After consulting with Bessie, Guillaume does his best to follow all the proper protocols. It's not something he's ever done before. But it gets done. Orslaw gets to kiss the bride, that's the important part, right?
Smythe shares how they used to monitor shipping lanes from the top of The Rock. When a suitable vessel was spotted, their ships were signaled and so began the chase. People came to know The Rock was monitoring but it would cost at least a day to swing far to the south and chance open sea storms so traffic stayed relatively constant. Today, no one would expect The Rock to be back in business.
Seems like we should set a watch and start keeping an eye out for good targets. Any more assaults or threats from sahuagin? Once Beket and Guillaume get back, Orslaw would request they do a quick recon of the area to make sure there's no others near by.
On the day of the wedding, Beket goes out swimming in the depths around The Rock before returning a little bloodied but with a dead shark in tow. He butchers it with a practiced hand, harvesting the liver before cooking it lightly enough and seasoning it with salt after evaporating it from the sea. He would bring it to the married couple, the meat still rather bloody, before offering it to them both.
"A gift of strength. May you always be the predators and never the prey." The tall man says, staring at them until a bite is taken from the cooked meat. Only then will Beket be pleased, drinking merrily with the crew and singing the old songs that had long since been forgotten by the sailors of the Shackles.
After the celebrations, the brooding nature of their druid returns. He has Rytys assist in finding good ships on his daily hunts while accompanying Guillaume on the hunt for the sahuagin. For them to have struck so quickly, there had to be a nest of them somewhere nearby. Bleepos was going to be quite excited when they find them, that much was certain.
After the wedding and a heft hangover; Bessie will prepare several continual light spell lanterns for use on the ships. She will also build or update a Besmara shrine on the Rock as well as prepping her crew and ensuring the Goblins Prize is in ship shape.
The next two weeks has you planning and watching. Over that time period you catch site of five different vessels. Three of them seem like viable options. You set out after each.
EASY SHIP
Sailing DC 12
Ranged atk roll DC 12
Melee atk roll DC 12
Plunder 2
Medium Ship
Sailing DC 15
Ranged atk roll DC 15
Melee atk roll DC 15
Plunder 2
Hard Ship
Sailing DC 18
Ranged atk roll DC 18
Melee atk roll DC 18
Plunder 3
Bleepos engages on his usual behavior - skilled, yet reckless and Besmara-knows-how successful - to navigate the ship.
Eager for a chance of plunder, coin, and blood to be offered to the Banshee Queen. The sails drop down on the Perilous Pearl and the ship sets sail out from the The Rock. The tall man moves along the deck, aiding where he can to help the ship catch ahead.
Bessie encourages her helmsman, knowing it is by Besmara's blessings that the goblin came to the Peril Crew!
She will follow Cap'n Coeur-de-Lion's angle on which ship they are pursuing.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
You may pursue all of them since it is over the three weeks. Even with the assist roll on melee you took down the easy ship. Need rolls for the medium and hard as well. Please label. If left alone I will assume it is for the DC15 variety.
You may pursue all of them since it is over the three weeks. Even with the assist roll on melee you took down the easy ship. Need rolls for the medium and hard as well. Please label. If left alone I will assume it is for the DC15 variety.
Orslaw will lead the melee attack as they board the two ships. With his falchion raised high, he leads the charge boarding the two ships.
Over the two weeks you spot, target, and plunder three vessels. One is a passenger schooner and has neither the manpower nor the size to be a worthy addition to the fleet. The other two are basic sailing ships. One has a mixed crew who are willing to sail under the pirate flag if demanded of them. The other is manned by a crew of Mwangi out of Blood Cove and they all refuse to sail under the skull and crossbones. How do you handle the various situations?
Assembling the fleet's officer, Guillaume raises an eyebrow. "I don't know that we're ready for a third ship just yet. Better to fill out the crews we have, maybe send a few to garrison the Rock or the Lighthouse. Though maybe limp the ship to port with a prize crew and find a buyer first."
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Bessie's suggestions for the ships:
Schooner - plunder and release.
Mixed Crew - Claim as a prize to sell and upgrade the current ships. Keep what crew want to stay and drop the others off at a bigger port.
Mwangi Crew - Offer the captain a choice, his life or the lives of ten of his men. If he chooses his life, let them all go. If he chooses ten of his men, after we have plundered the ship, give those ten weapons as we sail away, what happens is their choice.
At Bessie's suggestion, Beket's voice crackles with a cruel laugh. He nods softly, turning towards the others.
"I agree with our priestess; we take the mixed crew and sail off to Rickety's to have it squibbed and then sell it off. We divide the crew as best we can and fill our bunks. As for the Mwangi...well...Besmara would surely grin at such an offer."
Orslaw nods appreciatively at Besmara's priestess. "Aye, seems a good plan on all accounts. Will be interesting to see what the Mwangi crew does after their captain makes his choice. We may have a few decide to change their mind."
I suspect the Mwangi are sailing for the Aspis Consortium. As we are already on one of their ships, I don't want to be such a problem that they come to deal with us. But a little test of the Captain's mettle will be interesting. Either way, we win respect for recognizing an honorable captain and sparing him, or we sow a little havoc in an otherwise loyal crew.
The Mwangi Captain turns out to be quite the honorable man and steps up for his own death. He seems quite offended when accused of sailing for the Consortium. He is an independent trader and intends to stay that way. They are shocked but thankful when released. Do you intend to sell the ship you did not release?
Guillaume smiles when Bessie describes her idea. "I like it. We'll do that."
He smiles again when the captain offers his own life. "You have chosen well, Captain. There is honor even among thieves. Go in peace."
Orslaw recommends we go sell of some of our plunder, use those funds to squib the ship, then go try to sell off the ship. Between what is left over from loot and the sale of the ship, we and the crew will probably have a good pay day.
Well with a name like Queen Bes - Bessie's choice would be obvious...
If we head up to this area, Bessie points to the western shores of Motaku Isle, We have three small towns - Sell a little plunder, recruit, and hear the latest gossip... perhaps spread some of our own.
Besides, I have always wanted to go to Queen Bes. Bessie had been pointing, but with a devilish grin, rolls here hand so her palm is up as if highlighting the area - and revealing her tattoo. She is just happy to be sailing with the Peril Crew.
We should consider a treasure hunt as well. The Lost Messenger is rumored to be close by to our current base. she says squinting at the scrawl on their maps and nautical charts.
Orslaw looks at the map while shrugging and nodding in agreement with Bessie's suggestion. "Seems a good place to spread the tales of the Peril Crew and sell off some goods. With a name like that," he smiles at the Besmara's priestess, "How can we go wrong? Besides, it's a ways from Rickety's and probably a good way to spread our sails a bit." Orslaw is not very familiar with the area having come down from Cheliax.
Use Appraise, Diplomacy, or Prof Business/Tradesman to try and sell your stuff. You may also use Intimidate but that could affect future endeavors in the area.
Guillaume nods. "Sounds good to me. We'll set out tomorrow."
Guillaume spends his spare time on the journey over looking through the plunder and making notes on how much it should be worth.
Bessie is usually the party diplomat, 'cause -who doesn't trust a priestess of the Pirate Queen goddess??
Standard market value is 7,000 gold of plunder. Selling of course will normally not get that much. You can try multiple ports and I will not hold you to what you are trying for but will give you the best deal you make. The main disadvantage is hitting all three towns checking for the best price will take time a day each at least. You may have the primary diplomat with one support.
Each roll is a day in port. So if you roll an 18, 20 (decide to look for a better deal), 15, and finally 25 you would have spent four days in port. While a couple of you are looking for a buyer some others could be spreading the tales of the Peril Crew and generally being merry.
Bessie gives her best pitch at each port.
Guillaume spends the next few days telling tails of his crew's fearsome exploits in various local watering holes.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
The crew has success in selling their goods though their tales of daring fall on hard ears. All the crew is refreshed by a few days in port and the day you sail back is marked by good weather. It will take a few days to get back to the Rock and then a trip to Rickety’s.
Orslaw would, of course, be in favor of spending at least one full day checking on things at the Rock. Already been away for 3-4 days, so it's only right if he stops by and checks on things for at least a day as he is the Master of the Rock. So he would put in that request with the captain. He's got to make sure he is doing right by his new bride.
Beket spreads tales about the crew, their exploits, but his tales are bloody and wrathful. Few show interest and the seascarred's demeanor is more than a little off-putting. Beket shrugs it off, the crop of sailors here must be weak to be so soft in their belly.