Blessed Besmara that goblin is crazy. That's one little fella whose bad side is best avoided.
Arenya watches in shock, her jaw drops as she's stares at the fearless and insane goblin.
After the arm wrestling she says, "You got a big pair for a little fella. Let me heal up those wounds for ye."
-Posted with Wayfinder
Eli smiles at the Tiefling's comment. "Can't say as they're the biggest - but they are solid brass." Surprisingly, he waves off Arenya as she begins casting, his mood turning deadly earnest as he says quietly, "Appreciate the offer but save that for later. I'm letting this bleed for awhile... to make a point." He throws her a jaunty salute and continues strolling the deck, seemingly heedless of the blood dripping from his hand.
Arenya starts to focus her magical energies building them up, willing them into healing life force, as complicated as it may seem is now only second nature to her. As she is about to release the magical energy through her hands into the goblins body, she hears him cry and lets the magical dissipate. Well I've spent that magic for the day, but I understand his motivations. Crazy little fellow but plenty brave.
Scourge sees Eli bleeding on the deck, and rushes towards him, "Think you're something special, bleedin' on my deck?! Seein' as how hurting you just seems to do nothing," He pushes his chin out indicating Eli's hand, "We'll have to find someone else to pay your penalty. Ratline!! Scourge bellows, calling the small rigger to the fore, "Ye'll be cleanin' up after the goblin, since he can't do it hisself. I hear anythin' more about him gettin' out o' line, and ye can expect more o' th' same. Keep him from doin' anythin' else stupid for the next few days, an' I'll see ye earn somethin' worthwhile. 'E cocks up again, and it'll be lashes for ya." He looks back at Eli, "Just keep screwin' up Gobbo, an' the whole crew'll turn against ya. He looks to the crew, Clear the deck. Lights out in 5 minutes thanks ta yer gobbo crewmate!!
Eli licks his bleeding hand absentmindedly, non-plussed by the Deckmaster. He shrugs and heads to his bunk. The odds and game hadn't changed, whatever Scourge might say.
After everyone gets back to the lower deck and gets into the hammocks, you find it fairly easy to fall asleep to the rocking of the waves. This all passes however in the morning. The ship is rocking violently, and as you rouse yourselves, you can clearly hear the howling of the wind, and the crash of thunder is almost deafening. Water pours in from the the stairwells, and other crewmembers are scrambling to their feet.
Seeing all of this as she awakens is a rude surprise for Davina, she realizes that this can't be a good thing, but quickly gets up and follows the lead of the other sailors.
Eli jumps out of his bunk, puts on his lucky tricorn hat, and seats it firmly on his head. He heads for the stairs.
After the ship gives its heavy lurch, you hear Plugg over the din of the boat. "All hands on deck!! Get yer arses into the riggin' or the Wormwood is lost!"
Too distracted to notice anything else, Davina tries to call out her thanks to the man but loses sight of him too quickly. She decides to find him later. She looks fearful at what is going on, I have no choice, I must face this trial and overcome it for Nisha. Davina does her best to keep her wings folded in as she climbs into the rigging
When he rights himself from the ship's wallowing, the goblin smiles a little smile. Shadow boxing was never his game. If they were finally ready to play for blood, he would do his best to steep them in it.
The thought is cut off, however, by the ship's sudden lurch, and seeing Aretta get thrown into the ropes. He does his best to absorb the shock and then rushes over to help untangle Aretta and get her up on deck as quickly as possible. "None of that. Drowning below decks just ain't showed. "
|
Ri'el catches himself on a nearby crate, then races up the stairs as quickly as he can after Sandara. Despite the raging storm outside, he discovers that a broad grin has found its way to his lips.
If Sandara was this pleased, all was right on Golarion.
"Better keep an eye out for Eli too though. He's nowhere as winsome as Sandara, but he's certainly in far more danger..." he thinks to himself as he overhears Maheem's words.
Upon reaching the main deck, all suspicions are confirmed. The pitch-black sky is only lit by the lightning which assaults the crew's eyes with its constant flashes. Winds howl, and rain falls in sheets, making footing on the deck precarious at best. The ship tosses as you see Harrigan lit briefly, wrestling with the wheel as he pushes the prow of the Wormwood towards another wave, which crashes over the gunwales before the dragon maw maidenhead comes up defiantly out of the water, denying the seas another victim. With a great tearing sound, one of the sails starts to rip, but other crewmembers are there, pulling the canvas sheet back into place, and applying patches as they can. Their wide-eyed look heightened by the bright yellow flashes of lightning. Elsewhere, the crew is busy hauling in sails to help them escape the damaging winds, or in the rigging splicing ruptured lines, and tying down loose canvas.
Plugg stands at the top of the stairs yelling at each sailor as they come up from belowdecks. It's near impossible to hear Plugg's orders past the person he's yelling them at, with the shrieking of the wind passing.
Davina focus hard on her work, doing the best that she can. Before climbing up she takes two short pieces of rope and ties her wings closed in the hopes that it will help.
|
|
Exiel sucks in a deep breath as he is given his assignment.
"My eyes are sharp enough, but getting up that main-mast is going to be a pain," he thinks bitterly to himself.
7.5ft
15ft
15ft
15ft
22.5ft
fall
Exiel winces as the fall knocks the breath out of him and nearly renders him unconscious.
"Ok, this is going to be tricky," he mutters to himself.
Davina climbs up towards the top of the mast to the rigging, and slips, falling backwards reaching a hand towards a cross spar and missing. As she falls towards the deck, an arm grasps her around the waist and cinches her up tight. "C'mon love, we caint 'ave a bloomin' angel fallin' to the deck, wouldn't be propah. 'Old on tight now an' Cog'll get ya set." Cog Coglin grins at Davina, holding her close with one arm, and holding onto the rigging netting with the other, and a familiar blue bandana blowing fiercly in the wind.
|
|
Exiel casts his goodberry spell to help him recover from his fall. He winces as he chews on the berries one by one, feeling their magic mend the ribs he was sure he had broken during his abrupt descent.
Realising that there was no way he was going to get up the rigging in this weather without magical aid, he resorts to the spell he had held in reserve for just such an occasion. Tracing a magical symbol in the air, he implores the spirits to grant him the ability to climb like a monkey, and to swim like a fish.
"I'd like to save it for an emergency...but at this point it looks like this would be the emergency..." he thinks to himself.
Bolstered by his spell, Ri'el takes a moment to take in the raging storm around him, feeling the cool of the water and winds on his skin. Taking a deep breath, he takes to the rigging again, with confidence this time, and scales the rigging with ease, though he takes his time to avoid making it too obvious that his ability to climb has been temporarily boosted.
Upon reaching the crow's nest he casts a wary eye over the waters, looking for hazards that may cripple the ship.
"Damn that Plugg," he mutters as he watches from the relative safety of the crow's nest. "It's almost as if he was trying to kill me by assigning me this task. And by the spirits that could well have been the case!"
Eli can't hear Plugg's orders but given the number of his non-rigger allies climbing the masts... it looked like someone was to trying to create a few 'accidents'. While working the sails, Eli keeps a wary eye on his allies, their friends among the crew, and the 'cronies' who might look for a chance to cause accidents.
|
Having finally gotten over the bug he had, Astein makes special note of what harrow cards are up as he tumbles out of bed. Going to the deck he nods at Plugg's orders and sets to line work.
Out of the kitchen and back to tasks he understands, Astein keeps up with the ropes even under the threat of the storm and seems invigorated rather than fatigued. The wind snatches the words out of his mouth as he says, "I warned him that Besmara wouldn't allow welching on a fair fight on one of her ships at sea... Here is the misfortune brought by his actions."
|
|
While working the ropes in the storm, Astein reflects back on the cards - the relationship cyclone occupying his thoughts as the storm rages.
The six cards on the bottom could easily represent my companions and I - the ones taken to crew with me. We have bonded surely and are becoming a united front on the ship. This storm and the destruction it can bring rings too closely to the Fiend and the Cyclone. If the Forge means we must work together to survive this... Must I act now?
Arenya sees Jack and rushes towards him. "Steel yourself. You have the blood of our kind running through you. Be brave. It's just a storm. Lets get our orders and do our duty. All will be fine."
As she get up to the deck she begins to doubt her words. Worry visible on her face. This is worst storm she has ever seen, and they're on boat that could fall apart. The storm thunders and she sees Plugg call out orders but can't make out the words in the storm. "What did he say? she call out to the others, hoping one of them heard. She desperately clings on to anything she can find to keep herself from getting washed off her feet.
"Thank you Cog," Davina holds on tightly until he gets her high enough, giving him a quick kiss on the cheek as they go. Once he gets her where she needs to be she gets right to her work, barely managing to perform her duties because of the storm and being in the rigging.
The early morning rages on into the afternoon, and the time when normally there would be Bloody Hour. The ship shows signs of fighting the terrific gale throughout the day, sails have rents in them and pieces of canvas and rope litter the deck. Harrigan still mans the wheel, although the hours of fighting the storm and keeping the prow of the ship into waves leaves him haggard looking and weary. All the crew show these signs as well. Everything is a sodden mess, everyone stands with hair plastered on their faces. Kroop hands out the meal, which consists of a hard chunk of bread with nuts and fruits in it. "Ship's biscuits is all we can muster. Too much tossing and turning to risk a fire."
It doesn't appear that anyone has had time to plan anything like an accident or even try to take anyone out on purpose. Everyone has had too much on their hands just keeping the ship afloat.
Everyone in the crew tries to find some measure of shelter from the deluge, mostly in vain. Plugg and Scourge stalk the decks looking at each crewmember, inspecting them to see if they are still well enough to continue to work.
During the brief downtime, Jack Scrimshaw comes to sit near Arenya, "Thanks fer gettin' me off me duff earlier. I'm jus' bloody scared tha' this ship is ta be me death. Can't shake the feelin' none neither, but ye gave me th' courage I needed ta get through this blow." He then places a small scrimshaw carving of a 4 masted ship in her hands, that's very well done. "Wants ye ta have that. Me way of saying thanks."
"Up! Up ye lubbers! The ship's not goin' ta see i'self through this storm! Up! Ye'll have time to take a stripe when the storm's past. The Cap'n ain't left his post, ye'll not be restin' till he does! UP!!! Plugg exhorts everyone in the crew to get up, and they do, amidst groans of protest, as Plugg starts giving out new jobs to work through the night.
With a smile of relief, Davina gets to work hauling the lines. She focuses hard to do the best job she can.
|
|
"Just fine? I nearly died from the first fall, you damnable ill-begotten illegitimate child of the village's communal toilet!" Ri'el silently fumes as he feigns nonchalance and just shrugs in response.
"But if I do this well enough, maybe he'll stop thinking I'm having trouble climbing and start getting me to do other things instead. Damn his eyes."
Ri'el overhears Plugg's instructions to the others as he climbs (or tries to). "I hope Garaveen's better at climbing than I am. I'm near out of tricks for the day..."
0ft
0ft
0ft
7.5ft
15ft
22.5ft
22.5ft
22.5ft
30ft
Ri'el silently rejoices as he manages to climb the rigging without incident this time (a good thing too since he probably would not have made it any higher, and a fall from that height could well have been lethal). Wrapping his arm carefully around the ropes, he inspects the rigging and starts to fix them.
"I'm definitely more used to doing this on a deck than up here..." he mutters.
Despite the unfavourable odds, his skill as a sailor sees him through, though he takes his time at his task to ensure that Plugg does not find an excuse to set him on another life-threatening task. Once the rest of the crew start to conclude their tasks for the day, Ri'el heaves a sigh of relief and slowly makes his way down.
22.5ft
22.5ft
22.5ft
22.55ft
15ft
fall
Steeling himself against the pain of his jarred knee, Exiel forces himself to his feet, panting heavily.
Despite the day's exertions, he is surprised to find himself still relatively energetic. If nothing else, the physical activity and the fresh ocean air must be doing his health some good. He forces himself to walk upright despite the pain in his leg until he is safely out of Plugg's line of sight, then gives in to the pain as he hobbles and winces, looking around to see if he can find Sandara as he goes.
"I definitely have a legitimate reason to be seeking her out at this point," he laughs to himself, though it is a strained laugh. "Damn Plugg pretty near killed me today..."
Eli throws Plugg a proper salute and a grin "Aye aye, sir!" Then he monkeys into the violently swaying rigging.
About midway through the shift lasting through the night, Cog is working on freeing the rigging on a boom, when the wind shifts and howls. The boom swings violently, and stops abruptly when it reaches the end of the lines. Cog is sent hurtling into open space, out over the open ocean, and splashes down amidst the turbulent seas.
"Man Overboard!!" Maheem, Narwhal, and Sandara all yell from their place on the lines connected to the boom.
Arenya smiles when Jack hands her the boat, almost stunned. Being street orphan she's never really had much and always been more worried about keeping her belly full than gifts. "It's beautiful." she exclaims. "Thank you." Suddenly remembering they're in the middle of a storm she put the gift away carefully and says. "We best get back to work, this this thing won't keep itself afloat." and she rushes off to try and perform her change of duties.
(Working diligently if it's allowed)
Arenya focuses on working the sail summoning every once of skill and energy she can muster. Raising, lowering, loosing and firming the massive sail. She tries to start song to bolster the spirits of the crew but the sounds of the crashing waves and thunder makes her inaudible. "This is just too tiring. I need a rest. NO. NO. I have to keep going. She finally finishes quite exhausted.
|
|
Ever alert to Sandara's voice, Ri'el jumps to his feet whilst inwardly bemoaning that he'd already used his most useful spell for the situation.
Thinking quickly, he uses his vantage point to look around, trying to see if there is a decent length of rope on deck that could be thrown to Cog as a lifeline, as well as who the nearest person to the rope would be.
Arenya hears the call of man overboard. She rushes to the source of the call and peers over at what appears to be a figure of Cog attempting to stay afloat in the turbulent waters. "We need to toss him a line". she thinks aloud desperately searching for something that she could toss over.
Davina, hearing that her rescuer is overboard frantically tries to spot him.
The crew rushes to the side of the ship, looking for any sign of Cog. At first nothing is seen, but to the relief of many, Arietta yells, "There!! 20 ft off the starboard bow!!" She points and Cog is there, about 20 ft away, and struggling in the storm-tossed sea.
Astein prepares to cast his spell, and easily spots ropes all about the deck that could be used to help haul Cog back into the ship if he can get the rope to him.
***********************************
Round 1
***********************************
Initiative:
Eli watches anxiously from the high-rigging.
Having an indication of where Cog is, Davina does what she can to help him to safety.