Alfonso whispers at the nearest pirate, trying to insinuate himself into the man's mind.
One of the pirates shrieks in pain and runs away.
Shikyo waits until one of the pirates gets close to him, and then he "stumbles" into the man.
Grizzle charges up to one of the pirates (taking a swig of his booze if he has any), and socks the man in the gut with his fist.
He roars
Dieredon steps forward and punches the nearest pirate square in the jaw.
A certain kind of madness crept into Jack's eyes. In truth he had been spoiling for a fight, and being more than a little crazy, Jack rushes towards the largest foe. He plants a solid punch to the man's face and roars, "Yarr! A fight, tis more lik it!"
Treggor suddenly reaches out and shoves the pirate in front of him. "Ha!"
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Treggor bulldozes one of the pirates to the floor. Then Grizzle makes a blind swing but the lucky pirate manages to duck in time. Next, Alfonso takes this moment to nearly scare one of the pirates to death with a spell.
Mad Jack and Dieredon double-team another pirate, giving him two solid shots to the chin.
But the awe inspiring one is Shikyomaru, who manages to nearly slap the taste out of the mouth of his target.
The pirate hit with Alfonso's spell, simply runs away. As does the pirate facing Shikyomaru. The last two pirates glance at each other, and run off as well.
"Huzzah! Those cads fled like inbred Sarenites!"
"Although, it occurs to me that we still have to serve on the ship alongside them. Perhaps we should institute a buddy system of some kind?"
"Aye, ye mateys seem true enough ta I. If ye be in a pinch, whistle and ol' Treggor will 'ave yer back. I'm sure ye'll extend 'im the same hopsitality." Treggor says as he prepares to make his appearance on deck.
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"Ah'm a leetle slow, bu ah'll help ye if ya jus scream!"
Shikyo shuffles up to the deck, still pretending not to understand everything.
Fumeiyona inu. he mutters as he walks, head down, up the stairs
He nods to Mad Jack You fight well. he says in heavily accented common.
Dieredon looks at Shikyo as he passes.
As did we all, stranger. Has anybody discovered anything about the return of our stolen equipment? I really do need to get my bow back. I have been so busy in the mess that I did not get the chance to inquire.
With a hard to read expression, Jack murmurs, "Look at em go, slinkin' away when its only jus' begun." In truth Jack's head told him to beat the sailors into full submission, to get a reputation and hopefully some respite from fools. His heart wasn't in it and delivering a proper beating took way more effort than they were worth.
As the group fell in to go on deck, the nervous forign man spoke to him. Bemused, Jack replied, "Eh, if yer say so friend. Truth be told, I'm all at sea without ma things." Jack chuckled slightly at his wordplay before adding seriously, "Grizzle 'n' I aim ta do sommat about tha. Gonna see if we can earn it back."
Sandara Quinn approaches you while hopping into one of her boots. "By Besnmara, I tried to get here as fast as I could. But the fight was over in half a blink. I'd offer ya healin', but I don't think that scurvy lot so much as mussed your hair. Anyways, topside, gents. No point in giving Scourge another excuse."
The Press-ganged move up to the deck and get in position to receive their morning orders. Master Scourge looks murderous when they arrive, but seems to swallow it down and gives out the orders.
"You there, Rigger," he says pointing to Grizzle. "Time to earn your name. Get up there and work the rigging."
He points to Dieredon. "To the kitchen, boy-o!"
"As for the rest of you swabbies, yer haulin' rope. So get movin'!"
Dieredon reports to Fishguts to find that the man is sober enough to do his duties despite the large quantity of alcohol he imbibed the other night.
"Special request from the Cap'n today. They want fish." The cook hands Dieredon a box of nets. "Make sure to catch enough for the officers. You don't want to be short."
"Easy."
Alfonso works half-heartedly, and seeks out Scourge when he feels he's earned a breather.
"Pardon, Sir Scourge. I just wish to point out that I feel my talents are being wasted on this menial labor. Like you, I'm a leader of men. Isn't there some other duty for... intellectuals such as us?"
Daytime Action: Work diligently
Shikyo does a passable job throughout the day, he's tired but not exhausted after the hard labor. Shikyo keeps his wits about him, and makes sure to never be alone.
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Grizzle almost falls, but manages to catch himself at the last moment!
Jack attacks his assigned work with a vengeance. Having grown up on a ship he could coil rope with the best of them, and he did it in double time.
Of course the candle that burns twice as bright, burns half as long! It was knackering work, and Jack was working like a pair of old bellows by the end. Much more than that and he would have done himself in, which would have been bad an no mistake!
Still he'd bought himself at least half an hour and there was no way he would give up on a chance to get his things back... When their supervisor seemed busy, Jack hurried off to see the Quartermaster. At times like this the best disguise was looking like you were diligently running some errand.
"Morning Ma'am. Reporting as requested. Ye mentioned some errands. Is there aught I can do fer ye?" he asked brightly.
Treggor keeps his head down and tries not to "rock the boat" any more than he already has... for now. But he does catch Dieredon fishing and has a word with him.
"Ahoy, ye scurvy elf. I wonder if ye might have a favor fer ol' Treggor, an' he can owe you a favor too. Ya see, I were the first mate o' me last ship, and I come accustom ta certain... fineries. If ye could manage me a bottle o' good spirits, or maybe a fresh pie, well, I'd be heartily in yer debt."
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Alfonso tries to appeal to Scourge's better nature. The old pirate sneers at him, but then smiles.
"Tell you what, pretty ears, how's about we discuss this tonight at the bloody hour."
There is simply no way this ends well for you, Alfonso.
***
Dieredon manages to catch a hefty bounty of fish. He's a natural.
Later on he arrives at the Quartermaster. He finds Mad Jack there already talking to the Cut-Throat Grok. The shop is a cramped, crowded storeroom containing numerous barrels, boxes, and chests. It also looks like it has a very impressive lock on the door for when the shop is closed.
As he looks around he guesses that their gear could likely be stored in one of the lockers. But without opening them he couldn't begin to guess.
***
Grizzle has a little trouble on one of the ropes. He might have pulled a muscle a bit. But the tough dwarf managed despite the pain. The other riggers even grudgingly approve of his work.
***
Grok nods at Mad Jack respectfully when he walks in.
"Heard about that scuffle you got into this morning. You should be more careful. But you pissed off Master Scourge, and, well, that puts a smile to me face. I can't rightly hand you your gear back. It technically belongs to the Cap'n. But I can loan something out on credit. Just promise me you won't do nothing stupid, and I'll let you pay me back after our first score."
***
Shikyomaru does his work like a man possessed. At times it almost seems as if there are more than one of him. Some of the crew clap him on the shoulder when he is done, impressed with his spirit.
However, Scourge notices your diligent work with an ugly grimace on his face.
***
Treggor focuses on his job as well. And funnily enough, despite being press-ganged, he can't help but feel the pride of a job well done at the end of the day.
"Well, I mean, I wouldn't want to keep you up past your bedtime. What do you say we talk it over at dinner time?"
Dieredon approaches Mad Jak.
yes, indeed, we certainly put those thugs down with little fanfare this morning.
He claps Mad Jak on the soldier as he looks at Grok.
Quartermaster, does your offer stand for the companions of dear old Mad Jak, who also bloodied their knuckles?
Scourge just grins cruelly at Alfonso before walking away.
***
"I don't think a cook needs be worryin' about anything other than the kitchen, laddie," Grok says to Dieredon.
Jack shivered despite himself. With more bravado than he felt, he drawled, "Yester'eve we all saw tha price fer doin' sommat stupid... I'll nae bring bring trouble ta yer door."
Whether Jack meant he wouldn't do something stupid, or simply wouldn't get caught was ambiguous. Still his gratitude for what he regarded as a square deal, was totally unambiguous.
With a grin, Jack replies, "My thanks Grok, a right generous offer I be thinkin'. If I may, I choose tha loan o' his nibs's namesake. I'll promise ta make ye proud o' it's use!"
"Yeah, I got a spare cat-o'-nine-tails. Just a sec." Grok rummages for a moment and finds a scourge for Mad Jack.
The scourge is well-oiled and maintained. Ready for use. Grok seems to know her stuff.
"You'll owe me a gold piece fer it when we get paid. And I would consider it a favor, if you don't go strutting around with it over much. In fact, might be best to keep it concealed fer a bit."
Jack accepts the cat-o-nine-tails and threads it round his waist a little like a belt. He winks conspiratorially to Grok and tells her, "A little trick ma grand pappy showed meh as a nipper. Nobody minding their p's and q's need know I'm packin' eh?"
Jack doffs his non-existent tricorn hat, and turns to leave saying, "Much obliged Ma'am. A gold fer ya come payday."
The PDF is floating around on the internet and I note p 129 has a priestess of Lloth with this stat block entry:
Scourge. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target.
Hit: 5 (ld6 + 2) piercing damage plus 17 (5d6) poison damage.
I guess that's where the stats came from. Now I don't know if PCs are intended to have monster manual weapons, honestly I just want it for the flavor. (What else would a pirate paladin of Callistria wield?!)
"Doos any o ya lads have somtin ta quell tha pain in ma arm? Booze would do et."
The bloody hour approaches and the look on Scourge's face becomes more and more delighted. But then finally, the sun sets and it is time.
Mister Plugg stands aside with Scourge who is practically jumping up and down in excitement. Plugg walks among the assembled crew.
"I am the ship's First Mate," he begins. He points to Master Scourge. "That man over there is the bosun. Our words, are the Captain's words. You will come to respect this - or you will be disciplined like the unruly children you are. Today, two of our crew lost sight of this. Mister Alfonso! Miss Quinn! Step forward!"
All eyes turn to Alfonso and Sandara. Finally, Mister Plugg speaks again. "The two of you are guilty of insubordination and failure to fully exercise your duties. You have let down the Captain, and this crew. Since this is a first offense, you two are sentenced to two rope bashes each. Make no mistake. This is my mercy. Do not expect to see it again."
"Master Scourge! Carry out the sentence!"
Scourge retrieves a short piece of ship rope that looks like a club, especially when he taps it along his fist.
Sandara steps forward, looking defiant. Scourge whispers something into her ear, the Press-ganged cannot hear his words, but it's clear from the look on her face that she is furious. But still she says nothing.
Scourge smacks her in the face with the rope. The weapon draws blood when it cuts her lip. Scourge laughs and bashes her again. This time even harder. Sandara is caught by surprise and falls to the floor.
"Well, well. Don't ya look pretty down there," he says with a leering grin.
"Pretty ears!" he yells. "Stand here and take yer medicine!"
Shikyo stands still, stock still. He stares at Scourge and takes mental note of the man's stance and how he carries his weight. This knowledge might allow Shikyo to kill him with his bare hands sometime in the near future.
Grizzle reacts quickly. While Scourge is distracted by Alfonso, he jogs around behind Scourge and grabs Sandara, dragging her off to his hammock. Once there, he scours around for some sort of salve, and a strong drink if she wants some.
"Make no mistake lass." He says, while trying to treat her. "Any o us will stand oop an help ye kill Scourge. Jus wait fer tha opportune moment."
"A rope? How bad could a rope be?"
Dieredon stares on with a grim, tight-lipped expression on his face and arms crossed.
Sandara stills Grizzle's hands with her own. She gives him a playful wink and whispers a healing word spell. Her busted open lip heals as if she had never been struck. The soothing energy tickles the gruff dwarf's fingers.
"Thank you," she whispers gently. She stares up for a long moment while holding Grizzle's hands. She then awkwardly clears her throat and stands up.
"We, er, we should go back up top. We'll get a beltin' if'n we miss the rum ration. And I'm hungry enough to eat a horse."
***
Alfonso walks up to Scourge and bravely takes his licks. The first hit across his face was jarring, but he'd had worse. The second felt like a stinging slap.
Scourge looks smug as he walks away.
Alfonso spits blood onto the deck, and mutters under his breath. "I've had worse from my father, but then I usually had a rapier in my hand."
Once he's out of sight of Scourge, Alfonso casts his own healing spell to repair his beautiful face.
Treggor smiles a rotten, toothy, forced grin, watching the treatment of the others. He waits with surety that his time will come.
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Jack watches the punishment dispassionately, he'd seen similar things before. Of course back then the accused had actually done something to warrant it, stealing a ration of rum or starting a fight.
More than likely Sandara's transgression was she didn't invite Scourge to her bed... When Grizzle and Sandara reappear Jack casually walks over and whispers something to her.