WR 5E Skulls and Shackles

Game Master wicked_raygun

Treggor waits for the men to leave before returning to his duties.
"Well that were a fair bit more civil 'n I'd wagered."

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Treggor descends into the bilges and finds two other crew members furiously pumping water from the bilges: Maheem and Tam “Narwhal” Tate. They both turn to Treggor and Narhwal, a dwarf, with a scar running down from his cheek to his neck, scowls at him.

"Bloody hells, Mynth! What took you so long?! Can't you see we're taking on water! Bah! Bad enough that fool boy Scrimshaw made a hash of it and now we gotta pull his weight. Now gets to pumpin'."

Half an hour in, Treggor manages to notice that Maheem has a dagger hidden in his boot.

Almost forgot...

The other members of the Press-ganged notice Shikyo walk out of the lower decks followed by Master Scourge and Mister Plugg.

"Ye say Scrimshaw put us in this mess? Where's the rat devil run off to instead of making right is err?" Treggor asks with a look about.

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"Scrapin' barnacles off the hull, I hope," the surly dwarf answers back.

Is there something you're trying to accomplish, Treggor?

I was hoping to make a scene of having a word with Scrimshaw, while actually asking him to sneak me some daggers from (next to) my locker.

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Grizzle scowls, and sits back in the crow's nest. He keeps his weapons close at hand, and keeps an eye out for any other suspicious activity.

Perception: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8

I was hoping to make a scene of having a word with Scrimshaw, while actually asking him to sneak me some daggers from (next to) my locker.

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Beyond additionally grumbling, Maheem and Narwhal seem to be just working the bilges.

If you have something you want to specifically try, go for it. Otherwise, I'll assume that you just go back to work.

***

Grizzle scowls as the only thing he notices are Scourge and Plugg looking smug. But that's not anything particularly unnusual.

insight (is this a setup for Maheem to stab me?): 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10

Treggor eyes the other men as he works, considering what they might be planning.
He looks around for an improvised weapon in case things go south.
investigation: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (6) - 1 = 5

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Treggor can't tell if he's being properly paranoid or just paranoid. Still he takes a moment to search for something that he can use as a weapon. But the best he can do is a soggy, cut line of rope about 9 inches long.

Treat it as an improvised weapon. If you attack with it use your STR without proficiency and deal 1d4 bludgeoning damage.

Treggor frowns at the lack of available weaponry and instead tries to sneak the dagger from the man's person.
sleight of hand: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 20

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Nice.

Treggor "accidentally" bumps into Maheem and palms his dagger.

"Watch where you're going, Mynth!" he bellows before turning back to his work.

Treggor smiles at his own resourcefulness and continues his work, wary of any hostile actions, set-ups, or others approaching.

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Since Treggor is on his toes, I'll add a +5 to your passive perception.

Maheem stealth: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 1 = 14
Narwhal stealth: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

Treggor hears a sudden noise and turns to find Maheem looking furious and Narwhal holding a dagger.

"Time to die, boy."

The two pirates move in to fight.

Treggor: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7
Pirates: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

You get a chance to act first, Treggor. You could fight, run away, etc.

Treggor makes for an escape and shoves boxes and barrels down behind him to block the way for his attackers.
"Ha! Catch me if ye can!"
Athletics: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (15) + 7 = 22
Mechanically I'm trying to slow them down, as with a trip. Presumably they could evade or clear the obstacles with an Acro or Athletics check, just as in resisting a trip.

Interesting. But since you would need to move past them to get to the ladder, you provoke a single attack at least.

Maheem vs Treggor: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

Maheem swings wildly with his fist, but Treggor effortlessly jukes to avoid him. With a shout and a cocky smile he kicks over some barrels and then starts to climb.

You make it about 5 feet before your turn ends.

DEX save Maheem: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5
DEX save Narwhal: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 1 = 21

Would you look at that. Since you rolled really well I had decided to set the DC to 20.

Maheem is buried by the barrels, but Narwhal manages to dodge it.

Maheem STR: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (17) + 0 = 17

Maheem throws off the barrels and stands up. But that took his whole turn.

STR Narwhal: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (14) + 0 = 14
STR (athletics) Treggor: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17

Narwhal moves to grab Treggor's foot. But Treggor stomps his hand for his efforts.

Treggor you're up. You'll risk an AOO trying to get away. And you'll need an action to open the trap door at the top of the ladder that's 5 feet above you.

Treggor laughs mockingly as he pops the trap door and makes his escape, trying to dodge a blade on the way up.
I'll draw my dagger once I'm up.

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Narwhal AOO: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (14) + 3 = 17; Hit!
Damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

Narwhal takes a swipe at Treggor and slices him in his calf.

Treggor HP 19/23.

But Treggor hardly feels it, fueled by adrenaline as he is. He cracks open the trap door and waits there dagger poised.

Narwhal takes a swipe at Treggor and slices him in half.

This is how I read it at first.

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Narwhal climbs up the ladder and makes an awkward stab at Treggor's leg when he reaches the top.

Narwhal vs. Treggor, DIS: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6 <--
Narwhal vs. Treggor, DIS: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (16) + 3 = 19

The stab isn't even close.

Treggor is up. You have advantage if you attack. Or you could disengage and get help.

Ha! But see my flaw, sir!
Treggor stabs down at the man viciously.
"Back ta the bilge with ya, rat!"
dagger: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7
dagger adv: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (9) + 5 = 14 <--
damage: 1d4 + 3 + 1d6 ⇒ (1) + 3 + (2) = 6
He then kicks the door closed above the man's head.
"Ha ha!"
Is there another way out of the bilges? If not, I'll just work with this. If so, I'll need to use my movement this turn to get somewhere more advantageous. What ship areas can I get to from here?
Also, kicking the door closed can just be flavor if it would require more than a bonus action.

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Cool.

Narwhal screams bloody murder as the dagger hits his shoulder. 6 damage is not enough to kill him. And shutting the door would require an action.

DEX save DC 10: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 1 = 14

Narwhal holds onto his grip of the ladder. He then pulls himself up. And stabs Treggor in the arm.

Narwhal vs. Treggor: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 3 = 21; Hit!
Damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

Treggor HP 15/23. By going up the ladder you left the bilges and are now in the lower decks. Treggor is up again.

Is there any chance one of us can hear the commotion, or happen by while doing our duties?

Is there any chance one of us can hear the commotion, or happen by while doing our duties?

I was actually just checking on that. Alfonso shpuld be in that area catching rats. So let's give him a Perception check.

Alfonso Perception DC 10: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9

Well that sucks.

Do I get an attack as Narwhal climbs up?
And wouldn't I know Alfonso is down here since I just found him here an hour ago?

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Do I get an attack as Narwhal climbs up?

And wouldn't I know Alfonso is down here since I just found him here an hour ago?

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He didn't move out of your melee range, so no it wouldn't provoke an AOO. But, yes, Treggor was aware that Alfonso was on rat-catcher duty.

Alfonso is singing a boisterous tune to drown out the screams of the rats that he kills.

Treggor flies into a rage as the blade sinks into his flesh. "Alf! Haul yer briny boots oer here and fight with me ya knife-eared sea sponge!"
I don't suppose Maheem is climbing up now?

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DEX vs. Grapple: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

That's hysterical.

Treggor grabs Narwhal and attempts to drop him on the head of his fellow pirate. "Man overboard! Ya-har!"

Treggor flips Narwhal over into the trap-door.

Maheem DEX Save: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 1 = 14
Treggor falling damage: 1d6 ⇒ 3

Maheem narrowly avoids the falling dwarf, who lands head first into the ankle deep water. There's a loud splash, and a loud crack as the dwarf's neck snaps. He lies very still.

Maheem stares mouth agape.

"Murder!" he shouts up. "There's been a murder! Treggor Mynth has murdered Narhwal!"

Alfonso hears Maheem shout murder. He then rushes over to find Treggor standing over the trap-door with a bloody dagger in his hand.

Combat Over. Everyone on the ship probably heard that. Treggor and Alfonso, you have maybe a couple rounds before people start to come down.

Grizzle, hearing the yell, sits back in the crows nest. "Gret mole's beard." He sighs, shaking his head. He takes a long swin\g from his bottle, and stands up (wobbling slightly). He begins climbing down from the crow's nest, grumbling to himself and glaring at passing seagulls.

"Buggerin' fool. Couldja've waited 'till noit? Blimey idjit."

Dieredon rushes to the scene in hopes to shut the mouth of whoever is crying murder.

Treggor, what have you done?

"Treggor, toss the dagger down there with Maheem! The story is that they got in a fight with each other, and you tried to stop them. It probably won't work, but that's all we've got."

Bardic Inspiration for Treggor, for when he tries to bluff his way out of this.

Shikyo will attempt to impede anyone going down any hatches he can.

I'm thinking moving barrels over a hatch or putting rope in the way. Shikyo is a sneaky guy, he wouldn't want to be seen doing it but he wants there to be enough time for Treggor to finish the job.

Okay, since Shikyomaru is a pretty quick character who wasn't too far away, I'll say he can do that.

Shikyomaru manages to tip over a couple barrels by "accidentally bumping them.

That buys Treggor and Alfonso a little bit more time. What do you guys want to do?

"Ya've a quick wit, squishy, but I been playing this game fer a long many years." Treggor drops the knife down the hatch and closes the door.
"Maheem there, he went wild and attacked meself and poor Narwhal. Bein disarmed as I were, I tried ta escape. Narwhal tried ta follow an slipped on the ladder." Treggor winks as he evaluates his slashed clothes and the cuts beneath. "Best not heal these up too quick."

He hears people rushing down and looks around a bit. "I'll need ya hear ta back up me story, but once ye've said yer part, make sure the others be ready ta make a move. They may try ta lock me up, in which case ye can sneak me me picks." Treggor adds, slipping his locker key to Alfonso. "But if they mean ta kill me on tha spot, it'll be time ta take the ship. I'll need me daggers for that at least." He nods, trying to see if the elf took all that in.

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When the hue and cry goes up, Jack drops his Hellstone muttering, "Eh yer wot?" He goes to investigate.

The Captain arrives first. When he encounters the fallen over barrel he kicks it with such force that it virtually explodes into flinders. Clearly there's some magic about him.

Damn near half the crew included the Press-ganged is there.

"I'd like an explanation now," Captain Barnabas presses with deadly violence poised behind every syllable.

Sorry for the delay. Needed to build the Captain in 5e just in case things get rowdy.

Dieredon keeps his distance, ready to fire his bow from range if things get out of hand.

Treggor clutches the hole in his shoulder and answers the captain. "Well ya see, cappin, there's been a bit of a scuffle in the Bilges. Heh." He scoffs lightly at his own understatement. "Started innocent enough, but seems Maheem was brewin a storm in is belly. Pulled a knife on meself and Narwhal, Besmara rest im, and took ta stabbin. Me not havin but me fists, seein as Plugg and Scourge saw fit ta un-arm me not an hour prior o the articles ya so fairly restored ta me, well I made fer the hatch ta come up 'ere. The daggered fool caught my leg afore I made it up, but Narwhal pulled is own. Last I saw Narwhal were tryin ta come up after me, but he either slipped er got pulled and fell back down. Then Narwhal were cryin foul on me so I shut 'im in there an waited fer cooler heads ta come get things sorted. I've not been back down, but Narwhal as been awfully silent since is fall."
Treggor pauses to move aside from the hatch, wincing as he bears weight on his cut leg.
"But I assure ya this, cappin, I may be a foolhardy sea dog, but not en I would pick a fight with two men with Besmara-only-knows weapons in a miserable space with not a good means of escape. Treggor only starts fights he can win."

deception: 1d20 + 3 + 1d6 ⇒ (18) + 3 + (4) = 25
persuasion: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 1 = 14

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'Good fer ye Mynth! Ye won tha round fer sure...' thought Jack, glad to see a little retribution land. Of course there was a whole load more of that coming, assuming they survived this. Not knowing the full circumstances of what happened, Jack thought it best to keep quiet. For now at least.

Dieredon smiles briefly, then resorts to a dour expression.

That should've said "Maheem was crying foul". Sorry, I kept getting their names mixed up.

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Gonna roll this out in the open.

Captain Insight: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (9) + 12 = 21

Treggor, Alfonso's bardic inspiration officially saved your life.

Maheem spins his own lie mized with truth. He tells of how Treggor took the dagger from his boot and then stabbed Narhwal without cause, looking to place blame on him.

But the Captain's eyes narrow and he slaps the man hard across the face. Maheem is unconscious before he even hits the ground.

"Perhaps I haven't made myself clear. I will have no killing on my ship WITHOUT PERMISSION!"

For a moment no other sound but breathing can be heard. Then Harrigan points to Maheem. "Take this wretch and put 'im in the sweatbox until I remember to pull 'im out."

Some of the pirates step forward and drag Maheem up the stairs.

"As for you, Mister Mynth, I don't doubt they pulled knives first. But I do know that no man breaks his neck like that on his own. And knife pulled or not, that man down there belongs to me. And so do you. Which means, Mister Mynth, that you stole from me."

"Now, I'm a reasonable sort who knows mercy. So you won't sleep in the sweat box. And you won't be keelhauled. But you will take six lashes less one from the cat. And you will consider that mercy."

"Now. Do you stand like a man and accept your just punishment, Mister Mynth?"

Treggor gazes off for a split second as he remembers what the lash feels like, and fire burns up inside of him as revenge flashes across his mind. But he quickly remembers the position he's in and what he has to do, and the corner of his mouth just barely twitches up as he answers "Aye, I stand."

Something akin to respect passes on Captain Harrigan's face, and he nods to Treggor. "Alright, Mister Mynth. Bring that body up here. We'll bury him at the Bloody Hour. And then get back to work."

He turns to the rest of the gathered crew. "That goes for the lot of ya! Back to your posts!"

Later that night...

Narwhal's body is weighed down with chains and a bag of coins -- a proper Besmaran burial.

The Captain provides over the brief ceremony. "Besmara, Queen of Pirates, we return this sailor to your briny deep. May he serve you well."

And with that, the body of Narwhal is thrown overboard.

Mister Plugg announces Treggor's  crime as he is being stripped of his shirt and tied to the mast. The sentence is six lashes less one. A staggeringly smaller punishment than what should happen for the death of crew member.

Still the look on Master Scourge's face is one of joy, as he prepares to swing the cat o' nine-tails

Gonna assume that Treggor is fully healed for this and is raging.

Lashes: 5d4 + 10 ⇒ (2, 1, 4, 4, 1) + 10 = 22; 11 damage

The lashes are biting, but in the end Treggor is still standing.

Not for the first time Jack watches Master Scourge take sadistic pleasure in somebody else's suffering. Fists cracking, he thinks furious thoughts, 'If I get tha chance I'm gonna whip ye Scourge! But I nae stop till I've flayed tha skin from yer bones...'

Mad Jack heals Treggor while no one is looking. And the Press-ganged keep a very careful watch that night.

Day 20

Late in the afternoon of the next day, the lookout cries “Ship ahoy!”

"Avast, ye dogs!" cries Captain Harrigan. "We got prey to catch! Get the sails out! By Besmara's Sweet Chest, I'll make pirates of you landlubbers, yet!"

And with that, the Wormwood turns to catch the ship. The crew takes to the task with aplomb. And it's estimated that the Wormwood will catch up with them in the morning.

You have a day to make any last minute preparations. What do you want to do?