Neela
Searching the galley you come across a huge cookbook filled with recipes. You think that by following these recipes you might be able to cobble together a decent meal.
While swabbing the deck Rhialla keeps an eye out for anyone that seems to be particularly paying her attention in a less than hostile manner.
Rhialla
With the exception of Master Scourge who occasionally glances your way to make sure your doing your job, no one else seems to be paying particularly close attention to you.
Randall follows Percival out of the bilges and up to the galley, only stopping at his footlocker to retrieve some gear stowed there. Nodding to Neela and Fishguts he waits for the fighter to finish his business with Grok before he approaches the Quartermaster's store. "Mistress Grok, I understand that the gear I had on my person when I came aboard is being kept here for 'safekeeping' and I was wondering if you would be willing to part with some, or perhaps all, of it?"
Grok rubs her chin, clearly thinking hard, before replying "I like you cutie pie, I really do, but as I told your woman friend your gear now belongs to the Captain for him to do as he sees fit. So you sees I just can't up and give it away, now can I? However I might be willing to consider trading for it, you know, tit-for-tat."
Randall smiles "I thought you might say that" he says producing the dagger that he found at the reef. Holding it up for Grok to see "I found this dagger on the reef after the storm" he tells her, deliberately leaving out the part of the corpse it was found on "and thought it unusual. Despite being underwater for the Gods know how long there wasn't a bit of rust on it." he hands the dagger over to Cutthroat for her to inspect . She turns the dagger over and over in her hand, tossing it in the air and catching it a few times before saying "It sure is pretty. Well made and well balanced too, but if I traded all your gear for just this little bauble the Captain would flay me alive and fly my skin from the mainmast, so what else you got?"
Randall thinks hard before handing over the Tanglefoot bag "I found this deep in the bilges on my first day aboard and decided to hold onto it. You never know when you might have to good on your escape. But I'm willing to part with it, if we can come to some sort of deal."
Grok frowns and you can almost hear the wheels turning "It's tempting, sweetie, but your going to have to sweeten the deal before I can agree to a trade. Let's say you throw in some coin and we've got a deal." she tells him. Randall holds his arms out and shrugs "The pressgang crew took all my money when I was brought onboard but I have been able to 'finagle' a few coins here and there since then. Let's say an additional three gold and we can seal the deal."
"Make it five, and you sing me a song tonight, and we can shake on it." the half orc says, spitting into her palm and holding it out for Randall to take. "Done!" the bard says, spitting into his own palm before taking her hand and shaking it vigorously.
Rhialla
During your shift on deck a red headed woman approaches you and offers to help you with your task. She introduces herself as Sandara "Welcome aboard" she says as she offer you her hand "I see Scourge eyeballing you and just want to warn you about him. The man's a complete bastard. After I was shanghaied he made advances toward me and I had to tell him no, well...I told him he disgusts me and I wanted nothing to do with him. Unfortunately I told him off in front of the entire crew, needless to say he didn't take the rejection, or the humiliation, well. I think he's too afraid of my connection with the Pirate Queen to do anything more than just glare at me and curse under his breath though." She tucks a stray lock of hair back up underneath her bicorne hat and smiles "But enough about me, what about you. How did you and the other woman end up clinging to a ship's hatch in the middle of the ocean."
Neela
As you and Fishguts finish off a bottle of rum together you watch him prepare the evening meal, more fish stew As you are spooning the stew into bowls a young woman with an eyepatch over one eye enters the galley. She takes a tray of bowls and samples each one. Raising the eyebrow over her good eye she nods to Fishguts, before taking the tray and disappearing back out of the galley. Ambrose looks at the unspoken question in your eyes before saying "That's Caulky, the Captain's cabin girl. Poor thing..." He seems about to say more before shaking his head and thinking better of it. Instead he says to you "Let's get this slop to the others on deck before it gets cold and gives Scourge a reason to punish you, not that he really needs a reason that one."
As everyone settles on deck for the evening meal Cutthroat Grok makes her usual rounds with the rum ration as Fishguts and Neela appear from below decks. With Neela carrying the cauldron, Fishguts begins spooning out the stew to the waiting crew. As you dig in you notice that the stew is actually quite good this evening. Several crewmembers look quite surprised as they slurp their meals. Perhaps this new cook's assistant is just what the ship needed.
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Percival was at a loss of what to do for the evening, He certainly wanted to get to know the new girls a bit better that was for sure, but how to go about it. . . then it hit him.
Randall my good man, do you know 'The Hellknight goes down to Westcrown'? After such a meal Im ispired to dance. He began with a big grin turning and bowing before Quartermaster Grok. "first dance for you m'lady." He said with a wink and a chuckle.
"No, can't say that I do. But if you hum a few bars I might be able to pick it up" the bard says with a smile. Picking up his squeezebox Randall listens intently to Percival before joining him.
Unfortunately, unfamiliar with the tune, he makes many mistakes that soon has the crew mocking him as he plays.
Giving up on the concertina, he grabs the flagon of rum and downs it in one gulp.
Disgusted with himself Randall begins to sing a song as the other sailors ignore him.
He continues to sing a quiet song about homesickness and love lost until he heads below decks to sleep it off.
Rhialla returns the smile with a warm one of her own, shaking the offered hand, and happy for the aid and company. "I'm Rhialla, nice to meet you Sandara. We were on the Windchaser, she sank four days ago in a b!#!@ of a storm. Four long days. Neela's supposed to have been the ship's good luck symbol, as well she might since we're the only survivors, but I'd like to think it was Besmara's kiss that kept us alive. Something we've got in common," she says, showing the other woman the birthmark that marked her as blessed by the Pirate Queen. "I share her bounty as well, such as it is."
Looking around the ship she sighs "I suppose anythings better than the the long trip to the bottom. Thanks for the warning about the Captain, I was only half aware when they pulled us up but he seems a nasty piece of work"
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As randall tried his best Percival laughed, but in a good natured way at least until others in the crew started to mock him.
"It was a valiant attempt Randall, I should have suggested something more.... common and beffiting the crowd. The rest of you lay off the man, unless you want to partake in other entertainment.... the physical kind?"
He offered glancing about the crew to see if they caught what he meant. He wouldnt put it past some of them to not catch his meaning.
Neela
The Dodo, despite it's name, turns it's beak away from the drink and squawks it's disapproval causing several pairs of eyes to turn your way. You down your ration and feel the tensions of the day overwhelm you as your eyes begin to close. You ask Randall to dance but in your exhausted condition you are unable to concentrate on your steps. Randall leans in and whispers in your ear "Looks like someone's had too much to drink. Perhaps you should go below decks and sleep it off." he offers you a courtly bow before heading below decks himself.
Rhialla
Sandara barks out a laugh "Scourge? Captain? Not in this lifetime." she sobers up quickly though "No, Barnabas Harrigan is the Captain of the Wormwood. He's the one who made the 'Work or Else' welcome speech the night you came aboard. He's only been out of his cabin a handful of times since we left Port Peril. Mr. Plugg, his First Mate, has been in charge during his prolonged absence. Scourge is Plugg's bullyboy, a job he does with relish, but if you stand up to him he'll back down. Just watch your back afterward."
Percival
Grok accepts your hand and the two of you perform the lively dance, despite Randall's miscues . "Well done, Dandy" she gasps nearly out of breath "Perhaps there's hope for you yet."
As you try to stare down the others taunting Randall, Fipps Chumlett, The heavyset pirate who tried to keep you from muster on the second day, steps forward "If you like to dance so much, why don't you give me a whirl." he growls with menace. Suddenly, with shouts of "Fight, fight, fight" a circle opens up around the two of you.
Fipps:
Percival:
Jaina
Jaina is decidedly not in the mood to get drunk on rum this evening--when everyone is distracted by the brawl happening on deck, she sneaks off to the side of the ship and dumps the contents over the side.
A little offering to Besmara, if you will. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.
She returns to the scene of the brawl, her eyes on Percival as Fipps decides to pick a fight with him.
"Well, go ahead, Dandy. He won't put up that much of a fight, believe me." She smirks as she eyes Fipps, still remembering how easily she beat him down before.
Percival strikes first landing a solid blow to Fipps' chin. Roaring in pain Fipps lumbers forward. Prepared for the attack, Percival swings again but, with surprising agility for such a large man, Fipps ducks under the blow and lands a meaty fist to Percival's midsection causing the fighter to whuff out his breath.
Just inside the circle you see Plugg and Scourge watching. As Scourge pulls his whip and moves to stop the fight, he is restrained by Plugg's hand on his shoulder and with a brief shake of his head causes Scourge to stand down.
"Ah my mistake then" Rhialla nods as they continue working. "I'll be sure to do that, and if he's got an it's to get back at you I’d be happy to watch yours as well." she says with a smile.
As the day progresses into evening she eats in silence, taking in the crew dynamics. When the rum ration is handed out she considers the effects of yesterday’s portion carefully.
Rhialla
It's a DC:10 Stealth check to dump your rum ration, whereas it's a DC:20 check to cast a spell unseen.
Percival
A worried look crosses Fipp's eyes as he circles around you. With a
glance at Plugg and Scourge he rushes you, fists raised. But a quick one, two punch drops the big lummox first to his knees and then to the deck as he topples over. The groans of the crowd as the fight is over before it even began is cut short as the sound of a whip crack fills the air.
Scourge shouts as he enters the fighting circle. Gazing around at those assembled all he meets are down-turned eyes as no one wants to draw his ire. "I aim to keep discipline among you scurvy lot and this is what I get? Fighting among the crew? Fighting each other is not good for discipline, if you want to fight you'll get plenty of opportunity once we run across a merchantman or two. Until that time discipline shall be maintained, and it looks like I'm going to have to drive that point home now don't I?" he sneers at Percival "Three lashes for you, fop. Now take him." As he says this last your arms are grabbed from behind by two sailors, A tall Vudrani man named Maheem and a grizzled Dwarf named Tam. The two of them drag you toward the mainmast where Scourge stands waiting, his whip coiled in his hand.
The two sailors drag Percival to the mast where they, none too gently, remove his armor and shirt. They then tie his arms around the mast and take a step back. Without a word Scourge uncoils his whip and strikes.
Percival winces as the first lash cuts across his back but says nothing. Scourge hauls back and strikes again.
The second stroke slices Percival's flesh, crisscrossing across the first in an X pattern. Still the Fighter remains stoically defiant.
The third and final lash lands and, mercifully, Percival sags to the deck unconscious.
"Cut him loose and take him below." Scourge orders to no one in particular before turning and joining Mr Plugg at his side. Quickly Sandara and Tilly Bracekett cut Percival bonds and begin dragging his limp form towards the stairs. Sandara murmurs a quiet prayer to Besmara as she carries Percival and some of the bleeding stops as the wounds on his back begin to heal.
Syl Lonegan taunts Sandara in an almost maniacal singsong voice "I'm telling Prettyboy on you" as Sandara finishes her spell.
Once below decks, Sandara and Tilly help Percival into his hammock as Sandara once again calls upon the healing magic of her Goddess.
The remaining wounds on Percival's back seal closed, leaving only faint red traces which soon fade from view. "You'll be right as rain come morning," the red headed Cleric tells him "and I'd stay out of Scourge's sight until then if I were you." she adds warningly.
Taking moment of the distraction of the whipping, Rhialla pours her rum ration over the side. As she watches the brutal whipping she grinds her teeth in anger. The bastard took his own entertainment out of torturing the crew.
Feeling quite worn out, she heads belowdecks shortly after Tilly and Sandara take Percival down.
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I figured that would be the outcome.... got the point across at least You have my thanks Sandara."
He said shooting her a wink.
"I assume his little toady managed to get out without a whipping?"
He added, carefully turning in his sleeping spot to glance at them all, punishment or not, it felt a bit good to get a few strikes in against someone at least. He had all this pent up anger at their situation.
"I imagine the ass-kicking you gave him was punishment enough." Jaina finally speaks up, having followed Percival and the others below decks. "F**ker wasn't even worth the effort, I think."
She pauses, another thought crossing her mind. "Dandy, you've been flirting with just about every woman on board, except me. Why's that?" She asks with an arched eyebrow.
Not complaining, mind you. Just curious.
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Day 14:
The sun continues to beat down mercilessly against the sea as you emerge from below decks. After the morning meal you begin working at your assigned tasks, dreading another day of work under the hot sun.
Jaina groans on the inside when she receives her task for the day. Lookout duty. F**k.
She resolves to get it over with to the best of her ability, but she's audibly grumbling as she climbs the rigging to the crow's nest.
After a gruelling climb in the sheer heat, she gets to work being the lookout.
Well, at the very least the clear skies let Jaina do her job well. She wonders how the rest of the crew is doing...
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He chuckled at Jaina's question and glanced at her. [b] A few thoughts cross my mid about that. You are a very direct person, if you wanted my attention I am sure you would let me know. Im pretty sure you could kick my ass if you choose to, and finally Im told if you play with fire you get burned. [b]
He said giving her an exagerated wink. He laid back and closed his eyes doing his best to sleep.
He wasnt surprised at all when he was assigned the Bilges...again. It was okay, it gave him a chance to be out of sight for the most part. He got to work whistling a part from on of the chellish Opera's he enjoyed.
Man the Bilges
"Looks like it's me an you again, eh mate." Randall tells Percival as the two of them descend the ladder into the bilges.
The two work side by side but it's soon apparent that the heat combined with the stench is getting to the Bard.
Unable to muster the strength to get the job done Randall sits down in the water, exhausted. "I'm spent. I've got nothing more to give." he tells the Fighter.
Repairs
Being assigned to repairs on the ship Rhialla is at ease paying attention to the numerous details of ensuring the countless things that come apart or break during the day are repaired.
That evening before the evening meal is served an angry looking Master Scourge appears on deck "Well,well, well. It has come to my attention that some of you are unable or unwilling to do your jobs leaving the rest of us to pick up your slack. That just won't do. We work hard enough already without adding to our burdens." He walks over to stand next to Rhialla with his hands on his hips, resting near his whip "Aah dearie. This is your first offense so I'm going to let you off easy. Don't let it happen again or next time I won't be so nice." Turning to Randall, Scourge grabs a piece of rope and slams it into his palm over and over "Romeo, what am I going to do with you? This isn't the first time you've failed in your duties and I'm sure it won't be your last. Perhaps you just need some additional motivation." With that he lashes out with the rope end, striking Randall in the abdomen.
As the Bard doubles over trying to catch his breath, the bosun cracks a smiles without any humor in it "Fail me again and your punishment will be more severe."
After the spectacle Kroop and Neela begin spooning out the evening meal. Ambrose apologizes profusely for the thin broth "Sorry everyone, but the fish just weren't biting today" he tells everyone trying to deflect some of the gripes to him. Scourge and Plugg, looking suspiciously at him, say nothing.
Later Grok appears with the evening rum ration, passing out the tankards to the crew.
Sure to nod contritely at Scourge's reprimand, the young cleric tries to determine the true reason for the man's leniency.
As the evening comes around Rhialla takes her rum ration, waiting for a momentary distraction to dump it over the side.
Milling around, Rhialla seeks out another friendly face, approaching Tilly.
"Rough day?"
Jaina sneaks off to the side and ditches her share of the rum as well.
Jaina hangs around on the upper deck of the ship for a change, looking around to see what sort of pirate entertainment the crew are getting up to.
PCs can attempt to change an NPC’s attitude using Bluff (to pretend to be friendly), Diplomacy (to be genuine), or Intimidate (to frighten an NPC into submission). These checks are treated as Diplomacy checks to change a character’s starting attitude (regardless of the actual skill used), but they take time.
Each check requires a ship action (see page 24), and a PC can only attempt one such check each day against a given NPC. There is no right or wrong way to approach these characters, but some NPCs have characteristics that influence their thinking, which can be discovered with a DC 15 Diplomacy check to gather information or a DC 15 Sense Motive check.
Changes in an NPC’s attitude remain in place unless the PCs change it again through some action.
Friendly NPCs help out their shipmates during the day. A friendly NPC can provide a +2 bonus on any single job task skill check made by a PC (see page 24), provided the NPC has ranks in the appropriate skill. Helpful NPCs provide aid not only during the day as above, but also at night, providing a +2 bonus on checks to influence other NPCs, or on checks for pirate games and entertainments. Helpful NPCs are also happy to lend money or equipment (up to half their ready cash) or perform other actions at your discretion.
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He scowled when it was time to come atop the deck, scowled because he wasnt quick enough in covering for Randall. He was getting irritable and he was sure he knew why. The stew itself wasnt that great nor that bad, and after it was down he looked about for something to do.
There was certainly enough to look at, His eyes watched curves not actions. He took his grog and drank it quickly, the foul stuff certainly wasnt for a slow drink.
He was sore and very tired... so tired but still He smirked when he noticed Sandara and he had to smile. She had healing ways, having her... on his side might be a very good thing indeed. Plus, Randall said he didnt have...intentions so that made her fair game perhaps.
Hey whats your story here? ran afoul of scourge? Plugg? one of them power hungry asses?
He began with a wink his eyes most likely not where they should be. He was even stumbling over the words but it was very obvious he was trying to woo the red headed woman and no doubt failing miserably.
Ship, Captain, Crew:
Each turn consists of three rolls of the dice. The player must roll a 6, 5 and 4 in descending order.
ex. The first roll of the dice shows a 6 a 4 two 3's and a 1. The player banks the 6 but must reroll the 4 because there is no 5 yet. The second roll the player gets a 6 a 5 a 4 and a 1. The player banks the 5 and 4 and now they have a full "crew" for their "ship"
Once the "crew" has been assembled, the player may now stop and add the pips on the remaining 2 dice to determine their score from their "cargo" or the player may use any remaining rolls to try to get a higher number for their "cargo".
ex. If the player chooses to stop with their 6 and 1 from the above example, they get a score of 7.
The winner is the player at the end of a round who has the highest “cargo” score.
Randall makes sure no one is looking as he dumps his rum ration over the side. Still with all his precautions he is nearly caught when two sailors approach the rail to relieve themselves.
Randall takes his concertina out of his footlocker and, despite many groans, plays a fancy reel that soon has the crew members around him forgetting about their aches and pains and tapping their feet in time with the rhythm
After finishing the song, Randall puts down his squeezebox and begins to sing a song of a pirate maiden longing for the return of her lover from the sea. As he begins to sing several listeners turn away and begin talking amongst themselves as Randall assures them that this wont be like the last time.
And although it's not one of his best efforts several conversations stop to listen in.
After warming up Randall the seeks out 'Cutthroat' Grok and getting down on one knee takes her hand in his and begins to sing another song, just to her. Amid a number of catcalls the half-orc's face begins to turn red.
After his performance the Quartermaster whispers a thank you to him as a tear forms in the corner of her eye before it is quickly wiped away.
Jaina shrugs upon seeing the pirate entertainments on offer. Perhaps I'll give 'em a try tomorrow...
For now, she watches Randall butter up Cut-Throat Grok with a faint half-smile. She leans against the mast of the Wormwood, where Crimson Cogward is standing as well.
"Squeezebox there's an odd one, isn't he?" She says, folding her arms. The countless scars on her arms seem to be highlighted by the setting sun. "You'd think Grok would be more into someone who can throw a punch or two..."
Rhialla:
Tilly Brackett looks up at you with the mug of rum still in her hand. Slugging down the foul stuff in one gulp she smiles in satisfaction "Nah, I've had worse. There was this one time we was stuck in the doldrums for over a week. The crew nearly went crazy with the heat. There were a couple of fistfights, a stabbing, and at least one pregnancy. We ain't there quite yet, but this tub is becoming a powder keg waiting for someone to strike a match."
Neela:
The diminutive halfling looks a you quizically, wondering if you're having him on before deciding you're serious. "You haven't been on many ships, have you?" he asks. Running a hand missing a few fingers through his hair he tells you "Nah, they call me Ratline because I'm a rigger. You see a ratline is the cross lines in the rigging forming a sort of rope ladder up the lines. Despite missing a few digits I'm still faster up the rope than most others with all their fingers." he boasts. "As far as catching rats I can't help you with that, missy. That's a swab's job, not mine."
Percival:
Sandara pats the deck beside her, offering you a place to sit. "Nothing much to tell really. We were shanghaied from Hell's Harbor a few days before you lot were from Port Peril. A day in Scourge makes advances to me and I told him in no uncertain terms that I wasn't interested and that he disgusted me. I think he's afraid of what the Goddess will do to him if he crosses me, which keeps him off my back."
Jaina:
Crimson shrugs his shoulders "You never know what someone will like. There was this one guy on my crew who went crazy for this mutt. Well one day we was running from the city guard with a load of loot when the dog takes a bolt to his side. This bloke drops his load and drops to his knees alongside the dog, blubbering like a baby. I saw the watch slapping him in irons and dragging him away before I high-tailed it out of there. I ran into him a few years later and he told me it all worked out in the end as the dog saved him from the hangman's noose" he looks up at Jaina with a faint smile on his lips.
Randall:
As Randall begins playing the crew groans but soon the tune gets them to almost, almost, forget his last two attempts at entertaining them and soon has them dancing, forgetting their aching muscles and backs. When Randall drops to his knees in front of Grok the crew lets loose with a number of catcalls which bring a reddish tinge to the half orc's green cheeks.
Shortly after sunset a slight breeze picks up bringing a respite from the heat and humidity and filling the sails as the ship begins to move.
Randall passes by a confused looking Jaina and chuckles "I promised Grok a song in exchange for my gear and I can guarantee that's one she won't soon forget."
Day 15:
As you emerge from below decks for your days assignments you find Riaris Krine, the ship's Master Gunner, standing next to Master Scourge. Seeing you she bellows " Alright you lubbers. Cap'n thinks that you need training on how to board a ship at sea and I aim to see that you get it." She nods towards the ship's jolly boat which several crewmembers are getting ready to lower over the side "We are going to use the launch to practice grappling and boarding. We are going to row out about 40 feet from the Wormwood and toss a hook and line at the ship. After you set the hook you will climb up the rope and onto the deck." Looking over your group she says "Ladies first." as she climbs over the railing and starts down the netting toward the awaiting boat.
As you get settled in the boat Krine turns to look at you, a rope and hook in her hand "Who wants to get this party started?"
As you begin the training excercise you notice several of the crew have turned out by the railing to watch.