Moon and Grok with an eye towards trying to influence her to return his Longhammer.
Thasnks fer the rum, Grok. I be appreciatin' you tendin' to Moon, here. I be likin' the fella, and he shouulna' of had a whippin' fer nothin'. I was tellin' him earlier that I feel so naked without me Longhammer. I've never been without it afore now.
Diplomacy:
When Patch stands alone by the mainmast, Moon takes the opportunity to approach her. "Our offer still stands from before, Patch, join us as an equal and get the respect your loyalty deserves."
Moon retires with Grok early that evening, resting after the day's battle and following punishment, but not before offering a bit of encouragement for Dorin. "Aye, Grok, I vouch for the lad, I'll pay the cost for his hammer myself if he's not good for it."
Burning as much from anger as from the whipping, Louly will head to her quarters while others are getting their rum, searching to see if they did indeed leave the supposedly stolen silver figurine in her gear. If so, she'll try to find someplace she can hide it quickly.
They want to go to so much trouble, it'll cost them, she thinks to herself as she whips up a second healing draught of the day, to cure the welts on her back.
She seems far more chipper as dinner. "It's a shame we have such a poor supper tonight. Perhaps it makes more sense to have Fishguts' helper actually working on dinner instead of cleaning out bilges and being flogged for something she didn't do," she says, loudly enough that some of the perhaps undecided members of the crew might hear reason.
Grok seems to take well to Dorin, particularly after Moon's endorsement and a string of particularly bawdy jokes from the dwarf. Soon enough, she's laughing and knocking mugs with Dorin. Aye, I'll get yer hammer fer ye'; just keep it a bit outta' sight would ya'? Those that watch will remember just takin' it, and they'd be none too happy about me givin' it back. Give it a day er two an' they'll forget.
Jape's expression softens at Kehlysch's words, and he shows an emotion that seems quite out of place on him - it looks like shame. His head lowered, the mute half-orc lifts a thick hand and offers it, as if in a truce.
Though all of the pirates ate their food...out of necessity...and more than a few chuckled at Louly's observation. Conchobar smiles, then raises his mug with a flourish. To tomorrow, then...and to a meal more suited for eating than for...tying to someone's leg to haul him to a dark, wet grave. He tosses a piece of his flour biscuit into the air, and it lands on the wooden planks with a thunk.
Patch glances up at Moon, then turns and spits into the wind, her back to him. She says nothing, but offers a noncommittal grunt in response.
Kehlysch clasps Jape's hand in his own, but fixes the man with a level expression.
"I take your hand in friendship, Jape. By taking mine, I believe you have had your fill of false promises and betrayal. So have I. So have we all. We will tolerate it no more."
Jape's jaw ripples as he seems to chew his thoughts. After only a moment, he gives a solemn nod.
Ravens sits near Kehlysch and Moon (who seem friendly) during this second meal on the ship.
He is mostly quiet, save when he was about to ask if the food was always this good right before Louly's diatribe. After that, he decided to just eat.
Kehlysch takes Sandara aside and speaks to her.
"I think we may have finally broken Scourge's hold on Jape, but he is going to need reassurance. Do you feel you could doctor his stripes from tonight? If not, I understand, he has been a cankerous sore for most of the voyage. If we help him after his friends left him to bleed, we should have his loyalty."
He holds her close and whispers in her ear.
"You may claim any payment you like from me."
Evening Swim to re-hydrate.
Stealth:
...and then, anything Sandara requests. ;-)
Sandara makes no effort to hid her actions as she heals those who had received the lash...including Jape. The only one that she doesn't heal is Patch, as the diminuitive officer stays far away from everyone else. Jape stays with the group for the remainder of the night, keeping quiet, but making his new allegiance quite clear to those on the rest of the ship.
The night proceeds with the usual gaming and drinking, the officers with a few devotees staying clear of you and your group. Though many fierce looks are bandied about, nothing physical comes out of it, and the night leads way into morning as tired sailors get their rest.
A shout sounds out, disturbing the sleep of the resting crew. It takes a few moments to overcome the slumber and the soothing swaying of the ships' hammocks, but soon enough all come awake to realize that dawn has arrived. The call comes out from above, once again. A ship! A ship!
Grabbing her gear, Louly races up to the deck, looking around, as her heart beats furiously!
"Let's see what the waves have brought us today!" Moon buckles on his gear and makes his way topside, eager to see who has crossed their path.
Ravens stares as Bosun flees, rolling over in his hammock to yell at the man.
"Wait! Mr. Sun! Mr. uh...Mr. Planet! Wait! What's going on? Is it time for breakfast?"
Kehlysch heads up on deck with the rest, keeping an eye out for sails on the horizon.
Dorin joins the others on deck, and he too looks to the horizons when the call goes up. he walks to Moon's position.
Pereception:
Good mornin' all. What be the fuss?
"Moon, boy, it's Moon!" Bosun Moon claps Ravens on the back, "Like the big wheel o' cheese in the sky, the big orb that illuminates the night, creates tides and waves them geographers claim, Moon, boy, like a naked butt hanging over the railing when yer leaving port. It's easy to remember."
Ravens nods and gets out of bed, anxious to see what the hubbub is about.
As you gain the deck, you notice that it is massed with pirates darting this way and that, each tending to their own duties. The focus of all the hurry is immediately obvious...for a sail shows on the horizon. Master Scourge is in the center of the deck, just behind the main mast, directing those on deck as they go among their various tasks...in his own certain way. He gives you a stern look, then growls at the deck. Three a' ya on the riggin'; we need ta' tighten up and gain speed. Cooks mate, get the others an' get some pigs on deck! He growls again at your blank look. Pigs! Real pigs, damnit! And, quickly!
You can see that everyone is on deck...the captain himself stands upon the poop deck, his gaze on the far sail, his thick, massive jaw set in determination, and a look in his eyes that looks a great deal like hunger.
"Aye, lads, lets rig!" Moon hops straight to work, literally, his peg leg plunking across the deck.
"Aye, lads, lets rig!"
"We have to wear wigs?" Ravens asks, mishearing Moon over the noise and bustle, but eventually puts it together. "Oh...the rigs! Right. Should we get breakfast first?"
Ravens shakes off his hunger and gets to work, following Moon into the ropes.
Take 10 Prof (Sailor) = 18
or Prof (Sailor)
Baffled at what she's supposed to do, Louly rushes to the galley.
"Fishguts, the captain says he wants pigs on the deck! Three of them!"
Her voice makes it clear that she's baffled as to why he would want such a thing, much less how she's supposed to accomplish it.
Kehlysch looks to Louly and Fishguts.
"He wants pigs on deck?"
He shakes his head in disbelief.
[b]"All right. If the Captain wants pigs, let us fetch him his pigs."
Dorin follows Moon to the rigging.
Aye, right behind ya, Moon!
Prof Sailor:
The work on the main deck is frantic, but you're more than capable when thrust into your true professions. Those on the deck are tense, and a feeling of excitement charges those who watch the sail approaching, slowly but inexorably.
As the sail approaches, Sandara and Rosie, the whipcord-muscled halfling, draw near to Dorin, Ravens, and Moon. Sandara grunts. What do you think their plan is? Is that the ship that you were on?
Fishguts offers a blank look...then shakes away the surprise. Already?, he asks incredulously. Then, he shakes his head, screws up his face at Louly's odd wording, then looks to Kehlysch for explanation. Over there, behind Owlbear. Get 'em out of the pen and get 'em on deck...quick!
Owlbear looks directly at Louly, and taps his chain with a foot as he cracks his knuckles. He seems to indicate his readiness to help, adding to it a stern look of reproach, as if to say "I can help; you shouldn't go anywhere without me."
The pen is made of a loose gate system tied shut with a chain. There's straw and a feeding and water trough
"Why does he want pigs on deck?!"
"Perhaps he's going to launch them from a catapult, or stampede them across a gang-plank. Honestly, I have never attacked a ship before, so I do not know why pigs would be essential to the plan."
He shakes his head at the madness of it.
"On the other hand, I cannot see a reason not to follow the order, and I am not overly-fond of being whipped."
He moves over to the pens, but waits until Louly and Fishguts join him.
"How, exactly, do we get them on deck?"
Aye, that be the ship that Ravens n' me came from. They will be none t'happy to see me again!
Ravens continues to work the rigging, unsure what the pigs are for.
Fishguts looks at the pair of them as if they were daft. Ain't been in a battle on a ship before, eh? Tha' pigs'll be slaughtered an' tossed o'erboard. Blood brings tha' sharks, an' tha' cap'n loves feedin' 'em with his enemies. He pops the latch on the small gate and swings open the pen door on its squeaky hinges. Hustle 'em on out and up to tha' main deck, now...ain't the time for lollyin' about.
Sandara nods at Dorin, and gives him a wink. Kinda' figured that. Well...I don't think that they'll be so happy to see the cap'n either. I don't doubt that we plan to throw their crew to the sharks and plunder their ship.
She doesn't seem overly put off by the thought...she is a pirate, after all.
[ooc]Yes, an unforseen bucking of the system by Moon...the module isn't really written for a player getting romantically involved with the scarred half-orc quartermaster. Talk about taking one for the team![/b]
Kehlysch nods to the drunkard cook, then does his best to steer the squealing swine up the stairway to the main deck.
"So this would be chumming the waters, then? Our captain is a ruthless man."
Kehlysch's expression and tone give no hint of approval or disgust, just cold acknowledgement.
"I don't know how to get the pigs to go where I want, Fishguts!" Louly says with exasperation.
"I hope you know how, Owlbear," she says as she leans down to fiddle with the lock, grinning up at the big man as it gives way to her prodding.
Ravens looks about from his spot in the rigging.
Perception
We have pigs? Why don't we just sell them instead of chumming with them? Then we won't need to pirate anymore.
Kroop gives a small amount of assistance in getting the pigs out, but Kehlysch does most of the work in getting the pigs topside. Owlbear grunts his thanks and grins at the hatchet, slapping the head of it against his palm experimentally. He follows you topside, though Kroop remains behind. Once on the main deck, it's much as Kroop said. Scourge roars at you to cut the throats of the pigs and toss them overboard to draw in the sharks.
Soon enough, the Wormwood closes to within half a mile of the ship...now quite obviously The Man's Promise, the ship from whence Ravens and Dorin had come. When the ships are within about half a mile of each other, the fierce Riaris Krine summons you to the poop deck. Nearby, the Captain himself is buckling on his armor and massive hunting knives. Krine snaps her fingers to gain your attention.
The ship's wheel is on the aft deck, just below the sterncastle. You're going to grapple over, kill the guards on the sterncastle, take the wheel, and guard the ship's boats. Kill anyone who tries to get away on one of the boats. Don't move from the wheel until the fighting's done, or you'll have to answer to me. Oh yeah, as we get close, it's going to get foggy. Just stick to what I told ya' to do. Any questions?
Wouldn't it make more sense to just subdue the guards? Louly thinks as a surge of excitement and shiver of fear go through her. She checks her pistol and alchemical supplies, making sure her own armor is on tight, as she gets ready.
Ravens climbs down from the rigging to hear his orders.
He gets a serious look upon his face, then one of fear, then serious again, nodding along with what he should do.
I sure hope Ser Bregan isn't on that ship since I left...might be a bad raid. He can fight.
Ravens pats the spellpouch at his waist.
Sure wish I had time to do more magic writing, but oh well...
Ravens is ready to go!
Dorin laughs heartily and adds.
Aye, I'll be makin' quick work o'me ole' friends!
Kehlysch nods in assent.
He looks to his companions.
"So this is it. Our Initiation Rite."