Herzag chuckles as Ashe easily climbs up.
The sail is tied to the yard at four locations, 15 feet from the mast and 30 feet from the mast on both sides. Correctly unfurling each of the four areas of sail without it snagging or tangling requires a DC 15 Profession (sailor) check and takes a standard action.
A contestant who succeeds at a DC 18 Profession (sailor) check realizes that untying all of the sail on one side of the yard will cause loose sailcloth to flap about in the breeze, making the job of setting the remaining sail more challenging.
To avoid this problem, the sail should be released in stages on one side of the mast and then the other. If one side of the sail is completely unfurled first, the DC of the Profession (sailor) checks to unfurl the remaining sail increases by 5.
Both Ashlei and the sailor chosen by Tsadok go up the masts like ferrets up a drainpipe, drawing admiring sounds from the watching sailors.
Both both know that undoing one side completely will make it harder so do it properly. Here Ashlei draws ahead as the other sailor finds two fastenings that give him trouble.
You pick out a bald sailor on the Stingray’s foredeck, and sense he's acting suspiciously. The man is getting closer and closer to the line holding the forestay boom Ashlei is on steady, if untied or cut her footing would swing wildly.
What are you doing now?
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"Hoy the Stingray's crew! You there! The bald one! I'm talking to you!" - Herzag jumps atop the rail and shouts across - "The lass has got a nasty disposition, but she is very easy on the eyes and we wanna keep her around for morale!" - he roars - "So make sure you stay away from that line holding the forestay boom she is standing on" - the half-orc adds twirling his daggers - "Or I'll have to pin you to the deck to stay still"
Noting a number of unfriendly eyes turning his way with Herzag's shout the bald sailor makes a hurried exit before those who having been wagering on Ashlei make their displeasure known.
Asheli wins by a respectable amount, the other sailor, not embarassed by his showing gives her a nod of respect as he slides aback down to the deck.
Tsadok looks pissed but swallows his ire as he feels the crowd growing more approving of your audition.
The Second Test: A Friendly Game of Cards.
Tsadok wants to see how much talent and luck you possess in his second test. A small table is set up on the aft deck of your ship, and one of you must gamble against Tsadok in a card game called Bastard’s Fool.
Bastard’s Fool is a popular game on pirate ships, and is played
using a deck cobbled together from several partial decks. Even a down-on-his-luck sailor who doesn’t even have a full deck of cards can play Bastard’s Fool, as each player brings whatever cards she has, and combines them with other players’ cards to create a new deck.
Bastard’s Fool is a bluffing game similar to poker, but Tsadok adds an additional “Port Peril” rule to the game: the winner of
each hand must drink a ration cup of Gutburn rum.
Each player starts with a stake of 100 platinum pieces. You must supply their own stake; Tsadok has brought along a moneychanger to exchange currency or plunder if needed. Each hand, gamblers receive a starting hand and place their initial bets. They may then discard some of their cards and draw more to improve their hand, and bet again. Once all bets are matched, the gamblers reveal their cards and the best hand wins.
Who is taking the seat for your crew?
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He scowled for a moment. While he had heard of the game, it wasnt something he had ever bothered to play. There was too much chaos involved in it for him. But he did know of someone whom seemed to craft their own luck... and luck for others.
Neela, if you would be so kind as to join Mister Tsadok in a friendly game."
He began with a smile moving closer to Ashlei, Herzag and Rhialla. He spoke lowly.
"Burnout, Herzag Spread out just a bit and keep an eye on friend there, they've tried cheating once already I wouldnt doubt they dont try it again. Rhialla help me keep an eye on this drink they have, make sure they dont try and slip something into it."
He ordered before approaching Neela and giving her a friendly pat on her shoulder.
"Dont hesistate to play up the crazy weather witch vibe if you must. All of us are watching over you.Go get him."
He gave her an approaving nod before standing to the side,but with the table in full view.
Ashlei nods at the captain's orders and saunters off to keep a look out.
"A good captain knows when to use his best mates."
Herzag tries to find a vantage point from where he can watch the game and surroundings, maybe a higher perch?
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The poop deck is empty except for the dealer, Tsadok, and Neela, limiting the assistance the other crew can provide.
With her Fortune Hex giving her luck Neela starts to win a string of hands, which means she needs to drink the shots of rum.
After a string of six wins, none for high stakes, Tsadok folds if the betting goes over 5pp. Neela spots the dealer arranging the deck to favor Tsadok. Not surprisingly Tsadok goes all in, betting his entire stake. Only to watch helplessly as Neela takes the cards he was anticipating for his victory.
He grudgingly congratulates the winner and tries to retrieve his own coins, stating that it was just a friendly game for show, not for real stakes.
What is your response?
"So does that mean any of your other tests are 'Just a friendly game for show" as well?" Rhialla asks, walking right up to the hulking half orc, tossing her hair as she does, incidentally making the sign of Besmara on her bare shoulder clearly visible.
Ashlei smirks and yells over the crowd.
"What pirate worth his or her salt would surrendered hard-won booty without a fight! Are you insane! Give her the pot you layabout!"
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"If it was a friendly wager, why do you have the moneychanger here so we could get the coin? You indicated the play was for stakes, I believe that young lady has earned that coin. What other tests do you have in store for us, Our sailing skill seems evident, our luck as well. Whats next?"
He said directly though with a smile on his face that said he had nothing but time.
Tsadok backs down with little grace. It seems his poor showing so far, in front of a large audience that enjoys his failure is getting to the short tempered Half-orc.
A test of combat prowess is arranged, your crew must be off your ship. You have to show you can defend your ship yourselves! To make things worse a large cage is pulled up to the wharf, the covers removed to reveal a disgusting creature.
Cold, black eyes stare out from the fish-like face of this hideous
green-skinned, web-fingered, and obese giant.
CE Large humanoid (giant)
Init +3; Senses low-light vision; Perception +11
Defense AC 21, touch 12, flat-footed 18 (+3 Dex, +9 natural, –1 size)
hp 102 (12d8+48)
Fort +12, Ref +7, Will +8
Defensive Abilities rock catching
Offense
Speed 40 ft., swim 20 ft.
Melee gaff +16/+11 (2d6+12) or
2 slams +16 (1d6+8)
Ranged rock +12 (2d6+9)
Space 10 ft.; Reach 10 ft.
Special Attacks rock throwing (120 ft.)
Spell-Like Abilities (CL 12th; concentration +13)
3/day—augury, bestow curse (DC 15), fog cloud
Statistics
Str 27, Dex 17, Con 19, Int 8, Wis 15, Cha 12
Base Atk +9; CMB +18; CMD 31
Feats Combat Reflexes, Improved Iron Will, Improved
Sunder, Iron Will, Power Attack, Vital Strike
Skills Perception +11, Stealth +5 (+13 in swamps), Swim +16;
Racial Modifiers +8 Stealth in swamps
Languages Boggard, Giant
Ecology
Environment temperate marshes
Organization solitary, gang (2–6), or tribe (7–22, plus
20% noncombatants plus 1 cleric or witch leader
of 4th–8th level, 1–3 barbarian or fighter
champions of 2nd–5th level, 2–12 merrows,
10–20 boggards, and 6–12 giant frogs)
Treasure standard (gaff, other treasure)
"That's just ugly" - Herzag grunts, drawing his daggers and looking for a place among the crates to remain out of sight.
Eyes narrowing s she sizes up the monster likelky meant to kill them all, Rhialla takes up position, drawing Brine's Sting as she utters a spell, her form flickering before spinning off into 7 identical versions of her, shifting and swapping places.
Ashlei smirks and winks.
"You're jealous Herzag. Men and their hang-ups on looks!"
Grabbing a spot behind some barrels, Ashlei keeps her hands empty, but ready to draw a weapon at any time.
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Cracking his knuckles took eye of the large ugly creature then spat onto the ground. He grabbed his boarding pike and let a little smirk take his features. He moved to the an open spot clearly in sight of the ugly creature and nodded to the cages handlers. With a thought he let the magic of his pike take hold of it extending it to his 20 foot length and he carefully couched the end along his foot.
"Let the big ugly loose. I'm getting thirsty."
He hollared to the handler. His officers knew their jobs, there would be no need to complicate things with orders... for now.
The Giant surprises you by casting a spell, creating a billowing cloud of fog in front of it. You lose sight of the thing as it turns to face Rhialla, picking up a large rock. One of several Tsadok has kindly left in it's cage.
What are you doing now?
Now extremely light on her feet, Ashlei hesitates shooting skyward.
"HA! Love this feeling Neela!"
Uttering a curse as she sees it casting then focus on her, Rhialla quickly casts another spell, her skin taking on an iron grey pallor as she moves between crates, making movement difficult for the beast.
"You're jealous Herzag. Men and their hang-ups on looks!"
"Yep, that's me" - the half-orc grunts - "Jealous"
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"Ah Hell."
He began not liking the fact that it cut Rhialla off from the rest of them.. and the fact he couldnt see the damn thing.
"GET US EYES ON THE CREATURE"
He called out to his companions who well could fly at the moment. If he charged through the fog there was a good chance the damn thing was waiting for him... that could hurt badly. He almost smacked himself in the head when he thought of it.
He moved forward and avoiding the smoke hopped from the dock onto the water using his armors ability to let him walk atop it to get sight of the creature. With Neela's magic making him an impressive size he whistled up to the monster as he thrust his boarding pike up hard.
Ashlei shoots straight up in response to her Captain's orders.
Lining up on the confusing numbers of Rhialla the Marsh giant is taken by surprise when the much larger Percival slams his pike hard into it's side.
Turning it instinctively hurls the boulder it holds at him.
The throw going off into the waters of the harbor.
AOO for Percival. Action for Herzag. Ashlei can see the Marsh giant as the fog cloud is only 20' high.
Herzag moves forward to approach, and stand behind the next crate ahead of him.
Moving 20 feet over the head of the Giant, Ashlei begins drawing and throwing daggers down at his huge ugly noggin'!
Full ATTACK(Thrown Dagger!)
+
Ashlei & Percival ,miss their attacks.
Fishpork shuffles 5' sideways and swings viciously at Percival with his Gaff.
The party may now act.
Seeing the brutal power the vicious creature unleashes on her lover, Rhialla seeks to make it difficult for the monster to land another hit.
Fishpork is now Blind for 3 rounds and took 10 damage.
With a grin, Herzag takes note of the creature's apparent confusion and blindness, and wades in wanting to take advantage of that weakness.
Full ATTACK(Thrown Dagger!)
+
Battered and blinded Fishpork slumps to the docks dead.
Once the Testing is concluded, Tsadok has a quiet discussion with the party. As they passed two or more of the tests, he acts with false magnanimity, heartily thanking them for being “good sorts.”
Once he finishes talking with you, he steps in front of the crowd and proclaims the you are indeed deserving of becoming Free Pirates of the Shackles, which receives boisterous cheers from the crowd.
Tsadok further announces that Hurricane King Kerdak Bonefist himself will grant you your letter of marque this very evening.
This announcement receives significantly less applause, suggesting that the current Hurricane King may not be as popular as many outsiders believe.
SHACKLES LETTER OF MARQUE
Scribed with a firm hand in blood-red ink and emblazoned with an elaborate seal of crimson wax, this thick, waxed paper grants its bearer license to attack and capture ships of enemy nations as a privateer.
It is not an uncommon practice for nations of the Inner Sea to issue letters of marque and reprisal to their ships, but those issued in the pirate confederacy of the Shackles grant permission to engage in egregious acts of pillage and prize-taking, which can only be described as piracy by more lawful nations.
Lawful letters of marque are issued to specific ships, not individuals, but in the Shackles, they are granted to a specific
captain and his or her officers. A Shackles letter of marque accords its bearer the authority to seize or destroy cargo, incarcerate
or slay crew and passengers, and sink or capture ships from other nations, mercantile or otherwise.
Within the territorial bounds of the Shackles, these manifold privileges also apply against any ships or captains who haven’t sworn loyalty to a known Free Captain or who doesn’t carry their own letter of marque (though bearing a letter of marque is no guarantee of safety from other pirates, who frequently strike first and ask questions later).
Possession of a Shackles letter of marque is a crime in most civilized nations and regularly carries a penalty of death by hanging. As a result, a Shackles letter of marque is protected by a secret page spell, enabling its bearer to speak a secret command word to alter the text to something more innocuous, such as a cargo manifest, nautical chart, or page from a ship’s log.
It’s common knowledge within the Shackles who has been granted letters of marque, and most Free Captains keep accounts of which ships and captains have them, making it extraordinarily difficult to forge these documents or steal them to perpetrate a deception.
A Shackles letter of marque radiates faint transmutation magic.
After you finish the Testing, you are invited to attend a feast that evening at the Hurricane King’s fortress, Fort Hazard.
Anyone have anything they wish to do during the day, or do we go straight to the feast?
Herzag just needs to wash the salt water from his face, and put on his 'good' nose ring. Then he is ready to go.
After enjoying the remainder of her flying spell, she will settle back on the ship with a huge smile on her face.
"I have GOT to do that more often!"
Ashlei will want find somewhere to get pampered, and her hair clean and primped and buy a decent-looking cloak to wear over her armor. She will of course invite the other ladies to join her in her 'romp' about town.
"Can't go see the king looking like a scabby pirate, can we?"
Once the crew is all settled, Rhialla will definitely join Ashlei in getting all dolled up, determined to make the newest free captain, the envy of the feast, with her on his arm.
When you arrive, the revelry is already in full swing: tables are laden with roast meat and flagons of ale, mead, and rum, and loud, drunken buccaneers swagger and stagger around the main hall.
Hurricane King Kerdak Bonefist presides over the revelry
from his gold-chased, teakwood throne. A blustery man with long black hair and beard, Bonefist looks more pirate than king, forgoing his crown and royal regalia for the long coat and tricorne hat of a sea captain.
A tankard of rum rarely leaves his hand, but his most noteworthy
features are his magic pistol and his skeletal right hand, the source of his sobriquet. Already well into his cups, the Hurricane King blearily stares down at you as you are brought forth for introductions.
Bonefist repeatedly roars for silence, only to be ignored, so he finally resorts to firing his pistol into the air to establish a deathly silence after its thunderous echo fades. He glares fierily about the hall until, with an apparent change of mood, he smiles and speaks in a calm voice.
“This fresh catch of scallywags want to add their fine ship to our brethren o’ the sea,” he says, erratically waving his still smoking pistol toward the party. “But before I award their letter of marque and make them Free Captains right and true, I say we hear from them.” Bonefist turns his dark gaze upon you.
“What say you tell us all a tale or two of how you came by the plunder in your hold?” The inebriated pirates draw closer to hear the tale told.
Herzag has managed to grab a mug of grog somehow, and drinks from it in silence not being much of a storyteller himself, looking at the others.
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Already a few cups in, he began telling the first tale that came to mind, and that was their latest catch so to speak. Detailing all the technical things, like the winds, their heading, how they took down the winged chimera...It was a chimera wasnt it?
He described their adventures looking in the cove for the buried treasure found from the map on that crazed womans back, even talked about their wild climb up the tendrils to battle canopy plant monsters...each tale told in a punctual matter of fact way detailing the tactics used versus the conditions.
He started to chuckle though almost giddy when he spoke of how crazy his crew sometimes was, about how one of his crew even launched herself from one of the rocks catapults to get back to the ship when they were under surprise attack from the sea.