By the time the seas calm and her messenger duties are over, Nasifi is trule grateful that she had been living the quiet life and resting well previous nights. It took everything she had to keep crisscrossing the ship's slippery decks as it heaved and tossed without collapsing from exhaustion.
Everyone works late into the evening. Once all is secure, everyone is sent down to wait out the storm. All trudge downstairs and collapse into their hammocks. Even so tired, it is hard to sleep as the ship is tossed about. Finally, exhaustion takes everyone.
The next morning Beket wakes before anyone else.
Over the next few days the crew and the ship are in recovery. Everyone finds they have a set of bruises, scrapes, and other minor injuries making them sore and slower at their usual tasks. The first day, work is just getting the ship cleaned up and repaired. Master Scourge is uncharacteristically quiet during the repair day. The next two days are standard work days with Master Scourge slowly ramping back up to the point where, on the third day, he is laying about him on the crew for even the most minor of infractions.
The 11th day out from Port Peril is a calm sunny day. There is a light breeze that allows the ship to keep moving at a slow but steady pace. By mid-morning, everyone can see the coastline to the north in the distance. After their salt pork at lunch, Mr Plugg calls the Peril crew together and snags Cusswell to boot.
"The Cap'n wants crab for dinner. There's sure to be good crab huntin' along the reef yonder. Take these crab pots," Plugg gestures to the pots sitting in the aft corner of the main deck. "Fill 'em and get back as quick as you are able. It's calm so we're not dropping a boat. Just swim it."
Once the crew battens down the hatches - literally; Bessie will spend the time that they weather the storm influencing members of the crew: She will offer healing and lead prayers to Besmara to encourage others to renew their commitment to the Pirate Queen. Once the storm clears Bessie will say a prayer of thanks before everyone forgets their promises and pledges to Besmara. The next days Bessie works diligently to repair the ship. Additionally, she will try to befriend Grok and see if she too can regain any of her items.
Going overboard voluntarily; not the best option even for the most experienced sailors. Bessie tries to grab a brass knife or dagger to tuck in her belt as she stores her healers kit. It, her shoes, and everything but the dagger and clothes on her back go in her chest. Then she rejoins the others to go over the rails.
Now that she's supplied Grok with some alchemist's kindness, Nasifi works on her to get the remainder of her possessions back. Otherwise she can help with some healing if it's needed. Aside from these things she continues to cook during the days.
In the evenings Nasifi works on building her circle of friends a little more.
Day:
Evening:
Day Diplomacy:
Night Diplomacy:
During the Day Guillaume mostly concentrates on working, only occasionally talking to others, mostly to slip in a comment here and there on others' conversations.
The first night he checks on Tibbs, to see how his recovery is going. The next two nights he goes out of his way to spend time chatting with Barefoot Sammie, whom he's taken a bit of a shine to.
Crow continues to work the rigging during most of the day. He's gotten pretty friendly with several of the riggers, which makes his day a bot more enjoyable. During the evenings, he continues to entertain the crew.
Day 1: The day after the storm, he asks Grok is she can grab a couple of his bits and bobs out of "storage;" nothing fancy, mind you, but he's got a small hand drum that he's rather fond of playing.
Once he's got that, he's able to spend some time that evening changing the entertainment up a bit. It's all fine to tell stories, but singing to a little drum music, now that's a fine thing.
Day 2: Having had a pretty damn successful night on the skins, he tries to use the good will to see if he can convince Scrimshaw to trust his mates.
Turns out, not everyone's a music lover. Ah well, them's the breaks.
Day 3: On the next evening, he remembers a story he heard from a man who lived in the Shackles all his life. Using the drum to add a little accent, perhaps a little tension to the story now and again, he tells the tale of Tall Mick and how he ran afoul of some Hellknights in Cheliax.
In the end, Mick retired from piracy, missing a few digits, but wealthier than he'd any right to be.
@Iron -
I will do general good will as an assist others, two days and try to befriend Grok enough to get a few items back the other day.
Is she able to snag a dagger or other small weapon?
Will also use Enhance Water for Vlad and whatever lady of the crew he might be wooing and spend time with the other Peril crew.
Swim take 10= 16
"Hey Beket! I'll race you there!" Guillaume says as the group plunges into the water, headed for the reef.
The night was tumultous, wild, and vicious, but it was the storms he loved most. The sea at her most natural and unforgiving, showing who truly was the ruler of the seas. Yet they showed proper reverence, worked as hard as they could. At long last though, the storm finally gave up and the rain grew soft and welcoming. His body ached all-over and it was one of the first times that the crew would see the Mwangi breathing hard with a wide grin upon his face. "Beautiful..." He murmured to no one in particular before he lifted himself up off of the deck and followed the crew down below. For the moment, there were no rivalries, no quarrels. It was united crew with a singular purpose; survive. Beket was no fool though; sharks would always return back to calm waters. Tomorrow, their quiet struggle would continue as usual. Sleep claimed him fast and quick and the large man snored loudly and proudly.
His eyes opened and only the slightest rays of darkness were rising up from above. His stomach grumbled a little and he looked down at the bit of food that he had squirreled away from each meal. Shame the rat meat ran out so fast, Rytys really savored that meat. The fish and biscuits would have to do for now though.
Rising up to the deck, Beket watched as the sun just began to crest over the top of the horizon. Looking around, he whistled for a moment and waited in the eerie silence. Yet to trained ears, he could hear the flapping of wings approaching and a grin came to his face.
The massive bird landed on the railing, a hawk that was the size of a man. Bleepos or Rosie would easily fit upon the young roc's back and someday, he would as well. "It is good to see you, my friend." He whispered to the bird that was the color of bleached bones. Pressing his head against the roc's, the two of them breathed in tandem with a sacred bond that few could understand. "You have grown since I last laid my eyes truly upon you. It seems the markings are working."
Reaching into the spell component pouch, he retrieved this smudge of ash. With quick, practiced hands, he began to inscribe the ancient sigils taught to him for when he bonded with such a beast. Marks of power, of growth, to transform Rytys into his true form faster than anything else on the planet.
With the last marks being placed upon his companion's face, he studied those fierce eyes and a soft smile came to Beket's face. "Soon friend, very soon. Return to your perch, I will call for you when I need you." A soft squawk of protest left the massive bird and Beket scoffed, shaking his head. "No, no, no, no getting clingy. Go." With a reluctant glance, the roc took off and soared back up into the air with a mouthful of food.
"Soon friend, very soon. After all, Master Scourge seems -awfully- plump." Beket thought to himself as the others began to rise up from bed. He made his way back below deck, waiting to be called with all the others.
The days that pass are the same routine over and over again; work, drink, and sleep. The crew seemed almost restless, the groups tightening as an unspoken schism began to fester. Master Scourge's distaste for them had begun a massive polarization; those who were with the Peril Crew and those who were against them.
Like his fellows, Beket works on securing allies. Vladimir's tongue oozed with gold and Beket had to admire the charm that the man was able to create. The intimidating Mwangi would find those with a willing ear, mentioning the little incidents happening between their potential recruits and Scourge's cronies. All they had to do was find a niche to build on and all would go well.
They were giving him the chance to swim. To truly, really swim. A yearning he hadn't realized was fostering in his heart and he realized that his blood was calling him back. It was calling him back home. Handing off his buckler to one of the crew that they trusted, he'd only take his spear and dagger with him. The armor remained on his form, catching a few strange eyes from the others around him. Guillaume's challenge brought a grin to his face and he'd give a nod, a toothy grin appearing on his face. "So be it." Diving off of the side, a change would happen to the man before he hit the water. His body shifted and changed, the dark skin growing thicker and grey. He'd disappear underneath the water before the full effect came into being, hiding his transformation from man to skinwalker.
The Seascarred sped through the water as if it was his home. There were no fierce fangs in his mouth though his eyes had changed as black as the storm before. Webbing and slight fins grew upon his form. Without hesitation or fear, he'd chase after Guillaume with surprising speed. The two of them sailed through the water, natural predators in their habitat.
Nasifi and friends (Bessie and Beket) found Shortstone still a bit stand offish though amiable (indifferent > indifferent). Scrimshaw on the other hand, seemed to have been waiting for someone from the Peril Crew to befriend him. Although earlier when Vlad came to speak to him the young man stuttered over his own tongue and then fled out of embarrassment. It turned out he had been very impressed by Vlad's performances. Scrimshaw himself liked to tell stories and was hoping to get pointers in his presentation but Vlad's relative fame has made him too nervous to approach the bard. He appeared to really enjoy talking with Nasifi and the others and of course asked if they could introduce him to Vlad, explaining his earlier inability to talk straight.
For those who approach Grok, she has become very accommodating. The items you asked for are given without too much trouble. Tibbs has fully recovered and appreciative of the check on him. Guillaume and Toppin get along well the next two evenings becoming fast friends.
The race to the reef is tight, with Beket winning by a nose. The others make it out there rather slowly by comparison. The sun beat down but the water was cool. The reef itself ranged in depth from 4 to 15 feet. This allowed the crew to look for crabs, sometimes from above, other times with short dives. Those not involved in the race brought out four large crab pots (they each hold 4). Hunting is good and in short order they have two of the crab pots filled.
The crew had distributed duties. Guillaume and Beket being the strongest swimmers were going down for crabs, Vlad with the aid of the two ladies was looking for crabs along the tops of the reef while Bessie and Nasifi held the pots. This put Bessie, Nasifi, and Vlad about five feet apart on the shallower portions of the reef. Guillaume and Beket were about fifteen feet west of them diving in and around the edges of the reef looking for climbers.
It was right after the two divers went down a third time that the water erupted behind Vlad. Two reefclaws, a mean spirited combination of lobster and snake, burst from the water. Even taken unawares, Vlad manages to avoid the snapping claws. Alas, the reeflclaws follow up assault is horrifying to watch and even more so for Vlad as the little monsters tear into him spilling his blood in the water (10 total damage) and grabbing onto him threatening to pull him under the now darkening waters (additionally make 4 DC 13 FOR saves, poisonous claws).
surprise
round 1
Bessie watches in horror as Crow gets torn up and his blood flows into the water. She swims closer behind him, drawing her dagger from her belt and instinctively lifts her forearm out of the sea and calls upon the power of Besmara to heal his wounds.
Amandla wesiteshi! and a golden glow flows out from her tattoo.
"Ack, get back yer devils!"
Crow's not looking too good after that assault.
Catching crabs at the reef was simple enough, between him and Guillaume it was no competition. He couldn't keep the grin off of his face at his slight victory but he was certain that the proud man would want a rematch. They'd certainly have to give it another try. As he dived down deep into the waters, grabbing the crab from the base and loading them into some of the pots and pans, his eyes turned upwards and he caught sight of some kind of disturbance up above. It was shortly thereafter that he saw the red leaking into the water and his senses went into overdrive. "They need us." Beket thought, only considering the fact that he thought of them as "us" more than "I". Quickly, he began to swim upwards to the surface.
Beket and Guillaume notice the ruckus above them and speed to the surface.
Nasifi is too far away to do anything right away. She also knows she's of no use to anyone in the water, especially underwater.
She jumps int the water and swims to a projecting piece of the reef closer to the massive crab-creatures and around to their side. Climbing onto it, she waits for the two monsters to break the surface.
Both of the reefclaws have their heads and claws out of the water in their attempt to grab and drag Vlad under. Nasifi's bomb hits, its effects washing over both of them. (Dmg 5 and 4)
Vlad tries to twist out of the creatures grasp in an attempt to get free.
"Get off of me, you over-grown lobsters!"
Be ready Crow, I am going to put my dagger in your hands and then heal you.
Vlad manages to pull free of the beasts. Then the one nearest Nasifi lunges toward her while the other attempts to regain a grip on Vlad.
The beast lunging after Nasifi misses but yet again Vlad is grabbed.
Bessie places the hilt of her dagger into Crow's palm to give him a light weapon to use, with one hand and placing the other upon him, casts cure light wounds,
Amanxeba alula!
Gut them, Crow! Feed their blood to Besmara!
Bessie knows that Beket and Guillaume are near, and the boys will bring Besmara's wrath upon these creatures. She smiles with glee knowing the reefclaws blood soon be offered to her goddess.
And that once Nasifi cooks them up they will be delicious!
"Careful, lass! These crabs are fierce!"
Crow takes the dagger and tries to find a chink in the armor plates of the one grabbing him.
Nasifi sidesteps the crabby claws and lobs another bomb onto the critter.
Recognizing what's going on, Guillaume swims quickly toward the others, and launches a torrent of water at the nearer creature.
Beket finally surfaces, catching a lungful of air before he looks to see how his comrades are doing. With his spear in hand, he begin to swim like the shark he is, swimming underneath and around his comrades before surfacing between the two monster.
The reefclaw snaps at Nasifi's outstretched hand (AOO) but misses. The explosion is enough to strip the spines from its back and crack its head. On the far side of Vlad, Guillaume's blast slams into the side of the reefclaw's head sending its eyes flying and blowing off its mandibles.
Ok Boys, lets get back to the ship. Blood will attract sharks, the unwanted kind. she says giving the big Mwangi man a wink.
Besmara has blessed us, and we have given her blood. Time to go home. Grab the reefclaws, I trust you can cook 'em up right.
As they swims back with the crab pots and reefclaws, she nears Nasifi, You did good. Really good. Besmara has blessed us with your presence.
Vlad still looks a little worse for the wear. He's glad someone knows how to cook 'em proper though. Maybe that'll get the captain's dog off our backs.
"Thanks for the save, lass. I owe ya one. Or two possibly," he says with a smile to Bessie.
You boys do the fightin, I keep ya in the fight. I have your back, ya got mine; ya owe me nothin. Ya' never will. Bessie replies to Vlad as they swim with their catch.
Nasifi bashfully smiles at Bessie as she paddles along with some crab pots in tow. "I spent some time in the Sargavan Militia" she says by way of explanation.
Bessie looks to Nasifi, So that is how you got to be so tough, nice job, that was impressive!
Everyone makes it safely back to the ship. A short while later a few fins are seen as some sharks cruise the area but find nothing injured. Kroop is very excited to get the reefclaws. Additionally, word of the reefclaws makes it to the Captain. He sends word via Mr Plugg who is obviously unhappy with delivering his information. Due to their resourcefulness, everyone who went out may have one mundane item or a potion of cure light wounds from the ship's store.
There is a distinct grin upon Beket's face as Mr. Plugg cames around to grumpily give them the good news. The captain was rewarding them and that was quite the good thing, showing the crew that the Port Peril crew wasn't just the dog to be kicked around by Master Scourge and Mr. Plugg. "Thank you sir, it is a pleasure to serve the captain!" Beket calls out, winking to his comrades before heading back below deck to get their reward.
The potions were a great addition but something in the back caught his attention. Leaning over the supplies, he grabbed the climber's kit and looked it over. It was well-stocked and of exquisite quality. Beket's mind went back to the times that he was a child, climbing the cliffs above the raging sea. Something like this would let them climb even in the dangerous cliffsides with a measure of safety. "I will take this." Beket murmurs, hoisting it onto his back before nodding in thanks to Grok.
Crow is quite glad to see they've gained the captain's favor, at least for the moment. And pleased as punch to see the look on Plugg's face. He knows that Scourge and Plugg will take additional actions to knock them back down a peg, but at least he knows to watch for it. He manages to stifle a laugh, but not a smile. I'll definitely be drummin' up a good song this evenin'. Har har!
The next few days are solid. Nothing untoward happens and neither Scourge nor Plugg find any real reason to lay into the Peril crew. On the 13th day of the voyage everyone is somber. There are grumbles and the ship is generally quiet as if everyone is holding their breath waiting for something bad to happen. It doesn't. Evening rolls in and the crew essentially lets out a collective sigh. The rum ration is greatly enjoyed and many double down. At some point, late in the evening, all drift off to sleep.
The morning of the 14th starts with a rude awakening. Riordan Krine, the Wormwood's Master Gunner comes down to wake everyone.
"On your fraggin' feet you piles of suet. Get to the to the flamin' top deck now!" the man roars, his overly broken nose giving a deep nasally sound to his gravelly voice. As everyone rolls out of their hammocks and heads for the top deck, Riordan continues to let expletives roll of his tongue.
Above deck, he calls for everyone to gather around. Krupp grabs Nasifi. Hanging off the side is the ship's boat. Kipper and Patchsalt are standing by.
"You dogs are gonna learn to board a ship. Primarily how to toss a bloody grapple and climb a frackin rope. Boys, take the boat out about forty feet. Two of you at a time will swim out to the boat, toss a line and climb across." Then Krupp and Nasifi come out with buckets of rotting vegetable. "While they try to get their bloody arse across the rope to the frackin ship, the lot of you will be throwin' this shite."
Crow was a bit deep into the grog last night and it shows this morning. It takes him several throws just to fix the hook (and the second time he nearly put out his own eye). "It ain't my fault if I sees 3 boats where there be only one. And it ain't the one in the middle, I might add, that's real apparently." When he finally blinks his eyes clear, he nails the target.
He skitters across the rope like a squirrel, dodging rotten veggies without problem.
Until a brief bout of nausea washes over him. (Since I failed that one, I'm treating as not progressing. If I'm supposed to fall off, just let me know and we can ret-con)
He manages to avoid the peanut gallery...
but he can't quite finish the rope.
He continues to evade the rot at least...
as he finally makes it across.
Shite, I didn't mean to play the clown this mornin'. Bah, I never claimed to be perfect. I'd like to see ole' Scourge do this.
Bessie will dive in and swim out with Crow. At least I can swim...'cause I am sure to wind up in the drink...maybe more than once. She then casts bless on them.
The grapple lands short with an unceremonious splash.
Now, the hard part.
Splash
Splash
Splash
Splash
Splash
Splash
Splash
Splash
Splash
Splash
Splash
Splash
Bessie rolls over the railing, dripping of seawater. At least the rotten veggies were washed off with her last dunking. She doesn't even move - the humiliation is almost too much...