Satinder stands around, looking down at everything and drawing her own conclusions.
"Two options, right master dwarf, lady Vic? We are INSIDE their territory, in which case a second and third attack will come.
Or they are following us, in which case a second and third attack will come."
She has a grim determination on her face, with these odds against her crew.
"We cannot take the fight to them, so I say we at least dictate where the fight will be next. Sail as far away from this place as possible, until nightfall. Then the crew will guard below decks, the officers will guard the deck itself. Either we lost them, or we slay them in ambush. Either way, we will be victorious."
Satinder turns around, looking at her officers and inviting them to speak their mind.
"Good plan. Though Chumtooth should know I've got no idea how tasty they'll be, regardless of how well we cook 'em in the ambush."
And, directly to the captain, "They might not attack unless we look weak, which means keeping a 'normal' watch with the rest in hiding. I should probably be part of the bait, as I've got the newest armor on this ship until I finish craftin' new stuff for you all."
"All meat tastes best freshly slaughtered...and raw."
Chumtooth responds to Vic's comment in a tone devoid of either humor or indignation.
"If these soo-wah-geen are fierce, they will see Chumtooth and come to test their strength. If they are cowards, they will see Chumtooth and flee to find easier prey."
"Chumtooth, I appreciate your Kuru, but try to use the common tongue. Not everyone is as good at languages as Sati..me." she smiles, chucking slightly at making the same mistake as Chumtooth after speaking too much Kuru.
Chumtooth nods at Satinder's request.
"I said that meat is best when fresh-killed and raw."
He turns to Vic, and smiles.
"When these soo-wah-geen are slaughtered, I will taste their raw flesh. If it is not foul, I will feast upon it."
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The trap is baited and set, but the next night passes without incident. There comes no attack, nor disturbance. The next day is hot, with the sun high in the sky and no sign of rain. Along about noon, your lookout calls to the deck below, "Ship ahoy! Vessel to our starboard side!"
Sure enough, you are only a few miles from a small keelboat off your starboard bow. It's a small target, but could make for good sport. In fact, as the captain sees you coming up from behind, he turns to make a run for it!
Will you pursue?
Dantes tries to piece together a way to pass advice to the captain in Kuru.
Finally he just murmurs to Santinder "It may be a good practice run for our new crew."
Chumtooth squints at the bright light as he climbs up from the berths at the call of general quarters.
He listens to Dantes attempt at Kuru.
He turns to Satinder and nods.
"Let us be the hunters, Captain."
Vic (who I'm assuming is asleep, and awoken by the lookout) will do what she can to wake as soon as possible.
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Okay, all I need is to have the ship's pilot make three Profession (sailor) checks. If no one has it and you would rather an NPC make the checks, just let me know.
Of the "name" NPCs onboard, Sandara gets a +8, Rosie gets a +3, Kroop has a +5, and Crimson Cogward has a +4. Conchobhar Shortstone has no appreciable skill in ship piloting.
A typical NPC sailor has +6.
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(+2 modifier for speed)
(+2 modifier for speed)
(+2 modifier for speed)
The chase lasts for days, with Sandara dogging the smaller vessel's movements. At times, it seems that you have them, but they manage to veer off at the last moment. Finally, Sandara requests more sail and you close the distance rapidly.
(east)
(east)
squares
From here, I'll need actions for the PCs, as well as orders for Sandara, as shown on pages 12-22 of the Skull & Shackles Player's Guide.
Ships are moving at 30 feet/turn and all siege weapons on the decks are assumed to be loaded.
The Kiss of Vengeance has the upper hand and can re-position by up to three squares or turn her up to 270 degrees (or a combination of the two, see page 12 of the Skull & Shackles Player's Guide, under the heading The Upper Hand. Where would you like for her to be (I've turned on the global control, so you can re-position her at will)?
Winds are from the west.
Since we'll have time during the chase, Dantes will change his spell selection to something more suitable to the encounter. I'll update his profile as soon as I can.
As the Kiss of Vengeance closes, Chumtooth shifts the ballista and, following the explanation from Victoriana on its use, launches its massive bolt at their prey.
"Nice work Sandara," Satinder says as the chase is coming to a halt. She seems to have spent quite some time in her quarters. Might she have been preparing something nasty?
"Master-at-arms, have the weapons been prepared?" she bellows as the wind rushes in to meet her on top of the deck.
"Time for a distraction!" Victoriana mutters aloud, as she walks towards the railing of the ship. Pointing her finger and winking, she drops a Flaming Sphere into the enemy ship's crows' nest. (Or if there isn't one, into the rigging/upper sails such that it catches some on fire as it falls)
"Captain! First Mate!" Vic shouts, "Let's announce an' demand surrender! Do we move to board?"
Chumtooth moves away from the ballista, grabs up his harpoon and moves to the port side of the prow.
He holds his harpoon at the ready; prepared to cast it at the first sign of attack.
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The smaller vessel heaves to and drops anchor, waiting to be overtaken by your own craft. The captain, a dwarf merchant, is clearly upset by the piracy, but with but a single marine and the remainder of his crew, he elects not to argue the point.
You are unopposed as you come aboard, but a search of the vessel reveals only freshly caught mackerel and hake (a total of 50 gp worth).
Chumtooth growls is obvious frustration at the poor catch.
"Fish. Nothing but fish. Is it worth our time to take it?"
"If these men were worth robbing they'd be worth robbing," Vic wagers to her crewmates. "If this is just a fishing boat, I'm not sure it's worth our time as a trophy, and I'd rather not throw all their men overboard for such a small prize."
Satinder is the first to go across to the other ship, and tries to have a sit down with its captain on her own ship. She invites the man to come back across, while the others search the ship.
When they come back with the message that there was only fish, she seems a little angry but understands that the goddess gives and withholds.
"I'm not sure, from the perspective of our fledgling reputation, that we want this to be our first haul." After stating that, Dantes stands ready to log the booty if the captain gives the word.
Satinder offers the man a drink and sits down.
"Look here captain, your crew will be given the option to join ours. I would strongly encourage you to encourage them, because my men could use a few strong and willing men, and I reckon you would rather not see them all disembowled and your boat burned."
She sits back, giving the man the opportunity to let it all in.
"I am willing to let you keep the barest minimum of your crew to get back to shore, but I will not argue about your capable fighting men. I have a Kuru that can easily identify them."
Yet again, she pauses to lte it sink in and takes a few sips from her ale.
"As to your crew's morale, I suggest for their loyalty that we pretend you did your utmost as to ensure we did not just do the worst. A future that is still possible, I might say. "
She then waits for his answer.
Chumtooth drives the point of his harpoon into the deck on the fishing boat and draws his kukri.
he yells the the captured crew.
Once he has their attention, he speaks at a more normal volume, but with intensity.
"Drop your weapons here," he says, pointing his blade at an empty section of the deck near his feet.
"Drop your coins and treasures here," he says, pointing his blade at an adjacent section of the deck. "We search you when you are done. If we find you did not give all, I will take something extra from you."
He gives a sinister smile, allowing his sharpened, bloodstained teeth to show.
Dantes quietly makes notes on what is dropped in each pile and by whom, to ensure items are accurately returned/reclaimed if and when the captain gives the word to do so.
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The crew has little in the way of weapons beyond utility knives, which they give up freely. There are pitifully few coins (about six silver pieces). There is one well-armed marine, and he surrenders his longsword, shield, and chain shirt.
Below decks, the enemy captain is very cooperative, agreeing to anything that saves his ship (not to mention his skin). "You can take all that will go with you, and I will spread the word of your prowess."
"Feel free to exaggerate our prowess, if you like" Vic adds.
Chumtooth gives the marine an appraising look as he steps forward.
"This one seeks to live as the shark, not the remora. The rest may remain clinging to the underbelly of their master," he says with a tone of scorn.
"The captain will speak with you when she has finished speaking with the chief fisherman."
"We're, y'know, pirates," Vic follows up Chumtooth's comments. "Pillagin' cargo, that sort of thing. We're in this for fame, fortune, and freedom—we've got no interest in taking slaves or killing for fun, but we're still nice proper fearsome. An' yeah, Captain'll go over how we split the loot, but it's proper pirates' code stuff."
"Chumtooth, find the strongest one of them, besides this volunteer. I want to see how motivated these are."
She continues in Kuru.
She turns to the marine, and walks straight up to him and gets in his face.
"The DEAL is that you get to live and make more of your life than sitting on a f*** ship that could be blown over by Owlbear's farts!"
She waits for the laughter to die down from her crew before saying: "If you want to make demands, you can walk the plank for all I care. If it's fame, fortune and freedom you're after, you're welcome on my ship. The rules are simple, and I'm sure a smart fella like yourself will figure them out soon enough. What say ye?"
Can't show weakness, but can't be too harsh either. Let's hope this works out, we can use all the able bodies we have spare room for.
Chumtooth removes his studded leather coat and his weapons harness. He stands bare-chested in front of the gathered crew.
"Come little shark," he says to the marine. "Try to tear flesh from these bones!"
He lunges forward, trying to get the man to jump, but does not attack.
Chumtooth lashes out with a left-handed punch at the marine's head.
Chumtooth follows with a right-hand fist to the man's ribs.