GM WhtKnt's Open Water - A Skull & Shackles Adventure Path

Game Master WhtKnt

Satinder eyes the woman intently, trying to figure out if she has any other plans in motion.

Well, she will have, but what are they?

"I take it you know and will honour the spirit of the parley?" she says while walking forward, assuming the woman will answer affirmatively.

After stepping inside, she will surrender her weapons except for a dagger on her side. As the tapping of her wooden leg echoes down the halls, she eyes her surroundings as to learn as much about this place as possible, should she need to make a quick escape.

Don't like being holed up...

"I will, so long as you do also," she smiles. The chamber is floored with the dirt filling the tower’s base and is used to store assorted supplies, spare timber, kegs of nails and tar, spare sailcloth, fishing lines and nets, lengths of heavy rope, and unused furniture. A rowboat hangs from the rafters. Alcoves in the walls and below the arrow slit hold more delicate items such as tinderboxes, tallow candles, and chipped crockery. A side alcove holds a staggered wooden ladder that accesses the second floor. The ladder is unusual in that its rungs alternate from side to side so that someone not paying attention can easily lose his footing and fall.

The guards flank you as you are led up to the second level of the tower. A long corridor runs the length of the tower, here. You are led into a small room containing a table and a few chairs. Another guard is here. The woman gestures to the seats and invites you to sit. One of the guards serves up some water and she waits while you quench your thirst. When you have slaked your thirst, she begins.

"How may I be of assistance to you?"

Satinder takes in her surroundings carefully, but casually. She will note the way and the obstacles, but only insofar as it won't be too obvious she is doing just that.

"I come here for my captain, who seeks to make an arrangement with you. I can give you the finer details and am happy to make the dealings, but I can also understand it if you find it in your need to speak with him directly."
She gives her enchanting smile, and continues.

"He... Is an acquired taste however, so he sent me and my companion here to smooth the way and test the waters."

She will leave an opening for the lady to respond by taking a cup and drinking slowly, keeping eye contact with her, casually.

Faengrim continues with the strong, silent routine. He eyeballs the guards the whole way though does not make any overt moves.

"Heh heh! An acquired taste. Heh heh heh." He finds Satinder's description of Chumtooth amusing.

Dantes emerges from below deck carrying a platter of the finest fresh foods the ship has to offer at the moment. As he is crossing over to the captain's cabin, he sees some of his fellow officers disappear into the citadel. Understanding the sudden change of plans, he takes a seat near the railing closest to shore. He starts to snack from the platter (seeing no reason for it to go to waste) and watches for some sign of how discussions are going inside.

The woman also takes a deliberate drink (from the same source) to show that it is not poisoned or drugged. 'Well, what would your captain have of me? I am but a humble noble with a small staff at her disposal."

"The good captain would use your fort as a base of operations for his 'mercantile interests'."

Chumtooth slowly paces the deck, waiting for some sign that negotiations were successful.

"Our captain would seek an alliance between us. He would use your small staff and grounds to have a safe haven to return to if the seas become a bit rought." Satinder answers the woman, while giving an evil eye to Faengrim.

"He and we are a bold crew and undeafeated in naval combat, but we are not farmers and accountants and bricklayers..."
She lets a pause drop, and continues:

".. And it seemed to us that you could use an ally, being stuck on this island. You have a gilded cage, so-called impregnable but that doesn't do you much good a stonesthrow from the sides of the island..."

She allows the woman to take over the conversation, as she slowly takes a sip of the cup she was offered.

"Then perhaps I should speak with your captain. Invite him over."

Satinder moves to a window from where she can see the ship, and signals using a piece of cloth she had stown away in her tunic.

"All clear," the first message reads, followed by "Come over".

Chumtooth acknowledges the signal, and turns to Dantes. "They wish to talk. It is time for us to go."

Depending on the conditions of the water, Chumtooth makes the crossing to the fort by swimming or by jolly boat.

Dantes signals to one of the crew to take the platter and follows their leader into the negotiations.

Water is still high, so you can swim (the water is nine feet deep) or take the boat, as you wish. You are greeted by two guards who bring you to the room in which the others sit.

The woman is a bit taken aback by Chumtooth, but she swallows her fear and tries to put on a diplomatic front. Ah, welcome to my humble home. Your woman tells me that you wish to arrange a partnership."

"Kua huaina ahau ko Chumtooth, te rangatira o te kihi o te utu," Chumtooth says in a rough tone, nodding curtly to the woman.

Chumtooth sits in the chair across the table from the woman. He lays his morningstar on the table in front of him, and leans the harpoon in the crook of his shoulder.

"Korerotia nga mea e pai ana ki a ia, engari kaore i te whakaatu i te ngoikore. I a matou e korero ana, ko te kaha o tenei wahine kaha ki te mahi tahi ki a maatau kaimahi, a he kaha ake ta matou ki te whakahaere i nga mahi. Tukua tenei wahine pakari e tono mo nga kupu, a ka whakaarohia e taua."

Chumtooth waits for his words to conveyed to the Lady of the Rock, and watches her expectantly as he rubs a thumb across the face of one of the shrunken heads in his collection.

Does anyone understand him? Cause I don't, but I gotta get that language.

Does anyone understand him? Cause I don't, but I gotta get that language.

It was an interesting roleplay situation that came up in the earliest part of the campaign. When I built the character of Chumtooth, I had to spend a skill point in Linguistics to be able to speak Common. I represented this in the PbP by having him speak in a halting manner with a limited vocabulary and limited understanding of certain elements of grammar. Santinder offered to teach/refine Chumtooth's command of Common in exchange for him teaching her the Kuru language. When she leveled-up, she took a rank of linguistics to know it. Vic and Dantes also learned it so that we had a code language to speak that nearly no one else was likely to know.

I figured this would happen :D #awesome

Satinder coughs, and starts translating.

"This warrior of the Kuru is one of their best one. He is the captain of the Kiss of Vengeance, which is one of the best ships on the sea, a vessel guided by Calistria herself."

She nods at Chumtooth, to indicate she will continue if not stopped.

"He wishes to know your proposal, or your terms, as you feel like giving them. I will translate and he will consider."

She pauses slightly, and adds.
"He understands that one Kuru warrior is strong, but one Kuru warrior is stronger with more warriors by his side."

The woman waits for the words to be relayed to her, making no move nor statement to belie her ignorance. Upon the translation, she nods sagely and sits back, taking another sip of wine.

"Tell me of your past. Whence come you and how have you come to be here?"

Tell your story in your own words, and make a Diplomacy check, please.

Assuming to translation ruse continues, Chumtooths replies:

"Koinei te korero o Chumtooth e hiahia ana tenei wahine ki te mohio, ko te korero noa iho ranei o te ope a Chumtooth, me te kii i te ketu o te utu? Me mohio a Chumtooth ki te pehea e hoki ai ki te mahara."

Should it be Satinder's Diplomacy roll?

That would fall to Satinder, as the primary teller of tales.

"My captain wishes to know if you are inquiring about the past of the crew of the Vengeance, or of him personally.."

She pretends to shuffle a bit about, not at ease, during the second part. She will attempt to feign unease at his personal story, as if she fears it.

"The crew, if you please. I would know more of those whom I am dealing with."

Chumtooth waits for Satinder to translate the statement, then replies:

"Korero atu ki a ia te korero o to hui. Whakauruhia te korero, engari kaua e korero atu i te mea e pono ana ki te kore tenei wahine e pai."

Letting me do the dirty work ey? :p

Satinder sighs, and tells the story in a calm voice. She tries to restrain herself when she talks about their previous captain.

"We were all pressganged by the notorious pirate Barnabus Harrigan. He mistreated us and we were nothing more than slaves. One day, he took over a ship and needed a skeleton crew to sail it to be sold.."

She looks at Chumtooth, and continues.
"We took over the ship and butchered the filth that they had left in charge. They deserved it, filthy mongrels."

"We took the ship, and have renamed her the Kiss of Vengeance. She is a worthy pirate boat, and we are quickly becoming a thorn in the side of merchant and pirate alike. Our lady protects us, and aids us in our ventures."

Diplomacy (Satinder): 1d20 + 12 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 12 + 4 = 33

"Did you say Barnabas Harrigan?" She spits on the floor. "That S.O.B. was responsible for the loss of me dear, departed husband, Bertie. Then the bastard took every holding and ship that Bert owned! He tried to take Tidewater Rock, as well, but we held our own and gave him enough of a licking that he's not been back since!"

She sits back, allowing herself to calm down. "I'd not give up the Rock, nor is an alliance in my best interests," she says. "But I'd love to see vengeance done on Harrigan, and you seem the lot to do it. I offer you a counter-proposal; I"ve an eye for beauty. Your lass here," she says, indicating Satinder, "For example."

"If she was to enter into marriage with me, under Shackles Law, for one year certain and more to be discussed later, then my forces and keep would be at your disposal."

Knowledge (local) 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (1) + 10 = 11

Dantes shrugs, uncertain of the validity of what she is saying.

K:local: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (12) + 8 = 20

Satinder translates the proposal for the captain, interested to see his reaction. She will also explain the custom, in Kuru, for those that understand it.

Why me?

Chumtooth gives a deep rumbling chuckle. He responds, grinning and displaying many teeth.

"He aha ta Santinder e korero ai mo tenei take? E hiahia ana a Satinder ki te tango i te wahine rangatira hei hoa mona?"

She looks Chumtooth straight in the eyes, hers ablaze with passion and rage.

She turns to the woman: "Why are you not requiring our captain to marry you?" with a cold stern feel to her voice.

Faengrim is totally engrossed in the conversation.

The woman meets your gaze with steely eyes, her jaw set firm. For a moment, you stare each other down, then, she bursts into laughter. "I like you, girl! You remind me of myself when I was a wee lass. Full of piss and vinegar!" While I'm certain that your captain is more than capable and would no doubt make a fine husband, my interests are not driven by my loins. I'll say no more for now, but fear not, you will be treated as well as anyone could wish or expect under our terms. And at the end of a year, we will discuss whether your feelings have changed."

She stands from the table and goes to a nearby chest, pulling forth a breastplate made of shining amber metal and decorated with faint motifs of the waves and water, and a brass telescoping spyglass. These, she hands to Satinder. "A dowry fit for a woman of breeding. The armor was my dear Bert's own. Use them as you see fit; though if after our year together, we divorce, I would have them back."

Satinder seems a bit uncertain how to proceed when the woman bursts into laughter, but decides to go with it.

"It be thus!" she says, walking up to the woman and kissing her firmly.

She looks at Chumtooth and says "Barek kszek deit. Kirten yliun trey. Mope binter azesy.", and smiling.

"Goooood!" Chumtooth rolls out in Common. "Let us celebrate this union, then!"

He pounds his fist on the table a few times and gives a shark-like grin.

He turns to the lady, stands, and extends his right hand for her to take.

She takes the extended hand and shakes it vigorously. "My home is your home," she says proudly. As Satinder kisses her, she surprises the sailor by drawing her into a deep kiss of fiery passion. She releases her with a broad smile. Introductions are made of Royster McCleagh, the sergeant-at-arms, Albers and Birney Siggs, a couple in their seventies, who serve the inhabitants, and Mardus Siggs, the teenaged grandson of the pair who serves as a shepherd for the small flock of goats that they possess. There is also Clew, a simpleton who serves as a scullion and the eight guardsmen.

"This night is for big fires, dancing, drinking, feasting and haurangi!" Chumtooth says, giving Satinder a wry grin.

"In the morning, we will talk of how to work together to grow our strength and wealth. For now, tell us how to best bring our ship to your dock."

Dantes will go back to the ship when it is time to navigate back to the dock. When the celebration gets started, Dantes will hang around the kitchen, helping every where he can.

Before any dish goes out to be served, he casts a quick spell over it to ensure its quality. Detect Poison cantrip.

Satinder is surprised but quickly gets over it as she feels the woman doing her best.

"You have got... A nice set of skills there, wifey." she says, giving the broadest of smiles and slapping her gently on the ass as she walks away.

She giggles at the captain's obvious innuendo, and winks, leaving the rest to his imagination.

"The lady of vengeance rewards her faithful. Always!", and starts mingling in the crowd.

Time to get to know everyone... And everyone's secret.

Faengrim makes a mental note to learn the Captain's language.

He helps bring the ship into dock.

Faengrim happily parties the night away.

The food and wine are good (and unpoisoned) and the party continues long into the night and well into the next morning. You find that Mardus Siggs is somewhat enamored of a pirate's life. He longs to do something more exciting than herding goats. The rest seem to be quite happy with their lot in life.

"I will teach you Kuru words," Chumtooth says to Faengrim. "Satinder also know the words, and she can teach you also, though not tonight," he says with a knowing smirk.

"For now, let us talk with the young sheep-keeper, and see if he has the strength to sail with us."

Chumtooth approaches the youth, and says to him in a deep, demanding tone. "You wish to sail on my ship, boy? What skill can you bring to my crew?"

So sorry for the delay. This week has been hell.

"Well, sir," the boy manages to stammer, obviously frightened by the kuru captain's appearance. "I've no real experience, but I learn quickly and I'm handy with a blade."

Satinder's eyes gleam as the boy speaks.

In the blink of an eye, she takes a knife and hands it to the boy. It's one of the table variety, hidden within her tunic. She smilingly says

"Cut me then.. If you can do so before I empty my glass, you are not a bragger. If you can't, ... " she stops short, looking at the captain's ears around his neck and waiting for the boy to understand.

The boy takes the blade and crouches in a fighting pose. His form is good, impressive even for one with no real training, and you suspect that the guards have been teaching him something. The strike is clumsy but shows a hint of skill.

Attack: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 1 = 12 Damage: 1d4 ⇒ 3

Chumtooth watches the boy's stance, noting that he shows promise.

"Perhaps it is best that he not cut you," Chumtooth says to Satinder. "Most prefer not to take a bleeding bride to bed. Your new mate may feel the same, though who can say if these Rock People hold strange customs."

Is anyone still here? Dantes? Satinder? Faengrim?

In the days that follow, you set out upon raids from the Rock, using the fortress as your base of operations. One afternoon, on your return, you find Tidewater Rock in a state of alertness. Lady Smythee is quick to explain.

"Last night, we were attacked by fish-men! They came in the night, and had it not been for Mardus, they would have overrun us! 'Twas he who alerted the rest of us to their presence. He was tending his herd when they came out of the sea and attacked, leaving him a grave wound in the leg from which he now languishes. A guard that had been sent to fetch Mardus for supper held them off while he returned to the fortress, but when the rest of the garrison arrived, the fish-men were gone and the guard had been torn to shreds! We are preparing a service for the fallen guard, but if Mardus does not recover, he may join him 'ere long."

"Fish-men!" Chumtooth replies with an angry rumble in his tone. "Did he describe them as having teeth like sharks? We have dealt with such creatures. They killed some of our crew. We will give medicine to Mardus. He must tell us more of this."

"Sahaugin!" Faengrim spits at the mention of his hated foe. "There's a chance I can track them, captain, but we'd need to leave now."

Chumtooth nods. "You and I will go to the place of the fighting. Vic should go and see to Mardus and his wounds. The rest of you may come with us, or go with Vic, as you feel would best help us find the soo-wahh-geen."

Chumtooth turns to Lady Smythee. "Which way to the place of fighting?"

"I should come along, Captain. I may be of some assistance."