Rhemus listens intently to the proposals made and discussions about leadership:
"I feel like you are all getting ahead of yourselves... My only priority right now is to survive this dreadful ship and make it back to a port free and alive."
Looking at Nivian he continues, "It makes sense that the Wormwood is planning to capture another ship, and if that happens splitting the crew will provide the best opportunity to free ourselves of these bastards. I have no issues with trying to weaken the faction of loyalists to the Captain, my only concern is that this ship has barely enough hands right now. Weakening it now may force the Captain to abandon his plans to attack another ship, leaving us all in the same mess and without any bounty and plunder. As for the ways of Besmara: she is a flexible but unforgiving Mistress. Her only want is for pirates to acknowledge her rule over the Seas, and to plunder and attack landlubbers and merchants in her name. I know we can all live within these guidelines."
"Well, regarding this ship being underhanded...they did intend to keelhaul the bastard who bit his own tongue...which would likely have killed him had he not taken the cowards way out, and they did intend to do so for stealing from the ships storage, possibly his own equipment. If they feel they have plenty enough people to kill them for stealing, and they think they they will have enough hands after the boarding, assuming the other captain will not just hand over his ship without a fight, then I doubt one or two more deaths will make much difference to their plans. If my own experience accounts for anything, they may try to fill their ranks from the other crews survivors-who quite likely will also welcome a chance to get some revenge if given the chance-!"
"Hah! Rules are for those not clever, not smart enough to judge each situation and act right. Orders are chains called with different words. No rules for me, just goals in common. No orders, just deals and helpings."
The rat looks adamant.
"No one says 'You can't.' to me. Princess says," Rillum rubs one paw against the brand dominating the right side of his face. "only real evil is those who tell you not. I agree, believe she is right. I act in my name alone. I am ruled by no one. Those who try, burn!"
He turns to Nivian, "Choose victim. We cast blame, trick, the Narwhal. I wish to laugh at him instead."
"You would have anarchy on a ship we claim? The crew doing as they please with no regard to what needs doing? We best sail with mindless beings then. Are you skilled with the creation of constructs or animating the dead?"
A dangerous Ratfolk. Useful enough, certainly, and surely loyal in his own way. But an unwillingness to accept rules at all? That chaotic personality will cause problems in the future...
"We will see what the future holds, and who will want to stay on a ship, and who will want to get back to shore. If we want to trick Tate, we would do well to observe him, find a likely victim...if we end up blaming him for the death of his best friend, or lover, people may find it unlikely, ask inconvenient questions...do you have an idea of who we could choose?"
"Heh, rules for others, for crew, is fine. Not for me. Rules are chains, others like chain, bindings. I don't care. Ship can run with rules. Just do not expect me to follow them unless I have good reason. But you can trust, count on me to follow common goals, honor deals. We can act in concert. I am free, not crazy." The laugh that follows as Rillum convulses at his own joke make many question that statement.
"He doesn't like me, heh, he he he. But that is not a good choice." He giggles to himself a few more moments. "we can create his foe, new enemy. I steel from the Narwhal, and plant is on our victim - easily found, discovered. Yelling, maybe fighting.. Then kill, then blame."
Few are concerned with your immediate actions as it's time for drink and dinner. Almost all of the pirate are on the main deck enjoying their down time after a long day's work.
Owlbear is pretty close to unconscious at this point and puts up little struggle.
It doesn't take long dealing with Owlbear to realize just how much of a simpleton he really is . Despite his ignorance, he's incredibly strong and pretty tough. He's covered in scars, almost head to toe, similar to yours, though none for artful purposes. He's also still covered in spots of tar and feathers where he was apparently tarred and feathered recently, probably as some form of cruel entertainment.
None of the pirates are paying you any mind. You've been on board long enough and contributed enough to be "trusted" and some are even friendly to you. Nivian and Sandman, once you finish your rum ration, you are free to tend to Owlbear.
I'm a little confused Sandman. Owlbear doesn't have the ability to stop you at this point, almost unconscious. He babbles a bit, but can barely lift his arms. If you wish to help him, feel free. Sorry if that wasn't clear.
Evening action:
[dice=Stealth to sneak along with Sandman]1d20+3
Nivian walks along with Sandman. It's unsurprising they are about equally sneaky.
[dice=Diplomacy Influence Owlbear]1d20+2+1+1
I will play the role of loving mother, careful not to imply he is a child, but in the way one would treat a teenager that wants to be seen as an adult, but ultimately still is a child and needs a hug, even if they would never admit it.
[dice=Fortitude Save against Pain]1d20+1
Nivian offered to be a substitute for the Pain Sandmans procedure requires. As it turns out, it's ONE thing to be hurt without having a say in the matter, and a whole different thing to be hurt voluntarily. Knowing that she could stop it makes the pain all the more intense.Night action 1:
[dice=Diplomacy Influence Crimson Cog]1d20+2+1+1
Nivian will pick up where she left off earlier, and tell Crimson some stories of the former ships she was on. If he really does enjoy stories with violence, that is what she will share with him.Night action 2:
[dice=Diplomacy Influence Syl]1d20+2+1+1
Once again, late at night, Nivian finds Syl, who has watch on the main deck, and stays with her during the shift, trying to reassure her that in her eyes she did nothing wrong.[dice=Fortitude DC 18]1d20+1
I'm not sure where the first fortitude vs. pain is coming from?
Sandman hung his mask on the mast above owl bear's head and carefully treated the lashes on Owlbear's body. While he worked he spoke quietly.
"They should not treat you this way. No one deserves to be chained like this. You did nothing wrong."
As he worked the mask drank Owbear's confusion and pain. The tar and feathers flaked off as dust and the sweat and grime that caked his body drifted away as smoke.
By the time Sandman finished, Owlbear looked like a new man.
"If you ever need help, come to me." he said retrieving his mask. Then, with a gentle wave of his hand he pushed Owlbear's mind into blissful sleep.
When did you become so soft?
When softness became the best way to endure. I am hard when I need to be.
You teach him nothing by relieving his pain.
On the contrary. I teach him what it is like to be without pain. Remember when we first met? It is the same lesson you taught me. Sometimes the lesson lies in the absence, not the presence.
Pain can only teach when the student can comprehend the lesson. Too much and everything is drowned out. Too little and the lesson cannot be heard.
"The lash is a poor teacher." Sandman said allowed as he and Nivian made their way back to the deck.
"That is what it is about. Not ritual or sacrifice. It is about the lesson. Nothing more."
You may have a point. We shall see.
Back on deck Sandman settled in with the others and listened to the discussion between Rillum and Nivian. He'd been quiet for a while, contemplating how to approach the controversy.
"Rillum, will you have the medicines you promised me finished tomorrow? We agreed on one week. Tomorrow is that day."
I'm not sure where the first fortitude vs. pain is coming from?[dice=Fortitude Save against Pain]1d20+1
Nivian offered to be a substitute for the Pain Sandmans procedure requires. As it turns out, it's ONE thing to be hurt without having a say in the matter, and a whole different thing to be hurt voluntarily. Knowing that she could stop it makes the pain all the more intense.
with answer:
Okay, no worries. Just ignore it. The pain and healing is Sandman's rituals and methods. Since Sandman didn't specifically respond to your offer, I'm going to assume it was a no. You're welcome to accompany him and observe, but he would do nothing to cause you pain.
Unless anyone has any more nighttime actions to take, and please let me know if you do, we're going to progress into the next day, day 6 and where the real fun begins.
Unless anyone has any more nighttime actions to take, and please let me know if you do, we're going to progress into the next day, day 6 and where the real fun begins.
Feel free to continue any in character dialogue as the events progress. I'll allow it a little while longer while I prep for the next portion.
And do please try to keep the OUT OF CHARACTER posts in the DISCUSSION thread.
Rillum blinks at Sandman in surprise. "I can, will have medicines, healing spices. Great apologies, and much surprise. Recent events led me to think, to believe your needs changed, to imagine you were unable to pay. I should have asked, not assumed. I can work tonight. Trade spices for payment tomorrow, or discount. Yes, discount."
"Now, much more than before, I have need of medicines. This ship is rife with injury and poison. I have been working all week with nothing but a needle and thread and a few scraps of cloth stolen from when I was darning the sails. If I hadn't brought it up, and you had forgotten your agreement, what would my recourse have been?" Sandman asked in a neutral tone.
"I would have failed, your recourse, your choice. Granted, I defend, but not needed. I work tonight. You will have medicines. I will have payment . . . trust will be maintained, be kept."
On the way up from the hold:"That lesson you gave to the sailor the night before we were pressganged sure seemed painful enough. To be honest, I'm relieved there's more to it, and pain is not just something you enjoy on a personal level. You are immensely skilled in the healing arts. I never quite took time to take a closer look when I saw you work before, but that down there seemed rather amazing. If you have some time, could you teach me some of the basics, let me assist?"
Rhemus seems perturbed by the conversation between Nivian and Rillum, but does not interject himself. He just waits for a lull in the discussion and takes the opportunity to excuse himself.
He heads down to the middle level hold where Owlbear is resting and takes advantage of the fact that the giant is fast asleep to sneak around the hold and look for any interesting items.
He will use the Perception 20 from the sneak activity to search the hold.
He then heads down to the lower deck and sleeps.
"I would have failed, your recourse, your choice. Granted, I defend, but not needed. I work tonight. You will have medicines. I will have payment . . . trust will be maintained, be kept."
"It shouldn't be my choice. I might be an unreasonable person who thinks not following through on a deal is worth killing someone over."
"It should be our choice. Both of us, agreeing to both a mutual beneficial deal, and what would happen if one of us can't follow through."
"But we didn't discuss that. So what would have happened? Do we never do business again? Do we fight? We both lose because we didn't make things clear."
"On land, no big deal. We go our separate ways."
"Out here, it is not that simple. We would still have to work together, only after that we don't trust each other. Bad blood sinks ships. It is happening right now, on this ship."
"That's why Nivian is concerned. She is trying to make a deal with you about the wellbeing of everyone, and you are telling her that you won't ever follow orders from anyone."
"In a storm, or a raid, if the crew doesn't have a hierarchy and agree to follow the directions of a particular person, the whole ship will sink."
"The idea of taking orders might not sit will with you, but keep in mind that it is part of the deal. In return, you get a share of the plunder and the safety of having a crew to look out for you."
"That's why it is so important to have a good crew. It isn't even really about keeping the ship afloat. That is secondary. It is actually about the contract that provides you with the freedom of the sea and the safety of knowing no one around you will do things that are not in your best interests."
"Is that not what you want?"
On the way up from the hold:"That lesson you gave to the sailor the night before we were pressganged sure seemed painful enough. To be honest, I'm relieved there's more to it, and pain is not just something you enjoy on a personal level. You are immensely skilled in the healing arts. I never quite took time to take a closer look when I saw you work before, but that down there seemed rather amazing. If you have some time, could you teach me some of the basics, let me assist?"
"I am always happy to teach. Consider tonight the first lesson."
"Those who enjoy pain are the ones most in need of its teachings." Sandman said with a small smile. "Pain exists only to provide context to mistakes and struggles. It is the ultimate teacher. The problem is, we are not always equipped to learn. It can be like trying to parse out a lesson from an instructor who can only scream in your ear. Past a certain volume, the message is lost in the medium."
"Owlbear will never learn from that kind of pain. It is of no use to him. It is, however, of use to me. Scourge inadvertently did me a favor tonight. By taking his pain I teach him to trust me. The pain becomes leverage by which I shift the balance of power a little more in our favor."
"Hopefully Owlbear learned the lesson."
...
By the time Sandman finished, Owlbear looked like a new man."If you ever need help, come to me." he said retrieving his mask. Then, with a gentle wave of his hand he pushed Owlbear's mind into blissful sleep.
...
Just saying, Nivian will throw in, with low volume, singing a children's Lullaby for Owlbear when Sandman sends him off to sleep...
______________________
On the way back up:"Oh, I know my fair share about pain. I've felt PLENTY of it. And let me assure you, there's times it's attempts to teach are pointless because you learned the lesson years ago. It may be a teacher, but it's a teacher that does not care what you learned already, and comes back to teach you more of the same."
Nivian's gaze wanders off into the distance, sorting through countless years of experiences before she pulls herself back together:
"But it is not my place to question your philosophy, your beliefs. I apologize if my opinion has given offense by being worded too blunt. However, if you want me to be honest, I have to admit I meant mostly your skills with healing, not your reasons, when I asked about learning from you. I will welcome talks while I learn, about philosophy, about your beliefs, about any topic that pleases you, but know that I am not likely to change my beliefs about the nature of things in a non-medicinal way. Would you still teach me?"
"Our deal was spice for coin. Stakes were not that high. I see your point, your' lesson'. I will make deal here with you. You must strike in word or deed against me before I strike against you. All here, and the halfling, Rhemus. You will say the same. Others are chum, prey unless you say so before. I will not apologize if I hurt a pet I know nothing of. I know Rhemus wants, wishes Rosie well. I leave her. Deal to be concluded when we step on another shore, free of this ship's bonds. After is after and needs a new deal, new agreement." Rillum looks pointedly at Nivian, then Rhemus' retreating back.
"Besmara is yours, I do not follow her code, her rules, her guidelines, but I value my skin, tattered though it is. I know to act, to follow in emergency. If all die, I bake, thirst, and die. Know I am clever, smart, will know my interest is for ship to survive. I will risk, but never sacrifice."
"You want more, now, before I know you - try to throw me overboard now." He begins to laugh, "I do not promise the ship will sink, but I will try!" he laughs even harder at the joke.
Sandman looked to Nivian with an arched brow, a bit of amusement on his face. "Is that enough to assuage your concerns?"
"Sandman, your point is recognized. If you truly need the goods, I will work the night. If your request, reminder was to illustrate, to teach, an easy parable - then I will sleep. And in the future, I am small, not a child, not simple, just small. I like those who treat with me to remember."
Sandman shakes his head. "I do need medicines, but we have more pressing concerns. Besides I wouldn't want to pay for your work and then have the money or the medicine confiscated. Consider the deal on hold until circumstances are better."
When Rillum makes a joke about the ship sinking, Nivian thinks of the tool she had Romello hide for her...Oh, the ship sinking. If you knew...if it was not for you guys at the table, I'd spend a night at the keel and send this ship to the bottom... As she imagines retrieving Scourges body to feed him to Sea Birds, she is interrupted by Sandman talking to her. Slightly startled, she responds:"It will do...for now. Know then, Rillum, that I intend to have a whole herd of pets on this ship, scratching and biting for us when the time comes...I will tell you later."
Baltzar seeks out Sandara to talk with that evening about Besmara.
With Nivian's agreement Sandman nods as well. "I also agree, Rillum. Your terms are good."
Baltzar seeks out Sandara to talk with that evening about Besmara.
[dice=Diplomacy (note: does not include sermon bonus)]1d20+2
[dice=knowledge religion just in case for talk]1d20+9
What exactly are you planning on talking to her about? Or are you just trying to "win her over"?
Rillum listens to the litany of names and frowns. "And I chose the 5 names left. Now we can do nothing.
Some of those are hateful, to you, to me, yet you protect them. Why? You fear what I will do without your approval, without your 'oversight,' You paralyze my choices, my ability to act, to adapt. You insist on a deal just to control me. I did not expect to regret so soon. The rest are my protected. You touch them when I approve, otherwise 'deal' broken."
Rillum sits back, obviously angry.
"Are we sure now is the time to take action?" Sandman asked. "I would not mind a few less adversaries, but the risk is significant. To all of us."
"You are right. No action. Sleep."
He stands and goes to his bunk to sleep his bruises away.
What exactly are you planning on talking to her about? Or are you just trying to "win her over"?Baltzar seeks out Sandara to talk with that evening about Besmara.
[dice=Diplomacy (note: does not include sermon bonus)]1d20+2
[dice=knowledge religion just in case for talk]1d20+9
yeah, just basically using shared faith to get to know her and win influence for us all. :)
After Rillum leaves Sandman looks to the others with a hard expression on his face. "Rillum wants to kill someone for what happened to him. We need to pick someone before he does it for us."
"Fipps or Tate would be my first choices."
"I agree...the idea was to set it up so that Fipps is killed, and Tate framed for the murder. You are right though, it seems Rillum needs to strike the blow...he seemed restless."
"I think I would prefer it the other way around. For what I had in mind Fipps is likely to make an easier patsy. Dwarves tend to be resistant to magic and toxins."
"I'll talk to Rillum about it tomorrow."
Drinking down the purified rum ration, Aerel wolfs down his meal before moving below decks. For the first time he moves beyond the bunks, searching for anywhere his equipment might have been stowed.
Your equipment is located at the quartermaster store. You'll have to "earn" it back by bartering, purchasing, or coming to some other arrangement with the quartermaster.
Nivian turns to Sandman as she watches Rillum stomp off. He just attempted to be a mediator, a translator of sorts...maybe he had an idea of what just happened:
"It would seem he has an intensely short fuse. Just what was that about? He asks me who is not prey, fish fodder, and I tell him that we're going to be collecting many allies, only to have him stomp off in anger! Did he intend to murder half the ship despite his claims to the contrary? You are the only one I know who has insights into the workings of his mind, and while I'm not yet sure if that should scare me, I will have to depend on everybody in our group before this is over, so may as well ask: Do you have any idea what kind of lever just broke in his mind?"
Seriously, the Ratfolk almost fooled me into trusting him...I may be desparate but I'll have to be careful all the same...
Sleep is hard to come by this night. Whether its the previous days' conversations, hard work, harder sights, or constant thunder, the morning bell seems to sound earlier then it should.
Once on deck, the realization that the weather has shifted is obvious as the rain is steady. Not hard or blinding, but enough to keep everyone soaked and extra miserable for the day, at least for those of you working above decks. Every thing is extra slippery as the rain rolls down the stairs, and across the floors. It's not hard to notice that a few extra hands have been sent to work the bilges today. Despite the rain, the Wormwood keeps moving, albeit slower than normal.
Day Jobs
Lookout
Fishing
Repairs
Hauling Rope and Knot Work
Swab the Deck
Repairs
The ship appears to be heading Southwest, passing to the East of Dahak's Teeth and getting nearer to Motaku.
Thinking he has discovered where the stores are kept, the elf returns to his bunk and attempts to finish the fighting net he has been working on for the past several days.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
The next morning...
Waking early, Aerel seeks out the halfling before going above decks. Elven - "I think I have found where they keep our belongings. How easy is it to retrieve them? Does one only need to speak their tongue to describe their belongings and have them returned?"
Rhemus chuckles at Aerel's question:
"I wish it were that easy mate. The bastards not only press-ganged us, you have also been robbed. You will need to buy back the gear and equipment from Cut-Throat Grok, the Ship's Quartermaster. She accepts barter and coin, not favors or promises."