Dink scrabbles to the side of the boat and scoops up a rope and grapple, spinning it over his head wildly before tossing it underhand at the ship.
"A cannonball took it-" He mutters, grinning and shaking his head. "Being a pirate is so great."
Rougar watches Ensra and the new gnome try their hand at the task. His normally perky ears lay flat and his whiskers sag. He speaks in a flat tone.
I hope to never have to use that skill for its intended purpose. We seem to have been fortunate. We have done much sailing, but very little pirating.
As for me? I would only describe myself as adrift. Pleasures can be found in food or friends, but there is little joy in it. Yes, I grow used to it, but we are still slaves.
Dinkus' grappling hook strikes the railing, but fails to latch on, and falls lazily into the water.
Dinkus scowls, hurriedly reeling the hook in. "Great job, thanks Tymora, Lady Luck my arse." He grumbles as he prepares to take another swing at it.
"Oh, bastards."
"You are the worst goddess ever." Dink stomps his feet a couple of times and scowls at Riaris as though daring her to snicker.
He takes a few deep breaths and slings the hook at the railing, willing it to stop embarrassing him.
Riaris launches into a fit of laughter. "Ah-hah! Tymora?! You're more like Beshaba's pot scrubber. I can smell it on ye."
The last throw lands the grappling hook onto the railing, securing the rope.
Ensra climbs back onto his rope, now a few pounds heavier with water, and tries to climb towards the deck.
Halfway across Ensra lets slip the rope and falls crashing into the water again. Riaris lets out a loud laugh that is more like a holler. Some of the other crew on deck cheer and whistle.
He makes his way back to the jolly boat.
Nearly back to the boat Ensra doesn't come back up for air for a few moments. Although he was not struggling so badly, the waves do seem to be increasing in size.
Ensra comes out of the water and pulls himself up onto the boat, breathing heavily a bit. Riaris gives him a nudge and gestures her head towards the boat. "C'mon. Now if you ain't half as useless as ye are weird."
Dink tugs on his rope and, with exaggeratedly grim determination, begins his climb, taking his time and making sure to loop an arm around the rope when he pauses to dodge the detritus tossed by the crew.
"You guys are jerks! I sang songs for you!"
Dinkus dodges the thrown materials, but just as he thinks they've stopped, they hurl some more.
Just barely dodging the last of it, Dinkus finally makes it to the deck.
Ensra gives the climb one last try. This time following Dinkus and taking it slowly, but surely.
The crew begin throwing objects at Ensra as he nears the railing. One tosses a rather large bucket of bilge water overboard.
The bilge water covers the already drenched Ensra and he loses his grip, falling once more into the water. Riaris, who seems to be no longer amused with the failings of the newly pressed, scoffs and begins rowing back to the boat, stopping where Ensra splashes in the water. "C'mon ye dog. As if ye weren't bad enough, now ye smell like Kroop's crack." She reaches down and pulls Ensra onto the jolly boat, then docks the smaller boat to the ship proper. Some of the other crew assist in drawing the jolly boat back up, suspending it off the side of the railing. Ensra and Riaris climb out. Ensra twists out the arms of his cloak. He still smells a bit like the bilges washed out with salt water. A frown dominates his face and his long reddish hair is matted to his pale skin.
Rougar approaches Ensra and claps him on the shoulder.
I admire your determination, friend. A weaker man would've given up long ago. Same goes for you, new friend.
Rougar now turns to Dinkus.
We have not met. I am called Rougar.
Rougar holds his hand out.
The Gnome reaches up and takes Rougar's hand in both of his, grinning.
"Good to know you, I like your ears!"
Dink pats Ensra on the arm and mutters, "Don't worry about climbin', you're probably better at other stuff. Scaring babies, probably casting spells!" before he scampers off to Riaris, standing at her side, eyes up like a puppy, asking questions.
"So did I pass, can I be a pirate now? What happened to your nose? I like those beads you have though! Are you good at swordfighting?"
Rougar reaches up and pats his ears, muttering under his breath. My ears?
Rougar looks at Ensra and shrugs. What a very odd man.
Riaris turns her sour gaze down to Dinkus. "You? A proper pirate? Why don't ye go and pull your little gnome dick out through your nose and see which happens first?" And at that she stomps away, her leg thumping at every other step.
Rougar goes and finds Maheem, hoping to finally break through his tough exterior and get him to admit they are friends.
"Rude." Says Dink, gazing moonily at Riaris as she stomps away. "Rude. And yet... strangely alluring. I must have her."
The Gnome wanders over to Ensra and tugs at his sleeve. "Hey buddy, I'm sorry you didn't get to climb the rope. Oh, I can dry your robes out real quick if you want! You have to take them off, though. Fold them up into a little pile."
He waits impatiently, excited to show his new friend a neat trick.
"C'mon, it's Gnome Magic! You'll love it!"
Regaling Maheem with tales of his previous adventures, Rougar seems to have gotten through. Maheem laughs a bit and slaps Rougar on the back in a friendly gesture, although a bit hard. "We get-tin along jus' fine now, Rougar. Cohme fahnd me lay-ter and we'll do a bit of gamblin'."
Ensra looks blankly at Dinkus for a moment, then nods. He slowly removes his robe, beneath it he is wearing nothing more than a pair of loose fitting shorts, tied about the waist with twine. Then Ensra folds the robe neatly into as small a pile as he can manage. "I have never seen such a spell before. Wherever did you learn it?"
"It's Gnome Magic! I just kinda um, we just Know it! I'm pretty sure wizards get something similar, uh, presidentitation? Anyway!"
Dink squints at the pile of robes and after a few false starts, the robes begin to vibrate and steam, expelling the saltwater and the bilge juices. The fabric settles and the air is filled with the faint scent of lavender.
"I- Wow! That never worked before. Last time my shirt ended up green. Do you want your robes to be green? No probably not. Okay, here you go." The Gnome scoops up the robes and hands them to Ensra with much mock ceremony.
Dink waits as Ensra gets dressed and leads him to the galley, chattering all the while, desperate to cement this newfound friendship.
Ensra seems calmed and even revived by his freshened clothing. Dinkus can see the hint of a smile on his face as he replaces his robe.
"I've yet to meet another as friendly as you, Dinkus, save perhaps Rougar. Where are you from?"
In the galley Dinkus and Ensra find Kroop drunkenly hauling around the kitchen, blood splattered on his apron and a jagged crag of teeth between his lips.
"NO ONE IN THE KITCHEN 'CEPT THAT LIT'LE SCALED FELLA' AND ME... and I guess Gr- GET OUT!" Kroop hollers with more boister than anger.
"Oh, I'm from Callidyr. Well, not From, but I've lived there a while. I was travellin' aboard a Navy ship and it blew up! After a day or so, the Wormwood scooped me up. When they pulled me on deck, I was just about delirious enough to be glad to see Scourge's face!"
Dinkus giggles as he strides into the galley, but recoils, startled by Kroop's outburst.
"Wha- We're not gonna bother you, chef! We just wanted to get below and outta sight. You'll hardly notice us."
"So just have another drink or six, and Oh! I know, I'll play a little cooking music for you!"
The Gnome mutters what seems to be a dirty limerick and begins rhythmically snapping his fingers. Octarine sparks spout from his hands and coalesce into a finely made, if plain rather, lute. The strings flickering.
"You know, I never really thought about it, but I bet being a cook is a pretty difficult job. Doing all the work you do, in this hot little room, and everybody takes you for granted. Shame." Dink says soothingly, as he hooks a stool with his foot and eases onto it.
"Absolute shame."
Kroop grumbles something inaudible and goes back to cooking. Ensra lingers by the doorway. "This galley is not much in the way of space. Usually we eat and socialize on deck, or back there in the main hold." Ensra points to the main hold, where Owlbear sits tied to the mast piercing the room from floor to ceiling. Owlbear hums in what might be an attempted harmony with Dinkus, and bubbles spatter from his lips.
Ensra and Dinkus remain in the galley though and Kroop doesn't press them further about leaving.
Kroop even brings a small spoonfull over to Ensra and Dinkus. "Ye two are rather, er... abberrant? Do the cloves be too bold fer this soup?" He holds the spoon out for them to taste.
Rougar, feeling pleased with himself, wanders about the ship. He holds his head high and smiles placidly, his arms folded into the sleeves of his robe. Without further duties, he walks aimlessly throughout the hold of the ship, observing others.
"This is really good, cook! Gonna have this with some bread, I bet, it'll be great!"
Dinkus smacks his lips, grinning at Kroop.
He nudges Ensra and points at Owlbear. "The big guy is pretty good, I should hire him for background vocals."
Gill sneaks off to his own business and heads back to the captains cabin to snoop around.
Gill deduces that the stairs from the middle deck, next to the galley, head up to a door that must lead to the captains cabin. However, Gill finds the door locked, and with a very high quality lock at that.
Coming from inside the captain's cabin, Gill hears a very light and rapid scratching noise, the crinkling of paper and the occasional clinking of glass. Then a few soft footsteps and more scratching and clinking.
Gill knocks three times on the door an straightens up his posture waiting for a response.
Time to put a face on this ship...
A soft patterning of feet approaches the door on the other side. There is a pause, and then the door creaks open, a young girl pokes her face through, the same that retrieved the captains supper from the Galley the night before. Kroop called her Caulky.
"Yes? What is it?" She says in a soft, shy voice. Her face is pale white and her eyes are a deep dark brown, under half-closed eye lids. The features on her face are sharp and frail beneath feathery white-blonde hair. Gill guesses she can be no more than fourteen human years old.
Gill smiles at the girl and performs a regal bow.
"Greetings young lady, I am Gill of Waterdeep, I believe I saw you in the kitchen not long ago. You see I am here to request of when the Captain would like his meal, perhaps I may see him?"
Without changing her expression she turns her head and looks back into the captains cabin. She looks back in silence for a long moment, then she turns back to Gill. "I will be down for the captains meal a half bell before mess. Of that you need not worry." Then she stops and stares at Gill, letting her refusal sink in.
"But he will allow you to see him, if that is your wish." She says in a continuously monotone and pushes the door open. Inside the cabin is dark and shadowy. The busts of strange beasts adorn the walls, as do half a dozen dark paintings. In the center of the room is a large, round, wooden table. Behind the table, in a thick, high backed chair sits a cloaked figure, it's face completely obscured by the shadow of a hood. The charcoal robe covers it's entire body save a pairs of pale, long fingered hands, which rest on the table. Two lanterns reside on the wall opposite where the captain sits, casting long shadows across the entire room, where they all converge on the far side around the captain.
Gill straightens up his armor and clothes and assertively strides into the room with his head held high. He approaches the table and bows afterwards folding his arms behind his back.
"Ahoy Captain! I am known as Gill of Waterdeep, Gill the giant slayer and mostly just Gill. It is a pleasure to have been granted permission to make your acquaintince. May I sit?" Gill says putting on his best manners.
Remaining silent for a moment, the captain points towards a chair opposite him at the table.
Finally, the captain speaks. His voice a bit raspy, but pronounces flawlessly. "Waterdeep. It is truly a marvelous city. Many who live there never leave, for it contains nearly anything one could desire."
Gill let's down his appearance for a moment and sloppily pulls out the chair hopping his butt onto it. "Well in such a marvelous city there is also plenty of marvelous dangers. I wish not to be rude but here I am bearing myself to you, do you always keep that hood up?".
Gill crosses his arms and hangs his right leg over his other leaning back in the chair.
"Only when it is necessary. I find it increasingly necessary of late. I offer that as recompense for your honesty. Although that may seem little, you are on my ship and therefore under the protection of the rules I have established and enforce by way of my officers. That is something I gave you before you walked through that threshold." At the last words he points towards the door. The cloak hangs off his arm like rags on a tree branch.
"Now tell me. Is it simply my face you wish to see, or is there something else we should discuss?" He returns his hand to the table.
Caulky has closed the door and has fled into another door behind Gill to his right.
Gill shrugs and smiles "I mostly wished to simply introduce myself and learn my captain's identity. Of more than that I am curious of where and for what reason do we travel. Though I know I cannot expect an answer on either. You know of me now and should seek to find me should you need my expertise."
"I see. I appreciate the gesture, but I cannot reveal my identity to you now. If you prove useful to me, I may reconsider," He pauses for a moment. "Besides your skill in combat, I have heard of no other expertise that you posses."
"As for where we are going, you are correct in assuming that you cannot have the answer to that either. Trust that it will be profitable for you, if you play along with my crew."
"What is it you can do, should I find the need?" He says. Gill sees the shadows deepen and grow towards him. Is it the changing of a draft and the flickering of a candle?
After a period of walking about the deck, Rougar wanders down into the galley to see what Grok is up to.
Rougar finds Dinkus playing his lute near the doorway from the middle hold to the galley. Ensra sitting on a crate with very straight posture and his hands folded in his lap. Ensra's expression looks serene.
Other crew members are starting to gather at the galley to get their nightly meal. Grok is leaning against the wall by the door to her quartermaster's store, eating a bowl of soup.
Dinkus finishes a song about blisters that might actually be a song about masturbating and stops playing to greet Rougar. "Hey, it's uh, the cat guy, with the ears! Ensra, it's the purrfolk!" He leans toward Ensra and stage whispers- "It's like merfolk but- but he's a cat, do you get it?" -and grins happily.
"Really proud of that one."
Dink hops out of his chair, leaving the lute resting against it, and scampers over to the line to get some of Kroop's Soops.
"Hey Ensra, hey, you want some soup?" He calls across the galley.
Gill stands from his chair and shivers No that is all I shall take my leave."
Gill quickly bows and makes a hastily exit. He heads back to the galley, his stomach grumbling, looking for a meal.
The captain sits in silence as Gill hurries out. The door shuts behind Gill, without his closing it.
Gill finds Ensra, Rougar and Dinkus among half a dozen others getting food from the Galley.
Ensra nods to Dinkus, closing his eyes affirmingly.
Dinkus stuffs biscuits into his pockets as Kroop sloppily fills two bowls with soup.
"Thanks, cook!"
He slips around sailors and hands a bowl and a biscuit to Ensra before sitting back on his stool.
After a while, he scoops up his lute and begins to play again.
Dinkus slips a flask from one of his sashes and takes a quick swig before standing in his chair. He begins picking at his lute, several balls of colored light emerge from his fingertips and begin to spiral and dance above his head, slowly floating up to the ceiling and floating around the room.
The Gnome begins to play in earnest, low and melancholy,
a ballad about lost family, about lovers and friends left behind,
about the life that you can never go back to.
As he reaches the bridge, the song picks up,
no longer quiet, but loud, savage.
Raging impotently against the universe's hateful whims,
against life's fickle luck.
You'd swear you can hear drums,
sharp staccato bursts that merge with the melody
as the lights twist and merge above.
Faster and faster.
The song reaches it's last verse, slow, maudlin.
He sings of submission,
of reconciliation and tired acceptance.
the drumming continues, deeper, steadier,
the thud-thud of a beating heart.
Dinkus stops playing and wipes his forehead with a sleeve, sitting down and smiling wanly.
The drums, slow and quiet, fade away,
the lights blink out, one by one.
The Gnome drinks again from his flask and nudges Ensra.
"Hey, did you like it? I can't tell if they liked it."
"I did. You are very talented, Dinkus. Where are you from?" Says Ensra calmly, through the storm of talking around the middle hold. Some of the crew was inspired by the song, others seem a bit saddened by it.
Rougar gets his evening meal and approaches Dinkus.
You are extremely talented, friend. I found your music quite... moving. Where did you study, if you do not mind me asking.
Rougar begins eating.
Gill looks over at Dinkus with a shocked expression. He grabs some food and walks over to the group.
"Finally some entertainment that doesn't involve fight, whipping or drinking. Names Gill, you must be new here.. Gill says to Dinkus.
Dinkus tosses his lute into the air, where it disappears in a flash of smoke and stands up, smiling.
"I'm Dink, pleased to know you! I knew a Kobold once but he was kind of a jerk."
He fishes a biscuit from his pocket and nibbles on it between words.
"I was-nom nom- There is- was- a town called Littledale, to the East, past Cormyr- thish is a good bishcuit - We didn't call it that, that'sh what the Humans called it, but I... I left when I was young, after my sister died."
Dink pauses and stuffs the rest of the biscuit into his mouth and you can hear his nose whistling as he breathes.
"Um, uh, yeah, after Daisy died, I left. There was an old man on a caravan I followed, he was- he taught me to play and I kind of followed him to the Gate."
Dinkus shrugs, slightly uncomfortable, but nearly vibrating with the excitement of new friends.
"He was... A good man. I heard he died, a few years ago. Something about him ending up in Hell."
Rougar swallows and wipes his mouth on his robe.
He must've been a great man to teach you to play with such beauty. Those who practice such arts are revered in my community. Our nights were filled with sweet tones and great tales. Hearing you play almost brought me back to that life.
Gill smiles and eats some food. I can see you know how to make friends. Gill says sarcastically.
Rougar finishes his meal, belches into the sleeve of his robe, and rubs his stomach.
That was a very good meal, it has made me quite tired. Good night, all.
Rougar yawns and makes his way down to his hammock for the night.
Gill piles his food into his mouth whilst walking away and nods. "Goodnight aswell."
Gill instead travels to Rougar's bunk.
Eating his food while just appearing Gill says, "Haven't talked to you in a bit, what ya know chum? Me I got some info."