We're rascals and scoundrels, we're villians and knaves.
Drink up me 'earties, yo ho.
We're devils and black sheep, we're really bad eggs.
Drink up me 'earties, yo ho.
You awaken to darkness, coming screaming back to consciousness with your head pounding from the night before. You can hear the lapping of waves against wood, the sound of the sea, but you know that that is probably just the blood pounding in your ears. Or is it? The smell of salt, sweat and vomit hangs heavy in the air and you can feel you are not alone. What happened last night? Where are you? Hell, who are you?
From the smell of the air, the shifting of the floor below you, you can tell this isn’t the Formidably Maid, the Tavern you spent the night before in.
No weapon, no gear, locked up in the dark. Did you leave home? This sounds like something the Mantis might do. Probably not them this time though.
Damn it, why did you have that last drink?!
This isn’t home, this isn’t your comfy little nest.
You might be locked in the dark, but you are on a ship, so things could be worse. Besmara be praised!
Get out of the hold, get a weapon. But one thing at a time. A ship is a ship, you can handle it!
Besmara be good, you can handle this!
Before you can do little more than open your eyes and wonder about the lack of equipment and your circumstances, you hear heavy footfalls on the boards, before being blinded as light floods the hold. Squinting against the glare of the lamp, you find yourself staring at a man with long black hair, holding a whip. Behind him stands a collection of burly, grizzled looking pirates, each carrying a sap in their meaty fists, grinning at you maliciously. Before you can register much more, your eyes are drawn back to the man before you with a loud crack of his whip.
“Still abed with the sun over the yardarm? On your feet, ye filthy swabs! Get up on deck and report for duty before Cap’n Harrigan flays your flesh into sausage skins and has Fishguts fry ye up for breakfast!”
Chandria is slow to get up on her feet, her vision still somewhat blurred as her recollection of what had happened rushes back into her mind with the speed of a freight train. She feels sick to her stomach. But.. How.. How did I get here? She feels around at her back and notices all of her poultices and reagents are gone, along with her bombs, armor, and falchion.
Now on her feet, she looks at the man holding the whip, afraid to make eye contact, and remembers his face from when she was poisoned at the Maid.
Agquazula feeling groggy, almost hungover managed to get on his two feet. Towering well above the rest of the men, he examined his surroundings. Observing everyone in the room,trying to figure out who would he feed to the sharks, yet amused that the hunter became the hunted.
Aqguazula was enraged, he thought to himself "someone had the balls to capture me!" yet there was a hint of respect that lingered in his mind.
"By Dagon's dick, where am I?!"
Sasha steadily gets on her feet. quickly acclimating herself to the ship's rocking.
glancing around at the others everything is a little blurry at first.
damn, If he wanted a date all he had to do was ask. she mutters to herself.
in any event, worrying about that stuff now is stupid. she needs to figure out the situation first.
It takes a moment or so for the commands to fully register.
It will take a bit of fresh air to clear her head before she can truly be at her best.
Sasha makes her way topside, she gives the man with the whip a glance, instinctively she gives him a seductive wink as she passes.
I wonder.... her mind drifts to various things from bondage to S&M to, well lets just stop there shall we.
"Shanghaied? Well dam... darn my luck. This is not how I imagined joining a crew," said Gupson as he got up, stretching, "Reporting sir."
Linnet sprung to her feet and took in the scene before her. She clenched her fists. To be press-ganged like a common landlubber! Her fingers itched to avail that man of his whip and unleash it on him and his crew.
She forced her heartbeat to calm. Outward acts of aggression would do nothing to better her situation at the moment. Sneaking looks at her fellow unfortunates, she wondered if they could be convinced to hatch a plot with her... then she thought of an even better strategy.
"I think you'll find," she said in as casual a tone as she could manage, "that the daughter of Arna Applesby is worth more as ransom than as a deckhand."
The goblin wakes up slowly, lazy, opening the big eyes while shaking the ears. He recognizes the smell, the shaking and the type of people around him - he's in another goddamn pirate ship.
Oh gosh darn it, for Besmara's sake! Damn salty roosters, here ya brought me again to the shackled life around bad smelling rotten bonefishes!
He thought about continuing ranting, but recognized the captain's name and decided to stand up to move. One thing at a time.
"Just shut yer damn mouths and get up on Deck. Cap'n is waiting to talk to the lot of ya!" Scourge grumbles, stepping out of the door and allowing the six burly pirates to move in and being hustling you all out of the room and up towards the main deck of the ship.
After a bit more pushing and shoving, eventually you find yourself on deck, set apart from the rest of the crew, and standing beside a group of four people who, by the looks of their clothes and confused expressions, must also be new 'recruits'. Standing before you, hands pressed to his hips, is a tall fierce looking man who exudes an air of command. As you settle in to place, he steps forward with a cruel grin beginning to cross his face.
“Glad you could join us at last! Welcome to the Wormwood! My thanks for ‘volunteering’ to join my crew. I’m Barnabas Harrigan. That’s Captain Barnabas Harrigan to you, not that you’ll ever need to address me. I have only one rule—don’t speak to me. I like talk, but I don’t like your talk. Follow that rule and we’ll all get along fine." He makes to turn away, before glancing back at you all, as if he had just remembered something.
“Oh, and one more thing. Even with you new recruits, we’re still short-handed, and I aim to keep what crew I have. There’ll be a keelhaulin’ for anyone caught killin’ anyone. Mr. Plugg! If you’d be so kind as to make pirates out of these landlubbers, it’ll save me having to put them in the sweatbox for a year and a day before I make pies out of ’em.”
The Captain turns and walks away, leaving you to the tender ministrations of his Lieutenant, Mister Plugg and the ever pleasant Master Scourge. The willowy Lieutenant steps forward, glaring down at you with obvious distaste.
”Welcome aboard the Wormwood ladies and gentlemen. My name is Jacoma Plugg, but you can call me Sir, or Lieutenant, or Mister Plugg, at the very least. Anything less and I will have you beaten. Do it twice and I’ll have you locked in the hotbox myself. Now, down to business, this is not a pleasure boat, nor are you guests, you will work while you are here and you will work hard!” He turned and moved over towards the center of the deck, his hands clasped behind his back.
”This is the mainmast and up above us is the Crowsnest. This is where our lookouts are stationed. The lines and ropes are known as the rigging. Now we are in need of a rigger so we are going to have a little competition, first one up to the Crowsnest becomes a rigger and doesn’t have to swab the deck. Savvy? Boots off and to the line here,” he pointed at a marking on the deck.
”On my mark you’ll scurry up to that Crowsnest or you’ll wish you had. Now…. GO!”
"Yes sir."
With relative ease, Gupson takes to the rigging and climbs to the crows nest.
Disheartened that her ploy did not work, Linnet keeps her eyes downcast as the captain starts talking. It seems she may be stuck here awhile.
She brightens and looks up at the unfriendly Mr. Plugg as he unveils his competition. It might not be a chance for escape, but maybe she can feel free on the high seas once more.
1.
2. 15 ft
3.
The massive hangover, possible concussion, and lack of breakfast catch up with Linnet for a moment, and she clings to the rope, dizzy, before catching her nerve again. She's done this in her sleep! Once even literally!
4.
5. 30 ft
6.
7. 45 ft
8.
9. 60 ft
As she hoped, she scrabbles up the rest of the way without much trouble, even if she's not alone at the top...
Sasha glances around at the rest of the crew as Plugg speaks. she shakes off the remainder of her grogginess with the fresh air, well as fresh as she needs anyway.
Making her way to the ropes, she contemplates how this can be best accomplished.
but does not hesitate long,
Sasha takes to the ropes like a pro her tail aiding her climb
(15' accelerated climb)
(30' accelerated climb)
(45'Accelerated climb)
(60' accelerated climb)
was wondering if she could use animate rope spell to assist her in winning? If not that is fine.
Acrobat trait reduces the penalty
using the spell is not a good idea right now, I don't want to accidentally kill someone.
Aqguazula stares at the main mast, " I feel bad for the poor bastard that needs to scrape and mop my guts off the deck. It's a good day to die!"
He smiles with toothy grin at the bystanding crew.
Damn those bulldozing scallywag rotten piece of fish spine of fat shark! - cursed Bleepos to his wooden leg. Not only his legs were short and his body was frail, but one of his feet had been chewed out by a shark.
After a couple bumps, he races and gets to the crow's nest.
Chandria looks up at the Crow's Nest nervously. She says nothing, still shocked at the situation that is unfolding in front of her.
Without much of a choice, she begins to climb.
She makes her way to the lookout with relative ease, now feeling somewhat comforted with her quick success, even flashing the others a small, cocky grin. Now looking into the distance of the vast seas, she feels relief and excitement all at once.
As the last of you make it to the top and begin to slip down the mast and come to rest on your feet, Plugg steps forward, clapping slowly, a bitter smirk on his face. "Oh well done, none of you died, that is good. You," he pointed at Sasha, "stick around, I will have orders for you after this. You are a rigger now and you work directly for me!" He clapped, before turning to the group again, ignoring Sasha for the moment.
"Now, on to our next position, we need a Cooks Apprentice. Do any of you have any experience with cooking? I am sick of eating the tripe that pickled old codger Kroop serves us. Speak up now!"
Chandria shakes her head. "Nosir notme" She speaks a little too quickly. "I mean, no, sir. Not me, although I definitely know how to mix all kinds of reagents and chemicals...to a varying degree of success"
Aqguazula crosses his arms, " No Mister Plugg, I can follow orders but I cannot cook."
"Not a day in my life sir."
Sasha is starting to get a little frigidity just standing there. She hopes someone will speak up but all seem to deny ability to cook.
I heard that Sahuagin make good cooks she mutters just loud enough for Plugg to probably hear.
Sasha's tail start wagging back and forth looking for some mischief to cause. it ends up wrapping around a belaying pin (not in use) and tries to pick it up.
trying to retrieve the belaying pin with her tail and be unnoticed.
Aqguazula glaring at Sasha yet looking slightly nervous.
"Sahuagins are vile sea raiders, the only thing they "cook" is hatred and animosity amongst all sea denizens. I've lost many of my noble Aquatic Elf kin to those...filthy Sharks!
Thinking to himself, They can't know yet, now is not the time...just tell them you're an Aquatic elf. We don't want to repeat the Obari slave trade disaster again.
Bleepos doesn't cook! By Besmara's bicorne, food is better raw anyway! Raw sharkfin, raw calamari, raw beetles...!
The goblin smiles, showing his big teeth of his even bigger head.
But Bleepos can sure help in the kitchen if needed... - he seems to salivate a little bit, probably with different intentions than actually preparing the food.
"I burnt down a kitchen last time I tried," Linnet sighs.
Dacota chuckles at Linnet's answer.
Plugg frowns, shaking his head softly, before pointing at Chandria. "You! You are a chemist of such, yes? Well then you will be our new Cooks Apprentice. You sure as hell can't do as bad as Fishguts does when he is in his cups. Stand over there with the Tiefling till I call on you both." He dismissed the small Tengu, before turning back to the others.
"The rest of you will follow Master Scourge, he will be in charge of you from now on. Welcome to the ship Swabs, enjoy your stay!"
With that he dismisses the remaining group, before turning to Chandria and Sasha.
"So, this should be an easy one for you Bird, tonights meal will be fish stew, but we do not seem to have enough fish. You will remedy this. Take the nets and get to it. When you are done, take your catch below to the Galley, Kroop will be waiting there." he turns to speak to Sasha, but before dismissing Chandria he adds, "And mind you do not mess up. If we go hungry, you suffer!"
Plugg gestures Sasha to follow, as he leads her to a pile of rope on the Fore Top Deck. "You will be securing this rope. I want it neatly coiled and stacked. Make sure you stow it correctly mind, if'n we lose time trying to un-f*!~ your shit, I'll just hot box you and move to someone else!"
Scourge handed Aqguazula two bone scrolls, one wrapped red, the other blue. "Take the red'n to the Quartermaster and the Blue to Ships Sorceror, you'll find em both below deck, ya can't miss em. Wait for their answer then run the f$#~ back to me here. Hop it scaley!"
"And you, ya little green wretch, you look like a natural born ratter, so lets put that to the test!" He tossed Bleepos a knife and a bag, before pointing down. "Take those and get under deck. Find and kill every vermin you can. I were gonna make ya eat whatever ya didn't catch, but I think you'd enjoy it too much!" He sneered.
"Gupson, grab a mop and bucket, some ships vinegar and the holy stones and swab down this whole f%*#in ship. I want her as bright and shiny as a virgin the night afore her wedding. Savvey?"
"And you knife ear, you'll be spending the day running rope. I hope you know how to tie a f*$$in knot or we are all sunk. Follow Gupson to the aft locker and grab a knife, you'll need it for those stubborn knots. Or your wrists, if you f&%& up! Now, all of you, DISMISSED!"
Sasha tries to keep the appearance of a happy mood. though inside the conditions of this employment are a little less than favorable.
Sure thing, Mr. Plugg. she says with a slight touch of a seductive tone. Ya know, just ask nicely and I can probably be a lot more... shall we say.. productive.
She then turns to her duties. tucking the pin under her shirt for now.
Sasha scopes out the other "new recruits" seeing what kind of personalty they may have and who she can count on in the future.
"Yes Sir", Aqguazula grabs the scrolls and makes dash to deliver the scrolls, feeling confident in this abilities he works at normal pace.
Aqguazula evades the crewmen on the deck, carefully passing obstacles aboard the deck, all too familiar to him. Although he has gotten rusty and grows tired from the hectic day.
Upon delivering the red scroll to the quartermaster, Aqguazula thought "maybe I can try and gain an ally on this forsaken ship, the quartermaster might be a good bet. Hopefully I can earn their trust and get my gear back"
Plugg arches an eyebrow, shaking his head softly and sighing. "You can't sleep to the top here woman, if that is what you are thinking. Get to work, and if I see you slacking it will be three licks of the cat for you!" He says no but his eyes do linger on you a moment longer, as if in thought, before he turns and makes his way to the Poopdeck.
Panting heavily, dripping in sweat, Aqguazula leans up against the door jamb, leading in to the Quartermasters store. The tall Half-Orc woman leaning behind the deck, looks up at the Sahugain, frowning slightly.
"New meat hmm? Spear, weighted for throwing, Light Crossbow and Wooden armour along with a combination of mundane gear and... oh!" she rooted around in a desk drawer, before pulling out a spell component pouch and tossing it on the table. "Mumbo-jumbo pouch for mumbo-jumbo practices. Keep that, I'll have none of it my stores. Now, what can I do for you?"
*Huffing and Puffing*
Aq,guazula...The name's Aqguazula and your service *hands scroll* what's your's?
Not interested in Magic? That's a shame, it works can work wonders. Anyways Mr. Pluggs wanted me to hand you this scroll. Say do you have two mugs for some water? I'm thirsty for some mead,ale or wine, say would you like a pint? A strong,capable looking woman like yourself should enjoy a nice drink, besides it's free and I think it would be a fair trade for my "mumbo-jumbo pouch".
Grok frowns and stares at the Sahugain confused. "You ain't got any mead, ale or wine. You ain't got two coins to rub together right now boy, or a pot to piss in!" She laughed softly shaking her head. "I like your balls though, brave of you. So I'll tell you something for free, I'd be watching yourself, and what you say to who. I won't take it to offence, but Plugg or Scourge would have your head. Here..." She walks back to the back of the room and opens one of the lockers, pulling out a spear before laying it across the table before the Oracle.
"Your weapon. If ya keep talking like your talking you might need it. It won't do nothing but prolong your suffering, but still..."
"Aye sir," Gupson replies as he goes out to perform his task.
The sun and its heat beats down as Gupson worked on the ship. Hard and grueling work he would soon have to get used to again. He worked hard and gave all that he could.
Aqguazula bows his head with respect,"thanks Grok I appreciate you giving me my spear back and for the advice. I'm not looking for trouble or anything, I'm just looking to find some allies and to survive."
He leans over her counter and grabs first empty item that could be used to hold water. With his fingers moving in the shape of sigils and a clicking of his teeth, the container magically fills with water.
With a similar gesture the and the touch of his finger, the water will turn to wine..
" Oh I don't have wine do I? Enjoy"
He looks into her eyes before letting out a short laugh and a crooked smile.
Before walking out the door, he turns to her." Didn't mean any offence, I think you're the first Orc I've seen, I've only heard stories. Oh, call it bravery or call it stupidity, it's what has kept me alive all these year."
He gestures to his blunderbuss scar on his chest and the deep slash on the right side of his face, as he walks out the door.
Bleepos go hunt the beetles and other vermin. He tries to pretend he's no enjoying it, but he's hungry - always hungry - and loves the idea of a big banquet.
He eats just legs and ears, so in theory all captured vermin are still there for show. He will, however, take his time during the day to check another area of the ship (the hold). He's curious!
Now frantic with a new task, Chandria collects the nets from Plugg. "Not to worry sir, I will have these fish collected innotime!" She scrambles her feathered body out along the deck and throws out the nets, staring into the waters and she hopes to get as many fish as possible.
Unfortunately, when she brings the nets back up, they don't seem full enough. She collects the nets and scurries back down to the Galley to meet Kroop, looking embarrassed. "It must be the time of day, sir! Please give me another chance!"
Linnet grins. Given her longstanding grudge against her unknown human father, she usually does prefer to be thought of as an elf. Things seem to be looking up. Rope she can handle, and running around the ship will give her a good chance to scout it out...
She sneaks a glance at her fellow 'recruits'. If they end up sleeping (inasmuch as a cosh on the head and forcible kidnapping can amount to 'sleep') in the same place again, maybe they'll get a chance to discuss their situation. Everyone seems to be taking it fairly well so far, considering!
She heads off to the aft locker to grab a knife. She fake-parries with it against an invisible foe and laughs.
"Still got it," she says. Gupson is around to hear her, it's not really talking to herself.
Linnet doesn't know what Mr. Plugg will think of her work, but she congratulates herself on a job well done - press gang or not, one has to take pride in seaworthiness - as she ties her knots tight. She even gets the occasional chance to sneak peeks around the ship as she runs around.
Linnet stares at the locker but doesn't see anything that won't be readily available throughout the ship. Other than the knife, she decides to leave the other items there.
@Tide: what about Bleepos?