Before leaving, Satinder will walk up to Sandara.
"I ain't feeling too good. Got anything that can take the sting out off these wounds? Don't need much, but if I don't, I might want to fall over any minute now. Gotta keep up appearance, right?"
At Alwen's prompt, Dantes chimes in. "I would be much more useful to all of you if I had my belongings returned. I am a wizard of modest ability, and I would be willing to put that to service."
"Give the dwarf his things," Bangkha growls.
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Quartermaster Grok sees to it that Dante's goods are returned to him. Nothing appears to be missing. Sandra will apply a CLW where required (up to three people). Alwen manages to turn Giffer Tibbs to your cause (she is now helpful!). What are the rest of you doing as your nighttime actions? Also please remember to make checks against the rum ration.
"Chumtooth must owe Sandara another boon, as Chumtooth must request Sandara's magic, again," Chumtooth says to the red-haired woman. "Ask boons of Chumtooth. It is shameful that Chumtooth must carry them."
Rum check Whew! Close...
Dantes quickly checks over the gear, making sure it is all there. He seems quite relieved when he checks his waterproof bag and finds the book therein intact.
As Chumtooth is looking at Sandara to help him, she turns towards her and whispers
"Please ask him to do something fast. He gets it in his head, and it stays there."
After this, she points to the wounds on her own arm, and the one wound that's been gushing blood for 15 minutes now.
"Think you can stop the bleeding sweetheart?"
She sits down, and the blood rushes from her face.
"Maybe.. Maybe I just need to lay down."
--
At night, Satinder tries her best to lift the mood by singing a song. She doesn't even bother with the hiding of the rum.
I earned this!
When the alcohol touches her tongue, she starts to feel warm inside... And the song becomes a masterpiece!
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Sandra patches up Chumtooth and Satinder.
At Chumtooth's insistence that he owes her another boon, Sandra frowns and sighs. I'll have to find something to release him, she thinks.
The next morning, Scourge awakens you in his usual fashion, the whip cracking over your heads. "Get up, you lazy curs, or ye'll taste the lash!"
On deck, Mr. Plugg assembles the crew and gives assignments.
Alwen - Line Work: Hard work hoisting and lowering sails, requiring a DC 10 Profession (sailor) or Dexterity check. You must also make a DC 10 Constitution check to avoid being fatigued at the end of the shift.
Chumtooth - Hauling Rope and Knot Work: Tying and untying knots in the ship’s ropes and moving heavy coils of rope from one part of the ship to another, requiring a DC 10 Profession (sailor) or Strength check. You must also make a DC 10 Constitution check to avoid being fatigued at the end of the shift.
Ayaki - Swab the Decks: Backbreaking work mopping the decks and scrubbing them with sandstone blocks called holystones, requiring a DC 10 Strength or Constitution check. Failing either check results in you being fatigued at the end of the shift.
Satinder and Bangkha - Man the Bilges: Vile and sweaty work cleaning out the bilges, requiring a DC 12 Strength check. You must also make a DC 10 Constitution check to avoid being fatigued at the end of the shift.
Dantes - Cooking: Assisting Ambrose Kroop in preparing the day’s meal. If Kroop is sober, no check is required. If Kroop is drunk, this requires a DC 10 Profession (cook) or Intelligence check.
(DRUNK!)
Post daytime actions, make any required rolls, and post nighttime actions, please. Don't forget the rum ration!
Satinder is doing her job in a horrible way, but her backs makes her regret not doing it properly.
"Frak this..." she says when only Bangkha can hear it.
--
"Cog, you old rat... Care to drink with me? Satinder asks, when she arrives with her rum rations.
Chumtooth sets himself to his work. Sandara's magic healed most of his injuries, but he was still badly bruised. He would not give Plugg or Scourge the satisfaction of adding to them.
Alwen never had trouble with working on the ship, but he did find it slightly annoying to do line work - anything that was particularly exhausting wasn't his cup of tea. He'd much prefer to be up in the crow's nest. Which is why during midday he stepped off to Grok's for a bit, to take a look a see what he could get himself with the money he'd won fighting Owlbear.
----------
After taking on his rum ration (And really, who didn't enjoy themselves a little nip every so often?) Alwen took a look around at the rest of the crew. He'd been slightly aware of both heightening moods and lowered ones when it came to him and the other new hands. So to make a better impression, he headed over to the only one who didn't seem like he'd pull a knife on him before talking.
"So, been on the crew long? I know we haven't gotten a chance to talk, which is something of a curiosity, considering the cramped quarters. But I'd just like to say that there's certainly no reason that we can't get along, don't you agree?" He asks Cog, grinning at him. "How about I put in a good word with you with that Satinder woman, eh? Ehhhh? That peg leg of hers is good for more than walking, if you know what I mean."
Rum Ration:
hours
Chumtooth downs his rum, and sighs heavily; disappointed at how watery it tastes this evening. He sits and listens to the evening's entertainment. He doesn't seem to be interested in talking.
Bangkha gets the job done, happy to be back in a familiar setting.
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Ayaki - Swab the Decks: Backbreaking work mopping the decks and scrubbing them with sandstone blocks called holystones, requiring a DC 10 Strength or Constitution check. Failing either check results in you being fatigued at the end of the shift.
[dice=Influence "Tilly Brackett"] 1d20 +8[/dice]
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---
Sleep: Go to bed early and sleep through the night (automatically recover from fatigue).
In particularly good spirits with the return of his property, Dantes doesn't hesitate to get to work when he seems Kroop's condition. Indeed, he makes sure the jolly cook has some rum (though perhaps a bit watered down) to keep going, and encourages him to tell Dantes stories, even if he can't understand them well. Just before serving the food, Dantes even casts a Presdigitation spell on it to enhance the flavor before it goes out.
Profession cook
Rum fort save
Charisma bonus
Fatigue hours.
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Two more days pass largely without incident. On board ship, things go pretty much as normal; each day begins with being roused by the crack of the whip, followed by the assignment of duties. The days are filled with backbreaking work, with nights given over to entertainment. Then...
Day 14:
After being awakened by Master Scourge, you assemble on the deck for your assignments as usual, but this morning, Mr. Plugg has a surprise.
"No duties today," he says gruffly. "Instead, you lubbers are going to learn how to board an enemy. Fer that, I'm turnin' ye over ta Master Gunner Krine."
He indicates a woman whose skin is darkened from countless days on deck under the sun, and her nose has the appearance of having been broken several times over. One of her legs has been replaced with a wooden peg leg, and a gold ring hands from between her nostrils. A kerchief covers her curly black hair and her brown eyes stare menacingly out from her weathered face.
"Right then, you #%$&ing #%$&s! Here's how this #%$& is going to work. This," she says, holding up a steel triple hook attached to a rope, "Is a #%$&ing grappling hook! It is thrown at the #%$&ed enemy to pull them closer to you #%$&ers! You #%$&ers," she says, indicating your group, "Are going into the #%$&ed jolly boat and try to grapple and board the #%$&ing Man's Promise. You'll go out two at a time, now who the #%$& wants to be first?"
Chumtooth steps forward, head high.
"Chumtooth throws hah-poons. Chumtooth can throw this small hook as if it is nothing! Chumtooth will go first, and prove this!"
"Well, if Smiles is heading out first, I suppose that I'll do the same," Alwen comments with a smile, hopping into the jolly boat. "Yes, this should work, I think. Got to grapple and then climb aboard, correct?" Easy enough for any rigger.
Dantes groans. "Its the rigging all over again."
"You'll be fine, Dantes. Don't you got any magical hoo-ha to help you? Maybe just fly on board?" Satinder says while she grabs the dwarf's shoulder.
"We'll go together, second wave, right after Chum and mr Sensitive."
When they start throwing, she'll try to see what kind of difficulties they are experiencing and how they adapt.
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Krine takes the jolly boat out to 40 feet off the port of the Wormwood (not the Man's Promise, sorry). "Alright you worthless @%#&s, throw the @%#&ing grapples and try to hit the @%#&ed railing. Once you hooked the @%#&ed railing, tie off the @%#&ing rope and get your @%#&ing arses onto the ropes and shimmy across to the @%#&ing ship!"
Alwen's first throw clangs off the side of the hull, the elf shrugging and trying again - this time he lands a solid snag on the railing, taking a moment to tie the rope off and start shimmying up it, whistling all the while.
Chumtooth easily makes the throw, then ties off the line.
He begins climbing out on the rope:
The rope climbing proves more difficult.
Chumtooth falls from the rope into the water. He pulls himself back up, and moves a short distance, only to fall again. After climbing on a third time, he finds unable to move forward, as he is pelted with garbage thrown overboard by Plugg and Scourge's cronies.
He tries again to move up the rope.
After making some process, he falls in, again.
he curses and splutters.
After a bumpy start, Alwen gradually makes his way up the rope before hauling himself over the railing with a grin. "Who's next?"
Chumtooth, wet and smoldering with barely contained fury, tries to climd the rope again.
Chumtooth makes it up to the gunnal, only to lose his grip and fall in as he is trying to maneuver off of the rope onto the deck.
He comes up from the water, again.
he splutters.
He slowly paddles over to the jolly boat, and climbs back in.
"Give Chumtooth a hah-poon, and Chumtooth will spear the pilot to the wheel, and drag the ships together!" he says with certitude.
Satinder looks around, trying to find a harpoon in sight.
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Krine berates Chumtooth with a salty stream of curses and unkind epithets until he successfully completes the exercise, then rows the boat back to the Wormwood and loads up the next two participants. This continues until everyone has successfully completed the procedure.
By day's end, you are all tired, wet, and grateful to be finished. During the bloody hour, those who did not succeed at the boarding procedures are subjected to rope bashes (a single bash with the sealed end of a ship's rope, causes a point of nonlethal damage) for each failed attempt.
Nighttime actions, please.
Dantes will use his enhancement for the throws and the first climb check (he won't try to use it when already on the rope).
To hit AC 5
Climb 1
Climb 2
Climb 3
Climb 4
Climb 5
Reflex save DC 10 :/
--
--
As Satinder sees the dwarf climb up really fast, she wonders where he got so good at climbing all of a sudden. She is not suprised when he let's go of the rope when the pelting of the garbage starts, but still checks to see if he didn't hurt himself too much hitting the water.
Alwen takes his evening to chat up Tilly again. It was always important to maintain the relationship that you started, after all.
Dantes was nearly to the top before a piece of garbage (if you can call a rock that size 'garbage') smacks him in the head and sends him into the water. Utterly miserable, he spends the rest of the day trying to recreate that amazing feat.
To hit AC 5 Fail.
To hit AC 5 Fail.
To hit AC 5 Success.
Climb Success.
Climb Fail.
To hit AC 5 Fail.
To hit AC 5 Fail.
To hit AC 5 Success.
Climb Fail.
To hit AC 5 Fail.
To hit AC 5 Fail.
To hit AC 5 Success.
Climb Fail.
To hit AC 5 Success.
Climb Fail.
To hit AC 5 Success.
Climb Success.
Climb Fail.
To hit AC 5 Fail.
Okay, to succeed, he needs seven rolls of 10 or greater in a row. So, here goes.
Almost makes it, before being taken down again by a chunk of garbage.
Throwing the grappling line
Climb 1
Climb 2
Climb 3
Climb 4
Climb 5
Reflex save
Throwing a chuck of garbage back across at Krine to hit Hit!
Confirm
Not sure what his punishment will be, but it will be worth it!
throw
climb
climb
climb
climb
climb
climb
reflex
Bangkha growls at anyone who attempts to talk to him for the rest of the day.
Chumtooth chugs his rum ration without hesitation.
hours
He looks around for anyone, anyone who appears to be laughing at his expense.
Satinder will join Chumtooth in drinking his rum, and tries to see how far she can go in explaining him the finer pieces of climbing.
Seeing CHumtooth is in a bad mood, she'll help him find anyone trying to laugh at his expense.
He falls.
He falls.
He falls.
Eventually, he climbs aboard, snarls at everyone nearby, and tells Plugg, "Just give me the bloody lashes."
He drinks his rum ration and takes his lashes without complaint.
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It is a painful bloody hour for several of you. In lieu of rope bashes, Dantes receives six lashes with the cat for insubordination (tossing the cabbage back at Krine and knocking her into the water). Bangha, Chumtooth, and Ayaki receive six lashes each for their refusal to complete the task.
Dantes
Total Damage: 20 points.
Ayaki
Total Damage: 17 points.
Chumtooth
Total Damage: 22 points.
Bangkha
Total Damage: 17 points.
There is much laughter as Master Scourge, obviously tiring with the effort, nearly lashes himself on three occasions. All of you are beaten nearly to the point of being bloody, though Bangkha fares better than most, and Dantes worst of all. Afterward, Sandra does her best to patch up each of you.
Alwen works his magic on Tilly, bring her attitude to helpful! No one dares make eye contact with Chumtooth, most being cowed by the massive kuru warrior.
After his beatings, Bangkha feels strength filling him.... As though he had grown in power somehow.