"what do I need to do Grok, owe you a favor or two?"
Thinking of an excuse to get him out of here,"you know there was a small little goblin sneak that was running around, maybe he took it. F#@%, how do you know one of Scourges lackies didn't steal some stuff and used it to frame one of the greenhorns like myself. Doesn't seem this seem too perfectly planned? Think Grok, do you really think someone of my sizes with theses webbed hands could really sneak around and or unlock a bunch of chests?"
Aqguazula spots an axe, sitting within arms reach at the table. It is a handaxe but it looks extremely well made and well cared for.
At the suggestion of switching the weapons, Grok shrugs and grins, walking back to the locker and grabbing the shortsword, before dropping the Crossbow on the table beside the axe. "Don't matter what weapon I got in my hand if I decide ta kill ya lad, ya'll be as dead either way."
She listens to the lies that tumble out of the mans mouth and believes every one of them, but does not seem fazed in the slightest. She shrugs before grinning viciously. "I don't give a f$%+ who ya are boy, or what kinda war you call down. Ya don't get it do you? This IS war. We are f*@+ing Pirates lad. We live a war every day of our f%&%in lives." She strolls back to put her back against the door, arms crossed over her chest.
"So tell me who gave you the items then, if you didn't steal em. And don't lie. If you lie, I find out. If I find out, you wont be keelhauled. I'll just cut you down myself. Your move your Majesty!" The last is said with bitter sarcasm.
Linnet dumps her rum over the side as she goes down to see Owlbear. The man is happily munching on a bucket of live crabs and drinking from an equally large bucket of rum. He seems to be laughing and singing to himself quietly, something about a Giant who stubbed his toe on an Elephant.
Scourge frowns at Sasha before grinning and taking a step closer to the woman. "Ya think the ration is ta keep ya happy girl? No no but if you want a punishment..." He gestured behind her and two men stride forward. They grab Sasha roughly and force her to her knees. "Now open wide girl, not that ya need to be told twice!" He laughs roughly as he forces a funnel between her teeth and begins to pour a large jug of rum.
Sashas throat begins to burn and her head is screaming till she is forced to swallow or choke.
Sashas stomach takes the brunt of the rum like a champion, but just can't stand up to the abuse for long. As the men release her arms, she collapses to the floor, spluttering and choking, rum soaked, seeing spots.
Scourge kneels down, leaning in close and whispering, "Hope you enjoyed yer punishment b#$&$. Ya can have the Gnome spank ya all ya like."
Aqguazula will make himself look as weak as possible after taking her words to heart,"I know there must be somesort of punishment Grok, I've sailed enough to know that. But I'm begging you, please the items I wanted to trade should cover the costs."
Aqguazula will drop bend his knees before Grok,"I just want to live Grok, I will be your slave, I even have a beautiful dagger that should cover everything. I know you don't believe or trust me, I didn't steal from you, just ask Shivikah and Cog. Hell even Fipps will glad tell you how he was kicking my ass last night."
Aqguazula the proud Malenti is groveling for his life, a coward at the moment.
"Please Grok, I'm begging for my life here. I will give you favors, please let me live one more day, whether as slave in bondage to you or as a free man, I beseech thy."
Grok tilts her head to the side, frowning and lowering the sword, before the words 'Fipps will tell you how he was kicking my ass' dribble out of Aqguazulas mouth. She rears back, before bringing her forehead crashing down on to the mans nose.
Her nose collides with the mans face, sending blood everywhere and causing him to collapse backwards on to the boards behind him.
"The whole ship watched you kick that f#&$ing runts arse and you decide to try lie to me about it? WHAT THE F%~+ DID I SAY?"
She stands there, breathing heavily, glaring down at the Sahugain with murder in her eyes. "WHO GAVE YOU THE F#$+ING ITEMS?" She threw the shortsword away and strolled over to the back wall, grabbing a large ornate Orc Double Axe and moving back to the man, spinning it once in her hands before taking a deep breath.
"Don't. F!~&ing. Lie!"
"Hello again, friend!" says Linnet as she approaches the large man. "I've come to drink with you, if that's all right. Do you remember me from earlier?"
Aqguazula will look very anger,however there is nothing he can do about it.
While cleaning the blood off of his face he will pray in Aboleth to his Gods,'my Lords, take this infernal ship and those that may be an affront you. Sunken to theirs watery grave, their flesh eaten by ancient seabeast, may this ship flow down in Styx's into the mouth of Hell! Save me in my time of need!'
"Listen to me, I don't know! I can't sneak with these clumsy feet, the Gods ensured that. So once again I don't know who stole them, maybe it was that goblin. For all I know while I was fighting some smart and enterprising thief stole them from you, I have magic powers but I can't be in two place at once."
Managing to stand to his feet,Aqguazula will taste his blood running from his nose." Any other man would of told you by now, I'm not that stupid Grok, but I don't know. I know it's hard for you to trust me, I did just lie. I'm a broken man Grok, I don't know who robbed you. Dagon be damned, what is your head made out of?"
Wobbling from the blow,Aqguazula asks Grok one simple question."Have you asked anyone else? God I need a drink."
Owlbear startles and glances at the stairs, before frowning and looking back at the Half-Elf. "Y-you spoke to Owlbear. Were nice. Didn't hit or throw things at Owlbear. Yes. Drink is good. Owlbear will share!" He makes to hand the bucket to Linnet, before staring at it. He pulls out a small bowl, from behind his bedding and blows the dust out of it, before filling it with Rum and offering it to the woman.
"What is pretty Elfs name?"
Grok sighs, slamming the axe down in to the table, causing it to stick in the table top. "Aye you are f*@$in broken but you didn't even tell me who the hell gave it to ya lad. Look I don't want to f&$*in kill ya but I just. need. some. answers!" She punctuates each word by slamming her fist down on the table top.
"Asked anyone else? No of course not. If I did it'b be Scourge here now and he'd just keelhaul ya. Don't ya get that? Remember that c#!# from the first day? He stole some s+~* too. Now look where he is? Shark food mate, shark food. Now chances are your brothers wont eat ya but you can be sure you'd be dead enough going over anyway, if he got wind of this. F#*&ing help me will ya?"
She pulled a large heavy hip flask from the desk and takes a drink. before closing it and tossing it to the man. "Who gave you the stuff? Who stole it? Just stop the lyin and fancy talkin and get to the meat of it!"
Linnet looks at the rum with some trepidation but lifts the bowl to clink against the bucket in recognition of Owlbear's generosity.
"My name is Linnet Applesby. I'm a half elf; my father was a human. What about you? Is Owlbear your real name?"
"Owlbear very happy to meet you Half-Elf Linnet Applesby!" He bowed his head to her and grinned broadly, dribbling rum down his chest as he did.
"Owlbear don't know." The big man shook his head, downing some of the rum and picking up a crab, holding it in a hand and watching it trying to snap at his face with its claw. "Owlbear no remember before ship. Only small things. Like Mamas face and story about Moon." He then begins to recite the story Goodnight Moon. When he is done he grins broadly.
"What about Linnet? Why Linnet so far from home?"
Aqguazula will open the flask, before taking a sip he will look Grok in the eyes and raise the flask before taking a decent gulp.
Letting the liquor wash around in his mouth between his teeth.
" Hmm, not bad but I can make you better stuff if you and I are still good after the little "worker questionnaire". Look I know you don't want to hear this but I'm telling the truth when I tell you I don't know who stole it savvy?"
That being said, I do know who I traded for my jewelry for...'Forgive me Sash, I will help you frame someone else for this.'I traded Sasha for them. I don't know who stole what else but that's all I traded for, it's possible there were more thieves Grok.
Aqguazulas hair will wrap around the flask and make its way to Grok on its own.
"Yeah, it has a mind of it's own. Thanks for the officer chat, lads will love that you bash my face in. Despite all that happened, I hope we can go back to being friendly. Is there anything else you need? and may I trade in some goods for credit or has that ship sailed?"
Grok grabs the Flask back and stared at the hair before taking a swig of the flask and slipping it back in to the desk. "Aye, that ship has sailed. Take your crossbow and get out. And I'd avoid me for a few days, aye?" She stops the man at the door with a soft "Aqguazula,". When he turns back to look at her, she continues, not looking at him, "I own you now lad. Don't forget that. At any time I might call in that debt you owe me. Just be glad you ain't spitting up more blood, hey?"
"You must have been on this ship a long time." Linnet sighs. "I was with my mother, too, but the Captain took me like he has so many others."
Aqguazula will nod,"so made is made. I would wanted a handshake or a bloodpact but my blood on the floor will make do, I am at your command."
Aqguazula will charge out the door with what little pride and shame he has left.
The real Dacota in actuality is sitting on the latrine, doing what you would do there as any sane person should. A thought come to mind as he wipes some of the grime off his axe with a spare cloth. He hasn't gotten his sword yet. The cutlass he'd been given for his service in the Chelish navy. It a rather grand one like higher officers enjoyed, but a decent one none the less.
After the event, Sasha drops to the deck, apparently un-moving, possibly dead?
she just lays there, her body not responding to what her minds wants it to do.
but in her mind she plots, Scourge will pay for a very long time.
Aqguazula feeling beaten and shamed by the hand or rather head of Grok, cleans up with what little pride he could retain. Eventually he found Maheem, the man that took Badger and prevented the nefarious plan that Aqguazula had in store for the wreck.
'Where is the dark skinned fool? Maybe he has some history with Shivikah, same tribe maybe? Mwangi, Rahadoumi or Sargavan it's all the same thing.'
After finding the man but before approaching him, Aqguazula will scan Maheem just to make sure he can find a hidden weapon on him.
'Looks safe enough to me, better make myself look more presentable.'
Aqguazula clicks his teeth and draws sigils with his fingers.
"You're Maheem right? Sorry I'm horrible with names. Not sure if you Remember me but I'm Aqguazula. Is it true the rumors that the other crew speak of you? That you're tougher than Shivikah and have the calm collective mental state of an Aboleth?"
Taking a moment to catch his breath, Aqguazula carries on.
"Aye you must after that thrashing Scourge gave you on my first day. I'm going to cut to the chase. I respect the strong. I have a small group of three: Shivikah,Cog and Ratline. I think you'd make a great fit, and we protect our own."
Aqguazula will put out his hand.
"What says you Maheem?"
Owlbear frowns slightly, screwing up his face in concentration. "Owlbear been here... can't. remember. Long time."
He shrugged, crunching on a Crab.
Maheem frowned, arms crossed over his chest. "You know we have a saying in my home country 'The little stone makes small ripples, but the big stone makes no ripple at all, it sits, it waits and it refuses to move!'. There is some truth to that eh?" He grinned, patting Aqguazula on the shoulder.
"You are a little stone, and the captain is not. But you make ripples when you do these things and maybe things change yes?" He laughed again.
"Aye I would say we are friends. Maheem is the name yes!"
You awaken to the sound of the morning bell, ringing loud and clear. Your eyes open to an unfamiliar scene as the rest of the worlds sounds greet you, screamed orders, loud crashing and the tell tale sound of heavy rainfall on the deck above. Fully half of the bunks are already empty, an earlier watch having been dragged up on deck as the storm had hit like a demon out of nowhere.
As it progressed, the bell signals the call to all hands. As you grab your gear and move to go up, Sandara sighs, kneeling beside Bleepos bunk. The goblin man is looking very green, if that is possible. She shakes her head and gestured for you to leave.
"He is too sick to work. Might be something he ate."
As you hit the deck, your eyes take in the full extent of the storm. Rain and gale force winds rock the ship and... is that wave over the mast?
Dacota and Linnets stomachs lurch as the ship crests a huge wave and slides down in to the trough, only to be side swiped by another wave causing it to be slammed to the side. The need to vomit becomes intense for them.
Scourge notices you all coming up on deck and hurries over, his insults forgotten as he begins to dish out orders. He addresses Linnet first, before moving to Sasha. "That bird is too sick to move so get to the Galley and see that Kroop is cooking. We will need something hot come night time. He turns to Sasha then, "Get up in to that rigging and work that rope. Make sure everything is tied in place and ship shape."
He switches his attention to Aqguazula, "You will be repairing torn sails and whatever else we need ya to, so stay on the top deck till yer shouted at!"
He turns to Dacota and points towards a group of men drawing ropes. "Ropes for you too lad, tie em, drag em, splice em and fix em. I'll give ya yer orders!"
"Hop to it, all of you!"
As Aqguazula steps onto the main deck and feels the heavy rain against his skin he will smile with a toothy grin,'Have the Gods answered my prayers?'
Aqguzula nods at Scourges order. "Yes sir."
It was time to get to work, Aqguazula was in his element. Crashing waves and strong winds, it was like he was slaving again out the Obari with its sudden cyclones.
Aqguazula finds his work easy in the beginning but slows down and takes his time as to not tire himself out.
"Maybe we can be friends?" Linnet says to Owlbear. "Look out for each other? I'd like to make things better for you." She smiles and holds out her hand for him to shake.
Linnet wipes her mouth. How embarrassing, to lose her sea legs at such a moment!
"Yessir," she mumbles to Scourge and takes off.
"Hello, my name is Linnet, I'm here to help you today," she says to Kroop upon her arrival in the galley. "Just be warned I'm not much of a cook."
As she ties on an apron, she peers about the room and thinks, I wonder if I can get a look at any of those cabinets Chandria was talking about...
(-2 sickened, + 4 working diligently)
Sasha had been passed out on the deck all night, she awakens as the sun shines into her eyes.
groggily she tries to get up but she moved too fast and was rather woozy, she almost puked right there but managed to hold it down.
suddenly her head was pounding at some loud noise what the...? It was Scourge, or was it Plugg, she had no idea, she also didn't understand a word it said.
Sasha makes her way to her feet, doing a quick check to see if she is in fact in one piece and clothed. she checks to see if her locket was still there.
She soon figures out what the ogre and the goblin are trying to say.
still a little tipsy Sasha tries to climb the ropes.
= 7.5 feet
= 15 feet
= no progress
= 22.5 feet
= no progess
= 30 feet
= 37.5 feet
= 40 feet
needless to say it is not a good day for Sasha And she is ready to pass out again.
Even when sickened by the churning waves, Gupson manages to continue on through his work, diligently going to his task as quick as he could. He would have sung the proper tune for it, but the bile building made it rather difficult to sing.
After the long day of work, Aqguazula will seek out Sasha.
"Sash, I have some urgent news." His demeanor will change from that of a cocky spirit to crestfallen.
Looking around to make sure no one is looking towards them. . He will whisper. "Grok forced my hand when she found out that someone,"received" ill gotten goods. I don't know how you "received" my goods, but I don't want to see you killed. I suggest we plant some "evidence" on one of Scourges boys, maybe Syl, Jape or Fipps. I will do whatever to remove the stain on my name. I only need to sleep four hours to get full rest, do you want me to wake you up a bit early so we can fix this mess?"
There is very little talking during the day, as Linnet and Ambrose fight the swaying of the ship to put up a halfway decent meal. During the course of the day, Linnet gets a better sense of the chaos that is the Galley. A lot of the items in the galley are basically lost to the Cook, in the piles of vegetables, dishes and other accouterments. Linnet finds a less dusty cabinet, within which she finds a number of bottles of fine naval rum, Chandrias stock.
The storm continues to rage on in to the night, and the other half of the crew makes its way on deck as you retire below, to eat, drink and relax before your next shift.
Ambrose hands out food in the middeck, along with Grok handing out rum. Dumping your rum will be harder here as everyone is pressed in together.
After everyone has had their fill of food and share of rum, Scourge steps forward to the centre of the room, looking around and grinning.
"The sea might toss us about, the rain might batter us but we know how to have a good time hey?" The pirates cheer halfheartedly. "Owlbear knows how to have a good time hey? Why don't we introduce him to the new meat?" This cheer becomes more honest, the atmosphere jumping to a new charged high as a huge man steps forward at Scourges insistence.
Scourge turns to the group and grins darkly. "Which one of yeh will fight the Owlbear lads? Come now... there has to be one of ya with the nads to do it? I'll make it worth yer while..." He hefts a large purse and tosses it up and down in his hand. "Just a friendly unarmed fight, no danger... right?"
Sasha is exhausted after the work and the mess that happened the night before. she holds her rum ration as she heads toward her bunk.
looking at the rum, she tries to not drink it, her hands shaking she remembers how it felt, the burning, the sickness. she struggles to not drink. she sets the drink down and lays on her bunk. hoping to "accidentally" spill it.
A stern looking Mwangi woman shakes Sashas hammock and coughs. Looking up, Sasha recognizes the woman as one of the Officers, Riaris Krine, he Master Gunner. "Drink yer ration luv. Don't make me drag you out in front of everyone and have you stripped and whipped!"
Aqguazula will hear someone mention something about a fight." a fight? That sounds like fun. I accept."
Cracking his bones, he's ready for some fun.
Scourge looks at Aqguazula and nods before grinning. "So is he yer man? There is about 400 gold pieces in this here bag, to be split between yeh all if ya win!"
Sasha tries to drink the rum struggling through every sip.
Aqguazula will look at the large sack of coin,'hmm, that's a nice chunk of coinage. It will do nicely.'
Snapping out of his thoughts Aqguazula will ask."What are the rules of the fight Sir?"
Linnet eyes the booze and, at the end of the shift, tries to sneak away a bottle for later.
---
Linnet holds her cup down low and pours her rum into another crewman's cup.
Before Aqguazula goes over to fight, Linnet will say to him, "I don't think Owlbear's in this by choice. Don't hurt him too much if you can help it. You should be able to outsmart him."
Another good day of work and not to bad a cup of alcoholic concoction later and Dacota is feeling rather good.
Aqguazula will hear Linnet it out.
"That might be true, but as are we? I understand you care for him or feel bad for his situation. Don't let your feelings get ahead of your survival, if not me maybe you'd be in the ring with Owlbear."
Looking around," that being said, maybe I can go easy on him if the situation calls for it. Wish me luck."
Pacing around getting prepared."Let's get this fight going, before I backout."
"Good luck and stay safe," says Linnet. "Just remember, we need all the friends we can get."
Aqguazula will give a light bow towards Linnet. "Thanks but I should be fine, I've been to hell and back before. This old skipper has seen many things, there are scarier things that lurk in the deep blue sea. No pirate whoreson of a goddess will protect any of us from them."
Before wrapping his fists in with bandages and walking into the fighting area he will say one last thing.
" You've been making friends I see, that's good. Don't worry about me, worry about Sasha and that bastard Gupson. People will always flock to me like a drunkard to the t*+$ of a wench."
Owlbear
Aqguazula
Owlbear is blind in his left eye. Fighting him from that side will allow the character to take either an Acrobatics or Bluff check to dodge his attacks.
Owlbear charges in to the combat with glee, laughing and swinging a fist at Aqguazulas face.
The fist fails to connect.
Dodging Owlbear big meaty fist, Aqguazula notices something that catches his eye, barely.
'The lug is partially blind? Oh now things get interesting.'
taking advantage of Owlbear's weakness,Aqguazula quickly side steps him and goes in for a brutal blow to his ear.
Linnet stays silent, but she scans the room to see if Sandara is present. The fight is bound to get someone hurt, though Aqguazula has shown he can handle his own wounds when he needs to.
Owlbear lashes out in vain, growling and stamping his feet as he misses again.
Linnet can clearly see Sandara standing jn the crowd, watching with interest.
Grinning as the mighty Owlbear misses again, although acting cautious as Owlbear looks as strong as Aqguazula.
'I wonder how scourge feels, picked the wrong guy to f*#& with. Need to focus, if he connects it could be over.
dancing around the clumsy blinded oaf, Aqguazula strikes like a shark from below.
Dacota goes to get a look at the fight between the "not sea elf" and the owl bear, cheering for no one in particular. He waved his tricorn hat and in approval of the good hit that Aqguazula struck.