And so the senior crew of The Shrike wait for the hull of their trusty ship to be repaired. Drawing some of their plunder from deep in the hold and after a few transactions with the merchants of the harbor, a sum of coin is given to each sailor.
With cheers and shanties, they surge off of The Shrike and hit the town, except for those unfortunate to be chosen to guard the ship. Their chance comes with the next day as others are so tasked.
The sailors crowd into all of the taverns and speakeasies and tell and re-tell the tales of The Shrike and her crew.
A number of 1st Mates and Bos'uns from other ships watch on scowling, as some of those sailors were most likely theirs.
After two nights, there is a crowd of hopefuls at the drydock, as the Carpenter oversees the lowering of The Shrike back into the water.
"She's ship-shape for now, Cap'n. Have to , I reckon, re-do the whole hull in maybe 12 months, but she'd do 'till then!" he declares.
Isaac nods at the Carpenter. "Thank ye very much, sir." He then turns to the crowd that his crew has gathered. He whistles in amazement and turns to his crew with a big grin on his face. "Ye hav' don' well. It be seemin' the' our tal's hav' been reachin' many a por'." He turns to the crowd. "Alrigh' ye lot! We be askin' to lin' up! We be needin' to figur' ou' yer skills so we can fin' th' bes' plac' fer ye!"
The assembled men , though eager, heeded their new Captain's words, forming a queue so that they might be evaluated by The Shrike's senior crew.
As the morning wore on, the sun grew hot, and Cook arrived on deck to server refreshments, stopping on short on seeing a particular sailor being reviewed, "Get off of this ship this instant, you low-down, barnacle-eatin' cur!" Cook screamed at the man.
The look of terror that consumed the man's face was almost comical, and he beat a hasty retreat to the dock, chased off by the jests and laughter of the other sailors.
"Be pardonin' my impertinence, Sirs....just couldn't abide that man on our ship, is all." Cook says, handing Isaac and the others a goblet filled with shaved ice flavored with a sweet syrup.
Isaac nods at Kroop as he takes the shaved ice. "It be no probl'm. Although, iff'n ye don't min' me askin', Mr. Kroop, wha' exac'ly did he do to be warrantin' yer wrath?"
"Ah, I don' be mindin' one bit, Cap'n" Kroop says, handing the last of the goblets to Diana.
Rubbing the back of his neck, the Cook looks to the dock with a slight look of regret, then his face hardens as he nods; he made the right decision.
Facing Isaac, he says, "It be like this, Sir. That was one o' me boys...let me see....ya, 6th one of 10, see. He's one o' the t'ree that took up th' life o' the sea. The only one ta take up cookin' , like his pa! ". His chest puffs out bit in pride, but he lets the air out and his demeanor deflates like his chest, "But...the litt'l rat started to lay claim to my recipes! Can't 'ave that , now can we? Disowned the cur! Damned well won't share a ship with 'im!" he exclaims, gesticulating wildly.
From a ways down the deck, where Sandara was checking the new sailors over for any health issues, the ship's Doctor calls out, "You've been very hard on him, Kroop....he's family."
Kroop's eyebrows rise up at Sandara's comment and an angry retort looks to be on the Cook's lips, but he leaves it unsaid, muttering, "Ya may be right...ya may be right...."
Diana graciously accepts the shaved ice and squats to slowly sample it with pleasure. After a third small bite she offers You know Kroop, might be better to have him here where you can keep him under watch and guide him. Would not want him going off and getting in trouble on anoher ship where the cook might not be as reasonable and patient with him.
Isaac thinks on Kroop's story before replying, "Well, iff'n I may pu' me thoughts in, I be sayin' the' ye be lettin' yer son sign on wit' us. Not only fer th' reasons th' Diana has shar'd. Bu' becaus' I be thinkin' ye shoul' be tryin' to mend yer relationship wit' 'im. We be livin' a dangerous lif'. Ye may not wish to leav' wit' regre's."
Kroop rubs the back of his neck with even more vigor, then with a sigh echoed by parents the world over, turns to Issac and the others with a serious look, "Don't have children." he states simply, then "By your leave, Cap'n", indicating he wanted to depart the ship.
With or without your acceptance, he's already barreling down the gangplank, knocking one or two unobservant sailor into the harbor waters.
As he disappears into the crowd you can hear him bellowing, "Come back here ya cur! Ya lazy, no-good-for-nothing lolygag! Com'ere! "
Sandara laughs and gets back to her own work, while the remaining sailors await their own review.
You find 40 of the 45 sailors to be earnest, solid men and women of varying experience. 5 were rejected by Sandara for one reason or anther, and slunk back down the gangplank to the hoots and hollers of the sailors on the dock.
Not too long after that, Kroop could be seen forcing his way through the crowded dock, the young man in hand.
Marching the young man up the gangplank, Kroop thrust him before the senior crew, "There ya go, Sirs, ma boy...Irren. "
Irren said nothing ,until Kroop slapped the back of his head, "Speak up , boy!"
Rubbing his head and glaring at his father, Irren turned and said, "It's a pleasure to meet the command crew of The Shrike" his words clear and unaccented.
Don't have children.
Life can take strange turns, even if you plan or not plan for something to happen.
Edward, having grown up under a father figure in his uncle, tossed the young man a casual grin.
"Life isn't so bad on the sea. See places, freedom.
It will just take a little time."
Speaking in modest tone to Isaac in aquan, as to not discourage the boy or Kroop right now.....
"Where his potential lies, if any, is anybody's guess.
Might i propose having him work alongside a number of the crew who work specific jobs? I reckon Cog could teach him some, for one."
Isaac smiles at Irren. "An' it bein' me pleasur' to mee' ye, lad." He listens to Edward's advice before responding in his rougher sounding Aquan (due to his accent).
Turning to Irren, the captain says, "Well, Irr'n, we be having' som' int'res' in havin' ye aboard. Bu' a few questions firs'. Do ye be havin' any special talen's or skills th' we should' be knowin' abou'?"
While he tries to stay around, Gareth is in his usual grumpy mood. There had been several decades the last he saw any family at all. He couldn’t relate to Kroop, yet he enjoyed the presence of the cook and preferred to hold his silence than to say something to offend.
The young man bristles a bit, but a grunt from his father calms him down, "Aye, Captain, I wouldn't be a son of Ambrose Kroop if I can't sail, fight and cook! " he declares loudly, daring any within hearing to nay-say him.
Cook Kroop somehow has the grace to look proud of the young man he only just recently shouted off the deck of the ship!
Isaac gives a small smile and a chuckle. "Now, now. I be meanin' no offens', lad. Bu' I be likin' yer spiri' an' fir'. Now, woul' ye be willin' to be workin' wit' diff'r'nt memb'rs o' th' cre' in diff'r'nt positions to be gettin' a feel o' thin's?"
Jaina is much more focused on her meal at the moment, and contributes little to the conversation.
Irren nods , smiling, "It would be my pleasure, Captain!" he says, then looks about, a bit unsure where to go.
He's saved by Sandara, who had finished with the last of the other sailors, "You come here , young man. You ain't comin' on this ship without the the Ship's Doctor givin' you a once over! This way..." she says, leading Irren off, she can be heard muttering, "Two Kroops...the Gods preserve us!"
Kroop takes a deep breath and let's it out long and slow, "Thank'ee , Cap'n. He's a good boy....thankfully took more from his Ma than me, if you can look past him taking credit for my recipes...Well, I can too!"
Then with a lazy salute, he trudges off, headed towards the galley.
Edward hears his sweetheart praying for preservation, and can't help but smile.
"So....Kroop junior aside, what about a little reception for the new crew? Set the mood and morale, sort to speak."
Isaac looks at Kroop. "He does seem lik' a good kid. Mayhaps, wit' som' trainin' an' yer tutelag', mayhaps he can be comin' up wit' som' reciep's o' his own an' forgin'' his own path."
At Edward's suggestion, Isaac nods. "Ay'. Be soundin' lik' a good idea to be minglin' wit' th' crew an' be learnin' mor' abou' 'em. Onc' Sandara be finish'd wit' th' chec' ups, th'n we be gatherin' ev'ryon' togeth'r."
After trading some crew back and forth, Isaac and Diana sail their ships out of Quent harbor, with the aid of two of Quent's finest pilots.
Hitting the open seas, the two ships head south , bound for Rickety's on the Slithering Coast. Having consulted your charts before hand, the two captains estimated it will take 4 days hard sailing to make their destination. Checking with the crew, it was ensured that enough sailors had some semaphore training to make communication somewhat easier during the voyage.
The Shackles are a dangerous place, something is bound to happen....
You are enjoying the fine sailing weather , but as you scan the seas you notice a sinuous form emerge from the depths and begin to slither up the side of the Cutthroat. In moments, the creature, indeed a giant sea snake has snatched up an unfortunate sailor and gulped him down!
As you're enjoying the fine sailing weather, there is a thump against the starboard side of the ship, and a scream erupts from an unfortunate sailor as a giant sea snake has risen up against that side of the ship and snatched up the sailor!
Greedy, it strikes out at another!!!
Initiative Order
Diana
Edward
Gareth
Isaac
Snake
Jaina
Diana decides that the men need an advantage and casts Glitterdust, catching the serpent. Making sure the wheel is manned she draws her trident and begins to move towards the creature.
Of course it had tae' be today! Just when I trimmed and groomed me' beard!
Gareth waits for Diana effect to go against the creature, then he moves towards it with his weapon of choice in hands - hoping to get it before it has a chance to act!
If he hits, he tries to intimidate the enemy - besides his much shorter size!
Shoot it, ya' bunch of shrimp! - he yells to the crew, swinging his dwarven weapon.
Diana's spell settles on the snake and it swings it's head around violently , trying to clear its vision.
Gareth cuts a bloody gash in it's side, and it turns its furiously nictitating eyes towards his yell...
Isaac scowls at the creature eating the member of his crew. "Hang on!" He spins the wheel to try and get the serpent in between them to rain down fire upon it!
Issac expertly brings The Shrike up the side of a wave, allowing the ballistae on that side of the ship a perfect angle to shoot down at the snake!
Two ballistae bolts thud into the side of The Cutthroat, but the other slams in to the snake's scaled hide, a gout of bright red blood explodes forth.
The snake writhes in pain from both Garth's strike and the ballistae bolt, but it's hunger makes it persist!
With a quickness that belies it's size, the snake strikes at Gareth...but where he was a moment or two ago! Had it not been blinded, he may have been in trouble!
Initiative Order
Diana
Edward
Gareth
Isaac
Snake
Jaina
Edward starts a battle song, of which the first several words become soniccally charged weapons, aimed at the sea serpent.
Edward's murderous words steaks across the sea spray between the two ships, three hitting the sea serpent full on, four hitting glancing blows.... all somehow slicing through the sounds of the sea!
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"Dammit--get me CLOSER!" Jaina bellows as she runs to the nearest ballista and starts reloading it!
Diana fires two admonishing rays at the creature before closing further.
Isaac continues to give orders as he gets the Shrike even closer. "Ge' th' balistas ready an' open fir' on th' snak'! I wan' this thing tak'n down an' it's skull as our figur'head!"
Jaina helps one ballistae crew reload, while the other two do the same. Each crew waits for Isaac's next maneuver at the helm.
Initiative Order
Diana
Edward
Gareth
Isaac
Snake
Jaina
Edward casts Pugwampi's Grace on the serpent, will save DC 18 vs 7 rounds of misfortune.
Cast Cacophonous call instead, same DC vs 7 rounds of nauseated condition.
The snake rears is head, shaking it from side to side, trying to rid itself of the sounds that now plague it.
In fact it seems that it's decided that the tasty morsel that The Cutthroat seemed to be wasn't worth the pain and suffering it was going through!
It's serpentine coils begin to loosen, but Gareth shouts "Don't be thinkin' so, beastie!" and smashes his dwarven axe down on the creatures back, chopping into the spine, holding on for dear life as the serpent thrashes about in it's death throes.
"Help me ya blasted ingrates!" Gareth shouts to the crew of The Cutthroat, trying to prevent the snakes' bulk from falling into the sea.
Cook shows up at the railing of The Shrike shouting above the din of the sea, "Hoist that beastie , boys....them's good eating on them bones! Hoist!
Hooks and ropes are flung about the snakes' body and it is slowly brought up onto the deck of The Cutthroat.
Cook is all grins, commenting to Isaac, "I'll be savin' the liver for you and the senior crew, Sir! Now, I just gots to be getting me over there for th' butcherin'"
Isaac smiles at Kroop. "Be lookin' forwar' to it!" Looking at his crew, he shouts, "Good job, ev'ryon'! Ther' be no stoppin' us!" He then moves The Silver Shrike closer to The Cutthroat so that Kroop can get over to the snake to butcher it.
Trident in hand Diana stands ready to strike as the serpent finishes his death throws.
"May the next thing we sail into not be another huge thing able to wreck a ship, eh?", he says with a grin.
Edward goes about easing the nerves of the crew. This was no little encounter.
Isaac gives a chuckle. "Aye, aye."