Skulls & Shackles (Inactive)

Game Master Foxy Quickpaw

With the sun shining on the waves it is possible to look a fair distance and half a mile back Trytton finds the sunken ship. Besides all the zombie corpses that move creepily just a little bit here and there with the movement of the water.

Inside the belly of the ship there is indeed some plunder. A lot of stuff that looks like ragtag. Seems like they were into piracy too.
One plunder equals a metric ton of stuff.

Trytton swims back up to the surface.
"There is lots but no single valuable pieces." he says.

"Can you lift it somehow?" Besmara asks.

"Would be better to drop a net that I could load and the crew could lift." Trytton thinks aloud

Estelle will go and get the nets out, bringing them to the deck.

"Ye want us to pull em up by hand once ye load em? Won't that be to much for the nets?"

Attach the nets to one of the anchor chains and we can winch 'em up and down. Might take a few trips but the ropes can handle it..

Noonan gets the nets ready.

"Ok, let's try this. Lift the anchor, set the spanker, we'll turn around and move the ship over the spot." Besmara orders. "Trytton show the location where we have to go to."

Profession Sailor: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (14) + 15 = 29
parking the ship on the spot :P

It is rather easy to lift the stuff with the net. Abusing the main boom as a side arm helps too. But loading the stuff into the net and pulling it 300 feet through the water takes time. And so the crew works for hours to get everything up with about a dozen travels of the net.

Luckily the plunder was all made of stuff that can stand the seawater. Or the rest already rotted away.
(4 plunder gained)

Everyone take a break! Noonan naps after the stuff is loaded.

"In your dreams! Remove that snoring sloth from the deck. Set all sails. We're going to Tidewater Rock!" Besmara objects.

Assuming Trytton is on board Lito anounces:
You heard the Captain! Haul anchor and set sail heading west by southwest! We have an hour until shift change so let's get well underway before then.

The Kraken sails its course towards Windward Isle. A tower rises like a solid block from the sea at the edge of this island. The pounding surf rolls around its base and partially covers the steps that lead up to its front gate. A few arrow slits pierce its walls here and there, and a single shuttered window opens high upon the face of the fortress. A roof of metal shingles rises from its battlements where sentries keep lookout and siege weapons stand ready on corner turrets.

As the ship approaches the Island Fishguts comes on deck. He leans on the rail and revels in memories of the past. Finally he turns to the officers "So how ye going ta do that. Brute force, sneak in, or laying the lady of the house?"

Estelle Grabs Noonan by the foot and drags him down to the hold, stopping before she gets to the stairs and looking down at him smiling.

"To the brig cap'n? This dog shouldn't be sleepin' on the deck!"

To Ambrose's comment.

"I'll lay with the lady o' the house if needs be!"

Sqwak! All the ladies come runnin when Pluck comes around!

How much time has passed to get is here? Wondering if Chay has any time to craft some basic alchemical items for the ship.

Lito looks at the tower and tries to recall what he can about tidewater Rock and windward Idle.

Loremaster for 20 + 10 = 30 on know Local on Tidewater rock.
Geography to know about windward isle: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (12) + 8 = 20

Ha! Of course Master Puck. We all know how they love to feel your plumage.

Captain how do you want to play this? I can try to talk our way in.

"So no threesome? Talking it is then. I don't think we can take on a stronghold." Besmara replies.

Tidewater Rock.... Tidewater a Rock... Let's see it was the home of Free captain Smythee's and I think it's still held by his widow... Wait widow... OH!

He busts into a huge smile.

Captain, Can I talk to you in private? I think I have a way in there that might even give us eventual control of the tower...

When he is alone with Besmara.

Besmara steps aside with Lito and listens to his suggestion. "Why not. I would appreciate to have some more time to prepare before facing him, but if must be we would sink him and the Wormwood right now." she replies.

"Put the boat into the water. We're going to visit that lady to see what's it about." Besmara orders.

The ship is anchored in some distance to the stronghold and the boat is lowered to the sea. The officers all go along, only Jarrus holds the position on the Kraken.

As the boat approaches the stairs of Tidewater Rock a man and a woman appear on the on the battlements.

"What are your intentions here?" Lady Agasta Smythee asks.

We come in peace, to trade and to talk to the lady of the castle if she will see us.

Noonan mutters. She looks old, maybe not good wife.

"You have to decide what your priorities are. Marry for the good looks or marry for the dowry. You've got to get really lucky to get both." Besmara whispers to Noonan.

Lady Smythee replies "You can come in for dinner under one condition: To ensure safe conduct, you must present one of your number as a hostage. I promis the hostage will be well treated as long as your intentions remain peaceful. The hostage must be left on the doorstep of the keep, unarmed and unarmored, and everyone else must move back at least 100 feet."

"Do you accept these conditions?"

Sqwak! I'll be hostage. Take one for crew. *Whistle*

Argg, ye be sure? I plan on following through with peaceful negotiations. To let us use this as a home port, but they could do unspeakable things to ye in any case. Lito whispers back.

"I would have suggested Estelle if she is willing." Besmara tells. "But if you want to I'm fine with that too."

You know it was the bird right?

"I be willin' if I get ta eat all them fancy party pastries as well. Will there be pastries?" Estelle's stomach gurgles as she looks hungry.

"Me mum used ta make em for the bar she worked fore, I spell that wrong on purpose brought in some extra cash ta pay me dads gambling debts."

"If ye offer the hostage the same good food as we will enjoy together for dinner then the lady here volunteers for that." Besmara shouts up to the battlement.

Nope totally missed that was puck. Obviously didn't get enough sleep last night.

"I can offer that. So leave her on the stairs and move back." Lady Smythee replies.

"Take care." Besmara tells Estelle. "Row back." she orders.

Estelle disembarks the boat, moving just onto the dock. Estelle Eyes up the woman and her guards if there are any

"So do I get the pretty pink cell? Best be a nice bucket fer me to piss in."

As the boat has the demanded distance, the man disappears from the battlement. Shortly thereafter the door opens and the man appears there with two guards inviting Estelle in. Then the door closes again.

A few minutes later the man appears again with the two guards and invites the others in.

The chamber beyond is floored with the dirt filling the tower’s base and is used to store assorted supplies, spare timber, kegs of nails and tar, spare sailcloth, fishing lines and nets, lengths of heavy rope, and unused furniture. A rowboat hangs from the rafters. Alcoves in the walls and below the arrow slit hold more delicate items such as tinderboxes, tallow candles, and chipped crockery. A side alcove holds a staggered wooden ladder that accesses the second f loor (area B2). The ladder is unusual in that its rungs alternate from side to side so that someone not paying attention can easily lose his footing and fall.

From up there it goes on through a corridor that runs along the south wall of the tower and provides access to three arrow slits overlooking the shingle. There is a chest at one end and a tarnished silver ewer holding drinking water sits on a table at the other end.

But it's at the start that you are led through the next door and next room. A few chairs and a table compose the furnishings in this room. A guard is on duty here. Through another cramped room you are led to the staircase to go two floors up to finally reach the dining room where Lady Smythee awaits you.

"Please take a seat. It will take a while until dinner is ready. But we can talk already over a glass of wine." she offers.

Map added

"I'll take care of the wine. Master de'Anora will take care of the talking." Besmara replies and takes a seat next to the decanter.

While pouring herself a glass she contradicts herself by adding "Well to sum it up, there is this old saying: 'Good fortune and sure sail await what one can crack the Tidewater Rock.'"

"As I understood Master de'Anora there is some historical basis to this saying. So we're here to talk about how we can gain this good fortune preferably without too much cracking of any kind."

Lady Smythee chuckles. "And who are you that this bears any significance to me?"

Noonan will enjoy his wine while Pluck cracks a nut.

Sqwak! Captain Pluck and his merry crew! Seeken to be lords of the sea!

"Yeah, be afraid of Captain Pluck or he will talk your ear off." Besmara comments. "But I don't want to sing my own praises. That's what I have Master de'Anora for."

Because of one name: Barnabas Harrigan.
We all hate him.

Sound interesting?

"Not too bad. But who you are that you think you can be more than an annoyance to Harrigan." Lady Smythee inquires.

Lito checks and makes sure nobody else is in the room.

This does not go beyound this room:

How is that for an resume?

"I'm Besmara, Captain of the Kraken. And we have broken free from Harrigan and took his ship. We fought sea monsters, robbed ships, and sank the Deathknell, that ghost ship you probably heard from. I even have the ship's bell to prove it." Besmara tells.